Telluride American Songbook Concerts: 2016 Season Announced

05 Jan Telluride American Songbook Concerts: 2016 Season Announced

Tickets for all Telluride American Songbook Concerts will be $25 and $15 for youth under 18. Now available here. And throughout Gay Ski Week, Michael Estwanik, president, American Songbook Concerts, will dj on a few programs featuring songs by gay/lesbian songwriters or sung by gay/lesbian singers, everyone from Cole Porter to Lesley Gore.

Danny Gardner scheduled to perform in Telluride at first in series of concerts produced by Telluride American Songbook Concerts.

Founder and president Michael Estwanik announced that the Board of Directors of the Telluride American Songbook Festival has voted to revise its name to Telluride American Songbook Concerts.

“Because we  offer our programs and concerts throughout the year, instead of simply over a long weekend as the other Telluride festivals do, we felt a new name that spelled out what we do would clarify our schedule,” explained Michael.

Telluride American Songbook Concerts opens its winter season Monday and Tuesday, February 22 and 23, 7:00 p.m., at the Sheridan Opera House.  The first two shows are encore presentations of the two very popular, sold-out concerts held on last August in Mountain Village, “An Evening of Oscar-Winning Songs.”

The event corresponds to Gay Ski Week and the run-up to the Big Night  in Hollywood, February 28, when the Golden Statue, Oscar, is awarded to the Industry’s picks for best of the best.

“The timing of our 2016 opening was recommended by locals as a week during which there would be a great number of visitors in town (as well as many second homeowners and locals) who would love our concerts. As a community organization, we wanted to do our part to show support of Gay Ski Week, such an important event,” explained Michael. “And because we will now be on the much larger stage of the Sheridan Opera House, we will be adding a few songs with more staging and some spectacular dancing by our new cast.”

Aleka Emerson

Starring in the Oscar show will be song-and-dance man Danny Gardner, who received rave reviews for his recent lead performance in Broadway’s musical “Dames at Sea”; musical theatre triple threat Ms. Aleka Emerson; and the very popular Los Angeles-based singer Dennis McNeil, who always draws appreciative crowds to his annual winter concerts in Telluride.

Dennis McNeil © 2010 Steve Cohn Photography

And in honor of Gay Ski Week, there will be a very special performance by Oscar-winner Ms. Barbra Streisand (or a reasonable facsimile).

Steven Brinberg as Barbra Streisand

The music director will once again be Michael Rice.

“The rest of our season depends upon how our fundraising efforts go,” explained Michael. “We are optimistic that the word-of-mouth about our first season has spread and that enough locals believe in our mission of preserving the American Songbook to keep us going.  The common reaction to our three concerts last year was ‘Thank goodness someone is finally bringing us the kind of music that has always been missing from Telluride’s entertainment schedule.'” 

Telluride American Songbook Concerts’ next planned show is the annual Mother’s Day concert, 4 p.m., at the Sheridan Opera House featuring sensational singer/pianist/songwriter/recording artist (and recent father!) Tony DeSare.

Tony Desare to perform at Mother’s Day concert.

Next up on July 1 and July 2 is a return engagement of the 88-year-old singing sensation, Marilyn Maye, as she pays tribute to one of America’s most male vocalists in his centennial year. Her smash hit show is “Her Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra.” Maye will also be teaching a Master Voice class again on July 3.

Marilyn Maye

Amanda McBroom, who wrote the famous Bette Midler song “The Rose,” will be performing in mid-July and  also teaching a songwriting workshop July 18-22 for middle school, high school, and adults. The workshop for the two younger age groups will be offered through the Telluride Academy.

Finally, the Telluride American Songbook Concert series hopes to offer “This Land Is Your Land, an Evening of American Folk Songs.”