It’s more like an Autumn Roundup, OK?
Compiled by Scott Stiffler
When Jerry Lewis succumbs to telethon tears during the last verse of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” — then everyone returns to work after that day that honors labor — you know it’s time to put the flip flops away and make yourself presentable for autumn. There’s so much to do this fall, we couldn’t fit it all in one issue. So come back next week — but don’t tune out until you turn yourself on to what we’ve got this time around. Now get your calendar and pen so you can use the below guide to make a few plans — just please, don’t call it a Fall Arts Preview (we have our reasons).
THE TRINITY CHOIR
The 2010-2011 concert season is distinguished by the debut of Julian Wachner — principal conductor of the Trinity Choir and Trinity Baroque Orchestra. The season begins Oct. 14 with a performance of Handel’s “Israel in Egypt.” The Choir’s annual destination event, on Dec. 12 and 13, is a presentation of Handel’s “Messiah.” On Feb. 3, European contemporary choral music is performed under the direction of guest conductor Grete Pedersen (Artistic Director of the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir). For Easter, Johann Sebastian Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” is performed April 14. The season concludes on May 19, with the Choir and guest artists performing “Comin’ Up Shoutin’! A Celebration of African-American Music” — a soulful evening of gospel, blues, spirituals, and vocal improvisation. With the exception of the April event, concerts will be presented on Thursday evenings.
Can’t make it? They’ll also be available for viewing via live webcast at www.trinitywallstreet.org. The Trinity Choir will perform free preview concerts at 1pm on most show days. Concerts begin at 7:30pm (except for “Messiah” on Dec. 12, which starts at 3pm). At Trinity Church (Broadway, at Wall St.). Season tickets are $100. For individual concerts, $20 general admission. $10 student/senior tickets are available only at the door. Tickets for “Messiah” range from $30 to $50. To purchase, visit www.trinitywallstreet.org/tickets or call 212-602-0800.
SOHO REP
Soho Rep’s 2010-2011 season marks year #34 for the venerable Downtown destination, which long ago distinguished itself as the place to go for young audiences attracted to new ideas (ground in old traditions such as great ensemble acting and bold writing).
In previews beginning Sept. 15 and set for a Sept. 23 through Oct. 10 run, “Orange, Hat & Grace” is the New York debut of playwright Gregory S. Moss. It finds title character Orange growing old in a cabin in the woods — then getting an unexpected injection of life changes when a love from her past reappears. In previews Dec. 28 and running from Jan. 4 through 16, “Jomamma Jones: Radiate” launches the “US comeback tour” of the woman who burned up the charts over two decades ago. Expect to hear what followed, as Jones (clad in insanely high heels) recaps the lovers and dreamers she encountered during her cross-continental solo career. In addition to their mainstage productions, the 13th season of their Writer/Director Lab concludes with a free reading series in the spring. For info, call 212-941-8632 or visit www.sohorep.org.
GREGORIO URIBE BIG BAND
Sixteen trumpets, trombones and saxes — plus a bandleader with an accordion — equals one very big sound, as pounded out by the Gregorio Uribe Big Band. Not content to stop there, GUBB adds the Brooklyn duo Hank and Cupcakes as their opening act. As for the band itself, expect daring modern arrangements of Latin music. Afro-Colombian rhythms and funk grooves meld with traditional big band arrangements — creating a sound that’s like nothing you’ve ever heard before (unless you’ve heard these guys before). Sept. 28, 8pm, at SOB’s (200 Varick St.). Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Visit www.myspace.com/gregoriouribe, www.hankandcupcakes.com and www.sobs.com.
THE MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE
This unique museum’s contemplative exhibits and talks educate, enlighten and inspire people of all backgrounds — by giving them a glimpse of Jewish life before, during and after the Holocaust. On view now through Dec. is “The Morgenthaus: A Legacy of Service.” Through January 2011, “Project Mah Jongg.” Debuting this fall is “Fire in My Heart: The Story of Hannah Senesh.” As a young woman, Senesh (who’d later author the hymn “Eli”) participated in a secret 1943 British mission meant to help Jews in Europe. This exhibition reveals to the public, for the first time, many of her personal artifacts and writings. The exhibit opens on Oct. 13. That same day, at 7pm, Museum senior advisor Dr. Louis D. Levine leads a curatorial talk on Senesh. At the Museum of Jewish Heritage (36 Battery Place). Call 646-437-4202 or visit mjhnyc.org.
SWING SPACE
Swing Space is a program for the development and presentation of new projects in the visual and performing arts. Sponsored by The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Swing Space’s final 2010 gallery show can’t be contained by our little island — so you’ll have to hop a ferry if you want to catch it. “Floating World” is a group exhibition featuring work created by LMCC’s visual artists-in-residence — all of whom have been influenced by their voyages to and from the island of Manhattan, as well as their time spent this summer on Governors Island. Mediums including photography, video, sculpture and installation are used to interpret the landscape, seascape, architecture, topography, and history of Governors Island. Sept. 10 through Oct. 10 (opening reception, Sept. 12, 3-5pm). In Building 110: LMCC’s Arts Center at Governors Island. The ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building (10 South St.). Visit www.govisland.com and www.LMCC.net.
DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER
The Downtown Community Center isn’t just a place to send your kids — it’s got a full set of programs for adults (some of which, ironically, will bring out the kid in you). Beginning on the week of Sept. 20, you can take a class on topics such as stop motion animation, illustration and ceramics. To access the full schedule, visit www.manhattanyouth.org or call 212-766-1104. The Downtown Community Center is located at120 Warren Street.
TRIBECA DOCS
The folks who put together the much-improved 2010 Tribeca Film Festival also program this series devoted to documentaries — so consider that a vote of confidence. The subject matter varies wildly, but any one of them will put to shame 99.9% of the “Reality TV” choices currently clogging the arteries of your cable system and passing themselves off as documentary-style endeavors.
Sept. 13, “Sons of Perdition” examines the toll taken on three teenage boys who are exiled from their Utah fundamentalist polygamist compound. Sept. 27, “12th & Delaware” takes a look at a Fort Pierce, Florida-based abortion clinic and a Catholic-funded Pregnancy Care Clinic located across the street from each other. Filmmakers Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, (who earned an Oscar nomination for “Jesus Camp”) know how to explore religious ideology. Oct. 4, “Just Like Us” is Egyptian-American comic and director Ahmed Ahmed’s debut film. It chronicles a group of “comedy ambassadors” as they go on the road (Dubai to Beirut, Riyadh to Cairo), performing stand-up routines in which humor and occasional vulgarity is used to discuss culturally sensitive topics. October is an appropriate month for “October Country” — which follows one year in the life of the Mosher family, as they deal with war, teen pregnancy, foster care and child abuse (Oct. 18). Tribeca Docs happens every other Monday, 7:30 pm, at Tribeca Cinemas (54 Varick St., at Laight, one block south of Canal). For tickets ($10; $8 for students/seniors), visit www.tribecafilm.com/docseries.
BERNIE’S NEW YORK
Being Bernie Cohen’s leather soles must be a thankless task. Come September, they’re being asked to trek far and wide though Manhattan and elsewhere — stopping, along the way, for some little-known tidbits about some much-seen sights. On Sept. 5 at 2pm, join Bernie and his well-traveled feet for a West Village tour. “Bohemia Along the Hudson” reveals the backstories of St. Lukes Chapel, The Archives Building, White Horse Tavern and the High Line (meet at Hudson and Grove Sts.). On Sept. 12 at 2pm, “Visas, Views and History” lets you take in the sights and sounds to be had while walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. Meet in front of the fountain in Manhattan’s City Hall Park.
On Sept. 25 at 2pm, explore what’s going on under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. “DUMBO Brooklyn” occurs on the same day as the annual “Art Under the Bridge Festival.” Enjoy the fest after you’ve learned all about Romanesque architecture (meet outside the York Street Train Station, corner of York and Jay St.). On Sept. 26 at 2pm, “The Meatpacking District” tour goes from guts to gourmet to glamour — as you tour The Highline, Chelsea Market, Hogs and Heifers Motorcycle Bar and the Gansevort Hotel (meet at Hudson and 14th St.). Each tour costs $15 per person (no reservations needed). For info, call 718-655-1883.
