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April 6, 2009

SUNDAY, MAY 3RD - UNDER ST. MARKS



Horse Trade Theater Group presents
The Rise and Fall of Nina Simone:
Montreux, 1976
@ UNDER St. Marks
94 St. Marks Place, btw 1st Ave and Avenue A
L train to 1st Ave, F/V to 2nd Ave, N, R, W train to 8th St, 6 train to Astor Pl.
Sunday, May 3rd @ 9:00 PM
Just $7

Decades before Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, Cat Power, or Fiona Apple ever left crowds shaking their heads in concern, there was the legendary Nina Simone. On July 3rd 1976, Simone stepped onto the stage of the Montreux Jazz Festival after a two-year hiatus in Africa. Belligerent and disoriented -- and almost certainly under the influence of illicit substances -- Simone gave the Swiss audience a startlingly vulnerable musical set, liberally spiced with bizarre musings, flubbed lyrics, fits of temper, and querulous shout-outs to her dear (but sadly, absent) friend David Bowie. This filmed performance has become a secret sensation on DVD, but only when experienced with an audience (preferably, a drinking audience) can it be fully appreciated as a goldmine of comedy, tragedy, and musical talent.

This two-hour video showcase is a bipolar evening of music, laughter, and indoctrination into the ever-growing cult of Nina, including bonus clips, trivia, games, and special tribute performances by beloved MeatPacking District restaurauteur Florent Morellet and Joe's Pub cabaret idol Michelle "Shells" Hoffman. Curated by hosts Tom Blunt (Arcanalogue, Hermitosis) and Chris Kelly (recently seen in Black Henna Productions' Torch Song Trilogy).