Photo Flash: Strouse and Miranda at The Drama Bookshop

Audience Rewards and The Drama Bookshop hosted an exclusive discussion and book signing with Charles Strouse, with very special guest interviewer Lin-Manuel Miranda, on Friday, September 5th, at the Drama Bookshop (250 West 40th Street, New York, NY.) 

The Tony-winning songwriter of today, Miranda, lead an hour-long discussion with the Tony-winning songwriter of yesterday and "Tomorrow," Charles Strouse, composer of American classics such as Annie and Bye Bye Birdie.  The evening shined a happy light on Strouse's career and new book Put on a Happy Face: A Broadway Memoir. The discussion was followed by a book signing.

Audience Rewards members can RSVP for the event by emailing their name, member number and number of guests to membership.services@audiencerewards.com. Non-members may RSVP once signing up for their FREE membership at www.AudienceRewards.com.  The book signing is open to all.

Charles Strouse is the Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning composer of, among other works, Bye Bye Birdie (1960, with long-time collaborator Lee Adams), All-American (1962, with Mel Brooks), Applause (1970, starring Lauren Bacall) and Annie (1977).  He's a three-time Tony Winner, and a seven-time nominee for, among others, Golden Boy (1962, starring Sammy Davis Jr.); Rags (1986, with Theresa Stratas), and Nick and Nora (1993). He is a two-time Grammy winner, and a three-time Drama Desk nominee; and recipient of the "Richard Rodgers" and the "Oscar Hammerstein" Awards. He has also been elected to both the Theater Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the first incarnation of In the Heights during his sophomore year at Wesleyan University, CT. Off-Broadway: In the Heights: nine Drama Desk nominations, including Best Music, Best Lyrics and won the award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance; the Lucille Lortel Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; the Obie Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics; a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance and the Clarence Derwent Award, both for Mr. Miranda's performance. He is the recipient of the 2007 ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award. TV/film: "The Sopranos," "Sex and the City." A co-founding member of Freestyle Love Supreme, a hip-hop comedy group that tours comedy festivals all over the world.

Audience Rewards® is the first and only rewards program created to thank dedicated patrons of the performing arts for their loyalty. The program was created by a coalition of Broadway theatre operators and performing arts centers around America as a free benefit to consumers, allowing them to earn and redeem points for unique theater experiences and merchandise and gain inside access to performing arts information, special services and member events.

Photo Credit H E Yhoman

Charles Strouse

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Charles Strouse

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Charles Strouse

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Charles Strouse

Carolyn Rossi Copeland, Susan Birkenhead, Barbara Siman and husband Charles Strouse

Lin-Manuel Miranda and his proud parents

Charles Strouse and a happy young fan

Charles Strouse

Charles Strouse and Lin-Manuel Miranda