EPONA’S LABRYNTH
HERE and Brooklyn-based South Wing Theatre Company (in collaboration with Japan’s Nibroll art collective) are presenting the world premiere of this bizarre, erotic, psycho-sexual drama which infuses writer Ivana Catanese and Kameron Steele’s original work with arresting multimedia images. The story is every bit as surreal as the storytelling style: As a man searches for his missing wife in a mysterious and vast underground hospital, he quickly discovers things are not as they should be. The hospital, it turns out, is home to an expansive network of outlandish sex experiments. No word yet on whether his insurance covers that. Guess you’ll just have to see for yourself. Japanese animé and cutting-edge choreography should help the medicine go down. April 7-23, at HERE Arts Center (145 Sixth Ave.). For tickets and a performance schedule, visit here.org or call 212-352-3101. Also visit nibroll.com.
CANTORS: A FAITH IN SONG THE THREE CANTORS
Three of the world’s greatest cantors — Alberto Mizrahi, Benzion Miller and Naftali Herstik — will perform the program from their acclaimed PBS special (recorded at the historic Portuguese synagogue in Amsterdam). Their wide-ranging Jewish repertoire includes music from Broadway, Yiddish folk songs, Sephardic melodies and liturgical selections. “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Mayn Yiddishe Mama” and “Tumbalalaika” are among the selections. The cantors will be joined by a choir and orchestra. Sun., April 10, 3pm. At the Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust (36 Battery Place). For tickets ($35; $25 for members), call 646-437-4202 or visit mjhnyc.org.
REBBE’S TABLE AT CITY WINERY
Writer and illustrator Maira Kalman — whose show “Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World” is currently at the Jewish Museum — is the guest for the next installment of “Rebbe’s Table.” This series offers soul-nourishing food for thought — proving there’s be more to Sunday Brunch than bagels and lox (although there are plenty of bagels and lox on hand here). Each month, Rabbi Dan Ain holds court with artists and thinkers who come prepared to tackle hard questions in an easy-going setting. After an hour or so of strong opinions, laughter and controversy, an amazing roster of Klezmer musicians perform. Sunday, April 10, 9:45-11am (followed by City Winery’s Klezmer Brunch). Your $15 ticket includes coffee, juice and music cover charge. For more info on the series and April’s special guest, visit citywinery.com and thejewishmuseum.org.
CONCERT FOR JAPAN
The “Concert for Japan” offers 12 Hours of music and special activities — all for the benefit of Japan Society’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Proceeds and tax-deductible contributions made on site will go to organizations that directly help victims recover from the devastating effects of the earthquake and tsunamis that struck Japan on March 11. Composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and NY-based Japanese female-led bands Hard Nips, The Suzan, Echostream and Me & Mars are among those who will perform. The benefit will also offer many events and activities originally slated as part of “j-CATION: Beyond Cute” — the second annual daylong open house festival previously announced for Sat., April 9. Those activities include making origami cranes and washi lanterns for good wishes and recovery, basic Japanese language lessons and unlimited access to “Bye Bye Kitty!!! Between Heaven & Hell in Contemporary Japanese Art” — Japan Society’s current gallery exhibition.
Sat., April 9 from 11am-11pm at Japan Society (333 E.47th St. btw. First& Second Aves.) All proceeds go to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Can’t make it to this event? Japan Society will give half of all ticket and admission sales made through June 30 from all events to the fund. To donate to the fund, go to japansociety.org/earthquake — or a check to Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, New York 10017; Attn: Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Checks should be made payable to Japan Society and indicate “Japan Earthquake Relief Fund” on the check. For a full roster of performers, and a schedule, call 212-832-1155 or visit japansociety.org/concertforjapan
LECTURE: THE LATINO IN THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
Jewish composers and lyricists literally wrote the book when it comes to the golden age (and, for that matter, the early age) of the Broadway musical — and when the shows they created looked to Latinos when casting performers for ethnic color. But it wasn’t until the extremely recent arrival of “The Heights” that Broadway had a musical about Latinos, written by a Latino creative team. This lecture touches upon that slow musical theater march towards recognition while examining the impact of Broadway Latino trailblazers such Chita Rivera and Priscilla Lopez. The Educational Alliance hosts the event. FREE. Mon., April 11th, 7pm. At The Educational Alliance (197 E. Broadway, btw. Jefferson & Clinton Sts.). For info, visit edalliance.org or call 646-395-4245.
BR & TIMEBOMB
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center’s Tribeca Spotlight series welcomes BR & Timebomb. Formed in 2002 when Hip-Hop artist BR cultivated the seven-piece band Timebomb, the collective just released “Time Is Now”— their second LP. Currently composing new material while they tour the East Coast, you can preview their sound (before catching them live) by accessing the full-length album “Believe in Something” on iTunes or CDBaby. Their blend of R&B, rock, reggae, funk, soul, jazz and classical has been compared to Earth, Wind & Fire as well as Outcast and The Roots. Timebomb, for the record (or LP?) features Olivia Martinez (violin/viola), Jibrail Nor (drums), Shanelle D. Jenkins (trumpet), Karnage (lead guitar) and Stacy Beatty, Jr. (bass). Fri., April 8, 8pm. For tickets ($15), call 212-220-1460 or visit tribecapac.org. Also visit brandtimebomb.com
PRE-PASSOVER NOSH & STROLL
It’s Jewish history made so real, you can taste it — and they mean that! See, and taste (and maybe feel and hear) for yourself, when you attend the “Pre-Passover Nosh & Stroll.” Journey into the kishkes of the old Jewish Lower East Side. In preparation for the holiday, this fun neighborhood walking tour offers a sampling of Passover treats, including chocolate-covered matzoh, freshly ground horseradish, pickles and Passover schnapps. The tour begins at the Museum at Eldridge Street/Eldridge Street Synagogue, at 12 Eldridge Street (between Canal and Division Streets). Sun., April 10; tours at 11am & 2pm. Space is limited, and reservations are required. For tickets ($15), call 212-219-0888, x205.
BENEFIT: CHURCH STREET SCHOOL FOR MUSIC AND ART PRESENTS: “DANCE! FUNK LATIN SOUL PARTY”
Church Street School for Music and Art — the only nonprofit community music and art school in Lower Manhattan — is coming up on its third decade of music and arts education. But like all worthy creative (not to mention nonprofit) enterprises, its good deeds require a considerable amount of green to make the engine run. Help keep that engine humming by attending their 4 Annual DANCE! event (whose proceeds will support Church Street School’s innovative programs). Spinning by DJ/musician René Lopez; dance lessons by Frankie Martinez of Abakua Dance — and hosted by Andrew W.K. (Artist Chair). Boogie, booze and shake your groove thing — and bid on arts & music items available at the silent auction. Wed., April 13, 7-10:30pm. At the fabulous Santos Party House (96 Lafayette St.). To purchase tickets, call 212-571-7290 or visit churchstreetschool.org.
