92Y Will Celebrate Jerry Herman at LYRICS & LYRICISTS

From Hello, Dolly! and Mame to La Cage aux Folles, no one has written "showtunes" with as much exuberance as Jerry Herman whose musicals offer an optimistic approach to the human condition, finding common ground with his audience by showing us that the differences between us are, in fact, what unite us. Lyrics & Lyricists™ 2020 season continues with a celebration of the composer, lyricist and songwriter whose joyful scores have sent us from the theater humming for more than 50 years. Singing them at L&L are Quentin Earl Darrington (Once on This Island), Cady Huffman (The Will Rogers Follies, Chicago, The Producers), Bryonha Marie Parham (The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, Prince of Broadway), Andrea Ross (The Sound of Music) and Ryan Vona (Once, Beautiful). Jerry Herman: You I Like is conceived and music directed by Andy Einhorn, who served as conductor, musical director and musical supervisor for the recent Tony-winning revival of Hello, Dolly! Cady Huffman, whose first Broadway role was in the original production of La Cage aux Folles, directs.

This L&L took on greater clarity for Andy Einhorn in the wake of Herman's passing. The evening will explore themes that are commonly found in his work: love, family, home, and optimism. Audiences can expect all the Jerry Herman classes including "Time Heals Everything," "I Am What I Am," "It's Today" and "I'll Be Here Tomorrow."

"These themes represent who Jerry Herman was as both an artist and as a man," comments Einhorn, who continues, "Jerry Herman was joy personified. He wrote shows that sparked joy, brought out positivity in the face of adversity, granted his characters second chances, and reinforced the love of family. He left a piece of himself in everything he wrote, and this program will celebrate these treasures."

John Kelly, Lighting Design

Dan Scully, Projection Design

Lori Wekselblatt, Production Stage Manager

Telsey + Company, Casting

Coming up in 2020

March 21, 22, 23

GEORGE GERSHWIN: YOU'VE GOT WHAT GETS ME

Conceived and Music Directed by Paul Masse

In George Gershwin's short 38 years, he and his brother Ira created dozens of the most beloved songs of all time, forever changing the sensibilities of the writers who came after. In this same way, he was influenced by 20th century classical composers like Debussy and Ravel. Distilling his symphonic grandeur, the sounds of 1920s Harlem, and the style of Tin Pan Alley into new virtuoso arrangements for two pianos, joined by a cast of versatile performers, we explore this evolution from classical to opera to jazz and beyond.

April 18, 19, 20

STEPHEN SCHWARTZ AND BROADWAY'S NEXT GENERATION

Stephen Schwartz, Featured Lyricist and Composer

With Special Guests Marcy Heisler & Zina Goldrich, John Bucchino, Khiyon Hursey

Wicked ... Godspell ... Pippin ... To appreciate the songwriting brilliance of lyricist and composer Stephen Schwartz, one need only look up at some of Broadway's most iconic marquees. The Tony, Oscar and Grammy Award winner joins us for a celebration of his illustrious career through his songs and anthems, sharing the stage with some of the brilliant young talents he has championed through the ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop and sharing why he is so invested in nurturing the next generation of musical theater lyricists, composers and librettists.

May 30, 31 and June 1

THE ABBOTT TOUCH: GEORGE ABBOTT AND THE MAKING OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL

David Loud, Artistic Director, Writer, Arranger & Host

Noah Racey, Director

George Abbott was one of the last of the theater impresarios who served as both director and producer. His creative touch on stage and off and his incredibly prolific output during the 1940s and 50s resulted in Broadway hit after Broadway hit. It also led to a collaborative partnership with a promising young protégé-Hal Prince-giving us back-to-back Tony Award-winning smashes in The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees. Lyrics & Lyricists favorite David Loud takes us through the legacy of this Broadway giant and shares the inside stories of the golden age.

Jerry Herman: You I Like

Featuring

Quentin Earl Darrington ● Cady Huffman ● Bryonha Marie Parham ● Andrea Ross ● Ryan Vona

Conceived and Music Directed by Andy Einhorn

Cady Huffman, Director

Andy Einhorn, piano and conductor

Chad Smith, woodwinds

Jeremy Miloszewicz, trumpet

Scott Kuney, guitar

Mark Vanderpoel, bass

Perry Cavari, drums

Saturday, February 22, 8 pm

Sunday, February 23, 2 pm and 7 pm

Monday, February 24, 2 pm and 7:30 pm

Tickets from $45 (35 & Under tickets, $30)

92Y.org/Lyrics

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos

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