Baryshnikov Arts Center Hosts Annual Fall Fete: Singer/Songwriter And Alumna Somi Performs

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) will host its annual benefit to support the Center's programs on Monday, September 26, 2016, in BAC's Jerome Robbins Theater and Howard Gilman Performance Space. The festive, intimate evening will raise funds for BAC through ticket purchases and a silent auction of visual art works. Proceeds will support BAC's artist-centered programs and help to maintain affordable ticket prices.

The Fall Fête program will feature a performance by vocalist, songwriter, and Sony/OKeh recording artist Somi. BAC hosted Somi in residence last fall to develop a work inspired by the music and life of Miriam Makeba. Somi, who is hailed as "the new Nina Simone" (Huffington Post), will perform a program of songs from her broad repertoire, joined by guitarist Nir Felder, pianist Toru Dodo, bassist Ben Williams, and drummer Nate Smith. Somi and her ensemble represent the incredible talent and diversity of artists across disciplines that BAC supports year-round through residencies and performances. The Fall Fête program precedes a public performance by Somi onSeptember 27 in the Jerome Robbins Theater.

The Fall Fête evening also includes a silent art auction powered by Paddle8 featuring 17 lots of visual art in an array of media ranging from photography and sculpture, to painting and drawing. They include works by Lala Abaddon, Christopher Boffoli, Sebastiaan Bremer, Desire Obtain Cherish, Ed Cohen, Jonny Detiger, Sissi Farassat, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Peter D. Gerakaris, Jessica Lichtenstein, Christian Little, Mike Perry, Gareb Shamus, Devan Shimoyama, Hank Willis Thomas, Robert Allen Whitman, andSamantha Yudin. In the spirit of BAC's mission to support artists, the organization will return 20% of the proceeds of each sale to the donating artist.

One additional, unique auction lot is the opportunity to attend Letter to a Man, a solo theater performance by Mikhail Baryshnikov, based on the diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky and staged by Robert Wilson, during its N.Y. Premiere at BAM in October.

The auction can be viewed online at Paddle8.com. Bidding is open as of Monday, September 12 at 12PM EST, and will close September 26 at 10:30PM EST. Advance registration is available on Paddle8.com or by downloading the Paddle8 app from the App store.

The Fête Honorary Chair is Shirley MacLaine and the Fête Chair is Colleen Keegan. The Auction Chair is Natasha Schlesinger. The Fall Fête Committee includes Sarah Arison and Tom Wilhelm, Jody and John Arnhold, Charles Hamlen, Joan Hooker, Stephanie Joel, Jessica Lange, David Neville, Sarah Jessica Parker, Aidan Quinn, Isabella Rossellini, Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan, Marcus Wainwright, and?Barry and Hilary Weinstein.

The Fête is hosted by BAC's Board of Directors, which includes Slavka B. Glaser, Chairman;
R. Jarrett Lilien, Treasurer; Mikhail Baryshnikov, Chairman Emeritus; Frank Cordasco, Richard DeScherer, Diana DiMenna, James H. Duffy, Steven C. Dupré, Sandra Foschi, Aidan Mooney, Steven Pesner, Natasha Schlesinger, and Suzanne Weil.

The 7PM performance by Somi is preceded by a reception at 6PM in the Jerome Robbins Theater Lounge. Dinner, catered by Canard, Inc., is at 8:30PM in the Howard Gilman Performance Space. Generous Fall Fête sponsors include Slovenia Vodka. Floral arrangements are made possible by a donation from Open World Dance Foundation.

Program Information

Baryshnikov Arts Center's Fall Fête

Monday, September 26, 2016

450 W. 37th Street

6PM - Reception

7PM - Performance by Somi in the Jerome Robbins Theater

8:30PM - Dinner in the Howard Gilman Performance Space and Silent Art Auction

Ticket Information

Single tickets from $1,500 are available for purchase at bacnyc.org/support.

About Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC)

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) is the realization of a long-held vision by artistic director Mikhail Baryshnikov who sought to build an arts center in Manhattan that would serve as a gathering place for artists from all disciplines. BAC's opening in 2005 heralded the launch of this mission, establishing a thriving creative laboratory and performance space for artists from around the world. BAC's activities encompass a robust residency program augmented by a range of professional services, including commissions of new work, as well as the presentation of performances by artists at varying stages of their careers. In tandem with its commitment to supporting artists, BAC is dedicated to building audiences for the arts by presenting contemporary, innovative work at affordable ticket prices. For more information, please visit www.bacnyc.org.