The Lisps' FUTURITY Featuring Michael Cerveris Returns to HERE Arts Center, 4/15 & 4/16

FUTURITY is an original sci-fi Civil War musical by Brooklyn band The Lisps. Following two sold-out shows at Zipper Factory in January 2009 and four nights of packed houses at Joe's Pub in May 2009, FUTURITY returns for three workshop presentations at HERE Arts Center, April 15th at 7 pm and April 16th at 7 pm and 11 pm, as part of Motherlodge Live Arts Exchange and the 7th Ave South Festival.

FUTURITY tells the story of Julian Munro, a young Union Soldier in the Civil War who is an aspiring inventor and science fiction visionary. Together with his brilliant mentor, the famous metaphysician Ada Lovelace, Julian escapes the horrors and monotony of his daily life by dreaming up a high-tech dystopian future. In their far-fetched visions they devise an omnipotent steam-powered artificial intelligence that is destined to end war and all of humanity's miseries. The show fuses traditional American folk, Brechtian choral elements, and The Lisps' own brand of eccentric indie rock into a unique and compelling portrait of war, human imagination, and technological hubris.

FUTURITY has music and lyrics by César Alvarez with The Lisps, book by Molly Rice and César Alvarez, and direction by Meghan Finn. Production and graphic design is by Emily Orling and costume design is by Normandy Sherwood. Featuring The Lisps: César Alvarez, Eric Farber, Sammy Tunis along with Michael Cerveris*, Chelsey Donn, Maya Ferrara, Grant O'Brien, Aaron Schroeder, Ben Simon, Caroline Tamas, Jillian Tully, and Lorenzo Wolff.

THE LISPS have been a mainstay of New York's indie-rock and anti-folk scenes for nearly five years and released their latest record, Country Doctor Museum, to a sold-out crowd at Joe's Pub in January of 2008. After 2 recordings, numerous national and regional tours, performances at SXSW, CMJ, and being named one of New York's "8 Bands to Watch" by The L magazine, the group took a five-month break to write new material. What emerged from that break was a full-fledged musical grown from The Lisps' unique approach to song and stagecraft.

Tickets: $15, For Tickets and Information: www.here.org or call 212-352-3101

Subway: C, E, or 6 Train to Spring Street

145 6th Ave. (Entrance on Dominick St. 1 Block South of Spring)

Dorothy B. Williams Theatre

Where: HERE Arts Center

When: Thursday, April 15th @ 7 pm, Friday, April 16th @ 7 pm and 11 pm.

What: FUTURITY: A Musical by The Lisps

Since 1993, the OBIE-winning HERE has been a premier arts organization in NYC and a leader in the field of new, hybrid performance work. Under leadership of Founding Artistic Director Kristin Marting and Producing Director Kim Whitener, HERE has served over 12,000 emerging to mid-career artists developing work that does not fit a conventional programming agenda. Work presented at HERE has garnered 14 OBIE awards, including the 2009 Ross Wetzsteon Award, an OBIE grant for artistic achievement, three Drama Desk nominations, two Berrilla Kerr Awards, three NY Innovative Theatre Awards, an Edwin Booth Award and a Pulitzer Prize nomination. HERE proudly supports artists at all stages in their careers through full productions, artist residency programs, festivals and subsidized performance and rehearsal space. Work at HERE is curated based on the strength and uniqueness of the artist's vision. HERE's Artist Residency Program (HARP) provides development, commissions and full production for up to 20 artists over one-to-three years. In 2005, with the support of the FJC, a foundation of donor advised funds, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and the City of New York, HERE purchased its long-time home as part of a five-year "Secure HERE's Future" campaign. With full-scale renovations to the space concluding in June 2008, thanks to generous support from the City of New York, HERE is poised to continue and expand its role as a downtown haven for the finest emerging art. Offering a comfortable, eclectic setting for artists and audiences alike, HERE features a café and two state-of-the-art performance spaces. 

For more information, visit www.THELISPS.com or www.FUTURITYTHEMUSICAL.com

 

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