The Harvard-Yale Cantata
September 9, 2021
Yale leads the series 4-1, but Harvard won last year for the first time and is aching for a repeat. Join us for a very entertaining evening at Feinstein’s/54 Below, featuring Harvard grads performing songs written by Harvard grads in fierce competition with Yale grads performing songs written by Yalies!
For the sixth year in a row, Harvard and Yale grads will perform in a light-hearted competition that we all take deadly seriously. Last year’s contest was decided by one point, 32-31, and that’s been true most years. The performing and writing talent is high, and the teams are well-matched. Jennie Litt (Harvard ’86) will once again lead the Harvard team as team captain, with Richard Shore (Harvard ’68) serving as the Harvard music director. The Yale music director and team captain will be Farrah Rothman (Yale ’19). Harvard’s lineup includes singer and alumna Debbie Deane, and Yale’s team includes songwriter Julian Hornik (Yale ’17).
The Harvard songwriters will include Johnny Green (“Body and Soul”), Joshuah Campbell (Academy Award nomination for “Stand Up”), Nell Benjamin and Lawrence O’Keefe (Broadway’s Legally Blonde), perennial Cantata favorite John Forster (“Entering Marion”), and team captain Jennie Litt (MAC nominee for “A Prime Little Number”). The Yale team will feature songs by Cole Porter (Broadway’s Kiss Me, Kate and Anything Goes), Scott Frankel (Broadway’s Grey Gardens), Mark Sonnenblick (Off-Bway’s Midnight at the Never Get), Julian Hornik, and Farrah Rothman.
Performers for Harvard will include Eric Cheng, Debbie Deane, Laura Sky Herman, John Forster, Ashley LaLonde, and Michael Wingate. Performers for Yale will include Sam Bolen, Kenyon Duncan, Joy Hermalyn, Farrah Rothman, and Xavier Washington. Additional performers will be announced as the date approaches.
Returning for her third time to the judge’s panel will be songwriter Marcy Heisler (“Taylor the Latte Boy”). Joining her will be playwright and librettist Cheryl Davis (winner of a Writers’ Guild Award and a Kleban Award). Cheryl went to Princeton and had a song in Cantata III, when Princeton teamed up with Yale against Columbia and Harvard. The other judge will be announced shortly.
Produced and hosted by Tom Toce (Yale ’78).
Please note that all artists and acts are subject to change at any time.
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required to enter the club.
Featuring
Cheryl Davis Judge
Debbie Deane Harvard Singer
Farrah Rothman Yale Music Director & Team Captain ('19)
Laura Sky Herman Harvard Team
Marcy Heisler Judge
Julian Hornik Yale Songwriter ('17)
Jennie Litt Harvard Team Captain ('86)
Richard Shore Harvard Music Director
