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Who choreographed american utopia9/3/2023 ![]() ![]() Of course everything blazes into fiery oranges and reds for that lusty “Burning Down the House.” By this time, later in the concert, many spectators are standing up and singing along.Ī choice gallery of thoughtful songs given a classy staging and headlined by a charismatic star, the exhilarating American Utopia will please David Byrne fans and probably win him plenty of new ones.Īmerican Utopia opened October 20, 2019, at the Hudson Theatre and runs through February 16, 2020. The ultra-cool surroundings involve thin beaded chains that create a silvery screen effect, dramatically lit by Rob Sinclair with looming shadows and various colors. The seating locations further back in the house, or even upstairs, likely offer a better view of Parson’s quirky choreography, too.Īlex Timbers, the director of spectacles such as Moulin Rouge, is billed as production consultant, so likely his input contributes to this concert’s handsome visuals. ![]() That’s a pity, since the wordplay is so crucial to appreciating Byrne’s work. Byrne’s powerful cover rendition of Janelle Monae’s “Hell You Talmabout,” a protest song that calls out the names of victims of racial violence, becomes a transcendent expression for a better world.įuture ticket-buyers take note that I was seated six rows back from the stage and experienced trouble comprehending lyrics due to dense sound mixing and nearby equipment placement. And then of course, the classic “Once in a Lifetime,” with its “same as it ever was” chant, is a how-did-I-get-here study in midlife crisis. “Bullet” traces a projectile’s path through a man’s body. Part of “Everyday is a Miracle” wonders about heaven from a chicken’s perspective. And they do it all while in nearly ceaseless motion around the stage.īeginning with “Here” and concluding with “Road to Nowhere,” Byrne’s song stack presents existential studies in perceptions, connections, and unusual points of view concerning daily life. Their fine musicianship blends complex percussion/keyboard instrumentals with sharp guitar and bass lines. Often flanked by snazzy dancer-vocalists Tendayi Kuumba and Chris Giarmo, Byrne masterfully incants the songs in his declamatory style amid warm, close-harmony singing from the company. Looking trim and elegant, Byrne introduces the numbers with brief, germane anecdotes. Their often angular and repetitive moves reflect the hypnotic quality of Byrne’s music. As they play their instruments-which are worn on harnesses-everyone energetically dances and travels around the stage in various choreographed patterns playfully devised by Annie-B Parson to the rhythms of the songs. Byrne and 11 musicians are all barefoot and identically dressed in pale gray suits. Striking minimalist looks enhance the entertainment. Half a dozen American Utopia selections as well as several of Byrne’s greatest hits are among the 20-plus numbers staged as an extremely stylish 100 minute-long concert. ![]() Meanwhile, the Hudson Theatre, among the nicest and most comfortable of Broadway houses, hosts American Utopia, an excellent musical event that Byrne has devised from his 2018 studio recording. ![]() How producers have not yet been able to secure a suitable venue to give Here Lies Love an extended run in New York is baffling. The only exception to such ignorance is my fanboy admiration for Here Lies Love, Byrne’s lush and inventive off-Broadway musical about Imelda Marcos that incarnated her life and times as glitzy doings in a disco club. Photo: Matthew MurphyĬontemporary pop music generally has been a muted soundtrack in my life, so I am scarcely expert regarding the songwriter-performer who lends his name to David Byrne’s American Utopia, which opened on Sunday for a Broadway sojourn through mid-January. David Byrne (right) leads the company of American Utopia. ![]()
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