From rock-and-roll icon to Broadway: See David Byrne's American Utopia at the St. James Theatre

Rock-and-roll icon David Byrne has brought his music to Broadway.

News 12 Staff

Nov 3, 2021, 11:58 AM

Updated 911 days ago

Share:

Rock-and-roll icon David Byrne has brought his music to Broadway.
"David Byrne's American Utopia" received a special Tony Award. You might call this a career triumph, though he has his own way of describing of it.
"I think there have been a few moments where different things I have been investigating and working on or using in shows, all sort of came together, and this is one of those moments," says Byrne.
Byrne is joined on stage by what may be Broadway's most talked about band. The lifelong treasure hunt for interesting sounds, percussionist Tim Keiper says, led him to "David Byrne's American Utopia," but this staging has put his skills to the test.
"There's no wires, there's no amps, there's no gear," says Keiper. "We're carrying all of our own instruments."
Keiper's instruments are unusual to be sure -- a homemade percussion board of many everyday items.
"This is an instrument of just bottle caps, kind of sounds like the environment, the ocean," says Keiper.
Keiper is among the 11 band members choreographed to be in near constant motion. Dancer and vocalist, Chris Giarmo, says the show's journey of cultural awareness leaves space for audience interpretation.
David Byrne's American Utopia is being performed at the St. James Theatre through March.


More from News 12
2:28
Stony Brook University officials: 29 people arrested on campus as students hold pro-Palestinian protest

Stony Brook University officials: 29 people arrested on campus as students hold pro-Palestinian protest

2:00
Warm temps today ahead of some wet weather for the weekend

Warm temps today ahead of some wet weather for the weekend

1:49
‘I am troubled by it.’ Students express mixed emotions following pro-Palestinian protest, arrests on Stony Brook University campus

‘I am troubled by it.’ Students express mixed emotions following pro-Palestinian protest, arrests on Stony Brook University campus

1:03
Long Island Game Farm responds to USDA report on Bobo the giraffe's cause of death

Long Island Game Farm responds to USDA report on Bobo the giraffe's cause of death

1:51
Runners are lacing up for the Long Island Marathon Sunday. Click here to see which roads will close to traffic

Runners are lacing up for the Long Island Marathon Sunday. Click here to see which roads will close to traffic

0:23
3 Long Island health care providers earn highest safety rating on Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

3 Long Island health care providers earn highest safety rating on Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

0:35
Mets foundation partners with America's Vet Dogs to raise future service dog

Mets foundation partners with America's Vet Dogs to raise future service dog

1:54
Find the perfect dining spot on the Nautical Mile in Freeport

Find the perfect dining spot on the Nautical Mile in Freeport

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

0:25
Suffolk police: Plane lands safely on Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai

Suffolk police: Plane lands safely on Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai

1:37
Public hearing held on Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital's filing for additional parking

Public hearing held on Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital's filing for additional parking

1:21
DEC: 2 additional 'anomalies' found under baseball field at Bethpage Community Park

DEC: 2 additional 'anomalies' found under baseball field at Bethpage Community Park

2:05
'He didn't care about the consequences.’ Man pleads guilty to East Massapequa crash that killed 4

'He didn't care about the consequences.’ Man pleads guilty to East Massapequa crash that killed 4

0:13
School officials: Cyberattack causes internet, phone outage at Mineola Public Schools

School officials: Cyberattack causes internet, phone outage at Mineola Public Schools

1:51
Students like food, not prices, from food trucks brought in by NCC following dining services closure

Students like food, not prices, from food trucks brought in by NCC following dining services closure

0:32
Prosecutors: Shirley woman sold misbranded, adulterated weight loss drugs on TikTok

Prosecutors: Shirley woman sold misbranded, adulterated weight loss drugs on TikTok

0:26
Mets partner with Smithtown nonprofit to raise future service dog for veteran or first responder

Mets partner with Smithtown nonprofit to raise future service dog for veteran or first responder

0:24
Man, woman wanted for stealing wallet in Huntington Station

Man, woman wanted for stealing wallet in Huntington Station

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

2:27
Town of Hempstead IDA holds hearing on Hillcrest of Floral Park apartments

Town of Hempstead IDA holds hearing on Hillcrest of Floral Park apartments