The long-running Lyrics and Lyricists™ series at 92Y begins on Saturday, March 25 with a program that highlights African-American contributions to the American Songbook. Playing also on Sunday March 26 and Monday, March 27, What’s Going On—Songs of Social Change, features a cast that includes Motown: The Musical alumni Charl Brown, Valisia LeKae and Ryan Shaw, Hairspray’s Naturi Naughton, The Color Purple’s Patrice Covington, Tina’s Daniel J. Watts and #1 charting blues artist Eric B. Turner. Songs include Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddamn,” Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s in Need of Love” and Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit.”
The Lyrics and Lyricists™ season continues with the following:
JUDY ON TV!: CELEBRATING THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW
Conceived, written, hosted, and music directed by Billy Stritch; starring Klea Blackhurst, Aisha de Haas, Gabrielle Stravelli and Max Von Essen
Sat, May 6, 7:30 pm
Sun, May 7, 2 pm
Mon, May 8, 7:30 pm
In this Judy Garland centennial year, we look at Garland’s iconic talent through the lens of her landmark 1963-64 weekly television broadcasts. Award-winning entertainer and music director Billy Stritch leads this Lyrics & Lyricists tribute, joined by a cast of his nightclub and theater friends Klea Blackhurst, Aisha de Haas, Gabrielle Stravelli and Max Von Essen. They reimagine the solos and classic duets with Lena Horne, Mel Tormé and others in songs by Gershwin, Arlen, Porter and more.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: JESSICA VOSK SINGS THE SONGWRITERS OF LAUREL CANYON
Fri, Jun 2, 7:30 pm
Sun, Jun 4, 2 pm
Mon, Jun 5, 7:30 pm
Broadway’s Jessica Vosk brings her love of the California songwriters of the 1960s and ‘70s to the stage, celebrating writers including Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, David Crosby, John Phillips and The Mamas & the Papas, the Eagles’ Don Henley and Glenn Frey, and others who created the West Coast pop sound that defined an era. In a show created with music director Mary-Mitchell Campbell and director James Darrah, who collaborated with Vosk on the Great Performances production “The Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood,” the singer takes us inside the intimate California community that launched a thousand hits and ignited new directions in songwriting.
For more information and tickets, visit www.92ny.org
92Y is located at 1395 Lexington Ave, NYC
