Natalie Merchant Joins Elizabeth Mitchell at Symphony Space Today

Smithsonian Folkways artist ELIZABETH MITCHELL invites special musical guests (including Natalie Merchant of 10,000 Maniacs fame) for 'The Sounding Joy' NYC album release concert today, December 14th; Pirate School rouses the audience's inner swashbuckler with interactive fun on December 28th. Both performances are part of Symphony Space's 'Just Kidding' series. Details below!

The holidays will sparkle for families when Symphony Space's Just Kidding series presents two all-ages shows in December:

Today, December 14, 11 am: ELIZABETH MITCHELL and Friends with special guest Natalie Merchant

GRAMMY-nominated, Smithsonian Folkways Recording artist ELIZABETH MITCHELL will be joined by husband Daniel Littleton, daughter Storey, and special guests including Natalie Merchant. The Sounding Joy is an exploration of Christmas and solstice songs from the American folk tradition. Drawn almost exclusively from the often overlooked but deeply influential songbook of revered composer and anthologist Ruth Crawford Seeger, these songs evoke an era before mass media and the commercialization of Christmas, when sacred song, dance, contemplation, and gathering were prized above all else during the holiday season. The Sounding Joy is Mitchell's fifth album for Smithsonian Folkways. Ages 2 and up.

Saturday, December 28, 11 am: Pirate School

Ahoy mateys! Pirate School is a madcap, swashbuckling one-man family vaudeville show created and performed by veteran New York physical comedian and actor David Engel. The show has enthralled, emboldened and delighted thousands of families for over 18 years with its mischievous blend of clown theatre, slapstick antics, magic and puppetry, zany music, rich special effects, and boisterous full-audience participation. Get a "sword safety lesson" and test your mettle in a rollicking sea battle with the whole family at this special holiday week performance. Ages 2 and up.

More to come in January

Please stay tuned for all of this season's eclectic and exciting performances for families at Symphony Space. On January 4th, it's the NYC debut of a multimedia musical theatre event for children, Planet Hopping, with story and score by indie band Lunch Money and puppeteers Belle et Bête (view the trailer HERE). Other January shows include the electroluminescent Dino-Lite performance from Lightwire Theatre (January 11), the annual showcase of percussive dance Stam-PEDE (January 12), and top kindie rock bands Recess Monkey (January 18) and Ratboy Jr. (January 25).

Shows run Saturdays, December 14 and 28, 11 a.m.. Tickets are available now: $13 to $25. Season subscriber information is available at www.symphonyspace.org. Symphony Space is located at 2537 Broadway (at 95th), New York, NY 10025. Box office: (212) 864-5400 or boxoffice@symphonyspace.org.