Thinking Theater

Slowly, but surely, the freebies are returning from the immediate post-holiday draught! Hooray!

Last week, cousin T brought me to see Encores! staged concert of Kurt Weill's "Lost in the Stars." It's a rarely-performed piece set in South Africa. Really heavy, serious material that weighs in on issues of class, race, culpability, and moral vs. legal judgment.

Though "Lost in the Stars" doesn't leave you humming any tunes, Encores! did a really nice job of casting and staging this tough piece, and bringing something onstage that wouldn't ever get a big buck revival in today's Broadway market.

Thanks, Cousin T, for a one-of-a-kind night out and some mentally challenging musical food for thought.

Free NYC Concert

As some of you may know, I am a member of a wonderful charitable theater troupe that specializes in Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, the Blue Hill Troupe.

Well, the Troupe is putting on a fantastic, FREE concert of Gilbert & Sullivan songs and other Broadway and opera hits this Wednesday on the UES.

It will be stacked with tremendous talent and surely entertaining.

When: Weds, Feb 2nd at 7pm (reception from 6-7pm)
Where: The Carter Burden Luncheon Club, 351 E 74th Street
RSVP: hustonm@burdencntr.org

I'll be there! Hope to see you then!

Holiday Freebie: A Little Humbug

Bah Humbug!

Come support cousin M in a free reading of Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol!"

When: Monday, December 20th at 6pm

Where: All Souls Unitarian Church on 80th Street and Lexington Avenue

It should last about an hour, and has a bunch of actors playing the voices. Just the thing for the last few days of work before Christmas!

Freebie Concert

Sorry I've fallen off the planet. It's been a week of holiday parties! Seriously - one per night since Saturday, the 12th and it's not letting up til Sunday, the 19th. They're "free" but they are also private parties and not really the material for this blog.

I did hear of a free classical music concert that my alma mater is giving at Julliard, on Friday (12/17) night. Go if you have the time!

What: Violin and Piano recital by Alicia Choi and Erika Allen (Brahms, Bach, Debussy, and more)
When: Friday, Dec 17th at 8pm
Where: Paul Hall, Julliard School, 60 Lincoln Center Plaza (65th betw Bway and Amsterdam)

FREE and open to all! And a reception with "light fare" after the performance!