Volume 79, Number 4 | July 1 - 7, 2009
West and East Village, Chelsea, Soho, Noho, Little Italy, Chinatown and Lower East Side, Since 1933

The A-List

Compiled by Scott Stiffler, Scott@thevillager.com

THEATER
UNDERGROUNDZERO FESTIVAL
East River Commedia, in association with the always dependable Collective Unconscious, presents the third annual Undergroundzero Festival — an experimental theater festival dedicated to giving producing artists a laboratory where risk is encouraged and innovation can flourish. This year, they’ll present a over twenty experimental theatre companies and artists — with 15 mainstage productions and five readings of new plays. July 7 through July 26, at Performance Space 122 (150 First Avenue). For more information, visit www.weird.org/ugz and www.PS122.org.

MUSIC
DOMINICK FARINACCI
Cabaret impresario Jim Caruso continues his relentless support of NYC-based musical talent, as he presents jazz trumpeter (and East Village resident) Dominick Farinacci. Caruso is giving part of his weekly “Cast Party” show over to Farinacci — who’ll perform works from his new CD (“Lovers, Tales, and Dances”). The disc features music from Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Jacques Brel, Astor Piazzolla, and others. Monday, July 6, 7:00p.m. at Birdland (315 West 44th Street). $25 cover, $10 food/drink minimum. For reservations, call 212-581-3080. Visit www.BirdlandJazz.com and www.castpartynyc.com.

THEATER
Penny Arcade
Since 1986, Dixon Place has provided a space for literary and performing artist to create and develop new works—while the audience sat in a patchwork collection of reliably comfy chairs and couches. Now in a new home and not yet officially relaunched, they’re still providing a respectably full calendar of events until the big reveal this fall. Access the full schedule at www.dixonplace.org; and consider this safe bet. From July 9th through 25th, downtown performance legend Penny Arcade premieres “Old Queen,” a work commissioned by and for Dixon Place’s 18th Annual HOT! Festival (the world’s oldest continuing queer performance festival). For Penny’s specific dates and times, and for more festival information, call 212-219-0736 or visit www.hotfestival.org. Dixon Place is located at 161A Chrystie Street. 

Photo by Carol Rosegg

From “Reborning” / Greg Keller, Ally Sheedy and Katherine Waterston

THEATER
SUMMER PLAY FESTIVAL (SPF)
Do a good deed and support the folks at The Living Room for Artists, Inc — a non-profit organization providing emerging writers, directors, designers and producers an opportunity to work on their craft in a protected environment (guided by established professionals at no cost to them).  The result? SPF — the Summer Play Festival. This year, SPF presents seven new plays and one new musical — including “Reborning” by Zayd Dohrn. This dark comedy takes an unsettling look at work, latex, and the power of creation. When a sculptor of baby dolls meets a woman desperate to recapture her past, art and life become disturbingly interchangeable. July 7 to August 2, at The Public Theatre, (425 Lafayette Street). For $10 tickets, call 212-967-7555 or visit www.spfnyc.com. 

DANCE: BRIEF SHORTS

Photo by AnthonyCollinsPhoto.com 

Ralph Coppola and Joshua Warr, in a battle of wits

Xoregos Performing Company presents, proudly we’re assured, “Brief Shorts” — a quintet of unusual danced plays and a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe. Celebrating the centenary of Eugene Ionesco’s birth, XPC will perform his 1953 playlet, “Maid to Marry.” The program also includes comedies and dramas by Adam Kraar, Adé Adémola and Rick Foster. These one-hour performances are free and start on time; dates and locations vary. July 7, 6:00p.m. at the Muhlenberg Library (209 W. 23rd Street; 23 and Seventh Avenue). For more information, call 212-239-8405 or visit www.xoregos.com.