Riding the Broadway High

Our first installment of Project B-Way/95 comes to a close today with screenings of Gypsy and Company. Over the past few weeks we’ve had incredible Broadway stars grace our stages, such as Patti LuPone, Jason Robert Brown, Raúl Esparza, Laura Osnes, and many, many more. The crowds were some of the most enthusiastic I’ve seen — I have never heard a more thunderous reception than the one Patti received at the top of last night’s show.

Out of the countless wonderful moments in Project B-Way/95, I picked out some of my favorite memories to share with you:

Jason Robert Brown closed the opening event, Broadway Premieres, with “Wait ’Til You See What’s Next,” which was cut from Prince of Broadway. Love those socks! (photo: Rahav Segev)

Ted Chapin of Rogers and Hammerstein Organization and Michael Portantiere welcomed Marni Nixon, the legendary voice behind so many actresses — including Deborah Carr in The King and I. At 86, Marni is still going strong and was full of stories about the making of this iconic movie.

In my opinion (and I’m not sure the only one), the star of the All in the Family show was Lena, the two-year-old daughter of Nikki Renée Daniels and Jeff Kready. She was a surprise guest for a performance of “Love Is an Open Door” from Frozen. Look at her belting out it out. She’s a natural! (photo: Rahav Segev)

Last Thursday, Sh-K Boom Records with Kurt Deutsch had its 16th birthday party with lots of music-making. Shots of whiskey were even offered to the audience to help everyone get in the party mood. For me, Shaina Taub’s powerful performance of “When” about gun violence was a highlight. (Photo: Rahav Segev)

At Wall to Wall Stephen Schwartz, Patina Miller reprised her role as Leading Player in Pippin in a medley. I, as so many others, was in a high school production of Pippin, and was singing along. “I’ve got magic to do …” (Photo: Rahav Segev)

Here’s the great man himself, hanging out with some random artistic director backstage at Wall to Wall on Saturday! One of the perks of my job is getting to hang out with legends like Stephen Schwartz. (Photo: Rahav Segev)

No words needed here! This Broadway legend set the place on fire last night during her show, “Don’t Monkey with Broadway.” The crowd went absolutely bananas for her. (Photo: Rahav Segev)

Here I am at the reception following Broadway Premieres with Annette Jolles and Joel Fram, the wonderfully talented curators and producers behind Project B-Way/95. Thanks to them for putting together such an extraordinary project.

And for those of you who missed this Project B-Way/95, make sure you come next year. Joel and Annette are already hard at work cooking up some great ideas, and it will surely be a blast!