Nellie McKay to perform at Elgin Community College
Submitted by ECC
Nellie McKay will showcase her talents as a musician, songwriter, and actress when she performs at the Elgin Community College Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 10, and Saturday, Feb. 11. Both performances will be held at 8 p.m. at the college, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
Described by McKay as a “musical death row revue,” I Want to Live! draws inspiration from the 1958 film of the same name and tells the story of the life and death of the notorious Barbara Graham.
McKay herself is an artist difficult to categorize. Her music is as tuneful and clever as the best of the great American songbook, and is part cabaret, part sparkly pop. She has done Brecht on Broadway, opened for Lou Reed at Carnegie Hall, sung Woody Allen movie songs at the Hollywood Bowl, performed on “A Prairie Home Companion,” performed duets with Eartha Kitt and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, played Oscar winner Hilary Swank’s sister on the big screen, and paid tribute to Doris Day.
Beneath McKay’s charming melodic surface is a wit that cuts, and a sharply tuned social conscience. She is an animal rights advocate, and well-known as an outspoken and fierce advocate for feminism, civil rights and other deeply felt progressive ideals.
McKay’s music can be heard on the television shows “Weeds,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “NCIS,” and “Nurse Jackie,” and recently finished contributing to the soundtrack for the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire.” She has appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” “The View,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” and “Live with Regis & Kelly.” Her recent album is 2010’s “Home Sweet Mobile Home.”
Tickets are $20 for the Feb. 10 show and $25 for Feb. 11. Guests will have the option of purchasing a preshow dinner prepared by ECC’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program for an additional $21. Dinners must be purchased in advance by Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Tickets for all performances in the ECC Arts Center are available online at tickets.elgin.edu or at the ECC box office located in the arts center. Box office hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone, call (847) 622-0300. All major credit cards are accepted.
Visit elgin.edu/arts for more information about the ECC Arts Center, including video clips of upcoming artists and events, the Standing Room Only blog, and links to the Arts Center’s Twitter and Facebook pages.