Sheen Center to Host New Musical Series 2 - THE ART OF THE DUO

The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, located at 18 Bleecker Street, presents a new musical series filled with diverse and dynamic programming. The new series, entitled, 2 - The Art of the Duo, will feature two or more artists traversing the duo form in all its permutations (music, theater, dance, poetry, storytelling and more).

2: The Art of the Duo - Cyro Baptista & Max Pollak

Friday, April 8 at 7:30PM

Since arriving in the U.S. from his native Brazil, performer and band leader Cyro Baptista has emerged as one of the premier percussionists in the world, bringing his unique charm and intense rhythmic drive to countless stages including collaborations with luminaries such as Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, John Zorn, Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Caetano Veloso, and many others. Max Pollak, a prestigious name on the international tap and world music scene, is the only non-Cuban member of Los Munequitos de Matanzas, Cuba's famous Rumba ambassadors. Critics and peers worldwide acknowledge his superior musicianship and his highly individual style called "Rumba Tap" - a pioneering blend of Afro-Cuban song and dance with American tap and body music.

2: The Art of the Duo - Foolish Hearts Plus Kevin Hays and Grégoire Maret

Saturday, April 9 at 7:30PM

This special duo project brings together the brilliant pianist and singer, Kevin Hays, and harmonica great, Grégoire Maret. Without limits, these master improvisers create a rich tapestry of melodic and harmonic invention, weaving tales through gorgeous originals, improvisations, and reimagined jazz and Brazilian classics. Foolish Hearts is a new duo featuring Grammy-winning vocalist/pianist/composer Peter Eldridge (New York Voices, MOSS) and upright bassist/composer Matt Aronoff. They present their own original arrangements of favorite jazz and pop tunes with an organic sensibility combining voices, piano, bass, and percussion.

2: The Art of the Duo - Alexander Gemignani & Tedd Firth: The World of Sondheim with special guest Paul Gemignani

Monday, April 25 at 7:30PM

Broadway's Alexander Gemignani joins forces with jazz arranger Tedd Firth to bring the Sondheim catalogue alive. Gemignani has been seen on Broadway in Violet, Chicago, Les Miserables (Drama League Nom), Sweeney Todd (Drama Desk Nom), Assassins, The People in the Picture, and Sunday in the Park With George. His solo show, All At Once, premiered at the Kennedy Center as a part of Barbara Cook's "Spotlight Series" and as a composer/lyricist, he is currently developing four new musicals. Well-known music director, Tedd Firth has worked with countless Broadway vets including, Barbara Cook, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Michael Feinstein, and Elaine Paige, among many others. Paul Gemignani, Sondheim's longtime collaborator will be a special guest for the evening.

Named after the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, best known for his popular radio and TV ministry in the 1950s and 60s, The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, is a project of the Archdiocese of New York with the mission of showcasing works in the performing and visual arts, lectures and symposia that highlight the true, the good, and the beautiful as they have been expressed throughout the ages. The state-of-the-art complex has a 273-seat proscenium theater equipped with five-camera high-definition livestream capability and a multi-track recording studio with thirty-two onstage inputs; an 80-seat black box theater; four rehearsal studios; and an art gallery. This facility is the newest arts center in Manhattan in 35 years and a great addition to the growing artistic community in the East Village/NoHo.

For ticket information and a complete line up of other programs and rentals, please visit www.sheencenter.org or call 212-925-2812.