1.18.10

Deborah's frequent writing partner, Amanda Yesnowitz, showcases her lyrics at Birdland on Monday, 1/18/10 at 7pm. Four of her songs written with Deborah will be included, sung by Stephanie J. Block, Michael Winther, Chip Zien, and Carlos Encinias. Also appearing in the concert are Noah Weisberg, Farah Alvin, Ann Harada, and Kate Reinders. Brian Cimmet is Musical Director. Click here to invite yourself on facebook.

10.19.09

"Other People's Art," written with Amanda Yesnowitz, finally receives its first live performance from Joe Cassidy, at the NAMT Songwriters Showcase, hosted by Dee Hoty and David Zippel, the afternoon of October 19, 2009.

10.19-20.09

Deborah is the musical director for the NAMT presentation of "How You Run With A Shell On Your Back," written by Chicago writers Alan Schmuckler and Michael Mahler, directed by Kent Nicholson, and featuring Price Waldman, Gideon Glick, Derrick Trumbly, Jeffrey James Binney, Melissa Menezes, Carey Anderson, and Emma Hunton.

10.5.09

Deborah has written a new song with lyricist Joel B. New, to be performed at the Broadway In South Africa Benefit Concert at Symphony Space on Monday, October 5 at 7:30 pm.

6.27.09

Deborah is the Musical Director for Daniel Zaitchik's "Picnic At Hanging Rock" at O'Neill Theater Center Musical Conference, presenting June 27-July 3.

6.22.09

Two new recordings are posted on the music page. The first is "Other People's Art," with lyrics by Amanda Yesnowitz, written for Chip Zien to debut at the Bright Lights concert on 1/26/09. The concert was cancelled at the last moment due to difficulties with the venue, but the song has finally been recorded by Chip for you to hear. The second posting is a new demo of a previously recorded song, "Another Day," recorded this time by Megan McGinnis, who was slated to perform it at that same January concert. Enjoy!

6.2.09

Stephanie J. Block's solo CD, "This Place I Know," is released by P.S. Classics. The CD includes "Gotta Start Small" (Amanda Yesnowitz, lyrics; Fred Lassen, orchestration; Dominick Amendum, Musical Direction).

3.29.09

Megan McGinnis performs "Liliana" at "Broadway Under The Bridge," a benefit for the Brooklyn Young Mothers' Collective, which provides low-income young mothers with the vision to plan and the tools to build their future.

2.23.09

Deborah is the guest composer at Monday Nights, New Voices on February 23rd, 7pm at The Duplex. Up and coming talents Ashley Mortensen, Andy Planck, Tess Primack, Tony Ramos and Jessica Vosk will sing five of Deborah's songs, written with lyricists Pete Mills, Amanda Yesnowitz, and herself. Included in the set will be the first public performance of any song from "The History Of War" (lyrics by Amanda Yesnowitz and book by Chip Zien, who will both also be present), and Jessica Vosk will premiere a new song just completed with both music and lyrics by Abramson.

 

1.26.09

Deborah is both conflicted and proud to announce that on the same night as the Bright Lights concert with Amanda Yesnowitz, the songs she wrote with William Finn will be presented 15 blocks north, at Merkin Hall, also at 8pm. The concert is a reprise of the 2005 Williams College concert where Finn teamed up and wrote lyrics for a small group of composers who were all former students of his. Malcolm Gets, Ann Harada, Megan Lawrence, Sally Wilfert, Michael Winther, and Lee Zarrett perform, and Vadim Feichtner is musical director while Philip Himberg directs. More details to follow.

 

1.26.09

Deborah, with Amanda Yesnowitz, will be one of three writing teams in the January 26th installment of the Bright Lights Concert Series. The concert begins at 8pm at the Reprise Room on 54th between Broadway and 8th Ave. Deborah and Amanda's segment will debut songs from their work in progress with Chip Zien, "The History Of War," as well as standalone songs both new and older. Charlie Brady, Marc Kudisch, Liz Larsen, Megan McGinnis, and Chip Zien will perform, and Chris Fenwick will play the piano. Deborah and Amanda will sit on the sidelines and will portray themselves. More details to follow. [NOTE: This event was cancelled at the last minute because the venue was condemned!]

1.8.09

Stephanie J. Block records "Gotta Start Small" (Amanda Yesnowitz, lyrics; Fred Lassen, orchestration; Dominick Amendum, Musical Direction) for her upcoming solo CD, at Legacy Recording Studios.

 

12.15.08

"Twice As Much" (Amanda Yesnowitz, lyrics) was performed as part of a charity holiday concert at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre

 

11.10.08

Malcolm Gets performed "The Essential Me" (lyrics, William Finn) as the only song not written entirely by Finn in the "Infinite Joy" concert at Joe's Pub .

 

8.8.08

Deborah is the Musical Director and pianist for the Spring Awakening appearance at the Soho Apple Store, where Hunter Parrish, Lauren Pritchard, John Gallagher Jr., Alexandra Socha, and Duncan Sheik perform songs that are recorded live, to soon be released on iTunes.

 

7.11.08

Deborah is the Musical Director for the New York Stage And Film workshop production of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's new piece, Nero. Idina Menzel, Jeffrey Carlson, Laila Robins, Michael Arden, and Lea Michele star for 4 sold-out performances.

 

6.18.08

Michael Winther begins another run of "New Love Songs" at the Metropolitan room, including Deborah's song, "Blue Movie." Performances are June 18, 23, 25, and 30.

 

4.7.08

Deborah accompanied Harvey Fierstein's performance of "Coney Island" from "A Catered Affair" on the Today Show, to welcome Kathie Lee Gifford on her first day there.

 

4.7.08 (updated)

Deborah repeated her stint at Feinstein's with Lea Michele on Monday, April 7 at 8:30 pm. The show included a couple of surprise additions since the February performance, and still featured "Another Day," the song written for Lea by Amanda Yesnowitz and Deborah. Broadway.com has posted a video feature with excerpts from the concert here.

 

3.31.08

The Barrington Stage Company's benefit concert at Birdland will include Megan Lawrence's induplicable performances of two of Deborah's songs: "I Love Television" (lyrics by William Finn) and "Independence Day In Pittsfield" (lyrics by Rachel Sheinkin).

 

3.26.08

Deborah spent the afternoon in the recording studio with Scott Alan, recording her background vocal arrangement for his newest song, "The Distance You Have Come." Their festive afterglow is now displayed on YouTube.

 

2.25.08

Deborah is the Musical Director for Lea Michele's solo show at Feinstein's on Monday, February 25 at 8:30 pm. Not only does Lea star in Spring Awakening, but has a voice of great glory beyond what you'll hear at the O'Neill Theatre. Also, Deborah is writing a brand new song for her with Amanda Yesnowitz, to debut that very night.

 

2.23.08

February 23-26, Prospect Theater Company will present an evening called "Museum Pieces," featuring 10-minute musicals by 8 writing teams, including Deborah with Amanda Yesnowitz. Naturally, Deborah's muse Michael Winther will be featured in the cast.

 

2.20.08

7 pm, Deborah reunites with Duncan Sheik, Lauren Pritchard, John Gallagher, Jr., and several other musicians to perform at the Songwriters Hall of Fame event "Words about Music: An Evening With Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik", at Symphony Space.

 

2.18.08

7 pm, Michael Winther will give his second of two performances of a collection of "New Love Songs" at the Metropolitan Room, including Deborah's song "Blue Movie" with lyrics by William Finn.

 

12.10.07

"Godel, Escher, Bach" will be performed by Lianne Dobbs on December 10 at the star-studded "Monday Nights, New Voices" year-end wrap-up concert at the Duplex. Deborah's frequent collaborator Chip Zien will host the evening.

 

11.27.07

Deborah begins as Musical Director of a workshop of an adaptation of the film Picnic at Hanging Rock, at Lincoln Center, written by Daniel Zaitchik, directed by Joe Calarco, and featuring Whitney Bashor, Megan McGinnis, and Celia Keenan-Bolger.

 

11.25.07

Deborah is fortunate to be performing nightly in the orchestra of The Glorious Ones at Lincoln Center's Mitzi Newhouse Theater. She also conducts from time to time, including the upcoming dates November 27-December 1, December 5 (both performances), December 12 (matinee), December 13 and 14.

 

Deborah will tearily complete her time at Spring Awakening this week, with 2 final performances on September 4th and 5th, and begin rehearsals the next day as associate musical director for The Glorious Ones at Lincoln Center. She would especially love to thank the Spring Awakening fans for being so adorable and for being astute enough to notice the importance and coolness of the band.

 

Deborah has written a wordless, non-theatrical piece of concert music for inclusion in The Cello Project III, along with illustrious composers Maury Yeston, Robert Lopez, Michael Arden, Zina Goldrich, Joseph Thalken, Joshua Rosenblum, Gerard Alessandrini, Jake Heggie, Dan Lipton, and Chris Miller. Thursday, May 17, 2007, 7pm at Symphony Space.

 

Deborah is the special guest composer at the March 19th "Monday Nights, New Voices" event at the Duplex at 7pm. It's Ladies' Night, and two of Deborah's most ladylike songs will be performed by some thrilling up and coming senoritas. And Matt Cavenaugh is the special guest host. You must be there.

Meanwhile, Deborah continues to play with the Spring Awakening band a couple times a week. Sometimes Wednesdays and Sunday matinees. Sometimes not. But always fun. Always loud. Always youthful.

 

The perpetually dreamy Sally Wilfert, Douglas Sills, and Todd Murray will include the trio "Being Not Here" (Lyrics by William Finn at a concert on January 29th at 7pm.

 

Deborah is one of 4 featured writers (including Rupert Holmes, Jeff Blumenkrantz, and Pete Mills) included in the ASCAP/MAC Songwriters' Showcase on November 16th at 6pm. Megan McGinnis will sing "Waiting To Be Won" and "Godel, Escher, Bach," and Charlie Brady will sing "Liliana."

 

"Hot Mama's! (The Mother of All Cabarets)" on November 13 at 8pm at Symphony Space's Thalia theatre, will feature a new song by music by Deborah and lyrics by Amanda Yesnowitz. Jessica Kostival will perform the song, along with several other songs performed by herself and two other pregnant women, Alison Cimmet and Jenni Frost. Tesha Buss directs, Mary-Mitchell Campbell is musical director, and Geoff Cohen and ASTEP produce.

 

Rehearsals begin as associate musical director for Spring Awakening on Broadway, beginning previews on November 16th.

 

A concert, "The Songs of Deborah Abramson," at Birdland on Monday, October 2nd at 7pm featured Charlie Brady, Manoel Felciano, Megan Lawrence, Sally Wilfert, and Michael Winther, with special guest Theresa McCarthy (Floyd Collins, Titanic) and musical director Marco Paguia. Deborah's music is paired with lyrics by herself, William Finn, Peter Mills, Amanda Yesnowitz, Rachel Sheinkin, and Nathan Tysen. Check out this article for the story.

 

"Travels With My Discontent" completed its workshop run at Barrington Stage Company. The production featured Chip Zien, Megan Lawrence, Katie Clarke, and Charlie Brady, with musical direction by J. Oconer Navarro. William Finn directed the revue of Deborah's music paired with lyrics by himself, herself, Peter Mills, Rachel Sheinkin, and Amanda Yesnowitz.

 

Sally Wilfert and Michael Winther performed 3 songs of Deborah's as part of a New Mondays event at the Beechman Theatre. The other writers represented were Stephen Schwartz and David Zippel.

 

William Finn and Deborah were interviewed live by Alan Chartok on public radio station WAMC. A recording of the program will soon appear on the "LISTEN" page.