Lecture Series – The Great American Songbook: What Makes it Great? Gershwin Edition

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@ *Buy a subscription with tickets to all four lectures, or add Tyler Driskill’s Hooray for Hollywood concert for all 5 events, and get 10% off the total cost of individual tickets for each event! Brent Wagner, Host Tyler Driskill, Pianist with singers from the University of Michigan Musical Department Kerrytown Concert House is delighted to welcome back its popular lecture series, The Great American Songbook: What Makes it Great?, now in its third season. Host Brent Wagner, University of Michigan Emeritus Professor of Musical Theatre, leads the exploration, while pianist Tyler Driskill, U-M Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre, brings the music to life at the Steinway — joined by guest singers from the University of Michigan Musical Theatre Department. About the Series Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington — these extraordinary songwriters produced so many enduring standards in the early twentieth century that their combined body of work has come to be known as “The Great American Songbook.” Recorded countless times by pop singers, jazz artists, dance bands, and even opera singers, these songs continue to be discovered and rediscovered by new generations of performers, who find fresh depth and artistry in these mini-masterpieces. But why have these songs lasted so long? What exactly makes them “great”? Brent Wagner explores the repertoire, illuminating and demonstrating the qualities that have given these songs their enduring, rewarding legacy. About the Gershwin Edition: This season opens with a tribute to George Gershwin. Gershwin was a singular figure among the creators of the American Songbook — a composer who mastered more musical forms than any of his peers, brilliantly bridging classical symphonic music and popular jazz. Working with his lyricist brother Ira, he brought a pulsating vitality to songwriting, infusing it with rhythmic drive and jazz harmonies that captivated audiences. The titles alone tell the story: “I Got Rhythm” and “Fascinating Rhythm,” the heartfelt “Love Is Here to Stay” and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” and one of the most lasting standards in the American songbook, “Summertime.” Gershwin’s achievements are all the more remarkable given how little time he had to make them: he died unexpectedly of a brain tumor in 1937, at the age of 38. Yet the music he left behind has only grown in stature, performed and cherished nearly a century later. Join us as Brent Wagner and Tyler Driskill bring that music to life and explore what makes it endure. You shared and we listened! Tickets for this series sell fast and are very popular, but now, you can get your tickets early AND pick your seats in advance! This year’s lecture series tickets will no longer be general admission, but reserved ticket seating. In-Person Ticket Pricing: Tier 1: $35 (*Student/Youth $25) Tier 2: $30 (*Student/Youth $20) Tier 3: $25 (*Student/Youth $15) Livestream Ticket Pricing: Livestream Access Ticket: $15 Events in the 2026-27 Great American Songbook: What Makes It Great? Series Lecture – Gershwin Edition: Friday, November 6th, 2026 at 7:30 PM Lecture – Broadway and Hollywood in the 1930s: Sunday, November 8th, 2026, at 4:00 pm Lecture – Broadway in the 1940s & 50s: A Golden Age of Lasting Impact: Friday, February 26th, 2027 at 7:30 PM Lecture – Broadway in the 1960s: Classic Musicals Among Social Upheaval: Sunday, February 28th, 2027 at 4:00 pm Companion Concert – Hooray for Hollywood! with Tyler Driskill & Friends: Tuesday, March 2nd, 2027 at 7:30 PM Artists: