town hall
Suffragists founded it, Marian Anderson sang here, and Garrison Keillor likes to stop by for a few yarns about Minnesota. Numerous NYC school children have their first theatrical experience here. Founded in 1921, The Town Hall is a non-profit National Historic site in the heart of NYC's theatre district, with a line-up that features events ranging from world music, jazz, gospel, blues, folk, show tunes, political humor, theatre, dance, its critically acclaimed Broadway by the Year, and more.
a snapshot of town hall history
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The Opening of Town Hall
January 12, 1921Founded by a group of suffragists (The League for Political Education) seeking to build a space where the people could be educated, The Town Hall was ... Read more1/68 -
Margaret Sanger’s Dramatic Arrest
November 13, 1921Margaret Sanger was famously arrested on Town Hall’s stage during a public meeting on birth control. She was an avid supporter of women’s ... Read more2/68 -
Richard Strauss Three Intimate Recitals
December 15, 192115, 24, 31 December 1921 15 December with Elizabeth Schumann, soprano 24 December with Elena Gerhardt, soprano 31 December with George Meader, tenor ... Read more3/68 -
Cello Recital by Pablo Casals
January 7, 1923Cello Recital by Pablo Casals Pablo Casals (1876-1973) was a Spanish cellist, conductor and composer who achieved worldwide acclaim as a virtuoso. He ... Read more4/68 -
Ruth St. Denis in Ted Denishawn & Denishawn Dancers
February 27, 1923Ruth St. Denis in Ted Denishawn & Denishawn Dancers with Martha Graham, Pearl Wheeler, Betty May, Leonore Schefler, Julia Bennett, Mary Lynn, Loui... Read more5/68 -
Paul Robeson & Lawrence Brown A Program of Negro Music
May 11, 1927Paul Robeson (1898-1976) was the son of a former slave who made his name on stage in The Emperor Jones, All God's Children, Showboat, Black Boy, Porgy... Read more6/68 -
Recital by Andres Segovia
March 23, 1929Andres Segovia (1893-1987) was a self-taught musician recognized as the preeminent exponent of the Spanish guitar and responsible for restoring the in... Read more7/68 -
Sacco & Vanzetti Memorial
August 23, 1929Unable to get a hall in Boston the Sacco -Vanzetti Memorial Committee and the ACLU booked The Town Hall. The memorial was held on the second anniversa... Read more8/68 -
An Evening with Richard Tauber
November 3, 1930Austrian tenor Richard Tauber’s (1891-1948) sweet and superbly managed voice, full of musicianship, was especially well suited for the Mozartian... Read more9/68 -
Sergei Rachmaninov— Third Event in The Town Hall Endowment Series 1931-32
February 2, 1932Russian composer, pianist and conductor Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) was noted for his command of the emotional gesture and loyalty to the finer Rus... Read more10/68 -
Fydor Chaliapan— First Event in the Town Hall Endowment Series 1932-33
December 7, 1932Assisting artist: John Corigliano, violinist Widely considered the greatest singing actor of his day Fydor Chaliapan (1873-1938) was largely self-tau... Read more11/68 -
First Broadcast of America's Town Meeting of the Air
May 30, 1935When America's Town Meeting of the Air originally started broadcasts, it was on an experimental basis, but the show quickly became enormously popular.... Read more12/68 -
Rosalyn Turek, piano recital
October 18, 1935A concert artist and educator Rosalyn Tureck (1914-2003) was the recipient of the first Town Hall Endowment Award, and the first woman invited to cond... Read more13/68 -
Eight Year Old Prodigy Ruth Slenczynski
November 25, 1935Ruth Slenczynski, Eight-Year-Old PianistThe child prodigy who made her debut at age five and was acclaimed by European critics. Ruth Slencynski’... Read more14/68 -
Marian Anderson
December 30, 1935Marian AndersonKosti Vehanen at the piano After being denied an operatic career because of discrimination against African-Americans, Marian Anderson ... Read more15/68 -
Town Meeting: Young America Looks Forward
February 27, 1936First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt appeared as Chairman on "America’s Town Meeting of the Air." The topic was “Young America Looks Forward,&rdqu... Read more16/68 -
Alice Tully Sings at Town Hall
November 28, 1936Alice Tully, U.S. singer, music promoter, and philanthropist, for whom the famous Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center is named, performed here at To... Read more17/68 -
Isaac Stern Has His New York Debut at Age 17
October 12, 1937Town Hall has long been a place where musicians make their New York debut. Famed violinist Isaac Stern made his New York debut here in 1937, and ret... Read more18/68 -
Town Meeting: What is Humanity's Greatest Need Today?
May 8, 1938Novelist Pearl Buck appeared with Carl Sandburg, Forest Ray Moulton and Frank KingdonModerator: George V. Denny, Jr. Pearl Buck (1892-197... Read more19/68 -
Lily Pons Song Recital
December 26, 1938Lily PonsFrank LaForge, composer-pianist at the piano Frances Blaisdell, flautist and The Renaissance Quintet French-American coloratura soprano Lil... Read more20/68 -
Billie Holiday Performs
April 11, 1942Billie Holiday performed at the fourth Town Hall Jazz Concert. Holiday would return in 1948 for her first major solo show.(Photo by Chuck Stewart) Read more21/68 -
Town Meeting: Let's Face the Race Question
February 17, 1944Langston Hughes discussed how “the Race Question” should be handled in America. Although discussing “a question that [was] consider... Read more22/68 -
Eddie Condon Town Hall Blue Network Broadcast Series
September 9, 19449, 16, 23 & 30 September 1944—Live RecordingComprising programs 17, 18, 19 & 20 From 1944 to 1945 Eddie Condon (1905-1973) lead a serie... Read more23/68 -
Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker
June 22, 1945Diz and Bird were joined by Max Roach in this 1945 concert, the record of which was not initially released, either due to the controversial nature of ... Read more24/68 -
Town Meeting: What Can We As Individuals Do To Help Prevent World Famine?
May 2, 1946In an unusual debate in which all four speakers were in agreement, Former Mayor of New York Fiorello LaGuardia visited The Town Hall to participate ... Read more25/68 -
Town Meeting: Should the Communist Party be Outlawed in the United States?
April 3, 1947Joseph R. McCarthy joins Elis Arnall, Edward Arthur Hayes and Leo Cherne Moderator: George V. Denny, Jr.Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957) was an American se... Read more26/68 -
Town Meeting: What Can We Do to Improve Race and Religious Relationships in America?
October 7, 1947Clare Boothe Luce joins Charles P. Taft and Walter White. Interogators: Max Lerner and Moderator: George V. Denny, Jr. American... Read more27/68 -
Sarah Vaughan and Lester Young: One Night Stand
November 8, 1947Released in 1997 by Blue Note, this album features two legendary performers, mostly performing separately, but coming together for the final number &l... Read more28/68 -
Town Meeting: Are We Depending Too Much on Government for General Welfare?
November 1, 1949Huberty Humphrey and Owen BrewsterModerator: George V. Denny, Jr. Hubert Humphrey (1911-1978) was a Senator from Minnesota and Vice President u... Read more29/68 -
Kurt Weill Concert featuring Lotte Lenya
February 3, 1951Program: The Three Penny Opera in concert version as well as excerpts from One Touch of Venus, Knickerbocker Holiday, and Mahagonny Austrian ... Read more30/68 -
Billy Taylor Trio at Town Hall
December 17, 1954Billy Taylor performed many well-known standards at this show accompanied by bassist Earl May and drummer Percy Brice, but he also premiered a (very) ... Read more31/68 -
Duke Ellington for the Fresh Air Fund
April 17, 1957Duke Ellington performed at Town Hall at a benefit concert for the Fresh Air Fund, an agency providing free country vacations to New York City chil... Read more32/68 -
Carlos Montoya
October 11, 1957Leading flamenco guitarist, Carlos Montoya (1903 -1993) began playing in Cafes Cantantes at age 14. He toured Europe, Asia and the US playing major co... Read more33/68 -
Betty Allen's New York Debut
January 5, 1958Internationally known opera singer Betty Allen made her New York recital debut at Town Hall. Allen was part of the first wave of African American op... Read more34/68 -
American Opera Society presents The Coronation of Poppea
February 25, 1958Conductor, Arnold Gamson, Chorus director, Margart Hills, Director, George Mully Cast: Donald Gramm, Frank Porretta, Glade Peterson, Leontyne Price, ... Read more35/68 -
The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall
February 28, 1959Thelonious Monk introduced a new band at this iconic performance. Having previously been known as an outstanding leader of smaller bands, Monk was joi... Read more36/68 -
Nina Simone at Town Hall
September 15, 1959This celebrated album showcases Nina Simone’s impeccable skills as both a singer and a pianist, and is widely considered as some of her very bes... Read more37/68 -
Igor Stravinsky Concert
December 20, 1959Igor Stravinsky was recognized as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Stravinsky performed at Town Hall with four other composers - ... Read more38/68 -
Bob Dylan's Town Hall Debut
April 12, 1963Robert Shelton of The New York Times said "Mr. Dylan is 21 years old, hails from Hibbing, Minn., wears blue jeans, presumably has little to do with ... Read more39/68 -
The Judy Collins Concert (Live)
March 21, 1964The Judy Collins Concert (Live)Twenty-four-year-old folksinger Judy Collins’ performance at Town Hall in New York City on March 21, 1964, was bi... Read more40/68 -
Pete Seeger Children's Concert at Town Hall
April 28, 1964Live RecordingPete Seeger Children's Concert at Town Hall Grammy-winning folksinger, national treasure, and untiring environmentalist, Pete Seeger (1... Read more41/68 -
Mabel Mercer & Bobby Short
May 18, 1969This album features the pairing of two generations of sophisticated cabaret singers -- Mabel Mercer and Bobby Short -- in a concert at Manhattan's Tow... Read more42/68 -
Legendary Ladies series launches with Bette Davis
February 11, 1973Bette Davis appears in the first of the "Legendary Ladies" series dreamed up by veteran film publicist John Springer, the idea - to present great scen... Read more43/68 -
Joan Crawford Live at Town Hall
April 8, 1973Joan Crawford makes her last public appearenc in the "Legendary Ladies" at the Movies series. The series presented great scenes from the legends ... Read more44/68 -
Philip Glass Ensemble
February 12, 1981Performs 3 concerts: 12 & 15 Feb: Einstein on the Beach, 1st Complete Concert Version13 Feb: Music with Chaing Parts, Music with Similar Moti... Read more45/68 -
town hall concert live recording
February 22, 1985When the legendary Blue Note label was relaunched in the mid-'80s, this concert was part of the celebration. Miles Davis' classic rhythm section (Ron ... Read more46/68 -
Harolyn Blackwell, soprano, appears as part of Town Hall's Select Debut series
March 30, 1987Harolyn Blackwell’s career began on Broadway in a revival of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story in 1980, but she soon discovered her true... Read more47/68 -
Sharon Isbin
November 9, 1988Sharon Isbin has been acclaimed for expanding the guitar repertoire with some of the finest new works of the century. She has commissioned and premier... Read more48/68 -
Meredith Monk with Nurit Tilles
December 10, 1988The Town Hall Not Just Jazz series featured Meredith MonkComposer, singer, filmmaker, choreographer and director Meredith Monk (1942-) is a pioneer in... Read more49/68 -
Archy & Mehitable, a back alley musical, with Taylor Dane
March 11, 1989The Town Hall's Century of Change series presented the back alley musical, archy & mehitable, starring Taylor Dane and Lee Wilkof.Taylor Dayne, Am... Read more50/68 -
Gene Harris and the Philip Morris Superband Live at Town Hall
September 23, 1989a live recordingThis CD documents one of the first concerts by Gene Harris' star-studded big band, an orchestra heard at the beginning of an 80-day wo... Read more51/68 -
Scott Joplin's TREEMONISHA an opera in 3 acts
December 5, 1991The Town Hall Century of Change series presented Scott Joplin's opera TREEMONISHA with La-Rose Saxon, Eddye Pierce Young, Lisa Polite, Curtis Rayam, C... Read more52/68 -
JVC Jazz Festival presents a night of Chesky Jazz Live
June 24, 1992a live recording The music on this CD comes from the June 24, 1992, concert at Town Hall in New York City, with a host of artists featured. Trumpeter... Read more53/68 -
Wayne Shorter
December 1, 1995Wayne Shorter's first New York concert in five years. Backed by his current septet -- with drums, percussion, electric bass, electric guitar and ... Read more54/68 -
A Tribute to Oscar Peterson
October 1, 1996Live Recording Oscar Peterson suffered a stroke in 1993 and made a partial comeback. Although his left hand was weakened, the pianist's right hand wa... Read more55/68 -
Natalie Merchant
June 17, 1997Lead singer, and primary lyricist for the 10,000 maniacs, performed music from her first solo album Tigerlilly. The album that launched her solo caree... Read more56/68 -
70s Jazz Pioneers Live at the Town Hall
March 20, 1998a live recording The '70s were a very creative and banner decade for jazz. On March 20, 1998, trumpeter Mark Morganelli celebrated the richness... Read more57/68 -
Joan Armatrading
August 4, 1999Three-time Grammy Award-nominee Armatrading made her first NY appearence in three years. Ann Powers of The New York Times reviewed the concert, "Some ... Read more58/68 -
Eddie Izzard begins 3 Night Stint
June 22, 2000After a sold-out tour of the UK, British comedian Eddie Izzard brough his hilarious one-man show Circle to Town Hall for three nights from June 22-26,... Read more59/68 -
Joan Baez
March 5, 2002Joan Baez made her Town Hall debut. The legendary folk-singer appeared to promote her upcoming album Farewell Angelina. Read more60/68 -
Town Hall's Brave New World, a Sept. 11 Theatrical Remembrance
September 11, 2002Designed to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Sept. 11, a Brave New World was a theater marathon featuring fifty new plays and songs created by ... Read more61/68 -
Elvis Costello begins three nights at Town Hall
September 22, 2003Elvis Costello appeared at Town Hall for three nights to promote his new album, ''North'' (Deutsche Grammophon), accompanied only by Steve Nieve on pi... Read more62/68 -
Marianne Faithful
March 12, 2004Ms. Faithfull appeared to promote her new album, "Before the Poison" (Anti-/Epitaph), which featured collaborations with the cult figures P. J. Harvey... Read more63/68 -
Gilberto Gil and David Byrne
September 21, 2004Gilberto Gil, one of the stars of the tropicalia movement, which revolutionized Brazilian pop, performed at Town Hall on a double bill with American P... Read more64/68 -
Sarah McLachlan w/ Blind Boys of Alabama & Leigh Nash
November 29, 2006A recording of the etown podcast live from Town Hall in New York City. First, ultra-talented, multi-award winning singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan re... Read more65/68 -
Bright Eyes begins 7 night run at Town Hall
May 25, 2007During a 7-night stint at The Town Hall in New York City from May 25 to June 1, Bright Eyes welcomed the following guests on stage for special perform... Read more66/68 -
Jerry Lee Lewis
March 25, 2008The last living legend from Sun Studios’ Million Dollar Quartet, Jerry Lee Lewis, was rockin’ and a rollin’ on the Town Hall stage. ... Read more67/68 -
Robin Williams
November 23, 2009Robin Williams brought his latest show Weapons of Self Destruction to the Town Hall stage. The show made fun of everybody no hold barred. He coverd a ... Read more68/68
