Stew of 'Passing Strange' Guest DJ on WNYC Radio 12/14

Stew - whose new musical Passing Strange will begin performances on Broadway Feb. 8, 2008 at the Belasco Theatre - is one of five special guest hosts who will divulge the music they just cannot live without during WNYC Radio's annual weeklong "Must Have Festival" December 10 to 14.  Stew's evening of "Must Have" music will conclude the weeklong Festival, broadcasting on December 14 at 7PM.

The theme of WNYC's festival this year is "The Transformers," featuring Stew and four other artists and activists who are significantly impacting New York's physical, cultural and environmental landscape, inviting them to dig through their CD collections and plug in their iPods to share the music that has inspired them.

Hosted by author and commentator Katherine Lanpher, the "Must Have Festival" will air on WNYC's "Evening Music" from Monday, December 10 through Friday, December 14 at 7 p.m. on 93.9 FM and via live internet stream at www.wnyc.org.

More information at http://www.wnyc.org/music/musthave2007.

In chronological order, the list of special guest host is as follows:

Monday, December 10:
Majora Carter, Executive Director, Sustainable South Bronx
This environmental activist, who helped open the first waterfront park in South Bronx in sixty years, has been honored with a MacArthur "genius" Grant for her "Green the ghetto" campaign to alleviate poverty and advocate for environmental justice.  Carter can currently be seen co-hosting Robert Redford's "The Green" program on the Sundance Channel.

Tuesday, December 11:
John Jasperse, Artistic Director/Choreographer, John Jasperse Company
This visionary choreographer is about to inaugurate CPR (Center for Performance Research) at Greenbelt, a L.E.E.D. certified performance center in East Williamsburg. A terrifically imaginative and transformative choreographer and dancer, Jasperse is not only changing contemporary dance but also about to have a huge impact on East Williamsburg's burgeoning arts community.

Wednesday, December 12:
Lisa Phillips, Director, New Museum of Contemporary Art
The Bowery is officially a part of the 21st century, now that the NMCA has moved into its eye-catching, SANAA-designed new home there.  Phillips, who spearheaded the New Museum's move, spent 23 years as a curator at the Whitney Museum before joining the New Museum as Director in 1999.  She has overseen solo exhibitions by artists such as William Kentridge, Paul McCarthy, Carroll Dunham, and Andrea Zittel.

Thursday, December 13:
Gerard Mortier, incoming Director and General Manager, New York City Opera
Mortier, the so-called "Bad Boy of Opera," is the incoming general manager of the New York City Opera.  Currently finishing his tenure as director of the Paris National Opera, Mortier's his first season at City Opera, 2009-2010, will eschew Mozart and Puccini for  20th century works, including Philip Glass's "Einstein on the Beach" and John Adams' "Nixon in China." 

Friday, December 14:
Stew, Performance Artist, Creator of Passing Strange

The "mesmerizing stage presence of [this] chubby, bald, moon-faced, middle-aged performer named Stew," as described by the New York Times, will soon be on display on Broadway when his autobiographical musical, "Passing Strange," begins performances at the Belasco Theater on February 8th.  Also known as an underground "Afro-baroque" musician, his 2000 release "Guest House" and 2002 release "Naked Dutch Painter" were named Album of the Year by Entertainment Weekly.

WNYC, New York Public Radio, is New York's premier public radio station, comprising WNYC 93.9 FM and WNYC AM 820. As America's most listened-to public radio stations, reaching more than 1.1 million listeners every week, WNYC FM and AM extend New York City's cultural riches to the entire country and air the best national offerings from affiliate networks National Public Radio®, Public Radio International®, and American Public Media. WNYC 93.9 FM broadcasts a wide range of daily news, talk, cultural and classical music programming, while WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international news reporting. For more information, visit www.wnyc.org.
 
Passing Strange will transfer to Broadway -- following its critically-acclaimed, sold-out debut at The Public Theater in the spring -- beginning previews February 8 prior to opening February 28, 2008 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44 Street) in Manhattan.

With book and lyrics by the popular singer/songwriter Stew, and with music by Stew and his longtime musical partner Heidi Rodewald, Passing Strange is directed by and created in collaboration with Annie Dorsen. For ticket information on Passing Strange call Tele-charge 212-239-6200.

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