SUNday , M ay 5 , 2019
“a world class icon ” - The n ew Yorke r
Tod Browning’s
with live accompaniment and original music by
with special guest musicians
Daniel Handler + Pinky Weitzman
Stephin Merritt (of the Magnetic Fields) performs original music for Tod Browning's film, The Unholy Three (1925), starring Lon Chaney Stephin is joined by accordionist and novelist Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) and violist Pinky Weitzman
THE TOWN HaLL PrESENTS
aNOUSHKa SHaNKar
FeaturiNg
anoushka shankar | sitar
ojas adhiYa | tabla
Pirashanna Thevarajah | mridaNgam
ravichandra kulur | Flute
dannY keane | Cello & piaNo kenji oTa | taNpura
dennis Fernandez | FoH souNd eNgiNeer
dYlan BaTe | tour maNager
saloni Thakkar | persoNal assistaNt
Cover pHoto: © aNusHka meNoN
THE TOWn HaLL 123 W 43rd st nyc
LaRRy ZuCKER , Executive director
M.a. PaPPER , Artistic director
JEFF Mann , Marketing director
BILL dEHLInG , technical director
CIndy ByRaM PR , Publicity
CaRL aCaMPORa , Production Manager
LEIa-LEE dORan , Principal designer
aLEX KOVEOS , digital Media Manager
welcome to The Town hall.
“it doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, you are welcome here….”
so said the league of political education when they opened town Hall as a monument to women’s suffrage in 1921. the Hall was built to hold the league’s town meetings, those boisterous evenings they hosted to discuss all sides of important issues. they knew that opening minds through life-long learning was required not just with new voters, but for all voters. so everyone was welcomed. it was a young violinist from spain, Juan manen, who first brought music to the hall. later that year, richard strauss came from germany to play piano for a series of recitals. the acoustics mckim, mead & White had designed for conversation worked equally well for music.
our inclusionary policy welcoming all is the same for music. From day one, town Hall has welcomed visitors and performers from every walk of life from every corner of the world. and so this weekend we welcome to town Hall two legendary global icons to the town Hall stage.
Baaba Maal is back in New York after a long absence. an international music ambassador, his music is celebrated throughout the world. baaba is joined by the town Hall ensemble, under the direction of steven bernstein. the ensemble features some of New York’s most renowned musicians who bring with them a broad spectrum of styles and voices, something the town Hall has embraced for nearly a century.
anoushka shankar is a singular figure in the indian classical and progressive world music scenes. Her dynamic and spiritual musicality has garnered several prestigious accolades including six grammy® award nominations. We are proud to say that town Hall has a long history with anoushka and her family. Her father, ravi, first performed at town Hall in 1956.
so while this weekend is special, it is not out of the ordinary for town Hall.
From everyone at town Hall - thank you for coming. please enjoy the shows.
Tom wirtshafter Marvin leffler President President Emeritus
sitarist and composer anoushka shankar culminates a celebration of her remarkable 20-year recording career with a concert at the Town hall on sunday May 5th. 2019.
the event caps her 24-city North american spring tour, which highlighted the release of Reflections, a 15-track retrospective just released on the deutsche grammophon label. the album, curated by anoushka, is a testament to her musical curiosity and talent.
drawing from her albums Land of Gold, Traces of You, Breathing Under Water, and Rise, Reflections includes “Jod, Jhala,” based on a raga created by her late father, master sitarist ravi shankar. He also is featured on “pancham se gara,” one of the few studio recordings that captured father and daughter playing together.
the rest of the selections offer a sampling of anoushka´s range, which can embrace electronic instruments and dance rhythms, veer into pop, explore flamenco, or revisit classical east-West fusion.
“i admire people who push all kinds of boundaries so passionately and with so much skill, and i want that kind of life, and i want that kind of fire,” she told an interviewer in 2007, when asked where she saw herself heading as an artist. “the specifics of what that might be are going to change as i change.”
at the town Hall, anoushka will be accompanied by her ensemble, featuring ojas adhiya on table (paired hand drums); Pirashanna Thevarajah on mridangam (barrel-shaped hand drum); ravichandra kulur, flute; danny keane, cello and piano; and kenji ota, tanpura (long-necked string instrument).
remarkably, she has established her name on stages around the world while remaining true to her legacy. after all, her career has not just continued but expanded the globalization of classical indian music initiated by her father in the 1950s.
Photo: © Anushka Menon
“i think the goal of musical dialogue is to open people’s minds, because they take in music in a way that they may not take in a news story,” anoushka shankar has said. “if people are exposed to new sounds, they end up gaining a respect for it that affects the whole cultural dialogue. in that sense, collaboration across cultures is extremely important. the other side is a much more personal one, where musicians like me are engaging in various forms of music, making sense of ourselves and the world around us. We live in a multicultural world, and artists are going to reflect that.”
she later expanded on these ideas when discussing her cross-cultural collaborations. “i think cross-cultural dialogue is something that has hugely impacted the richness of the culture of our world,” she told the british online newspaper the independent. “it’s a central current in my life, and i can’t imagine not having been able to have access to multiple cultures and being able to draw and learn from them.”
born in london, anoushka shankar spent her childhood between london and delhi and her teenage years in los angeles, California.
“For me, my father was ravi shankar before he was my father because i lived in london with my mother and my parents only got married when i was 7 years old,” she once said. “i didn’t become a shankar until then.” it was then that she started playing sitar, studying with her famously strict and demanding father. she once recalled, “i lived with my teacher and he was my father, and he practiced every day so i practiced every day and we practiced every day together.”
she was 13 when she made her public debut as a classical sitarist in a concert celebrating her father’s 75th birthday; at 15 appeared on her father’s album Chants of india, produced by george Harrison, and two years later she released her self-titled debut album. since, she has earned six grammy nominations for Anoushka Shankar: Live At Carnegie Hall (2002); Rise (2005); Traveller (2012); Traces Of You (2014); Home (2015), and Land Of Gold (2016). she has also written a book about her father titled Bapi: The Love of my Life
over the years, shankar’s work has increasingly come to reflect her passionate engagement in women’s rights and social justice. Following the horrific gang rape of a young woman in delhi in 2012, she threw her weight behind the campaign one billion rising on Change.org. other recent projects include hosting a radio show about gender equality to promote the united Nations sustainable development goals, and, beginning in 2015, coordinating a call-toaction to the u.k. government in response to the european refugee crisis. she was also the narrator of Stolen Innocence, a documentary film about human sex trafficking which premiered in 2017.
For her town Hall show, anoushka will be performing selections from throughout her career, highlighting the just-released retrospective album, Reflections (deutsche grammophon), while previewing selections from her unreleased score for the 1928 indian silent film classic Shiraz.
Photo: © SimonNYC
THE TOW n H a LL FO unda TIO n
The Town Hall’s mission is to provide affordable world-class entertainment by new and established artists to a diverse audience; to inspire the youth of our community to appreciate and participate in the arts at The Town Hall and in schools through our Educational Outreach Program; and to preserve and enhance The Town Hall as a historic landmark venue for the enjoyment and cultural enrichment of generations to come.
BOard OF TrUSTEES
Presiden T
tom Wirtshafter
Presiden T eM eri T us
marvin leffler
eX ecu T ive v ice Presiden T
susan Zohn
TrusT ees
phyllis putter barasch
robert e evanson
anne Frank-shapiro
alfred H. Horowitz
Henry Johansson
ted lambert
bruce s leffler
marvin leffler
david mcCarthy
andrew t miltenberg
rita robbins
madhu southworth
Nevin steinberg
tom Wirtshafter
susan Zohn
li F e T rusT ees
leona Chanin
mary dettling-Wright
eugene J.t. Flanagan
Claire g miller
THE TOWN HaLL STaFF
eX ecu T ive d irec Tor
lawrence C. Zucker
a r T isT ic d irec Tor m a papper
d irec Tor o F a d M inisT raT ion, s u B scri PT ions & Me MB ershi P Helen morris
d irec Tor o F d evelo PM en T
Jacqueline maddox
d irec Tor o F e ducaT ion lauren Noble
d irec Tor oF Marke T ing
Jeff mann
d igi Tal Media Manager alex koveos
Princi Pal d esigner leia-lee doran
v ice Presiden T
alfred H. Horowitz
v ice Presiden T bruce s leffler
Treasurer andrew t. miltenberg
s ecre TarY
phyllis putter barasch
a dvisorY council
kathleen rosenberg, Chair
Nancy berman
shauna denkensohn
sandy Horowitz elizabeth iannizzi
Zita rosenthal rhoda rothkopf
a r Ts in e ducaT ion
a dvisorY council
dr. Charlotte k. Frank, Chair
michael Fram
dr. sharon dunn
gary Hecht
ernest logan
dr. lisa mars
dr. eloise messineo
dr. pola rosen
leona shapiro george Young
Technical d irec Tor bill dehling
c hie F e ngineer steve Franqui
h ouse Manager richard looney
BoX oFF ice Manager angel rodriguez
i nsT i T u T ional g iving a ssociaT e b arbara m atovu
a ssisTan T a r T isT ic d irec Tor / a rchivisT melay araya
e ducaT ion a ssisTan T l auren e xtrom
a d M inisT raT ive a ssisTan T britni montalbano
WarNINg
the photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording inside the theatre without the written permission of the management is prohibited by law. violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for monetary damages.
FIrE NOTICE
the exit indicated by a red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. in the event of fire or other emergency please do not run, Walk to tHat eXit thoughtless persons annoy patrons and endanger the safety of others by lighting matches or smoking in prohibited areas during the performances and intermissions. this violates a city ordinance and is punishable by law.
-Fire coMMissioner
dIrECTOry OF THEaTrE SErVICES
ad M inis T raT ive o FF ices : 212.997.1003 mon-Fri 9:30 am to 5 pm, for rental & membership info
B oX o FF ice : 212.840.2824 mon-sat 12 noon to 6pm. 24/7 recording
T icke TM as T er : 800.982.2787 to charge tickets by phone.online ticketmaster.com
los T and F ound : 212.997.0113
cell P hone P olic Y
Cell phones should be silenced prior to the performance as a courtesy to the performers and audience.
lo BBY r e F resh M en T BY theatre refreshment Company of NY
This program is supported, in part by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. We would like to thank the following foundations, corporations, and government institutions for their support:
acción Cultural española the achelis and bodman Foundation the actors Fund affiliated advisors apple inc.
bank of america
bruce Weber and Nan bush Foundation
Consolidated edison Company of New York
daryl and steven roth Foundation robert evanson Ford Foundation
dr. Charlotte k. Frank garber atlas Fries & associates
John gore/key brand entertainment William t grant Foundation
the Hearst Foundations, inc. Jewish Communal Fund
Jp morgan Chase
Jujamcyn theaters
edythe kenner Foundation the Jacob & valeria langeloth Foundation
lewis QvC trust
local one the mansfield Family Foundation morgan stanley
Nederlander organization
Nesenoff & miltenberg, llp
New York City department of Cultural affairs in partnership with the City Council
Henry Nias Foundation
office of the president, borough of manhattan, gale a brewer the pinkerton Foundation pamela and richard rubinstein Foundation pricewaterhouse Cooper the reed Foundation the rudin Foundation s&p global the shubert Foundation the shubert organization, inc. theatre refreshments
ticketmaster
Wenner Foundation
Zegar Family Foundation
THE TOWN HALL’S y O un G P a TRO n S CIRCLE
join the next generation of Town hall supporters! town Hall’s Young patrons Circle is a special membership group, ages 21-40, that engages in social and educational activities through exciting events, performances, and programming. We are brought together by a shared love of the arts, a deep interest in social change, civic engagement, and a desire to become part of a growing group of like-minded individuals that support town Hall.
For more information about the Young Patrons circle, please contact Jacquie maddox, director of development - development@thetownhall.org
y O un G P a TRO n S
CIRCLE MEMBERS
Jesse Axelrod*
Julia Bates
Kevin Costello
Jenna Clark Embrey
Kate Estes*
Kathleen French
Mark Garner*
Edward Garrity*
Vincent Iannuzzi
Marley Lewis, Yevgeny Vilensky
Greg Minogue*
Sheila O’Donoghue
Anna Pappa
Katherine McCollom Pooser
Joseph Reigadas*
Margaret Schultzberg
Jonathan Tulman*
Veronica Underhill
Benjamin Wirtshafter*
*Young Patrons Circle Executive Committee
TO u R THE HISTORIC TOWN HALL
Town hall has played an integral part in the electrifying cultural fabric of new York city for more than 90 years. a group of suffragists’ fight for the 19th amendment led them to build a meeting space to educate people on the important issues of the day. during its construction, the 19th amendment was passed, and on January 12, 1921 the town Hall opened its doors and took on a double meaning: as a symbol of the victory sought by its founders, and as a spark for a new, more optimistic climate. in 1921, german composer richard strauss performed a series of concerts that cemented the Hall’s reputation as an ideal venue for musical performances. since, town Hall has been home to countless musical milestones: the us debuts of strauss, and isaac stern; marian anderson’s first New York recital; in 1945, dizzy gillespie and Charlie parker introduced bebop to the world; bob dylan’s first major concert in ‘63; and much much more.
learN more. visiT TheTownhall.org/Tours
peggy van raalte & barry abbott
shari acebedo**
patricia adell & Jeffrey sussman*
pam africk**
mr. & mrs. louis aidala*
emerson allen*
phyllis barasch**
Justine barrett
laurie bauman
William beck
kathleen begala & Yves-andre istel
Howard F. berman**
Nancy & evan berman
Jane eisner bram*
pat brown*
Colin a burns*
ralph buultjens**
Claudio Cafengiu
karen & alexander Callender**
marcy & leona Chanin Foundation**
dr. stuart Chassen*
James p. Coffey*
gloria & irwin Cohen*
mindy a Cohen*
leah Cooper
Jamie delio**
shauna & michael denkensohn*
susan and rick derrickson
mary dettling-Wright**
greg diamond
sharon dunn
robert dwyer, Jr.*
Hon. betty W. ellerin*
robert evanson**
diane Fairbank**
Hazel & russel Fershleiser**
Caryl Field
Nancy Fisher
Joe Flanagan*
valerie Fontaine kempner*
anonymous
dr. Charlotte Frank & marvin leffler**
dori Fromer & Harley Frank* matthew Frank**
donna Frankel
michael & anne Frank-shapiro*
bobby & vicki Freeman
adrienne Frosch*
david Fuchs*
susan & michael Furman
Carmen gaito
pete ganbarg*
mary ganzenmuller
simone garcon
kathleen germann
michele gerstel
matthew ginsburg*
goldfarb & Fleece
roanne goldfein
barbara gottlieb*
patricia green**
agnes gund**
Fran and richard Habib*
kathleen Hagen*
Cleo Han*
Jill & martin Handelsman*
alan Harwick
priscilla H. Hoffman*
ryan Holmes
sandy & alfred Horowitz*
Fern Hurst & peter rubin**
dr. elizabeth iannizzi**
adam idleberg*
Curtains up!
todd Jick*
Henry Johansson*
robert m kaufman*
kathleen & richard kearns
tom king
eric krasnoff*
mr. & mrs. paul kronish*
John kuehn & elaine Crowley
susan lampard*
susan lyman & larry lane
John leahan
Jacqueline & bruce leffler**
karin & marc leffler*
John lewin
adam & melony lewis**
daniel r lewis**
ivy lewis**
robin & Jay lewis**
tanner lindsey
local one i a t s e
Colleen lynch
Jean & ken malecki**
tanya marks
gavin mcfarland
t meadow
david medlar*
keith meritz & david Hurst
richard & merle milder
paul Z. miles**
isaac mizrahi**
sean mooney
richard J moylan
Nobuko Narita*
edy Nathan*
James Naughton & laura richards*
Chad Newman & Jared stanisci
Carol & davis Noble*
patrick o’donnell*
dorinda J. oliver**
shelly packer**
Judith parker*
doris & martin payson*
tim peierls**
patrick pollari*
daniel & Cristina stefani-rackow
leslie raicer*
Catherine randolph*
michael reidy
robert rene
rita robbins**
elaine roman
a. Jeffrey rosen
kathleen rosenberg**
Zita rosenthal*
rhoda rothkopf** michael rotter**
William berndt & shima roy*
Nancy rubin
Fiona Howe rudin*
robert & lynda safron**
barbara salmanson*
sherry & alan H. salzman** roberta schechter*
Joan schiavone
roberta schleicher*
david schmid robert and Heidi schwartz robert score*
alan shabot*
patricia & brian shea**
susan & victor shedlin** anthony shepherd
Constance silver*
melanie sloan* kimberly a smith**
Hansel smyth & Caitlin Freeman erik sonsteby madhu r goel southworth**
rich stanton
Nevin steinberg & paige price**
Judy & michael steinhardt**
Charlotte stewart
raymon F. & Carolyn a strecker
Jason stull & steve avery kartik subramanian & sireesha baljepalli**
lara taubman
abbe tiger
tom toce & liz portland steven trigoboff lawrence unger** kara unterberg* bruce van dusen
Jeffry vonWald* daniel r. Wacks*
susan Jordan Wayne*
Weston Wellington* richard Winn
karen Winslow & michael mcgovern
Carol marks & tom Wirtshafter**
matt Howard & melissa Wohlgemuth*
merryl & Charles Zegar** susan Zohn**
anita Jaffe & lawrence C. Zucker**
sloan Zuckerman
gary Zych*
We invite you to support the Hall at any level, and enjoy the exclusive benefits of becoming a Town Hall Member.
advance Ticket access notification of Presale & 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
Bank of America applauds The Town Hall for bringing the arts to all
When members of the community support the arts, they help inspire and enrich everyone. Artistic diversity can be a powerful force for unity, creating shared experiences and a desire for excellence.
Bank of America recognizes The Town Hall for its success in bringing the arts to performers and audiences throughout our community.
Visit us at bankofamerica.com/arts
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