Theater News

Michael Feinstein Receives Public Leadership in the Arts Award

Michael Feinstein
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
Michael Feinstein
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Michael Feinstein is among the recipients of a 2010 Public Leadership in the Arts Award, being presented today, January 21, at The United States Conference of Mayors 78th annual winter meeting in Washington, DC.

The awards, which honor elected officials and artists that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the advancement of the arts, have been given annually by Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors since 1997. Recipients also include Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. Americans for the Arts will itself be honored with The United States Conference of Mayors President’s Award in honor of the organization’s 50 years of outstanding work in promoting, serving, and advancing arts and culture throughout the country.

Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, said in a press statement that Feinstein is receiving the Public Leadership in the Arts Award because, “he has introduced audiences young and old to the joys of popular American song and is dedicated to preserving it for future generations.”

Feinstein will return to Broadway later this season, co-starring with Dame Edna in All About Me. He has previously played Broadway in Michael Feinstein in Concert, and two additional concerts subtitled Piano and Voice and Isn’t It Romantic. He is a four-time Grammy nominee and received a special Drama Desk Award in 1988 for celebrating American musical theater songs.

For more information, visit www.AmericansForTheArts.org.