Closing concert for go mama go! this Sunday

Ganymede Arts Artistic Director Jeffrey Johnson is organizing a special benefit concert titled “Go Mama Gone” on Sunday, March 13 in support of the popular home decorative store go mama go! and the family of its founder, theater benefactor Noi Chudnoff. The store, which closes its doors on March 31st, has been left with some debts which he hopes the benefit can help offset, Johnson told us.

Johnson will host the fundraiser as Special Agent Galactica, lip-syncing to Stevie Nicks’ Stand Back and singing duets with recording artist Tom Goss and jazz vocalist Maureen Mullaney. Other performers include Christopher Wingert, Barbara Papendorp, Tony Gudell, Noah Chiet, Dan Van Why, Ted Puntanan, and John C. Bailey and the ImprovArt Mashup with Jason McCool and Joce(lyn).

Chudnoff was a much loved philanthropist whose donations included Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Ganymede , the Whitman-Walker Clinic’s Lesbian Services Program, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Victory Fund. At the time of her death in November of 2007, she was Chair of the Ganymede Theatre Board.

In September, Johnson created Noi’s Nook, an intimate performance space in a section of go mama go!. It has since been home to cabarets, and new play readings. Chudnoff’s husband Jonathan enjoyed producing many of these events.

With the closing of the store, Johnson will take his Special Agent Galactica shows with Christopher Wingert on the keyboard to the Black Fox Lounge (1723 Connecticut Ave. NW) on a trial basis. He opens there May 20 and 21 with guests the Escape Pods.

“Go Mama Gone” begins at 7 p.m. in Noi’s Nook at 1809 14^th Street NW.. Tickets are $20 and includes admission to the After Party, with music by DJ 10. Click here to buy.May 20th and 21st @ 8PM

Never seen Galactica? Take a look.