The new song cycle about love, death and whiskey was originally scheduled through Nov. 1. Performances began Oct. 7 at The Bushwick Starr Theater in Brooklyn, and an album-release party will follow the 10 PM show on Oct. 25.
According to press notes, "A camera breaks and four friends drink in four interwoven narratives spanning seven centuries: a warped fairy tale about two sisters, a treehouse astronomer and a lazy evil bear; a retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher'; a purgatorial intermezzo about Scheherazade and the ghost of Thelonious Monk; and a contemporary fable about a subway murder. Throughout these four stories two women (Brittain Ashford and Gelsey Bell) cross paths, sometimes as strangers, sometimes as sisters, sometimes as lovers, sometimes as mother and daughter."
Ghost Quartet is a theatrical presentation of chamber music ensemble Ghost Quartet's self-titled album. The show is staged in the round with the musicians seated amongst the audience, and the piece is scored for four voices, cello, guitars, dulcimer, autoharp, piano, keyboards and percussion.
It is inspired by "murder ballads, doo-wop, angular bebop, Chinese folk, Islamic adhan, and the music of Bernard Herrmann and George Crumb."
Ghost Quartet is written and composed by Malloy and developed and arranged with the ensemble — Malloy, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 stars Brittain Ashford and Gelsey Bell, and cellist Brent Arnold. The show is directed by Annie Tippe and designed by the ensemble. James Monaco is the show's dramaturg. Malloy is a composer, writer, performer and sound designer. He is the winner of two Obie Awards, the Richard Rodgers Award and a Jonathan Larson Grant. His shows include Black Wizard/Blue Wizard; Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812; All Hands; Three Pianos; Beardo; Beowulf - A Thousand Years of Baggage; The Sewers; Sandwich; Clown Bible; and (The 99-cent) Miss Saigon.
The Bushwick Starr Theater is located at 207 Starr Street in Brooklyn. For more information and tickets, priced $18, visit TheBushwickStarr.org.
