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Letters to the President

The act of writing a letter has been a way for Americans to share their most personal hopes, concerns, and dreams with the occupants of our nation’s highest office since its founding. Coming this spring, a new musical theatre concert will bring these writings to life in Letters to the President, which will be presented as a free public program to celebrate The Cooper Union’s 160th anniversary.

Letters to the President reimagines an archival canon of letters through new music by multiple musical theatre composers. Each new song is inspired by an actual letter to a U.S. president curated from the National Archives and private collections from across the country. Spanning topics including western expansion, World Wars I and II, space exploration, and the civil rights movement, Letters to the President offers a powerful look at the American dream. The evening will consist of the composers’ songs performed alongside readings of the letters that inspired them.

Letters to the President is conceived by Michael Bello (We Are The Tigers, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical) and Jessica Kahkoska (Discount Ghost Stories, Agent 355), with the letters curated by Kahkoska. The evening will be directed by Bello, with musical direction and orchestrations by Patrick Sulken, co-produced by Sara DeViney and Tim Marback.

General public should reserve a space here. Please note seating is on a first come basis; an RSVP does not guarantee admission as we generally overbook to ensure a full house.











When: Mon., Apr. 8, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Where: The Cooper Union
7 E. 7th St. | 41 Cooper Sq.
212-353-4100
Price: Free
Buy tickets/get more info now
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The act of writing a letter has been a way for Americans to share their most personal hopes, concerns, and dreams with the occupants of our nation’s highest office since its founding. Coming this spring, a new musical theatre concert will bring these writings to life in Letters to the President, which will be presented as a free public program to celebrate The Cooper Union’s 160th anniversary.

Letters to the President reimagines an archival canon of letters through new music by multiple musical theatre composers. Each new song is inspired by an actual letter to a U.S. president curated from the National Archives and private collections from across the country. Spanning topics including western expansion, World Wars I and II, space exploration, and the civil rights movement, Letters to the President offers a powerful look at the American dream. The evening will consist of the composers’ songs performed alongside readings of the letters that inspired them.

Letters to the President is conceived by Michael Bello (We Are The Tigers, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical) and Jessica Kahkoska (Discount Ghost Stories, Agent 355), with the letters curated by Kahkoska. The evening will be directed by Bello, with musical direction and orchestrations by Patrick Sulken, co-produced by Sara DeViney and Tim Marback.

General public should reserve a space here. Please note seating is on a first come basis; an RSVP does not guarantee admission as we generally overbook to ensure a full house.

Buy tickets/get more info now