Downtown venue, Pangea, has put together diverse programming to celebrate Pride Month, covering theater, music and comedy genres. Here’s the full schedule:
On Sat June 7 (at 7pm), the Obie Award winning James Jackson Jr. brings forth the music in his long-gestating debut album, “Birth,” for a release party like no other. This supernova of talent is joined by an all-star trio consisting of Elliot Roth, Lavondo Thomas and Christopher Heinz.
On Thur June 12 and Sun June 15 (both at 7pm), our resident theatre alchemist, David Cale, who boldly marries tunesmithing, spoken work and performance is at it again bringing back his acclaimed “We’re Only Alive for a Short Time,” an intimate portrait of his mother. Written and performed by the Obie and Outer Critics Circle Award-winner, with lush songs by Cale and Matthew Dean Marsh (on piano), the duo headlines the two sure-to-sell-out nights.
Sat June 14 (at 7pm), New York’s smash hit cabaret duo, “The Dingbats,” continue their current residency that began in February and that has been whipping up a froth of fun. Don’t miss “The Residency,” starring Julia Van Cartier and Ruby Powers, with music direction by Yaz.
On Wed and Thu June 18 and 19 (both at 9:30pm), the theatre artist Tjasa Ferme previews her new one-woman show, “My Marlene,” about the cross-dressing, bi-sexual pioneer and icon Marlene Dietrich. Directed by Ana Margineanu, Ferme intersperses songs and monologues (some drawn from private letters) to explore not the just kinetic force of her persona, but her defiance of the Nazi regime in Weimar Berlin. This immersive theater experience is headed to Edinburgh Fringe Festival where Ferme’s “Female Role Model Project” was recently picked as a “not-to-miss show” by Everything Theatre.
On Sun June 22 (at 7pm), the “glorious voiced” baritone Jonathan Christopher (Times Square Chronicles) makes his Pangea debut in a new show, “SHINE: Nowhere But Right Now.” Filled with what he calls “lullabies for a world on fire,” the show is music directed by friend and collaborator Keiji Ishiguri (“Cabaret at the Kit Kat Klub”). Christopher has appeared regionally this year as Coalhouse in “Ragtime,” and in the recent Broadway revival of “Sweeney Todd,” and on tour in “Hamilton.”
On Mon June 23 (at 8pm), two of today’s best performer-hosts — Emma Sofia and Colin Cunliff — team up for crowd-pleasing “variety concert celebration” of our illustrious queer community. Mixing song and dance and much, much more, these two busy Broadway beavers (Emma as Wendy in “Finding Neverland” and Veruca Salt in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and Colin in many shows including, also, “Finding Neverland” and “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Klub”) will dazzle while welcoming a delightful cavalcade of their friends for special cameos.
On Wed June 25 (at 7pm), it’s a rare opportunity to experience the troubadours of animist, avant-folk Faun Fables, led by the vocal partners Dawn McCarthy and Nils Frykdahl, who since 1998 have mesmerized audiences Downtown and in many other corners of the world. Joined by their spritely daughters who have toured with them since infancy, growing into roles mixing flutes, keyboard, bass, percussion and vocals, the Fauns are joined also by the Norwegian singer-guitarist Arild Hammero, who is featured on their new album, “Counterclockwise.”
And finally on Sun June 29 (at 7pm), it’s the unsinkable Flotilla DeBarge, in her 11th annual Gay Pride show at Pangea! To wit, our favorite Bistro Award winner (for Consumate Drag Artistry) always buoys our spirits while getting our thoughts to race. Tonight she premieres “D.E.I. FLO” a masterful tribute to the heartbeat of America, which, honey, ain’t goin nowhere!
For more details and to purchase tickets, go to pangeanyc.com
Pangea is located at 178 Second Avenue (between 11th & 12th Streets), NYC
