Symphony Space to Present Documentary ART AND HEART: THE WORLD OF ISAIAH SHEFFER

This new documentary by Catherine Tambini had its world premiere at Lincoln Center as part of the prestigious New York Jewish Film Festival, to great acclaim. The film is a celebration of Isaiah Sheffer, a beloved cultural figure in New York City and Founding Artistic Director of Symphony Space for thirty-two years. Sheffer's life and work is shared lovingly via intercuts of archival material, interviews with friends and colleagues, and stage performances. "His voice was like having warm butterscotch poured over your head," recalls Stephen Colbert. Leonard Nimoy remembers Isaiah as "endlessly creative." Jane Curtin thought "he was so much fun." Isaiah Sheffer had a unique wit and humor that suffused everything he did. "His ebullient personality shines through," said the Hollywood Reporter's review of the film.

The documentary delves into THE LIFE of the man whom many knew only as the host of Selected Shorts on public radio, or the driving force and artistic director of Symphony Space, or the originator of Bloomsday on Broadway, or the comic genius behind the Thalia Follies. In addition to all of those successes Sheffer was an Emmy-nominated writer and producer. He was an actor, director, musical librettist and lyricist, and a cultural entrepreneur. He was a husband and father, and a mentor to many. The film explores his life, his impact on the arts scene, and the tremendous effect he had on those around him.

With Isaiah Sheffer, Morgan Freeman, Stephen Colbert, Leonard Nimoy, Jane Curtin, Fionnula Flanagan, Stephen Lang, Fritz Weaver, Malachy McCourt, James Naughton, Steven Alden, Ivy Austin, The Chalks (Mary Brienza, Kathryn Markey, and Leenya Rideout), Lanny Meyers, Allan Miller, Katherine Minton, Sam Norich, Rochelle Oliver, Bobby Paul, Eric Poindexter, Martin Sage, Ethel Sheffer, and Susannah Sheffer.

Director - Producer: Catherine Tambini
Executive Producers: Ethel Sheffer and Gina Leonetti Boonshoft
Editor: Lenny Friedman
Director of Photography: Matt Porwoll
Sound Recordist: Peter Miller

Screenings at Symphony Space:

Saturday, March 26 at 7 PM
Thursday, March 31 at 3 PM
Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 5 PM & 7 PM

Q&A with members of the production team following all screenings.

TICKETS
General $14; Seniors, Students $12; Members $10

Tickets may be purchased through www.symphonyspace.org, or by calling 212-864-5400. Symphony Space is located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. Box office hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 1 pm- 6 pm, open two hours prior to performances and events.

Small plates, handcrafted cocktails, draft and craft beers, and wines are available at the in-house, Bar Thalia, open Monday-Saturday, 4pm-midnight and 1-10pm on Sundays.

ABOUT SYMPHONY SPACE
Symphony Space traces its beginnings to a free marathon concert, WALL TO WALL Bach, held in 1978 and organized by co-founders Isaiah Sheffer and Allan Miller. The music marathon then drew thousands of visitors and has since become one of the organization's signature events. Today Symphony Space presents more than 600 events each season, including music, dance, theater, film, and literary readings. Some of its best known programs include Selected Shorts, a reading of short stories by stars of stage and screen, and one of the most popular series on public radio; National Theatre Live, broadcasting the best of British theatre to cinemas around the world; and Just Kidding, one of the most talked about family entertainment series around town. Uptown Showdown has been called "New York's best comedy series" by New York magazine. For more information, visit symphonyspace.org.