Best Bets: September 8th – September 14th

The weather isn’t the only way to tell that we’re about to enter the fall season. The performing arts take, for the most part, a more serious tone. As you’ll see in this week’s Best Bets: September 8th – September 14th.

A SINGLE MAN – Royal Ballet & Opera – Linbury Theatre – London, UK – September 8^th – September 20^th

In July of this year the world premiere of a ballet based on Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 novel took place. Jonathan Watkins choreographed A Single Man which features music by singer-songwriter John Grant and composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman.

You might recall the Tom Ford film starring Colin Firth. The story revolves around a gay, late 50s, professor who recently lost his partner. As he navigates his day, he encounters various people he knows and Kenny, who is one of his students, who makes a particularly strong impression on the grieving man.

Grant provides the soundtrack to George’s thoughts and emotions while two dancers (Ed Watson and Jonathan Goddard) share the lead dance role of George. They depict the physical manifestations of George’s day. Additional dancers play the various people whom George encounters throughout the one day of this story. It’s ripe material for ballet. If it works as well as I hope it will, audiences will be quite emotional by the time the curtain goes down.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

PRINCE FAGGOT – Studio Seaview – New York, NY – September 11^th – December 13^th

Jordan Tannahill’s play Prince Faggot was a smash hit earlier this year. It became one of the season’s toughest tickets when the New York Times raved about it. Now Prince Faggot has moved to a midtown home, still off-Broadway, for an announced six weeks only run. Might it run longer? Oh yes it will. The final extension has been announced through December 13th. And for good reason. It’s quite good.

This satirical play depicts a time in the not-so-distant future when Prince George, now an adult, has his anti-colonialist boyfriend with him as it is time for him to meet the Royals. 

The original cast returns: Rachel Crowl, K. Todd Freeman, David Greenspan, Mihir Kumar, John McCrea and N’yomi Allure Stewart. Freeman, who is directing Mr. Wolf at Steppenwolf Theatre Company does not join until September 26^th. Tyrone Mitchell Henderson will play his part for the first two weeks.

Shayok Misha Chowdhury directs.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

MARY HALVORSON’S AMARYLLIS: ABOUT GHOSTS– Multiple Venues – September 12^th – September 21^st

Guitarist/composer/leader Mary Halvorson is touring behind her incredible album About Ghosts. You might recall that I selected that album as the top pick for New In Music This Week: June 13^th.

For the better part of this 10-show tour, Halvorson will be joined by the same musicians who appeared on the album: Patricia Brennan on vibraphone; Nick Dunston on bass; Tomas Fujiwara on drums; Jacob Garchik on trombone and Adam O’Farrill on trumpet. 

The tour begins on September 12^th as part of Chicago’s Sound & Gravity Festival with an appearance at Constellation. That is followed by Singletary Center in Lexington, KY on September 13^th; Indiana University in Bloomington, IN on September 14^th; De La Luz in Holyoke, MA on Septmeber 16^th; Space Gallery in Portland, ME on September 17^th; Regattabar in Cambridge, MA on September 18^th (two sets); Arden Concert Gild in Wilmington, DE on September 19^th; Solar Myth in Philadelphia, PA on September 20^th and finishing at Roulette in Brooklyn, NY on September 21st.

The September 18^th second set at Regattabar will add special guests Logan Richardson on alto saxophone and Walter Smith III on tenor saxophone. The September 21^st show at roulette will also include Brian Settles on tenor saxophone and Immanuel Wilkins on alto saxophone.

For tickets and more information, please click on each venue’s name above.

I AM – CAMILLE A. BROWN & DANCERS – Ahmanson Theatre – Los Angeles, CA – September 12^th – September 14^th

If you’ve seen the most recent revival of Gypsy, the musical Hell’s Kitchen, the opera Fire Shut Up in My Bones by Terence Blanchard or the documentary short Giant Steps on PBS from American Masters, you have encountered the incredible work of dancer/choreographer/director Camille A. Brown.

She and her company will be performing I AM, a 65-minute work that was a Critic’s Pick in the New York Times earlier this year. As Siobhan Burke said in her review, “It’s her work with her company…that brings us closest to her essence as an artist, showing us who she is, what moves her.”

This is the West Coast premiere of I AM. It is performed with live music.

Brown is a staggeringly inventive choreographer. Any fan of modern dance, Black joy and incredible dancing will not want to miss this show.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

I AM will also be performed September 26^th at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ and as part of the Celebrity Series of Boston on November 14^th  and 15^th.

DEAD MAN WALKING – San Francisco Opera – San Francisco, CA – September 14^th – September 28^th

San Francisco Opera commissioned this Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally adaptation of Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir that had its world premiere in 2000.  

Both works tells the story of the relationship that develops between Sister Helen and Joseph de Rocher, a felon on death row who has asked that she escort him through the process of his upcoming execution. It’s a powerful memoir and was made into a film by Tim Robbins. Susan Sarandon won an Academy Award for her performance.

For this 25^th anniversary production, Jamie Barton sings the role of Sister Helen and Ryan McKinny sings the role of De Rocher. Susan Graham, who originated the role of Sister Helen, sings the role of De Rocher’s mother.

Patrick Summers, who conducted the original production, returns. Leonard Foglia directs.

I’ve seen a different production of Dead Man Walking and found it utterly compelling and emotional.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE. The September 20^th performance at 7:30 PM PT will be livestreamed and available through September 23^rd at 10:00 AM PT. For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

That’s all for this week’s Best Bets: September 8th – September 14th.

Enjoy your week! Go enjoy a show!

Main Photo: Mary Halvorson (Photo by Elena Olivo/Courtesy Big Fish)