Edward L. Kleban is one of the most celebrated Pulitzer Prize winning lyricists having written the musical A Chorus Line. When he passed on, the Kleban Foundation was established in 1988 which grants two annual prizes that now reach the sum of $100,000 each, payable over two years, and awarded to the most promising lyricist and librettist in American Musical Theatre.
This year’s Awards went to Daniel Mate as most promising lyricist and to Alan Gordon as most promising librettist. These awards are extremely prestigious and allow winners the latitude of continuing their creative processes with the hopes of eventually seeing their works produced on or off Broadway. The task of choosing these two went to Henry Krieger, the award winning composer of Dreamgirls &, The Tap Dance Kid, to Michelle Pawk, Tony award winning actress (Crazy For You, Hollywood Arms, Cabaret) and Sean Hartley, Director of the Theater Wing at the Kaufman Center.
The winners presented their works as follows: from The Usual (book and lyrics by Alan Gordon, music by Mark Sutton-Smith), a scene and song “In Our Private Room” was performed by Jonathan Rayson, Jillian Louis, Tara Novie with Joy Son at the piano. Following that, from The Trouble With Doug, lyricist Daniel Mate, with music by Will Aronson and book by Will Aronson and Daniel Mate, presented “Word for Word,” performed by Bob Stillman and Daniel Mate, with Will Aronson on piano.
The third and last presentation was from The Longing and the Short of It, with music and lyrics by Daniel Mate, the song “Misery Loves My Company,” performed by Grace McLean with Daniel Mate at the piano.
The invited audience included Maury Yeston, Richard Maltby, Jr. and Sheldon Harnick, and was held at ASCAP where the awards were presented in a private ceremony hosted by ASCAP and BMI.
