Beyond Wicked: Arts Off The Beaten Path, 12/18/07

Wishing You A Dramatic New Year

Under the Radar Festival’s “Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea” – photo credit: Neil Hanna

As I look at the myriad festivals of dance, theatre, and music coming up in the new year, I am reminded of the Mary Tyler Moore show when Rhoda once recounted all of the incredible cultural organizations in New York as her reason for living here. When Mary pointed out that Rhoda didn’t actually get out to any of those venues, Rhoda said “But when you live here, look at what you’re not doing! You can’t not do these things anywhere else!” In hopes that you might be a little more proactive than Rhoda, I thought I’d provide you with my New Year’s theatre-going itinerary.

To ring in an artful new year, I will start downtown at The Public Theater for the Under The Radar Festival that spotlights international emerging and master performing artists. This year they promise an intense and wild celebration and, with producer Mark Russell at the helm, I’m sure they will deliver. In his words: “This is a festival all about seeing something new, something that might challenge your view of the world or at least clean the windows for you. This is a theater festival with a big picture, and many small performances!”

This year’s Under the Radar Festival will include works from England, Ireland, Australia, Brazil, France, Austria and Belarus, as well as Seattle, San Francisco, Harlem, Brooklyn and “that alternative state of consciousness; Oklahoma.” Most of the shows run under 90 minutes, but at least one will operate as an installation with business hours. Shows take place January 9th - 20th.

Christine Ebersole in American Songbook – photo credit: Melanie Dunea

Then I will head uptown for American Songbook, opening January 23rd, the much-celebrated musical series at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The Songbook will feature Broadway, bluegrass, country, rock, R&B, and soul, including Canadian chanteuse K.D. Lang performing selections from her new album Watershed; Sixties music in the hands of John Lloyd Young, the Tony Award-winning star of Jersey Boys; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame icon Patti Smith; and two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole.

Across town at City Center, The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players will launch its Gilbert & Sullivan Fest 2008, presenting six classic shows over the course of four weeks in January and June The line-up includes big faves, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, and The Mikado, as well as productions of Princess Ida and The Gondoliers. Ask about their Free Kids Nights too.

Heading back downtown to Dance Theatre Workshop, I’ll enjoy Fresh Tracks, a dance festival of new and edgy choreography. In addition to performances, the artists also participate in open discussions to foster an understanding of their creative process. January 4th and 5th only.

Even further downtown in Soho, I will cap off my New Year’s Festivities at HERE Arts Center for its 10th annual hybrid performance festival in January, CultureMart. The Festival blurs the boundaries among dance, theatre, music, new media, puppetry, and visual art, melding these forms to the artist’s vision. It provides a vital testing ground where you can sample art in progress, provide feedback, and play a crucial role in the development of new work. Check out Culturemart 2008, and let their images fill your imagination.

So I urge you to make a New Year’s resolution to do a little better than Rhoda this coming year by actually getting out your front door and experiencing the passion, celebration, and great artistry that lie behind your backyard and just a little Beyond Wicked.