Gustafer Yellowgold
DR2 Theater, 103 E. 15th St., nr. Union Square E.; 212-239-6200
Saturdays 3/15–5/3 (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.)
Dan Zanes and Laurie Berkner may get the Carnegie Hall treatment, but the most original performer on the family-music scene today is Morgan Taylor, creator of Gustafer Yellowgold. Whereas the other kiddie-tunes stars are reinvigorating old folk tunes and rocking out on the Noggin channel, Taylor has dreamed up a whole world of story-songs about Gustafer (he’s from the sun) and his menagerie of friends (an eel, a pet dragon named Asparagus, a bunch of mustard slugs, a tuxedo-wearing pterodactyl). Taylor and his band present their songs alongside large-screen animations done up with karaoke-style subtitles for early readers. The act has been making the kid-venue rounds of late, stopping at Bowery Kids, Joe’s Pub, and Symphony Space; it will begin an Off Broadway run on March 15 at the DR2 Theater near Union Square. Not to be missed.