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For Your Consideration: Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro
Och and Oy! A Considered Cabaret comes to Mercyhurst
October 17, 2023 at 8:00 AM
Contributed photo
With it's creative mix of talents, Och and Oy! A Considered Cabaret brings a unique twist to the Mary D'Angelo stage at Mercyhurst University. Featuring the talents of Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro, the performance will be a mashup of songs and stories.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25
Sometimes, two very different worlds collide in surprising — yet delightful — ways, and the result is an explosion of storytelling and song with truly electric chemistry.
That was certainly the case when multi-award winner and denizen of screen and stage Alan Cumming teamed up with NPR host and Pink Martini alum Ari Shapiro to create a show called Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret, which they are bringing to the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center as part of the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture's 2023-2024 season.
The title derives its "Och" from Cumming, who is a famous Scotsman, and its "Oy" from Shapiro, who is Jewish — while the two might not seem so alike on the surface, dig a bit deeper and you'll find the threads that connect. "Och & Oy! is a storytelling show, with considerably more talking than one finds in a traditional cabaret act," said Dr. Brett D. Johnson, artistic director for the MIAC. "Patrons can expect some great songs, expertly delivered by Cumming and Shapiro, but it's the stories that differentiate this show from some of our other programming." (Note: that storytelling can be a bit ribald and bawdy — so this show isn't for youngsters; just the young at heart!)
MIAC is also proud to have partnered with the Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE) in bringing this performance to Erie. Said Johnson, "Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro are both multi-talented, award-winning storytellers who have entertained and inspired audiences worldwide through their artistry and activism. We couldn't be more excited about their Mercyhurst engagement."
7:30 p.m. // Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center, 501 E. 38th St. // $30-$40 // For tickets and info: miac.mercyhurst.edu