LaChanze in Once On This Island
I fell totally in love with LaChanze in Once On This Island and saw it over a dozen times on Broadway. The incredible cast, the stunning music and the simplicity of the set still make it one of my all-time faves! My dream came true many years later when I was given the opportunity to play Coalhouse Walker Jr. to LaChanze's Sarah in Ragtime on Broadway! Heaven!
The Entire Cast of The Who's Tommy
I had absolutely no interest in seeing this show, but a friend had an extra ticket, so I went and was blown away by it from the first downbeat! I had never seen anything onstage that was so high energy, with great theatrical rock music and with such an awesome multi-media aspect, with all of the the stacked television screens, etc... Little did I know that just over a year later, I would be on that very stage in that very show playing The Hawker!
Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald in The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Two of the most beautiful people with two of the most glorious voices on stage, performing together? WOW!!! What more is there to say?
Samuel Wright as King Mufasa in The Lion King
When The Lion King first opened on Broadway, I was biased because I was playing Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime on tour at the time and very disappointed that we lost Best Musical to them. However, when I finally saw the show, I, like everyone else on the planet, fell madly in love with it. I loved the music and all of the artistic elements, but I was most struck by Samuel Wright's beautiful, rich, deep, warm voice and his majestic presence!
A Tuna Christmas
I had never ever heard of Greater Tuna, but my date and I laughed so hard that we could barely catch our breath! Seriously! It took me a while to realize that there were only two people playing all of those hilarious characters on stage.
The Entire Cast of Passing Strange
Another show that I'd vaguely heard about that moved from The Public Theater to Broadway. Electric, funky, raw, thought-provoking, beautiful and visually stunning! I saw it three times and told everyone that I knew to see it before it closed!!!
Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime
Beautiful voice, beautiful spirit, stunning performance!
Chuck Cooper and Lillias White in The Life
Seeing these two forces of nature perform their Tony Award-winning roles on Broadway was thrilling!
Billy Porter in Kinky Boots
Billy and I both made our Broadway debuts together in the original company of Miss Saigon. As someone who has known him for a very long time, and who has always believed in his immense talent, I could not be prouder of him for taking home the Tony for this magnificent performance!
Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in Fences
Two masters of stage and screen in a powerful, classic American play! A riveting master class, indeed!
