Megan Hilty, SONNETS FOR THE CITY and More Set for Joe's Pub, Now thru 4/28
By: BWW News Desk Apr. 22, 2013
This week at Joe's Pub at the Public, April 22 through April 28, 2013, the lineup will feature: Mike Daisey, Leslie Kritzer: Beautiful Disaster, Megan Hilty, Ashley Davis, Bridget Everett and the Tender Moments, No Band: John Simon's Songs and Stories on the Road to Now, Slavic Soul Party!, Public Forum: Sonnets for the City, K's Choice with a Fragile Tomorrow, Song of a Convalescent Ayn Rand, Never Sleep Alone, Paul Oakley Stovall and Brad Simmons, and J Rome's Night of April Fools in Love.
MIKE DAISEY: BRADLEY MANNING'S WAR
April 22 at 7:00 PM
SOLD OUT
The final piece in Mike Daisey's explosion of new work this season, Bradley Manning's War is about Private First Class Bradley Manning, who was held for over a thousand days and nights before being arraigned on charges of treason against the United States of America. An incredibly polarizing figure, he's reviled by some as a traitor, credited by others as having been the catalyst for the Arab Spring, despised for aiding and abetting enemy combatants, and celebrated as a hero and whistleblower. He is an enigmatic figure who has cast a long shadow across the world during his imprisonment, used as a tool and symbol by many different sides. For a single night we will try to find the human story of Mr. Manning, and attempt to understand his war, and all of our roles in it.
LESLIE KRITZER: BEAUTIFUL DISASTER
April 22 at 9:30 PM
$25
Welcome to 1995, where a teenaged Jewrican musical theatre addict's life is about to be turned upside down in a tour-de-force one-woman comedy starring Broadway favorite Leslie Kritzer (Elf, Legally Blonde, A Catered Affair, Sondheim on Sondheim, Hairspray). Featuring a colorful array of New Jersey characters and a score ranging from Alanis Morissette to Jule Styne, Beautiful Disaster explores what happens when shit hits the fan and rebellion meets reality.
Written by Randy Blair (Fat Camp, Spidermusical, Perez Hilton Saves the Universe) and Leslie Kritzer,Beautiful Disaster is directed by Randy Blair, with music direction by Vadim Feichtner (Spelling Bee, Elegies, Little Miss Sunshine).
MEGAN HILTY: IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME CD RELEASE AND SIGNING
April 23 at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM
SOLD OUT
Smash star Megan Hilty will celebrate the release of her debut album It Happens All The Time with an intimate evening at Joe's Pub where the Broadway star of Wicked and 9 To 5: The Musical will perform a brief preview of her new album followed by a meet-and-greet and signing with fans. Produced by Grammy-winners Andy Zulla and Jimmy Hogarth, It Happens All The Time showcases a different side of Megan Hilty. The repertoire is a significant step outside of both the musical theater world in which she initially found fame as well as her television character Ivy Lynn in Smash. Songs featured on It Happens All The Time include Hilty's fresh interpretations of compositions by stellar contemporary songwriters as Aimee Mann and Damien Rice. Also noteworthy are new songs by writers such as Hogarth (Amy Winehouse, Duffy), Wayne Hector (James Morrison, One Direction), Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, Wilson Phillips), Ne-Yo and Carrie Underwood. For Hilty, the key to her debut album was finding songs that she could identify with. "Stylistically these aren't the type of songs that I'm used to singing. It was exciting and challenging, for example, to take a song written by Ne-Yo and make it my own," says Hilty. Of the original songs on It Happens All The Time, Hilty cites "Be A Man" as "one of the ultimate breakup songs. It begs someone to tell you how they really feel and that the relationship is over." She also points to "Walk Away" (co-written by Ne-Yo, Carrie Underwood and Luke Laird) for its message of empowerment in the face of a painful breakup. Keeping with the theme of new beginnings, "No Cure" is unique to the rest of the album in that co-writer Hector joined her on vocals, giving it the feel of a duet, which Hilty loved. When taken together, the songs on It Happens All The Time instill great pride in Hilty as "the first recording that's just me. It's really thrilling to hear and I can't wait to share it with my fans."
April 24 at 7:30 PM
$20
In the tradition of Celtic mavens such as Loreena McKennitt and Moya Brennan, Ashley Davis takes the best of the old and molds it into something uniquely beautiful, yet ascetically familiar. Through colorful stories and luminous songs, Ashley guides her audience back to a time when songs and stories were the center stone of the wintry night.
BRIDGET EVERETT & THE TENDER MOMENTS
April 24 at 9:30 PM
$20
Bridget Everett is a singing tour de force known for her funny yet gut-wrenching, outrageous and unpredictable performance work. She's been dubbed "Wynona Judd meets Melissa Etheridge, via the local bar floozy, on a rocket ship out of Twin Peaks" by Michael Musto from the Village Voice. She has appeared frequently on Time Out New York's annual list of top cabaret performers, ranking number one in 2010 on a list which included Alan Cumming and Elaine Stritch. Bridget co-hosts Our Hit Parade, a sold-out monthly revue of current pop hits, with Kenny Mellman (Kiki and Herb) and Neal Medlyn at Joe's Pub. She starred in the original musical At Least It's Pink based on her life which she co-wrote with director Michael Patrick King (writer/director of hit tv series Sex and the City) and Mellman which played Ars Nova for 12 weeks. Bridget has performed at Montreal's Just for Laughs, New York Comedy Festival, HBO's Aspen United States Comedy Arts Festival . and the Adelaide International Cabaret Festival in Adelaide, Australia. She played Lynn Chenney in Taylor Mac's Red Tide Blooming at P.S.122, was featured in Scott Wittman's production JUKEBOX JACKIE, and was a regular on Logo's Jeffrey Cole Casserole. She can be seen as Cathy in the Sex and the City movie and as Shonda in the CBS hit comedy, 2 Broke Girls. Bridget co-wrote and performed an evening of original music called Bridget and Neal are F*cking and Adam is Watching with Medlyn and Adam Horovitz (Adrock: Beastie Boys). Bridget can be seen in HBO Canada's Funny as Hell alongside Horovitz. and will be releasing an album of original music with her band, The Tender Moments, this fall.
NO BAND: JOHN SIMON'S SONGS & STORIES ON THE ROAD TO NOW
April 25 at 7:30 PM
$20
In his first headlining NYC appearance in almost 20 years, the legendary John Simon returns to the stage for a rare evening of songs and stories spanning his 45+ years in popular music. In addition to being the Musical Director of "The Last Waltz" (which the Chicago Tribune calls: "the greatest rock concert movie ever made - and maybe the best rock movie, period."), his career includes producing some of the most notable albums of the 1960's and 1970's, including "Cheap Thrllls" by Big Brother & the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin, "Bookends" by Simon & Garfunkel, "Songs from Leonard Cohen", Leonard Cohen's acclaimed and still influential debut, and "Child Is Father to the Man" by Blood, Sweat, & Tears. Lovingly referred to as "the 6th member of The Band", John is perhaps best known for his role in producing and performing on The Band's groundbreaking debut "Music From the Big Pink" and its equally notable followup, "The Band", in addition to maintaining a solo-career as a musician, songwriter, composer, and performer.
SLAVIC SOUL PARTY! PLAYS MARKOVIC: HANI RUMBA
April 25 at 9:30 PM
$16
Boban Markovic leads Serbia's most famous brass band, shaping the history of Balkan brass with his enormous talent and the helpful combination of charisma and lucky timing. In Serbia's post-war years he brought his Roma brass around the world, and brought sounds of the world back into his village music - but many fans of Balkan brass still don't know his early work from the '90s. Slavic Soul Party! pays tribute to Hani Rumba, his first album and an amazing display of Serbian village brass with all the goods to rocket to stardom. With fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops, Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. These nine musicians have created an acoustic mash-up of Balkan and Gypsy sounds with North American music, weaving the gospel, funk, dub, jazz, and Latin influences of New York's neighborhoods seamlessly into a Balkan brass setting and always "delivering a great time." (New York Times)
Tonight SSP! debuts their interpretation of Hani Rumba; this is the second night of a monthly series of special programs at Joe's Pub.
PUBLIC FORUM: SONNETS FOR THE CITY
April 26 at 7:00 PM
$30.50 Reserved, $24 Member
To celebrate Shakespeare's birthday, the Public Forum will explore the magic of his sonnets. One of the world's foremost Shakespeare scholars, James Shapiro, will share his insights on these much-loved poems: why Shakespeare wrote them, how they work, and what they do or don't tell us about their author. He will be joined by special guest Sam Waterston, a great actor who most recently played King Lear at The Public. Waterston will read some sonnets and talk about what they mean to him. In the second part of the program, Kathryn Schulz, the book critic of New York Magazine, will share her insights on how Shakespeare's sonnets relate to contemporary authors and the literature of our own time. Téa Obreht, author of the acclaimed novel The Tiger's Wife, will read a new poem inspired by Shakespeare's sonnets, as will a student from the DreamYard program in the Bronx.
K'S CHOICE WITH SPECIAL GUEST A FRAGILE TOMORROW
April 26 at 9:00 PM
SOLD OUT
K's Choice has been defying classification since the late 90s and release their fifth LP, and first in over 8 years, Echo Mountain, on September 18. Today we are pleased to share both the official animated video for "Come Live the Life," and a truly breathtaking, live version of the same track recorded by a French photographer in a European hotel room.
With the global success of Echo Mountain, Sarah and Gert went back into the studio performing new originals, acoustic arrangements of K's Choice catalog favorites mixed with some special cover song selections. The resulting collection is Little Echoes, a release featuring Sarah and Gert on acoustic instruments with the addition of keyboardist/singer Reinout Swinnen. Armed with just two acoustic guitars, one piano and three voices, Little Echoes captures the magic of a live recording with the thrilling precision of what can happen when three virtuosos get together to record live in a studio. Previously only available after live shows, Little Echoes shows an outfit at the peak of their musical prowess.
SONG OF A CONVALESCENT AYN RAND
April 27 at 7:00 PM
$15
From "sharp-toothed" company Wolf 359 comes this true story of a boy and his migraines. SONG OF A CONVALESCENT AYN RAND GIVING THANKS TO THE GODHEAD..., named after a Beethoven String Quartet is a tragicomic play about illness and art, featuring the music of Beethoven, the novels of Ayn Rand, and the musings of an intellectual drag queen in Peoria, Illinois. From Wittgenstein to free snacks to cat-loving nurses, "the piece offers a bit for everyone" (Gothamist Daily - Featured Recommendation).
April 27 at 9:30 PM
$25 Singles / $35 Voyeurs
Finally, a show designed to help you hook up! Sexual evangelist and Best-Selling author Dr. Alex Schiller brings the hot, the single and the curious together for a night of delirious laughter, awesome music and socio-sensual interaction. Dr. Alex insists that her audience be filled with the sexy and seeking. And she suggests you put your table/seat number, stats and sexual preference in the comments section below.
"Singles" mix in the front and become active participants in the show. "Voyeurs" watch from the back as the provocative and irreverent Dr. Alex dispenses sex advice from her new book, "Never Sleep Alone", and leads her audience through a wildly entertaining evening. Willing singles are invited to join Dr. Alex on stage for free champagne, blind dates and interactive demonstrations. The night continues at an exclusive after-party and the secret location is announced at curtain call.?"Single straight males should sit with single straight females, hot gays with hot gays, older rich men with younger drunk women- Why sit with people you find sexually irrelevant?" If you're interested in participating in a live, on-stage date or demonstration at the show, or would like to share your opinions on dating/sex (anonymous letters welcome) with the audience, send your request to DoctorAlex@neversleepalone.com
PAUL OAKLEY STOVALL AND BRAD SIMMONS
April 28 at 7:30 PM
$20
Two brilliant young performers unite for a special night of music when Brad Simmons and Paul Oakley Stovall take the stage at Joe's Pub. Stovall is an actor and playwright whose recent play Immediate Family just wrapped an acclaimed run at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. He's working on the upcoming musical Clear and has also been seen in films including John Cameron Mitchell's Shortbus and Robert Altman's The Company. Simmons was musical director on Broadway's Lysistrata Jones, is currently co-starring with Tony award winner Tonya Pinkins in a new cabaret show Bring On the Men, and was the pianist in the cult film Camp. The duo will play musical favorites as well as original songs -- all about love, recovery, and resolve -- for this one-time performance.
J ROME'S NIGHT OF APRIL FOOLS IN LOVE
April 28 at 9:30 PM
$20 in advance, $25 at door
As the winner of ABC's Duets, And a YouTube following of over 5 million followers, J Rome has positioned himself for a great future. Known as a crooner for his soulful voice, he has garnered the phrase "Sing Boy". J Rome special opening guest will be from ABC's Duets Bridget Carrington.His duet partners will be from R&B Diva's Monifah, a dynamic vocalist with four octave range Gloria Ry'Ann and industry's rising star Brianna Colette.
Visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows or 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.
ABOUT JOE'S PUB AT THE PUBLIC Joe's Pub at The Public is one of New York City's most celebrated venues for emerging and established performance 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 young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space to perform and 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, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually. The diverse roster of programming featured at Joe's Pub includes top performers from Broadway, cabaret, dance, world, singer-songwriter, jazz, country and indie genres as well as New York Voices, its commissioning initiative, today's rising stars and GRAMMY Award winners. Joe's Pub also collaborates with other Public Theater programs to present events such as the Under the Radar Incoming series and the Public Forum lecture and debate series. The New York Times has praised Joe's Pub as at the "nexus" of "a downtown axis of clubs whose performers gleefully fuzz the boundaries between old and new, and between pop, rock, jazz, rhythm-and-blues, swing, country, world music and performance art." Its elegant neoclassical design, intimate atmosphere, and superior acoustics have consistently landed the venue on annual Best of New York lists. A top-to-bottom renovation was completed in 2011, leading to improved sightlines, expanded seating capacity and a new menu from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. www.joespub.com
ABOUT THE PUBLIC THEATER AT ASTOR PLACE: 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. The LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust provides leadership support for The Public Theater's year-round activities. www.publictheater.org
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