Town Hall to Honor Broadway Legend Barbara Cook, 10/22

The Town Hall, Times Square's premier landmark concert venue, will honor Broadway and cabaret star Barbara Cook with the Town Hall 'Friend of the Arts' Award, which is presented annually to individuals in recognition and appreciation for their abiding interest in the development, enrichment and support of the arts.  The Gala will take place on Sunday, October 22 at 5:45 PM at the Princeton Club.

"Barbara Cook's silvery soprano, purity of tone and warm presence have delighted audiences around the world for more than 50 years.  Considered 'Broadway's favorite ingénue' during the heyday of the Broadway musical, Cook (who starred in The Music Man, Candide and She Loves Me, among others) then launched a second career as a concert and cabaret artists soaring from one professional peak to another," according to Town Hall notes.

"Whether on the stages of major international venues throughout the world or in the intimate setting of New York's Café Carlyle, Barbara Cook popularity continues to thrive – as evidenced by her 1997 birthday concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at London's Albert Hall, a succession of triumphant returns to Carnegie Hall where she performed a legendary solo concert debut in 1975, and an ever-growing mantle of honors including the Tony, Grammy, Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, her citation as a Living New York Landmark and her induction into the Theatre Hall of Fame.

In January, Cook achieved yet another career high when New York's Metropolitan Opera Company presented her solo concert debut, making her the first female pop singer to be presented by the MET in the company's 123 year history.  The sold-out show was recorded and released as a live performance CD in April.  In November 2006 Miss Cook will return to Carnegie Hall to perform her sixth solo concert.

Last spring, Cook made a triumphant return to the Café Carlyle, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the famed nightspot, with her new concert titled 'Tribute.' A recording based on the critically acclaimed concert has just been released on DRG records."  

International philanthropists Judy and Michael Steinhardt will also be honored at the gala.

Tickets are $500 per pair and include a pair of seats to the Broadway Cabaret Festival's "Broadway Originals" program, 3:00 PM at The Town Hall.  The concert will feature an array of theatre stars singing songs they made famous in original Broadway productions of yesteryear.  

For more gala info and tickets call 212-997-1003 x10.  Visit www.the-townhall-nyc.org for more information on Town Hall.