Melissa Errico, Lesli Margherita, Ruthie Ann Miles, and More Set for SONDHEIM WORDPLAY at 92Y

Though Stephen Sondheim has written both music and lyrics for some of the finest scores of the 20th century Lyrics & Lyricists puts Sondheim's lyrics in the spotlight for its next production Sondheim: Wordplay. A genius of dexterity, there isn't a lyricist in American music who plays with words and language with greater virtuosity or delivers greater delight.

Vocalists Melissa Errico (a Tony nominee for Amour whose latest album is Sondheim Sublime), Christopher Fitzgerald (Drama Desk winner and Tony nominee for Waitress) Telly Leung (Aladdin), Lesli Margherita (Olivier Award winner for Zorro: The Musical, Matilda The Musical), Ruthie Ann Miles (Tony winner for The King and I ) and Lauren Worsham (Drama Desk winner and Tony nominee for A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder) examine how Sondheim puts it all together, celebrating the master craftsman with his own brilliant words, from tongue twisters to passages of alliterative wit. Tony-winner Jack Feldman is co-writer with Ted Chapin; Tony-winner Christopher Gattelli directs.

Stephen Sondheim's works have been represented over the years at Lyrics & Lyricists, and he himself was part of L&L 's first season, in 1971. In the audience Ted Chapin, now the series producer, who comments, I knew that at some point, I would want to spotlight Sondheim. But how? What might a new focus be? Then I heard one of his songs performed at a vocal competition, and as I listened, I thought that no one has used the English language with as much playfulness as has Sondheim. I took out a piece of paper and free-associated other songs of his that I felt bubbled and fizzed. It was a good list. Then I thought about his simple and stunning use of the English language, period when rather than tongue-twisting and mind-blowingly effortless-seeming wordplay, he was revealing his gift for utter, and often devastating, simplicity. I realized that no one no one has used the language better.

Since 1970, Lyrics & Lyricists, the pioneering American Songbook series, and one of 92Y's signature series, has celebrated the work of songwriters like Irving Berlin, Frank Loesser, Lynn Ahrens, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Dorothy Fields, Betty Comden & Adolph Green, and Sheldon Harnick. Artist who have championed and interpreted the American Songbook include Rob Fisher, David Loud, Jonathan Groff, John Pizzarelli, Amanda Green, Alex Timbers, Jason Danieley, Billy Stritch, Mary Testa, Jeremy Jordon and Laura Osnes. 92Y Lyrics & Lyricists receives support from Gilda Block; The Hite Foundation; The Edythe Kenner Foundation; The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation; Ellen F. Marcus; and Howard and Eleanor Morgan.

Saturday, March 30, 8 pm
Sunday, March 31, 2 pm and 7 pm
Monday, April 1, 2 pm and 7:30 pm
Tickets from $73 (35 & Under tickets, $30)

www.92Y.org

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos