T he P ro g ram - Lincoln Center`s American Songbook

The Program
Tuesday Evening, January 19, 2016, at 7:30
Ryan Scott Oliver
Featuring Kerstin Anderson, Nick Blaemire, Ethan Carlson,
Ben Crawford, Jessica Crouch, Jason Gotay, Derek Klena,
John-Michael Lyles, Julia Mattison, Lindsay Mendez,
Katie Thompson, Betsy Wolfe, and Zack Zaromatidis
And also featuring Ian Fairlee, Hanako Greensmith,
Christopher Isolano, Isaac James, Travis Kent,
Aury Krebs, Tatiana Lofton, Jonathan Miller,
Mary Claire Miskell, David Park, Bethany Perkins,
Saidu Sinlah, Linnea Sumner, and Daniel Yearwood
Joshua Zecher-Ross, Music Director and Piano
Rodney Bush, Assistant Music Director and Piano
Hiroko Taguchi, Violin
Allison Seidner, Cello
Matt Hinkley, Guitars
Charlie Rosen, Bass
Jeremy Yaddaw, Drums
This evening’s program is approximately 75 minutes long and
will be performed without intermission.
This performance is being streamed live; cameras will be present.
Please make certain all your electronic devices are switched off.
Invest in the Future of American Song Powered by PGIM
Major support for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook is provided by Amy & Joseph Perella.
Endowment support provided by Bank of America
This performance is made possible in part by the Josie Robertson Fund for Lincoln Center.
Steinway Piano
David Rubenstein Atrium,
Frieda and Roy Furman Stage
American Songbook
Additional support for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook is provided by The DuBose and
Dorothy Heyward Memorial Fund, The Shubert Foundation, Jill and Irwin B. Cohen,
The G & A Foundation, Inc., Great Performers Circle, Chairman’s Council, and Friends of
Lincoln Center.
Public support is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Artist catering provided by Zabar’s and zabars.com
MetLife is the National Sponsor of Lincoln Center
Major support for the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center is provided by Alice and
David Rubenstein. Generous endowment support is provided by Stavros Niarchos
Foundation and Oak Foundation.
UPCOMING AMERICAN SONGBOOK EVENTS
IN THE APPEL ROOM:
Wednesday Evening, January 20, at 8:30
Vanessa Williams
Thursday Evening, January 21, at 8:30
Is That All There Is?
Remembering Peggy Lee
Hosted by James Gavin, featuring Jane Monheit, Nellie McKay, and others
Friday Evening, January 22, at 8:30
Loudon Wainwright III
Saturday Evening, January 23, at 8:30
Rita Moreno
Wednesday Evening, February 3, at 8:30
Craig Finn
Thursday Evening, February 4, at 8:30
The Songs of Todd Almond
with special guests Courtney Love and Sherie Rene Scott
Friday Evening, February 5, at 8:30
Janis Ian
The Appel Room is located in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.
For tickets, call (212) 721-6500 or visit AmericanSongbook.org. Call the Lincoln Center
Info Request Line at (212) 875-5766 or visit AmericanSongbook.org for complete program
information.
Join the conversation: #LCSongbook
We would like to remind you that the sound of coughing and rustling paper might
distract the performers and your fellow audience members.
In consideration of the performing artists and members of the audience, those who
must leave before the end of the performance are asked to do so between pieces.
Flash photography and the use of recording equipment are not allowed in the building.
MATTHEW MURPHY
Meet the Artists
American Songbook I Meet the Artists
Ryan Scott Oliver
Ryan Scott Oliver’s music and lyrics were most recently heard OffBroadway in Jasper in Deadland, starring Matt Doyle. It enjoyed a sold-out
run in spring 2014 and was presented at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in
2015. Mr. Oliver is a Jonathan Larson Grant recipient, a Lucille Lortel
Award nominee, a Dramatists Guild Fellow, and the winner of Richard
Rodgers, New Horizons Music Festival, and ASCAP’s Harold Adamson
Lyric awards. He has also been awarded residencies at 5th Avenue
Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Weston Playhouse, Cap 21, the York
Theatre, and San Diego State University for We Foxes, a commission by
Broadway Across America.
Mr. Oliver wrote the music and lyrics for 35MM: A Musical Exhibition (original cast recording on Ghostlight Records), Darling (Boston Metropolitan
Opera Mainstage Award, Weston Playhouse and Pace New Musicals
Awards; workshopped at ACT; and featured on NBC’s The Apprentice),
Mrs. Sharp (read in 2009 at Playwrights Horizons, starring Jane Krakowski
and directed by Michael Greif), and Out of My Head (published and
licensed through Steele Spring Stage Rights), as well as The Frog Prince,
Continued, a Theatre for Young Audiences musical commissioned and premiered in Chicago. A collection of Mr. Oliver’s work, Rated RSO, has
played the Kennedy Center, Joe’s Pub, New York Musical Theatre Festival,
and others.
Mr. Oliver is currently at work on the new musical Rope, a commission for
Grove Entertainment. He is the director of new musicals at Pace
University in downtown Manhattan and artistic director of the Pasadena
Musical Theatre Program. His songbook, Music+Lyrics by Ryan Scott
Oliver: Volume 1, was published by Hal Leonard in 2011. He received a
master of fine arts degree in musical theater writing from New York
University and a bachelor of arts degree in music composition from UCLA.
American Songbook I Meet the Artists
Kerstin Anderson
Kerstin Anderson (vocals) is currently performing as Maria Rainer in a national
tour of The Sound of Music directed by Jack O’Brien. Past credits include Clara
in The Light in the Piazza (Pace University), My Name Is Annie King (Scene
Space), and Annie in Pace University’s workshop of The Visit.
Nick Blaemire
Nick Blaemire (vocals) is a Brooklyn-based actor and writer. He recently appeared
in Found at the Atlantic Theater Company, as well as the Broadway productions
of Godspell, Cry-Baby, and Dogfight. Mr. Blaemire has also appeared on the
national tour of Altar Boyz and in Whit Stillman’s film Damsels in Distress, and
has recurring roles on TV’s The Big C, Crossbones, and The Good Wife. He has
written four original musicals: the one-night Broadway sensation Glory Days,
which has since had 30 productions worldwide; A Little More Alive, which has
been produced at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Kansas City Repertory
Theatre, and Barrington Stage Company; Soon, which premiered at Signature
Theatre Company and for which he was awarded the Stephen Sondheim Young
Artist Citation; and Fallout, a commission with Kyle Jarrow about the Cuban missile crisis. Mr. Blaemire graduated from the University of Michigan.
Ethan Carlson
Ethan Carlson (vocals) is a senior at Pace University earning a degree in musical
theater. He has appeared in Darling (Hoax), Lysistrata Jones (Xander), and Dog
Opera (Jackie). He is currently cast in a production of Rope by Ryan Scott Oliver.
Ben Crawford
Ben Crawford (vocals) began his Broadway career when he covered the roles of
Javert and Jean Valjean in the revival of Les Misérables. Other Broadway credits
include Shrek the Musical (Shrek), Big Fish (Don Price, Edward Bloom understudy), and On the Twentieth Century (Bruce Granit, Max Jacobs understudy).
Regionally, he has performed in Next to Normal, Titanic, Guys and Dolls,
Carousel, A New Brain, Oklahoma!, Oliver!, Merrily We Roll Along, 35MM: A
Musical Exhibition, and Jasper in Deadland. Mr. Crawford has performed with
the Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, the Cleveland
Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Naples Philharmonic, and
the National Arts Centre Orchestra. He is included on several soundtracks,
including On the Twentieth Century, Big Fish, Merrily We Roll Along, and
35MM, and also appears in the film The Standbys, a documentary focusing on
Broadway swings, standbys, and understudies.
American Songbook I Meet the Artists
Jessica Crouch
Jessica Crouch (vocals) was recently named New York Musical Theatre
Festival’s 2015 Next Broadway Sensation. She has performed in the national
tours of We Will Rock You (understudy, Killer Queen and Oz) and All Shook
Up (understudy, Miss Sandra). Among her regional highlights are Hair (Music
Circus), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Bay Street
Theater), and Legally Blonde (PCPA Theaterfest).
Jason Gotay
Jason Gotay (vocals) has appeared as Randall in Bring It On: The Musical and
as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. His television
credits include NBC’s Peter Pan Live! (Tootles, Lost Boy), and his OffBroadway and regional appearances include F#%king Up Everything (Elektra
Theatre), The Anthem (Culture Project), and Into the Woods (the Muny). Mr.
Gotay has performed numerous concerts in New York City, including appearances at The Allen Room (now The Appel Room) at Lincoln Center and a solo
debut at Le Poisson Rouge. He received a bachelor of fine arts degree from
Marymount Manhattan College.
Derek Klena
Derek Klena (vocals) was in the original Broadway cast of The Bridges of
Madison County and in the 10th anniversary cast of Wicked. He also starred
as Eddie Birdlace in the world premiere musical Dogfight (Second Stage
Theatre) and as Tommy Ross in the revival of Carrie (MCC Theater). Mr.
Klena’s regional credits include Diner: The Musical (Signature Theatre),
Unknown Soldier (Williamstown Theatre Festival), and Hairspray (Hollywood
Bowl). He has appeared on television in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
(Netflix), Law & Order: SVU (NBC), The Carrie Diaries and The Tomorrow
People (the CW), and One Bad Choice (MTV).
John-Michael Lyles
John-Michael Lyles (vocals) recently appeared as an understudy in The Flick
(Barrow Street Theatre), and starred as Pharus in Choir Boy (Guthrie
Theater). He has also appeared in Brooklynite (Vineyard Theatre), Jasper in
Deadland (Prospect Theater Company), and Remarkable Rooming House of
Mme Le Monde (La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club). Mr. Lyles received a
bachelor of fine arts degree from Pace University.
American Songbook I Meet the Artists
Julia Mattison
Julia Mattison (vocals) has appeared on Broadway in Godspell and on television
in Hey Girl (MTV), Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC), Us & Them (Fox), Jake and Amir
(CollegeHumor), and the Late Show with David Letterman (CBS), as well as
numerous commercials. Film credits include the upcoming How to be Single
starring Rebel Wilson and Dakota Johnson. Ms. Mattison recently developed
her show How to Live Like a Lady for MTV alongside her comedy writing partner Sydney Nikols. She also recently completed two sold-out performances of
her show Ruby Manger Live! at 54 Below. She is currently preparing to launch
her new show, Brooklyn Sound, online this winter.
Lindsay Mendez
Lindsay Mendez (vocals) was most recently seen in Roundabout Theatre
Company’s world premiere production of Significant Other. On Broadway, she
starred as Elphaba in the smash hit Wicked. Ms. Mendez has received nominations for Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League awards for
her performance as Rose Fenny in the Off-Broadway musical Dogfight. She
was one of the stars of the Broadway revival of Godspell at the Circle in the
Square Theatre, and in 2010 she appeared as a Mennonette in Roundabout’s
Tony-nominated production of Everyday Rapture. Other credits include The
Winter’s Tale (Shakespeare in the Park), 21 Chump Street: The Musical as part
of This American Life: Live at BAM, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living
in Paris, 35MM: A Musical Exhibition, Footloose, and Princesses. With pianist
Marco Paguia, Ms. Mendez also has a jazz/contemporary music group, which
made its Lincoln Center debut as part of American Songbook in 2013.
Katie Thompson
Katie Thompson (vocals) has appeared in New York in Pump Boys and
Dinettes (New York City Center), Giant (the Public Theater), and Cloaked
(Janice Theatre, CAP21). Regionally she has appeared in Big Fish (Oriental
Theatre), Tarzan (the Muny), and Giant (Signature Theatre, Dallas Theatre
Center). Her television credits include 30 Rock and High Maintenence. Ms.
Thompson has taken part in readings including Welcome to the White House
(Washington, D.C.), Lanterns for Peace (Lincoln Center), Gypsy of the Year
(Palace Theatre), and Katie & Friends (Birdland). Ms. Thompson also has several albums: Private Page, KT LIVE, and What I’ve Done Right.
Betsy Wolfe
Betsy Wolfe (vocals) is scheduled to appear at the Kennedy Center with the
National Symphony Orchestra Pops in Broadway Today and at Carnegie Hall
American Songbook I Meet the Artists
with the New York Pops. She recently played Ida in Die Fledermaus at the
Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Wolfe has appeared on Broadway in Bullets over
Broadway, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Everyday Rapture, and 110 in the
Shade. Off-Broadway, she has appeared in The Last Five Years (Second
Stage Theatre) and Merrily We Roll Along (New York City Center Encores!).
Recently she starred in the world premiere of Up Here at the La Jolla
Playhouse and is a guest artist for more than 30 American and international
symphonic and pops orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Wolfe appears on the original revival
cast recordings of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Bullets over Broadway,
Merrily We Roll Along, 35MM: A Musical Exhibition, and The Last Five Years,
and can also be seen in the film adaptation of The Last Five Years.
Zack Zaromatidis
Zack Zaromatidis (vocals) is a sophomore at Pace University. Recent credits
include Johnny in American Idiot (understudy) and Ring of Fire (Jason). At the
2015 Planet Connections Theater Festivity he was nominated for
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Play with Music, or Musical Event for
his performance as James in Elise.
Ian Fairlee
Ian Fairlee is a senior at Pace University earning a degree in musical theater.
He has appeared Off-Broadway in Foolerie (New York Musical Theatre
Festival) and The Underclassman (Prospect Theater Company). Other credits
include American Idiot, Godspell, Merrily We Roll Along, and many workshops and readings of Ryan Scott Oliver’s shows.
Hanako Greensmith
Hanako Greensmith is a sophomore at Pace University. She recently played
Martha in Hangar Theatre’s production of Spring Awakening.
Christopher Isolano
Christopher Isolano is a sophomore at Pace University. Recent credits
include Ensemble in American Idiot at Pace, and Teucros in Trojan Women
(world premiere), Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web, and Georg (understudy) in
Spring Awakening at Hangar Theatre.
American Songbook I Meet the Artists
Isaac James
Isaac James appeared in Musical Theatre West’s production of Sweeney Todd
as the bass soloist, and currently works at the Disneyland Resort, appearing
with the Dapper Dans. He has done voiceover work for Walt Disney Pictures
and appeared in television specials as a seasonal performer for Disneyland.
Travis Kent
Travis Kent makes his Broadway debut this spring in Disaster! (Nederlander
Theatre). Recent credits include the world premiere of Pyre Cantata
(Polyneices) at HERE Arts Center, Travis Kent: My First Time, Live and
Unprotected at 54 Below, and From Rodgers to Heart (Joe’s Pub). Mr. Kent
graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he performed in several
productions, including Marat/Sade, Violet, and Assassins.
Aury Krebs
Aury Krebs is a senior at Pace University. Recent credits include The Light in
the Piazza, Jasper in Deadland, Great Wall, and Dogfight.
Tatiana Lofton
Tatiana Lofton is a recent graduate of Pace University’s musical theater program. She has appeared Off-Broadway in The Lost, or How To: Just Be and
with New York Musical Theatre Festival in Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera
and Joey Contreras in Concert. Her Pace University credits include Once on
This Island, Godspell, and Anyone Can Whistle. She has participated in readings of Jasper in Deadland, We Foxes, and Darling, and performed in Second
Stage Theatre’s 2014 spring gala, with Ryan Scott Oliver at 54 Below, and in
Hatched at Joe’s Pub.
Jonathan Miller
Jonathan Miller is a junior at Pace University. Recent credits include American
Idiot, The Pajama Game, and readings of The Visit and We Foxes.
Mary Claire Miskell
Mary Claire Miskell is a senior at Pace University earning a degree in musical
theater. She has appeared on Broadway in Jason Robert Brown’s 13. Other
credits include Whatsername in American Idiot, Robin in Lysistrata Jones,
Poopsie in The Pajama Game, and Thea in Spring Awakening.
American Songbook I Meet the Artists
David Park
David Park is a junior at Pace University. Recent credits include Pettigru in
Rope, Will in American Idiot, and Stanley in Great Wall, as well as various
readings and concerts at Pace and 54 Below.
Bethany Perkins
Bethany Perkins is a senior at Pace University. Recent credits include The
House of Bernarda Alba, The Light in the Piazza, Esuara, and We Foxes. She
is currently in Ryan Scott Oliver’s developmental reading of Rope.
Saidu Sinlah
Saidu Sinlah is a senior musical theater major at Pace University. Recent credits include Sinatra: Voice for a Century (David Geffen Hall), Janitor/Reporter in
See What I Wanna See and Papa Ge in Once on This Island (Pace University),
and Scarecrow in The Wiz (Interlakes Summer Theatre).
Linnea Sumner
Linnea Sumner is a junior musical theater major at Pace University from
Waterloo, Iowa. Recent New York City credits include American Idiot at
Schimmel Center and South Pacific at Theaterlab.
Daniel Yearwood
Daniel Yearwood is a junior musical theater major at Pace University. His
stage credits include Seaweed J. Stubbs in Hairspray, Daniel in Once on This
Island, Benny in In the Heights, and Jesus in Godspell. He has participated
in readings of Darling (Wily), Elise (James), and Oasis (Jeremiah).
American Songbook
In 1998, Lincoln Center launched American Songbook, dedicated to the celebration of popular American song. Designed to highlight and affirm the creative mastery of America’s songwriters from their emergence at the turn of
the 19th century up through the present, American Songbook spans all
styles and genres, from the form’s early roots in Tin Pan Alley and Broadway
to the eclecticism of today’s singer-songwriters. American Songbook also
showcases the outstanding interpreters of popular song, including established and emerging concert, cabaret, theater, and songwriter performers.
American Songbook
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
The David Rubenstein Atrium, a vibrant public visitors’ and ticketing facility, is
open daily with an array of services for local residents, the general public,
and the thousands of people who visit Lincoln Center and the surrounding community. The David Rubenstein Atrium is one of approximately 503 Privately
Owned Public Spaces in New York City created under a long-standing program
that offers zoning incentives for buildings to provide accessible public spaces.
The facility is named in honor of the philanthropist, financier, and Vice Chairman
of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts David Rubenstein, in recognition of
his $10 million gift to the Bravo Campaign. The Tod Williams Billie Tsien design
reflects a respect for the materials used throughout Lincoln Center and provides an open, accessible, and inviting environment. The Atrium is the first
LEED-certified “green” building on the Lincoln Center campus.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) serves three primary roles: presenter of artistic programming, national leader in arts and education and community relations, and manager of the Lincoln Center campus. A presenter of
more than 3,000 free and ticketed events, performances, tours, and educational activities annually, LCPA offers 15 programs, series, and festivals including American Songbook, Great Performers, Lincoln Center Festival, Lincoln
Center Out of Doors, Midsummer Night Swing, the Mostly Mozart Festival,
and the White Light Festival, as well as the Emmy Award–winning Live From
Lincoln Center, which airs nationally on PBS. As manager of the Lincoln
Center campus, LCPA provides support and services for the Lincoln Center
complex and the 11 resident organizations. In addition, LCPA led a $1.2 billion
campus renovation, completed in October 2012.
American Songbook
Lincoln Center Programming Department
Jane Moss, Ehrenkranz Artistic Director
Hanako Yamaguchi, Director, Music Programming
Jon Nakagawa, Director, Contemporary Programming
Jill Sternheimer, Director, Public Programming
Lisa Takemoto, Production Manager
Kate Monaghan, Associate Director, Programming
Charles Cermele, Producer, Contemporary Programming
Mauricio Lomelin, Producer, Contemporary Programming
Regina Grande, Associate Producer
Luna Shyr, Programming Publications Editor
Nick Kleist, Company Manager
Olivia Fortunato, House Seat Coordinator
For the David Rubenstein Atrium
Tom Dunn, Senior Director, Concert Halls Operations
Jordana Phokompe, Director, David Rubenstein Atrium
Godfrey Palaia, Senior Production Manager
Peter Foraker, Assistant Director, Performance Services
Viviana Benitez, Associate Producer
Meera Dugal, Programming Coordinator