Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | Showcase B Performance Schedule

Pierce Freelon

Pierce Freelon (Showcase B1): Sing, dance, and travel through time with Pierce Freelon and four generations of his cosmic family. Multi-Grammy®-nominated producer and accomplished musician PIERCE FREELON brings his inventiveness and creativity to the stage. Following his critically acclaimed debut children’s album D.a.D. in 2020, Pierce’s Grammy®-nominated 2021 Black to the Future and Grammy®-nominated 2023 AnceStars (ages 5+) feature elements of Afrofuturism, Black history, and archival voices to touch on imagination, family, self-care, and science fiction. Pierce Freelon's electrifying performance features voices from four generations of his family and beloved community, including his mother, jazz singer and six-time Grammy Award® nominee NNENNA FREELON, the late poet and Civil Rights activist MAYA ANGELOU, as well as Pierce’s young daughter, STELLA FREELON.

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Joshua Lozoff: Life is Magic

Joshua Lozoff: Life is Magic (Showcase B2): Magician Joshua Lozoff's stage show celebrates the human potential and explores the ways we're all connected! The performance combines astounding mental demonstrations with magic from around the world. In one moment, he predicts a volunteer's choices even before she knows them herself. In the next, he makes a drawing come to life on a sketch pad. Life is Magic is highly interactive, and much of the fun comes from watching fellow audience members participate onstage! This is not just a “magic show.” Joshua Lozoff: Life is Magic is a unique and memorable experience that will be a highlight and stand out of your season! Photos By: Chris Charles

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FROM CHINA TO APPALACHIA:

Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian

FROM CHINA TO APPALACHIA: Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian (Virtual Showcase 1B): GRAMMY Award-winning American Roots artists Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer join with Chinese classical hammered dulcimer virtuoso Chao Tian in a show that combines music from China to Appalachia and beyond. Instrumentation includes yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer), gourd banjo, five-string banjo, ukulele, guitars, dumbek, cello-banjo, and mandolin. The group’s repertoire includes traditional Chinese and Appalachian music, as well as contemporary and traditional music from around the world. Unusual combinations explore new arrangements to old music, such as “Dark Eyes.” Ukulele, yangqin, and guitar create a new palette for this Russian folk song turned jazz manouche tune. Cathy and Marcy join Chao in singing a Chinese lullaby, “Nani Wan,” and Chao easily add her love of American Old-Time music to fiddle tunes and songs. From China to Appalachia was borne of a friendship and mutual love of musical exploration, speaking to the power of music to connect cultures. The trio’s performances include the Music Center at Strathmore (N. Bethesda, MD), the Ashe Civic Center (Ashe Co., NC), the Library of Congress, the World of Bluegrass (Raleigh), and the Wintergrass Festival (Seattle). They were voted BEST GLOBAL.WORLD MUSIC ARTISTS at the 2024 Washington Area Music Awards. Their eponymous CD dropped August 16, 2024. Photos By: Jeff Fasano

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The Swon Brothers

The Swon Brothers (Showcase 3B): Known for their seamlessly smooth, tight-knit sibling harmonies, The Swon Brothers were thrilling audiences long before their appearance as finalists on NBC’s "The Voice." Since releasing their major label hit, “Later On,” the brothers have written and produced their own music independently and also contributed to superstar Blake Shelton’s album "BODY LANGUAGE," co-writing the title track and appearing as featured performers on the song. The Swon Brothers have toured as part of Carrie Underwood’s Storyteller Tour and Brad Paisley’s Country Nation World Tour, as well as headlining their own cross-country shows. Their concerts feature hilarious and heartwarming stories about their childhood and how their career began, tied together with a collection of jaw-dropping covers of the music that inspired them to pursue a career as touring musicians, including songs like "Should've Been A Cowboy," "Simple Man," "If Whiskey Could Talk," "Mommas," and so many more! Photo By: Amy Richmond

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Tomáš Kubínek

Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible

Tomáš Kubínek - Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible (Showcase B4): London's Time Out calls him "hilarious and enormously talented." Tomáš Kubínek (Toh-mawsh Koo-bee-neck) is a comic genius, virtuoso vaudevillian, and all-round charmer who gives audiences an utterly joyous experience they'll remember for a lifetime. With appearances in over 30 countries, Mr. Kubínek has won the hearts of thousands in theaters, opera houses, television specials, and in communities large and small. Performances of his one-man shows include sold-out runs at London Southbank Centre’s Purcell Theatre, Teatro Goldoni in Venice, The International Festival of Hong Kong, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Singapore Arts Festival, Sasch Hall in Florence, Tokyo’s Asahi Hall, Theatre des Celestins in Lyon, and Broadway's New Victory Theater in New York City. Mr. Kubínek is the recipient of international awards, including The Moers Comedy Prize from The International Comedy Arts Festival in Germany, The Schneestern Award from the International Festival of Humor in Arosa, Switzerland, and The Samuel Beckett Theatre Award from The Dublin Theater Festival in Ireland. “Absolutely expert and consistently charming.” The New York Times. Photo by: by J. Houghton.

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Christmas in Killarney

Christmas in Killarney (Virtual Showcase 2B): Set in late 1920’s Ireland, Christmas in Killarney shows what it means to celebrate Christmas the ‘Irish’ way, where many of today’s Christmas traditions originated. This delightful story follows a newly engaged couple as they spend the holiday with the bride’s family. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see what's becoming a family seasonal classic. Christmas in Killarney features 6 outstanding Irish dancers, 3 live musicians, 4 lead actors/vocalists, and is as turnkey as possible production-wise. Directed by Broadway Producer Jeff Whiting, set designed by Emmy Award-Winner Jason Ardizzone-West “Killarney was a smash with my patrons. Biggest crowd of the season and the cast and crew were wonderfully talented, professional, and polite. I would gladly book them again and would be happy to pass along my praise to any other presenters.” – Mendel Center/Lake MI College, “The show went very well. We had a large audience turnout, and it was well received. Super easy to work with and very efficient. Strike was extremely fast, which was great for our staff because our December was nonstop.” – Academy Center of the Arts (VA). Photos By: Brian Doherty

Check out Christmas in Killarney

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