Carnegie Hall Notables Host Broadway's Best

By Christopher Moore, Broadway Magazine

Something special just happened at Carnegie Hall. The legendary performance space brought together some of Broadway's greatest creative talent for a panel discussion called REVIVAL: Broadway's Next Act. For one night only some of Broadway's best and brightest shared their thoughts, stories, and music with the Carnegie Hall Notable's crowd. It was a rare event, and Broadway Magazine and Broadway.tv were there to document the evening. In this exclusive video, enjoy some of the highlights from a night that had many. Including an inside story about Jonathan Larson, creator of RENT, and even a shout out to the New York Post from In The Heights' Lin-Manuel Miranda, as he jokingly predicts a gloomy future with a subtle smile and a big wink.

"Each year we try to choose a subject that integrates the music with something that might be a little more accessible to general pop culture. So we've done fashion, and we've done politics, and we've done the internet...and this year we chose Broadway. It's a pretty big success. So far, so good," says Carnegie Hall Notable James Zankel, the underwriter for the evening.

On hand to lead and discuss were Ana Gasteyer (Wicked, The Threepenny Opera, and Saturday Night Live), Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (creative force behind and in front of In The Heights), Jerry Mitchell, Broadway director and choreographer (Legally Blonde: The Musical and many more), Anthony Rapp (RENT), Adam Shankman, film director, choreographer, and executive producer (Hairspray) and Duncan Sheik, Grammy- and Tony-winning composer (Spring Awakening). An impressive line-up of talent for one-night only.

Before the start of the event, Zankel shared a story with the crowd that may shed a bit of light on how Broadway came to be a part of this Carnegie Hall event. Telling the crowd how his mother dragged him to see Annie when he was 7, it turned out that he liked it. In fact, "I thought it was the greatest goddamn thing I'd ever seen," grins Zankel, "and I'd seen Star Wars and my brothers Farrah Fawcett poster."

With SNL alum and Broadway veteran Ana Gasteyer moderating, it was an evening full of fun and insight. At one point, Gasteyer addressed the panel with a quizzical look on her face. "I thought that Bennifer Lopez was interested in doing Spring Awakening. I'm so confused," said Ana, as the crowd laughs.

RENT star and songwriter Anthony Rapp recalled a story about RENT creator Jonathan Larson, long before the show had become a hit. "One of my favorite stories about him (Larson) is that we did the workshop (of RENT) in 94 and sometime between then and doing the off-Broadway production he came to a birthday party at my house. After he left, a friend of mine came up to me and said, 'who is that guy?' I was, like, 'Why? What do you mean? He's Jonathan.'...He's like, 'Well he came up to me and we were talking and I was like 'what do you do for a living?' and he said to me, 'I'm the future of musical theater.'"

Another highlight of the evening was Lin-Manuel Miranda. Fresh from his Tony Winning hit In The Heights, Miranda showed the spirit and candor that has already brought him much success and will surely bring more in the future. "Now, the question becomes 'what's the next project?," says Miranda to the panel and the crowd," And I think there's no where to go but down. I think disappointment and alcoholism are right on the horizon. So, see you in the New York Post." The crowd loved it.

Check out the video to see how Legally Blonde director Jerry Mitchell feels about casting. "I personally do not feel comfortable letting America choose who's going to be my next leading lady," said Mitchell. Of course, the audition process and selection for Legally Blonde: The Search For The Next Elle Woods was not done by audience vote, but rather was done by the casting director and creative team involved in the musical.

It was a magic night, and Broadway.tv and Broadway Magazine were there to bring it to you. Check out the highlights, jokes, candid moments, and performances all right here on Broadway.tv. Also, see red-carpet highlights with Bailey Hanks, Adam Shankman, Marissa Perry and more in our feature section and blog.