November 3, 2011 - Stravinsky at Liberty Plaza

Stravinsky’s timeless and haunting “L’histoire du Soldat” (“The Soldier’s Tale”), a parable for three actors and seven musicians, will be performed for Occupy Wall Street at Zuccotti Park by Broadway actors and New York musicians on Nov. 3rd from 5-6pm, with a possible additional performance on Nov. 4th.

*(NOTE: Nov. 4th is our back-up rain delay date!  We’ll keep you posted!)*

Stravinsky and C.F. Ramuz’s hour-long tale/ballet/oratorio tells the story of a Soldier on leave to see his sweetheart.  Nearly home, he is sidetracked by the Devil.  In an infernal insider-trading scheme, the Soldier gains a magic book that tells the future of the economy, but, in return, must give up his precious violin.   Imprisoned - by the Devil, his newfound wealth, and his own delusions - this veteran is separated from his loved ones and true happiness.  This fairy tale, spoken in sparkling verse to some of Stravinsky’s most charming and memorable music, is about the complex nature of greed, and the meaning and price of freedom. Its themes resonate effortlessly with the aims and ideals of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Starring famed New York actors Erik Liberman (Broadway, “LoveMusik,” Helen Hayes-Award Winner for “Merrily We Roll Along”), Elizabeth Stanley (Broadway, “Company,” “Cry-Baby,”), and Nick Choksi (“Invasion” at The Flea, “Twelfth Night” with Sonnet Rep, regular on “One Life to Live”), and with some of New York’s finest contemporary music performers conducted by Ryan McAdams, this one-time-only performance explores the relationships between money, love, and happiness through a fairy tale that is, like all great fairy tales, beautiful, terrifying, funny, and deeply moving.