Nine Lives offers an honest and beautiful portrait of what this unique city means to anyone who has lived in or been part of its history and culture.  Originally a New York Times best-selling book by Dan Baum, Nine Lives is really a biography of New Orleans through the stories of nine distinct and diverse New Orleanians from every part of the city. The book follows the lives of these nine people, covering the 40-year time span between hurricanes Betsy in 1965 and Katrina in 2005.

New Orleans musician Paul Sanchez and his writing partner, Colman DeKay, composed a musical to go along with the stories told in the book. In 2010, they  received a grant from Pepsi that helped fund a studio album that completed the 39 songs Paul and Colman had written. The album included over 130 musicians from New Orleans and was performed in different arrangements in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles and throughout New Orleans for several years after it was produced.

This show will offer a review of the songs on the album that promise to take the audience on an immersive journey through the city’s heartaches and triumphs.

This show is being supported through ticket sales and generous sponsorships from individuals and organizations that support New Orleans’ deep culture and history.  Donations for sponsorships can be made to the Threadhead Cultural Foundation, a nonprofit partner of the show in New Orleans operating as our fiscal agent.  The show is also supported by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.