92ND STREET Y'S "LYRICS & LYRICISTS" SERIES GETS NEW FORMAT FOR 2004 SEASON

ROB FISHER, MARY CLEERE HARAN, ANDREA MARCOVICCI AND JOHN PIZZARELLI Conceive and Direct Individual Shows

Barry Levitt Steps Down as L&L's Artistic Director

Starting with the 2004 season, the 92nd St. Y (92nd Street at Lexington Avenue, NYC - Y Charge: 212-996-1100 - http://www.92ndsty.org/) will expand the current format of its legendary Lyrics & Lyricists series. L&L, as it is fondly known by its many loyal fans, will continue to celebrate the words and music of the American songbook, but will open up the L&L stage to interpretations by today's most accomplished champions of the repertoire.

Each of the five Lyrics & Lyricists shows will feature a different artistic director who will design a show especially for L&L. The artistic directors will work with Kristin Lancino, artistic advisor to the 92nd Street Y Tisch Center for the Arts and the Center's director, Hanna Arie-Gaifman, to create original programs in the L&L tradition: a seamless mix of information and entertainment with a particular focus on lyrics. The 2004 season features shows conceived and directed by JOHN PIZZARELLI (January 10-12), ANDREA MARCOVICCI (May 8-10), ROB FISHER (June 12-14), MARY CLEERE HARAN (dates TBA), and one additional artistic director to be announced.

The granddaddy of American songbook programs, Lyrics & Lyricists was launched in 1970 when longtime Broadway conductor Maurice Levine and lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg took to the stage of the 92nd Street Y to talk about the then unusual topic of songmaking. The series has featured every great Broadway and Hollywood lyricist and composer, laying the groundwork for more recent series like Lincoln Center's American Songbook, Carnegie Hall's American Popular Song Celebration and City Center's Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert.

In conjunction with the introduction of a new Lyrics & Lyricists format, Barry Levitt will step down as the series' artistic director. Levitt, a highly regarded producer, music director, composer and arranger for more than 30 years, first appeared with L&L in 1981, when he served as music director. He assumed the post of Artistic Director with L&L in September 1997, following the death of L&L's founding artistic director Maurice Levine. Levitt's current projects include scoring the feature film The Mad Professor of Piedmont U. (for release in summer 2004) and developing and producing theater, television and recording projects for venues and organizations across the country.

Lyrics & Lyricists producer Hadassah Markson, who founded and launched the series in 1970 with Maurice Levine, will continue to be involved with L&L in an advisory capacity. She remains producer of the 92nd Street Y's Jazz in July and Jazz Piano series with Dick Hyman.

Both series are produced by the 92nd Street Y Tisch Center for the Arts.

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND SINGLE TICKETS to the 2004 season of Lyrics & Lyricists will go on sale to the general public July 1, and can be purchased by phone (212-415-5500), via the Internet at http://www.92y.org/ or in person (92nd Street Y Box Office, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street).

ADVANCE SUBSCRIPTION ORDERS will be accepted beginning Wednesday, May 28, and can be made in person (92nd Street Y Box Office, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street) or by phone (212-415-5500), but seat locations cannot be confirmed until July 1, when the renewal period ends for existing subscribers. Internet reservations for Lyrics & Lyricists will not be accepted.

Lyrics & Lyricists has been one of the most popular series at the 92nd Street Y since its inception in 1970, when Arthur Cantor, a trustee of the Billy Rose Foundation, approached Hadassah Markson, then the director of the 92nd Street Y Music School, about presenting a music series focusing on lyricists. Markson enlisted longtime Broadway conductor Maurice Levine, who in turn enlisted lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg (The Wizard of Oz) to launch the series on December 13, 1970. Eventually, the series expanded to include composers, and in 1984 went from first-person histories of the American musical theatre to a series of narrated musical revues. The series has featured some of Broadway and Hollywood's greatest songwriters, including Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Johnny Mercer and Stephen Sondheim.

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