IMPROVISATIONS
“One of these guys is the best improviser in the world. And the other one is better.” - Stephen Colbert
TJ & DAVE
With special guest Ike Reilly Presented by Barrow Street Productions FRI, MARCH 10 at 8PM
THU, MARCH 23 at 8PM AND THEN YO LA TENGO TURNED ITSELF INSIDE OUT Yo LA TEngo & EnsEMbLE
VISIT THETOWNHALL.ORG AND SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST.
Featuring Chad Taylor, Amy Garapic, Zeena Parkins, Mary Halvorson, Terry Adams, Vincent Chancey, Roswell Rudd, Daniel Carter and Taylor Ho Bynum
Co-presented by (Le) Poisson Rouge
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS
Welcome to The Town Hall and thank you for joining us this evening!
You may only know Town Hall as a legendary concert hall, but you might not know that we were founded, in 1921, by a group of women suffragists under the auspices of the League for Political Education. They created Town Hall to be a place where everyone was welcome. Regardless of race, gender, religion, or political learnings, Town Hall became a place where all sides of an issue are heard and discussed, a place where freedom of expression is embraced and honored.
Our Spring Series reflects our founders’ aims – freedom of expression - from music, to dance, to film and literature, to spoken-word and lectures. And as we launch our Spring Series, we are proud to continue to offer programming that is a reflection of the cultural and ethnic diversity that defines New York City.
Our Spring Season includes Gods & Savages, a literary series in partnership with Strand Books; Improvisations, an improv series that partners artists from all genres for exceptional performances never seen or heard before; Shoots & Scores, a new series featuring special live scores to films, including Philip Glass’s masterful interpretive score of La Belle et La Bete, which begins with a conversation between Philip Glass and legendary filmmaker Errol Morris, presented in association with Tribeca on the second night of the Tribeca Film Festival; Global Icons, a series that brings artists from around the world to our stage; and of course our signature Broadway by the Year ® series. For more information on our season, please pick up a brochure in our box office.
In early February, with support from Con Edison and the Ford Foundation, we celebrated Black History Month with 4,500 public school students and the dance collaborative, Black Iris Project. For many of the students, it is their first opportunity to visit a major concert hall, something they will always remember. And this year we are partnering with concert pianist Mona Golabek to bring students to Town Hall on Holocaust Remembrance Day for a free live concert. The concert will be preceded by a reading of Golabek’s book The Children of Willesden Lane, and followed by art-making and appreciation workshops, in which students will have an opportunity to creatively express themselves. Our unique program will reach more than 6,000 students.
On the evening of April 25th, Ms. Golabek will perform a benefit to support the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the International Rescue Committee, and Town Hall. For information on how you can support these programs or attend the benefit concert, please visit us at thetownhall.org
We hope you enjoy tonight’s performance, and that you will be back again soon!
Tom Wirtshafter Marvin Leffler President, Town Hall President Emeritus
Siegel
lARRY ZUcKeR, Executive Director
M.A. PAPPeR, Artistic Director
ciNDY BYRAM, Publicity
Bill DeHliNg, Technical director
RicHARD looNeY, house Manager
Steve FRANqUi, chief engineer
HeleN MoRRiS, director of administration, subscriptions & Membership
leiA-lee
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The critically acclaimed series has blossomed from an idea to what Show Business Weekly deems, “…an invaluable and entertaining jewel in the cabaret crown of New York.” Ticket sales have soared and stellar reviews have included The New York Times, which calls it, “Witty, breezily paced. . .informative. . .valuable. . .the right perspective of lighthearted nostalgia...”
Author/Critic Scott Siegel created the series for Town Hall, which he writes and hosts. Siegel takes audiences of all ages on a musical tour of the Great White Way, offering an entertaining verbal account of Broadway’s history. Each evening celebrates the songs from Broadway shows of a selected year, sung by a cast of talented cabaret and Broadway performers. This marvelous program not only highlights favorite show-stopping numbers, it also features lesser-known gems.
Past performances featured stars like Alice Ripley, Liz Callaway, Tom Wopat, Brian D’arcey James, Chuck Cooper, Heather MacRae, Davis Gaines, Sally Mayes, Bryan Batt, Chip Zien, Sharon McNight, Mark Coffin, and Christina Bianco with musical direction by Ross Paterson.
SCOTT SIEGEL
SCOTT SIEGEL has created more than 300 major concerts that have been performed all over the world. He has written/produced/directed concerts for Michael Feinstein, created scores of nightclub acts that have played at major clubs around the globe, but is, perhaps, best known as the creator/ writer/director/host of Town Hall’s signature series, Broadway by the Year, which is currently celebrating its 17th critically acclaimed season. At Town Hall he has also created Broadway Unplugged , which will take place for its 15th year in a row on Monday, May 1 at 8 PM. For more information about all of Scott’s show, please visit Scott’s website at www.SiegelPresents.com
CAROLEE CARMELLO has appeared in 14 Broadway shows: the original Broadway casts of Tuck Everlasting , Finding Neverland , City of Angels , Falsettos , Parade (Tony nomination & Drama Desk Award), Lestat (Tony nomination & Drama Desk nomination), The Addams Family (Drama Desk nomination & Outer Critics Circle nomination), and Scandalous (Tony nomination & Drama Desk nomination). Broadway audiences also saw her in 1776, The Scarlet Pimpernel , Kiss Me Kate , Urinetown , Sister Act , and Mamma Mia! . Off-Broadway credits include: john and jen , Das Barbecü , I Can Get It For You Wholesale , Hello Again (Obie Award), A Class Act , The Vagina Monologues , and Elegies Ms. Carmello has appeared on television in Madam Secretary , Smash , Law and Order: SVU , Frasier , Ed , and Remember W.E.N.N . (SAG Award nomination). Her concert appearances have taken her across America and Europe, including engagements at Lincoln Center, Town Hall, and Carnegie Hall. Carolee will soon be seen as “Mrs. Lovett” in Sweeney Todd at The Barrow Street Theatre.
ROBERT CUCCIOLI
ROBERT CUCCIOLI will be performing in White Guy on the Bus , by Bruce Graham at 59E59 Theatres as of March 5, through April 16. After which, Robert will be directing The Merchant of Venice at the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ. Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde (Tony nomination, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award, FANY Award and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award) , Les Miserables, Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark Off-Broadway: Rothschild and Sons, Temporary Help , Enter the Guardsman , And the World Goes Round (1991 Outer Critics Circle Award), Jacques Brel , Bikeman , Snow Orchid . Regional: The Guthrie, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ & DC, McCarter, George Street Playhouse, Television: Elementary , White Collar , Sliders , Baywatch , Guiding Light . Film: Impossible Monsters, Celebrity , The Stranger . Original Cast Recordings of Jekyll & Hyde , And The World Goes ‘Round , Jacques Brel , Rothschild and Sons , debut solo album The Look Of Love . www.robertcuccioli.com.
CAROLEE CARMELLO
D ANN y G ARDNER
D ANNY G ARDNER : Dames At Sea (Broadway), Lady, Be Good! (Encores!, Album), The NY Spectacular starring the Rockettes (Radio City Music Hall). He has performed with symphonies nation-wide in Here to Stay – The Gershwin Experience! and toured with the Broadway productions of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and 42nd Street . He is a company member of the physical comedy troupe “Parallel Exit” which he has created and performed with in New York City at 59E59 Street Theatres, The New Victory Theater, Lincoln Center Institute and abroad in “The Festival of Dreams” in Innsbruck, Austria and in “The Cos Festival” in Rennes, Spain. His choreography has been seen on video installations in Chicago and Washington DC. (Niles Creative Group) as well as the Lincoln Center Dance on Camera Festival (A Tap Dance in a Circle). He has often performed at Town Hall in Broadway by the Year . See more at www.dannyjgardner.com
BETH MALONE
B ETH M ALONE originated the leading role of Alison in the Broadway’s Fun Home which earned her a Tony nomination. Other Broadway credits include: Ring of Fire Off-B’way: Bingo , Fun Home , T he Marvelous Wonderettes . Regional: The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Denver Center), Sister Act (Alliance Theatre), Annie Get Your Gun (CMT). TV: Claudia on CBS’s BrainDead , The Good Wife , Reno 911! , Judging Amy , What’s On? , One Minute Soaps . Film: soon to be released, The Comedian w/Robert DeNiro, and Hick w/Eddie Redmayne.
W ILLIAM MICHALS
WILLIAM MICHALS: Broadway: Emile in South Pacific (Lincoln Center Theater); The Beast, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast . US premier cast of Hunchback of Notre Dame Title roles: Man of La Mancha , Sweeney Todd , Most Happy Fella , The Music Man , Phantom . Also: Les Miserables ( Javert), Chicago ( Billy Flynn), Kiss Me, Kate! ( Fred/Petruchio ), The Sound of Music ( Captain von Trapp), Camelot (Lancelot), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Chauvelin). Operatic favorites: Carmen (Escamillo) , Le nozze di Figaro (Figaro), Die Zauberflute (Papageno). Regular appearances with the leading symphonies of New York, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, Colorado, San Francisco, Maui, Taipei, Hong Kong – and everywhere in between! Multiple Major League sporting events. TV: Law and Order , All My Children , Guiding Light Michals played the great theatrical and concert venues of the nation, including Carnegie Hall, The Town Hall The Palace, LA’s Ahmanson, and D.C.’s Kennedy Center, The Rainbow Room, Feinstein’s, The Four Seasons, and Feinsein’s/54 Below. www.WilliamMichals.com
J ILL PAICE
JILL PAICE: Broadway: An American in Paris (Milo Davenport), Matilda (Miss Honey), The 39 Steps (Annabella, Pamela, Margaret), Curtains (Niki Harris) and The Woman in White (Laura). West End: Gone with the Wind (Scarlett), The Woman in White (Laura). Other Fun Stuff: Death Takes a Holiday (Grazia, Roundabout), Company (Susan, Avery Fisher Hall), Titanic (Caroline, Avery Fisher Hall), Tokio Confidential (Isabella, Atlantic Theater Company), Where’s Charley (Kitty, Encores), Chess (Florence, Signature Theater), Lend Me a Tenor (Maggie, Papermill), A Comedy of Tenors (Mimi), A Little Night Music (Anne, Roundabout), Mamma Mia (Sophie, Vegas), Les Miserables (national tour). TV: Elementary , White Collar , Person of Interest , Unforgettable , Beautiful Life . Graduate of Baldwin Wallace University.
M ARy TESTA
MARY TESTA: Two Tony nominations, two Lucille Lortel nominations, five Drama Desk nominations, two Drama League nominations, an Obie Award, and a special Drama Desk award celebrating ‘Three Decades of Outstanding Work.’ Broadway: Wicked , Guys and Dolls , Xanadu , Chicago , 42nd St , Marie Christine , On the Town , …Forum , The Rink Off-Broadway: Orange Julius , First Daughter Suite , Caucasian Chalk Circle , Queen of the Mist , Love Loss.. , Regrets Only , See What I Wanna See , First Lady Suite , A New Brain , Tartuffe , On the Town . Much film and television. Twelve original cast albums. Mary’s album with Michael Starobin, Have Faith , is available now (Sh-K Boom, iTunes, Amazon).
2017
CREATED WRITTEN DIRECTED AND HOSTED BY Scott Siegel
MONDAY FEBRUARY 27 • 8PM
The Broadway Musicals of the 1920’s
FEATURING MUSIC BY THE GERSHWINS , IRVING BERLIN , COLE PORTER , RODGERS & HART , AND MORE!
MONDAY MARCH 27 • 8P M
The Broadway Musicals of the 1940’s
FEATURING MUSIC BY RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN , COLE PORTER , KURT WEILL , AND MORE!
MONDAY MAY 22 • 8P M
The Broadway Musicals of 1997-2006
FEATURING THE MUSIC OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM , AHRENS & FLAHERTY , ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER , STEPHEN SCHWARTZ , AND MORE!
MONDAY JUNE 19 • 8PM
The Broadway Musicals of 2007-2016
FEATURING THE MUSIC OF LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA , AMANDA GREEN , CYNDI LAUPER , SARAH BAREILLES , AND MORE!
MONDAY JULY 10 • 8PM
Broadway’s Rising Stars
CREATED AND HOSTED BY SCOTT SIEGEL DIRECTED BY SCOTT COULTER
SUSTAINING MEMBERS
Anonymous Donor*
Mr. & Mrs. Louis R. Aidala*
Robert Altschuler*
Sofia Annunziata
Jody & John Arnhold**
Phyllis Putter Barasch**
Howard Berman**
Nancy & Evan Berman*
Susan Bershad, MD**
Jane Eisner Bram*
Pat Brown & Steven Rifkind*
Ralph Buultjens**
Alexander Callender**
Marcy & Leona Chanin Fdtn.**
Gloria & Irwin Cohen*
Judith & Michael Cohn**
Shaun Denkensohn*
Betty Ellerin*
Robert E. Evanson**
Scott Evenbeck*
Hazel & Russel Fershleiser*
Eugene J.T. Flanagan**
Carol Foti
Dr. Charlotte Frank & Marvin Leffler**
Matthew Frank**
Michael & Anne Frank-Shapiro*
Adrienne Frosch*
David Fuchs*
Carmen Gaito
Yvette Geary & Robert Astrowsky*
Carol & Arthur Goldberg**
Eileen Goldblatt
Goldfarb & Fleece*
Dori Fromer & Harley Frank*
*$500-999 **$1,000 +
Michele Gerstel
Barbara Gottlieb*
Patricia Green**
Susan & Neil Greenberg**
Agnes Gund**
Fran & Richard Habab*
Jill Handelsman Foundation*
Dina Merrill & Ted Hartley*
Elizabeth & Dale Hemmerdinger**
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald E. Hoffman*
Sandy & Alfred Horowitz*
Cathy Hull & Neil Janovic*
Fern Hurst**
Dr. Elizabeth Iannizzi**
The IV Fund**
Henry Johansson*
Robert M. Kaufman*
Elbrun Kimmelman**
Eric Krasnoff*
Paul Kronish*
John Kuehn
Theodore C. Lambert*
Jacqueline & Bruce Leffler**
Daniel Lewis**
Jay Lewis**
Paul Libin**
Local One, IATSE*
Arthur L. Loeb*
Colleen Lynch
Richard Maidman**
Carol Marks & Tom Wirtshafter**
Karl Marquardt
Pamela Milam*
Paul Z. Miles**
Andrew Miltenberg*
Isaac Mizrahi*
Alfred L. Morse & Annette S. Morse
Fdtn.*
Nobuko Narita*
Warren Nicholson*
Dorinda J. Oliver**
Betsy & Stanley Parman**
Doris & Martin Payson*
Catherine Randolph*
Robert Rene*
Kenneth Rock & Roberta Glenn*
Rita Robbins**
Kathleen Rosenberg**
Zita Rosenthal*
Rhoda Rothkopf*
Robert Safron**
Roberta Schechter*
Roberta Schleicher*
Howard Schliff
Linda Senat*
Brian T. Shea**
Susan & Victor Shedlin**
Melanie Shorin**
Connie Silver*
Clarissa Singer*
Robie Spector*
Paige & Nevin Steinberg**
Judy & Michael Steinhardt Foundation**
Ruth Unger**
Nancy Whitson-Rubin
Christine Williams
Robert F. Wright**
Zegar Family Foundation*
Susan Zohn**
MAJOR GIFTS, CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with The City Council. We would like to thank the following foundations, corporations, and government institutions for their support:
Achelis and Bodman Foundation
The Actors Fund
Affiliated Advisors
Bank of America
Bruce Weber and Nan Bush Foundation
Charina Endowment Fund
Cohn Foundation
Consolidated Edison Company of New York
Jean and Louis Dreyfus Foundation
Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation
Ernst & Young
Robert Evanson
Ford Foundation
Dr. Charlotte K. Frank
Garber Atlas Fries & Associates
Anne and Gordon Getty Foundation
New York City Council Member, Daniel Garodnick
John Gore/Key Brand Entertainment
William T. Grant Foundation
Harkness Foundation for Dance
The Hearst Foundations, Inc.
Hurst Foundation
Hyde and Watson Foundation
Israel Consulate
Jewish Communal Fund
JP Morgan Chase
Jujamcyn Theaters
Edythe Kenner Foundation
Lewis QVC Trust
Local One
S&P Global
Mex-Am Cultural Foundation
Morgan Stanley
Nash Family Foundation
Nederlander Organization
Nelson Foundation
Nesenoff & Miltenberg, LLP
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council
New York State Council on the Arts
Henry Nias Foundation
Pinkerton Foundation
PwC
Reed Foundation
Pamela and Richard Rubinstein Foundation
Rudin Foundation
Shubert Foundation
The Shubert Organization, Inc.
John Ben Snow Memorial Trust
Theatre Refreshments
Ticketmaster
Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
Joyce and George Wein Foundation, Inc.
Wenner Foundation
West New York Restoration Project
Zegar Family Foundation
Susan Zohn
John Ben Snow Memorial Trust
Theatre Refreshments
Ticketmaster
Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
Joyce and George Wein Foundation, Inc.
Wenner Foundation
West New York Restoration Project
Zegar Family Foundation
Susan Zohn
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.
Learn more. Visit thetownhall.org/tours
THE TOWN HALL FOUNDATION
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 Educational 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.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
President
Tom M. Wirtshafter
Vice President
Alfred H. Horowitz
Vice President
Bruce S. Leffler
TRUSTEES
Phyllis Putter Barasch
Robert E. Evanson
Anne Frank-Shapiro
Alfred H. Horowitz
Henry Johansson
Ted Lambert
Bruce S. Leffler
Marvin Leffler
Walter Melvin
Andrew T. Miltenberg
Honorable Milton Mollen
Rita Robbins
Nevin Steinberg
Tom Wirtshafter
Susan Zohn
LIFE TRUSTEES
Leona Chanin
Eugene J.T. Flanagan
Claire G. Miller
Robert F. Wright
THE TOWN HALL STAFF
Executive Director
Lawrence C. Zucker
Artistic Director
M.A. Papper
Director of Administration,
Subscriptions & Membership
Helen Morris
Director of Development
Kathleen Germann
Arts Education Program Director
Emma Klauber
Digital Media Manager
Maya Shanker
Treasurer
Andrew T. Miltenberg
Secretary
Phyllis Putter Barasch
President Emeritus
Marvin Leffler
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Kathleen Rosenberg, Chair
Nancy Berman
Shauna Denkensohn
Sandy Horowitz
Fern Hurst
Elizabeth Iannizzi
Claire Miller
Zita Rosenthal
Rhoda Rothkopf
ARTS IN EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
Dr. Charlotte K. Frank, Chair
Michael Fram
Dr. Sharon Dunn
Gary Hecht
Ernest Logan
Dr. Lisa Mars
Dr. Eloise Messineo
Dr. Pola Rosen
Leona Shapiro
Manuel Urena
George Young
WARNING
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.
FIRE NOTICE
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.
-FIRE COMMISSIONER
DIRECTORY OF THEATRE SERVICES
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
Administrative Assistant
Sara Minisquero
Administrative Assistant
Britni Montalbano
Chief Engineer
Steve Franqui
Box Office Manager
Angel Rodriguez
House Manager
Richard Looney
Technical Director
Bill Dehling
Design
Leia-lee Doran
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
