Apr 01 Wednesday
Abasiama Ufot, still living in the house of her deceased husband, forms an unexpected spiritual bond with Azell Abernathy, a soft-spoken, church-going carpenter. As their connection deepens, and Abasiama’s house–and soul–become clearer, she comes to understand the true nature of love, sending her off on one last journey through life.
The penultimate piece of Mfoniso Udofia’s nine-part play Ufot Family Cycle, In Old Age comes to ArtsEmerson in partnership with Front Porch Arts Collective as part of a two-year, citywide production of Udofia’s epic in Boston.
Apr 02 Thursday
Apr 03 Friday
Apr 04 Saturday
Apr 10 Friday
With credits including Lincoln Center, SFJAZZ, and the starring role in the 2023 short film “Goodbye Jonathan’s Soul,” trumpeter Jonathan Dely has captured eyes and ears not only for his musical talent on stage and on screen, but also for the story that animates his career: turning down a lucrative career on Wall Street to become a musical artist. Dely performs one of jazz’s most extraordinary live concerts, masterfully interweaving musical styles of jazz, classical, rock, and more – a feat that has garnered praise from both critics and concertgoers alike who are enraptured by Dely’s smooth, virtuosic trumpet sound, the versatility of his razor sharp ensemble, and his live show’s ability to both earn and transcend the label of “jazz”.
“To watch Jonathan on stage balance his identity as a performing artist and former Wall Streeter is like watching a coming-of-age story in concert. He is an extraordinary talent and a remarkable young man. A star in the making.” – Lincoln Center Future Songbook Series Producer
Apr 11 Saturday
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
Is it the murder of a king? A hasty incestuous marriage? A prince bent on revenge? Or maybe just a gassy Polonius full of beer! Shakespeare’s greatest work gets the full boozy treatment as we proudly present Sh!t-faced Shakespeare®: Hamlet. This timeless examination of the nature of humanity is performed in under 2 hours, so “To be or not to be” gets answered and you shan't need a nap! Grab a cocktail and enjoy as we prove that though this be madness, yet there is method in ‘t- helped with a bit of wine!Be AdvisedAnyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Parental discretion is advised.
Apr 16 Thursday
The Ukrainian band "YAGODY" originated after Zoriana Dybovska's previous project in Donetsk. In 2010, Mykola Huseynov proposed creating a band called "Khrushchi v Borschi" to perform and popularize Ukrainian music in the East. The group existed for four years but disbanded due to the onset of hostilities in the Donbas region. In 2014, Zoriana, along with her son, had to leave Donetsk and relocate to a safe territory. However, she didn't abandon the idea of reviving and reinterpreting folk songs. In June 2016, the band "Yа́gody" was founded in Lviv, with Zoriana as the driving force and participants being talented actresses she taught stage speech. Together, they explored the Ukrainian repertoire through artistic "home expeditions" and learned to play musical instruments.
The band's name emerged accidentally. At their first performance (Lviv Book Forum, 2016), the moderator Volodymyr Biehlov announced the band as "Yagody" (in English - Berries). By 2017, at the "Muszelki Wigier" festival in Suwalki, Poland, due to another host's carelessness, the band's name changed to "Yagódy."
The year 2020 proved pivotal for the band, as they presented their debut album with the same name, "YAGODY," along with a music video for the song "Kalyna-Malyna." The album included ten singles based on Ukrainian and foreign folk music. In 2021, a music video for the single "Zelena Lishchyna" was released, followed by "Divonko" in 2022. In 2023, the band created their first original song "Tsunamia".
Currently, the band has refreshed and grown. They actively tour Europe and organize charity concerts abroad. The ensemble consists of three vocalists, an accordionist, a bass guitarist, a drummer, and a cimbalist.
Apr 19 Sunday
“It’s The Wildest!” Is an exciting, tune-filled tribute to the music of Louis Prima and Keely Smith, performed by Mark Gionfriddo and Nikki Gorts. The name of the show references the title of an iconic 1956 album by Prima and Smith.
In the 1950s, Prima and Smith turned a tiny Las Vegas lounge into the most swinging after hours party, with a mix of jazz, swing, novelty music, and rock ‘n roll.
Mark Gionfriddo, Nikki Gorts and a five-piece band pay homage to this renowned duo featuring gems from the American Popular Songbook, including “Jump, Jive ‘N Wail”, “Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home,” “Embraceable You,” “I Wish You Love,” and “That Old Black Magic,” featuring arrangements by Mark Gionfriddo.
Apr 24 Friday
Apr 25 Saturday