Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award

By: Sep. 17, 2019
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42nd Street, for over a century the place where so many momentous theatrical events have taken place was the scene of another one last night at the Pershing Square Signature Center. Sheldon Harnick the legendary lyricist was celebrated in an evening presented by the American Songbook Association which featured a star studded musical tribute by some of Broadway and Cabaret's most consummate performers. Mr. Harnick received the American Songbook Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. Klea Blackhurst one of the most talented and witty performers in the business got the call to host the event and started the evening off with "Boston Beguine" from Mr. Harnick's New Faces of 1952 which had music and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. In addition to hearing the words of Mr. Harnick sung by the remarkable cast the audience heard the welcoming words of Marilyn Lester, Executive, Executive Director, Carolyn Montgomery, Director: Education and Outreach Program, and Board Member Craig Pomranz who read a message from Mayor Bill de Blasio. Deborah Grace Winer presented Mr. Harnick with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

This is the year of the huge success of the Harnick/Bock masterpiece Fiddler on The Roof in Yiddish and the American Songbook's celebration was titled To Life!. Steven Skybell, Tevye in the current production of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish brought the audience to its feet with his rendition of "Ven Ikh Bin Rothchild" Everyone got the message without the subtitles and the glorious evening ended with the Cast and audience joining in the traditional Jewish dance to Fiddlers, TO LIFE.

The evening featured Eugene Gwozodz, music director, Danny Bacher, featured player (reeds), Tom Hubbard, Bass, and Mark McLean, drums.

Performers, in order of appearance, included Kissy Simmons, Klea Blackhurst, Adam Heller, Danny Bacher, Samantha Massell, Melanie Moore, Alexandra Silber, Brad Oscar, Liz Callaway, Jeff Harnar & Alex Rybeck, Alan Schmuckler, Jeffrey Saver and Rhyn McLemore Saver, Ed Dixon, Sidney Myer, Judy Kuhn, Robert Cuccioli, and Steven Skybell.

Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Sheldon Harnick & Margery Gray

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Margery Gray & Sheldon Harnick

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Klea Blackhurst, Host

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Klea Blackhurst

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Kissy Simmons

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Marilyn Lester, Executive Director

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Carolyn Montgomery, Director: Education & Outreach Program

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Adam Heller

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Danny Bacher

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Samantha Massell, Melanie Moore, Alexandra Silber

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Samantha Massell, Melanie Moore, Alexandra Silber

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Samantha Massell, Melanie Moore, Alexandra Sillber

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Brad Oscar

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Liz Callaway

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Liz Callaway

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Jeff Harnar

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Jeff Harnar & Alex Rybeck

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Jeff Harnar

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Alan Schmuckler

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award Rhyn McLemore Saver

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Ed Dixon

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Ed Dixon

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Sidney Myer

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Judy Kuhn

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Robert Cuccioli

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Steven Skybell

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Steven Skybell

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Steven Skybell

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Craig Pomranz & Klea Blackhurst

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Alexandra Silber

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Deborah Grace Winer & Sheldon Harnick

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
To Life!

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Marilyn Lester & Frank Dain

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Danny Bacher & Frank Dain

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
The Cast

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
The Cast

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Sheldon Harnick & Margery Gray

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Jeff Harnar & Liz Callaway

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Liz Callaway & Sheldon Harnick

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Eda Sorokoff & Alyce Finell, Director Mabel Mercer Foundation

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Debbie Bush Whiting, Sanborn McGraw, Marilyn Lester

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Riki Kane Larimer & Eda Sorokoff

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award
Jamie deRoy & Sheldon Harnick

Photos/Review: American Songbook Association Honors Sheldon Harnick With Lifetime Achievement Award



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