The annual series will launch Sept. 20 at 8 PM with Ridiculously Talented! Songs by Composers & Lyricists You Probably Don't Know But Should. Hosted by Tony winner William Finn, the evening will feature songs by "some of the hottest new composers and lyricists working in the theater today." Performers are currently scheduled to include Sally Wilfert, Demond Green and Wilson Bridges.
Fire and Rain — The Songs of James Taylor is the title of the Oct. 4 at 8 PM concert. Heidi Blickenstaff, Michael Winther, Will Chase and Benjamin Schrader will sing tunes from the James Taylor songbook, including such classics as "Sweet Baby James," "Fire And Rain," "Shower The People" and "How Sweet It Is."
Tom Jones, Josh Grisetti, Bobby Steggert, Jeffry Denman, Donna English, Susan Blackwell, Christine Pedi, Jason Robinson, Christopher Sieber and more will offer an overview of the great legacy of Off-Broadway musicals Oct. 25 at 8 PM. The evening, entitled Off-Broadway Close Up, will feature tunes from The Fantasticks, Jacques Brel …, Dames at Sea, Godspell, The Last Five Years, The Kid and Yank!
The Nov. 15 at 8 PM concert, All the Things You Are — Jerome Kern, will celebrate the composer of Show Boat and Roberta. Tony nominees Rebecca Luker and Kate Baldwin along with Matthew Scott and Graham Rowat will interpret such tunes as "A Fine Romance," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "All the Things You Are" and the Academy Award-winning "The Way You Look Tonight." Arrangements will be provided by David Loud.
The season will conclude with a 10th anniversary celebration, the annual Bound for Broadway concert. Liz Callaway will again host the Dec. 6 at 8 PM evening, which will feature two new musicals and then revisit some of the shows featured over the past ten years, including Next to Normal, Avenue Q, Musical of Musicals and The Drowsy Chaperone. Bobby Lopez, Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison, Tom Kitt, Brian Yorkey, Joanne Bogart and Eric Rockwell are currently scheduled to take part in the event. Merkin Concert Hall is located in Manhattan at 129 West 67th Street. For ticket information visit http://kaufman-center.org.
