Johnny Mercer Foundation to Sponsor AMERICAN SONGBOOK at NJPAC

The Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) is expanding its support of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) by joining a group of prestigious sponsors for the second season of the well received American Songbook at NJPAC. Hosted by Ted Chapin and airing on New Jersey's public television NJTV, the series features live performances of America's finest interpreters of the Great American Songbook on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 7pm and Sunday, September 21 at 3pm. Slated to appear are Marilyn Maye, Tommy Tune, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, John Pizzarelli, Nellie McKay and Laura Osnes & Santino Fontana, with John Pizzarelli performing an entire show of songs by the great master himself, Johnny Mercer.

Returning for its second season, American Songbook at NJPAC is a words-and-music series co-presented with NJTV, New Jersey's Public Television Network. As an offshoot of NJPAC's success as a live presentation house, each concert is taped for future broadcast on WNET, NJTV and WLIW. Saturday's schedule includes Maye, Tune and Shaiman & Wittman. On Sunday, American Songbook at NJPAC features Pizzarelli, McKay and Osnes & Fontana.

Each musical guest will perform for about 40 minutes, then have a short interview with Ted Chapin. Mr Chapin, viewed by the industry as an expert on the Great American Songbook, is President of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company, and serves on several prestigious boards, including the American Theater Wing, Goodspeed Musicals, and New York City Center.

American Songbook at NJPAC marks the beginning of JMF's expanded relationship with the largest performing arts center in New Jersey. For the last two years, JMF has partnered with NJPAC on an innovative musical theater partnership in which local intermediate school students write and rehearse an original musical. More than an exposure program, the immersive experience teaches the history of the American Musical, the creative process including lyric writing, and the rehearsal and performance process. Students are able to develop creativity, self-confidence, and new ways of positive expression while helping participating schools meet the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. This brand new curriculum is based on the Erin Layton/Georgia State University curriculum supported by The Johnny Mercer Foundation.

About American Songbook at NJPAC , noted composer and playwright Jonathan Brielle, Vice President of the Johnny Mercer Foundation said, "because of the fabulous team of people at NJPAC, lead by John Schreiber and his love of Johnny's music, our two organizations will continue to seek new ways of partnering to celebrate and nurture the Great American songbook."

The mission of The Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) is to support the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook, as exemplified by the life and work of Johnny : lyricist, composer, performer, collaborator and producer. The Foundation continues Johnny's legacy by partnering with individuals and organizations dedicated to celebrating and nourishing the disciplines he mastered and the causes he and his wife Ginny Mercer championed.

For more information about this and other important programs supported by The Johnny Mercer Foundation please visit www.johnnymercer.org .

TV Taping & Live Show, $49 - $39, Tickets available at: or www.NJPAC.org or Box Office 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722)

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