this week in lectures, signings, panel discussions, workshops, and Q&As

EMILY JOHNSON: THE WAYS WE LOVE AND THE WAYS WE LOVE BETTER — MONUMENTAL MOVEMENT TOWARD BEING FUTURE BEING(S)

Emily Johnson rehearses for site-specific livestreamed performance on Jeffrey Gibson installation at Socrates Sculpture Park (courtesy the artists and Socrates Sculpture Park; photo by Audrey Dimola)

Who: Angel Acuña, Nia-Selassi Clark, Linda La, Denaysha Macklin, Annie Ming-Hao Wang, Angelica Mondol Viana, Ashley Pierre-Louis, Katrina Reid, Kim Savarino, Sasha Smith, Stacy Lynn Smith, Paul Tsao, Kim Velsey, Sugar Vendil, Emily Johnson/Catalyst
What: Livestreamed site-specific performance from Socrates Sculpture Park
Where: Socrates Sculpture Park Facebook and Zoom
When: Wednesday, September 16, free, 6:45
Why: The centerpiece of Socrates Sculpture Park’s “Monuments Now” exhibition, which comes along at a time when statues across the country are being torn down because of the honorees’ real or perceived ties to slavery, racism, misogyny, or colonialism, is Jeffrey Gibson’s Because Once You Enter My House It Becomes Our House, a three-level pyramid-like psychedelic structure of plywood, wheatpaste posters, steel, and LEDs, with pronouncements on all four sides: “The Future Future Future Is Present Present Present,” “Respect Indigenous Land Land Land,” “Numbers Numbers Numbers Too Too Too Big to Ignore,” and, simply and to the point, “Power.” Gibson, a Colorado-born Mississippi Choctaw-Cherokee painter and sculptor who received a 2019 MacArthur Foundation Genius grant and is based in Hudson, New York, incorporates elements of the pre-Columbian Mississippian architecture of the ancient city of Cahokia, queer camp aesthetics, and the Serpent Mound of Ohio in the forty-four-foot-high structure. In addition to the massive work, which can be seen from quite a distance away, Gibson has curated events that activate the sculpture. Violinist and visual artist Laura Ortman (White Mountain Apache) played atop the ziggurat on July 24; on September 16, Bessie Award-winning multidisciplinary artist, land and water protector, social justice activist, and Guggenheim Fellow Emily Johnson will host a special evening that seeks to offer regeneration, renewal, and transformation during these challenging times.

Jeffrey Gibson’s Because Once You Enter My House It Becomes Our House will be the site of a special performance on September 16 (photo courtesy Emily Johnson)

Johnson, who was born in Alaska of Yup’ik descent, creates immersive, interactive works, such as Niicugni, Shore, and The Thank-You Bar, that combine dance with other artistic forms, constructed around a deeply heartfelt connection with the natural environment, civic responsibility, and Indigenous cultures. In August 2017, Johnson presented Then a Cunning Voice and a Night We Spend Gazing at Stars, an overnight gathering on Randall’s Island that included storytelling, dance, discussions, kinstillatory rituals, and the preparing and eating of food. For The Ways We Love and the Ways We Love Better — Monumental Movement Toward Being Future Being(s), taking place September 16 at 6:45 at Socrates Sculpture Park, Johnson is unable to bring together a large, participatory group in person because of the pandemic; the park will be closed to the public during the performance, but it will be livestreamed over Facebook and Zoom, where people can form a virtual community. The event begins at the shore of the East River estuary with words from artist and activist Nataneh River, after which Johnson will walk to Gibson’s installation, where she and Angel Acuña, Nia-Selassi Clark, Linda La, Denaysha Macklin, Annie Ming-Hao Wang, Angelica Mondol Viana, Ashley Pierre-Louis, Katrina Reid, Kim Savarino, Sasha Smith, Stacy Lynn Smith, Paul Tsao, Kim Velsey, and Sugar Vendil will activate the work through storytelling, invocation, movement, and light. The evening concludes with the planting of tobacco in tribute to the land, which was previously known as Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Lenapeyok people. The event is free, but donations can be made to the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women and the White Mountain Apache Tribe Covid-19 Relief Fund in conjunction with the performance.

“Monuments Now” continues through the end of the month with Paul Ramírez Jonas’s communal grill Eternal Flame and Xaviera Simmons’s word-based The structure the labor the foundation the escape the pause as well as Nona Faustine’s cancel-culture billboard In Praise of Famous Men No More, with the second and third parts of the exhibit, “Call and Response” and “The Next Generation,” arriving in October; you can see a slideshow of the current works here. Johnson’s next Kinstillatory Mappings in Light and Dark Matter outdoor ceremonial fires at Abrons Arts Center are scheduled for October 8, November 12, and December 10 at 7:00.

STEADY, CALM, AND BRAVE: VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH PARTY WITH KIMBERLY BROWN

Who: Kimberly Brown
What: Virtual book launch party
Where: Zoom
When: Monday, September 14, free with RSVP, 7:00
Why: In her new book, Steady, Calm, and Brave: 25 Practices of Resilience and Wisdom in a Crisis (Publishing with Heart, July 2020, $12.95), New York City meditation teacher Kimberly J. Brown offers advice on how to deal with the current pandemic and the protests raging across the country. “Our delusions about being independent from other people, or separate from those we don’t like or don’t know, are revealed as dangerous and demonstrably false in any time of crisis,” she writes in the preface. Later, in the chapter “When It’s Us Against Them,” she explains, “Divisive thinking is a root cause of racism and so many other social problems throughout the world. The idea that we can separate ourselves from others is a type of delusion that Buddhism calls a ‘wrong view.’ Right view is the scientific fact that all humans — all living beings — are profoundly connected. We live together on the same planet, breathe the same air, share the resources of our ecosystem, and all of our actions affect one another. There is no us and them — only us.”

Brown teaches guided meditation and mind-body therapy at the Rubin Museum, the Interdependence Project, the Shantideva Center (“Metta for [Self]Compassion” on Thursday nights), and other institutions as well as privately; in addition, her “Wisdom and Healing for the World” class takes place every Sunday morning at 10:00. On September 14 at 7:00, she will be hosting a virtual book launch party for Steady, Calm, and Brave, which includes such chapters as “Harm and Healing,” “Grief and Loss,” “When Your Family Is Making You Crazy,” “When You’re Mad at the World,” “When Others Behave Badly,” and “When You’re Keeping Your Distance.” The book also features extensive back matter with blessings and resources, and Brown offers numerous types of meditation practices (five-minute, virtual, safety) for experienced meditators as well as beginners. The book is as warm and lovely as she is — I’ve known her for about ten years — so you can expect a warm and lovely event, much-needed healing during these intense times of stress and pressure coming at us from all sides.

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.

A VIRTUAL PRINCESS BRIDE REUNION

Who: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Christoper Guest, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Chris Sarandon, Rob Reiner, Josh Gad, Eric Idle, King Bach, Finn Wolfhard, Shaun Ross, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Reitman, Patton Oswalt, Norman Lear
What: Benefit reunion reading of The Princess Bride script
Where: Act Blue
When: Sunday, September 13, suggested donation $27, 7:00
Why: After voting Democratic from 1988 to 2012 in the presidential election, Wisconsin went red in 2016, helping Donald J. Trump become the forty-fifth president of the United States of America. Amid protests and riots in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake seven times in the back by a police officer, Wisconsin is once more a key swing state, this time in the battle between Trump and former vice president Joe Biden. One way to contribute to turn the Badger State blue again is by signing up for an amazing livestreamed reunion reading of Rob Reiner’s 1987 cult classic, The Princess Bride. On September 13 at 7:00, most of the original cast will participate in a one-time-only table reading of the script, with Cary Elwes as Westley, Robin Wright as Buttercup, Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya, Wallace Shawn as Vizzini, Christoper Guest as Count Rugen, Billy Crystal as Miracle Max, Carol Kane as Valerie, and Chris Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck; joining them are director Rob Reiner as the Grandfather, Josh Gad as Fezzik, Eric Idle as the Impressive Clergyman, Finn Wolfhard as the Grandson, Shaun Ross as the Albino, Whoopi Goldberg as the Ancient Booer and the Mother, Jason Reitman as the Narrator, and King Bach as Yellin, the Assistant Brute, and the King, with Patton Oswalt as the Q&A Moderator and executive producer Norman Lear as the Man That Made It All Happen. Gad has been the king of reunions during the pandemic, having hosted online cast and crew reunions for Back to the Future, Splash, Lord of the Rings, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ghostbusters, and The Goonies on his YouTube channel.

Based on William Goldman’s 1973 novel — he wrote the screenplay as well — The Princess Bride is a riotously told fairy tale about power, family, vengeance, and true love, with memorable lines appearing throughout. (My favorite is “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” You might prefer “As you wish,” “Anybody want a peanut?,” “You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles,” or “Inconceivable!”) In order to get the Act Blue link, you have to make a donation of any amount to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, which explains, “Anything you donate will be used to ensure that Trump loses Wisconsin, and thereby the White House,” as per the famous saying “As goes Wisconsin, so goes the nation.” In a statement, Elwes added, “I think most people are aware by now that Donald Trump has completely abdicated his duties as president to represent and stand up for all Americans. He has failed to keep the country safe from Covid-19 and as a result he is responsible for the devastating chaos, violence, and economic collapse that we are now experiencing. If America is going to have a real chance at healing we must get rid of Trump. And that is only possible if we win Wisconsin. I am thrilled to be part of this very rare reunion of my colleagues from The Princess Bride as a way to increase awareness and garner resources for the state that will determine the fate of America.” Be sure to take a moment of silence to pay your respects to the crew and cast members who are no longer with us, including Goldman, Peter Falk (the Grandfather), André the Giant (Fezzik), Peter Cook (the Impressive Clergyman), Mel Smith (the Albino), Margery Mason (the Ancient Booer), Anne Dyson (the Queen), and Willoughby Gray (the King). When Westley says, “We’ll never survive!,” he’s of course referring to another four years of the current administration, but we also can’t forget what the Grandfather explains: “Life isn’t always fair.” (For more Princess Bride fun, check out the star-studded Quibi home movie version here, benefiting World Central Kitchen.)

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.

THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY 2020 BOOK AWARDS VIRTUAL LITERARY SALON AND AWARDS PRESENTATION

Who: Cara Robertson, Harold Holzer, Sarah Blake, Adrienne Brodeur, Roland Foster Miller, Matthew Rimi von Barton
What: Livestreamed book awards salon
Where: New England Society Zoom
When: Thursday, September 10, $25, 6:00
Why: The annual New England Society Book Awards, which honors titles by New England-based authors and/or books about New England history and culture, was scheduled to be held at the National Arts Club, but because of the pandemic it has been moved to Zoom, where it will take place September 10 at 6:00. The salon, featuring author acceptance speeches, a group interview emceed by NES board member Matthew Rimi von Barton, and an audience Q&A, will celebrate this year’s winners: The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson for Historical Nonfiction, Monument Man: The Life & Art of Daniel Chester French by Harold Holzer for Art & Photography, The Guest Book by Sarah Blake for Fiction, and Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me by Adrienne Brodeur for Biography/Memoir.

“New England continues to draw from a deep well of talented writers,” Book Awards chair Roland Foster Miller said in a statement. “This year’s winners examine subjects as diverse as Daniel Chester French (the Lincoln Memorial sculptor), and Lizzie Borden’s double-murder trial, where readers take a virtual seat in the jury box. In her provocative memoir, Adrienne Brodeur, the publisher and editor, chronicles her life with her mother and her mother’s lover, and Sarah Blake’s novel tracks the foibles and challenges of three generations of a New England family summering in an island cottage in Maine.” The Zoom salon is open to the public; the $25 donation supports the New England Society [Ed. note: My wife is an NES officer] and its outreach, including the Scholarship Program, which “provides financial help to New York City students attending colleges and universities in the New England states.”

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.