THE TOWN HALL & Todd Abramson PRESENT Monday, March 9, 2020
123 West 43rd St NYC 10036 | THETOWNHALL.org
THE TOWN HALL PRESENTS | THU. + FRI. JUNE 25-26 • 8PM
Monday, March 9, 2020 The Town hall & Todd Abramson Present
Bonnie “Prince” Billy featuring Emmett Kelly +
Jonathan Richman featuring Tommy Larkins
THE TOWN HALL 123 W 43rd st nyc LARRY ZUCKER, Executive Director
CINDY BYRAM PR, Publicity
M.A. PAPPER, Artistic Director
BILL DEHLING, Technical Director
JEFF MANN, Marketing Director
CARL ACAMPORA, Production Manager
MELAY ARAYA, Associate Artistic Director & Archivist
ALEX KOVEOS, Digital Media Manager LEIA-LEE DORAN, Principal Designer
THETOWNHALL.ORG | @TownHallNYC
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ABOUT THE ARTISTs
Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Jonathan Richman, two distinctive and poetic American voices, join forces in a unique double-bill at The Town Hall. Throughout their unusual careers, both have explored and probed a broad range of music styles and approaches. Bonnie “Prince” Billy, once an alt-country artist with his particular take on folk music, took detours as a performer to celebrate The Everly Brothers, Merle Haggard, and a Norwegian singer before establishing himself as a deeply original voice in roots music. Meanwhile, Jonathan Richman, who started as an unusual, suit-and-tie leader of protopunk band The Modern Lovers, turned to an acoustic sound, better fitting his evolving writing style, before emerging as a lyrical balladeer as adept at singing in Spanish, French, and Italian as in English. Their winding musical travels have resulted in two very personal and deeply affecting bodies of work.
Bonnie “Prince” Billy is just one of the alter-egos of Louisville, Ky. native Will Oldham. Trained as an actor, he worked in film and television in the 1980s and early 90s. He debuted as a musician in 1992, using the name Palace and several variations on that moniker. But since 1998, most of his work has been under the name Bonnie “Prince” Billy. “His artistic trajectory has been as gnarled and twisted as his mountain-man beard, traveling in and out of one quintessential American genre after another, noisy and raw one moment, bright and polished the next,” noted Stereogum magazine. It’s a career chronicled on over 50 album releases since the early 1990s, from studio and live recordings to compilations. Billy has defiantly followed his own path, taking time to pay tribute to the Everly Brothers (What the Brothers Sang), Merle Haggard (Best Troubador) and, for good measure, Norwegian singer Susanna Wallumrod (Wolf of the Cosmos). In a review of his 2019’s, I Made a Place, Billy’s first in release in eight years, Loud and Quiet magazine marveled he had reached the “kind of musical status that’s difficult to achieve now,” becoming a songwriter “prolific, well-respected, influential and very in tune with what’s happening around us – both socio-politically and musically.” At The Town Hall, Billy will perform with singer, songwriter, and longtime collaborator Emmett Kelly. 3 | @TownHallNYC
Photo © Mickie Winters
ABOUT THE ARTISTs After his band The Modern Lovers broke up in the mid-70s, Jonathan Richman “got tired of rock volume, streamlined his song structures, and added hints of music from other cultures, “ write Pitchfork. “But he also started peppering his albums with…tracks like ‘Ice Cream Man’ and ‘Buzz Buzz Buzz,’ which sounded like Eisenhower-era novelties for grammar schoolers.” It’s a peculiar and wonderful evolution that has resulted in more refined songwriting and streamlined live shows. For this performance, Richman will be joined by drummer Tommy Larkin, a longtime musical partner. “Richman is one of America’s most unique and dynamic songwriters,” noted The Nashville Scene. “He has evolved from an angry young man driving past the Stop & Shop into a sorcerer-poet who understands that the chords to ‘Louie Louie’ are a form of ritual magic. Today’s Richman has the benefit of wisdom and awareness. More than anything, Richman’s career has been about finding the beauty and the joy in simple moments.”
Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Jonathan Richman are the kind of storytellers who can make the extraordinary sound easy — and vice versa. This special Town Hall show brings them together for one night, doing what they do best: finding beauty, humor, pathos, and a touch of the absurd in ordinary life.
Photo © Angelina Castillo
@TownHallNYC | 4
The Town hall Presents Friday, March 20, 2020 • 8pm
Miguel Poveda With guest dancer Antonio Molina “El Choro” The Greatest Flamenco Voice of his Generation
Thursday, April 2, 2020 • 8pm
Brooklyn Rider: Healing Modes Debuting 5 new commisioned works, exploring the subject of healing from a wide range of historical and cultural perspectives
Friday, May 8, 2020 • 8pm
The Lord Is Listenin’ To Ya, Hallelujah! Celebrating Carla Bley Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Carla Bley, Steve Swallow and other Special Guests
Saturday, May 9, 2020 • 8pm
Django A Go GO 2020 Stephane Wrembel Presents a Celebration of Guitar Through the Music of Django Reinhardt “Perhaps the most creative improviser in Gypsy jazz today, Mr. Wrembel plays the guitar with a rich and colorful lyricism.” –The New York Times
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Contribute to our Archives! The Town Hall is searching for: • Programs & Stagebills • Photos • Performance Recordings & Films featuring the Hall • Ticket Stubs • Show Posters • Memorabilia from moments in our history Please contact: Melay Araya / Archivist 212-997-1003 ext. 22 | m.araya@thetownhall.org
1935 Marian Anderson makes her New York operatic debut
1944 Langston Hughes discusses the race question on air at “America’s Town Meeting”
1945 Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker debut Bebop in a formal concert hall
1957 Ravi Shankar performs here 9 years before he meets The Beatles
1961 Bob Dylan holds his first major concert at age 21
1964 Coretta Scott King debuts her Freedom Concerts @TownHallNYC | 6
THE TOWN HALL FOUNDATION The Town Hall’s mission is to provide affordable world-class entertainment by new and established artists to a diverse audience; to inspire the youth of our community to appreciate and participate in the arts at The Town Hall and in schools through our Education Outreach Program; and to preserve and enhance The Town Hall as a historic landmark venue for the enjoyment and cultural enrichment of generations to come.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
WARNING
President
Vice President
Tom Wirtshafter
Alfred H. Horowitz
President Emeritus
Vice President
Bruce S. Leffler
Marvin Leffler
Treasurer
Executive Vice President
Andrew T. Miltenberg
Susan Zohn
Secretary
Trustees
Phyllis Putter Barasch
Jacobo Almuiña Phyllis Putter Barasch Robert E. Evanson Anne Frank-Shapiro Alfred H. Horowitz Henry Johansson Bruce S. Leffler Marvin Leffler David F. McCarthy Ellen Miller-Wachtel Andrew T. Miltenberg Rita Robbins Madhu Southworth Nevin Steinberg Tom Wirtshafter Susan Zohn
Advisory Council
Kathleen Rosenberg, Chair Nancy Berman Shauna Denkensohn Sandy Horowitz Elizabeth Iannizzi Zita Rosenthal Rhoda Rothkopf Arts in Education
Dr. Charlotte K. Frank, Chair Michael Fram Dr. Sharon Dunn Gary Hecht Ernest Logan Dr. Lisa Mars Dr. Eloise Messineo Dr. Pola Rosen Leona Shapiro George Young
Leona Chanin Mary Dettling-Wright
THE TOWN HALL STAFF Executive Director
Technical Director
Lawrence C. Zucker
Bill Dehling
Artistic Director
Box Office Manager
M.A. Papper
Angel Rodriguez
Director of Administration, Subscriptions & Membership
Chief Engineer
Steve Franqui
Helen Morris House Manager
Richard Looney
Jacqueline Maddox Director of Education
Institutional Giving Associate
Lauren Noble
Barbara Matovu
Director Of Marketing
Development Assistant
Jeff Mann
P. H. Lawson
Associate Artistic Director & Archivist
Melay Araya Digital Media Manager
Alex Koveos Principal Designer
Leia-lee Doran 7 | @TownHallNYC
FIRE NOTICE The exit indicated by a red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. In the event of fire or other emergency please do not run, WALK TO THAT EXIT. Thoughtless persons annoy patrons and endanger the safety of others by lighting matches or smoking in prohibited areas during the performances and intermissions. This violates a city ordinance and is punishable by law.
Advisory Council
LIFE TRUSTEES
Director of Development
The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording inside the theatre without the written permission of the management is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for monetary damages.
Administrative Assistant
Britni Montalbano
-FIRE COMMISSIONER
DIRECTORY OF THEATRE SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: 212.997.1003 Mon-Fri 9:30 am to 5 pm, for rental & membership info BOX OFFICE: 212.840.2824 Mon-Sat 12 noon to 6pm. 24/7 Recording TICKETMASTER: 800.982.2787 to charge tickets by phone.online Ticketmaster.com LOST AND FOUND: 212.997.0113 CELL PHONE POLICY Cell phones should be silenced prior to the performance as a courtesy to the performers and audience. Lobby Refreshment by Theatre Refreshment Company of NY
123 WEST 43RD ST NYC 10036 THETOWNHALL.ORG
Education Assistant
Sophie Siegel-Warren Education Administration Assistant
Kylee Brinkman
Connect @TownHallNYC
MAJOR GIFTS, CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Town Hall’s Education Outreach Program and Global Icons Series are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. We would like to thank the following foundations, corporations, and government institutions for their support:
The Achelis and Bodman Foundation
Garber Atlas Fries & Associates The Hearst Foundations, Inc.
New York State Council on the Arts
Affiliated Advisors
The Hyde & Watson Foundation
New York University
Apple Inc.
JP Morgan Chase
Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Bank of America
Edythe Kenner Foundation
Henry Nias Foundation
The Blakeley Foundation
The Kinder Morgan Foundation
Consolidated Edison Company of New York
The Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation
Office of the President, Borough of Manhattan, Gale A. Brewer
Council Member Ben Kallos
Local One
The Reed Foundation
Council Member Keith Powers
The Mansfield Family Foundation
S&P Global
Council Member Kalman Yeger
Morgan Stanley
The Shubert Foundation
Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Nesenoff & Miltenberg, LLP
The Shubert Organization, Inc.
Robert Evanson
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
Theatre Refreshments
Dr. Charlotte K. Frank
Pricewaterhouse Cooper
Ticketmaster
As of Mar 2, 2020
T H E T O W N H A L L ’ S YO U N G PAT R O N S C I R C L E Join the next generation of Town Hall supporters! Town Hall’s Young Patrons Circle is a special membership group, ages 21-40, that engages in social and educational activities through exciting events, performances, and programming. We are brought together by a shared love of the arts, a deep interest in social change, civic engagement, and a desire to become part of a growing group of like-minded individuals that support Town Hall. For more information about the Young Patrons Circle, please contact Jacquie Maddox, Director of Development - development@thetownhall.org
YO U N G PAT R O N S C I R C L E M E M B E R S Jesse Axelrod* Kevin Costello Jenna Clark Embrey Kate Estes* James Geoghegan Ilia Gorodnichev Anne Heestand Christina Hoffman
Vincent Iannuzzi Brice Jones David P. Leffler Marley Lewis, Yevgeny Vilensky Gregory Minogue* Sheila O’Donoghue Anna Pappa Wirtshafter Joseph Reigadas*
Pamela Schoenberg Jonathan Tulman* Veronica Underhill Susan Walsh Jessie Wirtshafter Benjamin Wirtshafter* Natalie Wright *Young Patrons Circle Executive Committee
TOUR THE HISTORIC TOWN HALL Town Hall has played an integral part in the electrifying cultural fabric of New York City for more than 90 years. A group of Suffragists’ fight for the 19th Amendment led them to build a meeting space to educate people on the important issues of the day. During its construction, the 19th Amendment was passed, and on January 12, 1921 The Town Hall opened its doors and took on a double meaning: as a symbol of the victory sought by its founders, and as a spark for a new, more optimistic climate. In 1921, German composer Richard Strauss performed a series of concerts that cemented the Hall’s reputation as an ideal venue for musical performances. Since, Town Hall has been home to countless musical milestones: The US debuts of Strauss, and Isaac Stern; Marian Anderson’s first New York recital; in 1945, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker introduced bebop to the world; Bob Dylan’s first major concert in ‘63; and much much more. Learn more. Visit thetownhall.org/tours @TownHallNYC | 8
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T h eT o w n Ha l l . o r g / M E M B E R S H I P Photo: © Sachyn Mital
@TownHallNYC | 10
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