Volume 79, Number 6 | July 15 - 21, 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

Brandon Bernard, left, and Leicester Landon

NY/XY
Some plays warn you (usually in that twilight time between buying the ticket and entering the theater) that they contain adult content. Well, playwright William LoCasto and director Alexander Beck want you to know, up front, that “NY/XY” contains explicit language — and we’re warning you about the adult content. Now that your curiosity is sufficiently peaked, know that “NY/XY” tells the tale of two young gay men who have lots of questions about sex in NYC. Those questions are answered through observing the sexual histories, practices, and attitudes of Michael and Danny — exposing the risks they take with their lovers, and exploring the ways they fit sex into their lives. Thursdays, through August 6, 8:00p.m. at Stage Left Studio; 438 W. 37th Street, Suite 5-A. Tickets are $18; $15 with advance purchase (use code 3off). To order, call 212-868-4444 or www.smarttix.com.

COMEDY

Photo by Jody Kivort

The Fiery Furnaces, ready to rock the comedy crowd

LOWBROW READER VARIETY HOUR
The Lowbrow Reader, that infrequently published Manhattan comedy journal packed with long-form articles and profane takes on New Yorker-like illustrations, celebrates issue #7. Not content to simply toot their own horn, proceeds from this live show will benefit Housing Works (whose own proceeds help fight AIDS and homelessness). The evening’s entertainment features short acoustic sets from, among others, The Fiery Furnaces (appearing a mere day after their new album “I’m Going Away” comes out on the Thrill Jockey label). Comedian John Mulaney and author Gilbert Rogin are also on the bill. July 22, 7:00p.m., at Housing Works Bookstore Café (126 Crosby Street; 1 block east of Broadway between Houston and Prince). $10 at the door, $5 for the unemployed or those on strike. For more information, call 212-334-3324; visit www.housingworksbookstore.org and www.lowbrowreader.com

THEATER

Photo by Alison Cartwright

Holland Taylor, as Kitty Leroy

MOTHER
Set in the dining room of a West Virginia resort filled to the brim with an eccentric family celebrating the New Year’s holiday, Lisa Ebersole’s new play (“Mother”) tackles everything from infidelity to sibling rivalry to attempted kidnapping — all with the help and hindrance of sweet mother alcohol. The great Buck Henry and equally impressive Holland Taylor star in this fleeting production, which closes August 1. At The Wild Project (195 East 3rd Street. Tickets are $20. For reservations, call 212-352-0255 or visit www.theatermania.com. For additional information, visit www.mothertheplay.com.

THEATER

Justin Bond, doing a number in a slinky little number

JUSTIN BOND
Remember Justin Bond from his exemplary work as the keyboardist “Herb” half of the legendary duo “Kiki & Herb.” Then forget everything you know about Herb. Then, remember what you know about Bond — namely, that he’s a multi-talented, genre-crossing, genderbending musician/performance artist whose singer/songwriter talents are about to get their overdue day in the sun. Bond takes to the Highline Ballroom stage to perform tracks off his debut EP release, “Pink Slip” — which features four new original songs and an original rendition of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes.” See him live now, because “Pink Slip” isn’t due for release until late this year. July 22; doors open at 6:00p.m. for the 8:00p.m. performance. At Highline Ballroom (431 W. 16th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). For tickets ($25), call 212-414-5994 or visit www.highlineballroom.com. For information on all things Bond, visit www.justinbond.com.

DANCE

Photo by Focal Lengths, Inc.

Robert Haarman, Paula Mann, Jessica Briggs, Dustin Maxwell

I LOVE TOMORROW
“I Love Tomorrow” is choreographer Paula Mann’s newest evening-length work. Equal parts memoir and post-modern fable, the piece uses video, animation and dance to create a series of scenes based on crucial moments in time when the choices Mann made changed her life forever. The work features a sound score by Steve Paul — and a cameo by New York actor Stephen Peabody. 7:30p.m, July 22 through July 25, at Dance Theater Workshop (219 W. 19th Street). For tickets or more information call 212-924-0077 or visit www.dancetheaterworkshop.org.