Our Broadway Babe, Randie Levine-Miller has some more gems to share with us including: a Sondheim concert with the New York Philharmonic; A variety show/fundraiser with some of Broadway’s best for PBS TV in Southern California; Michael Feinstein, singing a fabulous Broadway medley; and a BBC TV Jerry Herman themed broadcast. All of these picks are upbeat and fun finds!

New York Philharmonic Celebrating Sondheim

From 2019,  New Year’s Eve – Live from Lincoln Center presents the “New York Philharmonic Celebrating Sondheim” with Bernadette Peters hosting — she’s also one of Sondheim‘s favorites, and one of the foremost interpreters of his songs. This concert was videoed live for PBS-TV at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center with Tony Award winner Katrina Lenk as special guest vocalist and Musical Director, Alexander Gemignani making his New York Philharmonic conducting debut (following in his father, Paul Gemignani’s footsteps).  The Philharmonic plays the overtures of some of Sondheim‘s greatest musicals including “Sweeney Todd”,  “A Little Night Music”, “Into The Woods”, “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum”, “Company”, “Follies”, “Merrily We Roll Along”, “Sunday in the Park With George”.  It is an absolutely incredible and diverting evening, as we were moving into 2020 — never knowing what was to come two months later.  This is a must-see and must listen to concert. The program was directed by one of Sondheim’s favorites and definitely mine, Lonny Price.

Starfest: Stars Salute Public Television

A rare find and a true gem (From 1983) —A variety show videoed at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas and hosted by Richard Kiley and Diahann Carroll (who starred together on Broadway in Richard Rodgers’ “No Strings” in 1960). This PBS fundraiser features: Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows, Rich Little, Roberta Peters, Shields and Yarnell, and a young and strikingly beautiful Patti Lupone.

A Jerry Herman Salute

From the BBC-TV, 1988, a Jerry Herman salute with Jerry Herman, Georgia Brown, and George Hearn, doing several numbers from “Mack and Mabel.” They are two of the best interpreters of the great theatrical songbook, and Jerry Herman is certainly one of the greatest of the greats. The host of the program is Terry Wogan, who I’ve never heard of, but he had a daily talk show with performances and interviews — comparable to the American Merv Griffin Show or Mike Douglas Show. The host shares that the two of them were doing numbers from the show in a few nights for a cancer charity.  They talk about their lives and times as theater actors, with Jerry playing piano and performing some of his biggest hits, backed by the program’s band. And as always, Jerry Herman is always upbeat with his music and his personality!

Michael Feinstein’s All-Star Celebration of Feinsteins/54 Below

From 2017: Michael Feinstein sings a delightful Broadway medley at the fifth anniversary all-star celebration of Feinsteins/54 Below. He is front and center and is the consummate pro and audience pleaser. Michael is such an exciting performer and he has first class pianist, Tedd Firth, as his musical director.  54 Below has become a home for many of Broadway’s favorite performers, as well as, a popular gathering spot for their fans.