American Songbook to Feature Rivera, Uggams, Plimpton, Tesori, Faithfull and More

By Adam Hetrick
27 Oct 2009

Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera
Photo by Stephen Sorokoff

Tony Award winners Chita Rivera and Leslie Uggams, as well as Tony nominees Martha Plimpton, Jeanine Tesori and singer-songwriter Nellie McKay are on the bill for Lincoln Center's 2010 American Songbook Series at the Allen Room.

Music legend Marianne Faithfull, currently on tour with "Easy Come, Easy Go," will open the season at the Allen Room at 8:30 PM on Jan. 13, 2010. Broadway's Rebecca Luker will perform in concert Jan. 14, 2010 at 8:30 PM.

David Hidalgo and Louie Perez of Los Lobos will offer An Evening of Storytelling and Songs Jan. 15, 2010.

Three-time Tony nominee Martha Plimpton, who proved her musical mettle in the recent revival of Pal Joey, takes the stage in A Woman of Color Jan. 16, 2010 at 8:30 and 10:30 PM.

Music producer Hal Willner will present I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues? on Jan. 27, 2010 at 8:30 PM. The evening promises music and readings from "A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs" featuring Rufus Wainwright, Bill Frisell, Van Dyke Parks, Marc Anthony Thompson, Roy Nathanson and Steven Bernstein.

Suzanne Vega will appear in concert Jan. 28, 2010 at 8:30 PM, followed by St. Vincent on Jan. 29, 2010 at 8:30 PM.

The Civilians' songwriter Michael Friedman, who will be represented at the Public Theater with Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson this season, will offer an evening of his music entitled Adventures in Reality, featuring the talents of Norm Lewis, Michael Esper and de’Adre Aziza on Jan. 30, 2010 at 8:30 PM.

Jazz artist Dee Dee Bridgewater is set to perform To Billie with Love - A Celebration of Lady Day on Feb. 17, 2010 at 8:30 PM.

Singer-songwriter Nellie McKay, who appeared in the Roundabout revival of Threepenny Opera, will present Normal as Blueberry Pie – A Tribute to Doris Day on Feb. 18, 2010 at 8:30 PM. The Brooklyn-based Dirty Projectors will play the Allen Room on Feb. 19, 2010 at 8:30 PM.

Tony and Emmy-winner Leslie Uggams, praised for her roles in Hallelujah, Baby! and Thoroughly Modern Millie, headlines on Feb. 20, 2010 with concerts at 8:30 and 10:30 PM.

Composer Gabriel Kahane, who was named the Public Theater’s inaugural Musical Theater Fellow for his musical February House, will take to the stage March 3, 2010 at 8:30 PM. Songwriter Todd Snider follows on March 4, 2010 at 8:30 PM.

Tony-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori, who has penned Caroline, or Change, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Violet and Shrek, will present an evening of her music on March 5, 2010 at 8:30 PM.

The American Songbook comes to a close with two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway legend Chita Rivera. The original star of West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie and Kiss of the Spider Woman will celebrate her career in song on March 6, 2010 at 8:30 and 10:30 PM.

The American Songbook series, which was launched in 1998, "traces the history and charts the course of the American song from its past and current forms to its future direction."

Single tickets for the American Songbook series begin sale Nov. 1 for the general public. Visit AmericanSongbook, or phone (212) 721-6500.

Tickets are also available at the Frederick P. Rose Hall box office, which is located at Broadway at 60th Street.