Radio 477! A 1929 Jazz Musical from Kharkiv

August 19–20, 8 PM

Hello, This is Radio 477! Ukraine’s first jazz musical, written in 1929 with music composed by Yuliy Meitus, was a musical portrait of the city of Kharkiv, in which everyone was dancing on the edge of darkness. The original text and score, believed lost, were rediscovered by Virlana Tkacz, director of the Yara Arts Group in New York. Collaborating with Ukrainian artists and Serhiy Zhadan, a celebrated poet from Kharkiv, Yara Arts has created a new theater piece for the current century, one that pays homage to the original’s charming catchy songs, wild dances, and spectacular set.

The work was scheduled to debut in Kharkiv in March 2022, but when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, history—and the show—changed forever. At PS21, legendary New York downtown pianist Anthony Coleman, will lead a live orchestra in his revival and adaptation Meitus’ original score. 

Tickets: $20 general, free for students and youth.

Performers:
George Drance
Silvana Gonzalez
Akiko Hiroshima
Susan Hwang
Petro Ninovsky
Jacob Alexander Simon
Lesya Verba

Live orchestra led by
Anthony Coleman (piano)
Anna Abondolo (bass)
Martin Ehrlish (clarinet)
Melissa Elledge (accordion)
Ron Horton (trumpet)
James Paul Nadien (drums)
Aliya Ultan (cello)