Santino Fontana’s Tribute to Rodgers and Hart Will Be Part of 92Y’s 2019 Lyrics & Lyricists Series

The 49th season of the popular series will also spotlight Stephen Sondheim, Sammy Davis Jr., and more.

Tony nominee Santino Fontana, who will star in the forthcoming world premiere of the new musical Tootsie, has conceived and written a concert evening that pays tribute to songwriters Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart for 92Y’s 2019 Lyrics & Lyricists series.

Entitled We’ll Have Manhattan: Rodgers & Hart in New York, performances are scheduled for January 26–28, 2019. David Chase will be the music director; casting will be announced at a later date.

The 49th season of the American Songbook-themed series, produced by Ted Chapin, will continue February 23–25 with Yes I Can: The Sammy Davis, Jr. Songbook under the artistic direction of Laurence Maslon. Tazewell Thompson will direct the tribute to the Rat Pack member, who also received a Tony nomination for his performance in 1964's Golden Boy. Performers will include Tony nominee André De Shields and Betsy Wolfe.

Sondheim: Wordplay, with a creative team to be announced, will be offered March 30–April 1. The concerts will spotlight the lyrics of the famed composer-lyricist, whose musicals include Company, Follies, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and many more.

Chapin will host A Beautiful Dawning: Oklahoma! at 75, set for May 4–6 with musical direction by Andy Einhorn. The celebration of the groundbreaking musical will include classics from the Rodgers and Hammerstein score, songs dropped from the production, and the show's relevance 75 years after its premiere.

SEE WHAT IS COMING TO BROADWAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE

The 2019 season will conclude June 1–3 with Live and in Living Color! Songs for TV, a celebration of television’s history of songs and music originally written for that medium, from original musicals by great songwriters to jingles and theme songs. Mo Rocca will host the evenings co-created by Rob Berman and Chase Brock.

“I’m excited about the new season, which both looks at the familiar through contemporary eyes and delves into unexplored areas,” Chapin states. “We’re welcoming a remarkable group of talented artists who bring a wealth of fresh takes and insights to this extraordinary series.”

For more information visit 92Y.org/Lyrics.

Fontana has been a special guest performer on Playbill's Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Cabins are now on sale for Playbill’s Broadway on the Rhône River 2 cruise April 7–14, 2019, featuring Melissa Errico, Rebecca Luker, Marc Kudisch, and Seth Rudetsky, and Broadway in Bordeaux With Michael Feinstein September 1–9, 2019, with other celebrity guests to be announced! Call Playbill Travel for tickets at 866-455-6789 or visit PlaybillTravel.com.

