American Songbook Series to Spotlight Foster, Szot, Cumming & More

The lineup for Lincoln Center’s eleventh American Songbook series will include Sutton Foster, Paulo Szot, Alan Cumming, David Hyde Pierce, Stew and more. The 2009 season, running January 14-March 6, 2009, is designed to explore the best of the golden age of musical standards as well as dynamic contemporary songwriting. Seven of the 17 planned concerts are of special interest to theater lovers:

January 14: Night & Day—Rob Fisher Celebrates Cole Porter with David Hyde Pierce and Victoria Clark
The Tony-winning stars of Curtains and The Light in the Piazza join forces to celebrate of the wit, sophistication and class of Porter’s musical standards, hosted by the former musical director of Encores!

January 24: Paulo Szot
The South Pacific star, a 2008 Tony winner for playing Emile de Becque, will lend his operatic baritone to American songs as well as those from his native Brazil.

February 7: Alan Cumming
In his cabaret debut, the Tony-winning star of Cabaret will perform songs that have influenced him during his eclectic career.

February 19: Sutton Foster
The Tony-winning star, now preparing to play Princess Fiona in the Broadway debut of Shrek, will make her second Songbook appearance. In addition to her busy Broadway career, Foster is awaiting the release of her first album, Wish, from Ghostlight Records in 2009.

February 20: An Evening with Alan Menken
The prolific composer of Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Enchanted and more will perform songs, both known and unknown, from his extensive repertoire.

February 21: With a Song in My Heart—John Pizzarelli Salutes Richard Rodgers with Jessica Molaskey
Pizzarelli performs songs from his latest CD, putting his own spin on standards such “This Can’t Be Love, Lady is a Tramp” and “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught,” joined by his wife and frequent co-star.

March 6: Stew and Heidi Rodewald
The Tony-winning creators of Passing Strange will perform music from their early career and the band they founded in 1995, The Negro Problem, as well as music from their acclaimed Broadway musical.

With the exception of Stew’s concert,which will be held at the new Alice Tully Hall, American Songbook will be presented in the Allen Room of Frederick P. Rose Hall.