Lincoln Center Announces 2020 Season of American Songbook, January 22 – February 29

Highlights lauded singer-songwriters, groundbreaking storytellers, artists pushing the boundaries of the human voice, and creative talents of the screen and stage, including:

• Singer-songwriter and composer Rufus Wainwright in new show Songs That Built Me; Natalie Merchant crafts intimate, acoustic career retrospective
• Tony Award winning veteran André De Shields and leading man Brandon Victor Dixon in brand new stage shows; Tony Award winner and trailblazer Ali Stroker; and breakout composer-lyricist Joe Iconis premieres new musical numbers
• Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe performs as drag alter ego, tenor Blythely Oratonio; Experimental choral group Roomful of Teeth
• Classically trained lyricist, composer, pioneering television writer, and trans activist, Our Lady J debuts new music
• Legendary Cowboy Junkies play their unique brand of folk-rock off new album All That Reckoning
• Grammy-winning, multi-talented Puerto Rican–born songwriter iLe
• Rare East Coast appearance by Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kalani Pe’a
• Dynamic, bluesy-folk artist Martin Sexton

Lincoln Center’s acclaimed American Songbook series returns for its 21st year, celebrating the expansive scope and intricacy of the popular music canon from January 22 – February 29, 2020. This year’s concert series includes lauded singer-songwriters, groundbreaking composers, storytellers speaking truth to power, experimental vocalists, and multitalented performers whose artistic breadth reflects the far-reaching perspectives and experiences of the essential American Songbook.

Since its launch in 1998, American Songbook has been dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary achievements of the popular American songwriter from the turn of the 20th century to the present day. Spanning all styles and genres from Tin Pan Alley and Broadway to the eclecticism of today’s songwriters working in pop, cabaret, rock, folk, and country, American Songbook traces the history and charts the course of the American song from its past and current forms to its future direction.

“Our American Songbook series brings together a superb group of award-winning musicians, composers, and interpreters of song whose artistry speaks to the broad, ever-expanding facets of American song,” said Jane Moss, Ehrenkranz Artistic Director of Lincoln Center. “Each concert offers an intimate experience with some of the most celebrated and up-and-coming performers in genres from Broadway to Bolero to experimental choral work. We invite audiences to join us for artists they may have loved for decades, and to discover new voices that speak to a range of contemporary experience.”

Opening the season, vocalist, songwriter, and composer Rufus Wainwright performs a new show, Songs That Built Me – a concert experience created especially for his American Songbook debut. Delving into his celebrated catalogue, Wainwright performs the songs that have shaped his identity as an artist and previews selections from his forthcoming Spring 2020 album. Natalie Merchant, former lead singer of the folk-rock outfit 10,000 Maniacs, digs through her immense 7-album discography of solo work for a show that highlights the poetic songwriting, socially conscious songs, and outspoken political activism that has influenced a generation of up-and-coming performers. This intimate performance is entirely acoustic and accompanied by her longtime guitarist Erik Della Penna.

Broadway stars ascend onto the Appel Room stage, starting with 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields (Hadestown) with a new original show, Old Dawg; New Tricks; On Valentine’s day, Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple, Hamilton, Showtime’s Power), performs his very first solo concert with his brand of essential, powerful stagecraft; Unstoppable performer Ali Stroker (Oklahoma!, Spring Awakening) performs with the unbridled spirit and powerhouse pop soprano that made her the first actress to be nominated and win a Tony award (2019) while using a wheelchair for mobility; And the prodigiously talented writer and performer Joe Iconis, whose musical Be More Chill took Broadway by storm, brings his trademark mash-up of show-tune cabaret and rock ‘n’ roll for a set of classic tunes and brand new numbers.

The limits of the human voice are tested through the experimental, cutting-edge, and Grammy Award-winning a cappella group Roomful of Teeth. One of the most critically acclaimed mezzo-sopranos of her time, Stephanie Blythe asks what it means to transition to a new role, art form, and voice with her show “Blythely Ever After” a display of her outrageous drag alter ego, tenor Blythely Oratonio. Her bearded persona brings audiences on a unique musical journey through opera classics and rock and pop arias. Hawaiian folk-music has its American Songbook debut with the classically trained tenor Kalani Pe’a in a rare East Coast appearance. Pe’a’s versatile voice tours a range of traditional chants, Hawaiian classics, R&B tracks, and original compositions.

After a pioneering career of music composition in the classical and pop world (Sia, American Ballet Theatre) and becoming the first out trans woman to be hired in a TV writers’ room (Pose, Transparent), Emmy-nominated Our Lady J returns to NYC to debut a new catalogue of electro-pop and gospel infused music that she wrote with her collaborator Justin Tranter, one of the most successful songwriters in pop music today. Performing on the heels of her sophomore album Almadura, the rapidly rising singer-songwriter iLe makes her Lincoln Center debut. Her music simultaneously an ode to Puerto Rico and call for political action, iLe brings a tapestry of songs to the stage that include timeless boleros, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and protest anthems.

Martin Sexton‘s unpredictable voice and soulful melodies, which seamlessly mix folk, rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock, brought him from his beginnings as a street performer in Boston to prestigious stages all over the world with his musical heroes – Art Garfunkel, Jackson Browne, John Hiatt and more. The famed singer-songwriter’s honest lyrics and vocal prowess find the perfect home in The Appel Room’s intimate setting. The alternative country legends Cowboy Junkies earned a ravenous following for the quiet honesty and vulnerability of their second album The Trinity Sessions. Thirty years later, the band plays an intimate folk-rock set with their new album, All That Reckoning, a deeply personal record that speaks to contemporary society, good and bad.

“We are proud to sponsor the 2020 American Songbook series and help bring this incredible array of talent and musical genres to Lincoln Center’s stage,” said Orlando Ashford, president, Holland America Line. “Supporting these performances is a perfect fit for us as we are similarly committed to bringing our cruise guests the most diverse collection of live music experiences at sea, including the exclusive Lincoln Center Stage chamber music performances. We hope that American Songbook inspires everyone who attends, as music – like travel – opens one’s mind in such a meaningful way.“

The 21st American Songbook series is one of many programs offered by Lincoln Center that annually activates the campus’s indoor and outdoor spaces across a wide range of the performing arts. Additional presentations include the White Light Festival, Great Performers, Mostly Mozart Festival, Midsummer Night Swing, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, ongoing free performances at the David Rubenstein Atrium, and Live From Lincoln Center broadcasts that reach beyond the iconic campus. Lincoln Center also presents a myriad of education programs and presentations for families throughout the year.

This year’s American Songbook concerts are based in two venues at Lincoln Center. The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Columbus Circle, hosts cabaret-style performances that include table seating, close proximity to the performers, and an incomparable view of the Manhattan skyline. In addition, the series returns to the warm wood-veneered stage of Alice Tully Hall.

American Songbook 2020 Schedule

Rufus Wainwright: Songs That Built Me, Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 7:30 pm, Alice Tully Hall, Starr Theater, Adrienne Arsht Stage

With his emotionally candid melodies and “genuine originality” (New York Times), Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great vocalists, composers, and songwriters of his generation. As a pop vocalist and songwriter, he has collaborated with musical giants, including Elton John, David Byrne, and Joni Mitchell. His musical output has been wondrously varied and prolific, including a historic re-creation of Judy Garland’s 1961 comeback concert that was performed to sold-out, adoring crowds in New York, Paris, Toronto, Los Angeles and London. His last album was a setting of nine Shakespeare sonnets. For this highly anticipated show in Alice Tully Hall, Wainwright delves into his catalogue, including songs that have shaped him as an artist and may preview tracks from his forthcoming pop album, to be released in Spring of 2020. Through a set list created specially for his American Songbook debut, Rufus will build a singular viewpoint of American song through his unique, unmistakable lens.

TheMet150: “Photography’s Last Century: The Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee Collection” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Opening March 10, 2020 (and running through to June 28, 2020) the exhibition, “Photography’s Last Century: The Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee Collection” (The Met Fifth Avenue, Galleries 691–693, The Charles Z. Offin Gallery, Karen B. Cohen Gallery, and Harriette and Noel Levine Gallery) will celebrate the remarkable ascendancy of photography in the last hundred years and the magnificent promised gift to The Met of over 60 extraordinary photographs from Museum Trustee Ann Tenenbaum in honor of the Museum’s 150th anniversary in 2020. The exhibition will include masterpieces by the medium’s greatest practitioners, including Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Ilse Bing, Joseph Cornell, Walker Evans, Robert Frank, Andreas Gursky, Helen Levitt, Dora Maar, László Moholy-Nagy, Jack Pierson, Sigmar Polke, Man Ray, Laurie Simmons, Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol, Edward Weston, and Rachel Whiteread.

Cindy Sherman (American, b. 1954). Untitled Film Still #48, 1979. Gelatin silver print, 8 x 10 in. (20.3 x 25.4 cm). Promised gift of Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee. Courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York

The Tenenbaum collection is particularly notable for the breadth and depth of works by women artists, for a sustained interest in the nude, and for its focus on artists’ beginnings: Strand’s 1916 view from the viaduct confirms his break with the Pictorialist past and establishes the artist’s way forward as a cutting-edge modernist; Walker Evans’s shadow self-portraits from 1927 mark the first inkling of a young writer’s commitment to visual culture; and Cindy Sherman’s intimate nine-part portrait series from 1976 predates her renowned series of “film stills” and confirms her striking ambition and stunning mastery of the medium at the age of 22.

The exhibition will feature a wide range of styles and pictorial practice, combining small-scale and large-format works in both black and white and color. The presentation will integrate works starting from the 1910s to the 1930s, with examples by avant-garde American and European artists, through the postwar period, the 1960s, the medium’s boom in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and up to the present moment.

The Met Fifth Avenue

Photography’s Last Century: The Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee Collection is curated by Jeff L. Rosenheim, Joyce Frank Menschel Curator in Charge of the Department of Photographs at The Met and will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue. The catalogue is made possible in part by the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation, Inc. The exhibition will be featured on the Museum’s website, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

2019 Holiday Gift Guide: Janie and Jack Partners With Designer and Entrepreneur Rachel Zoe to Launch Holiday Party Collection That Gives Back

100% of Holiday Party Collection Will be Donated to Nonprofit Baby2Baby; Exclusive Resort Collection to Follow

Today, children’s fashion brand, Janie and Jack, debuts their newest collection with celebrated fashion designer and entrepreneur, Rachel Zoe. A two-collection partnership, which launches with the Rachel Zoe x Janie and Jack Party Collection and follows with chic Resort Collection, features clothing and accessories inspired by Zoe’s iconic signature style, including gold and sparkle embellishments, texture and statement silhouettes. The Party Collection offers glamorous styles for girls and boys to ensure they are dressed for those special holiday occasions. In addition, 100% of net proceeds from the Party Collection will be donated to Baby2Baby*, a nonprofit organization that provides children living in poverty with basic necessities, and of which Zoe is a proud board member.

Photo Credit: Janie and Jack partners with designer and entrepreneur Rachel Zoe (seen here with her two sons) to launch holiday party collection that gives back (Photo: Business Wire)

Baby2Baby, a non-profit organization led by Co-Presidents Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein, provides children living in poverty, ages 0-12 years, with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves. In the last 8 years, Baby2Baby has distributed over 70 million items, including 40 million diapers to children in homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, foster care, hospitals and underserved schools as well as children who have lost everything in the wake of disaster. Every year, Baby2Baby serves hundreds of thousands of children across the country.

Janie and Jack is a design house with every kid at its heart—because individual style starts early. Each season collections feature modern twists on classic fashion. Janie and Jack is known for family moments, thoughtful details and memorable gifts.

Janie and Jack logo

“Rachel Zoe is such a renowned force in the fashion industry – and as a mom of two boys, she definitely knows how to blend comfort with style,” said Shelly Walsh, SVP and General Manager, Janie and Jack. “The Party and Resort Collections combine Rachel’s exceptional taste and glamour with Janie and Jack’s modern twist on classic fashion. We’re proud to be continued supporters of Baby2Baby and offer our customers the opportunity to give back to this inspiring organization and help children in need this holiday season.”

The Holiday Party Collection offers 38 pieces of clothing and accessories, available in sizes 12-18 months to 12 years, with prices ranging from $18-$169. From a gold lurex maxi dress, metallic cheetah pant suit and rose gold lurex jumpsuit to accessories like a metallic turban, glitter cheetah print booties and faux fur wristlet, each design will make girls feel chic and ready to celebrate. The boys’ pieces are standouts too, from velveteen and wool tuxedos to satin neckties and a dapper fedora, all still allowing them to be comfortable.

“Creating these collections with Janie and Jack has truly been such a dream. I have always wished to bring my design and glamour to children’s wear. This collection includes all my favorite design elements with metallics, sparkle and luxurious fabrics that are easily wearable for the most active little ones. To make this design collaboration even more special, Janie and Jack is donating 100% of net proceeds from our Party Collection to Baby2Baby which is an organization I am so proud to be a part of. It is infinitely rewarding to know this collection is giving back, especially during this time of year.” – Rachel Zoe

On December 3, Rachel Zoe and Janie and Jack will introduce a second collection, featuring resort wear for girls and boys to prepare for winter family getaways. The Rachel Zoe x Janie and Jack Resort Collection will feature 45 pieces, from printed swimwear for boys and girls, lurex caftan and sun dresses, and classic linen separates to must-have accessories like sandals, sunglasses, straw bag and fedora. The Resort Collection will be available in sizes 3-6 months to 12 years with prices ranging from $15-$109. Both the Party and Resort Collections will be sold at select Janie and Jack stores (NYC, LA and Miami) and online at www.janieandjack.com.

In Janie and Jack’s continued support of Baby2Baby, customers will also have the opportunity to donate while checking out at Janie and Jack stores nationwide and online at janieandjack.com beginning today, November 18 through December 31. Baby2Baby ambassador, Jessica Alba, lends her support to the campaign to encourage donation participation and spread awareness for providing for children living in poverty.

To donate to Baby2Baby, please visit a Janie and Jack store or www.janieandjack.com/baby2baby and join the conversation on social media by tagging #rachelzoexjanieandjack, @janieandjack and @baby2baby. For more information on the collection with Rachel Zoe, please visit janieandjack.com/rachel-zoe-party.

* Baby2Baby will receive (i) 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of the Rachel Zoe x Janie and Jack Party Collection and (ii) 100% of donations collected at checkout at janieandjack.com and at Janie and Jack stores in the U.S. from Nov. 18, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2019. In the event that the combination of (i) and (ii) is less than US$250,000, Janie and Jack will donate the difference.

2019 Hoilday Gift Guide: Citizen Unveils Disney Princess Diamond Timepiece Collection, Available Exclusively at Zales

Citizen continues to celebrate its ongoing collaboration with Disney through the unveiling of a new Disney Princess Diamond Timepiece collection, available for purchase exclusively at Zales.

Citizen delights its Disney timepieces with some of the most beloved Disney princess characters including Ariel, Belle, Cinderella and Snow White. Each watch is adorned with treasured symbols from each princess that true Disney fans will cherish.

Disney Princess Diamond Timepiece Collection (Photo Credit: Business Wire)

The collection commences with a limited-edition Snow White-inspired timepiece showcased two-tone stainless steel and gold tone case and bracelet. The dial is embellished with Snow White’s floral wreath pattern etched onto elegant mother of pearl. Hidden amongst the detailing is Snow White’s signature red apple placed between the 3 and 4 o’clock markers. One diamond and one red Swarovski Genuine Topaz dance freely among the unique outer ring designs allowing them to interplay with light on the wrist. The timepiece is complete with the iconic phrase “Fairest of them all” noted on the case back.

From the Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast, Citizen’s new Belle inspired watch is showcased in rose gold-tone stainless steel with a beautiful mother of pearl dial. A rose seen in a bell jar is embellished in gold detailing paying homage to the enchanted scene. A collection of diamonds is placed on the dial while a single diamond and yellow Swarovski Genuine Topaz move freely along the outer ring. Etched on the case back is a reminder to always “Find the beauty inside.”

For the Princess who never stopped dreaming, Cinderella is honored in the collection with a stainless-steel timepiece that dazzles with a blue gradient mother of pearl dial. The exquisite dial features Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage etched in silver print. Complete with Roman numeral indexes, whimsical hands, and a singular diamond placed at the 12 o’clock position, the timepiece is finished with “A dream is a wish your heart makes” on the case back.

Citizen rounds out the Disney Princess Diamond collection making a splash with the princess of the sea, Ariel. The timepiece inspired by the world’s most iconic mermaid is held in a stainless-steel case and bracelet adorned with a teal gradient mother of pearl dial. The dial showcases her majestic fin etched in a shimmering print and a clam shell embellished with a diamond on the 12 o’clock marker. Freely floating on the outer ring is a diamond and purple Swarovski Genuine Topaz. “Above the waves adventure awaits” graces the case back of the timepiece.

The Disney Princess Diamond collection is exclusively available for purchase in-store and online at Zales. Later this year, two other Disney heroines will be honored through additional celebratory timepieces by Citizen. To view the full collection, visit www.zales.com/watches/citizen-disney-princess/c/011102095.

Holiday Gift Guide: Minted Launches Personalized Gifts and Children’s Home Decor Featuring Prints from Global Community of Independent Artists

Minted, the design marketplace known for bringing unique design from the best independent artists to consumers everywhere, announced the launch of personalized gifts and children’s decor, to expand on its stationery, art, and lifestyle businesses. Available in time for holiday shopping, the high-quality customizable gifts integrate trend-forward designs freshly sourced from Minted’s global artist community and are available for purchase at minted.com/gifts.

“This holiday season, we’re excited to introduce an even wider range of personalized gifts,” says Minted Founder and CEO Mariam Naficy. “For children, we are debuting a new collection of personalizable pillows and kid-size chairs that integrate children’s names artistically and beautifully into Minted’s famous prints from independent artists. Also for the first time, customers can shop printed and patterned totes, clutches, and more with beautifully foil-pressed leather name tags.”

Minted’s entire range of personalizable gifts includes:

Minted, the design marketplace known for bringing unique design from independent artists to consumers everywhere, today announced the launch of personalized gifts and children’s decor, to expand upon its custom art and stationery gift business. (Photo: Business Wire)

Personalized Gifts for Kids: Minted brings independent design and beautiful customization to another part of the home—your kids’ space. Make their bedrooms, playrooms, or lounge areas as unique as they are with new personalizable pillows and ‘triangle chairs’ (kid-size bean-bag chairs). The chairs feature designs from Minted’s community of independent artists, featuring animals, moving vehicles, rainbows, and many more of your child’s favorite themes, all with their name artistically and beautifully integrated into the fabric design. Chairs are available in a basics line that allows gift givers to choose pattern and color to customize their chair and ‘build’ it. Starting at $44 for a Personalizable Pillow and $148 for a Personalizable Triangle Chair. Discover the collection at minted.com/kids.

Personalizable Aprons and Mitts: Cook up some fun for the whole family with Personalized Aprons and matching Mitts—in playful new fabric prints from independent artists with custom leather name tags, for both children and adults. Sold individually, $28 or as a set with two oven mitts, $42

Accessories with a Personal Touch: For the first time, Minted will offer its signature crowdsourced textile designs as accessories with a full line of tote bags, fabric drawstring backpacks, clutches, pouches, and scarves. Find a luxe gift for everyone on your list, from the busy mom to the trend-forward teenager, with a variety of styles that combine design with function, all boasting unique prints on durable cotton with butter-soft leather trim. Add a personal touch with leather name tags, hand pressed with copper foil and fastened with matching copper rivets. Prices range from $28 for the Snap Tote with brushed copper snap closure to $98 for the roomy Weekend Tote, replete with interior and exterior pockets for maximum organization.

Minted Holiday 2019 Catalog Cover

Off Your Phone + Onto Your Wall: Create memorable wall art as presents for family, friends and loved ones with unique photo art gifts, personalized with your photos, printed on premium matte paper and framed with high quality materials.

Need help turning your photos into unique gifts? Text your photo to (415)-903-5727 and a Minted stylist will text you back 3 unique photo gift designs, selected especially for you and styled with your photos—for FREE.

Photo gifts are available in sizes ranging from 5×7” to 44×60”. Starting at $29, framed.

Personalized Stationery, Calendars + Notebooks: As practical as they are pretty, Minted’s personalized stationery sets, photo calendars and notebooks make the perfect gift. Choose your favorite design from Minted’s community of independent artists and customize to suit their individual style. Notebooks, $16; photo calendars starting at $29; personalized stationery from $35.

Home for the Holidays: Cozy up to seasonal art and decor with Minted’s winter-inspired fine art prints and new artisanal pillow covers, which allow you to easily refresh your interiors. Art available in limited editions of 350, finished with high-quality framing and mounting options. Pillow covers feature natural textured cotton and silk fabric options, as well as hand-screened printing, tassel embellishments, and an invisible zipper. Pillow covers retail at $28; insert sold separately for $16.

Starting today, customers can shop Minted’s 2019 holiday gift collection at minted.com/gifts.