John Lloyd Young, Kelli O'Hara & More Set for American Songbook Concerts

John Lloyd Young, Kelli O'Hara and Christine Ebersole are among the solo artists on tap for the 2008 American Songbook series at Lincoln Center. The season is scheduled to run from January 23 to March 1 at the Allen Room in Frederick P. Rose Hall.

Tony winner Young, who announced on his blog that he will be leaving Jersey Boys at Thanksgiving, will perform music from the 1960s in two concerts on February 23. O'Hara, set to star in Lincoln Center Theater's upcoming revival of South Pacific, will perform "the works of acclaimed composers and rising songwriters" in concerts on January 26. Tony winner Ebersole, accompanied by Billy Stritch, will perform two concerts of a new show on February 29. In addition, composer David Yazbeck will perform his own compositions in concerts on February 9.

Several themed evenings are also being planned: New York Pops and Encores! music director Rob Fisher will host concerts celebrating Leonard Bernstein's 90th birthday January 25, and Charles Strouse's 80th birthday has inspired "This Is the Life: Eric Comstock Salutes Charles Strouse @ 80" February 6.

The series will open with opera diva Deborah Voigt and also includes concerts by k.d. lang, Patti Smith, Bettye LaVette, Joe Henry and more.