“Babette’s Feast” coming to New York

The production that began at Portland Stage in January is coming to New York for an open-ended run at St. Clement’s Theater, starting March 14th, with opening night set for March 25th. Based on the Isak Dinesen short story, conceived by Abigail Killeen, and written by Rose Courtney, the play is “the story of Babette, a French refugee, who finds asylum in a pious Norwegian village. With boundless generosity, she throws a lavish feast that becomes an agent of transformative grace.” Directed by Karin Coonrod,and designed by Chris Akerlind, two of my long-time collaborators, I was delighted to be able to provide the music and sound textures for this beautiful work.


“VAGABOND” Reading

A 3-day workshop and reading of the first full draft of  my latest opera, courtesy of the Duffy Institute for New Opera, who have commissioned its completion in conjunction with the Virginia Arts Festival.  I am deeply grateful for their support. The opera is based on the true story of the life and writings of Isabelle Eberhart, a turn of the 20th century writer and traveler who spent 7 years traveling with the Bedouin in Algeria, disguised as a young male Arab scholar, and who died in a flash flood in the desert, aged 27.

View Event


“Geography” Record Release concert

       Wednesday March 7th, 8.30pm

“Geography” Record Release Concert,

 

GEOGRAPHY is Leishman’s 4th album as a singer/songwriter.  This latest recording, 12 encounters with landscapes both beloved and unknown, is a coming together of the disparate threads of Leishman’s recent life, covering the last 5 years of triangulated living – from New York to the wilds of Scotland and Northumbria and the warmth of the Mediterranean islands… and once again she is joined on the recording by an all-star roster of New York musicians.

With Gina Leishman, vox, mandola, baritone uke; Dana Lyn, violin; Doug Wieselman, clarinet, mandolin, guitar; Matt Munisteri, guitar; Marika Hughes, cello; Greg Cohen, bass; Kenny Wollesen, drums & percussion; plus special guests

Opening set at 7.30pm: Joy Askew, solo (I will be joining Joy on a couple of songs, and she will be joining me)    View Event


Mr Wau Wa Returns to Lethe Lounge

Friday, February 16th, 8pm
Mr Wau Wa plays the songs of Bertolt Brecht
Times like these need songs like these…
The Mr. Wau Wa Band was formed in 1998 as part of a project at P.S 122, which was celebrating Bertolt Brecht’s centenary. The band was inspired by a photo of Brecht from the ‘20s, performing with some clowns including the famed Karl Valentin and his partner Liesl Karlstadt. Brecht is standing in a cart playing the flageolette, behind a roll-down cartoon drawing of a strong-man being run over by a car full of revellers, with the inscription “Mr. Wau Wa”.  With GL, Rinde Eckert, Doug Wieselman, Marcus Rojas and Kenny Wollesen.       View Event

Music for “Babette’s Feast”

I’ve written some new music for old friends… If you are up in Maine in the dead of winter, don’t miss this beautiful stage adaptation of Babette’s Feast, based on the Isaak Dinesen short story of the courageous refugee who gives all she has to make a transformative dinner for the closed community in which she finds herself.  Directed by Karin Coonrod, and designed by Chris Akerlind, two long-time collaborators of mine. The score includes my beautiful glass tiers – such a sound for the northern climes…

At Portland Stage Jan. 23 – Feb.18     Coming to New York later in 2018.

View Event