Paved Paradise Redux: The Art of Joni Mitchell

After an eight-year absence, two-time Obie Award winning artist John Kelly once again inhabits the persona of Joni Mitchell in an entirely new evening of songs and stories. Conceived and performed by John Kelly, produced by TWEED TheaterWorks in association with Robbi Kearns, and directed by Kevin Malony, Paved Paradise Redux: The Art of Joni Mitchell runs for 7 performances only beginning June 18 at Abrons Arts Center.

In Paved Paradise Redux: The Art of Joni Mitchell, John Kelly’s performance is a musical and visual homage to the great Canadian singer/songwriter. His countertenor uncannily evokes Mitchell’s own smoky soprano as he sings songs from the various stages of her career in their original key. He also plays dulcimer and replicates Mitchell’s guitar style by way of her signature open tunings. Kelly is accompanied on keyboard by musical director Zecca Esquibel, as well as additional musicians. The evening also features an original video component featuring Kevin Joseph (Broadway’s Threepenny Opera, a.k.a. Flotilla DeBarge) as journalist Tavis Smiley in a recreation of his PBS interview with Mitchell.

"There’s drag and then there’s transformation through spiritual osmosis, and that’s what John Kelly accomplishes with this tribute… Magnificent." — The New York Times