Find out some juicy deets about 9 To 5 below (it opens on Broadway shortly!).

MP3: Dolly Parton – Why’d You Come In Here Looking Like That?

May 7th to be exact! Today’s official statement reads: *MCC Theater presents Coraline, a musical with music and lyrics by Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields. Merritt’s delightfully creepy and playful melodies and droll lyrics tell the story of lonely Coraline’s discovery of another parallel world that is identical to her own – with some scary differences. An animated film version of the story, based on the popular children’s book by Neil Gaiman (author of the international sensation Sandman and 2009 winner of the prestigious Newbery Award) is currently in theaters. The production, which was adapted for the stage by celebrated downtown actor/playwright David Greenspan is the world premiere of Coraline for the stage.*

For further info & to purchase tix, head here.

MP3: The Magnetic Fields – Famous

This afternoon’s press release simply reads: *In addition to Prima Donna (premiering at The Manchester International Festival this July), Rufus’ first opera will have its North American premiere at Luminato (Toronto Festival Of Arts & Creativity) in June of 2010. More details to follow.*

Rufus is featured on the latest War Child compilation LP.

MP3: Rufus Wainwright & Ben Folds – Careless Whisper

We strongly urge you to experience Futurity at:

May 9th – Joe’s Pub
May 16th – Joe’s Pub
May 22nd – Joe’s Pub
May 24th – Joe’s Pub

Visit The Lisps on MySpace.

Read my mini review of Futurity here.

Last month, I interviewed the quirky quartet.

MP3: The Lisps – Documents

Believe it!

Obama On My Mind “takes a humorous look at the weird and wonderful world behind the scenes of a small Obama campaign office & the larger than life characters who make the wheels turn, the cogs whirr & bring in the votes”.

For further info (including theater & dates), head to Paste.

MP3: Cassettes Won’t Listen – Change

Without giving too much away, last night’s NYC debut of The Lisps’ new musical was simultaneously melodramatic, witty, inventive & downright intoxicating. Having interviewed the band just last week, I was still not fully prepared for the sheer genius that is FUTURITY. For more info (and to purchase tickets for tonight’s final performance!), head here. Setlist below.

(Setlist) Arkansas. How Much. No More War. Steam Brain. Made Out Of Wood 1. Sinner’s Land. Blacklick Creek. Thinking. Oh The Spoils. Ada. Socrates. Make It Up. Made Out Of Wood 2. Socrates (Reprise). Gravestones. Blacklick Creek (Reprise).

MP3: The Lisps – Brackish Water

1/9 (FRIDAY) @ The Zipper Factory.

Wanna catch the debut of FUTURITY with a +1?

If so, then e-mail us ASAP!

A winner will be randomly chosen on 1/8 @ NOON.

On Saturday, I interviewed The Lisps & discussed the musical at great lengths.

Visit The Lisps on MySpace.

MP3: The Lisps – Documents

The Lisps have written a quirky, Civil War based, sci-fi influenced musical entitled FUTURITY. The show will receive 2 NYC premieres next Friday & Saturday (the 9th & 10th, respectively). Itching to know more about the project? So were we. We asked Jeremy [Qs 1 - 2], Cesar [Qs 3 - 4], Sammy [Qs 5 - 6] and Eric [Qs 7 - 8] for teasers. Here’s how the quartet responded:

1. FUTURITY. Ten words. What would they be?

I would say that, given the (at this point strictly human) capacity for metaphorical extension and extrapolation, FUTURITY basically contains (directly or indirectly) everything. So the first ten words of any dictionary would be very relevant. If that dictionary happened to come from the mid or late 1800s that would be especially fitting.

2. If the musical becomes a major success and finds itself on Broadway by Christmas 2009, which three guest stars would be included within your dream accompaniment?

Malcolm Gladwell should guest star as the inventor or perhaps an assistant to the inventor, a part that would need to be written for him. Ken Burns should appear as a narrator to lend the show a stronger sense of pop historical legitimacy. Probably Philip Glass should be there to noodle around on a keyboard at some point.

3. What is the unofficial definition of FUTURITY?

I named the musical FUTURITY because it is an old fashioned word for future. This piece is about looking back at someone who was looking forward. I love the old fashioned & geeky glamor implied by the whole concept of: “The Future”. Utopias are so retro.

4. What is your favorite musical of all time & why?

In general, I really dislike musicals, It makes me feel uncomfortable when people just burst into song randomly. But I thought it would be fun to try and write a musical that was for people like me. The piece that was a big inspiration for FUTURITY was Three Penny Opera. I am in love with the way song functions in that play. The songs seem to tell the qualities of the characters’ experiences in a way that is really unique and non-literal. The music in FUTURITY doesn’t aim to tell the story as much as create the world. I also like Grease, I have to admit.

5. How many of FUTURITY’s ditties will be included on the follow-up to Country Doctor Museum?

Well, there are 14 songs in FUTURITY, only one of which is really is a song that we play live regularly. So, we definitely have a few options as far as a follow up record. One is that we just make The Lisps: FUTURITY album and record all the songs from the musical as a kind of concept album. We also have a lot of new songs that aren’t from FUTURITY that we could potentially make an album out of. Then there’s the option of making an album of our new songs, plus some FUTURITY songs that we feel would work taken out of the context of the musical.

6. What can you share about FUTURITY’s costumes? Was there any particular theme in mind?

Even though I’m the girl of the group and usually the most elaborately dressed, I have very little to do with the costumes for this piece. I have enough to do! We have a wonderful costume designer named Jennifer Paar who is working all of that out. I’ll know for sure about the costumes in a few days when I get fitted, but for the time being all I can say is that there are soldiers and scientists, I’m a mathematician, and the show takes place in 1864 and the imagined future of the protagonist living in 1864, so I think it will be a combination of Civil War attire, and some kind of Steampunk-like attire.

7. What has been the biggest hurdle in organizing, writing & producing FUTURITY?

Since I didn’t do any of the organizing, writing, or producing for FUTURITY, I’ll have to speak to what I have done: I had to go sifting through salvage yards in Yonkers to search for resonant scrap metal and rusted car parts. And it was completely unsuccessful. But I had a lot of sour conversations with some pretty off folks. I stayed at home on NYE and contracted alcohol poisoning while trying to build the damn thing. It’s finally done!

8. Can you kindly offer some slutty new year advice?

Get it on! What do you think of the band name Lettuce Edifice? I think that’s gonna be my side project with Jeremy. That or Ointment Appointment.

Learn more about FUTURITY & purchase tix for the musical here.

MP3: The Lisps – Brackish Water

Can’t wait! Here’s info on Futurity: *A theatrically staged song cycle, FUTURITY tells the story of a Union soldier in the Civil War who is an aspiring science fiction writer. The work fuses traditional Americana, found text, experimental music, and The Lisps’ own brand of quirky co-ed pop.*

Visit The Lisps on MySpace.

Purchase tix to the gigs (1/9 & 1/10 @ NYC’s Zipper Factory) here.

The Lisps’ debut LP was one of my fave albums of 2008.

MP3: The Lisps – I’m Sorry

House Of Tomorrow reports: *The theatrical adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, with music & lyrics by Stephin Merritt and book by David Greenspan, will have its world premiere at New York’s Lucille Lortel Theatre Theater from May 6 to June 20, 2009.*

For further info, head here. MP3 at bottom.

Visit The Magnetic Fields on MySpace.

MP3: Stephin Merritt – The Nun’s Litany (Live)