Sponsored by The Adult School and the Kemmerer Library of Harding Township

Though not a native New Yorker, Leonard Bernstein had a long association with the city of New York. He wrote three legendary Broadway Musicals celebrating the city he loved. Marc Courtade discusses On the Town, Wonderful Town and West Side Story, all three showcasing different aspects of “New York, New York, a helluva town!” We will listen to musical examples, to examine the eras involved (1930’s with Wonderful Town, 1940’s with On the Town, and 1950’s with West Side Story) and how they reflect New York. We will also examine his “problem” musicals, Candide and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which still show Bernstein’s strong musical voice even in flawed (though fascinating) settings.