MAC/ASCAP Showcase to Feature Hall, Pasek & Paul, Etc.

Continuing its long standing partnership with ASCAP, MAC has announced the next MAC/ASCAP Songwriter's Showcase, Wednesday, June 6th at 6pm at the Laurie Beechman Theater, hosted by Jamie deRoy and featuring special guest, composer and lyricist Carol Hall with singer Laurel Masse and musical director Tex Arnold. The Showcase is produced by Michael Kerker (ASCAP) and deRoy (MAC).

One of the few to write both music and lyrics, Carol Hall received two Drama Desk Awards for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which ran for almost five years on Broadway, received a Grammy nomination for its cast album and became a film starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton. Parton's recording of Hall's "Hard Candy Christmas," won an ASCAP Award for "Most Performed Country Song." A recent national tour of Whorehouse starred entertainment legend Ann-Margret.

Her additional work includes the Off-Broadway musicals A… My Name is Alice, A… My Name is Still Alice, To Whom It May Concern & Hats!, which has just opened a third company in Chicago. She was a major composer/lyricist for Marlo Thomas' Peabody and Emmy Award-winning TV Special, "Free to Be...You and Me" and its sequel, "Free to Be...A Family" and was a mainstay writer for "Sesame Street" for ten years. She is presently writing the score for the popular children's series "Max & Ruby."  Her cabaret work has earned her two Bistro & MAC Awards, one of them the 2003 MAC Song of the Year, "I Dream In Technicolor." She also received the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award, given for contributions to the American Song book. Carol has also contributed either music or lyrics to songs written with Bill Evans, Lesley Gore, Michelle Brourman, Shelly Markham, Phyllis Newman, Tex Arnold and Steven Lutvak.

Carol Hall's songs have been performed by Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Barbara Cook, Margaret Whiting, Julie Wilson, Chita Rivera, Michael Feinstein, Mabel Mercer, Amanda McBroom, Olivia Newton-John, Maureen McGovern, RuPaul, Frederica von Stade & Kermit the Frog.

Other guests on the showcase are the writing teams of Robert Maddock and Joe Iconis, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and Steve Silverstein and Ruth Williamson. Pasek and Paul began their collaboration as freshmen at The University of Michigan and at age 21, as recipients of the 2007 Jonathan Larson Award, became the youngest winners in the history of the foundation. Maddock (a recipient of a 2007 Jonathan Larson Award) & Iconis (winner of a 2007 Kleban Award and a 2006 Jonathan Larson Award) are currently working on two musicals, Plastic! (for which Robert wrote the book and lyrics with music by Iconis & Reza Jacobs) and The Black Suits (with music, lyrics & book by Iconis, with the book co-authored by Maddock).

Steve Silverstein is the composer of the musical The Human Heart (lyrics by Michael Colby), which received a grant from the Billy Rose Foundation. He is currently producing a CD for his Christmas show, The Adventures of the Christmas Elf, which will be presented by ACT Theater Company in Dec 2007.  Ruth Williamson has appeared on Broadway in the recent revival of La Cage Aux Folles, the 2000 revival of The Music Man, Epic Proportions, Little Me with Martin Short, Guys And Dolls with Nathan Lane and the original Annie, followed by a tour as Miss Hannigan. She has written Pure Heaven, about the late, great Kay Thompson (of Eloise fame). As a lyricist, her collaboration with Steve Silverstein on the song "A Strong Wind," was nominated for a 2007 MAC award.

The Laurie Beechman Theater is located at 407 West 42nd Street.  The show is free for MAC Members and $10 for guests.  Call the MAC Hotline at (212) 465-2662 for more information.  There is no reserved seating; seating is first come first served.  Food and drinks will be available, and MAC membership applications will be distributed at the door.

Photo - Carol Hall