What's cookin' at Cinnabar

'Freddy's Chicken Gumbo' is an evening of songs written and performed by theater artist Fred Curchack

June 21, 2006

Mix together a bunch of different flavored songs on the Cinna-bar Theater stage, add one Fred Curchack and you get a heaping helping of "Freddy's Chicken Gumbo," an evening of music by Curchack opening June 23 through July 1.

"Freddy's Chicken Gumbo" is the world premiere of 10 new songs plus a selection of songs from Curchack's plays. Over the past 28 years, many of his shows have had their premieres at Cinnabar and have gone on to receive critical acclaim internationally.

For the show, Curchack will accompany himself on acoustic guitar and cover a wide range of musical styles: jazz, rock, folk, blues, rap and show tunes. The songs come from a variety of genres and include ballads, philosophical musings and political protests.

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The show is a departure from his signature "eye-boggling" visual pyrotechnics and stories and focuses strictly on the music.

The musical menu for "Freddy's Chicken Gumbo" includes "Between the Lines," "Food Chain," "Sexual Mythology," "Tears Cover the Son," "Twiddle Twaddle," "Dallas," "Mad Dogs," "Beware of Love," "Samsara," "Eurydice," "The Meaning of Dreaming," "You've Fallen from Grace" and "I Need You."

Curchack has created more than 70 original ensemble theater pieces and 26 solos. His performances have been featured at dozens of interntional theater festivals. He has also received the Gold Medal at the International Festival of Solo Theatre, the American Theatre Wing Award and critics' awards in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Austin.

Curchack's work has been "Best of the Week" in the Los Angeles Times and "Top 10 of the Year" in the New York Times.

Curchack has taught theater at the United Nations International School in New York and at Sonoma State University. He is currently a professor of art and performance at the University of Texas in Dallas.

Show times are at 8 p.m. June 23, 24, 30 and July 1 at Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North. Admission is $12 general, $9 students and seniors.

For information and tickets, call the Cinnabar box office at 763-8920 or visit www.cinnabartheater.org.