Reasons to be Cheerful, David Byrne’s solutions-based non-profit magazine, turned five with Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things, a variety show in NYC at Town Hall on Oct 9.
In celebration of the fifth anniversary of David Byrne’s Reasons to be Cheerful, the multi-disciplinary artist hosted “Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things,” a variety show at The Town Hall. The night focused on the amazingness of humans and the beautiful ways humans connect with each other.
Emceed by David Byrne, “Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things” debuted a new song by Byrne and featured a diverse lineup of performances that stayed true to what a variety show in essence is. The event staged acts such as, singer-songwriter Thao (Nguyen), comedian Fred Armisen, NYC’s non-male Brazilian-American style drumline Fogo Azul, comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti, the spicy puppet cabaret of Epidermis Circus, Belgian-Egyptian musician Tamino, performance artist Ellie Steingraeber, and female-led band Brass Queens. DJenny Koons (Oedipus Deaf West, Blue Man Group National Tour) directed, Stephanie Johnson produced and Emily Simoness (Founding Executive Director SPACE on Ryder Farm) executive produced.
“Variety shows were a big deal when I was young,” says Byrne. “It’s a format you don’t see as much of these days. So we thought, why not bring it back? We looked for acts that could capture that sense of zany, anything-could-happen artistry. Reasons to be Cheerful inspires people by unearthing unexpected gems, and this show will embody that same spirit of gleeful surprise.”
Reasons to Be Cheerful is an online magazine that inspires curiosity about how the world can be better and asks how we can be part of that change. Launched in 2019, Reasons to be Cheerful publishes award-winning journalism about solutions and progress for over one million readers. They have hosted sold-out live events across the country.
Learn more here.
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