Additional honorees included Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening. Created and written by Gerard Alessandrini, the hilariously offbeat production earned Outstanding Revue accolades.

The prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop won a Drama Desk award in 2005/6 for Nurturing, Developing and Promoting New Talent for the Musical Theatre.

About The Drama Desk

Founded in 1949 and composed of critics and journalists writing on the theater, Drama Desk gives annual awards honoring outstanding work in the theater. The honors are unique in that Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway compete in the same categories. The Drama Desk continues to be dedicated to furthering excellence in the theater. www.dramadesk.com

Pictured after the ceremony at Tavern on the Green are (front row): Tony Honors recipient Gerard Alessandrini, BMI Workshop moderator Maury Yeston, American Theatre Wing President Douglas Leeds, Shubert Organization Chairman Gerald Schoenfeld, actress Angela Lansbury, American Theatre Wing Chairman Sondra Gilman, Tony Honors host Cynthia Nixon, BMI Workshop moderator Richard Engquist, Tony Honors recipient Biff Liff; (middle row): Workshop alumni and Tony Honors presenters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Workshop Steering Committee members Nancy Golladay, Jane Smulyan and David Spencer; (back row): Workshop moderator Rick Freyer, Workshop alumnus Judd Woldin (composer of Raisin, the Workshop's first Tony-winning musical), BMI Workshop Director Jean Banks, Workshop Steering Committee members Patrick Cook and Frank Evans, and Workshop alumna Linda Kline.

In accepting the crystal trophy, Yeston, the Tony Award-winning BMI composer (Titanic, Grand Hotel, Nine) who has led the Workshop for more than 25 years, said, "Lehman wanted to pass on his expertise in writing musicals and he got together with an extraordinary corporation, BMI, and they did something unprecedented that I don't think has ever been done before or since: They made a workshop. BMI put up the money, they provided the infrastructure and the room and the piano, and they've been doing this for more than 40 years, free of charge, no strings attached. It is a real privilege to sit there and to see these shows come into existence week by week and song by song."

American Theatre Wing President Douglas Leeds, American Theatre Wing Chairman Sondra Gilman, BMI Workshop moderator Maury Yeston, who accepted the Tony Honor on the Workshop's behalf, and Workshop alumna Lynn Ahrens, who presented the award

Deemed "the Harvard of musical theatre" by The New York Times, the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop was founded in 1961 by the late Lehman Engel, dean of American musical theatre, to create a setting where new writers could learn their craft. With more than 250 composers, lyricists and bookwriters who are actively writing new works for the musical theatre, noted alumni include Yeston, as well as Tony Award winners Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez (Avenue Q), Edward Kleban (A Chorus Line), Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors), and Michael John LaChiusa (Hello Again, Marie Christine, The Wild Party).

(Back row): Workshop committee members Patrick Cook, Jean Banks and Frank Evans; and (front row): Lynn Ahrens and Maury Yeston

The BMI Workshop's 2006 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre adds to an impressive trophy shelf that already boasts a special 2006 Drama Desk Award "for nurturing, developing and promoting new talent for the musical theater," and the 2005 Drama League Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre.

In addition to the BMI Workshop, Forbidden Broadway and its creator Gerard Alessandrini- a BMI composer and Workshop alumnus-were also honored with a Tony Honor, given to individuals and organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievements in the field of theatre, but that are not eligible in any of the established Tony categories. Winners are chosen by the Tony Administration Committee.]]> 2006-10-27T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334990 Alessandrini, Gerard, Engel, Lehman, LaChiusa, Michael John, Lopez, Robert, Marx, Jeff, Menken, Alan, Yeston, Maury, Musical Theatre, Tony Awards Congratulations to the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, recently announced as a recipient of the 2006 Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre. This prestigious honor will be presented Oct. 24 at Tavern on the Green in New York City.

The Tony Honors "recognize contributions to the field of theatre for individuals and organizations that are not eligible in any of the established Tony categories." In addition to the BMI Workshop, Forbidden Broadway and its creator Gerard Alessandrini, a BMI composer and Workshop alum, will also be feted. Other honorees include William Morris Agency Senior VP Samuel Liff and La MaMa E.T.C. Founder/Director Ellen Stewart.

Deemed "the Harvard of musical theatre" by The New York Times, the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop was founded in 1961 by the late Lehman Engel, dean of American musical theatre, to create a setting where new writers could learn their craft. The Workshop consists of approximately 250 composers, lyricists and bookwriters, most of whom are actively writing new works for the musical theatre. Noted alumni include Tony Award winners Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez (Avenue Q), Edward Kleban (A Chorus Line), Maury Yeston (Titanic, Grand Hotel, Nine), Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors) and Michael John LaChiusa (Hello Again, Marie Christine, The Wild Party).

The Workshop's 2006 Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre adds to an impressive trophy shelf that already boasts a special 2006 Drama Desk Award "for nurturing, developing and promoting new talent for the musical theater" and the 2005 Drama League Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre.]]> 2006-09-26T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234538 Artists, Alessandrini, Gerard, Blumenkrantz, Jeff, Cook, Patrick, Cryer, Gretchen, Engquist, Richard, Evans, Frank, Ford, Nancy, Freyer, Rick, Lopez, Robert, Marx, Jeff, Menken, Alan, Spencer, David, Woldin, Judd, Yeston, Maury, Musical Styles, Musical Theatre Broadway composers who honed their craft at the famed BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop will join together in song for a one-night-only concert on September 14 at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street) at 8pm. The evening is a cooperative production of BMI, the Prospect Theatre Company and Musical Mondays Theatre Lab. General Admission tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased at Ticket Central at 212 479-4200.

Now entering its fifth decade, the BMI Workshop -- deemed "the Harvard of musical theatre" by The New York Times -- is the launching pad for musicals such as A Chorus Line, Little Shop of Horrors, Nine, Avenue Q and most recently Musical of Musicals! - The Musical.

The event is part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival (a three-week celebration from September 12 to October 2) and features the performing talents of Maury Yeston, two-time Best Score Tony Award winner for Nine and Titanic, and writers Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, 2004 Tony winners for Avenue Q. Composer Judd Woldin (Best Musical Tony for Raisin) performs with lyricist Richard Engquist (Drama Desk Award for Kuni-Leml) from their recent off-Broadway musical Little Ham.

Drama Desk Award winner Gerard Alessandrini, whose Forbidden Broadway is now in its 21st season, hosts the event. Nancy Ford, lyricist with composer Gretchen Cryer for the current American Girls Revue, will perform her standard, "Old Friend," introduced in her long-running I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road. David Spencer is performing "And I Knew" from Weird Romance, his collaboration with Oscar and Golden Globe winner Alan Menken.

Jeff Blumenkrantz, nominated for a Tony for his work on Urban Cowboy, will be performing his own work, as will Jonathan Larson Fellow Beth Falcone. Composer Barbara Anselmi and lyricist Will Randall reprise their hit from the last BMI Showcase, "It Shoulda Been You" from The Wedding Project.

Jerry Bock Award winner Frank Evans is represented with songs from War Brides, which will be featured as part of the NYMF Festival on September 27 at BMI. Patrick Cook, Workshop Artistic Coordinator and his composing partner Rick Freyer, who co-wrote the Drama Desk nominated Captains Courageous, will be singing songs from their new musical version of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

The BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, recently honored with the 2005 Drama League Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre, was founded in 1961 by the late Lehman Engel, dean of American musical theatre, to create a setting where new writers could learn their craft. Since its inception, the Workshop has been operated by BMI free of any cost to participants; admission is based on merit.

Dedicated to discovering new work and new artists, the New York Musical Theatre Festival celebrates the diversity, creativity and future of musical theatre. NYMF is a flagship program of the National Music Theater Network, a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, and is America's largest annual musical theatre event. NYMF is produced in association with Cadillac and Virgin Megastores and proudly supported by amNewYork, the Village Voice, WB11, Receptasign, King Displays, Rosco Lighting, Scharff Weisberg Inc, Dodger Stages, TheaterMania.com, BroadwayWorld.com, broadway.com, HX, Next and Manhattan Living.

photo by Eric Miller]]> 2003-03-24T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/232954 Artists, Alessandrini, Gerard, Engel, Lehman, Menken, Alan, Yeston, Maury, Musical Styles, Classical, Musical Theatre
Members of the BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop past and present gather on the stage of Merkin Hall following the concert honoring the late musical theatre composer

Some of Broadway's top composers and lyricists paid tribute to legendary composer and teacher Lehman Engel, the founder of BMI’s Musical Theater Workshop on Monday, April 2 at Merkin Concert Hall in a grand celebration of his life and work entitled Lehman’s Children: The Legacy of Broadway’s Greatest Teacher. The evening included an array of Engel’s former students, including Alan Menken, Oscar-winning composer of Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast; Maury Yeston, Tony-winning writer of Titanic, Nine and Grand Hotel; Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, partners in creating Ragtime, Once on This Island and Seussical; Carol Hall, best known for The Best Little Whore House in Texas; Michael-John LaChiusa composer of Hello Again, Marie Christine and The Wild Party; and Gerard Alessandrini, author of the acclaimed Forbidden Broadway series. The evening was hosted by Engel’s close personal friend, Broadway musical star Sally Ann Howes. Filled with performances and reminiscences by the composers and guest artists, this unique event gave audience members an insight into the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop experience. This performance was the first in the new Merkin Concert Hall series entitled "Broadway Close Up."

Maury Yeston reminiscing about Lehman Engel

Gerard Alessandrini shows off the program from his original production of Forbidden Broadway

Alan Menken sharing his music

Michael-John LaChiusa

This performance will inaugurate the new Merkin Concert Hall series entitled "Broadway Close Up," which continues on Monday, May 7 at 8PM with Comden and Green: The Art of Collaboration and then on Monday, June 18 at 8PM with Bound for Broadway.

Merkin Concert Hall is located in the Abraham Goodman House at 129 West 67th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam. Single tickets to this event are $20 and a 3-concert subscription to the entire "Broadway Close Up" series is $35. All tickets can be purchased at the Merkin Hall Box Office or by calling the concert line at (212) 501-3330.

About the BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop
Musical Theatre is America’s natural treasure, and BMI’s support for this cherished form is but one more example of its commitment to the writers and publishers of all genres of music. More than three decades ago, BMI and the late Lehman Engel, Dean of American Musical Theatre, joined forces to create a setting where new writers for the musical theatre could learn their craft. An innovative program at its inception, the BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop continues to flourish and is considered to be the foremost training ground for new writing voices. The Workshop has brought forth many musical milestones in writing and production.

Maury Yeston, longtime member of the Workshop serves on its steering committee and teaches the advanced composer-lyricist class. “[Lehman] provided loving attention to writers who otherwise would be separate and alone and without the foggiest idea how to get ahead or how to pursue their craft. He was really one of a kind. He created a forum for friendly criticism - and he offered it in the most avuncular and giving way. He brought into being a marvelous thing. And we refused to let it die with him.” After Engel’s memorial service at the Shubert Theater in New York in August of 1982, several of the BMI Workshop members got together and concluded that nothing would honor this master of the theater more than keeping the workshop alive in his honor. Now, 20 years after Engel’s death, "Broadway Close Up" provides a unique opportunity to pay tribute to his life and work.

About Merkin Concert Hall
Merkin Concert Hall is a division of the Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center, which also includes the Lucy Moses School for Music and Dance and the Special Music School of America. A not-for-profit organization founded in 1952, the Kaufman Center occupies its own facility, the award-winning Abraham Goodman House, located in the heart of Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Through its three divisions, the Center is an unsurpassed cultural resource where people of all ages experience the joy of artistic creation, expression and appreciation.