Alan Cumming & Ari Shapiro: Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret

Alan Cumming (Cabaret, The Good Wife) and Ari Shapiro (NPR’s All Things Considered, Pink Martini)  both transport audiences to other worlds through their stories.  Now, they’re joining forces in SONG.  Witness the critically acclaimed evening of tunes and tall tales titled “Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret”. Musical direction by Henry Koperski.

The show’s main title “Och & Oy!” plays on Alan’s Scottish and Ari’s Jewish backgrounds. The subtitle “A Considered Cabaret” are nods to Ari being known for ‘All Things Considered’ and Alan for the show ‘Cabaret.’ Their show combines the best bits of public radio with the best bits of a musical, where they have deep, thought-provoking conversations and also entertaining perhaps slightly bawdy musical numbers. What comes together is “an old-fashioned cabaret” that offers a mix of songs, Q&A and personal storytelling – which both men have been doing in various ways for decades.

In a statement, Cumming said, “I’ve got to know Ari over the last few years, both socially and when he interviewed me for a couple of events. The last time was an evening in D.C., and by the end of it I realized our chemistry and the unusual combo of us, as well as the fact that Ari has an amazing voice, would make for a really great cabaret show.  And kapow!  We’re doing it!  What I love most is it’s fresh and ever-changing.”

Shapiro added, “When Alan first suggested that we create a show together, I didn’t quite believe him.  Then as we started to dig in to this collaboration, I realized how much our professional lives actually complement each other.  We’re both storytellers who try to help audiences better understand themselves and the world around them.  This show lets us explore those shared ideals on stage together, through stories and songs.”