SUMMER 2019
REPORT
Mona Golabek and Evan Chesler to receive The Town Hall 2019 Friend of the Arts Award On Sunday, October 20, 2019, The Town Hall will honor Mona Golabek and Evan Chesler with the Town Hall Friend of the Arts Award. Ms. Golabek is an internationally renowned concert pianist, author, and radio host; Mr. Chesler is Chairman of Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The New York Public Library. The awards will be presented at a dinner capping off the 98th Annual Town Hall Gala Celebration. The Town Hall Friend of the Arts Award has been given annually since 1984 to individuals and institutions who have distinguished themselves through their talents, efforts, and support of the arts and—through that talent, effort and support— have contributed to the forward movement of our culture.
The Gala will start at 4:00 p.m. at the Princeton Club with a concert given by Ms. Golabek. The awards presentations, cocktails, and dinner will follow the concert. Admission to the event is by invitation only to our Town Hall Family of Sustaining Members, other contributors, and guests. We hope you will join us in honoring Mr. Chesler and Ms. Golabek by becoming part of the Town Hall Family of Sustaining Members: it’s easy and rewarding. (See page 9 for details.)
Mona Golabek
Mona Golabek is the daughter of Lisa Jura, a child piano prodigy born in Vienna, Austria, who came to England as a refugee in 1938 as part of the Kindertransport rescue operation. Her father, Michel Golabek, was a French resistance fighter, who received the Croix de Guerre. Mona’s grandparents died at Auschwitz. Mona, deeply inspired by her mother’s story and the last words her mother heard at the train station - “Hold on to your music… it will be your best friend,” became a concert pianist and has performed with major conductors and orchestras worldwide. The Grammy nominee and prolific recording artist has been the subject of several documentaries including Concerto for Mona with conductor Zubin Mehta. Together with her sister, Renee, she recorded numerous best selling albums including Saint-Sean’s Carnival of The Animals with the voices of Audrey Hepburn, Charlton Heston, and Ravel’s two piano masterpiece of The Mother Goose Suite with Meryl Streep. Her mother is the subject of Ms. Golabek’s acclaimed book, The Children of Willesden Lane, co-authored by Lee Cohen. The book, now in its 24th printing, has been translated and published in French, Italian, German, Hebrew, Spanish, and Polish.
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In 2012, Mona made her debut in The Pianist of Willesden Lane, adapted from the book. Directed by Hershey Felder, the production has been celebrated by critics and audiences across the globe, with recent sold out theatrical runs in New York and London. Ms. Golabek has received Best Actress Nominations from the New York Drama Desk and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle. Ms. Golabek formed the Hold On To Your Music Foundation. With the help of the Milken Family Foundation, Facing History and Ourselves, and the Annenberg Foundation, she created educational resources for the book that have been adopted into school curricula across America. More than 500,000 students and families have experienced the WILLESDEN READ – the educational mission, spearheaded by the non-profit, that is devoted to spreading the message of her mother’s story. In a unique and ambitious partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation, she will bring the educational mission and her mother’s story to students and communities across the globe. In 2017, Ms. Golabek brought the WILLESDEN READ to New York City. More than 12,000 students attended performances at Town Hall, Martin Luther King Jr High School, and the United Nations to experience the live theatrical show after studying the story of hope and courage. Now, in partnership with Town Hall, she looks forward to returning to New York for an ambitious encore of the WILLESDEN READ in 2021, when the feature film based on the book, is scheduled for release.
Evan Chesler
Evan R. Chesler is the Chairman of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious law firms. He has broad experience in both trial and appellate courts, and has tried numerous cases in federal and state courts all over the country. Mr. Chesler joined Cravath in 1976 and became partner in 1982. He became Head of the Litigation Department in 1996, was elected Deputy Presiding Partner in 2005, and became Cravath’s Presiding Partner in 2007. In 2013, he was named Chairman, the first person to hold the title in the history of the firm. Mr. Chesler is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation and the New York Bar Foundation. He also serves as President of the Institute of Judicial Administration, the oldest nonpartisan organization in the United States devoted to the education of the judiciary. In addition, he is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New York Public Library and Chairman of the Lawyers for the Library Committee. He is also a member of the Leaders Council of the Legal Services Corporation and Council of The American Law Institute and a Trustee of the Federal Bar Council and Supreme Court Historical Society. Mr. Chesler serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of New York University and of the Board’s Executive Committee; a member of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of NYU School of Law; a member of the Advisory Board of the Center on Civil Justice at NYU School of
Law; Chairman of NYU’s Board of Overseers of the Faculty of Arts and Science; and founder and Chairman of the Lawyer Alumni Mentoring Program (LAMP), which provides mentoring and curriculum enrichment programs to prelaw students. Mr. Chesler is also an adjunct professor of law at NYU School of Law, where he teaches an Advanced Trial Practice Seminar, and has been an adjunct faculty member at NYU’s College of Arts and Science, where he has taught an honors seminar entitled “Constitutional Rights in Times of National Crisis.” Considered one of the country’s top trial lawyers, Mr. Chesler was honored with New York Law Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and was named to The Legal 500 Hall of Fame in the “Leading Trial Lawyers” category in 2017. He became the first recipient of Benchmark Litigation’s Hall of Fame Award in 2016 and was named by the publication as one of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America.” He was also named a nationwide “Legend” by Lawdragon. Mr. Chesler has been recognized as a leading litigator in several practice areas by numerous professional publications, including Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Best Lawyers in America, The American Lawyer, Benchmark Litigation, IAM Patent, Law360 and Super Lawyers. Among numerous honors, Mr. Chesler is a recipient of the Judge Learned Hand Award from the American Jewish Committee (2014); the Judge Joseph M. Proskauer Award from the UJA-Federation of New York (2013); the Judge Simon H. Rifkind Award from the Jewish Theological Seminary (2012); the Law & Society
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Award from the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (2011); the Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession Award from Chambers and Partners (2009); the Anti-Defamation League’s Human Relations Award (2007); and the Office of the Appellate Defender’s Gould Award for Outstanding Oral Advocacy (2006). Mr. Chesler received his law degree cum laude from New York University School of Law, where
he was elected to the Order of the Coif, was Topics Editor of the Law Review, served as a junior fellow at the Center for International Studies, twice received the John Norton Pomeroy Prize for academic excellence and was awarded the Benjamin Butler Prize. Following his graduation, Mr. Chesler served as law clerk to Hon. Inzer B. Wyatt of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Lauren Noble appointed Director of Education Lauren joined The Town Hall team in September 2018 following a tenure as Director of Programs at Midori & Friends. During her time there, Lauren provided thousands of students with the chance to learn music in the NYC Public Schools through Midori & Friends programming. Prior to that, Lauren served as Orchestra Director for Fairfax County Public Schools in Northern Virginia. During her years in Virginia, Lauren led music programs that engaged over 2,000 elementary and middle school students. A long-time professional violinist herself, Lauren continues to perform in NYC. Lauren holds a Master’s of Arts Management Degree from George Mason University, and a Bachelor’s of Music Degree from James Madison University.
Town Hall Welcomes David McCarthy to the Board of Directors David McCarthy is the Principal of D.F. McCarthy LLC, a consulting and advisory firm. He also serves as a nonexecutive Board member of a European investment management firm. In 2002, he co-founded Martello Investment Management, LP, a specialist fund of funds and advisory firm concentrating on absolute return investment strategies. Previously, Mr. McCarthy was an Investment Manager for Global Asset Management (GAM) where he managed GAM’s trading funds of funds. He has been an investment officer with the Atlantic Philanthropies, a partner in Rayner and Stonington, a deputy manager of the International Financial Advisory Service of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., and a consultant with McKinsey & Co. Mr. McCarthy has taught at a number of universities including Fordham University and Skidmore College in the United States, and University College Cork in Ireland. He holds a Ph.D. from University College Dublin, an MBA from Stanford University, and a BA from the University of New Hampshire. 4
UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE TOWN HALL Mon, Jun 24 | SOLD OUT
Mon, Sep 23
Jason Robert Brown w/ Special Guest Stephen Sondheim feat. Katrina Lenk
Conversations with Nick Cave: An Evening of Talk and Music
Presented by SubCulture and Jason Robert Brown | Tickets start at $165
Wed, Sep 25
Thu Jun 27 | Jun 28/29 SOLD OUT! The Town Hall Presents
John Cameron Mitchell + Stephen Trask The Origin Of Love The Songs And Stories Of Hedwig In Partnership with Joe’s Pub | Tickets start at $40
Presented by AEG | Tickets start at $49.50
George Thorogood & The Destroyers Presented by Metropolitan Entertainment | Tickets start at $46
Fri, Sep 27
A Very Special Evening w. Graham Nash & Band Presented by Live Nation | Tickets start at $39
Thu, Oct 3
Sun Jun 30
#IMOMSOHARD | Mom’s Night Out Round 2
Adir Miller Presented by Fouad Productions | Tickets start at $87
Presented by Live Nation | Tickets start at $62
Fri, Oct 4
Mon, Jul 8
Into The Woods: In Concert
Richard Clayderman Piano Concert Presented by Huachang Bros. Culture Ltd. Presents | Tickets start at $70
Presented by Cleveland Musical Theatre | Tickets start at $50
Fri, Oct 11
Thu, Jul 11
A Conversation with Ellie Kemper Presented by Live Nation | Tickets start at $45
Tue, Jul 16
The Adventure Zone Graphic Novel LIve! Presented by AEG | Tickets start at $45
Sun, Jul 21
One Giant Leap: Apollo 11 and the Moon Landing 50 Years On Presented by The New York Times | Tickets start at $50
Mon, Jul 22 | The Town Hall Presents
Broadway Rising Stars Tickets start at $27
Renaissance 50th Anniversary Tour 2019: Ashes Are Burning Presented by Live Nation | Tickets start at $39
Sun, Oct 13 | Two shows!
Havasi Pure Piano Concert Presented by Symphonic Concert Mgmt | Tickets start at $55
Thu, Oct 17
Paris! The Show The Greatest French Songs finally on Stage Presented by Directo Productions | Tickets start at $50
Fri, Oct 18
Peter Bence Presented by Bowery Presents | Tickets start at $29.50
Fri-Sat, Jul 26-27
Katya: Help Me I’m Dying Presented by Five Senses Reeling | Tickets start at $25
Sep 7, 14 & 28. Oct 12 & 26. Nov 2, 16 & 23. Dec 7, 14 & 21.
Live From Here with Chris Thile Presented by Minnesota Public Radio | Tickets start at $58
Sat, Oct 19 | Two Shows!
The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra Presented by DDA | Tickets start at $42
Thu, Oct 24
A Tuba to Cuba: The Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Yusa and Special Guests Presented by Bowery Presents | Tickets start at $39.50
Fri, Oct 25
City and Colour with Ben Rogers Presented by Bowery Presents | Tickets start at $38.50
Fri, Sep 13
The Doo Wop Project with Special Guests That Motortown Band Presented by Preemo Productions | Tickets start at $45
Tue, Sep 17
Alan Parsons Live Project Presented by Danny Zelisko Presents | Tickets start at $37
Fri, Sep 20
Sun, Nov 10
Home Free: Dive Bar Saints World Tour Presented by Live Nation | Tickets start at $24.50
Fri, Nov 22
Andrew Schulz | The Matador Tour Presented by Monster Energy Outbreak | Tickets start at $35
Wed, Dec 4
Béla Fleck and The Flecktones
An Evening with Margaret Atwood
Presented by Live Nation | Tickets start at $45
Presented by Live Nation | Tickets start at $59
Fri, Dec 6
Joey Diaz | The 56 and Still Slinging Dick tour Presented by Live Nation | Tickets start at $34.50
Town Hall & Con Edison Celebrate Six NYC Students in Black History Month Awards Ceremony on May 23 In our 22nd annual Black History Month Celebration —made possible through the generous continued support of Con Edison—Town Hall hosted a series of free live performances for public elementary and middle school children and their teachers, two hands-on workshops for one East Harlem elementary school, and a poster & essay contest which encouraged students to think critically about the performances and express themselves through writing & visual arts. Nearly 4,500 guests attended the four shows featuring one of the last black string bands in America, the Ebony Hillbillies, who have spent years delighting audiences with their unique combination of interactive storytelling and exciting musical performances. For many students, this was their first time attending a live concert and visiting a historic landmark in the heart of New York City. Prior to the shows, each school was provided with a comprehensive study guide that covered information on the artists and their instruments and also included featurettes on music genres and
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the history of music, particularly as it pertains to African and African-American artists. For PS 197 in East Harlem, the fun and learning continued with two in-depth workshops surrounding the history of various musical instruments in which students were given the opportunity to play the instruments. All of the students who attended these events were encouraged to enter our poster & essay contest. We received over a hundred submissions and, after extensive deliberation, narrowed the lot to six winners, each of whom was awarded $50 and a certificate of merit at our awards ceremony on Thursday, May 23, 2019. In front of a crowd of their families, friends, and teachers, each winner was individually recognized for their unique pieces and presented with their awards. We’re proud to have been so well received by everyone who participated in this year’s program. The heartfelt responses from teachers and school administrators is what inspires us to continue our work connecting the next generation with their incredible history.
Carly Gastelu, 5th grade entrant from PS 197, poses alongside her winning poster on display at the awards ceremony
At musical workshops at PS 197 in East Harlem, the Ebony Hillbillies teach about the intersection of music, history, and culture
Essay winners Shu Qi Lin and Leslie Campusano, 8th graders from JHS 227K, pose with their entries
Fortune Akinsiku and Keily Alvarez of PS 114x with the teacher representing their school, Ms. Laurie Griffel
The Ebony Hillbillies put on an engaging show that entertains students while educating them
8th grader Musrical Anwar from Brooklyn Environmental Exploration School with his winning poster entry
THIS YEAR’S AWARDEES WERE: Musrical Anwar MS664 BEES, 8TH GRADE Teacher: Ms. Lauren Barth
Fortune Akinsiku PS 114X, 5TH GRADE Teacher: Ms. Laurie Griffel
Keily Alvarez PS 114X, 4TH GRADE Teacher: Ms. Laurie Griffel
Leslie Campusano JHS 227K, 8TH GRADE Teacher: Ms. Vaughan Danvers
Shu Qi Lin JHS 227K, 8TH GRADE Teacher: Ms. Vaughan Danvers
Carly Gastelu PS 197M, 5TH GRADE Teacher: Ms. Arleen Degraffenried
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CONNECTING IDEAS, ARTISTS, AND AUDIENCES
Supporters and Sustaining Members grew by
Individual Contributions grew by
42%
566% in one year Shows Presented by Town Hall grew by
Audience grew by
Town Hall is booked for
211 days in 2019 a 23% increase 8
50% since 2018
32%
50%
over 188 days in 2018
Ticket Sales grew by
100%
of Town Hall Presents programs are archived and available to the public
More than 50
Live at Town Hall archived albums now available to the public on Spotify
M E MBERSHIPS Since 1921, Town Hall has been New York’s gathering place where people from all walks of life can come together to engage in the arts. Our Sustaining Memberships offer exclusive benefits including: Advance ticket access Access to the best seats in the Hall Complimentary and discounted tickets Invitations to special events, artists’ meet and greets and our Annual Friends of the Arts Gala
By becoming a Sustaining Member, you are helping Town Hall continue our rich tradition of bringing the widest range of voices and performers from all over the world to New York City audiences. Your support helps us preserve and keep our century-old building in good working order and present our arts education programming in the New York City public schools, here at the Hall, and throughout our community.
Enjoy the exclusive benefits of becoming a Town Hall Member. SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIPS
SPONSOR
PARTNER
PRODUCERS CIRCLE
All Members Receive Special Recognition in the Town Hall Programs
SEAT HOLDER
212.997.1003 ext. 10 membership@thetownhall.org
MEMBER
Director of Administration, Memberships, and Subscriptions
FRIEND
Helen Morris
SUPPORTER
For more information on how to join, contact:
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Advance Ticket Access Notification of presale and discounts for concerts and Events
Member discounts at local restaurants Access to Patron Circle Seats Reserved seats to Town Hall Presents concerts and other select events (with special pricing, when available)
Complimentary tickets to select Town Hall Presents shows & events Complimentary tickets to Town Hall Gala Special Invitations to sound check or dress rehearsal Seat plaque in The Hall Complimentary Advertisement in Town Hall Gala Journal Invitations to an Artist Meet & Greet after a select Town Hall Presents concert
Private Guided Tour with The Town Hall President Named Sponsorship of a Town Hall Presents Concert
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Private Lunch for 4 with Town Hall Artists
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All tickets are subject to availability, tickets do not include Broadway by the Year®
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Town Hall Welcomes its New Team Members Barbara Matovu, Institutional Giving Associate Barbara is thrilled to join the Development team at Town Hall as the Institutional Giving Associate. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama and a minor in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Despite moving to New York City to be an actress, Barbara has found working in other parts of theatre fulfilling. Since moving to New York, Barbara has worked as an actress, teaching artist, assistant director, and, on the administrative side, in the box office and development. Administratively, the move to development was about finding another platform to share the importance of the performing arts. With a love of history, Barbara is excited to share Town Hall’s rich past, as it celebrates its first Centennial, and a diverse, inclusive future for generations to come.
Melay Araya, Assistant Artistic Director / Archivist Melay joined The Town Hall in April and holds the dual role of Associate Artistic Director and Archivist. A native New Yorker, Melay’s first visit to Town Hall was in 2002 for sarod master Ali Akbar Khan’s 80th birthday celebration. In the time since then, Melay has received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Yale University and turned her passion for history into a career in archives. She has led research projects for corporations, nonprofit entities, artistic estates and writers. Melay manages Ficre Ghebreyesus Fine Arts, the estate of the late EritreanAmerican painter—the first to ever hold a solo exhibition at a major museum in the United States. A musical and dramatic artist with three decades of experience, Melay continues to train, compose, record and perform. Melay is thrilled to have the opportunity to learn about and take part in the inspiring legacy of The Town Hall.
TRUSTEES Tom Wirtshafter, President Marvin Leffler, President Emeritus Susan Zohn, Executive Vice President Alfred H. Horowitz, Vice President Bruce Leffler, Vice President Andrew T. Miltenberg, Treasurer Phyllis Putter Barasch, Secretary Robert E. Evanson Anne Frank-Shapiro Henry Johansson Ted Lambert David F. McCarthy Rita Robbins Madhu Southworth Nevin Steinberg
LIFE TRUSTEES Leona Chanin Mary Dettling-Wright Eugene J.T. Flanagan Claire G. Miller
ADVISORY COUNCIL Kathleen Rosenberg, Chair Nancy Berman Shauna Denkensohn Sandy Horowitz Elizabeth Iannizzi Melody Sawyer Richardson Zita Rosenthal Rhoda Rothkopf
ARTS IN EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL Dr. Charlotte K. Frank, Chair Dr. Sharon Dunn Michael Fram Gary Hecht Ernest Logan Dr. Lisa Mars Dr. Eloise Messineo Dr. Pola Rosen Leona Shapiro George Young
THE TOWN HALL STAFF Lawrence C. Zucker Executive Director
M.A. Papper Artistic Director
Helen Morris Director of Administration, Subscriptions & Membership
Jacqueline Maddox Director of Development
Lauren Noble Director of Education
Jeff Mann
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Lauren Extrom, Education Assistant
Marketing Director
Lauren Extrom joined the Town Hall team in March, and has since been focused on leading Town Hall’s Summer Internship Program, in addition to providing overall support for the Education department. Lauren received her Bachelor of Arts in Music and American Studies from Boston University, and is currently a Masters Candidate in the Performing Arts Administration Program at NYU. She is also an active musician/singer-songwriter and performs in Boston and NYC. Lauren is very passionate about arts education as it relates to social justice, and is very grateful to be a part of an organization that is passionate about these things, too.
Digital Media Manager
Alex Koveos Barbara Matovu Institutional Giving Associate
Melay Araya Assistant Artistic Director / Archivist
Lauren Extrom Education Assistant
Britni Montalbano Administrative Assistant
Angel Rodriguez Box Office Manager
Richard Looney House Manager
William Dehling Technical Director
Steven M. Franqui Chief Engineer
ARTS
Education Programs Located in
17 schools
in all 5 boroughs of New York City
More than
8,300 students Increased the number of
Senior Centers served from 1 to 3 Serving incarcerated young men on
Rikers Island
through four 5-day artist residencies for a total of 4 weeks
There are
27 active teaching artists, and a total of
50 available
for school and community programing
4,500 students
attended Black History Month performances
A total of
30 high school interns placed throughout arts organizations in the summer
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NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE
SUMMER 2019
PAID
REPORT
NEW YORK, N.Y. PERMIT NO. 1120
123 WEST 43rd STREET NEW YORK, NY 1 0036
We are thrilled to announce that we will be lighting our faรงade this coming September. We will invite you to join us in celebrating the kick-off of our 2019-2020 season and a major milestone as we prepare to celebrate our 100th Anniversary in 2021.
Look for your invitation in the mail this summer!
The Town Hall honors Friends of the Arts, Mona Golabek and Evan Chesler. Princeton Club. Sunday, October 20, 2019
TOWN HALL REPORT is published by The Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036