Staff Picks No. 56
Pitbull’s Party at the End: Talia Rodriguez, Alisha Simmons, Eliza Bender
The Tank
Sunday, August 11th 2024
Anti-Zionist Jewish Miami climate cataclysm? Yes please yes please!
This is such a phenomenally exciting group of artists hitting the scene, many of whom I’ve had the privilege of working with, studying with, or drinking with. A show to watch to be sure.
I have to give Alisha a special shoutout: Alisha is one of the most exciting young theater makers I have the great delight of working with, and they are consistently finding new envelopes to push. Go go go.
Staffer: Laia Comas
Cellino v. Barnes: Alex Wyse,Wesley Taylor, Mike B. Breen, David Rafailedes
Asylum NYC
Closes October 13th 2024
You've seen the ads, you know the jingle, you may have even called them for all your litigation needs. Iconic New York duo Cellino and Barnes get the dramatization glow-up they deserve in this buddy comedy about friendly-then-feuding injury lawyers. If it's not a fun time, you can sue me.
Staffer: Billy McEntee
Sonic Bathhouse with JJJJJerome Ellis
The Whitney
Friday, July 26th 2024
On three separate occasions I have had the great pleasure of seeing JJJJJerome Ellis read, make sax and synth ambient, and perform original compositions for solo piano. Each experience was unique and totally transcendent. To quote their self-penned bio “JJJJJerome Ellis (any pronoun) is a disabled Grenadian-Jamaican-American artist, surfer, and person who stutters.” This is, of course, activist art, though it reaches far from any dogma into a place of radiant richness. I don’t know if they’d say this, but I’d argue that Ellis is exploring deep human mystery and emotion, through a disability justice lens. And I’m thrilled to see this work presented by a well-resourced institution like the Whitney, where they are offering a two day durational drop-in sonic and social practice performance. I’m sure it will be moving and wise. Come through!
Staffer: Joshua Dumas
Squishy Emotional Insides: Mehrnaz Tiv, Sabina Sethi Unni
B&E Rooftop Reading Series
Friday, July 26th 2024
The Tank
Sunday, August 18th 2024
As a former band kid (alto sax), this is the representation we need. Brought to you by Mehrnaz and psycho urbanist deviser collaborator Sabina who has a particularly keen eye for creating tensions between danger and safety, I am eagerly awaiting the “seniors of the Ruby Valley High School Jaguars Marching Band, victims of an elementary school shooting in 2006” as they parade by.
Staffer: Laia Comas
Helen Oliver Adelson - Summer Time (art exhibition) + Edgar Oliver reading poetry!
Howl on the Bowery
Exhibition closes August 4th 2024
Poetry reading Saturday, July 27th 2024
I got to meet these two FUCKING ICONS because they attended On Set with Theda Bara and then hung out after because Joey Merlo asked them (must give credit to Joey for this dream come true). And now, for FREE you can go see Helen's beautiful art and hear Edgar read poems. I will be doing that and then heading up to the Tank to see my Staff Pick from last week, Munchies! And, dear lord, if you have never seen Edgar Oliver perform in person, please google him immediately.
Staffer: Theresa Buchheister