On Friday, November 4th, The American Songbook Project held its annual signature event, their "Name That Tune" benefit at the historic Hudson Theater in New York. Their mission is to preserve the American Songbook by bringing professional singers in the NYC schools. This year they honored Broadway composer Jerry Herman and Guild Hall (East Hampton), both of whom celebrated their 80th birthdays this year. Liz Smith emceed the Jerry Herman tribute and her passionate, loving remarks about her friend included "It is said by show biz insiders that Jerry is so universal the you just hear a song of his once and you can hum it or sing it. And you probably can't stop. That is pretty damned great. He is universal in the musical theater, the songsmith of modern American life." Mr. Herman's tribute included performances by James Darrah recreating his role of Ambrose Kemper from the last Carol Channing revival of Hello Dolly singing "It Only Takes a Moment;" Meredith Patterson and Jeffry Denman performing "Tap Your Troubles Away" from Mack and Mabel; and Andrea McArdle singing "If He Walked into My Life Today" from Mame accompanied movingly by nine-year old Kyrian Friedenberg on trumpet.
The tribute to Guild Hall for their ongoing series of concerts of The American Songbook included performances by TASP school program performers Mark Nadler "I Love a Piano" and Anna Bergman "So in Love."
Board of Directors President Michael Estwanik hosted the evening which included a song title costume contest, judged by William Ivey Long (five-time Tony Award-winner), actress Jane Kaczmarek who flies in from Los Angeles annually for the event, casting director Tara Rubin, Adam Feldman (TimeOut NY's drama critic), Frank DiLella (producer of NY1's "On Stage") and Cindy Hoddeson (Ex Dir.)
Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff
The American Songbook Project
Sound Check
Michael Estwanik & Andrea McArdle
Lynn Di Menna
Guild Hall Josh Gladstone, Dr Ruth Apelhof, James Lawson
Jamie deRoy & Michael Estwanik
Mark Nadler
Mark Nadler
Mark Nadler
James Darrah
Jeffry Denman & Meredith Patterson
Anna Bergman
Andrea McArdle
Dan Grassi Contest Winner (Cabaret)
Dan Grassi, William Ivey Long, Jane Kaczmarek
The Auction Items
The Auction
The Contest
Runner Up Anita Gillette (Tomorrow)
The Judges Jane Kaczmarek,William Ivey Long, Tara Rubin
Iris Love,Dr. Ruth Apelhof, Liz Smith
Dr. Ruth Apelhof & Michael Estwanik
NY1 Frank DiLella ("Put on Your Sunday Clothes") & Michael Eswanik
Pamela Laudenslager & Jamie deRoy
Anita Gillette (Tomorrow)
EDa Sorokoff (Take Five) & Jazz/Music Critic Will Friedwald (Hello (Dahli) Dolly)
George Tower (MillionDollar Baby)
Shana Farr (Ribbons Down My Back)
Kevin Leary (Fly Me To The Moon) & Rick Hinkson
Kevin Leary & Caroline Lieberman (Up A Lazy River)
Dan Grassi (Cabaret), Deb Coughlin (Thriller), Anita Dwyer (After Midnight)
Susan Piazza, Michael Estwanik,John Piazza
Susan James & George Tower
Mark Nadler, Jamie deRoy, Jeffry Denman
Cindy Hoddeson, Michael Estwanik, Dena Kerren, Susan Diehl
Ali Sharaf,Michael DiPietro, Catherine Pierce (Three Blind Mice)
Roy Kean (Moon Over Miami) & Stanislav Sokolov (How Much Is that Doggie In The Window)
Ellen Strum (Bewitched Bothered & Bewildered)
Adam Feldman (A Puzzlement)
Dustin Brayley & Meredith Patterson
Pam Laudenslager (Green Acres) & Peter LeBeau (You're in the Army Now)
Susan James (Silver Bells)
David Soskin (Blue Moon)
Rick Hinkson (Tuxedo Junction & Sean Patrick Murtagh (If I Had A Hammer)
