We would drop all these issues into the show, and then of course when the pandemic hit, a lot of that stuff really came to the forefront of people’s consciousness. “ Back in 2019, we were talking about immigration, voting, race. “It seems like we kind of saw what was coming,” said Byrne. No doubt, “American Utopia” - which weaves tracks from Byrne’s 2018 album of the same name, other songs from his solo career and some Talking Heads tunes into a socially conscious statement on the country - feels eerily prescient after the pandemic, last year’s contentious presidential election and the protests against racial injustice. ![]() It means we have to work to win them over, and we basically have to do a good show that is not relying on them being Talking Heads fans or anything like that.” David Byrne’s 2018 album “American Utopia” inspired his Broadway show of the same name. It looks to me like some people in the audience aren’t familiar with my music, which to me is a good thing. “Way back in 2019, we wanted that to happen, but now, after the pandemic, it actually is happening. “The audience to some extent is getting younger and more diverse,” said Byrne. James Theatre with a whole different crowd on the Great White Way. Credit: Matthew Murphy © 2019Īnd by breaking Broadway norms, Byrne is now burning down the house at the St. David Byrne is back in his gray-suited groove with “American Utopia” on Broadway. But then again, the art-rocker has never played by the rules. “American Utopia” - a theatrical, quasi-concert production that incorporates music, interpretive dance and Byrne’s stage banter, which ranges from comical to topical - won a special Tony last month because it defied categorization by not fitting into the musical or play divisions. “I think she’s been to the show about eight times!” In fact, the audience included one famous friend who has become a bit of an “American Utopia” groupie: “Amy Schumer came to the opening,” said Byrne. “You could see all these people that we knew, so it was really like playing for your friends, which meant I had to try not to look at them. “I would look out and I’d go, ‘Oh, there’s so and so’s family!’ ” the 69-year-old music icon told The Post. ‘David Byrne’s American Utopia’ film heads to HBO with director Spike Leeįor David Byrne, the Broadway reopening of “American Utopia” last Sunday - 24 months after his now Tony-winning show first opened in 2019 - was a “friends and family” affair. Talking Heads drummer dishes on ‘cold’ David Byrne in new memoir What fast food chain are you based on your zodiac sign? Annie-B Parson provides choreography and musical staging.‘Here Lies Love’ review: David Byrne musical makes Broadway a nightclub Under the guidance of production consultant Alex Timbers ( Moulin Rouge!), the show features lighting design by Rob Sinclair, sound design by Pete Keppler, and musical direction by Karl Mansfield and Mauro Refosco. The company standbys are Renée Albulario, Alena Ciera, Chris Eddleton, Evan Frierson, Abe Nouri, and Natalie Tenenbaum. We are ready to have a good time!”ĭuring New Year's Week, American Utopia offers performances December 28 at 8 PM, December 29 at 8 PM, December 30 at 5 PM and 9 PM, January 1, 2022, at 5 PM, and January 2 at 3 PM.Īmerican Utopia features Byrne with band members Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield, Mauro Refosco, Stéphane San Juan, Angie Swan, and Bobby Wooten III. I know it’s going to be a 'once in a lifetime' experience, that will only be seen for a few performances. We are adding some songs by Talking Heads as well as songs from my solo catalog, that will supplement songs already in American Utopia. "What we are doing could be called Unplugged, or maybe Unchained. Unfortunately, they can’t come to the theatre for the next week or so, which means we’ve chosen to make some creative changes to enable us to put on a show. ![]() Watch a video message above from Byrne, who also said in a statement, “Fortunately, the vaccinated band members and crew who have tested positive don’t have severe symptoms and are staying home following the CDC guidelines. James Theatre December 28 with a modified program. Rather than canceling additional shows, Byrne and the American Utopia band will return to Broadway's St. David Byrne’s American Utopia-which officially opened its return engagement October 17-has been closed since December 22 with several members of the Tony-winning production isolated at home with positive COVID-19 test results.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |