Heidi Blickenstaff, Rebecca Luker, Debby Boone & More Set For 2013 Lyrics & Lyricists Season at 92nd Street Y

Broadway vets Heidi Blickenstaff, Rebecca Luker, Jason Danieley, Barbara Carroll, James Naughton, Billy Stritch, Debby Boone and more will star in the 92nd Street Y’s 2013 season, Lyrics & Lyricists. The new season will present a panoramic journey through the American Songbook via New York, London, Hollywood and Stratford-on-Avon.

The Very Model of a Modern Major Lyricist: W.S. Gilbert and the Broadway He Inspired will run from January 12 through 14. Written and hosted by Sheldon Harnick, directed by Gary Griffen and featuring piano accompaniment by artistic director Rob Fisher, the concert dissects Gilbert’s influence on theater lyricists from Porter to Sondheim. The Very Model traces the comic DNA of The Mikado to My Fair Lady and beyond in a celebration of Broadway humor and satire. The production stars Jason Danieley (Next to Normal) and Tony nominee David Garrison (A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine).

Co-written by Grammy winner Billy Stritch and Mark Waldrop, Give Me Fever: The Many Voices of Peggy Lee tours the hip musical landscape of the coolest singing icon of the times, telling the story of how she turned “Fever” and “Is That All There Is?” into standards and wrote “He’s a Tramp.” The production features piano and vocals by Stritch, who also serves as artistic director. Waldrop serves as director. In addition to Stritch, the cast includes La Tanya Hall (Dreamgirls on tour), Gabrielle Stravelli (Hair European tour) and cabaret singer Marilyn Maye. The production will run February 23 through 25.

Taking a Chance on Love: The Music of Vernon Duke tells the very theatrical story of Duke, who played Carnegie Hall, penned hits like “Autumn in New York” and landmark shows like Cabin in the Sky, and led a double life as composer and pianist Vladimir Dukelsky. Written, artistic directed and hosted by David Loud, Taking a Chance on Love stars Heidi Blickenstaff ([title of show]) and Tony nominee Rebecca Luker (Mary Poppins). Taking a Chance on Love will premiere April 6 and play through April 8.

Written by Deborah Grace Winer, The Song is You: Jerome Kern Coast to Coast takes a closer look at “The Dean,” who redefined American music with musicals like Show Boat and songs like “The Way You Look Tonight.” Winer also serves as artistic director and host, with John Oddo as music director an Mark Waldrop as stage director. The cast includes jazz singer Karrin Allyson, Grammy winner Debby Boone (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), Jeffry Denman (White Christmas), jazz singer and bassist Jay Leonhart, two-time Tony winner James Naughton (Chicago), jazz singer Paula West, Tony winner Karen Ziemba (Contact) and special guest, jazz pianist and vocalist Barbara Carroll. The Song Is You will play a limited engagement from May 4 through 6.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare: The Bard and the Broadway Musical explores Shakespeare’s influence on the American Songbook, from Kiss Me, Kate to West Side Story to The Lion King. Featuring artistic direction by Mark Lamos and musical direction by Wayne Barker, the cast of Brush Up Your Shakespeare will be announced shortly. The production will run June 1 through 3.