BEST BETS: FEBRUARY 3rd – FEBRUARY 9th

Here are Cultural Attaché’s Best Bets: February 3^rd – February 9^th

WORKS & PROCESS – Guggenheim Museum – New York, NY; National Sawdust – Brooklyn, NY and MASS MoCA – North Adams, MA – February 3^rd – February 9^th

If you’re a fan of the performing arts on the East Coast, you’ll want to be at The Guggenheim Museum and National Sawdust this week. If you can’t make it to New York, but are in the Boston area, one of this week’s events is also taking place at MASS MoCA.

SMASH (February 3^rd) The creators of the new musical inspired by the television show of the same name will discuss the show. Cast members will also perform excerpts from the musical. That team includes composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (who wrote songs for the television show); book writers Rick Elice and Bob Martin; choreographer Joshua Bergasse and director Susan Stroman.  

NEVER ALONE (February 7^th) Director/choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) collaborates with writer Kate Quinn on this new dance piece. It tells the story of a British naval officer and a woman who excels art breaking codes who have an unlikely relationship during World War II. Blankenbuehler will discuss the show and highlights will be performed.

WILLIAMSTOWN THEATER FESTIVAL: JEREMY O’HARRIS (February 7^th at MASS MoCA / February 9^th at Guggenheim Museum)Harris, the playwright who challenged theatergoers with his highly-acclaimed Slave Play, will discuss his way of working in advance of the world premiere later this year at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Excerpts from the play will also be performed. This is, in my humble opinion, a must-see event that takes place at both venues.

CUSTOM OF THE COAST (February 9^th) This event at National Sawdust in Brooklyn will offer modern opera lovers the first look at a new opera by composer Kamala Sankaram and librettist Paul Muldoon. Their opera combines two stories of very different folks from Ireland:  Anne Bonny, an 18^th century pirate and Savita Halapannavar, a dentist who died in 2012 after being refused an abortion. There will be a conversation with the creators after the performance.

Quick tip: Next Monday there will be a Works & Process at the Guggenheim for the new musical Boop! The Betty Boop Musical with Jerry Mitchell.

NOISES OFF – Geffen Playhouse – Westwood, CA – Now – March 2^nd

This production of Michael Frayn’s madcap comedy from the 1980s began its life at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. The cast has made its way west to entertain audience with the high-octane laughs in this story of a theater company that can’t seem to get things right. (Noises Off can be considered the godfather of The Play That Goes Wrong).

Director Anna D. Shapiro, who won a Tony Award for her work on August: Osage County, directs this production.

Given everything Los Angeles has been dealing with so far this year, two and a half hours of laughs is certainly welcome. Complimentary tickets are available for patrons impacted by the LA wildfires.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

THE GREAT YES, THE GREAT NO – The Wallis – Beverly Hills, CA – February 5^th – February 8^th

Here’s a fascinating combination of personalities, artists and genres:  André Breton, Claude Lévi-Strauss, Wifredo Lam, Victor Serge, Anna Seghers (all depicted in this work); theater maker Phala Ookeditse Phala, dancer/choral conductor Nhlanhla Mahlangu and artist William Kentridge (they create this) in a work that is described as “part play, part Greek choir, part chamber opera.”

Whatever the end results, this is bound to be fascinating. 

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

JASON MORAN PLAYS DUKE ELLINGTON – Multiple Venues – February 6th – April 11th

The music of Duke Ellington will be celebrated by pianist/composer Moran in several concerts: some of them solo piano performances and others with local jazz or big bands.

The schedule is:

SF JAZZ – San Francisco (February 6^th – 9^th) with the Marcus Shelby New Orchestra. The February 7^th performance will be available for streaming at 7:30 PM PT

THE SORAYA – Northridge, CA (February 13^th– with the CSUN Jazz “A” Band

GREEN MUSIC CENTER – Sonoma, CA (February 15^th) This is his solo recital entitled Duke Ellington: My Heart Sings

HODGSON CONCERT HALL – Athens, GA – February 27^th – also My Heart Sings

BERKLEE PERFORMANCE CENTER – Boston, MA – March 1^st – also My Heart Sings

ADRIENNE ARTSH CENTER – Miami, Fl – March 21^st – also My Heart Sings

THE APOLLO – New York, NY – April 11^th – Ellington in Focus which finds Moran collaborating with the incredible photography of Gordon Parks.

Click on each venue name for tickets and more information.

DVOŘÁK NEW WORLD SYMPHONY – Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra – Cincinnati, OH – February 8^th and 9^th

To be honest, this massive popular symphony is not amongst my favorites. But this concert has other reasons to be on this week’s Best Bets. It marks the return of Cristian Mǎcelaru to CSO for the first time since he was named the next Music Director. He begins his tenure during the 2025-2026 season.

Also on the program is Southwestern Shakedown from Wynton Marsalis’ Blues Symphony; Chausson’s Poème and Florence Price’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with soloist Randall Goosby.

The performance on February 9^th will be livestreamed on CSO’s YouTube channel at 2 PM ET/11 AM PT.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

That’s it for Best Bets: February 3rd – February 9th.

Enjoy your week and go see a show!

Main Photo: Jeremy O’Harris and Raphael Picciarelli (Photo by Matthew Leifheit-Courtesy Works & Process)