Carnegie Hall

The inimitable Molly Picon—actress, singer, dancer, and comedian—has been celebrated for her work in the Yiddish theater; on Broadway and London stages; and in film, radio, recordings, and television. Missing from all the acclaim, however, has been any recognition of her accomplishments as a lyricist. She penned the words to dozens of the songs she sang, revealing her formidable skill—not merely as a clever wordsmith, but as a poet and storyteller, too. In this virtual event, musician-scholar Ronald Robboy offers a guide through Picon’s long career, exploring selected songs to show how she marshaled her writing skills not only to show off her singing to best advantage, but to flesh out characterizations and further the dramatic action of the many musicals in which she starred.