Walter’s World: Weekend Picks Theater, Dance and “Nightclubbin” February 21, 2013

By Walter Rutledge

This weekend culture abounds throughout the city. James Baldwin creates a discussion in Brooklyn, Dance taking over Chelsea and we are “nightclubbin” at the Apollo. Here are a few of the many events taking place around the city and in our community.

651 ARTS presents Roundtable 63, a staged reading of the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play James Balwin: A Soul On Fire on Friday, February 22, 7:30pm at the Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts, Long Island University Brooklyn Campus. The reading is directed by Robert O’Hara and performed by Charles Reese and Forrest McClemdon. It will be followed by an inter-generational modern day civil rights round table dialogue re-examining the relevance of the moral, social, political, educational and human rights issues of 1963 versus 2013. Roundtable participants include Nana Camille Yarbrough, Artist/Activist; David Leeming, Baldwin’s Biographer and Former Secretary; Shani Jamila, Director, Human Rights Urban Justice Center and Curated by Charles Reese. Tickets are $20 and can be purchase at www.kumbletheater.tix.com or call (718) 488-1624.

Martha Graham Dance Company presents “Myth and Transformation” a series of three compelling programs that explore how artists reinvent iconic stories to make forceful contemporary statements through March 3 at the Joyce Theater. Performances include a new production of Graham’s erotic masterwork Phaedra; The Show (Achilles Heels), a highly provocative interpretation of the Achilles legend created, choreographed, and directed by Richard Move featuring an original score by Arto Lindsay with songs by Deborah Harry and Blondie and includes scenic art by Nicole Eisenman. An all-Graham program showcases three Greek-themed Graham masterworks: Cave of the Heart, The Errand into the Maze Project, and Night Journey. And a third program featuring two premieres: the New York premiere of Doug Varone’s Lamentation Variation, a haunting quartet set to Ravel, and the world premiere of From the Grammar of Dreams by Luca Veggetti with music by Kaija Saariaho.

For more information about the Martha Graham Dance Company visit www.marthagraham.org. For a complete schedule of performances and to purchase tickets visit http://www.joyce.org . Tickets can also be purchased at the box office.

Apollo Club Harlem brings back the glamour, electricity and elegance of uptown nightlife made legendary the 30’s and 40’s for two more performances Friday, February 22 and Saturday, February 23. Host, director and choreographer Maurice Hines has assembled a stunning roster of top contemporary talent including Tony Award and three-time Grammy Award winning vocalist and actress Dee Dee Bridgewater; rising-star Cecile McLorin Salvant; female tap dancer Dormeshia, and Storyboard P, who has been bill as a 21^st century reincarnation of the notorious Snakehips, takes to the stage. David Berger, an internationally renowned expert on the music of Duke Ellington and the Swing Era, provides the show’s musical direction, and accomplished conductor Daryl Waters leads a 16-piece Jazz orchestra through an exhilarating barrage of hits including Fine and Mellow, One O’Clock Jump, Drop Me Off in Harlem and Paper Moon. On the orchestra level the theater seating has been replaced with cabaret style tables seating with table-service, dancing on stage and drinks.

Tickets at Orchestra-Level Nightclub Seating (includes table service, cash bar, pre-show and dancing onstage after) $100, Premium Front Orchestra $125; Lower Mezzanine: (includes complimentary pre-show Cavicchioli cocktail) $55, $65 and Upper Mezzanine: (includes complimentary pre-show Cavicchioli cocktail) $45, $55. They can be purchased In person at the Apollo Theater Box Office, by telephone at (800) 745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com.

In Photo: 1) Maurice Hines 2) James Baldwin cover art 3) Martha Graham 4) Dee Dee Bridgewater

Photo Credit: 1 &4) Courtesy Apollo Theater 3) Barbara Morgan

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