Live at the Funky Butt Jazz Club

Even by the standards of today’s spectacle-seeking club promoters, it’s hard to imagine a club named the Funky Butt. But in New Orleans in the early 1900s, it was the place to be–renowned for a lively, nonconformist atmosphere that bred musical improvisation. In fact, some have pinpointed it as the birthplace of jazz, having housed the earliest Buddy Bolden concerts. Those days at the Funky Butt are the basis for an original musical theater piece by Interact, a collective of artists with physical and mental disabilities. Inasmuch as it’s a story about people on the fringe finding their way through art, it’s one with which the Interact company members can relate; after seeing some fearless members in King of Hearts, we’re looking forward to seeing what the whole company does with this story. An accompaniment of professional actors and jazz musicians will help recreate the Funky Butt vibe and pay homage to America’s first city of music. 212 Third Ave. N., Suite 140, Minneapolis; 612-339-5145; www.interactcenter.com