Q&A with Michael Estwanik (President of The Songbook Project)

What is the history of The Songbook Project?

In 1999 The Songbook Project was formed (under a different name) as a sister organziation to an exisiting cabaret trade organization. Our purpose was to bring great singers into schools. There, they'd introduce songs from the American Songbook to kids who haven't heard what our composers have been contributing to the world's culture for over a hundred years. It was formed as a charitable organization so that we could approach private and corporate foundations as well as individuals who could make tax-deductible donations. This past spring we decided to change our name to The Songbook Project…a name that really speaks for itself. In adition to our school programs, we occassionally go to senior community centers, but the main focus in on the young kids.

What does the organization benefit?

The Songbook Project primarily benefits these young students. It was best expressed in a letter from a fourth-grade teacher thanking us for bringing one of our shows to his class: "Some of these children, who only listen to rap and hip-hop, have never had the chance to discover the joys of a beautiful melody or a simple, elegant lyric. This music is their birthright, and one of the glories of their nation. The Songbook Project is to be commended for sharing it." That says it all! I also think the songwriters gain benefits when their material is performed for these new audiences. They are the future music and ticket-buyers! I can't tell you what a charge our singers get out of performing for this kind of audience. Without exception, the singers and pianists tell us that the shows have been extremely rewarding. The joy of watching young people respond openly and spontaneously to these great songs cannot be measured.

Tell us about the programs you've presented...

Most of them have included three or four singers plus an accompanist who perform songs that they love to share. There is a question and answer period with the students afterward. We tailor our shows for the age group at the school, so for second and third grade audiences, we choose performers and songs that those kids can embrace. Mark Nadler and John Bucchino establish an amazing repoire with children that age! For high school and college students, the possibility of songs is endless. We have also brought our programs to Juilliard and NYU's Tisch Graduate Acting Schools. The songs are performed for what we expect will be some of the major film and stage actors of the future. The performers we select for these shows are certainly among the finest singers in NYC. Julie Wilson is one of our most requested singers for this level of student, and for good reason. One of the Deans told me, "Julie's performance level demonstrated something our school spends three years trying to teach!"

Your mission statement speaks to your hope to preserve the heritage of new and classic popular songs. How are you going about that?

Our hope is to plant the seeds! We want these young people to become listeners of this kind of music, and to perhaps encourage dreams of becoming songwriters and/or performers themselves. Kids need more dreams! Five years ago we were asked to perform for an "at risk" high school. These students have been expelled from several other public schools and are now given a "last chance." The teacher who invited us shared her concern that the singers might find it challenging to keep the attention the crowd. She asked if we thought it was worth the gamble. We felt that if we could touch the heart, open the mind inspire of comfort one student, it would be worth it. We've been invited back every year!

What songwriters have you been concentrating on?

Of course, we perform all of the major songwriters, like Berlin, Gershwin, Kern, Hammerstein, Rodgers, Hart, Porter, Arlen, Sondheim, Mercer, Herman, Kander & Ebb. Also, in many of our shows, we include performances by contemporary songwriters as well. Julie Gold, John Bucchino, Amanda Green, Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich have all taken part in the presentations. They're all so great with the students…we've been really lucky.

The BroadwayWorld readers include lots of up-and-coming, as well as established performers and writers. How can they become involved with The Songbook Project?

First of all, check out our website, www.thesongbookproject.org! It gives a great overview about what we are doing. Also, if any of your readers know of a school that would be interested in booking a program, we would love to hear about it. All of the contact info is on the website.

We hear the performers are even paid for singing in these community and school programs! It's a fluke of showbusiness! Could this be true?!

Yes it's true! When we began the organization, we believed there were a great number of concerned people and foundations in New York who would embrace our mission to preserving the Songbook for future generations. We were correct. These supporters have donated enough funding through the years, so we've been able to pay each singer and pianist to perform at our shows. So many artists really struggle to stay in "the business called show." We're thrilled to be able to support them a bit by hiring.

We here at BroadwayWorld are pretty psyched about your upcoming benefit, Women On Stage, at the Lortel on October 11th! You've got a great line-up of talent, give us some details on what we can look forward to?

We are thrilled to have four of Broadway's greatest ladies on our bill: Liz Callaway, BJ Crosby, Liz McCartney, and Barbara Walsh. Each will be performing some of their favorite songs and a song or two which they first introduced on stage. The evening will be hosted by a member of our Advisory Board, Malcolm Gets. In addition to his incredible talents as an actor and singer, he's on the faculty of some graduate acting programs. He is a "giver" and we are so proud to have him involved with The Songbook Project. Tickets are $25, $45, and $75 for this great evening of song and are available by calling Ticket Central (212.279.4200).

What else do you have in the works?

Something really fun that your readers can look forward to is our second "Name That Tune Costume Party" at the Copa. Check out our website for hysterical photos of last year's party. Everyone comes dressed as a song title. Can you think of a better theme for The Songbook Project's signature benefit? It will be held again this spring. The grand prizes last year were free trips to Hawaii, Santa Fe, the Caribbean, and many other swell places! Start working on your costume, Rob!