Dawn Landes & Daniel Goldstein to Unveil New Musical ROW at Joe's Pub Next Month

As part of New York Voices, the artist commissioning program of Joe's Pub at The Public, singer-songwriter Dawn Landes (music and lyrics) and director Daniel Goldstein (book) bring forth a new musical called ROW - the heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting story of Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. On June 21 and 22, Landes, with Xanthe Elbrick (Tori), Stephen Bogardus (Mac) and more, will perform a concert version of ROW at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette, NYC).

Shows are Sunday and Monday, June 21 and 22 at 7:00PM and Sunday, June 21 at 9:30PM. Tickets are ($20) available now online, via phone (212.967.7555) or in-person at The Public's Box Office (425 Lafayette, NYC).

In 1998, McClure left her job as a project manager in Louisville, Kentucky, and embarked on a quest to do what no woman had ever done: row across the Atlantic Ocean. Based on McClure's memoir A Pearl in the Storm, the musical tells the parallel stories of her journey across the ocean and her coming of age. Setting out in the American Pearl, her small homemade rowboat (no motor or sail), she covered over 3,000 miles before she unknowingly rowed into the path of Hurricane Danielle. In the end, McClure triumphs - not only because she crosses the ocean, but because she finds her heart in the middle.

"I remember reading about Tori in the newspaper when I was a high school student in Louisville, KY. When a friend gave me a copy of her memoir 15 years later, I was so inspired...I bought a copy for everyone I know. She's a true hero with a beautiful, unique story," says Landes.

ROW combines the imaginative folk/country music of Landes, theater newcomer, with McClure's unique story and the writing of Goldstein, a Broadway and off-Broadway veteran, to create a new, distinct piece of musical theater. Of their unusual process, Goldstein said, "Working with Dawn is exciting because we come from different worlds. And her music is so rich and full of melody. So as we write, we get to make up the rules anew. We can tell the story however we want."

"We are thrilled to have two formidable talents, Dawn Landes and Daniel Goldstein, bringing Tori's incredible journey to the stage. This project, as part of our New York Voices commissioning program, is epic in scope yet finds a happy home in our intimate space," said Shanta Thake, director of Joe's Pub at The Public.

ROW also features original video from McClure's journey. Additional cast includes Maria-Christina Oliveras, Nicole Lewis, David Quay, Wallace Smith and Emily Young.

Watch a sneak peak of ROW in Landes's recent TED Talk about McClure.

Dawn Landes (Music & Lyrics) is a Kentucky bred singer-songwriter whose music you might have heard if you watch Bored to Death, House, Gossip Girl or The Good Wife. Along with releasing five albums since 2005 (and an EP inspired by yé-yé, '60s French pop music), she is a frequent collaborator with contemporaries such as Sufjan Stevens, Norah Jones and composer Nico Muhly. She has appeared with the Boston Pops, the NYC Ballet and in Lincoln Center's prestigious American Songbook Series. She recently gave a TED talk on Louisville native Tori Murden McClure's quest to become the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean, performing a preview of ROW, her and Daniel Goldstein's musical about McClure.

Daniel Goldstein (Book) is the writer and co-lyricst of Unknown Soldier, (music and co-lyrics by Michael Friedman) which will have its world premiere this summer at The Williamstown Theater Festival. With Dawn Landes, he is a recipient of a New York Voices commission for ROW, which is adapted from A Pearl in the Storm, the memoir of Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. His other writing work includes Winter Birds, an adaptation of the Jim Grimsley novel, and The Song Of Songs, a chamber musical (written with Michael Friedman) based on the Sholem Aleichem novella. His work as a director has been seen on Broadway and off, as well as nationally and internationally. He is a graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Performance Studies.

New York Voices is the artist commissioning program of Joe's Pub at The Public. As part of The Public's long history of cultivating the country's most celebrated artists, the program supports the creation of new works by critically-acclaimed musicians and performers. Encouraging artists to explore their own storytelling, narratives and songwriting, New York Voices includes a development workshop with The Public's artistic staff as well as practical resources like rehearsal space, time and financial backing. Each commission culminates with a run of live shows on the Joe's Pub stage. New York Voices has experienced great success in helping artists connect with their contemporaries and reach wider audiences -- many of the program's works have gone on to tour nationally and internationally.

Artists commissioned by the program include Abigail Washburn, Noche Flamenca, Toshi Reagon, Lady Rizo, Allen Toussaint, Angelique Kidjo, Ethan Lipton and Bridget Everett. Both Lipton and Everett's commissions, No Place To Go (2011) and Rock Bottom (2014) respectively, went on to join The Public Theater's downtown seasons and win OBIE Awards.

The current class of New York Voices is actor and cabaret performer Daniel Breaker with director Kate Whoriskey, indie-folk singer-songwriter Dawn Landes with writer & director Daniel Goldstein, and soulful singer-songwriter Martha Redbone with director Roberta Uno.

For tickets, go online at joespub.com, call 10AM-7PM daily at 212-967-7555 or in person at The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street, NYC. The Public's Box Office window opens daily at 2PM.

ABOUT JOE'S PUB AT THE PUBLIC - 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 consistently presents the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom. Joe's Pub 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, and Pub Club, an artist career development program. 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.

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.

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