Presented Jan. 21-March 28, 2015, offerings from the worlds of Broadway, jazz, latin, hip-hop and folk music will take place in the Appel Room (formerly the Allen Room) and the Kaplan Penthouse.
In addition, concerts from Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis (Porgy and Bess, Side Show) and Tony Award winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots) will be filmed for broadcast on PBS' "Live From Lincoln Center" in spring 2015.
American Songbook 2015 programming highlights follow:
Billy Porter (Jan. 28, 2015, at 7:30 and 9:30 PM). "His latest solo CD, 'Billy's Back on Broadway,' brings his prodigious talents to the great American songbook."
Norm Lewis: Who Am I? (Jan. 29 at 7:30 and 9:30 PM). After premiering his concert at American Songbook in 2014, Lewis returns for two encore performances. John C. Reilly & Friends (Jan. 30 at 8:30 PM). Academy Award-nominated "Chicago" actor Reilly will be joined by neo-folk singer Becky Stark and guitarist/singer Tom Brosseau for the evening of original music.
Reich and Sondheim: In Conversation and Performance (Jan. 31 at 8:30 PM). Featuring Paul Gemignani, George Lee Andrews, Kate Baldwin, Michael Cerveris, Ensemble Signal, Alexander Gemignani and Derek Johnson. "Two giants of American music – Steve Reich and Stephen Sondheim – will appear together on stage for the first time to discuss how they have been influenced by each other’s work as well as the admiration and respect they share." The composers will be in a conversation moderated by John Schaefer of WNYC.
Judy Kuhn Sings Richard Rodgers/Mary Rodgers/Adam Guettel (Feb. 4 at 8:30 PM). Most recently in Kander & Ebb's The Visit and Fun Home Off-Broadway, "Kuhn will perform an evening of the music of Richard Rodgers' musical dynasty."
Lea DeLaria (Feb. 5 at 8:30 PM). "DeLaria’s jazz, alternating between powerful and subtle, focuses on be-bop and swing, and her five records out on the Warner Jazz and Classics label feature unique interpretations of standards, Broadway classics and Top 40."
Megan Hilty (Feb. 6 at 8:30 PM). The star of "Smash," Wicked, 9 to 5 and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes will perform songs from the stage and her solo album "All the Time."
Joey Arias: A Centennial Tribute to Billie Holiday (Feb. 25 8:30 PM). Performance artist and gender-bending chanteuse, Joey Arias - known for the celebrated production of Arias with a Twist, returns in an evening celebrating the music of the late jazz icon.
Barbara Cook (Feb. 28 at 8:30 PM). The recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 2011, Cook has also won the Tony, Grammy, Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards. The star of The Music Man, Candide and She Loves Me will offer an evening of song and story.
American Songbook in the Penthouse highlights include:
In Need of Music: The Songs of Ben Toth (March 11 at 8 PM). Featuring Cheyenne Jackson, Lindsay Mendez, Alexandra Silber, Darius De Haas and more. "This intimate showcase will be an evening of premieres: Marriage and Out West, created with Pulitzer Prize and Oscar-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley; a song cycle developed with Tony Award-winning lyricist Michael Korie; and works from Mr. Toth's in-development musical with Todd Almond."
Jose Llana (March 12 at 8 PM). The star of Here Lies Love, who has also been seen in Flower Drum Song, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The King & I, will take the stage for an evening of song.
Shaina Taub (March 25 at 8 PM). Singer-songwriter-actor Shaina Taub, seen Off-Broadway in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, is also the recipient of the Jonathan Larson Grant. She will offer a concert of her original music.
Allison Williams (March 27 and 28 at 8 PM). The star of "Girls" and NBC's upcoming presentation of "Peter Pan Live!," will make her New York solo concert debut in an evening that will offer "a selection of her favorite songs to tell her life story thus far."
American Songbook will again invite members of the public to vote on an artist to give the opening American Songbook concert in the David Rubenstein Atrium on Jan. 21. Three performers have been nominated by American Songbook curators, these three are then voted for via social media, primarily through a Facebook tab on the American Songbook Facebook page. The three artists selected for the program this year are chamber pop group Owel, singer-composer Grace McLean, and Americana stars The David Mayfield Parade. Voting starts on Oct. 29, and the selection of the winner will be announced on Dec. 12. The two runner-up artists will perform in the David Rubenstein Atrium in the spring or early summer of 2015.
For tickets, visit AmericanSongbook.org or phone (212) 721-6500.
