2017
Gods & Savages: A Literary Series February 2017 will mark the beginning of a partnership with the storied Strand Bookstore, as The Town Hall presents a new and adventurous literary series.
Thursday, February 9 • 7pm
NEIL GAIMAN: NORSE MYTHOLOGY READING & CONVERSATION | Q&A In an exclusive event, author Neil Gaiman introduces and reads from his new book, Norse Mythology (2017, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.), a dazzling version of the great Norse myths. Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. Neil Gaiman will also be joined in conversation with Ophira Eisenberg, host of NPR & WNYC’s Ask Me Another. Plus, Q&A with the audience and book signing reception following the event. $45 | Includes signed hardcover book Tuesday marCh 21 • 8pm
BASSEM YOUSSEF: REVOLUTION FOR DUMMIES READING & PERFORMANCE Bassem Youssef, dubbed the Jon Stewart of the Arab World, was the host of popular TV show albernameg which was the first-of-its-kind political satire show in the Middle East with 30 million viewers every week. In this premiere Town Hall event, Youssef introduces and reads from his new book, Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring. co-presented by Pomegranate Arts $45 / $50 / $55 / $65 | Includes signed hardcover book
FrIday may 5 • 8pm
THE KENTUCKY DERBY IS DECADENT AND DEPRA VED Based on the notorious 1970 article by Hunter S. Thompson (considered the beginning of Gonzo journalism), this multi-media presentation features a live score composed by guitar great Bill Frisell, recitation by renowned producer Hal Willner, artwork by Thompson’s legendary partner Ralph Steadman, and a very special guest rendition of the author. A performance of hallucinatory beauty and raucous humor, this marks the New York City debut, on the eve of the Kentucky Derby. co-presented by Hal Wilner $50 / $60 / $65 / $75
Improvisations
The Town Hall’s Spring Season introduces a new series called IMPROVISATIONS, featuring multiple disciplines--music, theater, spoken word and more--and masters of improvisation from each form. Thursday February 23 • 8pm
LAURIE ANDERSON & CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE Maverick artist and musician Laurie Anderson and bass virtuoso Christian McBride collaborate for the first time in the commencement of Town Hall’s new series, Improvisations. One of the seminal artists of our time, Laurie Anderson’s genre-crossing work encompasses performance, film, music, installation, writing, photography, and sculpture. She performs with four-time Grammy®-winning jazz bassist Christian McBride, who has become one of the most requested, most recorded, and most respected figures in the music world today. $40 / $50 / $60 / $75
Thursday marCh 9 • 8pm
Thursday marCh 23 • 8pm
DOOMSDAY SCENARIO
YO LA TENGO: AND THEN YO LA TENGO TURNED ITSELF INSIDE OUT
HOSTED BY DAVID PASQuESI & GuESTS In this original Town Hall production, a panel of apocalyptic “experts” meet on stage to discuss and debate a fictional doomsday scenario. Hosted by improv master David Pasquesi, this unique panel discussion explores the science and human drama of cosmic catastrophe, as well as lighthearted and humorous reflections about life and death.
A large assembly of improvisors intertwine with Yo La Tengo, improvising transitions between songs and elevating YLT as they perform originals and covers of their choosing.
$25 / $35 / $45 | Includes signed hardcover
Co-presented by Le poisson rouge $45 / $55
FrIday marCh 10 • 8pm
TJ & DAVE Known as the Wright Brothers of the Unwritten, TJ& DAVE create full-length, hour-long plays from scratch (without audience suggestions). Always funny, they are also revered for their insightful, and deeply movingoutcomes. And what makes them all the more remarkable -- fans attest -- is that these dazzling feats of comedic and acting ingenuity NEVER recycle stories or characters. Trust them -- it is all made up. co-presented by Barrow Street Theater $22 / $25 / $29.50
FrIday marCh 24 • 8pm
ROUND ROBIN / CAROUSEL WITH ThE DAP-KINGS & SPECIAl GuESTS Co-presented by Le poisson rouge $45 / $55
Broadway by the Year® CREATED WRITTEN DIRECTED AND HOSTED BY SCOTT SIEGEl siegel takes audiences of all ages on a musical tour of the Great White Way, offering an entertaining verbal account of broadway’s history. each evening celebrates the songs from broadway shows of a selected year, sung by a cast of talented cabaret and broadway performers. Series Subscription | $200.00 / $220.00 / $240.00 mONday February 27 • 8pm
The Broadway Musicals of the 1920’s
FEATURING MUSIC BY ThE GERShwINS, IRVING BERlIN, COlE PORTER, RODGERS & hART, AND MORE!
mONday marCh 27 • 8pm
The Broadway Musicals of the 1940’s FEATURING MUSIC BY RODGERS & hAMMERSTEIN, COlE PORTER, KuRT wEIl, AND MORE!
mONday may 22 • 8pm
The Broadway Musicals of 1997- 2006
FEATURING THE MUSIC OF STEPhEN SONDhEIM, AhRENS & FlAhERTy, ANDREw llOyD wEBBER, STEPhEN SChwARTz, AND MORE!
mONday JuNe 19 • 8pm
The Broadway Musicals of 2007 - 2016
FEATURING THE MUSIC OF lIN-MANuEl MIRANDA, AMANDA GREEN, CyNDI lAuPER, SARAh BAREIllES, AND MORE!
Broadway by the Year® is presented with the support of Bank of America Additional support provided by The Edythe Kenner Foundation
Broadway’s Rising Stars CREATED & HOSTED BY SCOTT SIEGEl DIRECTED BY SCOTT COulTER Town hall proudly presents broadway rising stars, a national showcase that introduces New york audiences to the next generation of up-and-coming talent as chosen by a panel of discerning judges from among the most outstanding new graduates from acclaimed institutions. The 2016 rising stars is spearheaded by scott siegel, creator/writer/host of Town hall’s beloved broadway by the year series. Available with Broadway by the Year® Subscription $35 | SPECIAL PRICE! Single event | $25 / $30 / $35 / $40
Shoots & Scores: Films in Concert saTurday, marCh 18 • 3pm | FamILy day
VINCE GIORDANO & THE NIGHTHAWKS THE CAMERAMAN plus Laurel/Hardy & more One of Buster Keaton’s richest and funniest pictures --a brilliantlyconstructed succession of sight gags, action, suspense, thrills, pathos, and romance-- is provided a live score of songs from the Twenties, as the acclaimed Vince Giordano and his Nighthawks return to Town Hall. $25 / $30 / $35 Thursday aprIL 20 • 8pm
THE PHILIP GLASS ENSEMBLE| LA BELLE ET LA BÊTE FILM BY JeaN COCTeau | MUSIC BY phILIp GLass CONVERSATION WITH phILIp GLass
One of the most celebrated and unique works in Philip Glass’s recent career is his live interpretation of Jean Cocteau’s masterpiece La Belle et la Bête. Originally conceived as part of a trilogy of stage productions celebrating the work of Jean Cocteau, La Belle et la Bête is Glass’s most challenging experiment in synchronizing music with film. For this production, Glass removed the film’s original dialogue track and score by Georges Auric and replaced it with his own musical score played live by members of the Philip Glass Ensemble. The dialogue is sung by live singers synchronized with the actors in the film. Not staged in New York City in over two decades, this special production is presented by The Town Hall and Tribeca in association with Pomegranate Arts, and features a Conversation with Philip Glass prior to the film. Co-presented by Tribeca Film Festival in Association with Pomegranate Arts $55 / $65 / $75 / $85
Global Icons
Thursday aprIL 27 • 8pm
THE JAZZ EPISTLES FEATURING ABDullAh IBRAhIM & huGh MASEKElA
WedNesday aprIL 5 • 8pm
Legends of South African music reunite for a historic concert to tell the story of The Jazz Epistles, the most important jazz album ever to recorded in its country’s history. Abdullah Ibrahim welcomes special guest musicians from the his youth — superstar trumpeter Hugh Masekela — along with the original trombonist from that session, Jonas Gwangwa, to reimagine music for his Ekaya chamber ensemble, music that was almost lost forever — only 500 original copies were made in 1959, then buried, only to be rediscovered decades later after the tyranny of apartheid.
ANOUSHKA SHANKAR
Co-presented by Le poisson rouge
Sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar is a singular figure in the Indian classical and progressive world music scenes. Deeply rooted in the Indian Classical music tradition, Anoushka studied exclusively from the age of nine under her father and guru, the late Ravi Shankar, and made her professional debut as a classical sitarist at the age of thirteen. Her dynamic and spiritual musicality has garnered several prestigious accolades, including five Grammy® Award nominations, recognition as the youngest – and first female – recipient of a British House of Commons Shield, credit as an Asian Hero by TIME Magazine, and a Songlines Best Artist Award.
$35 / $55 / $65 / $75 / $125 VIP
$40 / $45 / $55 / $65
Tuesday may 2 • 8pm
DJAVAN
Djavan is a hugely popular Brazilian singer/songwriter whose ground-breaking music features a blend of South American rhythms and European rock and pop. $50 / $60 / $75 / $85
Location & Hours
Tickets
GlOBAl ICONS
DETACH FORM AND MAIL TO:
ThE TOWN hAll | 123 W 43RD ST NY NY 10036
PlEASE INDICATE # OF TICKETS AND SEATING lOCATION.
lITERARY SERIES 3/21 BASSEM YOUSSEF ☐ $45 SIDE BALC ☐ $50 MID BALC ☐ $55 SIDE ORCH ☐ $65 CTR ORCH
IMPROVISATIONS
2/23 ANDERSON & MCBRIDE ☐ $40 SIDE BALC ☐ $50 MID BALC ☐ $60 SIDE ORCH ☐ $75 CTR ORCH 3/10 TJ & DAVE ☐ $22 REAR BALC ☐ $25 MID BALC ☐ $29.50 ORCH
ShOOTS & SCORES
3/18 ThE CAMERAMAN ☐ $25 REAR BALC ☐ $30 MID BALC ☐ $35 ORCH
2/9 NEIl GAIMAN ☐ $45
5/5 KENTUCKY DERBY ☐ $50 SIDE BALC ☐ $60 MID BALC ☐ $65 SIDE ORCH ☐ $75 CTR ORCH 3/9 DOOMSDAY SCENARIO ☐ $25 REAR BALC ☐ $35 MID BALC ☐ $45 ORCH 3/24 ROUND ROBIN ☐ $45 ☐ $55 3/23 YO lA TENGO ☐ $45 ☐ $55 4/20 lA BEllE ET lA BÊTE ☐ $55 SIDE BALC ☐ $65 MID BALC ☐ $75 SIDE ORCH ☐ $85 CTR ORCH
PAYMENT & CUSTOMER INFORMATION
4/5 ANOUShKA ShANKAR ☐ $40 SIDE BALC ☐ $45 MID BALC ☐ $55 SIDE ORCH ☐ $65 CTR ORCH
4/27 ThE JAZZ EPISTlES ☐ $35 SIDE BALC ☐ $55 SIDE ORCH / CTR BALC ☐ $65 REAR ORCH ☐ $75 CTR ORCH ☐ $125 VIP FRONT ORCH
5/2 DJAVAN ☐ $50 SIDE BALC ☐ $60 MID BALC ☐ $75 SIDE ORCH ☐ $85 CTR ORCH
BROADWAY BY ThE YEAR® SUBSCRIPTION
☐ ORCHESTRA/BALCONY ROWS A-C* | ☐ BALCONY ROWS D-J | $220.00 EA. ☐ BALCONY ROWS K-M | $200.00 EA.
$240.00 EA.
7/10 BROADWAY’S RISING STARS ☐ ADD TO BROADWAY BY THE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION $35 EA. | SPECIAL PRICE! SEATING PREFERENCE ☐ SAME LOCATION AS BROADWAY BY THE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION ☐ BEST AVAILABLE
TAX-DEDUCTABLE DONATION
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HANDLING FEE
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The Historical Town Hall On 43rd Street, between Bryant Park and Times Square, stands The Town Hall - a testament to equality, inclusiveness and social progress.
of the most influential radio programs of the 20th Century and ran for 21 years. Guests included Eleanor Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, langston hughes, Jackie Robinson, Joseph McCarthy and hundreds more.
Founded by suffragists in 1921, The Town Hall was created to educate people on the important issues of the day. It became one of New York City’s premiere performance halls, playing an integral part in the electrifying cultural fabric of the city for 95 years.
The Town Hall has been home to countless musical milestones and debuts, like April 12, 1963, when a young Bob Dylan performed his first major concert, or 1967 when leonard Cohen made his stage debut at a Vietnam protest concert hosted by Judy Collins.
One of the greatest singers in the world, Marian Anderson, performed her first New York City recital at Town Hall on December 30, 1935. She continued to perform at Town Hall for 15 years before the great opera houses permitted a woman of color to sing on their stages.
Garrison Keillor and Prairie Home Companion have broadcast from The Town Hall for twenty five years. Dizzy and Bird introduced bebop to the world at Town Hall. Nina Simone, Charles Mingus, Pete Seeger and dozens more recorded acclaimed albums from our stage.
Dedicated to it’s founding principles - to educate and and inform the public - the Town Hall created a series called America’s Town Meeting of the Air. It was one
learn more. Visit thetownhall.org/tours or call 212.997.1003 to sign up for a tour of this historic theater.
Learn about the Historic Performances of: NINA SIMONE BOB DYLAN ELEANOR ROOSEVELT LANGSTON HUGHES DIZZY & BIRD RICHARD STRAUSS MARIAN ANDERSON PAUL ROBESON PHILIP GLASS & more...
Town Hall tours are presented by the Town hall Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), and are made possible by a grant form the Ford Foundation.
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