Nancy McGraw and
Lawrence Maslon

Steve Ross

Margaret Whiting

Mary Cleere Haran

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett

Nancy McGraw, Program Director
The Songbook Project

Dear Nancy,

When I said to you that The Songbook Project was providing the combined programs of NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and Graduate Acting Program with the best cabaret event in New York, that wasn’t hyperbole!

The Program you assembled on Thursday, November 15th of Julie Gold, Steve Ross, Mary Cleere Haran, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, Margaret Whiting, Paul Bernhardt, and Ross Paterson was an extraordinary one and I’m full of admiration for your entrepreneurial skills in pulling it off.

As I mentioned to you, the combined group--of more than 80!--had a real proprietary interest in the afternoon’s events. In the Graduate Writing Program, all of the students were either composers or lyricists and were incredibly moved to see how the singers honored the intentions of the songwriters. In the Graduate Acting Program, the third-year students were about to perform their musical theater scenes that evening, so the event had a profound influence on their performances. And the Second- year students were about to embark on their own cabaret performances with Deb Lapidus that evening, so the event couldn’t have been more appropriate.

The students all raved about the performers and had some perceptive comments about the various styles involved. All were amazed that one doesn’t have to be a ‘great singer" to put over a song--all one has to do is believe in it, and in one’s self. One student was shocked to hear how much one would have to pay to see any of these artists in a Manhattan boite, so TSP performed an exceptional service exposing young students—with little pocket money—to these major artists.

I hope we can continue this extraordinary service to our next generation of artists, and if I can be of service in promoting your services, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Cordially,
Lawrence Maslon
Graduate Acting Faculty

MORE LETTERS TO THE SONGBOOK PROJECT

I wanted to take a moment to thank you (and your cast) for a great performance at UNIS two weeks ago.  Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, adults and kids alike. Thank you all sincerely for going out of your way (geographically and performance-wise).  If to educate and entertain is the mission of 'The Songbook Project' you have surpassed your goals. We hope you'll agree to come again some day.
Lauren Pearlstone on behalf of United Nations International School, Queens Campus

“This is to express Juilliard’s enormous gratitude for your arranging to bring us the dazzling cabaret performances and fascinating discussion. It was a great privilege to be able to present these performers to the Drama Division’s students, faculty and guests and especially valuable for the acting students to see how much of a great cabaret singer’s power comes from identifying with the character in the song; in other words, the power of good acting. The performances were truly inspirational”.
Harold Stone, Administrative Director, The Juilliard School

“When I said to you that The Songbook Project was providing the combined programs of NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and Graduate Writing Program with the best cabaret event in New York, that wasn’t hyperbole!”
Lawrence Maslon, NYU Tisch School of the Arts

“Thank you for the great service you bring to so many New Yorkers. Your audience included our students, some faculty and many from the Brooklyn Heights community including many elderly. I think you have gone a long way to convert many of them into cabaret fans.”
Dr. Edward Setrakian, St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY

“I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to you for arranging the truly wonderful musical seminar with Tovah Feldshuh and Jeff Harnar for our students here at The Circle in the Square Theatre School. The students were highly vocal in expressing how inspiring this session was for them. It motivated a great impetus to create their own cabarets as well as offering a sense of personal empowerment as performers.”
E. Colin O’Leary, Circle in the Square Theatre School Director

“I wanted to write to tell you how much we appreciated the recent Mark Nadler concert at the Kaufman Center's Special Music School. The Songbook Project is providing an important service to the children of this city by sending them performers who can sing and play from the Great American Songbook. Some of these children, who listen primarily to rap music, have never had the chance to discover the joys of a beautiful melody, or of simple, elegant lyrics. This song material is their birthright, and one of the glories of their nation, and The Songbook Project is to be commended for sharing it.”
Sean Hartley, Director, Special Music School of America

“Being a teacher for alternative high school students, I am always concerned that my students may get bored, or a bit out of hand when visitors come. But you and the company were so professional and entertaining, they had no time to do anything but sit transfixed.! My students now understand that the music they listen to may not be the same as the performances yesterday, but they have a better understanding for the arts, based on what they saw and heard.”
Lisa Gonzalez, The Eight Plus Program, NY Public Schools