Our Broadway Babe, Randie Levine-Miller has some great picks for at home viewing, including a look at the life and times of Hugh Jackman via the SAG/AFTRA Foundation; Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald in concert 25 years ago; a star-studded tribute to Oscar Hammerstein; as well as Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews in concert at Lincoln Center over 50 years ago! Some truly wonderful nostalgic finds.

Up Close and Personal with Hugh Jackman

From 2018, “Hugh Jackman Career Retrospective — SAG/AFTRA Foundation Conversations” . Up close and personal with the one and only Hugh Jackman. He is in conversation with Jenelle Riley, who is an editor at Variety, and is an excellent interviewer. The two of them have a wonderful rapport which makes this even more special.  He’s high energy and you get that this is a very kind man, as well as, decent, down-to-earth, authentic and humble. What makes her an excellent interviewer, is she lets her guest shine, and is a good listener. If you didn’t love Hugh before (and I can’t imagine who doesn’t), you will after viewing this wonderfully revealing conversation.

Some Enchanted Evening

From 1995: “Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II”  was taped before a live audience at City Center in New York City for PBS TV, Great Performances.  And this is truly great and memorable. Julie Andrews hosts and performs, along with a stellar cast including: Audra McDonald, Patti LaBelle, Rebecca Luker, Lonette McKee, Mark Jacoby, Peabo Bryson, James Barbour, Keith Carradine, Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, Willie Nelson, Dawn Upshaw, Vanessa Williams. Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim (who was mentored by Oscar Hammerstein) also appear in this broadcast.

Sidebar: From dear friend, Josh Ellis, legendary Broadway press agent, “Some wonderful moments. Some very strange ones like Willie Nelson singing “All The Things You Are”.  OY! Sadly, this was two years before Julie Andrews had the surgery that stopped her singing, although her voice is already weak here.

Many interesting participants including Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince, and James Hammerstein.”

Patti Lupone and Audra McDonald

“Patti Lupone and Audra McDonald At the Hollywood Bowl” from 2000, is a brilliant pairing of two multiple award winning musical legends, who are as current now as they were then.  They’re both Julliard trained singers — and both are mesmerizing performers. This concert, musical directed by John Mauceri is a must see. The concert starts off with the overture from Gypsy.  How ironic, as Patti LuPone several years later, got to play Mama Rose on Broadway, and won the Tony Award for her extraordinary performance. And Audra has the distinction of having won more Tony Awards than anybody else on Broadway!

Here I am with Audra McDonald and Liev Schreibe

Sidebar: I’ve met both of these remarkable Broadway stars. Both are authentic and down to earth… I was pleasantly surprised when I met Patti Lupone,this past summer. She was warm and I even got a hug from her!  And Audra, (My heart be still.) is a total delight off-stage. When I was in charge of special events for the Drama Desk Awards, I produced the annual nominations at the Friars Club.  I enlisted Audra and Liev Schreiber (Another wonderful person) to do the announcements. I asked Audra If she’d like for me to send a car for her and her reaction was “Absolutely not, I’ll drive there.” And I’ll never forget how stunning she looked early in th day, in a bright red dress and very high heels. It turned out to be a fun morning with Audra and Liev, and a lovely memory for me.

Julie and Carol at Lincoln Center

This was a 1971 CBS-TV special with much beloved Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett, two icons who are still going strong. Julie is now 89 and Carol is 91. We get to see these legendary women who were both in their prime then, singing solo and together, as well as doing comedy — and they’re absolutely magical! This Special was produced by Carol’s then husband, Joe Hamilton, who also produced her long running TV series. They truly celebrate each other and their friendship. A wonderful trip down memory lane with two of the best entertainers in show business!