Every Thursday night NYC and other cities around the country will light up blue to honor our healthcare workers. The best two words we heard this week were “cautiously optimistic” from Gov. Cuomo. Valerie Smaldone reports in on positive things happening in and out of our city. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, Anne Akers has the scoop on New Yorker’s who are stepping up to help. If you’re missing Broadway and Cabaret, Randie Levine Miller is sharing some wonderful virtual events.  We have our picks of more virtual activities like the Bronx Zoo and the NYBG. Phew, we’re exhausted! And we have optimistically rescheduled our Renewal Summit for June 12, and our Tomatoes Got Talent show for June 29.

Behind the Scenes at the Bronx Zoo

Filmed over an eight-month period, The Zoo takes audiences behind the scenes of the Bronx Zoo. Episodes cover all sorts of cases and animals including: a silverback gorilla with glaucoma, two keeper-raised Malayan tiger cubs preparing for their introduction to their exhibit at Tiger Mountain, and the rescue of an orphaned snow leopard cub from a remote region in Pakistan. Streaming now.

Enjoy Spring at the New York Botanical Garden

During challenging times, the power of plants connects people and provides inspiration more than ever. While the Garden’s gates may be closed temporarily, NYBG’s virtual gates are wide open. NYBG at Home, is a new content hub featuring videos, plant guides, virtual events, recipes for kids, and so much more. As spring unfolds, enjoy the brightness and color of the season, a reminder of how the natural world brings us joy. Visit now.

Randie’s Picks for Virtual Broadway & Cabaret

Our 3T partner and co-producer of Tomatoes Got Talent, Randie Levine Miller, is normally out on the town seeing a Broadway show or a cabaret performance. So while we are all missing NYC entertainment at its best, Randie has picked some of her favorite virtual entertainment events.

Enjoy a Virtual “Broadway Backwards” Concert on YouTube

Broadway Backwards is the annual celebration where men sing songs originally written for women and vice versa, to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Now, audiences at home can experience some of the last decade’s most popular performances with Broadway Backwards Encore: 2020 Virtual Concert. WATCH VIDEO

Girl From The North Country Song Spotlight: Tight Connection To My Heart. 

Today, and everyday, people find love in song and poetic lyrics. In this special “Song Spotlight,” Girl From The North Country offers a special performance of Bob Dylan’s “Tight Connection To My Heart” from the show—to remind us that we’re all still connected. WATCH VIDEO

Composer Stephen Sondheim’s Life, Times and Rhymes

On March 22, Broadway’s legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim celebrated his 90th birthday. Check out this interview to learn about his life, career and the art of writing music, lyrics, and rhymes that stand the test of time. WATCH VIDEO

Broadway Marathon. 

Turn your living room into a theater with an all-day Broadway marathon on CHANNEL THIRTEEN. Enjoy Great Performances‘ presentations of She Loves Me, An American in Paris: The Musical, Kinky Boots, and more; as well as episodes of the New York Emmy-nominated Broadway Sandwich. Saturday, April 11 beginning at 10am on ALL ARTS.

54 Below

Visit their website for some fantabulous shows coming up from their archives.    Here’s the schedule for April.

• LEGALLY BLONDE: THE SEARCH FOR ELLE WOODS REUNION CONCERT! – SATURDAY, APRIL 11 AT 6:30PM
• CHARLES BUSCH “NATIVE NEW YORKER” – MONDAY, APRIL 13 AT 6:30PM
• LORNA LUFT – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 AT 6:30PM
• THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT – THURSDAY, APRIL 16 AT 6:30PM
• TOVAH FELDSHUH: AGING IS OPTIONAL – FRIDAY, APRIL 17 AT 6:30PM
• STEPPIN’ OUT WITH BEN VEREEN – SATURDAY, APRIL 18 AT 6:30PM
• ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY: THE LINDA RONSTADT SONGBOOK — SUNDAY, APRIL 19 AT 6:30PM
• 54 SINGS LEGALLY BLONDE — FRIDAY, APRIL 24 AT 6:30PM
• OMIGOD YOU GUYS!
• ALICE RIPLEY & EMILY SKINNER: UNATTACHED — SUNDAY, APRIL 26 AT 6:30PM
• CHRISTINE ANDREAS — WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29 AT 6:30PM