The 92nd Street YM-YWHA (Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street) in New York City offers a lot more than fitness classes. The public can enjoy exclusive concerts, lectures and readings. Here are some of the theatre notables scheduled to make appearances at the "Y" this coming season:
Oct. 13: Reading from his collected poetic works will be Richard Wilbur, former Poet Laureate and renowned translator of Moliere's comedies.
Nov. 2: A special, pre-election night of Political Humor, featuring the Chicago City Limits sketch/improv troupe, alongside other satirists. Nov. 17: Four-time Tony winner Tommy Tune (Nine) chats with playwright Wendy Wasserstein (The Sisters Rosensweig, An American Daughter).
Nov. 18: Linda Lavin (Death Defying Acts) hosts a look at the Jewish influence on American popular music.
Jan. 5, 1998: A reading by John Guare, author of (Marco Polo Sings A Solo and The House Of Blue Leaves). March 9, 1998: Novelist E.L. Doctorow, director Frank Galati, and composers Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens discuss how Ragtime was transformed into a musical.
March 15, 1998: As part of the Y's "Funny People" series, playwright/librettist Larry Gelbart will chat with comedienne Joy Behar. Gelbart's credits include A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum and City Of Angels.
April 6, 1998: Readings from the works of Federico Garcia Lorca (Yerma, Blood Wedding) to celebrate what would have been the playwright's 100th year.
April 13, 1998: Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka (Death And The King's Horseman) will read from his work.
Also on tap for the Y season is the Lyrics & Lyricists series, run by artistic director Maurice Levine. Tickets and subscriptions ($165-$180) for the series go onsale Sept. 2. Here's the line-up:
Jan. 10-12, 1998: The Songs Of Irving Berlin Revisited.
Feb. 14-16, 1998: The Songs Of The Gershwins Revisited.
March 21-23, 1998: The Songs Of Cole Porter Revisited.
May 2-4, 1998: The Songs Of Richard Rodgers Revisited.
June 13-15, 1998: The Songs Of Jerome Kern Revisited.
Set for the Cabaret In Concert series are the Jenny Burton Experience (Oct. 4), Lilianne Montevecchi (Nov. 8), Steve Ross (Feb. 21, 1998) a tribute to Henry Mancini (May 9, 1998) and an evening devoted to female composers and lyricists (June 27, 1998).
For information on events at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA, located at 1395 Lexington Ave., call (212) 996-1100.
--By David Lefkowitz
