Rochester Region: New York State Performers, Programmers & Related Resources for Public Libraries & Groups


Performer Information
Performer name:	James Durst
Phone:	917-975-5035
Mailing address:	30E Hillside Terrace White Plains, NY 10601
E-mail address:	JamesDurst@aol.com
Website:	http://www.jamesdurst.com
Performer's agent:	James Durst
Previous appearances at:	'Woody's Children' Festival, Greenwich CT, The Guthrie Center, Gt. Barrington MA, Shrub Oak Library, Shrub Oak NY, Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerrville TX, Ridgefield Public Library, Ridgefield CT Contact information for New York State Public Libraries
Information last updated:	04/11/2012

Records 1-3 of 3

Program
Category
Description
Fee

JAMES DURST: 'Hue Manatee's Quest' Music,
Nature- Environment,
Performing Arts- Storytelling

Singer-songwriter James Durst presents a 1-man musical adventure, rich in humor, song & story to dramatize themes of environmental sustainability, unity in diversity, friendship & peace. The central characters Hue (as in 'color' or 'cry of alarm') Manatee and Flickati Cricket seek the wisdom of renowned change agent Leon Chameleon, only to be invited along on a journey to his ancestral homeland, the Galápagos. Along the way, they overcome numerous perils while meeting and sharing songs with Shining Eagle (Northern Hemisphere shaman of the Imáji Nation), a trio of dolphins, a whale threatened by a whaling ship, Ella Condor (Southern Hemisphere medicine woman of the Todos tribe), and a popular street-corner quintet known as Acapellago. Cameo appearances are made by Hansel & Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood & Goldilocks to populate Leon's parable explaining how our protagonists - the Beings - differ from the 'two-legged ones' in a 5-part tour de farce, 'Lost in the Kuda Shuda Woods.' Ideally suited for adults & families with older children, as the humor is largely reliant on wordplay and the music is sophisticated yet accessible. Imagine 'The Lion King' meets 'Candide.'
$501- $1000

JAMES DURST: Thinking Globally, Acting Vocally Multicultural- Other,
Music

Quietly touring the planet since 1965, James has performed for audiences of all ages in all 50 states and 45 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, in Russia, Azerbaijan, Japan, Korea, and most recently India (7x) and Israel (4x). He draws from a rich and ever-evolving repertoire of distinctive original and collected songs in more than 2 dozen languages that reflect a global perspective and underscore the sense of interconnectedness we share with all of life. James engages each disparate audience in a participatory journey distilled from his travels, musically monitoring the pulse of the human condition, bringing us closer to our world and each other. The interplay of his skillful, rhythmic guitar playing and strong, expressive voice provides a colorful palette which he uses to paint compelling musical pictures that encourage individual empowerment and compassionate relationships, while helping us to feel more hopeful about ourselves and our place on the planet. His performances for adults and/or children are spirited, lighthearted, relevant and often humorous.
$501- $1000

WORK O' THE WEAVERS: Celebrating America's Pioneering Folk Quartet History,
Multicultural- Other,
Music

NEW for 2012: WORK O' THE WEAVERS will highlight Woody Guthrie's Centennial throughout 2012. Beginning in 1950 with their 2-sided hit single, Tzena Tzena & Goodnight Irene, the Weavers ignited popular interest in folk music. With a freshness and exuberance never before heard, they enjoyed surprising success until they were caught up in the hysteria of the Cold War anti-communist witchhunts of McCarthyism and HUAC, blacklisted and driven from the stage in 1952 at the height of their popularity. Their triumphant 1955 Carnegie Hall reunion concert and Vanguard recording of the event gave heart to a generation and served to kindle the 'folk boom' of the '50s & '60s, providing a foundation upon which virtually every subsequent folk performer would build. WORK O' THE WEAVERS recalls their timely story and timeless songs. Adhering faithfully to the Weavers' original arrangements, WORK O' THE WEAVERS' (James Durst, David Bernz, Martha Sandefer & Mark Murphy) repertoire includes the beloved familiar songs--as well as some the Weavers never sang, but might be singing were they still active today. An edifying and informative narrative interweaves throughout, and, where appropriate, a visual PowerPoint component augments the program. Rousing, refreshing and relevant.
$1001- $3000

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Records 1-3 of 3

* Inclusion in this database does not indicate endorsement of any performer or program by the NYS Education Department, the Office of Cultural Education, the NYS Library or the participating library systems, nor does it eliminate the need for reference checks and appropriate standard screening procedures.

Program	Category	Description	Fee
JAMES DURST: 'Hue Manatee's Quest'	Music, Nature- Environment, Performing Arts- Storytelling	Singer-songwriter James Durst presents a 1-man musical adventure, rich in humor, song & story to dramatize themes of environmental sustainability, unity in diversity, friendship & peace. The central characters Hue (as in 'color' or 'cry of alarm') Manatee and Flickati Cricket seek the wisdom of renowned change agent Leon Chameleon, only to be invited along on a journey to his ancestral homeland, the Galápagos. Along the way, they overcome numerous perils while meeting and sharing songs with Shining Eagle (Northern Hemisphere shaman of the Imáji Nation), a trio of dolphins, a whale threatened by a whaling ship, Ella Condor (Southern Hemisphere medicine woman of the Todos tribe), and a popular street-corner quintet known as Acapellago. Cameo appearances are made by Hansel & Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood & Goldilocks to populate Leon's parable explaining how our protagonists - the Beings - differ from the 'two-legged ones' in a 5-part tour de farce, 'Lost in the Kuda Shuda Woods.' Ideally suited for adults & families with older children, as the humor is largely reliant on wordplay and the music is sophisticated yet accessible. Imagine 'The Lion King' meets 'Candide.'	$501- $1000
JAMES DURST: Thinking Globally, Acting Vocally	Multicultural- Other, Music	Quietly touring the planet since 1965, James has performed for audiences of all ages in all 50 states and 45 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, in Russia, Azerbaijan, Japan, Korea, and most recently India (7x) and Israel (4x). He draws from a rich and ever-evolving repertoire of distinctive original and collected songs in more than 2 dozen languages that reflect a global perspective and underscore the sense of interconnectedness we share with all of life. James engages each disparate audience in a participatory journey distilled from his travels, musically monitoring the pulse of the human condition, bringing us closer to our world and each other. The interplay of his skillful, rhythmic guitar playing and strong, expressive voice provides a colorful palette which he uses to paint compelling musical pictures that encourage individual empowerment and compassionate relationships, while helping us to feel more hopeful about ourselves and our place on the planet. His performances for adults and/or children are spirited, lighthearted, relevant and often humorous.	$501- $1000
WORK O' THE WEAVERS: Celebrating America's Pioneering Folk Quartet	History, Multicultural- Other, Music	NEW for 2012: WORK O' THE WEAVERS will highlight Woody Guthrie's Centennial throughout 2012. Beginning in 1950 with their 2-sided hit single, Tzena Tzena & Goodnight Irene, the Weavers ignited popular interest in folk music. With a freshness and exuberance never before heard, they enjoyed surprising success until they were caught up in the hysteria of the Cold War anti-communist witchhunts of McCarthyism and HUAC, blacklisted and driven from the stage in 1952 at the height of their popularity. Their triumphant 1955 Carnegie Hall reunion concert and Vanguard recording of the event gave heart to a generation and served to kindle the 'folk boom' of the '50s & '60s, providing a foundation upon which virtually every subsequent folk performer would build. WORK O' THE WEAVERS recalls their timely story and timeless songs. Adhering faithfully to the Weavers' original arrangements, WORK O' THE WEAVERS' (James Durst, David Bernz, Martha Sandefer & Mark Murphy) repertoire includes the beloved familiar songs--as well as some the Weavers never sang, but might be singing were they still active today. An edifying and informative narrative interweaves throughout, and, where appropriate, a visual PowerPoint component augments the program. Rousing, refreshing and relevant.	$1001- $3000