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Nyro Worship Leads To Show

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By MICHELE SAGER

msager@tampatrib.com

Published: November 5, 2008

CARROLLWOOD - Can a performer's lyrics and voice change a person's life?

Teacher and performer Barry Silber believes so. And now he plans to pay tribute to the woman who changed his life with a performance to benefit the Carrollwood Players.

Silber has written a play honoring the life of singer-songwriter Laura Nyro that will be performed beginning Friday.

He said he won't forget the night he saw Nyro perform at the University of Miami.

"She was one of the most talented songwriters of her generation and had one of the most beautiful voices," Silber said. "I wasn't the same after that show."

Some music lovers may not recognize Nyro's name, but chances are they know her music. She wrote songs for some of the biggest acts in the late 1960s and '70s.

Those hits include "And When I Die," made famous by Blood, Sweat and Tears, and "Stoney End" by Barbra Streisand. She also released her own albums, but her best-selling single was "Up on the Roof," written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. After a string of successful albums, Nyro died of ovarian cancer in 1997.

Silber doesn't want to reveal too much about his show, "And a World to Carry On," co-written by Carole Coppinger, before its premiere."There are going to be a lot of surprises in the show," he said. "I want people to walk away saying 'Wow, I didn't realize she wrote all that.'"

Silber teaches psychology by day at Hillsborough Community College and performs with the Carrollwood Players. He said it has been a longtime dream to write a play saluting one of his favorite performers.

"She's developed a cult following through the years because she is such a talent," he said. "The Carrollwood Players were nice enough to let me do this, and this is my chance to give back to them."

Money raised from the shows will benefit the Carrollwood Players.

IF YOU GO

And a World

to Carry On

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday WHERE: Carrollwood Players Theater, 4335 Gunn Highway, Tampa

HOW MUCH: $10 minimum donation is requested, cash only

INFORMATION: www.carroll woodplayers.org

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843 or msager@tampatrib.com.

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