RAZIA'S SHADOW, FRISK ME, Tony Kushner and Rachel Maddow & More Set for Joe's Pub, Now thru Dec 2

This week at Joe's Pub, November 26 - December 2, 2012, features performances by Karine Hannah, a night with PigPen Theatre Co., Nicole Henry, Jack Ingram & Radney Foster, Razia's Shadow, Jonah Smith, Maia Vidal, Frisk Me: The Songs of Max Vernon, Alice Smith, Martha Redbone, Emanuel and the Fear, Public Forum Deut: Tony Kushner and Rachel Maddow, and Grace McLean and Them Apples. Details below!

KARINE HANNAH
TONIGHT at 7:30 PM
$20
Karine Hannah has successfully honed her four-octave range performing in musical theater, broadcast appearances and numerous live concerts that included a personal invitation from Celine Dion to sing at her wedding. That event proved to be a pivotal moment in Karine's career as renowned songwriter, Diane Warren, after hearing her sing, sent Karine one of her original songs to record. That recording launched a series of offers from major Canadian and U.S. labels that including EMI, Elektra and Sony. However, family obligations, poor management decisions and legal disputes put all deals on hold. Karine then came to New York and with her powerful, passionate vocal delivery, legendary Grammy-winning producer, Jim Steinman, heard a demo and called her "the best singer I have heard since Celine Dion." Karine is currently working on her album for Universal Records/Cash Money Records.

A NIGHT WITH PIGPEN THEATRE CO.
TONIGHT at 9:30 PM
$15 Advanced / $20 Door
The explosively inventive work of the PigPen Theatre Co. features folk storytelling, puppetry, clever staging, live music, and has captured the imagination of critics and audiences alike since they were introduced to the New York stage in 2010 at FringeNYC with The Nightmare Story. Since then, the group has gone on to become the first company in history to win FringeNYC’s highest honor for a play two years running (2010 and 2011 with The Mountain Song), produced their work Off-Broadway, ranked as Huffington Post’s #5 theatrical event of 2011, and of course, finished their undergraduate conservatory training at Pittsburgh’s historic Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Join us at Joe's Pub for a series of shows with the PigPen boys that will feature their signature music in full concert sound. Lush harmonies, banjos, accordions, guitars, drums, pianos and more will bring to life their favorite songs from the debut album, Bremen, and their Off-Broadway production, The Old Man and The Old Moon, running at The Gym at Judson this fall!

Nicole Henry
November 27 at 7:30 & 9:30 PM
$25 Reserved / $30 Premium
Already firmly established as one of the jazz world's most acclaimed and respected young vocalists, Nicole Henry can't be categorized so simply. Brimming with warm elegance and a powerfully expressive, emotionally resonant voice, Nicole Henry embraces jazz, pop and soul in her live sets. Huffington Post recently said she "emerges hands down as this generation's First Lady of Jazz. She is the genuine article, the dream at last come true, the pretty girl in the melody that haunts you..." The New York Times called her, "a pop-soul superwoman whose every gesture and inflection conveyed confidence and mastery" noting how she "phrases songs with a freewheeling sense of play that never loses sight of the subject at hand." Ms. Henry has earned three international top 10 albums and a reputation as a beguiling live performer, enchanting audiences in over 15 countries. “She has been perfecting the art of mesmerizing audiences... Henry is a vocalist of beautiful sensitivity and solid phrasing.” (All About Jazz) Nicole Henry is able to tell her own story through her flawless connection with each song that "aims for the emotional center." (Billboard) When you see her put on a show, she tells a story, and the audience glows. Henry’s vocal skills are applied to a captivating set of songs encompassing impressive new originals, covers of some '60s and '70s classics, and a trio of vintage jazz numbers. Ms. Henry will also preview some of the songs from her upcoming Live in New York album (due January 2013) which is a tribute to music of the 70s, including songs from Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, and James Taylor.

JACK INGRAM & RADNEY FOSTER
November 28 at 7:00 PM
$25 Reserved / $30 Premium
Two of Texas’s most gifted singer/songwriters, Jack Ingram and Radney Foster, are teaming up for an evening trading songs and stories. The two have long been friends and collaborators, but this is the first time they’ve put their bands aside and headed out on the road together, side by side. Expect them to play hits, classics and a few new ones. Jack Ingram won the Academy of Country Music award for “Best New Male Vocalist” in 2008. The Texas-born thirty-something, steel-eyed veteran has been rocking roadhouses, theaters and stadiums relentlessly since 1997 and he’s been on the short list of next generation artists who could fill the boots of Lone Star legends like Willie and Waylon and the boys. Radney Foster first gained attention as half of the duo Foster & Lloyd (who, with “Crazy Over You” became the first duo in history to top the Country charts with their debut single), and established himself as a solo artist in the early '90s with three critically acclaimed solo albums. Known as a songwriter’s songwriter, his songs have been covered by everyone from Keith Urban and Sarah Evans to Guy Clark and Hootie and the Blowfish.

RAZIA’S SHADOW
November 28 at 9:30 PM
SOLD OUT
November 29 at 7:30 PM
$15
Razia’s Shadow was originally a conceptual rock musical album released by the indie-rock band Forgive Durden in 2008 on Atlantic Records. Drawing on a love for Broadway musicals and a childhood filled with Disney VHS tapes, writers (and brothers) Thomas & Paul Dutton brought to life a story of star-crossed lovers fighting for their love in a divided world, featuring a plethora of guest singers and soaring orchestrations backed by thundering rock drums. After a year of touring and performing Razia’s Shadow, Thomas wanted to bring the album to its next level--the stage. With librettist Lonnie Angle on board, the trio has continued developing the piece with the prestigious Public Theatre of NYC. Exploring themes of tolerance, redemption, and the strength of the human spirit, Razia's Shadow tells a tale of parallel forbidden love stories set in an alternate universe before murder exists. The show was a finalist for this year’s Yale’s Institute for Music Theatre as well as NAMT’s New Works Festival.

JONAH SMITH
November 29 at 9:30 PM
$12 Advance / $15 Door
Award-winning songwriter, Jonah Smith has been a staple on the New York music scene since his debut record 2001. In 2012, he released his fifth studio album, Little Known Cure a self-assured collection of songs that range from the gritty folk of "Big Box Town" to the orchestral "There's Nothing To Do In This Town". Smith is known to lead one of the tightest bands in New York with musicians that can play over four hours of his material on command. After twelve years in New York, Smith is relocating to Los Angeles. This is his final New York performance as a local. "Mr. Smith’s folk songs are equally well suited to downtown lounges and rural front porches, and his languid, easy vocals are pleasantly textured" – New York Times

MAIA VIDAL
November 30 at 7:30 PM
$12 Advance / $15 Door
The 24-year-old chanteuse has quickly won the hearts of fans all across Europe and Japan with her majestic indie pop-folk songs. Maïa Vidal uses violins, accordion, guitar, percussion, toy instruments and her distinctive, strong and moving voice to compose and arrange her own unique music. She blends modern, confident songwriting with shades of old world melodies, and takes us on a journey that is at once sweet and painfully honest, yet never loses its sense of wonderment. Her debut album, God Is My Bike (Crammed Discs), was released in the US October 30, 2012.

FRISK ME: THE SONGS OF Max Vernon
November 30 at 9:30 PM
SOLD OUT
Max Vernon, a veteran of both the anti-folk and queer downtown scene has emerged as one of the most exciting and innovative voices in contemporary musical theatre. Having received raves in the New Yorker, New York Post, W, Time Out, and New York Magazine, Max Vernon is returning to Joe's Pub for a one night musical event. Frisk Me: The Songs of Max Vernon, will feature some of the most incredible performers on Broadway and in the downtown theater world. Presenting highlights from Max's musicals, including WIRED (Ars Nova) and Sugarbaby (Tisch). Special guests include Christopher Jackson (In The Heights), Robert Petkoff (Ragtime, Anything Goes), Saycon Sengbloh (Hair, Fela! Wicked), Lady Rizo (Lady Rizo: Unescorted), Sarah Stiles (Into The Woods, Avenue Q), Alyse Alan Louis (Mamma Mia), Jo Lampert (The Last Goodbye, Marie Antoinette), Maiysha (2009 Best Urban/Alternative Grammy Award nominee), Molly Pope (Our Hit Parade, The Material World), Nathan Lee Graham (The Wild Party, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Sheri Sanders (Rock The Audition), Larkin Bogan (American Idiot, Hair), and Lacrymosa (indie singer-songwriter). "Max Vernon, a pouty twenty-one-year-old piano virtuoso whose compositions are so nuanced (and so well sung)." - New Yorker

ALICE SMITH
November 30 at 11:30 PM
SOLD OUT
Alice Smith is at the art (and hard-won battle) of simply being herself. The NYC-bred singer/songwriter/producer, known for her 4-octave vocal range and stunning stage presence, made a name for herself with her critically-acclaimed 2006 debut album, For Lovers, Dreamers & Me. Her artful blend of bluesy, soulful vocals and mid-tempo grooves garnered a passionate following, packed venues like NYC’s Mercury Lounge and Joe’s Pub. Her single “Dream” was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Urban/Alternative category. Today, Alice looks forward to finally giving her fans a hotly anticipated dose of new music. “I feel really inspired to get where I’m going musically. I'm excited to get back to work and continue examining what it is and what it takes to be a powerful woman, happy and fulfilled.” The new collection reveals the same passions of the “country at heart” singer. With notes of ‘60s pop, Burt Bacharach-style melodies and that intoxicating element of attitude, Alice’s upcoming collection has something for die-hard followers and new fans alike. Though she has always been an artist at heart, Alice is now a mother, and she’s been through some powerful experiences over the past few years. She emerges with new insights to realize through song. Still singing, of course, but today, stepping out independently, she has all the more reason to give ‘em something they can feel.

MARTHA REDBONE
December 1 at 7:00 PM
$15 Advance / $18 Door
A special show at Joe’s Pub to celebrate the birthday of William Blake whose poems are set to music from the beloved New York indie queen Martha Redbone. Redbone’s new roots project The Garden of Love—Songs of William Blake was produced by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder John McEuen. In an unexpected twist Ms. Redbone has returned to the music of her childhood years with her grandparents in Black Mountain, Kentucky. Warm, woodsy melodies take flight through the fusion of largely prewar string-band instrumentation and her heart-worn mountain holler, as Sister Martha tells William Blake’s tales of eternal humanitarian values through music distilled in the Southland since before America was founded. Already receiving critical acclaim the album is riding high in the Folk Charts. “Stunning…the kind of artist who sets trends” Billboard Magazine

EMANUEL AND THE FEAR
December 1 at 9:00 PM
$15
Fresh off of three European tours and their 4th release (The Janus Mirror) the Brooklyn six-piece progressive/chamber/pop/rock group Emanuel and the Fear return to Joe's Pub for the first time since their sold out 2009 show. For the first time ever, Emanuel and the Fear will play two complete sets (one completely acoustic, the other electric) of entirely different material. An Evening With Emanuel and the Fear for one ticket price. "[Emanuel and the Fear] takes the modern indie-rock sound and shakes it up with a sweeping symphonic twist" -Magnet Magazine

PUBLIC FORUM DUET: Tony Kushner AND RACHEL MADDOW
December 2 at 7:00 PM
SOLD OUT
Public Forum Duet with Tony Kushner and Rachel Maddow: The Public Forum’s series of duet conversations concludes with a freewheeling conversation between two of America’s leading progressives: Tony Kushner (Angels in America; Caroline, or Change; Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln) and Rachel Maddow (host of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC and author of Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power). The Public Forum is a high-profile series of lectures, debates, and conversations inspired by plays in The Public Theater season. Curated by Jeremy McCarter, the Forum features leading voices in politics, media, and the arts. This year's Public Forum will feature a special series of “Duet” programs, pairing an artist who has been important to the life of The Public with a leading voice from outside the world of theater.

Grace McLean AND THEM APPLES
December 2 at 9:30 PM
$12
Grace McLean is a sucker for a good heartbreak. First Jesus, then all three Jewish boys in her small conservative town, followed by obsessions with Hank Azaria, Dan Aykroyd, Alan Rickman, sailors, and several gay men. Grace began writing ditties as a remedy for her pickled love life and has developed a sparse, plunky style that underlines her often irreverent, always truthful lyrics.

Visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows and to purchase tickets, or call 212-967-7555, or visit in person at The Public Theater Box Office (1 PM to 6 PM) located at 425 Lafayette Street, NYC.

Joe’s Pub is one of New York City’s most celebrated venues for emerging and legendary performing artists. Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe’s Pub debuted in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public’s mission of supporting new artists while providing established artists with a safe, intimate space to develop new work. Joe’s Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public’s programming downtown at its Astor Place home. Open seven days a week, dinner and drink service is available during every performance.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, The Public Theater is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare and the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. The Public continues the work of its visionary founder, Joe Papp, by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, and leading and framing dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. Creating theater for one of the largest and most diverse audience bases in New York City for nearly 60 years, today the Company engages audiences in a variety of venues—including its landmark downtown home at Astor Place, which houses five theaters and Joe’s Pub; the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home to its beloved, free Shakespeare in the Park; and the Mobile Unit, which tours Shakespearean productions for underserved audiences throughout New York City’s five boroughs. The Public’s wide range of programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company’s dedication to making theater accessible to all, new and experimental stagings at The Public at Astor Place, and a range of artist and audience development initiatives including its Public Forum series, which brings together theater artists and professionals from a variety of disciplines for discussions that shed light on social issues explored in Public productions. The Public Theater is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. For more, go to www.publictheater.org.