BWW TV Exclusive: Mary Testa & Rob Fisher Give Preview of 92Y's MORDEN MAJOR LYRICIST Concert

We all come from Gilbert," said Johnny Mercer. And if you've seen a musical, watched film or TV, read a book, participated in political discourse or have partaken in any aspect of popular culture during the past 125 years, you've likely been influenced by W. S. Gilbert too. Yet Lyrics & Lyricists has never paid tribute to this seminal figure. This weekend, January 12, 13 and 14, the punishment fits this crime of oversight with The Very Model of a Modern Major Lyricist: W. S. Gilbert and the Broadway He Inspired.

Guest artistic director Rob Fisher teams with writer/host Sheldon Harnick to trace the comic DNA from The Mikado to Me and My Girl, My Fair Lady, Spamalot, The Book of Mormon and beyond in a celebration of Broadway humor and satire. Harnick is joined on stage by vocalists Jason Danieley, Jenn Gambatese, David Garrison and Mary Testa, and a vocal quartet - Ross Benoliel, Christine DiGiallonardo, Michael Marcotte and Lindsay O'Neil.

In the exclusive video below, Testa a Fisher chat about the tribute concert and give a special preview of 'Mr. and Mrs. Fitch.' Click below to check it out!

Fisher plans an evening featuring songs made famous by lyricist Gilbert with musical partner Sir Arthur Sullivan, such as "The Very Model of a Model Major General" (from The Pirates of Penzance) and "A Wandering Minstrel I" (from The Mikado). The evening will also feature songs by those Broadway lyricists who trace their lineage to Gilbert. "We're also likely to do Yip Harburg's 'When the Idle Poor Become the Idle Rich' (from Finian's Rainbow) and Sheldon's 'Little Tin Box' (from Fiorello!)," Fisher says. "Their lyrics skewering class differences and political greed, respectively, are just as timely today." Harnick adds "Human beings seem to be endlessly corrupt, and consequently there's always someone to comment on that kind of weakness. It never goes out of style."

L&L shows are Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 and 7 pm, and Monday at 2 and 7:30 pm. Individual tickets begin at $52 with a 35 & Under ticket price of $25. Special opening night celebration tickets are also available for the Saturday, January 12 performance. $200 includes an exclusive post-concert reception with Sheldon Harnick and cast members, plus a premium seat.

For more information, please visit http://www.92y.org/Uptown/Event/L-L-Sheldon-Harnick.aspx.