this week in music

EDGECUT: CAPTIVITY

Kate Ladenheim + the RAD Lab’s Babyface is part of Edgecut: Captivity live 3D experience online at NYLA on Saturday

Who: Carrie Sijia Wang, Emily Twines, Theater in Quarantine, Kate Ladenheim + the RAD Lab, Rourou Ye, Sadi Oortmood, Sylvain Souklaye, XUE
What: 3D live experience
Where: New York Live Arts
When: Saturday, October 10, livestream free, interactive experience $7-$20, noon – 5:00
Why: The cutting-edge series EdgeCut is teaming up with New York Live Arts for Captivity, five hours of short performance works, talkbacks, and networking taking place online from noon to 5:00 on October 10. Curated by Heidi Boisvert and Kat Mustatea, the EdgeCut program, which originally convened at the New Museum’s NEW INC incubator for art, tech, and design for in-person presentations, is now seeking to expand and redefine the virtual 3D experience during the pandemic lockdown, exploring the question “How do we create collective experience and transformative gatherings in this moment of ‘a crisis within a crisis’ that speak to transition, change, healing, humanity?” The works, chosen through an open call focusing on captivity, sanity, and humanity, include Kate Ladenheim + the RAD Lab’s Babyface, Rourou Ye’s The Absent Umbra, Theater in Quarantine’s The Neighbor, Carrie Sijia Wang’s The System 2.0, Sadi Oortmood’s Invisible Creativity, Emily Twines’s lookingGlass, Sylvain Souklaye’s Black Breathing, and Xue’s Endless Return Rave. Virtual attendees can roam from room to room and engage with others, but be patient, as there’s a maximum of fifteen at any one time in the Nowhere platform. The full Captivity experience can be accessed with advance tickets of $7 to $20, but they are extremely limited, so act fast; it can also be watched for free via livestream but without the participatory elements.

AN EVENING OF NEW YORK SONGS AND STORIES WITH SUZANNE VEGA: LIVE AT THE BLUE NOTE

Who: Suzanne Vega, Gerry Leonard, Jeff Allen, Jason Hart
What: Two livestreamed concerts
Where: Blue Note Jazz Club online
When: Wednesday, October 7, 9:00, and Thursday, October 8, $24, 3:00
Why: Beloved singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega might have been born in California, but she is a true New Yorker, raised in Spanish Harlem. She is celebrating the release of her live album, An Evening of New York Songs and Stories, with two shows that will be livestreamed from the Blue Note in Greenwich Village, where she will perform the full record with guitarist Gerry Leonard, bassist Jeff Allen, and keyboardist Jason Hart. On October 7, the show will begin at 9:00 for US audiences, while the October 8 show will start at 3:00 for overseas fans, although you can watch either or both concerts no matter where you are. The record, which was released on her label, Amanuensis/Cooking Vinyl, on September 11, features sixteen songs from throughout her career, focusing on New York City as a theme, including “Marlene on the Wall,” “Ludlow Street,” “Freeze Tag,” “Tom’s Diner,” “Luka,” “New York Is My Destination,” and “New York Is a Woman” in addition to a cover of Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side.” (Ten years ago, Dutch DJ Ben Liebrand did a mashup of Reed’s underground classic with “Tom’s Diner,” which you can listen to here.) Vega, who has also written her own one-woman biomusical, Carson McCullers Talks About Love, has been a fun presence on social media during the pandemic, doing interviews (she discussed her part in the New Group production of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice here) and playing songs and telling stories from her home (check out her Greenwich Village Folk Festival set here), so this full-band show is a don’t-miss opportunity to not just hang out with a New York treasure but fall in love with her, and the city, all over again.

COLLECTIVE TRAUMA SUMMIT 2020: THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE HEALING

Who: Hosts Thomas Hübl, Dr. Laura Calderón de la Barca, Kosha Joubert, Robin Alfred, and Anna Molitor, and more than forty guests
What: Live guided experiences, performances, artist dialogues
Where: Collective Trauma Summit
When: September 22 – October 1, free with registration
Why: It’s been a rough 2020, and it seems to only be getting worse. We could all use a bit of healing, and that’s just what the Collective Trauma Summit seeks to do. The virtual conference runs September 22 through October 1 with ten live events in addition to numerous prerecorded talks and performances, featuring music, poetry, panel discussions, guided experiences, and more with Sharon Salzberg, Priya Parker, Jacqueline Novogratz, Daniel J. Siegel, Melanie Goodchild, Joy Harjo, David Whyte, Marie Howe, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Li-Young Lee, Naomi Shihab Nye, Jami Sieber, Krishna Das, Dr. Srini Pillay, Margaret Wheatley, Yehudit Sasportas, Xiuhtezcatl, and many others. Among the topics are “The Link between Personal Trauma and Collective Trauma,” “How Neuroscience Can Inform Approaches to Trauma Healing,” “How to Become Aware of Unresolved States and Heal Them,” “The Future of Collective Healing Processes and Methods,” “How Communities Can Transform Themselves,” “Practices for Engaging the Wisdom of the Body,” “Working with Inherited Family and Ancestral Trauma,” “Transforming Cycles of Violence and Cultural Trauma,” and “Using Trauma as a Call to Service and Self-Transcendence.” The hosts are Thomas Hübl, Dr. Laura Calderón de la Barca, Kosha Joubert, Robin Alfred, and Anna Molitor. “Trauma is not just a personal experience. It is always embedded in a much wider chain of events and history. Examining our collective trauma is the way to tap into the evolutionary intelligence of humanity,” explains Hübl, the founder of the Academy of Inner Science and author of the forthcoming book Healing Collective Trauma. Admission is free; below are the live events.

Tuesday, September 22, noon
“Awakening to the Nature of Collective Trauma,” with Thomas Hübl, Laura Calderón de la Barca, Robin Alfred, Kosha Joubert, and Anna Molitor, music by Adam Bauer, and poetry by Kim Rosen

Wednesday, September 23, noon
“Uncovering Our Cultural Trauma Conditioning,” with Thomas Hübl, host Robin Alfred, music by Adam Bauer, and poetry by Kim Rosen

Thursday, September 24, noon
“Exploring Our Roots and Ancestral History,” with Thomas Hübl, host Kosha Joubert, music by Adam Bauer, and poetry by Kim Rosen

Friday, September 25, noon
“The Art of Peacemaking: Mediating Conflicts in a Traumatized Field,” with William Ury, host Kosha Joubert, and panelists Ameya Kilara and Claire Hajaj

Saturday, September 26, 1:00
“Collective Healing and Structural Inequality: A Contemplative Walk,” with Thomas Hübl, Angel Acosta, and host Laura Calderón de la Barca

Saturday, September 27, noon
“Poetry as a Gateway to Collective Healing,” with Marie Howe, Pádraig Ó Tuama, and host Anna Molitor

Tuesday, September 29, noon
“The Pocket Project: Activating the Power of Group Coherence,” with Thomas Hübl, Yehudit Sasportas, Kosha Joubert, and Laura Calderón de la Barca

Thursday, October 1, noon
“Climate Crisis: Restoring Our Relationship to the Earth,” with Thomas Hübl, host Kosha Joubert, and music by Adam Bauer

MISCAST20

Miscast20 features an exciting roster of theater stars performing just the wrong songs

Who: Norbert Leo Butz, Heather Headley, Rob McClure, Isaac Powell, Robert Fairchild, Joshua Henry, Ingrid Michaelson, Lauren Ridloff, Adrienne Warren, Beanie Feldstein, Leslie Odom Jr., Nicolette Robinson, Phillipa Soo, Jocelyn Bioh, Julianna Margulies, Raúl Esparza, Piper Perabo, Judith Light, Thomas Sadoski, Kenneth Cole, Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, Harvey Fierstein, Jenn Gambatese, Jackie Hoffman, Kamilah Marshall, Matthew Morrison, Corey Reynolds, Judine Somerville, Shayna Steele, Marissa Jaret Winokur
What: Virtual edition of MCC Theater’s annual Miscast gala
Where: MCC YouTube channel
When: Sunday, September 13, free (donations accepted), preshow 7:45, show 8:00
Why: We’ve all been there: We’re in a theater watching a show when we realize that it’s just not going to work because of a bad casting decision. MCC Theater has been spoofing on that situation with its annual Miscast fundraising galas, in which they purposely match talented performers with the wrong song. On September 13, Miscast20 will go virtual, adding a geographic dimension to the wrongness. Admission is free, though donations will be accepted, with ten percent going to the Mental Health Coalition, which was founded earlier this year by fashion designer and activist Kenneth Cole; MHC’s mission “is to build a like-minded community who will work together to destigmatize all mental health conditions by changing the way people talk about, and care for, their mental health.”

Performing at the event, which will be broadcast for free on YouTube, are Norbert Leo Butz, Heather Headley, Rob McClure, Isaac Powell, Robert Fairchild, Joshua Henry, Ingrid Michaelson, Lauren Ridloff, Adrienne Warren, Beanie Feldstein, Leslie Odom Jr., Nicolette Robinson, and Phillipa Soo; Jocelyn Bioh, Julianna Margulies, Raúl Esparza, Piper Perabo, Judith Light, Thomas Sadoski, and Cole will serve as presenters. There will also be a special reunion appearance by the cast of Hairspray: Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, Harvey Fierstein, Jenn Gambatese, Jackie Hoffman, Kamilah Marshall, Matthew Morrison, Corey Reynolds, Judine Somerville, Shayna Steele, and Marissa Jaret Winokur. In addition, MCC is hosting an online auction where you can bid on such items as an original costume from A Chorus Line, coaching and mentor sessions with professionals, signed Playbills, wine and dinner tastings and getaways, and MCC memberships.

TABLE OF SILENCE PROJECT 9/11

Special “Table of Silence Project” performance ritual of peace returns for tenth year to Josie Robertson Plaza but can only be viewed virtually (photo courtesy Lincoln Center)

Josie Robertson Plaza, Lincoln Center
65th St. between Broadway & Amsterdam Ave.
Friday, September 11, free, 7:55 – 8:46 am
www.tableofsilence.org
lincolncenter.org

Every September 11, there are many memorial programs held all over the city, paying tribute to those who were lost on that tragic day while also honoring New York’s endless resiliency. One of the most powerful is Buglisi Dance Theatre’s “Table of Silence Project,” a multicultural public performance ritual for peace that annually features one hundred dancers on Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center. But it has to be reconfigured this year because of the pandemic lockdown; it will be shown virtually on Facebook and YouTube, as no audience is permitted on the plaza. On Friday morning from 7:55 to 8:46, the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center, BDT, Lincoln Center, and Dance/NYC will present a new, live prologue featuring two dozen socially distanced dancers from BDT, Ailey II, Alison Cook Beatty Dance, Ballet Hispánico’s BHdos, the Juilliard School, Limón Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, and other professional dancers circling Lincoln Center’s Revson Fountain, with original music by electric violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain and spoken-word poetry by Marc Bamuthi Joseph (from the Kennedy Center in DC), with BDT cofounder and principal dancer Terese Capucilli serving as bell master; opening remarks by special guests; an excerpt from Buglisi’s 2001 Requiem, which was choreographed as an immediate response to the attacks; the world premiere of the three-minute film Études by Nel Shelby Productions, highlighting 150 dancers from around the world who recorded their own “Table of Silence” pieces last month; a video of the full 2019 performance; and a call for peace in honor of the tenth anniversary of the work.

“This reimagining is a powerful message for healing as we struggle with the global pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice. We honor all those whose lives are impacted by the crises our country is facing,” BDT artistic director Jacqulyn Buglisi said in a statement. “Expressing so much of what makes us human, the project’s message of peace and healing is far-reaching and holds great relevance today, in addition to the 9/11 commemoration. It strives to be a transformative experience that reveals the strength and resilience of our collective society.” This year also includes a meditation variation and live chat that took place on September 6 and can be viewed above. Admission is free but you can donate to the project here.

BOSTON COLLEGE 2020 FIRST YEAR ACADEMIC CONVOCATION: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Who: Bruce Springsteen
What: Livestreamed address to incoming Boston College class of 2024
Where: Boston College YouTube
When: Thursday, September 10, free, 7:00
Why: Bruce Springsteen has been affiliated with Boston College ever since his son Evan went to school there, graduating in 2012, including playing benefit concerts. The Boss is now scheduled to deliver an address to the incoming class of 2024 on September 10 at 7:00, following the traditional torch-lit First Flight Procession, in which first-year students march down Linden Lane, descend the Higgins Stairs, then enter Conte Forum. Each member of the class has received a digital copy of Springsteen’s 2016 memoir, Born to Run, along with a reading guide. “Through his songs, Bruce Springsteen has long been such a conversation partner to his audience, masterfully portraying the American experience through lyrics that inspire reflection about our world, our families, our jobs, our struggles, and our relationships,” Student Formation executive director Michael Sacco said in a statement. “But in his memoir, Bruce reveals the conversation he had with himself as he approached many of his life’s crossroads. In doing so, Bruce shares how attentiveness, contemplation, and authenticity played a key role in his personal growth and honing his immense talents. Each BC student brings a unique set of talents, and reading Bruce’s story will give them an invaluable perspective as they begin their formation at Boston College.” You can watch the livestream of the First Year Academic Convocation on YouTube here.

In explaining why the book was chosen to be distributed to the students at the Jesuit school, the reading guide offers, “In this book, Bruce Springsteen shares his story — the meaningful events and the transformation he has experienced on his journey — and how his reflection on these experiences has impacted his engagement with the world around him. As you read Born to Run it is the hope of the university that it inspires you to reflect on your own story — the meaningful events and the transformation you have experienced and will continue to experience during your time at Boston College — and understand how your own personal narrative enables you to encounter God’s presence in the world. In reading Springsteen’s reflections on truth, identity, and love, you will be invited to consider your own values and encouraged to think about how you respond to life’s questions.” Another of life’s important questions is, Are the rumors of a new E Street Band album releasing October 23, preceded by a single on September 10, real? The truth will be revealed shortly.

WYCLEF JEAN PRESENTS THE CARNIVAL LIVE AT THE APOLLO

Who: Wyclef Jean
What: Livestreamed concert
Where: Apollo Digital Stage
When: Wednesday, September 9, free, 8:00
Why: Haitian-born, New Jersey-based multigenre superstar and activist Wyclef Jean will return to the stage of the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem on September 9 at 8:00 to perform his 1997 album, Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee All-Stars, in its entirety for the first time ever. The double LP signaled the end of the Fugees, who performed at the Apollo in 1996, although bandmates Lauryn Hill and Pras appear on the record. “Stepping on the Apollo stage back in 1996 accomplished one of the greatest goals I had as a young Fugee, so it really feels like I’m coming home by having the opportunity to perform at the theater again,” Jean said in a statement. “I’ve been wanting to do a complete performance of The Carnival for a while now, and I’m excited that I’m able to combine energies with the Apollo and ADCOLOR to pull it off. All three of us are here to celebrate culture, diversity, and the Black American experience, and we’re ready to provide a historic performance that does just that.” The Carnival features such tracks as “Apocalypse,” “Guantanamera” with Celia Cruz, Jeni Fujita, and Hill, “To All the Girls,” “Anything Can Happen,” “Mona Lisa” with the Neville Brothers, and the Bee Gees-inspired “We Trying to Stay Alive” with John Forté and Pras.

The concert will take place with no audience and a minimal crew; you can watch the livestream here. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to support the legendary venue through this time of crisis. This inaugural Apollo Digital Stage show will be followed September 23 at 7:00 with a free conversation between Grammy-winning musician, actor, and activist John Legend and activist, scholar, and writer Salamishah Tillet (Sites of Slavery: Citizenship and Racial Democracy in the Post-Civil Rights Imagination, the upcoming In Search of “The Color Purple”: The Story of an American Masterpiece), exploring the duty of an artist, especially at this critical period in the nation’s history, and on September 29 at 6:30 by a discussion between authors Nic Stone (Dear Martin, Dear Justyce) and Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give, On the Come Up), looking at the flawed American juvenile justice system.