TOMS RIVER – George M. Cohan was the musical biographer of the United States in the early 20th century. His songs are as popular now as they were 90 years ago.
Chip Deffaa’s award-winning musical “George M. Cohan Tonight” pays tribute to him by packing 40 songs into 95 fast-moving minutes to tell the story of this legendary song-and-dance man. The musical is performed by Jon Peterson and has played around the U.S. and the world.
You’ll hear such standards as “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “Give My Regards to Broadway,” and “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
Cohan, known as the man who owned Broadway, single-handedly created the musical comedy. He wrote more than 50 shows, 40 of them before 1920, and hundreds of songs.
The tribute to Cohan begins 7 p.m. Thursday, May 7 at the Toms River library branch.
The program is free but registration is required. To register telephone the branch 732-349-6200 or 609-971-0514 or go to the library website: www.theoceancountylibrary.org, click on the “Events & News” icon, then click on “Calendar of Events.”
Jon Peterson has appeared onstage in London in “42nd Street,” “A Chorus Line,” “The Sound of Music,” and “Cats.”
Daffaa’s tribute to Cohan is part of the Ocean County Library’s 90th anniversary celebrating the decade of the 1920s.
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