Two of the three shows in the "Encores!" series have been announced. The first up is KISMET which has a book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis with music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest. The show will run from February 9-12. Kismet tells the story of Hajj the beggar who escapes the clutches of a vengeful bandit, drowns the evil Wazir of Police, catches the eye of the Wazir's wife, serves as Emir of Baghdad, and sees his daughter wed to the handsome Caliph. The show ran on Broadway from December 1953 until April 1955 and starred Alfred Drake. A movie version with Howard Keel was also made. Songs include "Stranger In Paradise", "Sands Of Time", "This Is My Beloved" and "Fate" among others.
Running March 30 to April 2 will be the Kander and Ebb musical, 70, Girls, 70. Based on the play "Breath of Spring" by Peter Coke and adapted for the stage by Joe Masteroff. The book is by Fred Ebb and Norman L. Martin. The show only ran 35 performances back in 1971 and starred Hans Conried. The story is about a motley group of seniors citizens who steal from young people, in order to help the elderly and less-fortunate. Songs include such notables as "Coffee In A Cardboard Cup" and "Yes" - the latter which became a song Liza Minelli performed several times over. The third show is still TBD but will run from May 11-14. Artistic Director for the series is Jack Viertel with Paul Gemignani serving his first term as Musical Director. Since 1994, NEW YORK CITY CENTER ENCORES! has celebrated the rarely heard works of America's most important composers and lyricists. Conceived as "concert versions," each ENCORES! season gives three scores the chance to be heard as originally intended by their creators. Over the years, ENCORES! has presented the works of the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill, Bock and Harnick, Burt Bacharach, Kander and Ebb, Comden and Green, and many more. The program is the recipient of a special 2000 Tony® Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, as well as the recipient of a New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Lucille Lortel Award and Jujamcyn Theaters Award.
