Ed-Winner
Think about it: how many movies and TV shows have you seen recently that staged their big, sweeping romantic scenes to “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain? And—be honest—didn’t your heart melt a little each time? Indulge your mushy side by checking out McCain’s concert at the Emelin Theatre on January 9. Expect to hear songs from his most recent album, Nobody’s Fault But Mine, on which he interprets the soulful tunes of artists like Al Green, Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye, and Otis Redding. (Check out his version of “Some Kind of Wonderful.”) McCain will appear as part of the “Unplugged” series, so “I’ll Be,” “I Could Not Ask for More,” and all of those great covers will have that swoony, acoustic vibe to them.
Short Stack
The days are short. It makes your temper short—and probably your attention span, too. Don’t fight it. Instead, embrace short-form culture with Selected Shorts at the Westport Country Playhouse on January 27. The live, on-stage version of the popular radio program of the same name features professional actors reading from short stories. No patience required.
Re-Animated
From Beavis and Butthead to the Ice Age movies, Westchester has been a hub of innovative animation. Add in the rest of New York, and you can count Popeye, Mighty Mouse, and Casper the Friendly Ghost among the famous characters who call this area home. A new exhibition at the Westchester Arts Council, titled It All Started Here, takes a look at the century-old tradition of animation in the region with photographs, videos, vintage and current equipment, and life-size character reproductions on display. (Say hello to Gertie the Dinosaur!) The Jacob Burns Film Center and the Pelham Picture House get in on the action by hosting screenings of iconic and contemporary cartoons. (Don’t miss the evening with T.V. Funhouse’s J.J. Sedelmaier—one of the exhibition’s curators—at the Burns Center on January 27.) Who needs Disneyworld? It All Started Here runs from January 20 to February 28.
Cooper’s Town
With all the cold weather, are your kids feeling a little, well, cooped up? Take them to see a stilt-dancer. Or maybe they’d enjoy a mime—or a performance that incorporates handcrafted masks into original, outrageous tales. Oh, heck, take them to all three: Michael Cooper, the one-man mime/mask-maker/stilt-dancer/and-everything-else performer, comes to the Performing Arts Center on January 25. In his show, titled Masked Marvels & Wondertales, Cooper transforms from a fish to a cowboy to a giant, and more, all through his incredible collection of masks—so when he says he’s getting ready to use his “fish face,” he really means it. The show is recommended for audiences eight and older.
