The specialty comedy song – a medley of several Broadway show tunes – was created by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael John LaChiusa (Giant, Queen of the Mist, Marie Christine).
Here are the lyrics to the number, which was performed by Tony host Neil Patrick Harris (Cabaret, "How I Met Your Mother"), Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon, "The New Normal"), Megan Hilty (Wicked, "Smash") and Laura Benanti (Gypsy, "Go On," "The Playboy Club").
Watch the video from the Tony Awards broadcast above.
ANDREW
Hey, there's a lot of great things about doing t.v.: the perks. The pay. The private jets. The craft service. But it's nothing like doing live theatre. It's where I have my roots. [to the tune of "AMERICA"]
I LIKE TO BE ON A T.V. SHOW.
NP
What?
ANDREW
Yes, the theatre. It's home, Neil. Theatre will always be my true home.
I LIKE TO BE ON A T.V. SHOW.
NP
But —
ANDREW
And I know that, no matter how many sitcoms or crime dramas or groundbreaking cable series I may star in, I will always be welcomed back to the theatre with warm and open arms!
I LIKE TO STAR ON A T.V. SHOW!
MUY POPULAR ON A T.V. SHOW!
CHAUFFEUR AND CAR WITH A T.V. SHOW!
NP
THAT'S IF YOU ARE ON A T.V. SHOW.
ANDREW
I love the theatre but —
NO TWO-A-DAY ON A T.V. SHOW!
NO MATINEE ON A T.V. SHOW!
VERY NICE PAY ON A T.V. SHOW!
NP
IF YOU CAN STAY ON A T.V. SHOW.
ANDREW
Now you're just being a douche —
NP
But —
MEGAN
Hey, boys… [to the tune of "GOTTA HAVE A GIMMICK"]
GO WORK YOUR AGENT SUBMISSIONS
& CATTLE CALL AUDITIONS
DON'T THINK IT WON'T TAKE YOU FAR;
BUT YOU GOTTA HAVE A SERIES
IF YOU WANNA BE A STAR!
NP
Megan —that's not true!
MEGAN
LAND A BROADWAY SHOW, SURE,
BUT IF YOU WANT EXPOSURE
A SITCOM HELPS TO BURNISH YOUR NAME.
YOU GOTTA HAVE A SERIES
IF YOU WANT A SHOT AT FAME!
LAURA
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH'LL DRINK TO THAT!
(LAURA enters, half-finished Scotch bottle in hand.)
[to the tune of "LADIES WHO LUNCH"]
LAURA
HERE'S TO THE ACTORS WITH SHOWS
MAKING TONS OF BUCKS.
LINING UP THEIR DUCKS IN PROVERBIAL ROWS;
LUCKY SONS OF SCHMUCKS.
BOTH MY SHOWS WERE CANCELLED, IT'S TRUE.
NO JOKE. HA HA. NOT ONE SHOW, BUT TWO!
AND SO I RAISE MY BOTTLE TO YOU:
TELEVISION SUCKS!
SUCKS!
SUCKS!
NP
Wow, Laura, that's bitter —
LAURA
Yeah? Well, we all can't be like Will Chase can we? His show got canceled but at least he's nominated for something tonight.
MEGAN
And Will wasn't even ON the second season of "Smash."
ANDREW
Suck it, Will Chase.
LAURA
Yeah, suck it, Will.
NP
Guys, guys —doing T.V. has its pros and cons. And just like the theatre, you sometimes have a hit and sometimes you don't. We all can't have a long-running T.V. hit like my show—
MEGAN
Ouch.
NP
—and even though your shows were canceled, the upside is that you can always come home to the theatre!
[to the tune of "WHAT I DID FOR LOVE"]
KISS L.A. GOODBYE.
IT'S BACK TO FOUR SHOWS WEEKENDS.
DELI FOOD AND SKETCHY EQUITY INSURANCE PACKAGES.
MEGAN/LAURA/ANDREW
WON'T FORGET
CAN'T FORGET
WHAT I DID FOR—
LAURA
AN OBSCENE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
MEGAN/LAURA/ANDREW
WHAT I DID FOR —
ANDREW
A REALLY COOL LOFT IN TRIBECA.
MEGAN/LAURA/ANDREW
WHAT I DID FOR —
MEGAN
THE CHANCE FOR PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS AND WRITERS AND CASTING AGENTS AND JUST, WELL, EVERYBODY TO SEE ME AND LOVE ME BECAUSE AFTER ALL, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ALL CRAVE. BECAUSE NOBODY EVER HUGGED US AS CHILDREN WHICH IS HOW WE GOT INTO THIS BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. ESPECIALLY YOU, NEIL.
ALL
WHAT I DID —
NP
DO —
ALL
FOR LOVE…
