HARRY WARREN THEATRE—Established 1982
Harry Warren, for whom this theatre is named, remains a luminary figure among 20th Century songwriters of American popular music. Born Salvatore Guaragna in Brooklyn Heights, Warren became a major influence in the golden age of movie musicals at Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, MGM and Paramount. A self-taught pianist, Warren went on to write almost 700 songs, approximately 250 for films, and 50 that became popular standards. He wrote such songs as “I Only Have Eyes For You,” “42nd Street,” “I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo,” “The More I See You,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “At Last,” “Serenade in Blue,” and “That’s Amore.” He won three Best Song Academy Awards for “Lullaby of Broadway,” “You’ll Never Know,” and “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe.”
JONATHAN ROSENBLUM PERFORMING ARTS SPACE
Dedicated 1995
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Melodic magic was created by Jonathan Rosenblum, the multi-gifted musical director and co-founder of Ryan Repertory Company, whose untimely death on June 14, 1995, at the age of 41, shocked and saddened all who knew him.
Jonathan gave close to a quarter-of-a-century of his young life to Ryan Repertory’s success, and to the mission of bringing outstanding theatre to Brooklyn’s neighborhoods.
From 1972-1978, the initial phase of the Company was characterized by performances of noted musicals that toured the five boroughs as well as Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey. During this period, Jonathan was a performer, musical director, and occasionally served as pianist/accompanist. His own featured roles included Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Ben Marino in Fiorello!, Noah in Two by Two, Judd and Ali Hakim in Oklahoma!, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Boy’s Father in The Fantasticks, Mr. McAfee in Bye, Bye Birdie, Hines in The Pajama Game, Max in The Sound of Music, a clown in Godspell, Mr. Rich in Celebration, along with the comic role of Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple, and the Professor in The Lesson.
In reflecting on this period, Barbara Parisi, Executive Director states, “I had the unique pleasure of playing Esther to Jonathan’s Noah in Two by Two. He was a fabulous performer, a superb team player, and a real friend. Those were wonderful founding years for RRC, and Jonathan was essential to our growth and development. It could not have happened without him.”
He helped guide the Company, to found its permanent home, the Harry Warren Theatre. During the second phase of RRC’s history, the group focused on original musicals, revues, and plays. Jonathan supervised all productions as musical director. He was the technical director as well, and proved to be a dynamic force as general manager. He also took on the chores of Chairman of the Board at RRC. Through these years, his performing credits included Ben Franklin in Ben: A One-Man Show, Ben Franklin in Ben: The Musical, L. B. Meyer in Everything’s Fine, Bertie in Bertie, Victor in Moon Over Sandusky, Harry Warren in Welcome Back, Harry… Who? and Saint Peter in It’s a Matter of Life and Death.
John Sannuto, Artistic Director states, “Jonathan was a genius. I knew and worked with him from the time I was fourteen, and everything I know about singing harmony I learned from him. The last time I performed with Jonathan was in the musical, It’s a Matter of Life and Death. We performed many times in 22 years, during which time we often played roles that represented father and son relationships, which, in a sense, mirrored our off-stage relationship. He was a wonderful blend of father, brother and friend. Aside from music and theatre, Jonathan taught me the most effective way to hold a hammer and hit the nail on the head.”
From 1980 to 1995, Jonathan’s work with RRC was acclaimed at many noted performing arts centers, including Lincoln Center, BAM, BCBC, and at BACA. In 1983 he was awarded Best Actor at the Source Festival in Washington, DC for his one-man show, Ben, written by Bernard Myers. That mono-drama gathered plaudits at the Playwright’s Festival, and his Ben portrayal topped fine work by over forty actors for the prestigious honor.
In the early ‘90s, Jonathan and Kevin Carpentieri (former musician/assistant technician at RRC) committed time to complete technical renovations of the Harry Warren Theatre. Together, they gutted the inside of the entire building and turned it into a gem of a performing arts space for Brooklyn.
Jonathan passed away from a stroke while musically directing Those Glorious Hollywood Musicals, a musical revue conceived and written by Chuck Reichenthal. Chuck states, “Jonathan’s gifts were brilliant. He could take a bland song and turn it into a show-stopping milestone. He could deliver a commanding performance even when the playwright may not have provided a fully dimensional character. He could provide amazing insights into everything from lighting and set construction, to costume and choreography. Working with him was not only a treasure, but a professional treat as well. The Ryan Repertory Company members agreed that the best way to honor Jonathan was to dedicate the Performing Arts Space at the Harry Warren Theatre, a place where he gave so much of his time, energy, and love, in his name.”
