"50 Years of Broadway at the Kennedy Center"

Epic 2 1/2 hour concert last night (2/11) featuring many numbers from musicals connected to the KC's 50-year history, with emphasis on PIPPIN, ANNIE, and LES MISERABLES, which had pre-Broadway engagements in DC, as well as the Center's historic Sondheim Festival that featured several weeks of six Sondheim works in rep. I won't remember everything that everyone sang, but some highlights include:

ANDREA MaCARDLE: "Maybe,"  "Tomorrow"
FRANCES RUFFELLE: "On My Own"
STEPHANIE J. BLOCK: "Don't Rain Rain on My Parade", "Defying Gravity", "Move On" with Andrew Rannells which was exquisite
SIERRA BOGGESS: "I Could Have Danced All Night" "Think of Me" 
GAVIN CREEL: "Corner of the Sky" "Luck Be a Lady Tonight" "You're Nothing Without Me" with Rannells, "Easy Street" with Beth Leavel and Betsy Wolfe
LaCHANZE: Not sure of her first number, but also a stunning "Wheels of a Dream" with Norm Lewis in gorgeous voice
BETH LEAVEL: "Some People"
NORM LEWIS: "Stars", "Music of the Night" 
ANDREW RANNELLS: "I Believe", "Suddenly Seymour" with Betsy Wolfe
VANESSA WILLIAMS: something from Sophisticated Ladies and "Losing My Mind" in a medley with Wolfe, 
who sang "Not a Day Goes By"
BETSY WOLFE: "Maybe This Time"
TONY YAZBECK: "I Can't Be Bothered Now" (I think, it was definitely something from CFY), and "The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me-Blues
JAMES MONROE INGLEHART: the evening's MC who opened the show with "Magic To Do"
ENTIRE COMPANY: "Somewhere" the evening's final number

All this and a nice-size orchestra conducted by Rob Berman. Minor quibble: sound design sometimes mushed up lyrics and dialogue.

Several professional cameras inside the house, so it was definitely recorded but couldn't find out what for.

Christopher Jackson and Alfie Boe were not able to perform.

ONE MORE PERFORMANCE TONIGHT AT 7:30!

 





 

 

Tag said: "Is it being filmed for PBS?"

There were several cameras in the house, but probably for archival purposes. Hoping they at least release a few clips.

Was just informed this is being filmed for broadcast.  Both performances are being filmed and edit will use the best of either night.  It’s assumed for PBS’ Great Performances.  An independent company was hired to film it, not PBS (they don’t film anything themselves). 

Last night was fantastic; definite sound issues (they kept turning the mics on late, or too early) but such great singers.  Song list is below -- I was taking notes:

Magic to Do - James Monroe Iglehart

Corner of the Sky - Gavin Creel

Hit Me With a Hot Note and Watch Me Bounce - Vanessa Williams

I Could Have Danced All Night - Sierra Boggess

Don't Rain on My Parade - Stephanie J Block

Easy Street - Beth Leavel, Gavin Creel, and Betsy Wolfe

Maybe and Tomorrow - Andrea McCardle

I Can't Be Bothered Now - Tony Yazbeck (he did some great tapdancing -- really the only dancing of the evening aside from a bit during the opening "Magic To Do"

Waiting for Life - LaChanze

Maybe This Time - Betsy Wolfe

You're Nothing Without Me - Gavin Creel and Andrew Rannells

On My Own - Frances Ruffelle

Stars - Norm Lewis

INTERMISSION

Think of Me - Sierra Boggess

Music of the Night - Norm Lewis

Luck Be a Lady - Gavin Creel

I Believe - Andrew Rannells

Defying Gravity - Stephanie J Block

Suddenly Seymour - Betsy Wolfe, Andrew Rannells

Merrily We Roll Along Overture/Tribute to Sondheim

Some People - Beth Leavel

Buddy's Blues - Tony Yazbeck

Losing My Mind - Not a Day Goes By Duet - Vanessa Williams and Sierra Boggess

Move On - Stephanie J Block and Andrew Rannells

Wheels of a Dream - Norm Lewis, LaChanze

Somewhere - Full Company

 

The only show listed in the playbill that they didn't sing from was Chess, so I assume Christopher Jackson or Alfie Boe was going to sing those songs.  Wonder if they're out tonight too, or if it was just a conflict with last night's performance. 

 

I was there tonight, Jackson and Boe were out again.  Book of Mormon was a replacement for Chess based on the program and I was not disappointed as the Rannells reprise was a highlight for me along with every number he was in.  He really needs to be back on Broadway.  Sierra, Stephanie, Norm, Vanessa, and Betsy were also exceptional.  It was such a terrific night overall, so many highlights.  Glad to hear that they were filming for future broadcast, though I did not see any cameras tonight from where I was sitting in the orchestra.  There were sound issues (as in no vocal sound at all) during the 30-60 seconds of Magic to Do with Creel running stage to bring a hand held mic which also did not work.

morosco said: "This is a perfect show for a PBS Great Performances broadcast. Hope that's what they were filming for."

As I mentioned on an earlier post, the 2 performances were indeed being filmed for PBS’ Great Performances.