Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra Kick Off Yearlong Residency with NO PLACE TO GO Tonight

By: Jan. 21, 2015
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Ethan Lipton & his Orchestra return to Joe's Pub at The Public for a yearlong residency, wherein they will perform a different show every month -- no two will be the same -- starting in January 2015. Lipton will kick off the residency tonight, Wednesday, January 21 at 6:30PM with an encore performance of his show No Place to Go, which The Public Theater presented as part of the 2012 season. The second date of Lipton's residency is Tuesday, February 24 at 9:30PM. Tickets are $20 and available online, by phone (212-967-7555) or in-person at The Public Theater Box Office (425 Lafayette, NYC).

Part love letter to his co-workers, part query to the universe, part protest to his company and country, No Place to Go delivers a hilarious, irreverent and personal musical ode to the unemployed. The January presentation is a concert version of the hit show, which The New York Times called, "immensely appealing." No Place To Go was originally created within the Joe's Pub artist commissioning program New York Voices.

While some of the gigs will center on material from the band's forthcoming fourth studio album (2015), the quartet plans to take advantage of the rare opportunity to get "a bit loose and freaky." The residency will give Lipton and his Orchestra a platform to premiere new material, resurrect just about every song they've ever recorded. It will also allow them to collaborate with special guests over the course of the year. Lipton is particularly excited about having the space and time to bring back some of the shambling unpredictability, playfulness and experimentation of his early days of playing in scrappy venues like Low Bar and Zipper Factory.

Further dates and guests to be announced.

Ethan Lipton & his Orchestra has been a band since 2005, playing New York (Joe's Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, Barbes, Celebrate Brooklyn!) and beyond (MASS MoCA, Camden Opera House, ATP in East Sussex, Grand Performances). The band is Lipton (vocals), Eben Levy (guitar), Ian M. Riggs (standup bass) and Vito Dieterle (sax). Lipton writes lyrics and melodies, and the quartet arranges the songs together.

EL&hO has released five albums (three studio, two live) and been named the city's "Best Lounge Act" by New York Magazine. In 2012, the band won an Obie Award for No Place to Go, a theatrical song cycle written by Lipton about a man who loses his job, which was produced by The Public Theater at Joe's Pub. The show earned rave reviews and has since been produced theatrically at Two River Theatre in New Jersey and the Gate in London, as well as more than 20 concert venues across the U.S.

The band has been featured on radio shows such as NPR's "Weekend Edition," PRI's "The World," NHPR's "Word of Mouth," and WNYC's "Soundcheck," and contributed to the Clash cover album "Sandinista." They also play songs on and appear in the film "The Shift."

For tickets, go online at joespub.com, call 212-967-7555, or visit in person at The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street, NYC.

ABOUT JOE'S PUB AT THE PUBLIC Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub at The Public opened in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space to perform and develop new work. Joe's Pub consistently presents the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom. The organization also offers unique opportunities like New York Voices, an artist commissioning program that provides musicians the resources and tools needed to develop new original works. Commissioned artists have included Allen Toussaint, Ethan Lipton, Toshi Reagon, Bridget Everett, and more. In 2011, the Pub received a top-to-bottom renovation, leading to improved sightlines, expanded seating capacity and a new menu from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. With its intimate atmosphere and superior acoustics, Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually.

ABOUT THE PUBLIC THEATER AT ASTOR PLACE Under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, The Public Theater is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare and the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. The Public continues the work of its visionary founder, Joe Papp, by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, and leading and framing dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. Creating theater for one of the largest and most diverse audience bases in New York City for nearly 60 years, today the Company engages audiences in a variety of venues-including its landmark downtown home at Astor Place, which houses five theaters and Joe's Pub; the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home to its beloved, free Shakespeare in the Park; and the Mobile Unit, which tours Shakespearean productions for underserved audiences throughout New York City's five boroughs. The Public's wide range of programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company's dedication to making theater accessible to all, new and experimental stagings at The Public at Astor Place, and a range of artist and audience development initiatives including its Public Forum series, which brings together theater artists and professionals from a variety of disciplines for discussions that shed light on social issues explored in Public productions. The Public Theater is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust provides leadership support for The Public Theater's year-round activities.



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