honoring

MargaretWhiting

and

MichaelMayer

presents

TheName That Tune

Benefit

S A T U R D A Y | 7 : 0 0 P MN O V E M B E R 6 , 2 0 1 0

T H E E D I S O N B A L L R O O M2 4 0 W E S T 4 7 T H S T R E E T

Jamie deRoy & friendsJamie deRoy & friendsDe

sign:

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CREA

TVEG

ROUP

,NYC

Photo

:ERIC

STEP

HENJ

ACOB

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congratulates

Margaret Whitingand

Michael Mayerand

& PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR VERY SPECIAL ANNUAL

HOLIDAY SHOW HOLIDAY SHOWHOLIDAY SHOWSAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATE

THURS,DEC2@ 7PMTHURS,DEC2@ 7PM

34West 22nd StreetBET. 5TH & 6TH AVES.

RES:212 206.0440$25 COVER 2 DRINK MINIMUM

9244 HOLIDAY 12-2-10 MET:8660 dec 6 METRO unplugged.qxd 10/25/2010 11:08 AM Page 1

Bravo!

honorsour friend

MICHAELMAYER

photo by Shirin Tinati

Michael Putman EstwanikPres i den t

Jamie deRoyV i ce P res i den t

Timothy ConnellSec re t a r y

John SterbaTreasu re r

Pam Laudenslager

Amy Rivard

Robert M. SafronDaryl Embry

Prog ram D i r ec to r

Tracy Green Landauer, Esq.Lega l Adv i so r

The mission of The American Songbook Project:

• Preserve the heritage of American songs and to foster its artists.

• Promote the art of live performance with a special focus on classic and contemporary popular American songs.

• Present American popular songs in schools, community centers, and other venues with the goal of education and developing new audiences for them.

Lucie ArnazAnna BergmanDanny BursteinCharles Cermele

Ann FromanJames GavinMalcolm Gets

Ralph and Calla Guild

Robert LopezRebecca Luker

Jeff MarxIan Ralfini

Frank and Mary SkillernDr. Glory Van Scott

Rex UriceMargaret Whiting

Advisory Board

Board of Directors

Mission

Michael Putman

Estwanik

The American Songbook Project was founded in 1999 as a 501(c)

(3) charitable organization. It brings singers from Broadway and cabaret

into New York City schools and community organizations to introduce

young people to some of the beautiful melodies and meaningful lyrics of the American songs that are part of their heritage. These one-hour programs include not

only American popular standards, but also some of the great new songs being written by today’s talented composers. No matter

where these young students travel around the world, American songs

will no doubt be playing in the background. These songs are their birthright as American citizens and one of the glories of our country.

Through these programs, we hope to be planting the seeds to develop new songwriters, performers, and if

nothing else, new listeners.

November 6th, 2010

Welcome friends of The American Songbook Project,

Why do we choose our causes?

In 1980 I was living in spectacular Lake Tahoe so I could ski each winter. But there was little quality entertainment for me to enjoy except for casino shows and I noticed there was nothing for families. So one day I decided to begin a summer musical theatre company. In our second year I was asked by one of our directors to play the role of Snoopy in the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The business aspect of the company was running pretty well so I thought, what the hell. Because the only water fountain in the facility where we performed was in the lobby (and bottled water had not yet been invented), after intermission I would wait until the very last minute and sneak out there for a quick drink just before going back onstage to face “The Red Baron.”

One afternoon, when the doors to the auditorium were already closed and I was leaning over the fountain, a little five-year-old boy came barreling out of the men’s room, wondering where ev-erybody had gone. I went over to him and said “What’s your name?” He said “Tommy, Snoopy.” “Well Tommy, you’d better hurry back to your seat for the second half.” “Oh, you mean there’s more Snoopy?” and he went skipping off. He started to run back into the auditorium to join his family who must have been wondering where he was. But he suddenly darted back out, tugged on my costume and asked “Snoopy, is the second half going to be in color too?”

That is why I founded that theatre company. And our Board of Directors of The American Songbook Project and the many performers we have taken to our New York schools for the past eleven years could each tell you similar stories that reinforce why we are committed to preserv-ing The American Songbook Project. To sharing it with our youth. With the arts budget cuts in our schools, with the little bit of exposure our youth have to our great songs of beautiful melodies and meaningful lyrics, we all need to do what we can if we expect these treasures to be around much longer. But TASP programs do not include only the “old standards.” We also include many of the great songs being written by our very talented contemporary songwriters whose work also deserves to be shared.

The American Songbook Project does not have all the answers to this challenge. But we are trying and we would love for you to try with us. Soon we will be forming a Guild, a group of volunteers who believe in our mission and who would like to become involved. We need you, and more importantly our young children and our songwriters need you. Please visit our website from time to time for updates on this important next step. www.theamericansongbookproject.org

We hope you enjoy this evening and we are most grateful for your support.

Yours truly,

Michael Putman EstwanikPresident, Board of Directors

7:00 PM Silent Auction and Raffle Tickets For Sale

7:30 – 8:15 PM Song Title Costume Judging in Upstairs Lounge by Our Celebrity Judges:

• Frank Dilella, NY1News “On Stage”

• Adam Feldman, “Time Out New York”

• Hilary Kole, jazz vocalist

• William Ivey Long, Tony Award-winning costume designer

• Jordan Roth, Producer and President of Jujamcyn Theatres

• Tara Rubin, casting director / Tara Rubin Casting

• Frank Skillern, arts supporter

8:15 PM Buffet Dinner

9:30 PMAwarding of Best Song Title Costume

• Wins a week in Paris and on the French Riveira in presidential suites courtesy of Radisson Blu Hotels with airfare.

Raffle Ticket Drawings

• Including nine days in Hawaii (Four Seasons Maui, Kauai Marriott Resort, and Hotel Lana’i).

Live Auction with Jim Caruso:

• “An Evening with Brooke Shields and John McDaniel” in an elegant apartment overlooking Lincoln Center with your thirty best friends.

• A $30,000 nine-day vacation in Switzerland courtesy of Swiss Airlines, the Swiss Convention Bureau, Vitoria Jungfrau Hotels and Beau Rivage Palace.

• A $11,000 vacation to Vancouver’s Westin Bayshore Hotel and to the sublime award-winning wilderness resort on Vancouver Island, Clayoquot. www.wildretreat.com

10:00 PMTribute to Margaret Whiting with Maureen Moore and Nellie McKay

Tribute to Michael Mayer with Dick Scanlan, Jane Kaczmarek, and Kate Baldwin

10:30 PM Dancing

Tonight’s Program

$5,000 | “Teach Your Chi ldren Wel l”Graham Nash – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Bad Boy Entertainment (Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs)Roy Niederhoffer and Jenny Lebowitz

$2,500 | “Count Your Blessings”Irving Berlin

Edythe Kenner FoundationCarmine Nicoletti and Belaire Offset Printing

Robert and Lynda SafronKara J. Unterberg

$1,000 | “At the Same Time”Ann Hampton Callaway

$500 | “Grateful”John Bucchino

presents

“The Art of Song Performance”A one-week intensive workshop for 14-18 year olds,

taught by some of New York’s finest performer-teachers

Please visit our website after January 1 for further information.www.theamericansongbookproject.org or email michaelsongbook@gmail.com

Our Sponsors

AnonymousKenneth C. Cohen

Jamie deRoyBarry R. Feirstein

The Friars FoundationBill Haas and Bob Stroney

Jane KaczmarekJo Sullivan LoesserJordan RothFrank and Mary Skillern FoundationDonna SolowaySylvia and David Steiner

Wendy FedermanSusan Irwin and Mark Shehan

Ralph and Call GuildJohn Kander

Charles KayeAndrew and Andrea PotashTommy Tune

BIG BAND TUESDAYS!AT THE IRIDIUM

ScoBar Entertainment + BUG:OUT:MUSIC present

TERESE GENECCO & HER LITTLE BIG BANDUESDAYS!!

& HER LITTLE BIG BAND

THE LONGEST-RUNNING NIGHTCLUB ACT ON BROADWAY!

The Iridium Jazz Club1650 Broadway @ 51st St, NYCwww.iridiumjazzclub.comwww.teresegenecco.com

TIX + INFO: 212.582.2121$25 + $10 food/bev minimum

“Frisky Retro Fun!” - Time Out New York

FINAL PERFORMANCES IN 2010 November 30th and December 28th

Our Auctioneer

Jim Caruso

Our Celebrity Judges

Tara RubinFrank Dilella

Adam FeldmanHilary Kole

William Ivey LongJordan Roth

Frank Skillern

Kate BotelloGraphic Designer

traversecitywebdesign.com

Beck LeePress Representative

mediablitz.biz

Mary Ann PierceMAP digital, inc.MetaMeetings

Website Ticketingwww.mapdigital.com

Terese GeneccoShaynee Rainbolt

Bug:Out:DesignAdvertising Sales

bugoutdesign.com

Robert SokolVIA MEDIA

Event Program Designwww.viamedia.net

Carmine NicolettiBelaire Offset Printing

Printing

Milena AlbertiLinda Amiel Burns

Sean AtteburyMelissa Attebury

Kate BaldwinAnna Bergman

Emily BleyKate Burton

Robert CallelyWill CampbellHeather Casey

Philip Di Belardino Ban f i F i ne W ines

Brion DingesMichael DiPetro

Eric DunlapKelly Egan

Billy EstwanikAnn Froman

Greg GiancolaDeborah Hecht

Rick HinksonCindy Hoddeson

Justin JonesJon Jordan

Jane KaczmarekJamie KaplanGinger KarrenBrian Koonin

Megan LarcheJosh Lehrer

Rebecca LukerJohn McDanielNellie McKay

Frank McVeighRyan Moller

Maureen Moore Jim Pierson

Rachelle RakIan RalfiniB lue No te and

Manha t t an Reco rds

Austin Regan

Shelley RobertsSteve Ross

Seth RudetskyPeter SachonDick ScanlanStan Schnier

Secret Garden FlowersBrooke Shields

Sherie Rene Scott and Kurt DeutschSh-K-Boom Reco rds

Mary SkillernDonald Smith

Eileen SolomonMichael Timmons Chase Timmons

Shirin TinatiRoma TorreTom Viola

Debbie WhitingLarry Yurman

Thank You“(You’ve Got To Have) Fr iends”

Mark Klingman - Buzzy Linhart

And Also“Help”

John Lennon - Paul McCartney

With heartfelt congratulations and much love

to Michaelfrom his NYSAF family

I first met the lady of the evening (I think she would appreciate the double-entendre) in the mid-Sixties. I was working at a piano bar next to a summer stock theatre in suburban Washington. Margaret and Don Ameche were appearing in together in the show I Married an Angel.

After the show, all the cast would repair to the only game nearby, i.e. my bar, to drink, socialize, sing and in general impress the socks of this young performer.

If you can be warm and dry at the same time, that’s what Margaret is – affectionate and supportive as well as viewing life from a humorous and somewhat ironical standpoint. I love both of the these qualities and over these many years, that’s what Margaret has shown to me.

This doesn’t even mention the power, sensitivity, honesty and musicianship of her own singing – a benchmark to all.

Steven Ross

AMemoryofMargaretWhiting

Born in 1924 in Detroit, MI, Margaret Whiting is the daughter of Eleanore Young and famed song-writer Richard Whiting, a major contributor to the golden decades of pop songs, the 1920s and 1930s.

While the Whiting house in Hollywood was filled with colleagues of her father such as Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Frank Loesser, July Styne, Leo Robin, Gus Kahn, Jerome Kern, and the Gershwin brothers, Whiting said that the greatest influence on her was the jazz pianist Art Tatum. While living in Hollywood she got to be his friend and was impressed by his musicality, his rhythm, his chord structure. She learned to enjoy singing from him.

Johnny Mercer became Whiting’s mentor, close friend and musical guide from childhood. He first heard her sing when she was six years old. When her father died in her teens, he became her surrogate father, guiding her into singing professionally.

When Mercer cofounded Capitol Records in 1942, 16-year-old Whiting was one of the first artists he signed to the new label. Her first major hit was Mercer’s and Arlen’s “That Old Black Magic” recorded one week after she turned 18. She recorded her late father’s song “My Ideal” in 1943 with lyrics by Leo Robin. It became the first of a long list of hits she made for Capitol and the first of over a dozen records that sold over a million copies. She remained with Capitol for 17 years until she moved to Dot Records in 1958. In 1960, Whiting switched to Verve Records, recording a number of albums including one with vocalist with Mel Tormé. In the early ‘60s, she returned to Capitol Records and then joined London Records in 1966, recording two additional pop singles. Whiting has recorded more than 500 popular songs.

Whiting also turned her talents to a number of Broadway productions, including Gypsy, Pal Joey, and Call Me Madam, and an off-Broadway play, Taking My Turn in 1983. She also joined three other 1940s and 1950s singers Kay Starr, Rosemary Clooney, and Helen O’Connell, and comediennes Rosemarie, Martha Raye, and Kaye Ballard in a rotating singer/comedienne act called “4 Girls 4” that toured for 12 years. Whiting appeared in many motion picture films as an actress and vocalist. She worked on TV on The Bob Hope Show and regularly appeared on The Jack Smith Show. In the 1950s, Whiting and her older sister Barbara, hosted their own television series, a sitcom called The Whiting Girls.

In 1997, she appeared in the Broadway salute to Johnny Mercer entitled Dream with John Pizzarelli, Lesley Ann Warren and Brooks Ashmanskas. She has also entertained aboard cruise ships, in music halls, night clubs, on big band tours and in cabarets rooms across the country.

Whiting is President of the Board of Directors of the Johnny Mercer Foundation, a board member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Society of Singers, Grammy Awards and The Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs.

MargaretWhiting

Dear Michael:

Anyone Can

Whistle. Except me.

Your nemesis of 30 years,

Agent Smith

I saw his work before I met Michael Mayer. It was a play at The Atlantic Theater Company and I remember thinking that the play was beautifully directed. Who was this Michael Mayer? I think I may have met him that night. I found out that he had been a student at the University of Wisconsin with my roommate at The Yale School of Drama, Jane Kaczmarek. That he knew a lot of my friends.

I then saw You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and laughed uproariously at that sweet, funny show. I followed his career knowing that it was a special one. Then I got a call to participate in one of the many workshops of a musical adaptation of Wedekind’s Spring Awakening....and I fell in love with Michael Mayer.

Watching him in action was a revelation. He was so smart, so funny, so caring and so loving but he had a tenacity that could meld this brilliant old seminal play and this brilliant new music. He was able to communicate equally with blooming teenage actors as well as seasoned Broadway veterans. He had a plethora of tools and all of them under lied his humanity.

I called my husband, Michael Ritchie, after the first rehearsal and told him what I had just experienced. I said, “This is really something.” How right I was! Then last spring how blessed I was to experience American Idiot? I feel so lucky to have had the experience of working with him and to be able to be an audience member at all of his shows. He is a treasure and an utter original and I am so pleased he is being honored tonight.

Kate Burton

ATribute toMichaelMayer

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Michael Mayer was born in 1960 in Washington, DC and raised in Rockville, MD. His father Jerry was a lawyer at the NLRB and his mother, Lou, a homemaker and political activist.

Mayer was first smitten with the movies before graduating from grade school when he played the role of Alfalfa in a

classroom film based on the Our Gang films. He made several films using a Super 8 single lens camera with a zoom that his parents had given him, but after graduating from high school, he entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison, subsequently transferring to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Acting Program where he graduated in 1983.

Mayer began performing onstage in New York but by 1988 he had turned his sights toward directing, staging student plays and teaching at the Lincoln Center Theatre Institute, Juilliard, Yale, Fordham, the Playwrights Horizons Theatre School and back at NYU where he directed the first New York production of Angels in America - Part II: Perestroika.

His Broadway credits include Triumph of Love, A View From the Bridge (Drama Desk for Outstanding Direction of a Play), Side Man (Drama Desk for Outstanding Direction of a Play), You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Lion in Winter, Uncle Vanya, An Almost Holy Picture, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Drama Desk for Outstanding Director of a Musical), After the Fall, ‘night Mother, Spring Awakening (Tony Award® for Best Direction of a Musical, Drama Desk for Outstanding Director of a Musical), co-wrote and directed American Idiot (Drama Desk for Outstanding Director of a Musical), and Everyday Rapture.

His off-Broadway credits include Everyday Rapture, Our House: 10 Million Miles, Antigone in New York, Baby Anger, The Credeaux Canvas, and Stupid Kids. Mayer also directed the national tours of Spring Awakening, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Angels in America.

Mayer’s regional work includes plays at Berkeley Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, McCarter Theatre, Center Stage, and Yale Rep.

In 2004, after working steadily as a theater director for more than 15 years, Mayer returned to his first love - film - making his first directorial debut in a feature film with A Home at the End of the World starring Colin Farrell and Robin Wright. In 2006, he made the family film Flicka, an adaptation of the story “My Friend Flicka.”

Since the early 1990s, there has hardly been a season when Mayer hasn’t had a production that he’s directed playing on or off-Broadway, in regional theater, on national tour, or overseas.

MichaelMayer

Congratulations, Margaret!

BOBBIE HOROWITZ