Part of the MCA Composers Stage series.
Gorgeous… songs that are deeply felt, wildly sophisticated - at times hilarious… music for adults at its most multifaceted and joyous. - Los Angeles Times
Stew has a razor-sharp literary eye and a wicked sense of humor. - Chicago Sun-Times
Stew, the Tony Award-winning creator and star of Broadway’s Passing Strange, performs with his collaborator Heidi Rodewald, and their Afro-Baroque cabaret band, The Negro Problem, for two intimate concerts. Compared in the same breath with Kurt Weill, Burt Bacharach, and psychedelic pop, Stew’s concert performances hover between the divergent worlds of rock and theater. With gorgeous songs, elegantly perverse attitudes and a streetwise vulnerability, The Negro Problem makes music that draws you in and creates a new space around you.
“Love Like That” from Stew’s solo album, “Something Deeper Than These Changes”
About the Artist:
Stew and his collaborator Heidi Rodeward lead the critically acclaimed bands The Negro Problem and the multidisciplinary ensemble Stew. They’ve recorded seven albums including The Naked Dutch Painter, Welcome Black, and Something Deeper Than These Changes. Their rock musical Passing Strange received seven Tony nominations and the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical; as well as Drama Desk Award; New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award; and two Obie Awards for Best New American Theater Piece and Best Ensemble Performance. The film Passing Strange, directed and co-produced by Spike Lee, premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, and aired on PBS’s Great Performances.
More info about Stew and The Negro Problem.
* Saturday Speakeasy: Throughout the season, MCA Stage invites Saturday night audiences to stay after the performance to enjoy a cash bar, snacks, and engaging conversation with the artists.