The 2018 Kleban Prize winners (L-R):Alan Schmuckler, Amanda Yesnowitz, Christian Duhamel
The Kleban Foundation (standing, L-R): Sarah Douglas, Andre Bishop, Richard Terrano. Maury Yeston, Elliot H. Brown, John Weidman, Richard Maltby, Jr. The 2018 Kleban Prize winners (seated, L-R): Alan Schmuckler, Amanda Yesnowitz, Christian Duhamel
The board and officers of The Kleban Foundation (from top left): Andre Bishop, Richard Terrano. Maury Yeston, Elliot H. Brown, John Weidman, Richard Maltby, Jr., Sarah Douglas
The 28TH ANNUAL KLEBAN PRIZES FOR MUSICAL THEATRE were presented on February 5th to Alan Schmuckler (the most promising musical theater lyricist, tie), Amanda Yesnowitz (the most promising musical theater lyricist, tie), and Christian Duhamel (the most promising musical theater librettist) in a private reception hosted by ASCAP and BMI at ASCAP. In addition to this year’s winners, attendees included Andre Bishop (Artistic Director, Lincoln Center Theater), Elliot H. Brown (theatrical attorney), Richard Maltby, Jr. (Tony Award-winning director, conceiver, lyricist – Ain’t Misbehavin’, Baby, Miss Saigon), Richard Terrano (CPA, Marks Paneth LLP), John Weidman (Tony-nominated librettist – Contact, Anything Goes, Assassins, Pacific Overtures), Maury Yeston (Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist – Nine, Titanic), Sarah Douglas (Literary Agent, Abrams Artists Agency); and event hosts Seth Saltzman (Senior Vice President, ASCAP), Patrick Cook (Director of Musical Theatre and Jazz, BMI). The evening culminated in performances of material by this year’s prize winners by Charissa Bertels (A Christmas Story The Musical), Doug Katsaros (Altar Boyz), Ayumi Okada (“Here, Where The Land Ends And The Sea Begins,”), Presley Ryan (Fun Home), and Benjamin Scheuer (The Lion).
