Encompass New Opera Theatre to Honor Sheldon Harnick, 10/27; Harvey Fierstein, Lin-Manuel Miranda & More to Perform

Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director of Encompass New Opera Theatre, and and Honorary Chairs Harold Prince, Stephen Sondheim and Maury Yeston today announced the October 27th Gala Musical Salute honoring legendary lyricist, librettist and composer Sheldon Harnick on his 90th Birthday Year.

Starring in the Musical Salute are Kennedy Center Award Honoree/Tony Award winner Barbara Cook, four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, record setting multi-Tony Award winner Harold Prince, beloved TV and Stage Icon Charlotte Rae, multiple Academy, Grammy, Drama Desk Award winner Stephen Schwartz, Academy and Grammy Award winner David Shire and nine time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune among others, all performing songs with lyrics written by Mr. Harnick.

Gala tickets are $500/$350, with special discounts available before October 15, 2013.

Visit www.encompassopera.org to buy tickets/for more information 718 398-4675.

Adding their voices to the celebration with songs and recollections are:

Kate Baldwin (Big Fish, Finian's Rainbow), Liz Callaway (Baby, Miss Saigon), David Garrison (Married with Children, Wicked, Titanic), Shuler Hensley (No Man's Land/Waiting for Godot, Young Frankenstein), Lisa Livesay (Wicked national tour, Disney in Concert), Sally Mayes (She Loves Me, Closer Than Ever), Alexandra Silber (Master Class, She Loves Me, Love Story: The Musical), Matthew Sklar (Elf: The Musical, The Wedding Singer), Lynne Wintersteller (A Grand Night for Singing, Closer Than Ever).

Past Encompass Honorees include: John Kander, Charles Strouse, Jerry Herman, Jerry Bock, Maury Yeston, Joseph Stein, Richard Maltby, Jr., David Shire, John Weidman, Marvin Hamlisch and Alan Menken.

Sheldon Harnick began his career writing words and music to comic songs in musical revues, and one of these, "The Merry Minuet", was popularized by the Kingston Trio. "The Boston Beguine", inNew Faces of 1952 launched his Broadway career.

With the composer Jerry Bock, Sheldon created the lyrics for some of the most beloved and cherished musicals of all time: Fiorello! (Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize), Fiddler on the Roof (two Tony Awards, a Gold and Platinum record), She Loves Me (Grammy), Tenderloin, The Rothschilds, The Apple Treeand The Body Beautiful.

His witty and brilliant lyrics caught the attention of countless Broadway composers, with whom he collaborated: Rex with Richard Rodgers; A Wonderful Life with Joe Raposo; A Christmas Carol andThe Umbrellas of Cherbourg with Michel Legrand and Pinocchio with Mary Rodgers.

In the world of opera, he created librettos for Jack Beeson's Cyrano and Dr. Heidegger's Fountain of Youth, Henry Mollicone's Coyote Tales, and Thomas Z. Shepherd's Love in Two Countries. Beverly Sills starred in his version of Lehar's The Merry Widow, which won a Grammy. His translation of Bizet's Carmen served as the English text for Peter Brook's acclaimed production of La Tragedie de Carmen.

He and his wife, Margery have brought their talents together to create THE OUTDOOR MUSEUM: Not Your Usual Images of New York, a collection of photo essays by Margery and poetical verses by Sheldon. It is a delightful, humorous and at times deeply touching love letter by two New Yorkers who have contributed to and been touched by the city's magic.

Sheldon has guided Encompass as co-chair of our Advisory Board for four decades.

Encompass New Opera Theatre is dedicated to the creation, development and production of adventurous new music theatre and contemporary opera, as well as the revival of important musical works by American and international composers. In the vanguard of companies devoted to widening the recognition of America's outstanding composers, dramatists, singers and musicians. Since its inception in 1975, Encompass has produced over 58 full-scale productions with orchestra and staged readings of over 159 new works, from jazz and cabaret to musicals and opera.

Photo by Walter McBride