WOMEN OF LETTERS, SERIOUSLY ENTERTAINING and More Coming Up This Month at Joe's Pub

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its nightly performances for the next two weeks, June 7-18, 2017. Scroll down for details!

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WOMEN OF LETTERS
GUESTS: ELNA BAKER, ANURADHA BHAGWATI, CAROLYN CASTIGLIA, ANNA DREZEN, MARIE FAUSTIN, AND ISA CHANDRA MOSKOWITZ
Wednesday, June 7 at 7PM
SOLD OUT

Women of Letters is everyone's favorite literary salon! Every month, New York's best and brightest women come together on stage to celebrate the lost art of letter writing. Expect laughter, tears, and camaraderie as host Sofija Stefanovic welcomes guests reading "A letter to the best mistake I ever made." Together on stage for the first time ever are special guests including iconic writer and This American Life contributor Elna Baker; acclaimed writer, activist, and Marine Corps veteran Anuradha Bhagwati; explosive standup and performer Carolyn Castiglia; esteemed comic and writer for Saturday Night Live Anna Drezen; beloved stand-up and Moth storyteller Marie Faustin; and, celebrated vegan chef and columnist Isa Chandra Moskowitz. The show attracts guests of the highest caliber, from all disciplines. Women of Letters veterans include: Molly Ringwald, Kathleen Turner, Martha Wainwright, Siri Hustvedt, Edie Falco, Susan Orlean, Tavi Gevinson, Amber Tamblyn, and many more. Proceeds from Women of Letters shows are regularly donated to charity, with over $750,000 being raised globally to date. The proceeds from this performance will be donated to Planned Parenthood New York.

THE HEAVENS: THE ATHEIST GOSPEL TROMBONE CHOIR
Wednesday, June 7 at 9:30PM
$15

The Heavens is seven of New York City's most soul-stirring trombone players gathering for an astonishing testament to the power of reason. Playing music from their album as well as arrangements of classic tunes by the Famous Blue Jay Singers, Madison's Lively Stones, and the Mississippi Nightingales. The New York Times says, "The thrilling moments of the set were the trickiest, in a more-or-less jazz sense, when the phrasing swung and stopped short and the horns separated into overlapping questions and answers, as in Mr. Garchik's Optimism; or the loudest, when continuous lines overlapped."

Gary Lucas FT. Feifei Yang
Thursday, June 8 at 7:30PM
$20

Guitarist extraordinaire and Grammy-nominated songwriter Gary Lucas has been called "one of the best and most original guitarists in America" by Rolling Stone, and no more so than in his solo acoustic playing. "Awesome fingerpicking skills" is how the Japan Times put it, describing Lucas' breathtaking solo acoustic playing. His solo acoustic concerts are a tour de force of bluesy and soulful finger-style guitar, and Lucas' covers the waterfront, everything from his original songs (the man has released over twenty acclaimed albums, including the solo acoustic Evangeline, which was Billboard's Pick of the Week upon release), a tributes to Jeff Buckley and Captain Beefheart (two of Lucas' closest associates-- Gary co-wrote Buckley's "Grace" and "Mojo Pin", and was a member of avant-garde avatar Captain Beefheart's Magic Band), to his own arrangements of country blues, Wagner and Dvorak, Gershwin and Sun Ra, famous film themes, and much more. Feifei Fang is an award-winning vocalist and erhu player from mainland China who has performed at The Times Square New Year's Eve Countdown, Carnegie Hall, the Barclay's Center, New York Fashion Week, and many other notable venues and institutions. She will perform Gary's well-known song "Grace", co-written with Jeff Buckley, and several 1930s Chinese pop classics. Gary and Feifei along with Jason Candler are currently recording Vol. Two of Gary's celebrated 1930s Chinese pop album The Edge of Heaven.

BRANDON SEABROOK: DIE TROMMEL FATALE ALBUM RELEASE
Thursday, June 8 at 9:30PM
$15

Guitarist Brandon Seabrook's pre-apocalyptic summit, oozing centuries of purloined caterwauls, Die Trommel Fatale is a poly-rhythmic exploration of the dark side of the drum, layering cello, bass, electronics, voice and guitar against dichotomous drummers. In part inspired by the Peruvian jungle, feature string drones and ghostly vocals evoking ancient shamanic landscapes designed to eviscerate the listener. In discarding the use of cymbals, Die Trommel Fatale melds the primal propulsion of the drums with tight ensemble passages and solo experimentations. Cinematic landscapes emerge from a bone shaking fusion of drums, guitar and guttural shrieks.

PATRICIA LOCKWOOD: ANSWER SONGS FT. BEN ARTHUR AND SASHA DOBSON
Friday, June 9 at 7PM
$20

In this live reading and music performance, rock star poet Patricia Lockwood and songwriter Ben Arthur join for a special night exploring the hazy intersection between literature and music. How does one artist's ideas, characters and sounds inspire and inform new ideas, characters and sounds? Lockwood will read a piece from her catalogue, and Ben and special guests will play songs they have written in response.

John Kelly SINGS Joni Mitchell: DOWN TO YOU
Friday, June 9 at 9:30PM
$20

Down To You is a concert version of John Kelly's acclaimed tribute to the music of Joni Mitchell. This version is performed without the usual theatrical costumes, focused instead on songs from the various stages of Mitchell's career, sung in Kelly's signature 3 octave voice, and playing her unique guitar tunings and the dulcimer that she gave him upon first seeing his performance. Music Direction by Zecca Esquibel. John Kelly is a performance and visual artist. Over the course of his four-decade-long career he has created over 30 group and solo performance works including Pass The Blutwurst, Bitte, Find My Way Home, and Paved Paradise: The Art of Joni Mitchell.

THE BEARDED LADIES: MARLENE AND THE MACHINE - A GERMAN EXPRESSIONIST CABARET
Saturday, June 10 at 7PM
$15 Advance / $20 Door

The Bearded Ladies Cabaret bring their unique style of cabaret to Joe's Pub with Marlene and The Machine: A German Expressionist Cabaret. Combining the music of Marlene Dietrich, Fiona Apple, and Regina Spektor with the visual and musical language of German Expressionism and the Weimar era, they create a fable for the digital age. Join your host, Marlene Dietrich, the well-aged actress, who is giving musical seminars on emotional control. Audiences enter a shadowy, atonal world in which The Bearded Ladies blur the lines between humanity, music, and machine. Elaborate cardboard cityscapes, live recreations of expressionist films and a host of familiar songs sung in unfamiliar ways mark this late night event. Philadelphia Inquirer calls this piece: "intense and illuminating...a cabaret that probes the boundaries between the chaos of uncontrolled emotion and the veneer of manufactured control."

AH MER AH SU WITH OPENER MACY RODMAN
Saturday, June 10 at 9:30PM
$15

Ah Mer Ah Su is the indie electronic pop moniker of Star Amerasu, she effortlessly blends her voice with intricate beats and twinkling syths. Her voice has been compared to Nina Simone, and her music is a synthesis of choir kid meets club kid and in a whole league of it's own. Early 2017 saw the release of her critically acclaimed 2nd EP Rebecca. Macy Rodman is a New York City-based recording artist and producer whose debut EP HELP was released in 2016. Macy's work contains elements of Pop, Punk, and Dance/Electronic music and tackles subject matter like fear and safety, ennui, and her trans experience. In 2015, Macy released "Lazy Girl" as the first single from HELP, along with a video directed by Josef Kraska. "Lazy Girl" was notably featured in Vice and ArtForum, and in the latter, pop producer Sophie named Macy as one of their favorites acts of 2015. Rodman follows up HELP with her first full length LP The Lake due out in June 2017 with electronic label Sweat Equity.

SARA SERPA AND ANDRÉ MATOS
Sunday, June 11 at 7:30PM
$15

The combination of the voice and guitar of Sara Serpa and André Matos is magic, dazzling and calm. The Portuguese native and New York based artists work together since 2005. They achieved to create a unique sonic world, drawing upon pure and contemplative sounds through a personal approach to melody and poetry. Their musical identity reveals both their Portuguese culture as well as a certain allure inspired by the creative artistic environment of New York. Together they have released two albums, widely acclaimed by the press: Primavera (2014) and All The Dreams (2016), presented at Joe's Pub last September. For this performance, the duo presents their music with a new setting, accompanied by strings and drums.

Michela Marino Lerman
Sunday, June 11 at 9:30PM
$15 Advance / $20 Door

Michela Marino Lerman is a globally sought after tap dance artist, performer, choreographer, educator, and all-around creative spirit. Since debuting on Sesame Street at the age of 5, she has dazzled audiences by her extraordinary rhythmic expression and musical sensitivity - Michela makes music with her feet. The Huffington Post described her as "a hurricane of rhythm so tightly syncopated it caused many jaws to drop" and The New York Times has called her both a "prodigy" and deemed her dancing as "flashes of brilliance." This performance is part of the Michael Mwenso-curated Melting Pot series, chronicles the meaning of leaving home and finding yourself, and the one you love, along the way.

Ernst Reijseger: SOLO CELLO
Monday, June 12 at 7:30PM
$20

Born in Naarden, Netherlands, in 1954, Ernst Reijseger started playing cello at the age of seven. At the Conservatory of Amsterdam, his teacher, Anner Bijlsma, encouraged him to follow his own path in order to develop his musical vocabulary. This resulted in a lifetime of out-of-the-box and genre-bending collaborations and that enabled Reijseger to grow into a unique musical force. Recently, Reijseger composed for baroque orchestra Forma Antiqua (Volcano Symphony), the Dutch Wind Ensemble and Ensemble Modern. Scoring films for directors Werner Herzog (The White Diamond, Cave of Forgotten Dreams) and Alex and Andrew Smith (Walking Out) has created a new platform for Reijseger's music. Together with the audio loving label Winter&Winter, Ernst Reijseger released over two dozen albums, including film soundtracks.

PETERSON BROTHERS
Monday, June 12 at 9:30PM
$15

The Peterson Brothers possess a uniquely modern blend of blues, soul, and funk. Seventeen-year-old Alex (bass and vocals) and twenty-year-old Glenn Jr. (guitar and lead vocals) have grown up playing together since they were young kids. Rising stars in Austin, Texas, the Peterson Brothers hold a standing room only weekly residency at Austin's famed music hall The Continental Club. They have opened for the likes of Gary Clark Jr., Los Lonely Boys, the late B.B. King, Willie Nelson, and Lisa Marie Presley. They have also played with Buddy Guy, Michael Burks and many of Austin's finest musicians. The Peterson Brothers have also gained the attention of the one and only Bootsy Collins, who has become a true mentor.

AHN TRIO: BLUE ALBUM RELEASE
Tuesday, June 13 at 7:30PM
$25

Ahn Trio, Juilliard-trained Korean-American sisters known for their innovative approach to modern classical music, releases their 9th album, Blue. The Ahn Trio, dubbed "Classical Revolutionaries" by Newsday, pianist Lucia, violinist Angella and cellist Maria, are excited to be back at Joe's Pub to showcase their musical diary. Snapshots of their musical journey include hanging out with Prince at Paisley Park and playing "Purple Rain," working with Pat Metheny who worte "Yuryung" for the trio, performing "Skylife" at President Obama's White House and performing at TEDWomen and meeting extraordinary female leaders from around the world, collaborating with Juilliard classmate Kenji Bunch. Also adding new musical pictures to their album: a collaboration with Hyung-Ki Joo of Igudesman & Joo, and a D.D. Jackson arrangement of Jimi Hendrix' "Little Wing." Come celebrate with Ahn Trio! Cheer them ahn!

JIM ANDRALIS AND THE SYNTONICS
Tuesday, June 13 at 9:30PM
$15

The Miami Herald called singer-songwriter Jim Andralis' Your Dying Wish Come True "one of the best solo debut discs of the year." Since its release last March, Julie DeLano, Leslie Graves, Susan Hwang and Jessie Kilguss have been adding their lush harmonies to his New York City performances. Tonight will be their first official appearance as The Syntonics. Larry Krone will also lend his voice and handsomeness to the evening. Jim wrote, sang and played the accordion in the early-to-mid aughts downtown New York City band The Isotoners, a gay post-punk cult sensation. He later established himself as a featured player among a dazzling roster of performers at the acclaimed Joe's Pub monthly variety show Our Hit Parade from 2008 through 2012. He also recorded a duet with his buddy Bridget Everett called "Hit the Ground Fuckin'."

HOUSE OF SPEAKEASY: SERIOUSLY ENTERTAINING - BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
GUESTS: GLENN FRANKEL, BRAD GOOCH, ADA CALHOUN, AND HARI KUNZRU
Wednesday, June 14 at 7PM
$15 - $35

Seriously Entertaining, New York's premier literary cabaret series, is hosted by Amanda Foreman and Lucas Wittmann, and showcases writers and their passions. The June 14 performance, By the Light of the Moon, features Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Glenn Frankel, poet and novelist Brad Gooch, humorist and journalist Ada Calhoun, and novelist Hari Kenzru. The Wall Street Journal calls it "Think-y entertainment for New York's book-loving crowd," The New York Times says it's "a literary mixtape [with] perfect flow and variety," while CBS Local News adds: "You have never seen a cabaret quite like this.... The lineup includes some of the most brilliant minds in the literary and artistic worlds." Seriously Entertaining packs a big punch, regularly hosting talent such as Margo Jefferson, Amber Tamblyn, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, PJ O'Rourke, GRAHAM MOORE, Steven Pinker, and more. The show asks each writer to riff on a given theme for fifteen minutes only. Whether the result leaves you howling with laughter or sorrow, it will be an evening you're sure to remember. The show's producer, House of SpeakEasy, is a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to connecting writers and audiences in innovative and sustaining ways - in classrooms, in the community, and at Joe's Pub.

Cole Escola: HELP! I'M STUCK
Wednesday, June 14 at 9:30PM
Monday, July 10 at 9:30PM
Wednesday, August 16 at 9:30PM
$15

Too weird for pretty much anything else, the feral writer/performer and brains behind a slew of absurdly funny online videos (like his portrayal of a mom in an orange juice commercial), Cole Escola (Difficult People, Man Seeking Woman, Mozart in the Jungle), brings his unique voice to the stage, playing multiple characters in a series of comedic vignettes that operate on the fringes of coherence and social acceptability. The show is directed by Christian Coulson.

STEPHANIE MCKAY FOR THE RESTORATIVE CENTER: A FUNDRAISER
Thursday, June 15 at 7PM
$25 - $100

The Restorative Center is a grassroots organization with a focus on creating the structure and space for communities to activate their ability to work together toward their own well-being. With roots in Newburgh, N.Y. and the Bronx, TRC explores non-hierarchal structures and the basic concept of storytelling to invite people to be together in new ways. Shailly Agnihotri, an attorney with twenty years of experience, founded TRC with the intention of creating a social foundation for building alternatives to the traditional adversarial approach to conflict resolution. We envision a future in which the majority of issues currently routed through the criminal justice system and family court are resolved by the communities in which those issues arise.

BIRTHDAY SAX
Thursday, June 15 at 9:30PM
$15

Birthday Sax is your favorite 1980s soundtrack songs re-imagined by a German überfan and a saxophone quartet at his birthday party. Come rock out with Manheim Tuttlingen, his Frauleins, and The Garden State Saxophone Quartet as they crank out his all-time favorite hits from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Back to The Future, The Goonies, Sixteen Candles, The NeverEnding Story and more. Filled with lederhosen-dropping surprises, a comedic character concert created/performed by Tim Girrbach as an homage to his German dad. Directed/choreographed by Wendy Seyb (The Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway and HBO, Murder For Two, The Toxic Avenger Musical).

TROKER
Friday, June 16 at 7PM
$15 Advance / $20 Door

If Salvador Dali ever made a heist movie, then Mexico's Troker would have been the soundtrack. Their sound careens between the sublime and the dangerous, where metal riffage merges with powerhouse funk drumming and DJ scratching, and the horn lines pull from jazz and the mariachi tradition of the band's homeland (Guadalajara, México). Troker became first band to play twice, in consecutive years, at the West Holts Stage in the legendary Glastonbury Festival in England. Their concerts are, in the words of All About Jazz, "noisy, chaotic, sprawling, messy, and altogether wonderful." In 2016, they were named by Rolling Stone Mexico as one of top 20 Mexican artists breaking boundaries.

MARIACHI FLOR DE TOLOACHE: LAS CARAS LINDAS ALBUM RELEASE WITH OPENER EDNA VAZQUEZ
Friday, June 16 at 9:30PM
Saturday, June 17 at 11:30PM
$25

All-women mariachi group and Latin Grammy nominees Mariachi Flor de Toloache is lead by singers Mireya I. Ramos (founder) and Shae Fiol (original member). Reminiscent of the early days of mariachi, the group started as a trio of harp, violin and vihuela; today, Mariachi Flor De Toloache performs as a full mariachi ensemble. The members hail from diverse cultural backgrounds such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Australia, Colombia, Germany, Italy and the United States. This diversity defines its unique flavor and sound. The result of this cultural bouquet is an edgy, versatile and fresh take on traditional Mexican music. Opening both shows will be Edna Vazquez, a Latin American artist based in the Northwest who performs original music that pays homage to her many influences from across the Americas. Edna has traveled far and wide to share their message of light, love and cultural healing.

TIME FOR THREE
Saturday, June 17 at 7PM
$20

The groundbreaking, category-shattering trio Time for Three (Tf3) transcends traditional classification, with elements of classical, country western, gypsy and jazz idioms forming a blend all its own. The members - Nick Kendall, violin; Charles Yang violin; and Ranaan Meyer, double bass - carry a passion for improvisation, composing and arranging, all prime elements of the ensemble's playing. Recent highlights included their Carnegie Hall debut, appearances with the Boston Pops, and an appearance on the ABC prime time hit show Dancing with the Stars. Tf3's high-energy performances are free of conventional practices, drawing instead from the members' differing musical backgrounds. The trio also performs its own arrangements of traditional repertoire and Ranaan Meyer provides original compositions to complement the trio's offerings.

NEVER SLEEP ALONE FT. DR. ALEX SCHILLER
Saturday, June 17 at 9:30PM
Players $35 / Voyeurs $45

When did you last make out with a complete stranger? Are you fulfilling your socio-sexual potential? What is an MBO? And WHO is going to give you one? If you can't answer these questions, you urgently need a session with straight-talking sexual evangelist Dr. Alex Schiller. Get dressed up to the nines, grab your friends and lovers and come to Joe's Pub for a hysterically funny and seriously sexy live entertainment experience where the audience laughs, learns and literally hooks up with each other! Whether you're single and seeking, or happily coupled, NEVER SLEEP ALONE is the New York night you've always wanted. During this highly interactive show, Dr. Alex gives life-changing advice from her best-selling book, and leads the audience through a wildly entertaining evening where nobody hesitates and everybody participates. The night continues at an after-party at a nearby lounge, where you'll dance the night away with sexy strangers from all over the world. Clean your apartment before the show... there's a good chance you'll be bringing someone back. ATTENTION: If you sit in the front PLAYERS section you WILL make out with strangers. More timid audience members should enjoy the fun from the VOYEURS seating in the back.

THE SECRET CITY
Sunday, June 18 at 11:30AM
$15

Join us for a special gathering of The Secret City, the Obie award-winning artistic tent revival, for their first gathering at Joe's Pub. Raucous, joyful and exuberant, The Secret City spreads joy wherever they go, celebrating art and artists, inclusiveness and community. The theme for the day is SUMMER -- featured performances will include live music, dancers, special guests as well as The Secret City Band, The Secret City Singers and the creator and host of The Secret City, Chris Wells. The day will celebrate New York City in all her creative, boisterous splendor, and leave you feeling inspired and better about being alive.

Mandy Gonzalez
Sunday, June 18 at 7PM
SOLD OUT

Broadway's sensational Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, Wicked, In the Heights) sets the night on fire in her Joe's Pub solo debut. Joined by a stellar band, Mandy Gonzalez celebrates her love of New York City and brings her elegant styling to the signature songs of her starring roles. Mandy will also feature highlights from her highly anticipated debut album and some personal favorites to celebrate Father's Day. It's going to be a captivating and inspiring evening as the fearlessly talented Mandy Gonzalez takes the stage.

Erin Markey: BONER KILLER
Sunday, June 18 at 9:30PM
$20

Comprised of her signature story-driven stand-up and scored by sensual, homemade pop, Erin Markey's Boner Killer is an intimate musical conversation between what Markey thinks she can't have and how she'd have it if she could. Driven by Whitney Houston's lesbian mythologies, Europe, and a Pretty Woman accident, Markey sacrifices her own life to transform personal humiliations into naked feminist hope. Markey and frequent collaborator Emily Bate make up the two-girl, harmony-driven band performing original and sampled music.

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For tickets, go online at joespub.com, call 10AM-7:00PM daily at 212-967-7555, or visit in person at The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street, NYC (Opens daily at 2PM). There is a $12 food / two (2) drink minimum per person per show, unless otherwise noted.

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 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. The organization also offers unique opportunities like New York Voices, an artist commissioning program that provides musicians the resources and tools needed to develop original theater works. Commissioned artists have included Ethan Lipton, Toshi Reagon, Bridget Everett, Allen Toussaint and more. In 2011, the Pub received a top-to-bottom renovation, leading to improved sightlines, expanded seating capacity and a new menu from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. With its intimate atmosphere and superior acoustics, Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually.

The Public Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare, the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. Celebrating his 10th anniversary season at The Public, Eustis has created new community-based initiatives designed to engage audiences like Public Lab, Public Studio, Public Forum, Public Works, and a remount of the Mobile Unit. 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 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; Public Works, an expanding initiative that is designed to cultivate new connections and new models of engagement with artists, audiences and the community each year; and audience and artist development initiatives that range from Emerging Writers Group to the Public Forum series. The Public is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; and in October 2012, the landmark building downtown at Astor Place was revitalized to physically manifest the Company's core mission of sparking new dialogues and increasing accessibility for artists and audiences, by dramatically opening up the building to the street and community, and transforming the lobby into a public piazza for artists, students, and audiences. The Public's work is also seen on tour throughout the U.S. and internationally and in collaborations and co-productions with regional and international theaters. The Public is currently represented on Broadway by the Tony Award-winning acclaimed American musical Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and in spring 2017, Lynn Nottage's acclaimed new play Sweat. The Public has received 59 Tony Awards, 168 Obie Awards, 53 Drama Desk Awards, 54 Lortel Awards, 32 Outer Critics Circle Awards, 13 New York Drama Critics Awards, and five Pulitzer Prizes.

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