Live From Lincoln Center

I DON'T CARE, I DON'T...

AUDRA McDONALD

MAKING HER BROADWAY DEBUT PLAYING LIZA MINNELLI IN "THE BOY FROM OZ," STEPHANIE J. BLOCK HAS SHOWN A SPECIAL TALENT FOR SHOW-STOPPERS. SO IF YOU CARE TO FIND ME, LOOK TO THE...

McDONALD

TONIGHT FRESH OFF HER SECOND TONY NOMINATION FOR HER ROLE IN LINCOLN CENTER THEATER'S "FALSETTOS," SHE SHOWCASES HER BIG VOICE AND BOLD PERSONALITY IN A MORE INTIMATE SETTING. I'M AUDRA McDONALD. PLEASE ENJOY "STEPHANIE J. BLOCK IN CONCERT."

ANNOUNCER

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-- STEPHANIE J. BLOCK.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BAND PLAYING "SOME PEOPLE"

ANNOUNCER

SOME PEOPLE CAN GET A THRILL KNITTING SWEATERS AND SITTING STILL THAT'S OK FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THEY'RE ALIVE SOME PEOPLE CAN THRIVE AND BLOOM LIVING LIFE IN THE LIVING ROOM THAT'S PERFECT FOR SOME PEOPLE OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE BUT I'VE AT LEAST GOTTA TRY WHEN I THINK OF ALL THE SIGHTS THAT I GOTTA SEE YET ALL THE PLACES I GOTTA PLAY ALL THE THINGS THAT I GOTTA BE AT COME ON, PAPA, WHAT DO YOU SAY? SOME PEOPLE CAN BE CONTENT PLAYING BINGO AND PAYING RENT THAT'S PEACHY FOR SOME PEOPLE FOR SOME HUM-DRUM PEOPLE TO BE BUT SOME PEOPLE AIN'T ME I HAD A DREAM A WONDERFUL DREAM, PAPA ALL ABOUT JUNE IN THE ORPHEUM CIRCUIT GIMME A CHANCE, AND I KNOW I CAN WORK IT I HAD A DREAM JUST AS REAL AS CAN BE, PAPA THERE I WAS IN MR. ORPHEUM'S OFFICE AND HE WAS SAYING TO ME, "ROSE" "GET YOURSELF SOME NEW ORCHESTRATIONS" "NEW ROUTINES AND RED VELVET CURTAIN" "GET A FEATHERED HAT FOR THE BABY" "PHOTOGRAPHS IN FRONT OF THE THEATER" "GET AN AGENT, AND IN JIG TIME" "YOU'LL BE BEING BOOKED IN THE BIG TIME" OH, WHAT A DREAM A WONDERFUL DREAM, PAPA AND ALL THAT I NEED IS 88 BUCKS, PAPA THAT'S WHAT HE SAID, PAPA ONLY 88 BUCKS GOOD-BYE TO BLUEBERRY PIE GOOD RIDDANCE TO ALL THE SOCIALS I HAD TO GO TO ALL THE LODGES I HAD TO PLAY ALL THE SHRINERS I SAID HELLO TO HEY, L.A., I'M COMIN' YOUR WAY SOME PEOPLE SIT ON THEIR BUTTS GOT THE DREAM, YEAH, BUT NOT THE GUTS THAT'S LIVING FOR SOME PEOPLE FOR SOME HUM-DRUM PEOPLE I SUPPOSE WELL, THEY CAN STAY AND ROT BUT NOT ROSE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

HEY! OH, GOSH. WELL, I'M NOT ROSE.

LAUGHTER

ANNOUNCER

NOT YET ANYWAY. I'M JUST STEPHANIE, AND BEHIND ARE SOME OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS AND MOST BEAUTIFUL HUMANS IN THIS CITY, AND BEHIND THEM IS SAID CITY. THAT IS NEW YORK, BABY! NEW YORK. ISN'T SHE GORGEOUS?

APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

YEAH. SHE'S A BITCH.

LAUGHTER

ANNOUNCER

BUT I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT HER A LITTLE LATER. I HAVE DECIDED TO OPEN MY SET WITH "SOME PEOPLE" BECAUSE AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 17 I MASTERED THIS VERY COMPLEX AND VERY DEEP ROLE OF MAMA ROSE IN MY SENIOR MUSICAL. I TOOK MYSELF VERY SERIOUSLY BACK THEN, AND I TOOK MY ART FORM EVEN MORE SERIOUSLY BACK THEN. I KNEW WHEN I WAS ABOUT 11 THAT I WANTED TO BE STANDING EXACTLY WHERE I AM NOW, SO BY THE TIME I WAS 17, I HAD ALREADY PLANNED, I HAD SAVED, I HAD MY DREAM BOARDS, I HAD IT ALL LAID OUT. THEN I CAME TO NEW YORK. WHAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WAS THAT NEW YORK OPENS HER ARMS, AND SHE SAYS, YOU KNOW, "HERE ARE ALL THE POSSIBILITIES, "HERE ARE ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES, AND I'M NOT GONNA GIVE THEM TO YOU."

LAUGHTER

ANNOUNCER

SHE DOES EVERYTHING ON HER OWN TIME. SHE DOESN'T NECESSARILY REWARD MERIT. SHE'S CERTAINLY NOT FAIR. UM...SHE IS ONE TOUGH AND BRUTAL MISTRESS. WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER THAT MAKES ME WANT HER? WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER THAT TURNS ME PALE? SOMETHING IN HER SMILE SOMETHING THAT I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND HER WILD ABANDON WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER THAT PARTS THE WATER? WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER THAT HOISTS THE SAIL? SOMETHING IN HER HAIR INSTRUCTING WHERE TO TOUCH WHY DO I NEED HER SO MUCH? THIS WOMAN MAKES ME CRY THIS WOMAN MAKES ME BURN THIS WOMAN'S EYES CAN CUT ME TO THE CORE THIS HATRED THAT I SEE HAS BEEN RESERVED FOR ME YET I WANT MORE AND MORE AND MORE AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER THAT PULLS ME CLOSER? WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER THAT TIPS THE SCALE? THIS GIRL IS ALL I HAVE SO SOFT, SO FAIR, SO FINE AND SHE'S FOREVER MINE THIS WOMAN BUILDS ME UP THIS WOMAN TEARS ME DOWN THIS WOMAN SPEAKS, AND I CAN BREAK APART THEN COMES ANOTHER MAN PRETENDING THAT HE CAN WIN HER HEART WELL, LET HIM START WHAT IS ABOUT HER SO SLIGHT, SO SECRET? SOMETHING IN THE WAY SHE CATCHES LIGHT SHOULD I HOLD MY OWN AND SLEEP ALONE TONIGHT? WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER THAT JUMBLES FEELINGS INSIDE? WHAT IS IT ABOUT HER THAT MIXES PASSION WITH PRIDE? CAN I LIVE WITHOUT HER AND LET HER GO? HOW LOUD MUST I SCREAM "NO"?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

AHH. AND THAT IS WHY I LIVE IN JERSEY.

LAUGHTER

ANNOUNCER

IN FACT, MY ROAD TO BROADWAY IS A WILD ONE. IT WAS ABOUT 5 STATES, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, AND 19 YEARS. AHH. HEH HEH. THEY SAY I'M CRAZY, GOT NO SENSE BUT I DON'T CARE THEY MAY OR MAY NOT MEAN OFFENSE BUT I DON'T CARE YOU SEE, I'M SORT OF INDEPENDENT I AM MY OWN SUPERINTENDENT AND MY STAR IS ON THE ASCENDANT THAT'S WHY I DON'T CARE I'M 11 YEARS OLD, AND I AM AUDITIONING FOR THE LOCAL SEMI-PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION OF "ANNIE" IN OUR HOMETOWN, AND IT'S 3 DAYS OF AUDITIONS, HUNDREDS OF GIRLS, AND IT GETS DOWN TO JUST TWO OF US FOR THE LEAD OF ANNIE, AND THEY HAVE US ACTING AND SINGING AND DANCING AND WORKING WITH DIFFERENT DADDY WARBUCKS AND JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS. LITERALLY, WE DID CARTWHEELS, AND WE JUMPED THROUGH HOOPS, AND AT THE END OF THIS AUDITION PROCESS, THE PRODUCERS CAME DOWN, AND THEY SAID, "HEY. "OH, MY GOSH. YOU GUYS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY TALENTED. "WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE "AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, "THE ROLE HAS BEEN PRECAST, "BUT, UH, THIS WAS JUST TO COVER OUR BASES, SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH." HELL, NO! I'M 11 YEARS OLD. MY ENTIRE WORLD IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN, BUT.. I DON'T CARE I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF ME I'M HAPPY-GO-LUCKY THEY SAY THAT I'M PLUCKY CONTENTED AND CAREFREE I DON'T CARE, I DON'T CARE IF I DO GET A MEAN AND STONY STARE IF I'M NOT SUCCESSFUL IT WON'T BE DISTRESSFUL 'CAUSE I DON'T CARE I'M NOW 15 YEARS OLD, AND MY MOTHER HAS FORGED MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE SO THAT I COULD AUDITION FOR THE DISNEYLAND SUMMER PARADE. THAT EXPLAINS A WHOLE LOT, DOESN'T IT? SO I SHOW UP, I'M EXCITED. MY SISTER HAS WORKED AT DISNEYLAND FOR A HANDFUL OF YEARS, AND SHE'S BEEN A DANCER AND SNOW WHITE AND CINDERELLA, AND I THINK, "IT'S MY TURN. IT'S MY TURN TO BE A PRINCESS." SO AFTER AN INTERMINABLE DAY OF AUDITIONING AT DISNEYLAND, IF YOU'RE STILL STANDING BY THE END, THEY GIVE YOU AN INDEX CARD, AND ON THAT INDEX CARD IS WRITTEN WHAT YOUR PART'S GONNA BE, AND I SEE, "FIFER"! AND I THINK, "OH, FIFER? PRINCESS FIFER? WHO IS PRINCESS FIFER?" AND I THINK, AND I THINK, AND THERE IS NO PRINCESS FIFER. FIFER IS ONE OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS, SO I SPENT MY SUMMER UNDERAGE, SWEATING MY PORK LOINS OFF UNDER A 35-POUND CHARACTER HEAD, PLAYING A PIG. A GIRL SHOULD KNOW HER ETIQUETTE ALAS, ALACK PROPRIETY DEMANDS WE WALK A NARROW TRACK WHEN FELLAS USED TO BLINK AT ME I'D FREEZE THEM, AND THEY'D SHRINK AT ME AND NOW WHEN FELLAS WINK AT ME I WINK AT THEM RIGHT BACK I DON'T CARE, I DON'T CARE IF PEOPLE FROWN ON ME PERHAPS IT'S THE LONE WAY BUT I GO MY OWN WAY THAT'S MY PHILOSOPHY I'M NOW 19 YEARS OLD, AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT DISNEYLAND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS MYSELF AS A PRINCESS-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE BEEN PLA-- THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME AND LOVE ME MOST KNOW THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART TO MY LIFE. I'M PLAYING BELLE IN THE STAGE PRODUCTION OF "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST," AND WE ALL GET WORD THAT DISNEY THEATRICALS IS GOING TO DO THEIR BROADWAY DEBUT WITH "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST," AND I THINK, "HELLO. I AM BELLE AT THE PARK. "OUR COSTUMES ARE ALREADY MADE. THIS PART IS MINE." SO I AUDITION. I GET FLOWN OUT TO NEW YORK FOR THE FINAL CALLBACKS. I DO AS WELL AS I CAN FOR A 19-YEAR-OLD, AND THE FEEDBACK FROM CASTING IS THAT I'M JUST A BIT TOO GREEN. I NEED TO QUIT DISNEYLAND, I NEED TO GET SOME PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, SOME MORE REGIONAL CREDITS ON MY RESUME, AND I TAKE IT, I THINK IT'S GREAT ADVICE. MMM! HOWEVER, MY FEISTY, FEARLESS 19-YEAR-OLD SELF LOOKED AT CASTING AND SAID, "I'M GONNA BE BIG. I'M GONNA BE REALLY, REALLY BIG." I DON'T CARE, I DON'T CARE IF HE'S IN CASTING OR A MILLIONAIRE THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT I'LL SING, AND I'LL SHOUT IT BECAUSE I DON'T CARE I'M NOW 27 YEARS OLD. I GET A RANDOM PHONE CALL FROM STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, THE GREAT STEPHEN SCHWARTZ. YES. HE'S IN L.A. HE'S DEVELOPING A NEW MUSICAL, HE HEARD OF MY NAME, THOUGHT HE'D GIVE ME A CALL. OK. SO I MEET WITH HIM THE VERY NEXT DAY, AND WE SING THROUGH A COUPLE OF SONGS, AND SO BEGINS MY TWO-YEAR JOURNEY WITH THE BEGINNINGS OF WHAT WOULD BECOME THE MEGAHIT "WICKED," AND...

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

YEP. SO AGAIN, I GET FLOWN OUT FOR THE FINAL CALLBACKS IN NEW YORK, AND I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE WICKED WITCH, THE PART OF ELPHABA. I KNOW HER, I LOVE HER, I DESPERATELY WANT TO PLAY HER ON BROADWAY, BUT AGAIN, I GET THE FEEDBACK FROM CASTING THAT I'M JUST TOO GREEN.

LAUGHTER

APPLAUSE

MOUTHS

ANNOUNCER

YEP. IRONIC, ISN'T IT? ANYWAY, I AM HEARTBROKEN, BUT THEY DO OFFER ME THE PART OF HER UNDERSTUDY, AND I SAY YES. I CALL MY AGENTS, AND I SAID, "OF COURSE I WANTED A DIFFERENT OUTCOME, "BUT IT'S TIME. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO TO NEW YORK." I DON'T CARE, I DON'T CARE WHEN IT COMES TO HAPPINESS, I'LL GET MY SHARE DON'T TRY TO REARRANGE ME YOU KNOCK ME DOWN, I KEEP POPPING BACK UP. NOTHING CAN CHANGE ME I'LL ALWAYS BE MORE OF A PIG THAN A PRINCESS... BUT I DON'T CARE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

THAT SONG "I DON'T CARE" IS FROM "IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME." IT'S AN MGM MUSICAL, AND THAT'S WHERE IT ALL STARTED FOR ME REALLY WAS THE MGM MUSICALS AND THE LUMINESCENT AND INCOMPARABLE JUDY GARLAND. WHEN ALL THE WORLD IS A HOPELESS JUMBLE AND THE RAINDROPS TUMBLE ALL AROUND HEAVEN OPENS A MAGIC LANE WHEN ALL THE CLOUDS DARKEN UP THE SKYWAY THERE'S A RAINBOW HIGHWAY TO BE FOUND LEADING FROM YOUR WINDOWPANE TO A PLACE BEHIND THE SUN JUST A STEP BEYOND THE RAIN SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW WAY UP HIGH THERE'S A LAND THAT I HEARD OF JUST ONCE IN A LULLABY SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW SKIES ARE BLUE AND THE DREAMS THAT YOU DARE TO DREAM THEY REALLY DO COME TRUE SOMEDAY I'LL WISH UPON A STAR AND WAKE UP WHERE THE CLOUDS ARE FAR BEHIND ME WHERE TROUBLES MELT LIKE LEMON DROPS OH, WAY ABOVE THE CHIMNEY TOPS THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND ME SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW BLUEBIRDS FLY BIRDS FLY OVER THE RAINBOW WHY THEN, OH, WHY CAN'T I? IF HAPPY, LITTLE BLUEBIRDS FLY BEYOND THE RAINBOW WHY, OH, WHY CAN'T I?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

THANKS.

GIRL ON RECORDING

A DREAM IS A WISH YOU HEART MAKES WHEN YOU'RE FAST ASLEEP WHAT'S THE REST GO?

BLOCK

THAT IS MY DAUGHTER VIVIENNE. THIS IS--

APPLAUSE

BLOCK

YEAH. SHE WILL SOON BE 3, AND, UM, THAT IS THE FIRST SONG THAT SHE EVER LEARNED, SO THAT'S MY LITTLE VALENTINE TO HER. THIS PIG MARRIED A PRINCE AND HAD A PRINCESS, AND SHE IS A FORCE. SHE IS SMART, SHE'S SASSY, SHE'S TROUBLE, AND I LOVE IT. I WANT HER TO HOLD ONTO THAT. UM, THIS NEXT SONG IS FOR HER. IT IS ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF A WOMAN, AND I TRULY BELIEVE IT'S WHAT MY LITTLE VIVIE IS GOING TO BECOME. WOMAN I AM BORN WHAT DOES "WOMAN" MEAN? MUST MY DREAMS FACE SCORN HELD BACK AND UNSEEN? IF I LONG FOR FIRE MUST IT STAY UNREAL? CAN I NOT DESIRE? AM I NOT TO FEEL? IF I ACHE TO TASTE AM I NOT TO TRY? IF MY HEART SAYS SAIL WHY SHOULD I DENY? I HAVE MY DREAMS I HAVE MADE PLANS I SEE HORIZONS WIDE AS A MAN'S MUST I BE NOTHING TILL I'M SOME MAN'S WIFE? LOOK AT THIS FACE DOES IT DECEIVE? DO I LOOK MADE TO MILK AND TO WEAVE? I WILL BE DAMNED TO HELL IF THAT IS MY LIFE I'M ALMOST YOUR AGE I'M YOUR MATCH IN SIZE I'M AS SKILLED WITH SWORDS AN EQUAL IN MOST EYES BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A DREAM AND YOU'RE CAUGHT IN IT'S GRIP YOU CAN CLIMB ABOARD A SHIP YOU CAN YOU CAN, FOR YOU'RE A MAN YOU CAN REACH TOWARD THAT PLACE WHERE THE EARTH MEETS THE SKY FIGHT A BATTLE, BE BRAVE, BE TRUE IF YOU CAN DO IT, WHY NOT I? I'M MEANT TO FLY SAILS UNRESTRAINED WHY IS MAN FREE AND WOMAN CHAINED? IS THAT MY EPITAPH BEFORE I DIE? I SHOULD BE FREE FREE TO BE GRACE SO I CAN TO FEEL THE WIND ON MY FACE AND WHEN LIFE BECKONS, I SHOULD GO FACE OUT THE STORM, NOT STAY BELOW AM I TO BE JUST WOMAN? NO, NOT I

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BLOCK

I GOT TO TELL YOU I'M VERY LUCKY BECAUSE, UM, I HAVE HAD THE RARE PLEASURE OF PLAYING A WHOLE SPECTRUM OF ROLES ON BROADWAY. I--THANK GOD--HAVE NEVER BEEN TYPECAST, SO THEY SAY. I DO ENJOY PLAYING STRONG WOMEN. I CONSIDER MYSELF A, YOU KNOW, PRETTY STRONG COOKIE IN REAL LIFE. UM, I DO GET MUSHY, THOUGH, HOWEVER, AND STARRY-EYED WHEN I SPEAK OF ONE PERSON, AND THAT IS MY HUSBAND. HE IS--OH, GOD. HE'S THE DREAMIEST, AND HE'S SUCH A GIFT TO MY LIFE, AND PEOPLE THINK WE'RE SO GROSS BECAUSE WE LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH. I ALWAYS TELL HIM "IF YOU EVER LEAVE ME, I'M GOING WITH YOU."

LAUGHTER

BLOCK

OH, MY MAN, I LOVE HIM SO HE'LL NEVER KNOW ALL MY LIFE IS JUST DESPAIR BUT I DON'T CARE WHEN HE TAKES ME IN HIS ARMS THE WORLD IS BRIGHT, ALL RIGHT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IF I SAY I WILL GO AWAY WHEN I KNOW I'LL COME BACK ON MY KNEES SOMEDAY? FOR WHATEVER MY MAN IS I AM HIS FOREVER MORE I KNOW HE'S AROUND WHEN THE SKY AND THE GROUND START IN RINGING I KNOW THAT HE'S NEAR BY THE THUNDER I HEAR IN ADVANCE HIS WORDS, HIS WORDS ALONE ARE THE WORDS THAT CAN START MY HEART SINGING AND HIS IS THE ONLY MUSIC THAT MAKES ME DANCE HE'LL SLEEP AND HE'LL RISE IN THE LIGHT OF TWO EYES THAT ADORE HIM BORE HIM IT MIGHT BUT HE WON'T LEAVE MY SIGHT FOR A GLANCE IN EVERY WAY, EVERY DAY I NEED LESS OF MYSELF I NEED MORE HIM MORE HIM 'CAUSE HIS IS THE ONLY MUSIC THAT MAKES ME DANCE YES, HIS IS THE ONLY MUSIC THAT MAKES ME DANCE

CHEERING

BLOCK

THANK YOU. AND NOW THAT I'M SURE HE'S UTTERLY EMBARRASSED WITH ALL THIS GUSH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY HUSBAND, SEBASTIAN ARCELUS.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BLOCK

COME AND GET IT!

AUDIENCE LAUGHTER

BLOCK

HI. HI. THANKS FOR DOING THIS WITH ME. WELL, THANKS FOR INVITING ME.

LAUGHTER

STEPHANIE

WE'RE GOING TO SING TOGETHER, AND WE'RE SWITCHING GENDERS ON THIS SONG, AND IT'S NOT TO BE CREATIVE OR DIFFERENT OR, BLAH-BLAH, ARTSY-FARTSY. IT ACTUALLY HAS A PURPOSE. I HAVE A TENDENCY TO QUIT THIS BUSINESS EVERY OTHER MONTH. AND SEB IS THE ONE THAT ALWAYS LIFTS ME UP, AND HE ALWAYS TELLS ME, "GIVE US MORE TO SEE." SO HERE'S A LITTLE SONDHEIM. ARE YOU WORKING ON SOMETHING NEW? NO. THAT'S NOT LIKE YOU. I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY YOU HAVE MANY THINGS. WELL, NOTHING THAT'S NOT BEEN SAID SAID BY YOU, THOUGH. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO AND NOR DID I I WANT TO MAKE THINGS THAT COUNT THINGS THAT WILL BE NEW... I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO... WHAT AM I TO DO? MOVE ON STOP WORRYING WHERE YOU'RE GOING MOVE ON IF YOU CAN KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU'VE GONE JUST KEEP MOVING ON I CHOSE, AND MY WORLD WAS SHAKEN SO WHAT? THE CHOICE MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKEN THE CHOOSING WAS NOT YOU HAVE TO MOVE ON LOOK AT WHAT YOU WANT NOT AT WHERE YOU ARE NOT AT WHAT YOU'LL BE LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE FOR ME OPENED UP MY EYES TAUGHT ME HOW TO SEE NOTICE EVERY TREE NOTICE EVERY TREE UNDERSTAND THE LIGHT UNDERSTAND THE LIGHT CONCENTRATE ON NOW... I WANT TO MOVE ON I WANT TO EXPLORE THE LIGHT I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET THROUGH THROUGH TO SOMETHING NEW SOMETHING OF MY OWN

BOTH

MOVE ON MOVE ON STOP WORRYING IF YOUR VISION IS NEW LET OTHERS MAKE THAT DECISION THEY USUALLY DO YOU KEEP MOVING ON LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING IN THE LIGHT, SOMETHING IN THE SKY THEN AT WHAT YOU WANT, NOT AT WHERE YOU ARE, WHAT YOU'LL BE IN THE GRASS, UP BEHIND THE TREES LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS YOU GAVE TO ME THINGS I HADN'T LOOKED AT TILL NOW LET ME GIVE TO YOU SOMETHING IN RETURN... FLOWER IN YOUR HAT AND YOUR SMILE AND THE COLOR OF YOUR HAIR... I WOULD BE SO PLEASED AND THE WAY YOU CATCH THE LIGHT AND THE CARE AND THE FEELING AND THE LIFE MOVING ON WE'VE ALWAYS BELONGED TOGETHER WE WILL ALWAYS BELONG TOGETHER JUST KEEP MOVING ON ANYTHING YOU DO LET IT COME FROM YOU THEN IT WILL BE NEW

CHUCKLES

BOTH

GIVE US MORE TO SEE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BOTH

SEBASTIAN ARCELUS.

CHEERING CONTINUES

BOTH

SO WHEN I TOLD YOU THAT I QUIT THIS BUSINESS EVERY OTHER MONTH, THAT WAS NOT AN EXAGGERATION. I LOVE THIS BUSINESS SO MUCH, BUT IT IS SO HARD. AND IT EBBS AND FLOWS, AND IT HURTS AND THEN FILLS YOU UP. IT'S A LOT OF THINGS. I'M A LOT OF THINGS. SO THE TWO OF US TOGETHER, I MEAN, COME ON.

LAUGHTER

BOTH

ONE OF THE TIMES THAT I REALLY THOUGHT, PERHAPS, THERE WAS GONNA BE A TRANSITION IN MY LIFE WAS AFTER THE BIRTH OF MY DAUGHTER. I JUST WAS EMBRACING ALL EXTRA 45 POUNDS FROM PREGNANCY. LOVING IT. I WAS GONNA GET, YOU KNOW, JUICY COUTURE SWEAT SUITS IN EVERY COLOR AND JUST BE A JERSEY HOUSEWIFE. THAT FELT RIGHT TO ME. AND EVERYBODY SEEMED TO SUPPORT THIS IDEA. AND THEN I GOT A CALL, AGAIN, OUT OF THE BLUE, AS THEY SEEM TO HAPPEN. AND THE CALL WAS ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF BRINGING BACK THE REVIVAL OF "FALSETTOS."

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BOTH

IT WAS THE RIGHT ROLE. IT WAS A CAST WHOM I JUST ADORE AND I THINK WILL ALWAYS ADORE. IT WAS THE TIME IN WHICH WE WERE TELLING THE STORY THAT SEEMED SO VITALLY IMPORTANT. IT JUST WAS PERFECT.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BOTH

AH I'D LIKE TO BE A PRINCESS ON A THRONE AND HAVE A COUNTRY I COULD CALL MY OWN AND A KING WHO'S LUSTY AND REQUIRES A FLING WITH A FEMALE THING GREAT, MEN WILL BE MEN LET ME TURN ON THE GAS

LAUGHTER

BOTH

I CAUGHT THEM IN THE DEN WITH MARVIN GRABBING WHIZZER'S ASS OH, SURE, I'M SURE HE'S SURE HE DID HIS BEST I MEAN, HE MEANT TO BE WHAT HE WAS NOT THE THINGS HE WAS ARE THINGS WHICH I'VE FORGOT HE'S A QUEEN, I'M A QUEEN WHERE IS MY CROWN? I'M BREAKING DOWN I'M BREAKING DOWN MY LIFE'S NOT PRETTY, AND MY KID SEEMS LIKE AN IDIOT TO ME I MEAN, THAT'S SICK, I MEAN, HE'S GREAT IT'S ME WHO IS THE MATTER TALKING MADDER THAN THE MADDEST HATTER IF I REPEAT ONE MORE WORD, I SWEAR I'LL LOSE MY BRAIN OH, WHAT ELSE SHOULD I EXPLAIN? OH, YES, IT'S TRUE, I CAN CRY ON CUE BUT SO CAN YOU, I'M BREAKING DOWN I'M BREAKING DOWN DOWN, DOWN YOU ASK ME, "IS IT FUN TO CRY OVER NOTHING?" IT IS!

LAUGHTER

BOTH

I'M BREAKING DOWN, AH! BUT I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR A BREAKDOWN NOW. I'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO MY BANANA-CARROT SURPRISE. NOW LET'S CONSIDER WHAT I MIGHT DO NEXT I HATE ADMITTING I'VE BECOME PERPLEXED I'M BEREAVED I'VE CRIED, I'VE SHOOK, I'VE YELLED, I'VE HEAVED I HAVE BEEN DECEIVED AS ENEMIES GO, WHIZZER IS NOT SO BAD IT'S JUST HE'S SO DAMN HAPPY THAT IT MAKES ME SO DAMN MAD I WANT TO HATE HIM, BUT I REALLY CAN'T IT'S LIKE A NIGHTMARE HOW THIS ALL PROCEEDS I HOPE THAT WHIZZER DON'T FULFILL HIS NEEDS "DON'T" IS WRONG, SING ALONG WHAT WAS THE NOUN? I'M BREAKING DOWN, I'M BREAKING DOWN I'LL SOON REDECORATE THESE STALLS I WANT SOME PADDING ON THE WALLS AND ALSO PILLS, I WANNA SLEEP SURE, THINGS WILL PROBABLY WORSEN BUT IT'S NOT LIKE I'M SOME HEALTHY PERSON AH, FA-FA-FA-FA-FA-FA-FTTT--

LAUGHTER

BOTH

I'VE RETHOUGHT MY TALKS WITH MARV AND ONE FACT DOES EMERGE I THINK I LIKE HIS SHRINK SO THAT IS WHY I MIGHT TURN TO DRINK I'M ON THE BRINK OF BREAKING DOWN I'M BREAKING DOWN DOWN, DOWN I ONLY WANT TO LOVE A MAN WHO CAN LOVE ME OR LIKE ME OR HELP ME HELP ME! MARVIN WAS NEVER MINE HE TOOK HIS MEETINGS IN THE BOYS' LATRINE I USED TO CRY, HE'D MAKE A SCENE I'D RATHER DIE THAN DRY-CLEAN MARVIN'S WEDDING GOWN I'M BREAKING DOWN, I'M BREAKING DOWN IT'S SO UPSETTING WHEN YOU'VE FOUND THAT WHAT'S RECTANGULAR IS ROUND I MEAN, IT STINKS, I MEAN, HE'S QUEER AND ME, I'M JUST A FREAK WHO NEEDS IT MAYBE EVERY OTHER WEEK OH, MY GOD. THAT FEELS SO GOOD.

LAUGHTER

BOTH

I'VE RETHOUGHT THE FUN WE'VE HAD AND ONE FACT DOES EMERGE I'VE PLAYED THE FOOLISH CLOWN THE ALMOST-VIRGIN WHO SINGS THIS DIRGE IS ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING DOWN I'M BREAKING DOWN DOWN, DOWN THE ONLY THING THAT'S BREAKING UP IS MY FAMILY THE ONLY THING THAT'S BREAKING UP IS MY FAMILY BUT ME, I'M BREAKING DOWN!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BOTH

AH, THANKS! I STILL HAVE A LOT OF VELVET JUMPSUITS, THOUGH. THEY'RE READY AT ANY MOMENT. IF YOU HAVEN'T GUESSED BY NOW, I AM WHAT THEY CALL A "BELTER."

LAUGHTER

BOTH

AND WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD, MY CHURCH CANTOR ACTUALLY SAID, "OH, MY GOSH! YOU'RE LIKE A LITTLE ETHEL MERMAN." AND I HAD NO IDEA WHO THAT WAS. I JUST WANTED TO BE JUDY GARLAND. ACTUALLY, I JUST WANTED TO BE DOROTHY IN "THE WIZARD OF OZ." AND WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT YEARS LATER, I WOULD COME TO OZ IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BOTH

SOMETHING HAS CHANGED WITHIN ME SOMETHING IS NOT THE SAME I'M THROUGH WITH PLAYING BY THE RULES OF SOMEONE ELSE'S GAME TOO LATE FOR SECOND-GUESSING TOO LATE TO GO BACK TO SLEEP IT'S TIME TO TRUST MY INSTINCTS CLOSE MY EYES AND LEAP IT'S TIME TO TRY DEFYING GRAVITY I THINK I'LL TRY DEFYING GRAVITY AND YOU CAN'T PULL ME DOWN I'M THROUGH ACCEPTING LIMITS 'CAUSE SOMEONE SAYS THEY'RE SO SOME THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE BUT TILL I TRY, I'LL NEVER KNOW TOO LONG I'VE BEEN AFRAID OF LOSING LOVE I GUESS I'VE LOST WELL, IF THAT'S LOVE, IT COMES AT MUCH TOO HIGH A COST I'D SOONER BUY DEFYING GRAVITY KISS ME GOOD-BYE I'M DEFYING GRAVITY AND YOU CAN'T PULL ME DOWN UNLIMITED TOGETHER WE'RE UNLIMITED TOGETHER WE'LL BE THE GREATEST TEAM THERE'S EVER BEEN GLINDA, DREAMS THE WAY WE PLANNED 'EM IF WE WORK IN TANDEM THERE'S NO FIGHT WE CANNOT WIN JUST YOU AND I DEFYING GRAVITY WITH YOU AND I DEFYING GRAVITY THEY'LL NEVER BRING US DOWN SO IF YOU CARE TO FIND ME LOOK TO THE WESTERN SKY AS SOMEONE TOLD ME LATELY EVERYONE DESERVES THE CHANCE TO FLY AND IF I'M FLYING SOLO AT LEAST I'M FLYING FREE TO THOSE WHO GROUND ME TAKE A MESSAGE BACK FROM ME TELL THEM HOW I AM DEFYING GRAVITY I'M FLYING HIGH DEFYING GRAVITY AND SOON I'LL MATCH THEM IN RENOWN AND NOBODY IN ALL OF OZ NO WIZARD THAT THERE IS OR WAS IS EVER GONNA BRING ME DOWN BRING ME DOWN! OH, AH AH

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BOTH

AH, COME ON. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANK YOU. I RAN A MILE TODAY AND FOR A WHILE TODAY I FORCED A SMILE TODAY AND SAILED ON WITH EASE I USED TO THINK, "NOT ME, I CAN'T" THE TRACK WAS SMOOTH, HARDLY A SLANT AND AS I PANTED FOR AIR I SWEAR I CLIPPED LIKE THE BREEZE USING MY BREATH AND RAISING THE BAR FOUR SIMPLE LAPS FELT STRANGELY FAR I HOPE TOMORROW MY LEGS ARE STIFF NO, I DIDN'T SCALE A CLIFF IT'S JUST A MILE BUT I DIDN'T FALL YOU GOTTA START SMALL I WROTE A SONG TODAY AND I FEEL STRONG TODAY 'CAUSE I BELONG TODAY TO THOSE WHO CREATE AN EMPTY PAGE WAS ALL I HAD I THOUGHT IT OUT, PUT PEN TO PAD AND AS I ADDED EACH LINE OF MINE I FELT SOMETHING GREAT USING MY HANDS AND FEELING FULFILLED AS FOR THE SONG, WELL, I'M NOT THAT SKILLED STILL, EVERY BUILDER WHO LEARNS A CRAFT KEEPS GROWING BY THE DRAFT IT'S JUST A DRAFT AND AFTER ALL YOU GOTTA START SMALL FACING A BIGGER, MORE RIGOROUS CHALLENGE THAT'S QUITE A CLIMB I'D RATHER CLING TO EACH THING I CAN CONQUER ONE AT A TIME TAKING A RISK IS MOST OF THE BATTLE A VICTORY TO CLAIM TAKING A RISK NO MATTER HOW LITTLE SMALL BUT COMMITTAL IS RISKING ALL THE SAME THE SKY IS CLEAR TODAY I'M FIGHTING FEAR TODAY SO WHILE I'M HERE TODAY I PICK UP THE PHONE I CALL MY MOM, EXPECT THE WORST BUT I STAY CALM, AND I SPEAK FIRST AND WE CONVERSED WITHOUT FRONTS FOR ONCE AND AS WE BURST INTO TEARS MY FEARS HAVE SUDDENLY FLOWN USING MY HEAD AND USING MY HEART MAKING A CALL, MAKING A START A SINGLE PART OF A LARGER PLAN I'M DOING WHAT I CAN I RAN A MILE I WROTE A SONG A MILE'S TOO SHORT THE SONG'S TOO LONG I MADE A CALL BEFORE WE FOUGHT WE LEARNED TO TALK BEFORE I RAN, I LEARNED TO WALK BEFORE I WALKED I LEARNED TO CRAWL YOU GOTTA START SOMEWHERE YOU GOTTA START SMALL

APPLAUSE

BOTH

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS MAN HAS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE FOR MANY YEARS. HE ORCHESTRATED AND ARRANGED MOST OF THE TUNES THAT YOU HEAR TONIGHT. HE IS A GENIUS--MR. BEN COHN.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BOTH

I NEVER WANT TO TAKE ANY OF THIS FOR GRANTED. IT'S SO SPECIAL, AND I DON'T JUST MEAN THIS MOMENT. I DO NOT JUST MEAN CERTAIN PARTS OF MY CAREER BUT ALL OF IT. WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE THINGS ARE VERY COMPLICATED AND DARKNESS IS CREEPING IN, AND WE HAVE TO JUST LOVE HARDER AND STAY FOCUSED...

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BOTH

AND RECOGNIZE OURSELVES IN EACH OTHER AND KNOW THAT REALLY DEEP DOWN, WE ALL NEED AND WANT THE SAME THING. I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH A SONG THAT, TO ME, SPEAKS TO WHO I WANT TO BE.

IT IS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A VERY OLD AND A VERY WISE TREE

"I'M GOING TO BE BETTER." SILENT, I WATCHED THE CLOUDS SILENT, I TOUCH THE WATER SILENT, I LEAN TO PEOPLE SILENT, I TURN TO LIGHT SILENT, I WELCOME BIRDS SILENT, I LIFT THE CHILDREN SILENTLY REACHING OUTWARD SILENTLY HOLDING TIGHT AND MY ROOTS GROW DEEP IN THIS PLACE I KNOW THOUGH I MAY BE OLD STILL I GROW FOR I WAS PUT HERE TO MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL BEFORE I GO BEFORE I GO SILENT, I BOW TO CROWDS SILENT, I MOVE TO BREEZES SILENT, I BLESS THE LOVERS BENDING, I HEAR THEIR SIGHS SILENT, I SPREAD MY ARMS CROOKED AND GNARLED BUT STANDING LOOK AND YOU'LL SEE ME DANCING LOOK AND YOU'LL SEE ME RISE AND MY ROOTS GO DEEP IN THIS PLACE I KNOW THOUGH I MAY BE OLD STILL I GROW FOR I WAS PUT HERE TO MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL SEE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL BE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL BEFORE I GO

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

IT IS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A VERY OLD AND A VERY WISE TREE

THANK YOU...

MUSIC PLAYING

McDONALD

WE HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED STEPHANIE J. BLOCK IN CONCERT. FOR "LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER," I'M AUDRA McDONALD. GOOD NIGHT...

CHEERING

McDONALD

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON TWITTER USING HASHTAG BroadwayonPBS AND HASHTAG LFLC. YOU CAN ALSO WATCH MORE FROM STEPHANIE J. BLOCK AND OTHER ARTISTS IN OUR BROADWAY SERIES AT PBS.ORG.

LOUD CHEERING

McDONALD

OK, GO HOME! THANK YOU...