THU. AUG. 31
Autumn Moon
On the eve of his 25th birthday, a young man named Lycan is troubled by increasingly tormenting nightmares. Desperate for answers, he turns to a psychic who reveals that, as a result of a deal struck by one of his ancestors with the devil, Lycan is destined to transform into a bloodthirsty werewolf with each full moon, starting on his twenty-five birthday. Through supernatural means, Lycan journeys backwards in time to one of his past lives in an attempt to break the curse. The show, with music, lyrics and book by David Verlarde, is billed as a seductive, action-packed musical thriller that weaves a new beginning to a timeless horror classic. The Wings Theatre, 154 Christopher St. $20, Tickets at wingstheatre.com or 212-627-2961. Through Sep. 2. autumnmoonmusical.com.
Looking Back From Ground Zero
The exhibition will include paintings, photographs, prints, and drawings of the Lower Manhattan area around the World Trade Center site before, as well as after, the attack. Also included will be historical maps of the southern tip of Manhattan. The Museum’s Libraries and Archives will exhibit artist’s books and exhibition catalogues. Brooklyn Museum of Art. 200 Eastern Pkwy. at Washington Ave. 718-638-5000.
FRI. SEP. 1
Amok Among the Boroughs
Borrowing from Charles Ludlam’s Theater of the Ridiculous, transformations using whole-body masks from Bread and Puppet Theater, and movement vocabulary from post-modern dance, Circus Amok offers gender-bending entertainment, laughter, commentary, and a surreal take on the world. The one-of-a-kind, free associating, schtick driven, star-studded circus directed by the unstoppable “bearded lady” Jennifer Miller, is a poly-sexual troupe of jugglers, stilt walkers, drag divas, and acrobats balances danger with laughter, politics with punchlines. The troupe, accompanied by the blasting, percussive sounds of the six-piece Circus Amok band, playing a variety of international musical styles from klezmer to funk to folk, returns for its 13th season of annual gender-bending urban circuses. The troupe kicks off a season in city parks, beginning tonight in Riverside Park at 6 p.m. For the full fall schedule, visit circusamok.org.
Seaport Music
In an end of summer celebration, four bands participate in night of lively music. Spinto Band have rich, textured guitars that when coupled with multiple-part vocal harmonies, create a sound that only a live performance can really do justice to. Brooklyn’s Dirty on Purpose are quickly becoming the band to be reckoned with across the map. You’ll want to get there by 6 p.m. to catch Uncle John and Whitelock and The Black Hollies round out a line-up worthy of being the final night of Seaport magic this summer! South Street Seaport, Pier 17. 6 p.m., free. seaportmusicfestival.com or 212-SEA-PORT.
Natural Look
Larger-than-life drag superstar Jackie Beat gets asked 2 questions all the time: “When are you going to do some of your classic material again?” and “How do you stay looking so young and beautiful?” The long-awaited answers come in the form of “How to Achieve that Natural Look.” This new show features a sampling of the very best of Miss Beat, some exciting new material, and beauty tips galore. Jackie even presents her own version of Aretha Franklin’s “Natural Woman”—brutally judging the makeup skills of today’s painted women. The Cutting Room, 19 W. 24th St. btwn. Broadway & 6th Ave. 8p.m., $18. 212-352-3101 or theatermania.com
Painted Ladies and Men
This world-class festival brings New York audiences critically acclaimed clown performances from Paris, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the United States, and more. With twenty-three mainstage productions, nineteen one-night-only cabaret performances, and a series of lectures and workshops by some of the top clowning professionals around the world, the Brick Theater’s New York Clown Festival takes clowning around very seriously! From the ridiculous tradition of Harpo Marx to the existential philosophy of “Waiting for Godot,” these curated performances run the gamut of the human experience. Through Sep. 24 $10 at 212-352-3101. bricktheater.com.
Seeds of the New
In the face of capitalism’s global spread, new practices are emerging that are redefining politics. People are taking their time and technological know-how back from the market and in small, “invisible” ways, making life better right now—also setting the foundation for a genuine movement challenging market forces. Outlaw bicycling, urban permaculture, biofuels, free software and even the Burning Man festival are windows into these new social dynamics. Chris Carlsson is author of “Critical Mass: Bicycling’s Defiant Celebration,” and one of the founders of Processed World magazine. Bluestockings Books, 172 Allen St.7 p.m., $5-10 suggested.
Brazilian Independence Bash
In celebration of Brazil’s Independence Day, the ALMA crew returns to the Sullivan Room with more bang for your Brazilian buck. DJ True and Miller Cruz man the decks with their musical assortment of all things Brazilian from traditional grooves to Deep House and Drum n’ Bass. The bonus for the evening will be the return NYC’s own Manhattan Samba Band along with dancers Danielle Lima and Atlanta Foresyth. New York’s longest-running authentic Brazilian samba drum ensemble Manhattan Samba all-percussion ensemble is a traditional Brazilian bateria, based on the drum groups that accompany the yearly carnaval parades in Rio de Janeiro. Manhattan Samba is directed by Ivo Araujo, and is truly an international group, with members from Brazil, Central and South America, Europe, Japan and the U.S. Expect the usual non-stop rhythm section keeping the grooves a little thicker and the partying a bit more free. Sullivan Room, 218 Sullivan St. btwn. Third & Bleecker Sts. $5 before 11 p.m., $10 Reduced w/RSVP to joannjimenez@almanyc.com. almanyc.com.
Celebrate Mexico Now
The third annual Celebrate México Now offers audiences a rare opportunity to explore Mexico’s vibrant, contemporary cultural scene and features over 15 events at multiple venues throughout New York City during its 17-day celebration. Showcasing the vanguard of contemporary art and culture, the festival provides a platform for a new generation of creative artists, presenting some of Mexico’s most intriguing and compelling voices in visual art, music, architecture, dance, literature, film, theater and cuisine. The festival events range from a special five-course menu inspired by the cuisine of Oaxaca at Maya to free screenings of short films by winners of the 2005 Morelia International Film Festival at the School of Visual Arts; from the second U.S. solo exhibition by internationally acclaimed new media artist Raphael Lozano-Hemmer at bitforms gallery to the sultry vocals and deep house, bossa-influenced beats of Sweet Electra at Joe’s Pub; from a dance performance by Mexican-born, New York-based choreographer Ofelia Loret de Mola at Joyce SoHo to a discussion on architectural collaborations with renowned designers Ricardo Legoretta and Sheila Hicks at the Americas Society, and much, much more. Through Sep. 17. mexiconowfestival.org.
Moonfire Empowerment & Spirituality Network
Facing Love Addiction Part II—a continuation of February’s workshop, though you need not have attended the first workshop to come—a presentation and open discussion based on Pia Mellody’s book, “Facing Love Addiction.” Rosita Libre de Marulanda, a paraprofessional working with adolescents, will share her own addictive love experiences, and relate Pia Melloody’s suggested steps to recovery. LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. $6. Information, 212-222-2467.
SUN. SEP. 3
Feminist Book Club
The feminist book club reads books and discusses feminism, making no claim about what feminism is or whom it serves, and is not a forum for affirming any predetermined feminist platform. Rather, the group relies on feminism(s) as a lens for examination of theoretical texts, literature and primary works. The book club is open to everyone, and welcomes people of all genders, political persuasions and levels of familiarity with feminism. The group meets on the first Sunday of every month. Books are chosen by consensus. This month’s reading is “Nervous Conditions” by Tsitsi Dangarembga. Bluestocking Books, 172 Allen St. Free, 2:30 p.m.
Splash!
In the summer of 1936, amid record-breaking heat waves and chronic unemployment in New York City, Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia and Parks Commissioner Robert Moses opened 11 new outdoor swimming pools in the five boroughs. Massive in size, and built mostly with funds from the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA), the pools are among the most remarkable public recreational facilities ever built in the country. SPLASH! A 70th Anniversary Celebration of New York City’s WPA Pools, curated by Jonathan Kuhn, will commemorate the 70th anniversary of these pools and tell their story through the use of dynamic historic and contemporary photographs, original renderings, and rare archival film footage. Arsenal Gallery, 64th St. and Fifth Ave, inside Central Park, third floor of the Arsenal Building. Free, Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through Sep. 7.
TUE. SEP. 5
Gay & Lesbian Comedy Fest
Lauded by local critics, the current iteration of the GLCF stars Shecky Beagleman from “The Howard Stern Show,” Jay Dércola, Sidney Myer, Jaffe Cohen of The Funny Gay Males and author of “Tush,” D’Yan Forest, and host Michael Brill. 8:30 p.m., $10 cover, two-drink minimum. Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St. Reservations strongly suggested: 212-757-0788.
WED. SEP. 6
Evening Stars at Battery Park
For the third year, The Joyce is collaborating with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council to bring world-class dance to the enchanting outdoor setting of Battery Park. Evening Stars is part of the Arts on the Horizon series, part of the River to River Festival, five days of events in lower Manhattan. The Kansas City Ballet kicks off the five night series with an evening of its extraordinary repertory including the “Catherine Wheel Suite” (Twyla Tharp choreography, David Byrne music). Through Sep. 10. Free, 7:30 p.m. Battery Park, State and Pearl Sts. For information, joyce.org or rivertorivernyc.com
Aftershock
Five years after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the world still trembles with their repercussions. The conference will examine the economic, cultural, educational, and political economic, cultural, environmental, educational, and political consequences of the day that changed everything. The conference will feature keynote speakers, panels, and a special preview of the feature film “Project Rebirth,” based on the rebuilding of Ground Zero. Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University, Spruce St. Free, with registration. 8 a.m. 212-346-1200.
Stories from Queer America
Intimate portraits of six LGBT Americans who have inspired extraordinary change in their communities form the core of “Be Real,” a new documentary directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf. Meet the filmmakers and members of the cast at this special Directors’ Screening. A current favorite at NewFest and other U.S. festivals and acclaimed by leaders in the LGBT community, “Be Real” features Ross Hayduk, San Francisco; Mignon Moore, Ph.D., and Oraia Reid, New York; David Sexton and Trae Williamson, Miami; and Tara “Red” Tremmel, Screening, Q&A 7 p.m. OP Members $5, nonmembers $10. The LGBT Community Center, 208 W.13th St. Information, 212-462-9255 or outprofessionals.org
Leonard Bernstein
This is the first-ever rebroadcast of one of the most acclaimed American Masters biography in the series’ 20-year history. When “Reaching for the Note” premiered on PBS in 1998, it received widespread critical praise and numerous prestigious awards, including an Emmy, a Gold Hugo, and a CINE Golden Eagle. It’s an intimate, first-hand look at a beloved American icon who embraced the world with great zeal, but who was often plagued by self-doubt and despair. Interspersed among interviews with notables who knew and worked with Bernstein—among them Stephen Sondheim, Michael Tilson Thomas, Isaac Stern, Jerome Robbins, and Dawn Upshaw—is a trove of archival and personal materials, some never before seen, to profile this one-of-a-kind musical force of nature both on and off the podium. 9 p.m., PBS.
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