A Musical Month
Now settled back in its former home at the Orpheum Theater, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra has a robust calendar this month. On Jan. 8 the LPO presents “The Firebird,” a concert celebrating Russian composers featuring Marianna Prjevalskaya, winner of the 2014 New Orleans International Piano Competition. For a two-day engagement, Jan. 16-17, the singer known as the “Ambassador of Soul,” Ellis Hall, performs the music of Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder with the orchestra. On Jan. 21 they’ll perform “Carnaval!,” a festive program featuring lively selections from Berlioz, Verdi and Respighi. There are also two concerts not at the Orpheum to catch: “Russian Greats,” Jan. 10 at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art’s Patrick F. Taylor Library and “A Fair to Remember: The 1884-1885 Concert Season in New Orleans,” Jan. 27 at St. Louis Cathedral. Information, LPOMusic.com
King Cake Babies
Fittingly, the third annual King Cake Festival (Jan. 31, Champions Square) benefits babies – not the plastic kind, but the ones at Ochsner Hospital for Children. Vendors include local stalwarts like Haydel’s and favorites from farther away, like Mr. Ronnie’s Famous Hot Donuts in Houma. To preemptively burn those calories, the festival opens with the Gladiator Games, which includes a 1-mile fun run. Information, KingCakeFestival.org
Michael Che Live
As the presidential election ramps up, the satire of “Saturday Night Live” is more interesting than ever. Comedian Michael Che, previously a correspondent on “The Daily Show,” serves up his signature deadpan take on the news as anchor of the show’s Weekend Update segment, and you can see him live Jan. 6 at One Eyed Jacks. Information, OneEyedJacks.net
Calendar
Jan. 6. Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc streetcar ride, French Quarter. Information, JoanOfArcParade.com
Jan. 6. Phunny Phorty Phellows parade, Uptown. Information, PhunnyPhortyPhellows.com
Jan. 15-Feb. 14. Sleeping Beauty, Le Petit Theatre. Information, LePetitTheatre.com
Jan. 15-31. Sweet Charity, Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts. Information, RivertownTheaters.com
Jan. 19-24. Motown the Musical, Saenger Theatre. Information, SaengerNOLA.com
Jan. 22-31. The Light in the Piazza, Jefferson Performing Arts Center. Information, JPAS.org
Jan. 23. Krewe du Vieux, Marigny. Information, KreweDuVieux.org
Jan. 23. Comedian Patton Oswalt, Mahalia Jackson Theater. Information, MahaliaJacksonTheater.com
Jan. 29-Feb. 9. Carnival parades
Jan. 29-Jan. 31. Family Gras, Veterans Memorial Boulevard. Information, facebook.com/FamilyGras
Jan. 29. Barry Manilow in concert, Smoothie King Center. Information, SmoothieKingCenter.com
Jan. 30. G-Eazy in concert, Joy Theater. Information, TheJoyTheater.com
Jan. 31. Tool and Primus in concert, Smoothie King Center. Information, SmoothieKingCenter.com
