A rare performance of Nine Lives, the acclaimed musical and double CD, will take place in New Orleans between Jazz Fest weekends. The play features 39 original songs by Colman DeKay and Paul Sanchez and is based on Dan Baum’s best-selling book Nine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans, which tracks the lives of nine disparate New Orleanians over a 40 year span from Hurricane Betsy to Hurricane Katrina. According to Sanchez the stories “convey the love, spirit and special relationship we all have with the city of New Orleans.”
Nine Lives Live
This performance will include an all-star cast of New Orleans musicians and guests, many of whom appeared on the CD. Tony Award winning actor Michael Cerveris, who just finished a run of Evita on Boradway, is actually taking a night of from his performance at Lincoln Center as Balanchine in Nikolai and the Others so he can fly in for this benefit performance of Nine Lives and sing the part of Joan Guidos which he originated on the record. Harry Shearer is also back as George Montgomery. New Orleans born Bryan Batt from AMC’s hit series Mad Men is back as Billy Grace. Sanchez sings the part of Frank Minyard and Arsene DeLay, who is the niece of John Boutte, is back in various roles.
Matt Perrine of Tin Men and Sunflower City is band director, bass player, tuba and leads a stellar band: Mark Braud- trumpet, Craig Klein – trombone, Calvin Johnson – sax, Sam Craft – violin, Jack Craft – cello and guitar, Alex McMurray – guitar, banjo, Bill Malchow – piano, Eric Bolivar – drums, and Shamarr Allen – trumpet solos. Other singers include Debbie Davis and Margie Perez.
The performance is presented by Friends Helping Kids, Inc. as a benefit for Krewe de Camp, an overnight camp for children with cerebral palsy or other developmental disabilities. The camp is in Covington, LA, where each camper is paired with one or two high school volunteers who assist with the camper’s day-to-day activities.
The performance is Monday, April 29 at 7:30pm at the Contemporary Arts Center on 900 Camp St. Tickets are $50 for the show or $100 with a pre-show reception. Details are here.
