George Jarden hosts free in-home concerts in July, August

Performer George Jarden, 85, has been performing on local stages since shortly after coming to Las Cruces more than 50 years ago. And he’s not done yet!

Jarden is performing two different shows in home concerts at his house, 3100 Karen Drive in Las Cruces, in August. There is no charge to attend.

All shows are approximately 90 minutes in length.

Here is the lineup:

• "Twice Told Tunes & Tellings," which Jarden calls "celebrations of classic songs and stories with a seasoned citizen (and) a kaleidoscopic pastiche of our received culture," will be performed at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4; 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 8; and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14.
• "The Song of America, Part One," which Jarden calls “a singing and narrative re-telling of America's history up to before the Civil War," will be performed at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 31; 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 11; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15.
• "The Song of America, Part Two," also sung and narrated, contains American history of pre-Civil War era through Abraham Lincoln will be performed at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1; 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7; and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18.

The unusual variety and day of the week, morning, afternoon, evening performance times, is “to satisfy needs of persons of all ages and schedule commitments," Jarden said.

Visit the “Stump George” requests list on Jarden’s website and choose from 17 categories of songs and narratives that you can ask George to perform, time permitting, during “Twice Told Tunes & Tales.”

“Covid mask and social distancing precautions are available in the large performance space with open windows and doors for maximum ventilation,” Jarden said.

Make reservations by calling or texting Jarden at 575-652-7301 or email georgejarden@gmail.com.

Visit georgejardenshows.com.

George Jarden has been part of the Las Cruces arts scene for more than 50 years

From https://georgejardenshows.com/performer-jarden

George Jarden came to Las Cruces in April 1970, and he has been writing, performing in, organizing and theatrical events ever since.

He performed that December with “Los Pastores del Valle de Mesilla,” the annual Spanish-sung traditional mystery play, at Holy Cross Retreat. which led to his forming the 70-voice male chorus Voz Vaqueros, The Singing Men of Las Cruces, which he led for 40 years, until 2011.

Jarden played “Curly” in Las Cruces Community Theatre's production of “Oklahoma” in the old Fountain Theatre in 1973 and was Sir Joseph Porter in the New Mexico State University Theatre Department’s 1974 production of “H.M.S. Pinafore.”

In 2010, Jarden wrote and produced his one-man Gilbert and Sullivan show, “Gee 'n Ess & 'I.'” He played about 30 characters in the production at Rio Grande Theatre and performed it in his hometown of Wallingford, Pennsylvania in 2012.

In 1976, Jarden conducted Las Cruces' “American Bicentennial Pageant, 'Echoes of an Era',” at Pan American Center. In 1980, he created “The Choral Festival of Southern New Mexico,” featuring high school and community singers.

Jarden conducted a full orchestra, Voz Vaqueros and Las Cruces Community Chorus in performances at NMSU's Atkinson Recital Hall in celebration of the bicentennial of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.

In 1991, Jarden organized the “International Choral Festival” and, with Voz Vaqueros and The Las Cruces Community Chorus, hosted The Musicum Collegium Bremen and Chamber Orchestra, from Bremen, Germany. 

In 2004, he also produced and was music director for a production of “The Animals’ Christmas” performed at NMSU and for Las Cruces elementary schools.

Before coming to Las Cruces, Jarden, a retired pediatrician, formed the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Chorus in 1963 while serving as a U.S. Navy physician assigned to the U.S. Marines.