Fans of Steven Spielberg’s recent film “West Side Story” can take a deeper dive into the composer of its music, Leonard Bernstein, with a kind of epistolary musical. It’s made up of letters by and to Bernstein throughout his life to people like Stephen Sondheim, Jackie Kennedy, Aaron Copeland, Miles Davis and more, along with newspaper articles and, of course, his songs. You’ll get a better appreciation of Bernstein’s life, all with songs performed by Bradley Greenwald, Prudence Johnson and Liz Hawkinson with pianist Dan Chouinard, clarinetist Bruce Thornton and bassist Gary Raynor. –SHEILA REGAN
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At the Dakota in Minneapolis Tuesday night, it’s Dear Lenny: Bernstein’s Life in Songs & Letters, a tribute from Dan Chouinard, Prudence Johnson, Bradley Greenwald and Liz Hawkinson. Bernstein’s music is woven together with candid correspondence from Aaron Copland, Steven Sondheim, Jacqueline Kennedy, Jerome Robbins and Bette Davis. It also includes songs from West Side Story.
One of the finest Bernstein tributes in recent memory came from the genius jazz pianist Bill Charlap on his album, Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein. Charlap is performing at the Hopkins Center for the Arts on Saturday with the sensational singer Dee Dee Bridgewater. Run don’t walk. –JOHN BIRGE
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