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JANUARY 2013
Civil War Project
Jim and his wife, visual artist Ruth Kruse Bauer, are working with The A.R.T.-American Repertory Theater Artistic Director Diane Paulus, A.R.T. producer Diane Borger, and A.R.T. dramaturg Ryan McKittrick on a new musical theater project having to do with the American Civil War, looking back on 19th century events from a 21st century perspective, with 150 years of history as a guide. Ruth and Jim will develop the concept and write the libretto together, and Jim will write the music and lyrics. The A.R.T.-sponsored project will also draw on the participation, perspective, knowledge and expertise of Civil War scholars and historians in the Harvard community. It is part of a national theater/educational institution collaboration project in which The A.R.T./Harvard University will be joined by Arena Stage/George Washington University in Washington D.C., Centerstage/University of Maryland in Baltimore, and Alliance Theater/Emory University in Atlanta.
NOVEMBER 2012
"Farhad"
Jim and Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz ("Anna in the Tropics") were commissioned to collaborate on a new one-act one-person musical for the Premieres "Inner Voices" series, produced by Paulette Haupt. The new piece, "Farhad or The Secret of Being" (libretto by Nilo, music by Jim), is about a 12 year-old Afghan girl whose family has dressed and presented her to society as a boy, a not uncommon practice in present day Afghanistan. She is now at the moment in her life when she must return to being a girl. The show, one of three one-acts to be performed each evening, will be presented at Urban Stages in New York City with a first preview November 10, 2012 and official opening on November 18th. It will run through December 2. Jim's long-time collaborator David Rozenblatt is writing and arranging the percussion part and will also perform in the show. Matt Hinkley will be the music director and play guitar, and Brandon Terzic will play Oud. Starring in the leading (and only) role is Arielle Jacobs. The show will be directed by Saheem Ali. The other two shows on the program are "Borrowed Dust" (book & lyrics by Martin Moran, music by Joseph Thalken, directed by Jonathan Butterell, starring Hunter Foster) and "Arlington" (book & lyrics by Victor Lodato, music by Polly Pen, directed by Jack Cummings, starring Alexandra Silber).
MAY 2012
Dylan's "Hard Rain" Anniversary
Jim's recent recording of his arrangement of Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" (in the music player above) is now available on i-Tunes, Amazon, Spotify and other digital distribution sites. The 50th anniversary of the first public performance of the song (Dylan performing at a "hootenanny" at Carnegie Hall hosted by Pete Seeger in 1962) is coming up on September 22, 2012, and Bauer is tipping his hat to a song that is as relevant and poignant today as it was 50 years ago.
DECEMBER 2011
"EXO"
Jim has begun work on the script for EXO, a concert and performance art experiment based on the DAGMAR song cycle he has been working on since 2005. The music, a genre-bending blend of meta-folk and sub-elektronica, (examples in the music player above) is being produced in collaboration with drummer & percussionist David Rozenblatt and U.K. producer/musician Robbie Bronnimann. As a theatrical concert, "EXO", in one twisted way or another, will tell a story about a guy who can't get out of bed in the morning and an insect goddess who plunges through the ether to rescue him. Turns out, she's more than just a goddess. It's an apocalyptic environmental tale with a happy unhappy ending. Music, lights, cameras, action. The bugs are taking over. Time to celebrate.
NOVEMBER 2011
"The Blue Flower" Off-Broadway
The Blue Flower completed its Off-Broadway run in New York City at Second Stage Theater.
MAY 2011
"The Blue Flower" at A.R.T.
The Blue Flower, for its production at A.R.T.-The American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA, wins two Elliot Norton Awards(Boston Theater Critics Association), including Best Musical, and six IRNE (Independent Reviewers of New England) Awards, including Best Musical.