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New York Notebook :: December by Sandy MacDonald
EDGE ContributorTuesday Dec 1, 2009
The Romans had the right idea. Christmas wasn’t exactly big on their social calendar. In its stead they celebrated Saturnalia--code for "party, party against the dying of the light." And as always, we like to keep the definition of "party" rather broad.
Week 1: Songs, Secrets, and Sakes
We’ll be ringing in the last-month-before-the-new-year with "A Jubilant Song," the Collegiate Chorale’s retrospective gala concert at Carnegie Hall, welcoming new maestro James Bagwell. It’ll be emceed by the ever-charming Roger Rees. And a heads-up re the next concert, sure to sell out: a concert staging, March 22, of Ricky Ian Gordon’s new opera based on "The Grapes of Wrath," with Jane Fonda narrating, and Nathan Gunn and Victoria Clark playing Tom and Ma Joad (Christine Ebersole cameos as a waitress!).
December 1-30, David Hyde Pierce appears at Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicks off its season at City Center December 2 - January 3 with a gala honoring Denzel and Pauletta Washington. Anna Deavere Smith (whose show "Let Me Down Easy" has been extended to January 3) will appear in certain performances of "Hymn" by Ailey artistic director Judith Jamison, who’s choreographing a world premiere to celebrate her twenty years with the company. Other new works include Robert Battle’s solo piece "In/Side," set to Nina Simone’s "Wild Is the Wind."
We’re also psyched to see director Robert Woodruff’s latest Theatre for a New Audience production, Rinde Eckert’s "Orpheus X" at the Duke on 42nd Street, December 2-20, in which the musician of legend is portrayed as a modern-day rock star.
Diehard lefties have a holiday tradition of their own to observe December 2-13 at Theater for the New City: Bread and Puppet Theater’s annual holiday show, which comes in two versions, adult ("Tear Open the Door of Heaven") and child ("Dirt Cheap Money Circus").
Christine Ebersole and Billy Stritch touch down at Birdland December 2-5 with a new show, "A Town and Country Christmas." On December 3, you can catch Michael Feinstein and Cheyenne Jackson offering a free preview of their new CD "The Power of Two" at the Lincoln Triangle Barnes & Noble. That evening, continue on to the benefit premiere of "Serious Moonlight," a seriously funny farce directed by Cheryl Hines and starring Meg Ryan as a betrayed wife who goes to comic extremes to restrain her straying husband. The late Adrienne Shelly wrote the script and the proceeds go to her namesake foundation.
Japan’s kawaii ("cute") craze, which celebrates and often sexualizes the infantile and prepuscent: harmless, or insidious? Choreographer Jeremy Wade addresses the issue in a performance piece, "there is no end to more," at the Japan Society December 3-5.
There’s nothing remotely cute, of course, about homophobia, particularly when directed at adolescents. Working Man’s Clothes Productions presents Chisa Hutchinson’s play "She Like Girls" at the Ohio Theater December 3-29.
Erin McKeown and Jill Sobule share the stage at the Highline Ballroom December 4, and on December 5-6 "The Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular" - whose lengthy roster includes talents like Mary Testa and Jared Weiss - plays Ars Nova.
Get your holiday shopping pleasantly over and done with at the annual BUST Holiday Craftacular at the Metropolitan Pavilion December 6. A far cry from the crunchy-granola sort, these crafts have attitude and style.
On December 6 and 13, Mimi Imfurst reprises her role as a rather outrageous Virgin in "Madonna’s Christmas Celebration" at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, tucked beneath the West Bank Café. If you like (or perhaps can only stand?) the standard holiday fare parodized, she has proved herself up to the task, and then some. The Daily Catholic website pronounced the show, now in its fourth incarnation, "despicable, blasphemous and abominable trash." (You couldn’t buy a better review!)
December 7 is one of those too-many-options nights. Just for starters:
-- The Labyrinth Theater Company’s seventh annual benefit "Celebrity Charades," featuring LAB co-founder Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Billy Crudup, and too many miming celebs to count
-- The Transport Group Theatre Company’s gala, "Gimme a Break," with Rosie Perez, Martha Plimpton, Chita Rivera, and Marian Seldes dishing on how they broke into the biz
-- Playwright Nicky Silver with three of his celebrated leading ladies -- Patricia Clarkson, Veanne Cox, and Leslie Ayvazian -- discussing his oeuvre at the Vineyard Theatre
-- Judy Gold hosting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America’s annual "Curtains Up For A Cure" concert, with assorted Broadway babies, at Playwrights Horizons.
-- The start of the two-day "Gypsy of the Year" competition, a benefit for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS
-- And finally, for the orally fixated, a seven-course, seven-sake dinner (only $85, including the rice wine) at Kyotofu - when reserving, use the password "Zagat Presents"
Week 2: A Punk Reunion and Assorted Alterna-Holiday Festivities
The New York Public Library proves its punk cred by inviting members of the legendary ’60s band the Velvet Underground--including Lou Reed--to reminisce on December 8. Also on the 8th, a dozen or so hit songwriters, from Alan Bergman to David Zippel, sing The Songs of Our Lives -- they wrote them -- to benefit the Fiorello H. LaGuardia (aka "Fame") High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. You’ll have from the 8th till the 21st to catch the touring Shakeseare’s Globe production of "Love’s Labour’s Lost" at Pace University.
Reserve the 9th for Lea DeLaria’s "Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho-Down!" at the Highline Ballroom. Judy Gold, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Mary Testa will be on hand to help out, and there will be prizes and such, but DeLaria fans know that she herself is reward enough.
Justin Bond gets in on the para-holiday action with "Christmas Spells" at Abrons Arts Center December 9-12. We can’t wait to to hear his bemused neo-pagan spin.
On the 10th, at The Pit, Shawn Hollenbech of Logo’s "Gayest Week Ever" hosts his brainchild "Closet Cases," in which comedians share their coming-out stories. He’s up against Ute Lemper at Joe’s Pub, but she’ll be sticking around through the 13th, so stagger! Issa (the Canadian singer-songwriter formerly known as Jane Siberry) claims the early slot on the 11th and 12th, and if you hang around late on the 11th, you can catch "Lady Rizo: Unescorted" - i.e., without her coterie of Assettes, but perhaps trailing some surprise guests.
Imagine that you’re a tongue-tied teenage girl; now imagine that you stutter. Three such young women--Ashlee Walsh, Michelle Polinsky and Alison Williams--will have a chance to shine when works which they wrote and directed get a professional production December 11-12 as part of Our Time’s One-Act Play Project. Show up and show your support.
Ready for a musicalized version of "The Importance of Being Earnest"? The Irish Repertory Theatre’s revival of the singing 1960 version, "Ernest in Love," had better be good, and with Annika Boras playing Gwendolen--as she did magnificently at Papermill Playhouse last season--we have a feeling it will be.
Isn’t Julianna Margulies doing a great job on "The Good Wife"? She’ll be honored--along with "Wicked" producer Marc Platt--at New York Stage and Film’s 25th anniversary gala at the Plaza December 13.
On the 14th, Great White Way vets such as Brian D’Arcy James, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Lauren Kennedy will put on a benefit show, "Broadway Celebrates dre.dance"--that’s the company co-founded by Andrew Palermo and Taye Diggs--at New World Stages. And while you’re in the neighborhood, check out the terrific Nuevo Latino restaurant Toloache, where chef Julian Medina lends fusiony panache to traditional south-of-the-border dishes. From December 11 through 18th, he’ll be offering a (clearly nonkosher) "Mexican Chanukah" menu, featuring the likes of a latke trio, tacos de brisket, cordero (rack of lamb) mole, and sufganiyot (donuts) stuffed with dulce de leche.
Week 3: Lubricious Libations, Dishy Divi, and a Huge Worldwide O
French wine and Vermont vodka will help lubricate the Cornish Colony Museum benefit reception at the Spanierman Gallery December 15. The museum, based in Windsor, Vermont, commemorates a cadre of visionaries, including Maxwell Parrish, who congregated along the upper Connecticut River roughly a century ago.
The four rather dishy male singers who make up Il Divo get a boost from Kristin Chenoweth--fresh off her stint in Love, Loss, and What I Wore--at the Beacon Theatre December 15-17.
Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, who’s not too hard on the eyes (or ears) either, settles in for a nice long, intimate run at the Blue Note December 15-January 3.
Batten down the hatches for another avant-garde extravaganza at the Armory: "Stifters Dinge," December 16-20, is described as a "fantastical work" entailing "five pianos as in-motion sculptural works playing without performers; the writings of Claude Lévi-Strauss, Malcolm X, and William S. Burroughs; songs from Papua New Guinea; haunting texts; and wind and mist." Check.
The 92YTribeca Theater hosts a couple of fun showcases: "Dream Role"--guest stars leap casting barriers--December 16; and "Mortified," based on embarrassing relics from those awkward teenage years, December 17. Come back on the 19th for the "This Is Spinal Tap Sing-Along," complete with costumes and prizes.
The highly touted Nature Theater of Oklahoma (a New York troupe inspired by a Kafka quote) brings "Romeo and Juliet" to The Kitchen December 17-January 16: not the usual saga of ill-starred underage lovers, but a performance piece based on a phone survey investigating random people’s notions of the plot.
Jackie Beat is back at the Laurie Beechman Theatre with "Alcoholidays!" December 18-20--just the tonic to see you through the penultimate stretch. That and Meow Meow in "Meow to the World: Crisis Is Born" at Joe’s Pub December 20-22.
The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus will likely skew a little more sincere with "Together at Town Hall" December 20, given that the concert is subtitled "A Celebration of the Power of Love"--but special guest Victoria Clark has a delightful light side, too.
As a prelim to own own customary observance on the 25th, we’d consider attending New York Times reporter Jennifer 8. Lee’s 92nd Street Y lecture December 20th on the topic of "Jews and Chinese Food: A Love Affair"--especially since the $39 admission includes a kosher dinner buffet.
If you weren’t planning anything special for December 21, now you are: it’s officially Global Orgasm for Peace Day. The goal, people, is synchronicity.
Week 4: Smart Strategies for Amateurs’ Night
On December 22, good girls and boys can do whatever they want (really, who cares?). The baddies will be heading to B.B. King Blues Club for "A John Waters Christmas," which promises to "put the ’X’ in Xmas."
On the 23rd, art-rocker Rachael Sage piles on the "Tchatchkes & Latkes" (and laughs) at Joe’s. And you did have the foresight, one hopes, to reserve your Sandra Bernhard tix there--December 26 right through New Year’s Eve--well ahead? As in last year? If not, comfort yourself with Our Lady J’s Gospel Brunch on December 27. This lovely and talented self-described transsexual atheist brings a uniquely enlightened twist to that old-time religion: namely, "Gospel for the Godless."
On December 28, there’s the first preview of the Liev Schreiber/Scarlett Johansson A View from the Bridge revival to look forward to, and December 29-30, Dr. John rocks the Highline Ballroom.
If you’re Bernhard-less on the big night, not to fret. Perfectly acceptable alternatives abound: Chuck Berry at B.B. King, Liz Callaway at the Metropolitan Room, Lilias White at City Hall Restaurant’s Granite Room ...
For those who head into the shank of the evening not quite sure where they’ll end up laying their heads, the Affinia group of hotels has a terrific "Midnight Rates" deal (use that phrase when booking), good through March: claim a room after 10:00 P.M. and you’ll get a C-note off that day’s best available rate, which could bring the price down as low as $159 a night. Go for it: your hangover will thank you.
Sandy MacDonald (www.sandymacdonald.com) is a reviewer for TheaterMania.com, TheaterNewsOnline.com, and the Boston Globe. She is also a travel writer and the author of Quick Escapes Boston: 25 Weekend Getaways from the Hub (Globe-Pequot).
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