Michael Cerveris and His Accomplices, Sky-Pony Set for Sheen Center's CONVERGENCES Indie Series

To kick off the new year, the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture is kicking off a new music series; Convergences - Indie Artists Series. The goal of this collection of shows is to spotlight indie artists and performers whose work straddles the line between music and other forms of art in new and exciting ways.

This year's talented guests split their time between the worlds of music and theater. They include Michael Cerveris and His Accomplices, Lauren Worsham and Kyle Jarrow's band Sky-Pony, Dan Mills and others. On the Great White Way they have been recipients of Tony, Drama Desk, Obie and Theater World Awards. One of them is even writing the book for Spongebob The Musical!

William Spencer Reilly, the Sheen Center's Executive Director says "Convergences is built for par- ticularly creative artists who are inventive and inquisitive and whose creativity can't be contained by a single art form. The Sheen Center is a natural home for these kinds of artists and we're terri- bly excited about launching this new music series in our intimate and inviting Loreto Theater. It's a new way to 'step into the light'."

The series was curated by Managing Director, Andrew Levine.

Tickets for the series will cost between $22 and $47, and can be found at the Sheen Center website here.

Named after the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, best known for his popular radio and TV ministry in the 1950s and 60s, The Sheen Center is a project of the Archdiocese of New York and showcases works that affirm the highest values of the human
spirit through the performing and visual arts, lectures and exhibits. The state-of-the-art complex has a 270-seat proscenium theater equipped with five-camera high-definition Livestream capability and a multi-track recording studio with thirty-two onstage inputs; an 80-seat black box theater; four rehearsal studios; and an art gallery. Connect with the Sheen Center online.

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ARTISTS IN UPCOMING 'CONVERGENCES - INDIE ARTISTS SERIES':

Michael Cerveris AND HIS ACCOMPLICES

March 16, 2017

Michael Cerveris's musical journey is a long and storied one, beginning with his artistic upbringing in West Virginia by two Juilliard alumnus, growing to being Tommy in The Who's iconic rock musical and coming along with Pete Townshend on his Psychoderelict Tour, to playing the lead in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. His punk and rock roots only softened years later when an acting part in Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant brought him to New Orleans, where he rediscovered his Southern roots.

Fast-forward to today, and Cerveris can boast three full-length solo albums, two Tony Awards, a role in the Broadway musical Fun Home (where he won one of the Tonys), and the pride of raising the puppy he rescued in New Orleans. He divides his time between New York City and New Orleans, and continues to dabble in between music, film, and theater.

Come out to watch Michael present a special performance of Piety, his lushly orchestrated acoustic album performed by Cerveris and his band with a chamber ensemble and singers along with selections from his first record, Dog Eared, and EP, Hinterland. Piety was nominated for the Best Of The Beat Award by OffBeat Magazine for Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album of 2016 and critic John Swenson wrote on Tourworthy.com: "Piety really is beyond category, definitely one of the best records released in New Orleans in 2016."

SKY-PONY

January 28, 2017

Sky-Pony is a Brooklyn-based ensemble that holds its focal point on lead singer Lauren Worsham and her husband Kyle Jarrow. After their debut release Beautiful Monster via the local Knitting Factory Records on Dec. 4th, they have become even more invigorated than ever. The group, which consists of Wor- sham on vocals and a backing band of guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and cello, plus a pair of Motown-esque backing vocalists, has gathered a cult following for their vivacious live performances.

Their music has been described as "cheeky indie-pop," and the group delights in subverting lyrical norms. The album's first single "The Watcher" is told from the perspective of a female stalker speaking to her object of obsession - certainly not the sort of song we're used to hearing. Jarrow, the group's song writer, is an Obie Award-winning writer for not just music but the stage, film and television. His most recent projects include the book for the upcoming SpongeBob Musical and The Drop, a drama series for the CW television network. Between his writing and Sky-Pony's pen- chant for flair from burlesque dancers, acrobats, beat-boxers and the like, Sky-Pony has caught the attention of most of New York, and is sure to earn the attention of the rest of it in the blink of an eye.

Experience Sky-Pony serve up a double set filled with their signature brand of lush, theatrical in- die-pop. The show will feature special guests Nimbus Dance Works - performing a short dance piece scored by Sky-Pony - as well as the West Village Chorale - providing forty-person chorale backup for the band!

Dan Mills

January 13, 2017

After Dan Mills was discovered by a Broadway talent scout during a show with his band at Rockwood Music Hall back in 2010, his stardom quickly grew. Mills was quickly cast in Million Dol- lar Quartet, a musical that imagines the iconic night where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis met for one fated jam session in Memphis. Since then, Mills has opened for groups like Steve Miller Band, Brett Dennen, Mipso, Ryan Montbleau, Taylor Hicks, and Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls - to name a few. He's also tried his hand at writing music for the- ater, composing the lyrics & music for the musical Fiction in Photographs, and is working on a new project called Songs from a Failed Play.

Mills eagerly anticipates his show at the Sheen Center, stating, ""I've been lucky enough to be in- volved in two of New York City's greatest music scenes - the downtown world of Folk/Americana singer-songwriters, and the uptown world of contemporary musical theatre. Both of these worlds appreciate honest lyrics and catchy melodies - and both have incredibly welcoming communities of artists and supporters - but somehow they don't cross paths as much you'd expect. The influ- ence of both of these worlds comes across in my music, and I always look forward to playing in venues that are as enthusiastic as I am about bringing them together."

Dan Mills will be performing accompanied by his band [Jesse Humphrey, Mark Goodell, Adam Podd, and Jordan Scanella] as well as a few special guests. Mills and his band will be performing songs from his extensive repertoire ranging from folk and blues, to country and contemporary musical theatre.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride