Minnelli, Holliday, Grey & More Sing 'NEW YORK MOMENTS' with NY Philharmonic 4/20

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch will lead the New York Philharmonic in New York Moments, a concert featuring iconic musical moments from Broadway and film, with stars from the stage and screen (in alphabetical order): Ashley Brown, who originated the title role in Mary Poppins on Broadway; Maria Friedman, who played Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and Marian in The Woman in White in London; Joel Grey, whose numerous starring roles have included the famous M.C. in Cabaret, on Broadway and in the film; Jennifer Holliday, one of the original Dreamgirls; Liza Minnelli, last seen on Broadway in Liza's at The Palace; Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot, stars of the current Lincoln Center Theater production of South Pacific; and 15-year-old up-and-coming singer, Nikki Yanofsky.

The concert will take place Monday, April 20, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. All except Mr. Hamlisch and Ms. O'Hara are making their New York Philharmonic debuts.

This concert, a fundraiser for the New York Philharmonic, will include a Gala pre-concert reception, the concert, and a post-concert reception with the artists. (Business attire) For information, please contact Eve Helfstein at helfsteine@nyphil.org, or call her at (212) 875-5757.

As a composer, Marvin Hamlisch has won virtually every major award - three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony, and three Golden Globe Awards. His ground-breaking musical, A Chorus Line, received the Pulitzer Prize. Other Broadway credits include They're Playing Our Song, The Goodbye Girl, Sweet Smell of Success, and Imaginary Friends. Mr. Hamlisch is also the composer of more than 40 motion picture scores, including his Oscar-winning score and song for The Way We Were, and his adaptation of Scott Joplin's music for The Sting, for which he received a third Oscar.

His prolific output of film scores includes original compositions and/or musical adaptations for Sophie's Choice, Ordinary People, The Swimmer, Three Men and a Baby, Ice Castles, Take the Money and Run, Bananas, and Save the Tiger. Marvin Hamlisch is principal pops conductor for the National, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and San Diego symphony orchestras. He was music director and arranger of Barbra Streisand's 1994 concert tour of the U.S. and England, as well as the television special, Barbra Streisand: The Concert (for which he received two of his Emmys). He served in the same capacities for her Millennium concerts. Mr. Hamlisch is a graduate of The Juilliard School's Pre-College Division and Queens College, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree. He made his New York Philharmonic debut on May 20, 2008, as conductor and host of Broadway's Greatest Showstoppers.

Ashley Brown originated the title role in Mary Poppins on Broadway, for which she received Outer Critics, Drama League, and Drama Desk nominations for Best Actress. She also appeared on Broadway as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and starred in the national tour of Disney's On the Record. Ms. Brown has performed with many orchestras in the past year, including the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, Cincinnati Pops, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Brown's regional credits include Guys and Dolls and The Leading Men of Broadway with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; Broadway by the Year: 1956 at Town Hall in New York; and many shows at the Muny outdoor theater in St. Louis. Upcoming projects include the title role in Disney's national tour of Mary Poppins, starting in Chicago in March 2009; a return engagement with Jack Everly and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; and a debut album of American Songbook standards to be released in summer 2009. Ms. Brown studied at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she received her bachelor in fine arts degree in musical theater, and was honored with the Laurie Beechman Award. This is her New York Philharmonic debut.

Maria Friedman appeared as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd at London's Royal Festival Hall; Marian in the West End and Broadway productions of The Woman in White. She was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and received a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut. Other roles in England include Mother in Ragtime (Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical); Maria Friedman - By Extra Special Arrangement; Roxie Hart in Chicago (Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical); Sukie in The Witches of Eastwick; Blues in the Night; Fosca in Passion (Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical); Liza Elliot in Lady in the Dark (Evening Standard Award and Oliver nomination); April in Paris; Hayyah in Ghetto; and Dot in Sunday in the Park with George (Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical). Ms. Friedman has appeared in productions on the BBC and BBC2, and was the narrator in the film, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She has also performed at the BBC Proms, Café Carlyle in New York, and with the London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, and London Symphony orchestras. She makes her New York Philharmonic debut in this concert

Joel Grey made his theatrical debut at the age of nine in the 1941 Cleveland Playhouse production of On Borrowed Time, and his Broadway debut two decades later as a replacement in Neil Simon's first comedy hit, Come Blow Your Horn (1961). Since then, his Broadway credits have included Stop the World I Want to Get Off; Half a Sixpence; the M.C. in Cabaret (1966, Tony Award); song and dance man George M. Cohan in George M! (Tony nomination); Goodtime Charlie (Tony nomination); The Grand Tour (Tony nomination); Amos Hart in the landmark revival Chicago (Drama Desk Award);and as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in Wicked. He has also appeared in John Guare's Marco Polo Sings a Solo at the Public Theatre; Chekhov's Platonov at the Williamstown Theatre Festival; Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart at the Public Theatre; and Brian Friel's Give Me Your Answer, Do! (Drama Desk nomination) at the Roundabout Theatre. Mr. Grey received an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and the British Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1972 film version of Cabaret. Other film credits include Man on A Swing; Buffalo Bill and the Indians; The Seven Percent Solution; Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins; Kafka; and The Player. Recent television appearances include Alias, Crossing Jordan, Brooklyn Bridge (Emmy nomination), and Brothers & Sisters. Mr. Grey's photographs are part of the permanent collections at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the New York Public Library. He has two published photography books: Pictures I Had to Take (2003) and Looking Hard at Unexamined Things (2006). This is his New York Philharmonic debut.

Jennifer Holliday made her Broadway debut at the age of 19 in the musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, which earned her a 1981 Drama Desk nomination. Her next - and most famous - role was as Effie Melody White in the Broadway musical, Dreamgirls, which earned her Tony, Theatre, and Drama Desk Awards, and a Grammy for her performance of the song from the show, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." Her other Broadway credits include Chicago; Grease; Down-Hearted Blues: The Story of Bessie Smith; Sing Mahalia, Sing: The Story of Mahalia Jackson; and Harlem Suite. A versatile performer, Ms. Holliday has made several guest appearances as an actor on prime-time television. She is best known for her recurring role as Lisa Knowles on Ally McBeal. Other television appearances include Touched by an Angel, Ellen, Hang Time, and The Love Boat. Ms. Holliday made her motion-picture debut as both actor and songwriter for the independent film The Rising Place, now available on DVD. She has performed on the PBS specials "A Fourth of July Celebration: Live with the Boston Pops Symphony," "My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies Live from Carnegie Hall," and "The Singer and the Song: Live from the White House." This is her New York Philharmonic debut.

Liza Minnelli, who performed at The Palace Theatre from December 3, 2008 to January 4, 2009, in a show called Liza's at The Palace, is making her New York Philharmonic debut in this concert. Ms. Minnelli was born March 12, 1946, in Los Angeles, California, to the actress/singer Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, the film director responsible for such classics as Meet Me in St. Louis and An American in Paris. She began her career at a very early age, co-starring with her mother in the film, In the Good Old Summertime in 1949. At the age of 10, she hosted the first-ever television broadcast of The Wizard of Oz. By 19, she had landed the lead role in the Broadway show, Flora, the Red Menace, which won her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a musical. In 1967 she went on to star in several films, including Charlie Bubbles, The Sterile Cuckoo, and Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon. In 1972 she played Sally Bowles in Cabaret. The film won eight Oscars, including Best Actress for Ms. Minnelli. The role also earned her a Golden Globe and a British Film Academy Award. She also starred in the first concert ever filmed live for television in 1972 - Liza with a Z - which produced a Top-20 album and won the Emmy for Outstanding Single Program. In 1977 she appeared opposite Robert DeNiro in the musical, New York, New York, directed by Martin Scorsese. Other films include Arthur and Arthur 2: On the Rocks. Her Broadway credits also include Victor/Victoria and Minnelli on Minnelli, a tribute to her father.

Kelli O'Hara is currently starring in the Tony Award-winning revival of South Pacific at Lincoln Center as Nellie Forbush, for which she has received her third Tony Award nomination. In March 2008 she made her New York Philharmonic debut as Eliza Doolittle in the Orchestra's semi-staged production of My Fair Lady. That same year she made her Carnegie Hall debut, and completed her first album. Ms. O'Hara's other Broadway credits include The Pajama Game with Harry Connick, Jr. (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critic Award nominations); The Light in the Piazza (Tony and Drama Desk nominations); The Sweet Smell of Success with John Lithgow; Dracula; Jekyll & Hyde; and Follies. Her Off-Broadway and regional credits include Sunday in the Park with George, My Life with Albertine, and Beauty. Among Ms. O'Hara's film and television credits are The Dying Gaul, starring Patricia Clarkson and Campbell Scott; Alexander Hamilton, starring Brian F. O'Byrne, NUMB3RS; All My Children; and numerous live performances on national television shows. Her recordings include South Pacific (Sony), The Light in the Piazza (Nonesuch; Grammy nomination), The Pajama Game (Sony; Grammy nomination), The Sweet Smell of Success (Sony), My Life with Albertine (PS Classics), Jule Styne Goes Hollywood (PS Classics), and her solo album, Wonder in the World (Ghostlight). Ms. O'Hara has performed with the New York and Philly Pops; at The Kennedy Center with Marvin Hamlisch; and at Joe's Pub. She recently participated in the Kennedy Center Honors as part of the Barbara Streisand tribute, and will make her debut at the Café Carlyle in April 2009.

Paulo Szot is currently starring in the Broadway revival of South Pacific at Lincoln Center Theater. His portrayal of Emile De Becque won him the 2008 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, as well as the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, to Polish immigrants, he first studied to be a ballet dancer before he switched to singing. He is now the most celebrated opera singer in Brazil, where he has won several awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. Mr. Szot made his European opera debut in the title role of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin in Marseille in 2004, and has in Barcelona, Bordeaux, Spoleto, and Antwerp, including in the title role of Mozart's Don Giovanni; as Marcello in Puccini's La bohème; and as Count Almaviva in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. He made his U.S. opera debut in the 2003-04 season at the New York City Opera as Escamillo in Bizet's Carmen, returning later as Count Almaviva and as Sergeant Belcore in a new production of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore. Mr. Szot will make his Metropolitan Opera debut in the 2009-10 season in the leading role of a new production of Shostakovich's The Nose, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Other future engagements include his Paris Opera debut as Guglielmo in Mozart's Così fan tutte; the title role in Don Giovanni for Dallas Opera; and his debut at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse as Escamillo in Bizet's Carmen. This is his New York Philharmonic debut.

Fifteen-year-old Nikki Yanofsky made her debut at the 2006 Montreal International Jazz Festival, where she won the hearts of an audience of more than 100,000. She was the youngest singer ever to perform on a Verve Records release when she recorded "Airmail Special" for the Ella Fitzgerald tribute album, We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song, alongside such musical luminaries as Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Krall, and Natalie Cole. She has also recorded the swing-era classic "Stompin' at the Savoy" with Grammy Award-winning artists Herbie Hancock and Will.i.am for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's audio book, On the Shoulders of Giants. She also recorded "Gotta Go My Own Way" for Disney's High School Musical 2. Most recently Ms. Yanofsky can be seen singing and performing with renowned hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean on PBS Kids for the title sequence of the 2009 version of The Electric Company. She has performed on tour with Marvin Hamlisch at Carnegie Hall, and in Washington, D.C., Seattle, San Diego, and her hometown of Montreal, and has appeared on PBS's youth talent showcase From the Top. Ms. Yanofsky is currently recording her first studio album, and recently released Ella...of Thee I Swing - her concert tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, recorded live. She will headline at the 2009 Sapporo Jazz Festival in Japan. This is her New York Philharmonic debut.

Credit Suisse is the Global Sponsor of the New York Philharmonic.

Programs of the New York Philharmonic are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Concert-only tickets are $55 to $225, and will go on sale to subscribers and donors January 28 through February 6, 2009. Tickets for the general public will go on sale February 7, 2009. All tickets may be purchased online at nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875-5656, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. Tickets may also be purchased at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office, Lincoln Center, Broadway at 65th Street. The Box Office opens at 10:00 a.m. Monday February 1st.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.