Metro - New York Arts

US – Friday, November 20

The week's releases

Metro staff reviews the latest CDs, DVDs and books for your reading pleasure.

The saga continues with rush of ‘New’ blood

REVIEW. No matter how this review of ‘New Moon’ ends, whether this critic loves or loathes the film, is irrelevant. If you’re one of the legions of “Twi-Hards,” you’ll be stepping on heads to see it this weekend anyway.

It's a sisters thing

Anna Christie first appeared in the these pages back in 2006, when she was among the frequent street performers in Suburban Station.

What women want: Wilmer

How does Wilmer Valderrama do it? The actor has dated a bevy of Hollywood beauties, from Mandy Moore to Lindsay Lohan (pre-career implosion) to Hilary Duff. He’s even claimed that Ashlee Simpson and Jennifer Love Hewitt have had a piece of Vaderrama-action.

The saga continues with rush of ‘New’ blood

REVIEW. No matter how this review of ‘New Moon’ ends, whether this critic loves or loathes the film, is irrelevant. If you’re one of the legions of “Twi-Hards,” you’ll be stepping on heads to see it this weekend anyway.

Photo: BENOIT PAILLEYThe weirdly wonderful world of Urs Fischer

He’s been lauded around the world as an “art-world rock star,” but 36-year-old Swiss artist Urs Fischer insists his work is rooted in the simplest of instincts.

Photo: PAUL KOLNIK

My Winter Arts Guide

A return to Renaissance

To research his historical piece on the Harlem Renaissance, “Uptown,” Ailey star Matthew Rushing used modern technologies. “YouTube was a great help. I searched for Charleston and Lindy Hop, started purchasing books and DVDs,” he explains. “Part of the dance is called ‘Rent Party’ — the Harlem Renaissance is where rent parties started.”

My Winter Arts Guide

This fest makes waves

If your New Year’s resolution is to think outside the Broadway box, look no further than the Under the Radar fest, held Jan. 6 to 17 at The Public Theater, which exhibits new, independent and sometimes radical theater and performance from the U.S. and around the world.

New York Arts

Dancing about history — an absurd ‘Proposition’?

Though choreographer Bill T. Jones is not onstage, his sense and sensibility are all over “Serenade/The Proposition,” currently at the Joyce.

Photo: JOAN MARCUS

New York Arts

‘Rainbow’ lights up B-way

Broadway’s new musical sensation, “Finian’s Rainbow,” is an unlikely hit for 2009. This 62-year-old show actually has a heart, and wonderful songs by lyricist E.Y. Harburg and Burton Lane. The songs, along with ballet dancing, magic, a gospel quartet and a handful of very timely jokes about the economy, add up to an evening that feels like, well, the old Ed Sullivan show with a plot.

New York Arts

Interview with a chameleon

Big Dance Theater puts Paris in its proper place

Sometimes ‘know thyself’ is a liability

Wanna know a Secret?

So ‘Steady’ as they go

How to get ‘Naked’

From Down Under, a working-class dance

Chaos in Central Park

Partially clothed fun

‘Insert title here’

New York Arts

The Porter principle

It’s nice to be on the ‘Fringe’

Get family time, but in very small doses

Art and life mingle down by the river

Nightmare on Eighth Avenue

Scary story hour

All bark, no bite

Organic mime meets the human beatbox

A nice ‘Night’ in Central Park

The November MMMpod features interviews and music with a band called Girls, a band of girls called Supercute, and a supercute vampire. Yes, listeners, we have Pattinson!