Big Picture Learning, Champagne Jerry and More Set for Joe's Pub, 1/23-27

Each week Joe's Pub at The Public presents some of New York City's most eclectic programming ranging from world to classical, pop, singer-songwriter, jazz and more. At the center of Joe's Pub's genre-blind booking is The Public Theater's mission to bring world-class performance to New York City's diverse cultural community.

This week, January 23-27, features: Big Picture Learning, We are the Woods, Holly Williams, Shaving, Champagne Jerry, Diali Cissokho-Kaira Ba/Benyoro, Marion Loguidice, Never Sleep Alone, Dreaming Out Loud, The Sweet Remains and Joey Arias.

BIG PICTURE LEARNING BENEFIT CONCERT
January 23 at 7:00 PM
$250
This concert started with a bet. Andrea Pizziconi has been a long admirer of Big Picture Learning and their pioneering work to sustain innovative schools that foster real-world learning environments for economically-challenged youth around the world. Last fall over lunch, friend and colleague Elliot Washor (Co-Founder of BPL) said, "Sing a benefit concert for us, and I'll put together the team to create our first charter school in New York City." It was an offer Andrea couldn't refuse. From there, Andrea had the great fortune of enlisting Oriente Lopez and his fabulous musical colleagues -- Julio Botti (saxophone), Itaiguara Brandão (bass), and Mauricio Zottarelli (drums)-- to lend their talents to the concert, suddenly: SCHOOL IS IN SESSION!

WE ARE THE WOODS
January 23 at 9:30 PM
$12
This highly anticipated Joe's Pub appearance of NYC's We are the Woods is in celebration of their new album Whales & Roses, produced by Jeremy Sklarsky. WATW combine Simon and Garfunkle-like harmonies with the wild horse spirit (and mane) of Robert Plant, all while invoking the evocative lyrical precision of Emily Dickinson.

HOLLY WILLIAMS
January 24 at 9:30 PM
$15
Hailed by American Songwriter as a "sophisticated, introspective singer/songwriter" and as having "a lovely, ever-on-the-verge-of-breaking voice, and knows how to sell a song" by The Washington Post, critically lauded Nashville-based singer-songwriter Holly Williams will self-release her third studio album, The Highway, on Georgiana Records February 5, 2013. The Daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. and granddaughter of the legendary Hank Williams, Holly released her debut album The Ones We Never Knew (Universal South) in 2004. The follow-up Here With Me (Mercury Nashville) was released in 2009, earning high praise from The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, People, Entertainment Weekly, American Songwriter, NPR Weekend Edition Sunday.

SHAVING: SELECTIONS AND MUSIC FROM THE ROCK MEMOIR
January 25 at 7:00 PM
$15
Casting is set for the upcoming one-night-only world premiere performance of selections and music from Shaving, a new musical by writer/performer Alex Davis, at Joe's Pub on Friday, January 25, 2013 at 7pm. Based on his one-man-show, Alex Davis: Man of the Year, seen a year ago at the famed Knitting Factory Brooklyn, Shaving is a powerful rock musical memoir about love and self-transformation with music & lyrics by Alex Davis and a book by Alex Davis & Miranda Russo. Directed by Joseph Hendel and featuring a live band under the musical direction of Kris Kukul, Shaving features a cast of seven. The cast of Shaving, led by Alex Davis, also includes Chris Henry Coffey (David Schwimmer's Trust), Christopher Ryan Grant (Million Dollar Quartet), Nikki Kimbrough, Grace McLean, Gayle Rankin (Tribes) and Miranda Russo. Shaving is a personal, moving and humor-filled musical by singer/songwriter Alex Davis about his heroic evolution into a transgender man. The only child of iconic actor Brad Davis - the Golden Globe-winner best known for his acclaimed performances in the 1978 film Midnight Express and the 1985 premiere of Larry Kramer's groundbreaking drama The Normal Heart - who died of AIDS when Alex was just eight years old, Shaving exposes Davis's Journey growing up without a father yet triumphantly transitioning into a new world of manhood. Of this courageous tale of love, self-discovery and transformation, Larry Kramer says, "Alex Davis is an extraordinary young man, with an extraordinary story to tell." A Critic's Pick by Time Out New York, Davis returns to New York for this special concert performance of Shaving at Joe's Pub. Shaving, directed by Joseph Hendel with musical direction by Kris Kukul, is produced by Lauren Fitzgerald.

CHAMPAGNE JERRY
January 25 at 7:00 PM
$12 Advance / $15 Door
Champagne Jerry also known as Neal Medlyn is, by far, the greatest rapper in the world. He likes snacks, books, sexual intercourse, and rhyming. Champagne Jerry was born when Neal Medlyn's friend Max Tannone who had success with a Jay-Z /Radiohead "Jaydiohead" mashup album some years back, wrote and asked if he would want to write raps. It quickly became an all-consuming new project with Neal writing original underground-y contemporary hip hop songs in a style all his own, using the name Champagne Jerry, a nickname Bridget Everett gave him one fateful night when he walked around drinking an entire bottle of champagne. Featuring original songs, created with producer and remix master Max Tannone, among others, this long rumored debut will be the most significant occurrence in all of our lives. Special guests include Bridget Everett, Ad-Rock and Kathleen Hanna.

DIALI CISSOKHO-KAIRA BA / BENYORO
January 25 at 11:00 PM
$12
"Diali Cissokho, Kaira Ba's bandleader and kora player, hails from a long line of Griot musicians in Senegal. But moving an ocean away from his musical past has only strengthened Cissokho's resolve to enliven the traditional sound. With four Tar Heel natives behind him, Cissokho & Kaira Ba create a universally appealing sound full of bright tones and driving polyrhythm." - PASTE MAGAZINE. Benyoro plays an energetic and modern take on traditional West African music. With stunning virtuosity, detailed arrangements, and a rhythm section with The Force of a freight train, Benyoro ignites the dance floor at every show. This is not your grandpa's West African band.

MARION LOGUIDICE
January 26 at 7:00 PM
$15
"This recording was my third time around and it was a charm," songstress Marion LoGuidice enthuses about her brand new "Tales From The Topside World." "I loved every minute of making this CD." One listen to "Tales", however, reveals that not everything is hunky-dory in LoGuidice's intimate musical Visions of grief, beauty and forgiveness: "Tales" reflects the dark, light, and sacred parts of myself," New York's LoGuidice admits. "It's a long river from the heart to The Head and on this particular voyage, all the not-so beautiful parts of myself that would have been cast into exile were welcomed - and I pulled up a chair for each one of them." The first time you hear Marion LoGuidice live, you'll quickly realize that you're in for a very special evening.

NEVER SLEEP ALONE
January 26 at 9:30 PM
$25 singles/$30 voyeurs
Finally, a show designed to help you hook up! Sexual evangelist and Best-Selling author Dr. Alex Schiller brings the hot, the single and the curious together for a night of delirious laughter, awesome music and socio-sensual interaction. Dr. Alex insists that her audience be filled with the sexy and seeking. "Singles" mix in the front and become active participants in the show. "Voyeurs" watch from the back as the provocative and irreverent Dr. Alex dispenses sex advice from her new book, "Never Sleep Alone", and leads her audience through a wildly entertaining evening. Willing singles are invited to join Dr. Alex on stage for free champagne, blind dates and interactive demonstrations. The night continues at an exclusive after-party and the secret location is announced at curtain call.

"DREAMING OUT LOUD" - OUR TIME'S SONGWRITING CONCERT
January 27 at 12:00 PM
$12
Our Time, a non-profit organization that has been helping children who stutter for over a decade, presents the culmination of its first ever Songwriting Program in this one-afternoon-only event, "Dreaming Out Loud." Under the direction of Our Time's musical director Everett Bradley, percussionist in Bruce Springteen's E Street Band, and including original songs written by young people who stutter under the mentorship of the following artists: Michael Inge, Hendrik Helmer, Amanda Homi, Gregg Parratto, Terry Radigan, Ilene Reid, Itaal Shur and Jane Williams. Come support these amazing young people as they sing, dance, and act their songs with the help of a top notch band of industry greats! Enjoy an afternoon of hilarious, moving, and inspirational music while contributing to a worth cause.

THE SWEET REMAINS / WILL EVANS
January 27 at 7:00 PM
$15 Advance / $18 Door
As their recent sold-out shows at Joe's Pub attest, The Sweet Remains are an authentic and exciting new force on the folk-rock scene. Returning now to celebrate the release of their 2nd studio CD (following up their acclaimed debut CD "Laurel & Sunset", 2009), Greg Naughton, Rich Price & Brian Chartrand's lush three-part harmonies and strong lyrical song-writing invite comparisons to folk-rock "super-groups" like Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Eagles, etc. And while these influences are joyously celebrated in TSR's sound -- along with those of more current emissaries of the "singer-songwriter" genre, like Ray Lamontagne, or John Mayer -- the songs, harmonies and personalities that comprise this new "super-group" are uniquely their own.

JOEY ARIAS
January 27 at 9:30 PM
$25
Dubbed "a demigod of the demimonde" by Time Out New York, legendary performance artist and chanteuse Joey Arias appears in his first residency at Joe's Pub over a series of three Sundays this winter. Harking back to the days of Bar d'O (the Notorious West Village boîte where Arias reigned for nearly a decade), each week sees the Arias With A Twist star exploring a range of musical selections from Billie Holiday and popular standards to 70's rock anthems and Klaus Nomi. The residency is a warm up to Arias' west coast tour, anchored by a headlining concert at the historic Castro Theater in San Francisco on Valentine's Day.

Visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows or to purchase tickets. Tickets can also be reserved by calling 212-967-7555 or visiting in person at The Public Theater Box Office (1 PM to 6 PM) located at 425 Lafayette Street, NYC.

Joe's Pub is one of New York City's most celebrated venues for emerging and legendary performing artists. Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub debuted in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting new artists while providing established artists with a safe, intimate space to develop new work. Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home. Open seven days a week, dinner and drink service is available during every performance.

ABOUT THE PUBLIC THEATER AT ASTOR PLACE: Under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, The Public Theater is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare and the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. The Public continues the work of its visionary founder, Joe Papp, by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, and leading and framing dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. Creating theater for one of the largest and most diverse audience bases in New York City for nearly 60 years, today the Company engages audiences in a variety of venues-including its landmark downtown home at Astor Place, which houses five theaters and Joe's Pub; the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home to its beloved, free Shakespeare in the Park; and the Mobile Unit, which tours Shakespearean productions for underserved audiences throughout New York City's five boroughs. The Public's wide range of programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company's dedication to making theater accessible to all, new and experimental stagings at The Public at Astor Place, and a range of artist and audience development initiatives including its Public Forum series, which brings together theater artists and professionals from a variety of disciplines for discussions that shed light on Social issues explored in Public productions. The Public Theater is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. www.publictheater.org