Mark Jacoby to Lead BROADWAY'S ONE HIT WONDERS at Merkin Concert Hall

Broadway's One Hit Wonders is set for Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center (129 W. 67th St., NYC) on Monday, Nov 14 at 7:30 pm and Tuesday, Nov 15 at 7:30 pm. Co-presented by Kaufman Music Center and One Day University.

Musical theater is known as the domain of super-talents with strings of hits: Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, the Gershwins, etc. Most writers who create one great show go on to create another. But there is a fascinating subset of writers who, for one reason or another, hit it big once and never repeat. Sometimes it's a once-in-a-lifetime idea. Sometimes it's a collaboration that falls apart. Some writers keep trying with diminishing returns, some milk their first big hit for all it's worth, and some walk away to pursue other goals. Of course, some unfortunately pass away too early.

This performance will examine 10 shows - The Boy Friend, Grease, Hair, Man of La Mancha, The Music Man, Oliver!, Promises, Promises, Rent, 1776 and The Wiz - to understand what made them great, and why their creators couldn't or didn't repeat.

Theater@Kaufman Director Sean Hartley will tell some of the most fascinating back stories in American musical history, providing commentary, anecdotes and conjecture to explore these fascinating anomalies. Tony nominee Mark Jacoby (Show Boat) will lead a cast interpreting the classic songs, including Matthew Scott (Sondheim on Sondheim), Amy Justman (Company), Jeffrey Denman (The Producers), Kirsten Scott (Big Fish), Allison Blackwell (A Night with Janis Joplin), Shawn Platzker, Mary Malaney and Rachel Kara Perez. Music directed by David Loud and stage directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Tony nominee for Ragtime).

The Broadway stars will perform songs including "Lida Rose" (The Music Man); "I, Don Quizote" and "Impossible Dream" (Man of La Mancha); "Never Too Late to Fall in Love" (The Boy Friend); "Consider Yourself" (Oliver!); "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (Promises, Promises) and "Frank Mills (Hair) among many others.

The Broadway Playhouse series concludes with "I Hear Music - Songs of Frank Loesser" on Monday, Dec 5. Get details at www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/series/broadway-close-up. Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center is located at 129 West 67th Street (btw Broadway & Amsterdam Avenue). Tickets at 212 501 3330 or www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch.