Stephane Wrembel, Music Director/Guitar
Angelo Debarre, Guitar
Serge Camps, Guitar
Franck Anastasio, Guitar
Ari Folman-Cohen, Bass
Josh Kaye, Guitar
Nick Driscoll, Woodwinds
Nick Anderson, Drums
Hugo Guezbar, Guitar
Adrien Marco, Guitar
Aurore Voilqué, Violinist/Vocalist
Jean-Michel Pilc, Pianist
SATURDAY MAY 4, 2024
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023 • 8PM
Darlene Love - Vocals
Sam Appiah - Musical Director and Keyboard
Crispin Cioe - Tenor Saxophone
John Martin - Bari Saxophone and Trumpet
Mick Gaffney - Guitar
Gene Torres - Bass
Alex Phayme - Drums
Rosie Slater - Percussion
Kareem Matcham - Keyboard
Backup Singers: Milton Vann, Keesha Gumbs, Diamond White
Ted Lambert, Executive Director
Jeff Mann, Marketing Director
Alex Koveos, Sr. Digital Media Manager
Cindy Byram, Publicist
Melay Araya, Artistic Director
Gloria Lee, Programming Manager
Carl Acampora, Production Manager
Dennis Rakauckas, Graphic Designer
Called “one of the greatest singers of all time,” by Rolling Stone, Love’s “thunderbolt voice is as embedded in the history of rock and roll as Eric Clapton’s guitar or Bob Dylan’s lyrics,” according to The New York Times. After singing backup and un-credited lead for producer Phil Spector on hits such as “He’s a Rebel” and “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” Love recorded the track “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” a song written for the 1963 compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. A hit at the time and Love’s signature holiday song, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” was rediscovered by a new audience in 1986 when David Letterman invited her to sing it on his Late Night Christmas show. The response was such that it became a yearly tradition for Love and Letterman, who famously dubbed her “The Queen of Christmas.”
“When we recorded it, we had no idea it would be a song that people would play for over 60 years,” says Love, laughing. “I’ve never even dreamed of that. But it’s a great song. It’s something that had never been done before: It’s a great Christmas song and a rock ‘n roll Christmas song. So it was unusual — and here we are 60 years later.”
One of her backup singers in that recording was 17-year-old Cherilyn Sarkesian, whom Sonny Bono, who was then working for Spector, was dating and brought to the session. Cher would soon become a star on her own.
As if closing the circle, Cher decided to record her first holiday album earlier this year. Of course, she included “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” — and called on her old friend Darlene Love. “I wanted to make a Cher Christmas album,” she said in an interview. “So I called Darlene and said, ‘Darlene, I’m going to do the song, and I’m not going to do it without you.’ And she said, ‘No problem!’”
Love laughs as she recalls the conversation.
“We stayed in touch over the years,” she notes. “It hasn’t been like we haven’t seen each other in all these years. I went on tour with her as a backup singer on the Heart of Stone Tour in 1990. But it was amazing how this all happened. Cher is amazing. She’s probably one of the sweetest, dearest ladies you’ll ever know. And you would never know she’s very shy because, well, look, look at her on stage. She’s dynamite. And that’s what I loved about her. I’m humbled by the fact that she called me and wanted me. The song came out unbelievably well with us doing it together. I can’t wait for everybody to hear it.”
A much-in-demand backup singer who worked with artists such as Sam Cooke, Dionne Warwick, Frank Sinatra, The Ronettes, The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, and, of course, Sonny and Cher, Love went through challenging times as she tried to develop a solo career. As she raised a family in the 70s, she worked as a maid to make ends meet until she heard herself on the radio one afternoon. She remembers the moment vividly.
“I was cleaning a bathroom, and it was Christmas time, and my song “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” came on the radio, and I was shocked,” she recalls. “I heard it and went: ‘Wow, look at me. There’s nothing wrong with what I’m doing, but I think I can do something better. I was given a gift, and that gift has not gone anywhere. I feel I have it within me.’ That night, I told that lady I was quitting my job.”
At the time, nobody knew who she was because she was not using Darlene Love but her married name. “So this lady had no idea,” recalls Love with a chuckle. “When she found out that I was the lady that was cleaning her house, she called me. ‘Are you really Darlene Love? Couldn’t you sing
and then come back to us?’ And I told her: ‘I can’t do but one thing at a time, and I have to put all my energy into the path I’m going to take,’” and she laughs heartily.
By the mid-80s, she was acting in musical revues such as Leader of the Pack and Portrait of a Singer, both inspired by her life, and her singing was part of soundtracks of films including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Love Actually, and Jingle All the Way. Along with her career as a vocalist, she performed on Broadway and in film as an actor, including four Lethal Weapon movies. Love was featured in the documentary 20 Feet from Stardom (2013), which focused on the lives and work of backup singers. It won the Oscar for Best Documentary and a GRAMMY for Best Music Film.
Some music stars might sometimes feel like prisoners of their hits, having to perform them over and over, but that’s not the case for Love and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) “ — and for good reasons.
“Every time I sing that song, I find a new way to sing it,” she says. “I don’t change it up, but in my mind, I find another reason to make it beautiful and make it a great song. I never get tired of singing it. And I never really get tired of singing it because I only do it at Christmas time. I never do it any other time. My audience might clamor, scream, and holler for it. I tell them, “No, you have to come to my Christmas show. You haven’t got too much longer to wait.”
--- Fernando Gonzalez
We i nvi t e yo u t o s uppo r t the Hall a t a n y l evel , and e n j oy the exclusi ve bene fi ts of be coming a Tow n H all Me m be r.
Advance Ticket Access
Notification of Presale & Discounts for concerts and Events
Member Discounts at local restaurants
Access to PATRON CIRCLE SEATS
Reserved Seats to Town Hall Presents concerts and other select events ( with special pricing, when available )
Complimentary Tickets to select Town Hall Presents Shows & Events
Complimentary Tickets to Town Hall G ala
Special Invitations to Sound Check or Dress Rehearsal Seat Plaque in The Hall
Complimentary Advertisement in Town Hall G ala Journal
Invitations to an Artist Meet & Greet
fter a select Town Hall Presents Concert
All Members Receive Special Recognition in Town Hall Programs
The Town Hall’s mission is to provide affordable world-class entertainment by new and established artists to a diverse audience; to inspire the youth of our community to appreciate and participate in the arts at The Town Hall and in schools through our Education Outreach Program; and to preserve and enhance The Town Hall as a historic landmark venue for the enjoyment and cultural enrichment of generations to come.
PRESIDENT
Tom Wirtshafter
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Marvin Leffler
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Susan Zohn
GENERAL COUNSEL
Ellen Miller-Wachtel
TRUSTEES
Teniola Adedipe
Shauna Denkensohn
Anne Frank-Shapiro
Frederick Gabriel
Gita Gupte
John A. Jenkins
David F. McCarthy
Natalie Wexler
Rita Robbins
Madhu Southworth
Timothy Stambaugh
Nevin Steinberg
LIFE TRUSTEES
Phyllis Putter Barasch
Mary Dettling-Wright
Alfred H. Horowitz
Bruce S. Leffler
VICE PRESIDENT
Nevin Steinberg
TREASURER
David McCarthy
SECRETARY
Rita Robbins
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Kathleen Rosenberg, Chair
Nancy Berman
Sandy Horowitz
Elizabeth Iannizzi
Candace Leeds
Zita Rosenthal
Rhoda Rothkopf
ARTS IN EDUCATION
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Michael Fram, Co-Chair
Dr. Eloise Messineo, Co-Chair
Barbara Murray
Dr. Pola Rosen
George Young
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ted Lambert
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Melay Araya
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Jeff Mann
DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP, SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ADMINISTRATION
Helen Morris
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Donna Banks, PhD
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Taione Martinez
DIRECTOR OF BOOKING AND EVENTS
Paul Cameron Hardy
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Bill Dehling
SR. DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER
Alex Koveos
PROGRAMMING MANAGER
Gloria Lee
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Britni Montalbano
BOX OFFICE MANAGER
Angel Rodriguez
CHIEF ENGINEER
Steve Franqui
HOUSE MANAGER
Johnny Lee Green
The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording inside the theatre without the written permission of the management is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for monetary damages.
The exit indicated by a red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. In the event of fire or other emergency please do not run, WALK TO THAT EXIT. Thoughtless persons annoy patrons and endanger the safety of others by lighting matches or smoking in prohibited areas during the performances and intermissions. This violates a city ordinance and is punishable by law.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: 212.997.1003
Mon-Fri 9:30 am to 5 pm, for rental & membership info
BOX OFFICE: 212.840.2824
Mon-Sat 12 noon to 6pm. 24/7 Recording
TICKETMASTER: 800.982.2787 to charge tickets by phone.online Ticketmaster.com
LOST AND FOUND: 212.997.0113
CELL PHONE POLICY
Cell phones should be silenced prior to the performance as a courtesy to the performers and audience.
LOBBY REFRESHMENT BY Theatre Refreshment Company of NY
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Town Hall’s Education Outreach Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. The Centennial Concert Series is funded, in part, by Howard Gilman Foundation. We would like to thank the following foundations, corporations, and government institutions for their support:
American Portfolios
Bank of America
Bob Dylan Center
Broadhaven Capital Partners
Consolidated Edison Company of New York
The Durst Organization
The Hearst Foundations, Inc.
The Hyde & Watson Foundation
The IV Fund
Edythe Kenner Foundation
Gund Investment Corporation
National Endowment for the Arts
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
New York State Council on the Arts
Henry Nias Foundation
Howard Gilman Foundation
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul
New York City Mayor Eric L. Adams
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine
New York City Council Member Keith Powers
New York City Council Member Gale Brewer
New York City Council Member Julie Menin
New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse
New York City Council Member Kalman Yeger
NYC Dept. Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo
S&P Global
The Shubert Foundation
Ticketmaster
As of Sep 08, 2022
Town Hall has played an integral part in the electrifying cultural fabric of New York City for more than 90 years. A group of Suffragists’ fight for the 19th Amendment led them to build a meeting space to educate people on the important issues of the day. During its construction, the 19th Amendment was passed, and on January 12, 1921 The Town Hall opened its doors and took on a double meaning: as a symbol of the victory sought by its founders, and as a spark for a new, more optimistic climate. In 1921, German composer Richard Strauss performed a series of concerts that cemented the Hall’s reputation as an ideal venue for musical performances. Since, Town Hall has been home to countless musical milestones: The US debuts of Strauss, and Isaac Stern; Marian Anderson’s first New York recital; in 1945, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker introduced bebop to the world; Bob Dylan’s first major concert in ‘63; and much much more.
Producer’s Circle ($5,000+)
Shauna & Michael Denkensohn
Dr. Charlotte K. Frank & Marvin Leffler
Ellen Miller-Wachtel & Alan Wachtel, M.D.
Chip Murphy
Torbjoern G. Nygaard, MD & Lisa A. Mellman, MD
Brian & Patricia Shea
Beth & Tim Stambaugh
Paige Price & Nevin Steinberg
Carol Marks & Tom Wirtshafter
Jennifer Young, Christopher Young
Susan Zohn
Partner ($2,500)
Howard F. Berman
Mary Dettling-Wright
Agnes Gund
Dr. Elizabeth Iannizzi
John A. Jenkins & Susan Raleigh Jenkins, Esq.
Mahipal Rawat, Shweta Rawat
Sponsor ($2,000)
Judith Entes
Gita Gupte
Daniel Lewis
Rita Robbins
Lawrence Unger
Seat Holder ($1,000)
Mr. & Mrs. Louis Aidala
Nancy & Evan Berman
Ralph Buultjens
Robert E. Evanson
Hazel & Russel Fershleiser
Lisa Glassner & Matt Frank
Green Charitable Foundation
Fran & Richard Habib
Patty Laxton & Fred Kaufman
Kathleen Rosenberg
Rhoda Rothkopf
Susan & Victor Shedlin
Member ($500)
Anonymous (4)
Charlie & Bonnie Alter
Wanyong & Chris Austin
Jane Eisner Bram
Karen & Alexander Callender
Matthew Costabile
Daniel Donnelly
Hon. Betty W. Ellerin
Charlie Feldman
Bob & Rose Foulds
Michael & Anne Frank-Shapiro
Miriam & Paul Gold
Barbara J. Gottlieb
Jeff Gutterman
Priscilla H. Hoffman
Bruce Horten & Aaron Lieber
Adam Idleberg
Eric & Sandy Krasnoff
Jacqueline & Bruce Leffler
Karin & Marc Leffler
Judith C. Lovell
Julie & David F. McCarthy
Charles John O’Byrne
Shelly Packer
Zita Rosenthal
Dean Victoria Rosner
Kenny Schaeffer
Roberta Schechter
Roberta Schleicher
Jean Schmit
Leslie Gillian Senn
Natalie Wexler
Chester A. Whitlock
Matt Howard & Melissa Wohlgemuth
Friend ($250)
Anonymous (4)
Stephen Berman & Amy Foster
Todd M Cooper
Miriam Davidson
Lisa Dixon
Daniel Elias
Susan Finkel
Steven Frankel, Debbie Rudoy
Helena Grannis
David B Killalea
Lisa Kothari
Wojciech Kropiewnicki
Elaine Crowley & John Kuehn
Ellen & Martin Levine
Mark Lewin
Anthony Mason
Nancy & Andy Norton
David C. Olstein
David Page
Mike & Jo Proops
Gail Propp
Nicole Rechter
James Robbins
Mark K J Robinson
A. Jeffrey Rosen
Chris Rousseau
Carolyn M Salafia, MD
Corrente Schankler
Brandy Schillace
Lauren Simpson
Robert Strassler
Kenneth Topolsky
P. Wallach
William Waters
Greg Williamson
Supporters ($100)
Anonymous (70)
Wesley Abrameit
Barry Abramson
Michelle Achkar
Gail Alexander
Cynthia Allen
Rob Anderson
Eleanor Androulidakis
Gary Apple
Charles David Ard
Kennet Aymong
David A. Bader
Andrew Baldwin
Michelle Bandoain
Elan Barish
Natalie & Tim Barry
Peter Barsocchini
Jonathan & Barbara Baskin
Erin Beam
Michael Becker
Timothy Beebee
David Berger
James Bilsborrow
EM Blitzer
Bruce Bosso
Andrew Boyes
Raymond Bragar
Michael Brams
John Brett
Catherine Brienza
Ralph Brown
Alizah Brozgold
Jesse Brundige
Barbara Burger
John Burke
Elizabeth Wendell Butler
Ann & Eric Byne
Cynthia Byram
Colleen Cahill
James Callahan
Dr. George Callan
Lloyd & Darcy Campbell
Rose Case
Gabriel Chenard-Poirier
Elaine Chin
Kathleen Clark
Wendy Cohen
Elisa Cohen
Ashley Collins
Michelle Comparetti
Joel Confino
Ralph Contini, William Priest III
Gregory Courtright
The Covell-Ranheim Family
Andrea Cummis
Miranda Danusugondo
Jennifer Dauk
Mary J Davis/MBL Productions
Leslie De Jesus
Francisco de Leon
Susan & Rick Derrickson
Jenni Dickson
Robert Discolo
Dr. Peter & Debra Distler
Dr. Bob Drake
Elizabeth Durante
Robert Dwyer, Jr.
Jay Edelman
David Eiaenhardt
Thomas Ellenson
Lex & Helen Haris
Cristina Enriquez-Bocobo
Patrick Fay
Richard & Andrea Feinsilver
Danielle Ferry
Marc Fink
Geoffrey Flick
Frank Fontana
Katie Ford
Alyson Forde
Dr. Jonathan Foster
Robin Foster
James Joseph Fox, Esq
Lynda Fox Frazer
Abby Gilmore & Arthur Freierman
Susan & Michael Fromm
Christopher Gahl
Alexander Galanos, Orley Granot
Grant Gardner
Judith Mary Gee
Valerie A Gerardi
Michael Ghitelman
Dave Giffen
Barrie Gillies
Dr. Tamara Gillis
Alyse Ginsberg
Matthew Ginsburg
Florence Giordano
Tamara Glenny
Robert Goldberg
Stacy Goldfarb
Elizabeth Gray
Anne Green
Kathleen & James Grendell
Michael Grimaldi
Louise Guarneri
Edmond C. Haase III
The Haggerty Family
Elise Hanes
Peter Harrar
Ali Hart
Brad Hebel
Caroline Heller
Susan Hodges
Persephone Holman
Thomas Holt
George Hopkins
Robin Howald
Cheryl Humes
Bob & Kathy Iuliucci
Jennifer Jackson
Karen Jacobs & Mark Bradley
Jared Jaichon
Michael Jantzen
Jay Jantzer
Spike Jenkins
Mark Joy
Laura Kaminsky, Rebecca Allan
Alexandria Kansao
Rebecca & James Katz
Kristina Kinet
Steffie Kirschner
William Klayer
Riley Knippling
Little Johnny Koerber
Jeff D Kopelman MD
Elizabeth S. Lasdon
Timothy & Mary Lee
Jamie Levey
Debra Levin
Steve Levitan
Neal Levy
Smadar Levy
Stephanie Liang
Susan Lish
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick K. Long
Thomas Lookstein
Deborah Lyons
Cornelia Macfadyen
Sher Madigan, Richard Madigan
Steven & Patricia Madsen
Anne Maltz
Michelle & Dan Mannix
Atea Martin & Allen Honigman
Michael Matishek
Kyle Mauch, Faby Balcazar Suarez
Dr. Lesly A. McAnelly
Dr. Eileen McInerney
Mary Mears
Catherine Menichino
Sara Lynn Michener
Sachyn Mital
Keon Moghaddam
Lisa & Mark Montifiore
Miranda Morrison
Denis Morton
Richard J Moylan
Mathew Neiger
Rick Nelson
Melanie Nelson
James B Nish
Hope Nitsche
Jeffrey Norwalk
Susan Nussbaum
Allison & Edward O’Keefe
Stewart Otley
Edwin Pelto
Donna Pepe
Steven Perlstein
Rick Picardo
Julie Pitman
Andrew & Kelly Pontano
Scott Porter
Kaitlin Powell
The Powers-Brisiel Family
Adrienne Prasso
Michael Price
Philip Pucciarelli
The Rackow Family
Roslyn Richter
Veronica Richter
David Rimmer
Lee Ringelheim
Moldowan-Risch Family
Shelley Risk
Phoebe Robinson
William Rollo
Kristin Romano
Vicki Roosevelt & Rob Jorgensen
Joanne & David Rosen
Amy Roth
David Roth, Annette Bond Roth
Ronald Rotter
Reva Rubin
Brian Rubin-Sowers
Jenna Ryall
Alan Sacks
David Sacks
Shira & Marc Safran
Faith Salie
James Sall
Maureen Salter
Gina Sarno
Maria & Rob Schafer
Adam Schanke
Keith Schneider
Peter Schneider
Cindy & Rich Schulz
Marilyn & Michael Schwartz
Charles Schwartz
Anastasia Mann, Eldar Shafir
Kathleen Shelton
Stefan Sherman
James Siokos
Andrew & Sabina Soloway
Kevin J Spencer
Jason Spiro
A Stein
Michael Steiner
Adam Stepansky
Toby Wiser-Stern & Hal Stern
Sarah Sulkowski
Dr. Steven Sussman
Diane Sweeney
Erin Sweeney
Victoria Sweet
Barbara Takenaga
Martin Tandler
Bruce & Stephanie Temple
Tanya Thonre
Linda Tsang
Betsy Vogel
Ellen Wachtel
Robin Wagge
Sophia Waitword
Allison Warenik-Queenan
Kirsten Wargo
Cory Weiss
Iris Wertheim
Adam Wiener
Richard F Williams
Stanley Wine, Lillian Tang
Dustin Wright
Alan Yacavone
David Yaffe
Robert Zangrando
Bank of America recognizes The Town Hall for its success in bringing the arts to performers and audiences throughout the community e commend you on creating an opportunity for all to enjoy and share a cultural experience. Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about.
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