Most widely known for his roles on screen, Jeff Daniels has garnered critical acclaim in many films including “The Purple Rose of Cairo” and “The Squid And The Whale”. On stage, he was most recently nominated for a Tony Award in the Broadway play “God of Carnage”. Now, Jeff Daniels is gaining notoriety as a musician for his unique and spontaneous one-man show which returns to the road on August 20th.
With four albums to his credit, Live & Unplugged, Grandfather’s Hat(2006), Together Again (2007) a collaboration with Jonathan Hogan, and Live At The Purple Rose (2009), Daniels is not just another actor turns singer/songwriter. “While I’m very aware many come to see the actor from DUMB & DUMBER or GETTYSBURG or whatever, but they leave saying, “I had no idea he could play or sing.” I bought a guitar when I moved to New York City in 1976. Lonely and out of work, I dove head first into Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Tablature Books and just started writing and playing away my solitary misery. This little diversion lasted for decades. So, for those considering doing this kind of thing, I highly recommend rehearsing for thirty years to get yourself ready.”
Of a 2009 concert at the City Winery in New York City, New York Post critic Dan Aquilante notes, “His voice is flexible enough to ape Lyle Lovett in one tune and conjure Springsteen in the next. And his songwriting is clever, funny and has an eccentric attitude. The best moments were when he reprised his song “The Dirty Harry Blues,” which he wrote about his work playing the villain in Clint Eastwood’s film “Blood Work.” In his patter before the tune, Daniels gushed: “You don’t know what an honor it is for an actor to get killed by Clint.” Daniels learned something from the master: At this show he killed, too.”
Born and raised in Michigan, Daniels returned home in 1986 after starring in Woody Allen’s film, “The Purple Rose of Cairo”. There, he realized his dream of creating a professional theater company featuring Midwestern actors, directors, designers and playwrights situated in the middle of American producing plays about middle America: The Purple Rose Theater.
To raise money for the Purple Rose, Daniels performs his show for two weeks every Christmas and New Year’s. Nine years and over $500,000 later, he decided his show could travel.
“What started out as a way to raise money has now become something I really enjoy doing. If I’m having fun out there, so does the Audience. That’s the thing about my show; I never know what’s going to happen next. Every night, I have a set list with far too many songs on it. If the audience wants to listen, great. If they want to laugh, fine. If the guitar players want to see ‘actor boy’ get up and down the neck, I can do that, too. Unlike Broadway where the play is pretty much the same every night, the exciting thing about doing this show is embracing the unpredictability of it. It makes playing live alive. Audiences feed off the excitement in that.”
When asked why he doesn’t tour with a band, Daniels said, “Scheduling rehearsals is far easier when there’s only one of you. Besides, I’m hardly alone out there. The Actor with comic timing and stage presence is with me; the Playwright who’s written 14 plays guides the storytelling, the Musician who’s taken an acoustic guitar and turned it into an obsession, as well as the Director who’s helmed film and stage productions; all those guys are with me. Creatively, when I grab my guitar and walk out in front of an Audience, I feel as if I’m finally using all of myself.”
Beginning in August, Jeff Daniels will perform at the following theaters and clubs. Proceeds from the sales of all CDs benefit The Purple Rose Theater.
August 20 LEXINGTON, MI TheLexington Music & Theater Company
August 21 MOUNT PLEASANT, MI Max & Emily’s Eatery
August 22 IONIA, MI Ionia Theatre
August 23 AUGUSTA, MI Barn Theatre
August 25 INDIANAPOLIS, IN Radio Radio
August 26 NEWPORT, KY The Southgate House
August 27 NASHVILLE, TN 3rd & Lindsley
August 28 BARTLETT, TN Bartlett Performing Arts Center
August 30 NORTH VERNON, IN S.P.A.C.E.
September 15 MILWAUKEE, WI Turner Hall Ballroom
September 16-17 OSHKOSH, WI Grand Opera House
September 18 BENTON HARBOR, MI Lake Michigan College
September 21 MANISTEE, MI Ramsdell Theatre
September 22 HARBOR SPRINGS, MI Harbor Springs Perf. Arts Center
September 23 SAULT SAINTE MARIE, MI Arts Center Auditorium
October 8 FLINT, MI The Whiting Auditorium
October 9 CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI Macomb Center
October 13 KENT, OH The Kent Stage
October 14-15 VIENNA, VA The Barns at Wolf Trap
October 16 ANNAPOLIS, MD The Ram’s Head On Stage
October 17 SELLERSVILLE, PA Sellersville Theater
October 18 NEW YORK, NY City Winery
October 20 NORFOLK, CT Infinity Hall
October 21 CAMBRIDGE, MA Club Passim
October 22 SCARBOROUGH, ME The Landing
October 23 ELLSWORTH, ME The Grand Auditorium
October 25 FAIRFIELD, CT Fairfield Theatre – Stage One
October 27 DURHAM, NC The Carolina Theatre
October 28 CHARLOTTE, NC McGlohan Theatre
October 29 CHARLESTON, SC Charleston Music Hall
October 30 ATLANTA, GA Smith’s Olde Bar
November 1 ST. LOUIS, MO The Old Rock House
November 3 OMAHA, NE Holland Performing Arts Center
November 9 FARGO, ND Fargo Theater
November 10 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Cedar Cultural Center
November 11 DULUTH, MN Sacred Heart Music Center
November 12 CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI Heyde Center For the Arts
November 13 MADISON, WI Majestic Theatre
November 19 TALKEETNA, AL Latitude 62
November 20 ANCHORAGE, AK Sydney Laurence Theatre
December 3 SPRINGFIELD, MO Gillioz Theatre
December 4 ROLLA, MO Leach Theater