American Songbook: Great American Songwriter Tributes

Friday, January 27, at 8:30 and 10:30 PM

Broadway legacy Daisy Prince directs It’s Only Life: The Songs of John Bucchino. This popular cabaret songwriter is a favorite among artists in New York’s top rooms. His music has been recorded and performed by everyone from Judy Collins, Michael Feinstein, and Liza Minnelli, to Yo-Yo Ma, the Boston Pops, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. For this special tribute Jessica Molaskey and Billy Porter will be among the cast of talented vocalists in bringing favorites like “Sweet Dreams” and “Grateful” to life.

Wednesday, February 8, at 7:30 and 9:30 PM

Eric Comstock celebrates the centennial of the great Jule Styne with The Music That Makes Me Dance: A Jule Styne Songbook. For his return to the American Songbook series, Comstock has devised something different for this tribute. In addition to performing Styne’s theater work, Comstock has researched little-known songs Styne wrote for movies and television musicals, as well as a post-Gypsy song written with Stephen Sondheim and selections from Styne’s jazz repertoire. Joining him and an all-star trio will be singer Barbara Fasano.

Saturday, February 11, 8:30 PM

American Songbook brings a downtown classic uptown with The Loser’s Lounge Tribute to Burt Bacharach. Music director Joe McGinty, formerly of 1980s new wave favorites The Psychedelic Furs, has curated this popular downtown collective since 1993. Over the years, participating artists in The Loser’s Lounge have included Deborah Harry, Michael Cerveris, John Flansburgh, Nick Danger, Patti Rothberg, and Steve Wynn.

Friday, February 24, at 8:30 and 10:30 PM

The music of David Zippel fills the Allen Room with Go the Distance: The Lyrics of David Zippel. Friends and fans including Barbara Cook, Brent Barrett and Brian d’Arcy James will be among the great singers celebrating the work of this prolific lyricist, whose work includes the current The Woman in White and City of Angels, for which he won the 1990 Tony Award for Best Original Score, as well as Oscar-nominated songs from the Disney hits Mulan and Hercules.

Saturday, February 25, at 8:30 and 10:30 PM

Closing the Allen Room season will be the great Lillias White in Guy Cy: Lill’ Celebrates Cy Coleman Saturday, February 25, at 8:30 and 10:30 PM. White won a Tony Award in 1997 for her star turn in Coleman’s The Life. Here, this formidable songstress, who set the house on fire at Lincoln Center’s 2005 True Colors concert, pays tribute to the genius of Coleman, who brought the world pop hits like “The Best Is Yet to Come” and “Witchcraft,” as well as music for such Broadway hits as Sweet Charity, Barnum, and The Will Rogers Follies.