Below are ten stunning music videos put together by Broadway stars, often for a political cause, some just for kicks (literally.)
Then below those: ten of the most popular videos I posted this year on my New York Theater Youtube channel — also Broadway, heavily Sondheim this year, mostly individual performances. These are in order of popularity; I include some of the gushing comments left by viewers.
Then as a bonus: Two more remarkable music videos I couldn’t leave out.
Some of these videos are funny, some are extremely moving — not least because they provide a portrait of a troubling year, when a spirited community forced apart still joined together.
10 Broadway Music Videos
In roughly reverse chronological order. Most of these are astonishing group videos.
Rock the Runoff: Broadway for Georgia performs “Georgia On My Mind”
sung by nearly 70 of the biggest stars on Broadway
You Will Be Found performed by Dear Evan Hansen’s Broadway, North American Tour and West End companies
Make Them Hear You from Ragtime
Sung by Jelani Alladin, Chuck Cooper, André De Shields, Brandon Victor Dixon, Joshua Henry, Billy Porter; the John Bucchino’s “Grateful” sung by Norm Lewis and Broadway Inspirational Voices, for The Actors Fund
Bring Back Broadway: A Vote Blue Video
A Zoom Cantata
performed by
Unemployed Actors For Biden
Thanksgiving the Musical
Cast of Rent Sings “Will I?” with Arts Workers for Federal Relief
Billy Porter – “For What It’s Worth” with Stephen Stills – 2020 Democratic National Convention
From the cast of @AintTooProud, #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/rXnHZO4BKp
— Ain’t Too Proud (@AintTooProud) June 4, 2020
The cast of the new, reverse-gender Broadway revival of Company performs the opening number
Isaac Powell, who portrays Tony in the 2020 revival of West Side Story, sings “Something’s Coming” accompanied by the WSS orchestra. Something IS coming, but when, and how?
A Chorus Line In Quarantine, by 44 cast members of the Broadway revival
Top 10 New York Theater Videos of 2020
in order of popularity
Ladies Who Lunch from Company in Take Me to the World: The Sondheim 90th Birthday Concert
Viewer comments:
Elaine Stritch is joining the Ladies Who Lunch from Heaven!
Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford sing Sondheim Move On” from Sunday in the Park with George
Viewer comments:
I wasn’t well-versed in Jake Gyllenhaal before this, but now he’s my full-on stay-at-home streaming quarantine crush.
Jake is amazing but what about Annaleigh?? She has a wonderful voice!
Beanie Feldstein and Ben Platt sing Sondheim
It Takes Two from Into the Woods
Viewer comments:
Beanie and Ben performed this song together in 10th grade while both were in their H.S. production of Into The Woods! They ARE besties!!! Both are amazing talents!
Okay- I’m obsessed with these two in general, they’re both amazing performers and I can’t wait to see Merrily We Roll Along (in literally two decades which sucks) but I’m fully distracted by how INSANELY hot Ben Platt looks in this. It could be the hair, it could be the mustache, or the lighting, or all three- but he has me weak.
Jordan Fisher sings Waving Through A Window from Dear Evan Hansen in
A Night of Covenant House Stars
Viewer comments:
He’s such an underrated singer. he definitely deserves more recognition.
He’s my favorite Evan Hansen
Jake Gyllenhaal sings “Across the Way” by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire as part of 24 Hour Plays’ Viral Monologues
Viewer Comments:
I want a movie about that. With that song. With him.
I’ve watched this so many times, it melts my heart
Lyrics:
Another day in lockdown as panic grips the nation
Another day of quarantine and utter isolation
Thank god I have a window
Thank god I have a view
Across the street, another window
And in that window, is you
Day 21 I noticed you, you played the clarinet
Day 24 you sort of waved and that was how we met
Day 29 at 2am we both were up too late
I poured some wine, you raised a glass like we were on a date
A really nice first date
You there across the way
Just above the shuttered sushi bar
I dont know your name and I dont know who you are
But sixty feet has never felt so close
So close and yet so far
Day 32 I washed my hands, you made a cornish hen
Day 36 you sewed a mask, I washed my hands again
Day 43 we both ate lunch on window sills that day
We felt the breeze and dreamed of France, a chic outdoor cafe
A très bien café
You there across the way
Laughing as I play my air guitar
I dont know your name and I dont know who you are
But sixty feet has never felt so close
So close and yet
So far I’m asymptomatic except for a bad case of FoMO
And a slightly distressing unhealthy obsession
With governor Andrew Cuomo Wouahahahah ! 😉
Day 48 yeah thats today I see your beaming face
You’re holding up a handmade sign that says my name is Grace
Grace
Of course your name is grace
You there across the way
Just above the shuttered sushi bar
Now I know your name and I want to know who you are
But sixty feet has never felt so close
So close and yet
So close and yet
Hello Grace, my name is
Anthony
Raúl Esparza sings Sondheim
“Take Me To The World” from Evening Primros
Viewer comments:
I need the whole song. What a gorgeous performance 😍
Anyone knows which key is this?
D major!
Neil Patrick Harris sings The Witch’s Rep
Viewer comment:
Hello I just read this Neil Patrick Harris is an amazing actor.
Patti LuPone sings Anyone Can Whistle
Viewer comments:
Patti LuPone knows how to capture your heart!
Subtle and magnificent.
Donna Murphy sings Send in the Clowns
Josh Groban sings Sondheim
Bonus Videos
What the World Needs Now from some future Broadway stars The Boston Conservatory at Berklee
ok, just one more
A Boléro from New York: NY Philharmonic Musicians Send Musical Tribute to Healthcare Workers
