strong-Evanston IL – January 12 2015 – The Johnny Mercer Foundation and the American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University will present the 10th Annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project. The weeklong songwriting workshop for emerging songwriters and writing teams will take place from June 21 through 27 on Northwestern’s Evanston campus.
The no-fee program is accepting applications from aspiring young songwriters and songwriting teams working in any popular music style through Monday March 2. An online application application guidelines and information are available at www.mercersongwriters.org
Led by returning award-winning master teachers Craig Carnelia Andrew Lippa and Lari White the weeklong competition will culminate with a public concert showcasing the talents of the program participants master teachers and a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the project.
Through the generosity of the Johnny Mercer Foundation the program is free of charge to selected songwriters who are housed on Northwestern’s Evanston campus and receive a stipend for travel expenses and meals.
The Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project hosts the nation’s most promising songwriters in the areas of musical theater country Latin rock and contemporary pop music and continues the legacy of legendary songwriter Johnny Mercer. Mercer was a dedicated mentor to young singers and songwriters throughout his career.
Last year more than 120 applicants applied for one of the 12 spots in the prestigious program which has been a catalyst in the careers of many artists. Among them are Latin Grammy-winner Obed Bermudez singer/actress Jennifer Pena Tony Award-nominated Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Michael Koomin and Chris Dimond Adam Gwon Carrie Manolakos Morgan Karr and the award-winning Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair.
JOHNNY MERCER FOUNDATION
The mission of the Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) is to support the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook as exemplified by the life and work of the legendary Johnny Mercer: lyricist composer performer collaborator and producer. The Foundation continues Johnny’s legacy by partnering with individuals and organizations dedicated to celebrating and nourishing the disciplines he mastered and the causes he and his wife Ginger Mercer championed.
JMF has created a number of dynamic creative joint ventures with several prestigious institutions to facilitate its goals including: the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals Accentuate The Positive Programs (New York-Kaufman Music Center Los Angeles and Miami) The Musical Theater Program at NJPAC Georgia State University Fellowship Program Florida International University Fellowship Program the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project with Northwestern University and the Johnny Mercer Archives at Georgia State University. In addition JMF supports various charitable causes including UCLA’s Art of The Brain Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (Mark Taper and Johnny Mercer Artists Program) Braille Institute (Johnny Mercer Children and Adult Choirs) and KCET-TVs Cinema Series.
For more information please visit www.johnnymercerfoundation.org
AMERICAN MUSIC THEATRE PROJECT
The American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University brings together the nation’s leading artists in music theatre to work with Northwestern’s faculty and students. AMTP’s goal is to nourish and invigorate American music theatre by developing and producing new musicals; increasing opportunities for education and training with Northwestern’s theatre music theatre and dance programs; and creating new connections between professional and academic communities.
To learn more about AMTP visit www.amtp.northwestern.edu
JOHNNY MERCER
The legendary Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) composed more than 1400 songs including “Accentuate The Positive” “Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)”; “Any Place To Hang My Hat Is Home” “Too Marvelous For Words” and “Come Rain or Come Shine.” He also wrote songs for 100 motion pictures and won four Best Song Academy Awards. A top radio personality and recording artist he was the co-founder and president of Capitol Records and established the Songwriters Hall of Fame with Abe Olman and Howie Richmond.
For more information on Mercer visit www.johnnymercerfoundation.org/johnny-mercer/
MASTER TEACHERS
Craig Carnelia has had four shows produced on Broadway. Working with composer Marvin Hamlisch he wrote the lyrics for Sweet Smell of Success with book by John Guare and Imaginary Friends with Nora Ephron. Hamlisch and Carnelia received Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations for their score for Sweet Smell of Success and Carnelia received a Drama Desk nomination for his lyrics for Imaginary Friends. As both composer and lyricist Craig wrote the score for Is There Life After High School? and contributed four songs to Studs Terkel’s Working for which he received his first Tony nomination. Off Broadway he wrote the music and lyrics for Three Postcards with book by Craig Lucas and contributed to the revue Diamonds directed by Hal Prince.
Regional premieres include The Good War at Chicago’s Northlight Theatre and Actor Lawyer Indian Chief at Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre both written with playwright-director David H. Bell. Craig has won a number of major songwriting awards including the Johnny Mercer Award the first annual Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theatre Award and the prestigious Kleban Award. His best known songs include “Flight” “What You’d Call a Dream” “Just a Housewife” and “The Kid Inside.” He is currently writing a new musical with playwright Joe Tracz. Craig has been on Council of the Dramatists Guild since 1995 and is married to Broadway actress Lisa Brescia.
Andrew Lippa wrote the theatrical oratorio I Am Harvey Milk that received its New York premiere in October at Lincoln Center with Kristin Chenoweth and Lippa as Harvey Milk. Life of the Party an evening celebrating 20 years of his work premiered at London’s award-winning Menier Chocolate Factory this past summer. He also wrote the Drama Desk-nominated music and lyrics for the Broadway musical Big Fish the Tony-nominated music and lyrics for the Broadway musical The Addams Family as well as the music for Aaron Sorkin’s Broadway play The Farnsworth Invention.
Other musicals include the Drama Desk-award winning musical The Wild Party (book/music/lyrics); A Little Princess (music); john & jen (music/book); Asphalt Beach (music and lyrics); and You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (additional music/lyrics and arrangements). He is currently working on a musical adaptation of Jules Feiffer’s book The Man In The Ceiling with Feiffer. Accolades include a Tony and Grammy nomination the Gilman/Gonzalez-Falla Theater Foundation Award ASCAP’s Richard Rodgers/New Horizons Award The Drama Desk and The Outer Critics Circle Award. Andrew Lippa serves on the board of The Dramatists Guild Fund and is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
Lari White enjoys a wide-ranging career as an award-winning recording artist hit songwriter and producer indie record label owner and actress. Her music has earned three Grammys (“The Apostle” Soundtrack and “Amazing Grace 1 and 2: A Country Tribute”) and RIAA Gold status (Wishes/RCA Records). Her most recent studio albums include Green Eyed Soul hailed by the London Times as the best soul album of the year and My First Affair music from her live show at the Oak Room in New York City.
As the first female producer of a male superstar White made music history producing Toby Keith’s platinum album White Trash with Money. As a songwriter she’s had cuts recorded by Tammy Wynette Toby Keith and Lonestar. Her film acting credits include the blockbuster Tom Hanks’ movie Cast Away and Country Strong with Gwyneth Paltrow. She made her critically-acclaimed Broadway debut originating the role of June in “Ring Of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash.” White has sung with the NY Boston and Pasadena Pops and the Atlanta and Nashville Symphonies and she performs regularly for legendary lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Michael Feinstein. Her latest project “The Shoe Burnin’ Anthology” features her debut as a short story author as well as her production of the spoken word and music companion CD. It is available at lariwhite.com and Amazon.com.
(Source contacts: Ryan Garson at ryan-garson@northwestern.edu or 847-467-1172)
Media Contact
Company Name: Howard R. Miller Communications
Contact Person: Mario Sancarranco and Judith Moore
Email: Send Email
Phone: 3055730882
Address:3009 NE Quayside Lane
City: Miami
State: Florida
Country: United States
Website:
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.