Join the American Pops Orchestra and Music Director Luke Frazier to pay tribute to the unforgettable male characters and beloved songs that have defined musical theater throughout the decades. Featuring Christian Borle, Jacob Gutierrez, Christopher Jackson, Telly Leung, Norm Lewis, Alexis Michelle, Matthew Morrison, Nic Rouleau, André De Shields and Paulo Szot.
A quarter century ago, Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking musical, RENT, opened at New York Theatre Workshop. From its humble beginnings at NYTW, this rock musical went on to shape a generation. What began in the East Village traveled to Broadway, across the nation and around the world. On March 2, 2021, NYTW held its biggest fundraising event of the year, 25 YEARS OF RENT: MEASURED IN LOVE. This virtual celebration of RENT and its impact on the collective cultural consciousness featured a selection of iconic songs by some of today’s most beloved recording and theatre artists, exclusive content uncovering how RENT came to life, and reflections on the driving force of Jonathan’s legacy in the American theatre.
It is said that Jule Styne published over 1,500 songs in his lifetime, a staggering number that spans decades and includes dozens of collaborators. Beginning with Sammy Cahn in the 1940s, his lyricists would include names like Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Leo Robin, Bob Merrill, and Stephen Sondheim. Styne wrote some of our most famous songs and classic Broadway hits, with a multitude of lesser-known work along the way. The lasting power of star vehicles like Gypsy and Funny Girl has remained throughout every sea change of cultural mood and sentiment.
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens is a celebration of the lives lost to AIDS told in free-verse monologues with a blues, jazz and rock score.
Telly Leung is an American actor, singer and songwriter. He is known for his many musical theatre roles on Broadway and his role as Dalton Academy Warbler 'Wes' on Glee. In November 2011, he began starring on Broadway in the Godspell revival at the Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City, New York. Telly was named one of twelve Faces to Watch in 2012: Dance, Theater, Architecture and Art by the Los Angeles Times. Description above from the Wikipedia article Telly Leung, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.