Mike Daisey, Bebe Buell, Lisa Lisa and More Coming Up This Spring at Joe's Pub
By: BWW News Desk Mar. 27, 2017
Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its nightly performances, March 29 - April 9, 2017. Scroll down for details, and visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows!
The Public Theater PRESENTS THE OUTER SPACE
Now - April 9, 2017
$30 - 45
Called "man of many talents," by The New York Times, Ethan Lipton (No Place to Go, Tumacho) returns to The Public with THE OUTER SPACE, a new adventure in bittersweet and hilariously off-kilter storytelling. With music composed and performed by Lipton, Vito Dieterle, Eben Levy and Ian Riggs, THE OUTER SPACE follows two humans who buy an old spaceship, leaving the noise, pollution and overpriced rents of Earth for the vast beauty and treacherous terrain of the final frontier. But can they survive the mission? Leigh Silverman (No Place to Go, Well, Violet) directs this out-of-this-world musical about the impossible quest to create a sustainable life. The New York Times describes The Outer Space as "artful and adept," and "just delightful!"
Wednesday, March 29 at 9:30PM
$20
Jayme Stone's Folklife follows the bends and bayous through the deep river of song and story. Evolving out of Stone's "Lomax Project," this gathering of versatile musicians blows the dust off of old songs and remakes them for modern ears. With spellbinding singing, virtuosic playing and captivating storytelling, their concerts and educational programs are moving, inventive and participatory experiences. This performance will feature Jayme Stone (banjo, voice), Moira Smiley (voice, accordion), Sumaia Jackson (fiddle, voice) and Joe Phillips (bass, voice).
CANTATA PROFANA: TWO-PART INVENTION FEATURING GLEB KANASEVICH & JACOB ASHWORTH
Thursday, March 30 at 9:30PM
$15
Now in its fifth season, and "making a name for itself with intrepid and unexpected concerts," (The New Yorker, Cantata Profana brings every century of music together into unique productions devoted to new music, old music, vocal music, "to most anything, so long as the mixture is put together thoughtfully and put across persuasively." (The New York Times) Two-Part Invention features two of Cantata Profana's favorite performers - clarinetist Gleb Kanasevich and violinist and artistic director Jacob Ashworth - facing off through a wild maze of duos and solos for some modernist action with an indie form. The piece pays homage to J.S. Bach and John Cage, creating a thread across the centuries, with solo adventures from each performer exhibiting full virtuosity.
KITTEN N' LOU: HOLIER THAN THOU
Friday, March 31 at 9:30PM
$20 Adv / $25 Door
Fresh from a smash run at Fringe World in Australia, everyone's favorite gay married super duo drag darlings, Kitten N' Lou, return with a brand new glitter bomb of award-winning dance, irreverent striptease, and surreal campy magic that's been called, "brilliantly deranged" by Time Out New York. Whether you're pure as the driven snow or a catholic school dropout, you must not miss Kitten N' Lou's demented and sparkly romp through the Old Testament and beyond, as they dig deep and ask the hard questions: What is the meaning of our existence in the universe? Are we really supposed to believe there's a God if Donald Trump is president? How can homosexuality be a sin when the Bible is clearly so GAY GAY GAY?! Holier Than Thou features vocal characterizations by RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6 Winner Jinkx Monsoon and her partner in crime Major Scales.
THE Pink Room: TWIN PEAKS BURLESQUE
Friday, March 31 at 11:30PM
$15 Adv / $20 Door
The Pink Room Burlesque is a tribute to and satire of the works of David Lynch. Since the anniversary of Laura Palmer's death in February of 2011, Francine and The Pink Room cast have covered everything from Twin Peaks, Fire Walk With Me, Blue Velvet, Wild At Heart, to Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead and Inland Empire. Francine and The Pink Room cast will screen A David Lynch Movie at 11:10PM with their performance beginning at 11:30PM.
Saturday, April 1 at 9:30PM
$12
Madison McFerrin is a born and bred soul artist who combines the storytelling once revered in the past with the sound of the 21st century. With the hope of bringing that old soul into the popular music of today, McFerrin has gone about curating her own individual sound while honoring the many influences that came before her, such as Aretha Franklin, The Beatles and Erykah Badu. Using these elements, she independently released her debut EP, and first installment of her fully a cappella series, Finding Foundations, December 2016.
THE Martha Graham CRACKER CABARET
Saturday, April 1 at 11:30PM
$25
This balls-to-the-wall drag cabaret is hosted by Martha Graham Cracker, who is, perhaps, the world's tallest and hairiest drag queen. Backed by a four-piece live band, Martha Graham Cracker, hailed as "The Drag Queen King" by the Philadelphia Inquirer, performs new arrangements and mashups of songs by artists ranging from Prince and Crowded House to Motley Crue and Nina Simone, and a bit of everything in between.
Mike Daisey: THIS IS NOT NORMAL
Sunday, April 2 at 9:30PM
Monday, April 3 at 7:00PM
$35
In this haunting sequel to his prescient and critical smash The Trump Card, Mike Daisey addresses the precariousness of our current moment. Daisey crafts a portrait of the cultural and global forces that have helped lead America into the hands of a demagogue-and explains the push toward normalization that always accompanies the rise of strongmen. Part instruction guide, part historical warning, and part dark comedy, Daisey addresses the fever gripping all of us, and how quickly that fever becomes fascism.
Tuesday & Wednesday, April 4 & 5 at 9:30PM
$30
Singer, songwriter and pop culture icon Bebe Buell debuts her all-new live show Baring It All: a unique blend of her songs, some spanning decades, sprinkled with storytelling from her fabled rock-n-roll life. Buell will be backed by her new duo, The Rebel Souls, featuring her husband, guitarist Jimmy Walls and drummer Mindy Wright.
HOUSE OF SPEAKEASY: SERIOUSLY ENTERTAINING
Guests: Ana Marie Cox, Brenda Shaugnessy, Tony Tulathimutte & Travon Free
Tuesday, April 6 at 9:30PM
Wednesdays, May 10 & June 14 at 7:00PM
$15-$35
House of SpeakEasy returns in its the fifth season of Seriously Entertaining, a literary series, at Joe's Pub. Produced and hosted by its founders, award-winning historian Amanda Foreman and editor Lucas Wittmann, Seriously Entertaining presents highly-acclaimed writers from across the arts riffing 10 minutes on each show's given theme. The thrill and intimacy of these live performances deepens the audience connection to each writer's work and life. This April's theme is The End My Friend featuring guests Ana Marie Cox (political columnist and culture critic), Brenda Shaughnessy (poet), Tony Tulathimutte (novelist) and Travon Free (television writer and comedian). Further lineups are to be announced.
Friday, April 7 at 10:00PM
SOLD OUT
Dan Finnerty caught America's attention as the foul-mouthed wedding singer in the box-office smash Old School, performing his now-infamous rendition of "Total Eclipse of the Heart." He went wedding singer again in the record-breaking hit The Hangover. The Dan Band plays to sold out crowds from L.A. to New York and has appeared on numerous shows including The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Ellen, The Late Late Show, Last Call with Carson Daly, Last Comic Standing, The Guys Choice Awards. He caught the attention of Steven Spielberg, who signed on to executive produce Finnerty's one-hour concert special The Dan Band: I Am Woman, directed by McG.
PART OF THE DOWNTOWN URBAN ARTS FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 8 at 9:30PM
$30
With six top-selling albums and more than 20 million records sold worldwide, Lisa Lisa is an international superstar and leader of one of the biggest dance-pop/R&B groups ever. As the front-woman of Full Force's Cult Jam, Lisa Lisa enjoyed a string of chart-topping songs including "I Wonder If I Take You Home," All Cried Out," "Head to Toe" and "Lost in Emotion" from their platinum albums Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force and Spanish Fly. This event is part of the Downtown Urban Arts Festival.
BriAnna Thomas: SONG OF LOVE
PART OF MICHAEL MWENSO'S MELTING POT
Sunday, April 9 at 9:30PM
$15 Adv / $20 Doors
BriAnna Thomas grew up surrounded by music. Her father, Charlie Thomas, not only influenced her with his own unique talents as a vocalist and percussionist, he created an exceptionally well-rounded musical environment that fostered the younger Thomas's emerging abilities. Her soulful singing is deeply enriched by an understanding of the masterful voices of jazz past. Beyond a healthy serving of sass, Sarah Vaughn's influence contributes to Thomas's style: the artistic savvy need to communicate myriad moods and feelings as well as a keen instrumental perspective. Captivatingly unique, her sound moves in tones ranging from sweet invitations to assured convictions, establishing a personal and classic quality that leaves listeners swooning after her performances.
Whether vocalist, emcee, showman or impresario, Michael Mwenso conveys both the sophistication and spontaneity of hardcore jazz and the music's folkloric roots with impeccable craft, creativity, and communicative flair. Mwenso has spent his entire life immersed in the jazz scene, leading the band Michael Mwenso & The Shakes, and has developed his unique skill set through a diversity of life experiences. As such, Melting Pot is his ongoing series that showcases young and upcoming talent he thinks represents the future of jazz music.
For tickets, go online at joespub.com, call 10AM-7:00PM daily at 212-967-7555, or visit in person at The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street, NYC (Opens daily at 2PM). There is a $12 food / two (2) drink minimum per person per show, unless otherwise noted.
Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub at The Public opened in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space to perform and develop new work. Joe's Pub presents the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom. The organization also offers unique opportunities like New York Voices, an artist commissioning program that provides musicians the resources and tools needed to develop original theater works. Commissioned artists have included Ethan Lipton, Toshi Reagon, Bridget Everett, Allen Toussaint and more. In 2011, the Pub received a top-to-bottom renovation, leading to improved sightlines, expanded seating capacity and a new menu from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. With its intimate atmosphere and superior acoustics, Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually.
The Public Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare, the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. Celebrating his 10th anniversary season at The Public, Eustis has created new community-based initiatives designed to engage audiences like Public Lab, Public Studio, Public Forum, Public Works, and a remount of the Mobile Unit. 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 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; Public Works, an expanding initiative that is designed to cultivate new connections and new models of engagement with artists, audiences and the community each year; and audience and artist development initiatives that range from Emerging Writers Group to the Public Forum series. The Public is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; and in October 2012, the landmark building downtown at Astor Place was revitalized to physically manifest the Company's core mission of sparking new dialogues and increasing accessibility for artists and audiences, by dramatically opening up the building to the street and community, and transforming the lobby into a public piazza for artists, students, and audiences. The Public's work is also seen on tour throughout the U.S. and internationally and in collaborations and co-productions with regional and international theaters. The Public is currently represented on Broadway by the Tony Award-winning acclaimed American musical Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and in spring 2017, Lynn Nottage's acclaimed new play Sweat. The Public has received 59 Tony Awards, 168 Obie Awards, 53 Drama Desk Awards, 54 Lortel Awards, 32 Outer Critics Circle Awards, 13 New York Drama Critics Awards, and five Pulitzer Prizes.
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