Lott Entertainment Presents' 2017 Spring Lineup Explores Themes of Race, Sexuality and a Journey through Music

By: Feb. 17, 2017
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Photo credit: Matthew Murphy

Lott Entertainment Presents' spring lineup will take fans on an epic journey through Cherokee country, into a world of whimsical sexual exploration-one that is taking Off Broadway by storm-and, finally, into a multi-genre glimpse into the lives of six different musicians, all portrayed by one man.

"Each show is sensational and vital in its own way," artistic director Kathryn Lott says of the remaining shows. "The timeliness of all three of these works is truly extraordinary, and a testament to these artists and their work that we are bringing to Houston. I think our audiences are going to be on the edge of their seats for all of the performances." "Every show is so different from the next," adds executive director Allison Lott, "And yet each one presents a new, poignant message...sometimes that message is told in a lighthearted, hilarious tone and other times the message will pull at the heartstrings."

Lott Entertainment Presents' unique partnership with Joe's Pub at the Public in New York has added to the buzz around the young performing arts organization on a national level, with their Joe's Pub series being used as the model to expand into other markets. "Seattle has already taken up the torch and is in the midst of their first Joe's Pub season," says Kathryn Lott, who first presented the idea to Joe's Pub. "And now this famed New York institution is in talks with other markets around the country to create a touring network for their artists."

April 21 & 22, 2017 - Martha Redbone: Bone Hill - The Concert (Joe's Pub Series)

Folk, funk, soul and blues artist Martha Redbone is one of the most vital voices in American Roots music and will perform her original work, Bone Hill - The Concert in Houston as part of the Joe's Pub Series. Presented as a dramatic musical work with Redbone and her all-star band, Bone Hill - The Concert is a devised, interdisciplinary work inspired by her family lineage in the Appalachian Mountains. It's an epic story of one woman's return to her homeland on Black Mountain and the coalmines of Harlan County, KY where her family have dwelled for centuries.

Spanning the lives and stories of four generations of women in a Cherokee family, Redbone travels back in time to her own childhood and beyond into the memories and tales of her ancestors-both those who were born to the land and those who traveled the globe to end up on Black Mountain, whether by choice or by force. Audiences will join Redbone on her journey to the past to hear the tale of what it looks like to be an American in our country today. The music is radically wide-ranging, from traditional Cherokee chants and lullabies to bluegrass and blues, country, gospel, jazz, Rock & Roll, Rhythm n Blues and funk. Dark and violent at times, Bone Hill - The Concert is uncompromising in its desire to be honest about difficult subjects, especially race in America.

In addition to the two public performances at the Alley Theatre, Martha Redbone will participate in three residency activities including a workshop at Texas Southern University.

Bone Hill was written by Martha Redbone, Aaron Whitby and Roberta Uno, with original compositions by Redbone and Whitby, and was commissioned by the Joe's Pub New York Voices initiative.

May 4-7, 2017: Sex Tips for a Straight Woman from a Gay Man

This Off Broadway smash hit romantic comedy takes the audience on a hilarious and wild ride where no topic is taboo and the insider 'tips' come straight from the source: a gay man. The play is set at a local university auditorium where the English department holds its monthly 'Meet the Authors' event. Robyn is the shy and studious moderator of the event, and this month's featured author is Dan Anderson of Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. With the help of a hunky staged assistant named Stefan, Dan aims to turn this event upside down with a highly theatrical, audience interactive sex tip seminar. Will Stefan's muscles be used for more than moving heavy scenery? Will the power of Dan's tips prove too titillating for even Robyn to resist? As with everything at this event...that is for Dan to know, and you to find out!

May 12-13, 2017: 6 Guitars

Award-winning writer/performer Chase Padgett will premiere his original work, 6 Guitars, for Houston audiences May 12-17, 2017. 6 Guitars is a pitch-perfect blend of music, comedy and characters. Chase Padgett delivers a virtuosic performance as he becomes six different guitar players-each with their own distinct voice, views and musical style (Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, Folk and Country). During this 85-minute show, each of the characters, ranging from a 19-year-old rock prodigy to an 87-year-old blues man, share their journey with music from discovery to mastery through songs and stories that leaves every audience laughing, crying and falling in love with music all over again. Co-written and directed by Jay Hopkins, 6 Guitars has won numerous Fringe Awards and has critics raving.

June 7, 2017 at Jones Hall: Travis Wall's Shaping Sound: After the Curtain

SHAPING SOUND is a recent addition to the Lott Entertainment Presents season lineup. This special engagement brings famed dance artist Travis Wall to Houston. Through his Emmy Award winning work on "So You Think You Can Dance", Travis Wall has established himself as one of America's favorite choreographers. His artistic direction of SHAPING SOUND has already produced one spell-binding show in Dance Reimagined, which has captivated audiences all across North America. Now, Travis and SHAPING SOUND are back with their brand new show, After the Curtain. These visual musicians continue to dazzle audiences as they tell the story of a man fighting to find his creative voice after the death of his one true love. Heart-wrenching, breath-taking and ultimately uplifting, this is one dance show that audiences will remember forever.

About Lott Entertainment Presents

Entertainment Presents' mission is to fill the void in the Houston performing arts scene by bringing shows from outside our city that push the boundaries of traditional theatre. With provocative, immersive and deliberately different works, we will provide Houstonians with a wide range of new experiences. Lott Entertainment Presents will bring shows from outside Houston that would not otherwise be seen in this city. Lott Entertainment Presents will utilize its traveling artists to enrich the lives of local artists by providing valuable educational programs such as audition workshops, singer/songwriter workshops and artist conversations. For more information, please visit http://www.lottentertainmentpresents.com.

About Joe's Pub at the Public

Named for The Public Theater's visionary 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, committed to diversity, production values, superior acoustics community and artistic freedom. The venue also offers unique opportunities like New York Voices, an artist commissioning program that has fostered new work by Ethan Lipton, Toshi Reagon, Bridget Everett, Allen Toussaint, Justin VivIan Bond & Kenny Mellman and more. Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually.

The Public Theater, which houses five theaters at its Astor Place home, in addition to Joe's and Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater. For more than 60 years, The Public, under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, has continued the work of Papp by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, leading the dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. The Public's programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company's commitment to making theater accessible to all; Public Works, a national initiative that is designed to cultivate new models of engagement with artists, audiences and community; and Mobile Unit, which tours productions to underserved audiences. The Public has received 59 Tony Awards, 168 Obies, 53 Drama Desk Awards, 54 Lortel Awards, 32 OCC Awards, 13 NY Drama Critics Awards, and five Pulitzer Prizes, most recently for the musical Hamilton.

All performances will take place at Lott Entertainment Presents' new home in the Neuhaus Theatre at the Alley Theatre. For more information, please visit joespub.org.



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