PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW
Funny Bone presents Christopher Titus Oct. 3-5 Columbus Funny Bone
BalletMet and the Wexner Center present Parallel Connections Oct. 20-21 Mershon Auditorium, Wexner Center for the Arts BalletMet is kicking off its 40th anniversary season with a collaborative project that will be presented at the Wexner Center in conjunction with The Ohio State University Department of Dance. The show features one combined piece, one piece by OSU and two pieces by BalletMet, including James Kudelka’s enormously popular Johnny Cash tribute The Man in Black. “Our hope is that, through our 40th anniversary, we highlight our past and look toward where we’re going in the future,” says BalletMet Executive Director Sue Porter.
PromoWest Productions presents Ben Folds Oct. 26 Express Live! Ben Folds always draws a crowd for his highenergy shows, and his fall engagement at Express Live! looks to be no exception. The talented pianist and alternative rocker has played the venue before, but this show promises to be different, as Folds will be taking song requests thrown onto the stage as paper airplanes. Another unique show on the PromoWest schedule is the Chris Robinson Brotherhood’s gig at Newport Music Hall on Nov. 14; the blues rock ensemble is a side project for Robinson, best known as the singer for the Black Crowes (“Hard to Handle,” “Jealous Again,” “Twice as Hard”).
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cityscenecolumbus.com | August 2017
Photos courtesy of TJ Markwalter (Christopher Titus), Jennifer Zmuda (Parallel Connections), All Good Factory (Ben Folds), Schottenstein Center (Janet Jackson), United Palace of Cultural Arts (Hip Hop Nutcracker), Deaf West Theatre (American Buffalo) and Marco Borggreve (Vadim Gluzman)
Patrons familiar with Christopher Titus’ 2000-02 FOX TV show, Titus, might have an idea of his style, but they’re not going to be getting a “greatest hits” show. Titus, known for his comedy drawn from real-life experiences and his willingness to tackle dark topics, brings a different experience every time he visits the Funny Bone, says Dave Stroupe, the club’s general manager. “(Titus) is one of the most prolific writers in the business; therefore, you can always expect new material, self-reflection and observations,” Stroupe says.