Bridget Barkan and Brant Croucher to Bring Music and Storytelling to Houston

In the third show in the Lott Entertainment Presents Joe's Pub Series, singer/songwriter/former child star Bridget Barkan will bring her unique blend of music and storytelling to Houston for one night only. She'll combine music from her Joe's Pub show and album, Dear Stranger I Love You, with original and cover music, hilarious stories and a first-time musical collaboration with Houston-based artist Brant Croucher.

Aligning with the mission of Joe's Pub-to support both young and established artists with a commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom-Lott Entertainment Presents is committed to local artists like Brant while bringing in extraordinary touring artists never seen before in Houston.

"We're truly filling a void," said artistic director Kathryn Lott. "I've been incredibly impressed with Brant since the first time I heard him perform, and the fact that he and Bridget are creating original music together just for our show reaffirms the reason Allison and I started this organization. We're not only bringing artists to Houston, but we're providing a platform for artists to create something new."

Bridget Barkan has spent her life in show business. After coming "out of the womb in first position, singing Memory from Cats" with a Brill building singer/songwriter father and an actress, part-time clown mother, she began a self-described long journey of sacrifice for her art. The New York City native spent years as a child actor with roles on Sesame Street and Oreo cookie ads before a stint as a background singer in pop/glam band the Scissor Sisters and roles in HBO's Everyday People, Brian De Palma's Redacted and, most recently, alongside Phillip Seymour Hoffman in God's Pocket.

In 2014, she wrote her first one woman show, The Love Junkie, which premiered at Joe's Pub, about her journey of producing said show. Or, as she puts it, "the actual act of producing my own piece of work after falling down the rabbit hole between my legs in a whirlwind of love and sex addiction to ease the pain and stresses of fighting for a dream." Ultimately, she tells the story of how we all find miracles through our mess.

Brant Croucher was born and raised in Houston, schooled in Denton, TX and has since spent time all over the USA, while receiving mail in Dallas, Nashville, Austin and Wimberley. Appropriately, his songs explore themes of moving around -- and moving on -- while finding a way to make life as an aspirant troubadour work.

Such themes aren't new to the genre, but Croucher approaches them with a genuine, no-frills openness and honesty, delivering each with a strong vocal presence, supported by a guitar or piano. In the past three years, Croucher has played hundreds of shows all over Texas, the Southeast, and the UK, sharing bills with many notable acts and personal heroes along the way.

IF YOU GO:
Bridget Barkan with Brant Croucher
April 7, 2016
8pm
MATCH (Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston) - Matchbox 3
Tickets are available now for $25 ($20 for Lott Entertainment Presents Members) at matchouston.secure.force.com/ticket/#sections_a0F61000000UBdvEAG

Lott Entertainment Presents' mission is to fill the void in the Houston performing arts scene by bringing shows from outside our city that push the boundaries of traditional theatre. With provocative, immersive and deliberately different works, we will provide Houstonians with a wide range of new experiences. Lott Entertainment Presents will bring shows from outside Houston that would not otherwise be seen in this city. Lott Entertainment Presents will utilize its traveling artists to enrich the lives of local artists by providing valuable educational programs such as audition workshops, singer/songwriter workshops and artist conversations. In addition, Lott Entertainment Presents is creating a National Network with partnerships in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin for developing artists. Our Artistic Advisors in each of those cities will help guide our students and provide connections to get them acclimated in a new city. For more information, please visit http://www.lottentertainmentpresents.com.

Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub at The Public opened in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space and superior acoustics to perform and develop new work. Joe's Pub presents the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom. In addition, Joe's Pub features seasonal dinner and bar menus from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. As part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home, Joe's Pub showcases talent from all over the world, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually. Joe's Pub also offers unique opportunities like New York Voices, an artist commissioning program that provides musicians (Allen Toussaint, Ethan Lipton, Toshi Reagon, Bridget Everett and more) resources and collaborators to develop new theatrical works; and PUB CLUB, the venue's new artist development program.

Photo of Bridget by Suzanne Abramson. Photo of Brant by Sarah Austin.

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