Live From Lincoln Center

AUDRA McDONALD

BEST KNOWN FOR HIS TONY-NOMINATED, GRAMMY-WINNING PORTRAYAL OF ELDER PRICE IN "THE BOOK OF MORMON" AND AS ELIJAH IN LENA DUNHAM'S "GIRLS," ANDREW RANNELLS EARNED HIS SECOND TONY NOMINATION FOR HIS MOVING PERFORMANCE IN "FALSETTOS." TONIGHT HE BRINGS HIS SIGNATURE BLEND OF VOCAL PROWESS AND WRY WIT TO A SPARKLING SET OF FAVORITE SONGS. "HOW DID THE SECOND GIANT "GET DOWN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?" "SECOND PLACE," "YES," "HOW," "HMM," "WELL..." I'M AUDRA McDONALD. PLEASE ENJOY "ANDREW RANNELLS IN CONCERT."

RANNELLS

IT MUST BE HIM...

ANNOUNCER

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME ANDREW RANNELLS.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BAND PLAYING "LONELY BOY"

LOUDER CHEERING

ANNOUNCER

HE WAS BORN ON A SUMMER DAY 1951 AND WITH A SLAP OF A HAND HE HAD LANDED AS AN ONLY SON HIS MOTHER AND FATHER SAID, "WHAT A LOVELY BOY "WE'LL TEACH HIM WHAT WE LEARNED "AH, YES, JUST WHAT WE LEARNED "WE'LL DRESS HIM UP WARMLY "AND WE'LL SEND HIM TO SCHOOL "IT'LL TEACH HIM HOW TO FIGHT "TO BE NOBODY'S FOOL" OH OH OH OH... OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY IN THE SUMMER OF '53 HIS MOTHER BROUGHT HIM A SISTER AND SHE TOLD HIM, "WE MUST ATTEND TO HER NEEDS "SHE'S SO MUCH YOUNGER THAN YOU" WELL, HE RAN DOWN THE HALL AND HE CRIED OH, HOW COULD HIS PARENTS HAVE LIED? WHEN THEY SAID HE WAS THE ONLY SON HE THOUGHT HE WAS THE ONLY ONE OH OH OH OH... OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY HE LEFT HOME ON A WINTER DAY 1969 AND HE HOPED TO FIND ALL THE LOVE HE HAD LOST IN THAT EARLIER TIME WELL, HIS SISTER GREW UP AND SHE MARRIED A MAN HE GAVE HER A SON AH, YES, A LOVELY SON THEY DRESSED HIM UP WARMLY THEY SENT HIM TO SCHOOL IT TAUGHT HIM HOW TO FIGHT TO BE NOBODY'S FOOL OH OH OH OH... OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY BOY OH OH OH OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY OH, WHAT A LONELY BOY

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

LAUGHTER

ANNOUNCER

I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE FUN. AND IF NOT, IT'S ONLY AN HOUR.

LAUGHTER

ANNOUNCER

THE MOMENT I SAW HIM SMILE I KNEW HE WAS JUST MY STYLE MY ONLY REGRET IS WE'VE NEVER MET THOUGH I DREAM OF HIM ALL THE WHILE BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW I EXIST NO MATTER HOW I MAY PERSIST SO IT'S CLEAR TO SEE THERE'S NO HOPE FOR ME THOUGH I LIVE AT FIFTY-ONE-THIRTY-FIVE KENSINGTON AVENUE AND HE LIVES AT FIFTY-ONE-THIRTY-THREE HOW CAN I IGNORE THE BOY NEXT DOOR? I LOVE HIM MORE THAN I CAN SAY DOESN'T TRY TO PLEASE ME DOESN'T EVEN TEASE ME AND HE NEVER SEES ME GLANCE HIS WAY AND THOUGH I'M HEART-SORE THE BOY NEXT DOOR AFFECTION FOR ME WON'T DISPLAY I JUST ADORE HIM SO I CAN'T IGNORE HIM THE BOY NEXT DOOR I'M GONNA LOVE YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU'VE KNOWN I'M GONNA LOVE YOU AND YOU ALL ALONE SOONER IS BETTER THAN LATER BUT, LOVER I'LL HOVER I'LL PLAN AND THOUGH I'M HEART-SORE THE BOY NEXT DOOR AFFECTION FOR ME WON'T DISPLAY I JUST ADORE HIM SO I CAN'T IGNORE HIM THE BOY NEXT DOOR UH, SO I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO BE A PART

OF SOME REALLY EXTRAORDINARY MUSICALS

"THE BOOK OF MORMON."

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

OF SOME REALLY EXTRAORDINARY MUSICALS

THANK YOU. AND BEFORE THAT, "HAIRSPRAY" AND "JERSEY BOYS." AND THEN AFTER THAT, I DID "HEDWIG" AND "HAMILTON." AND THESE SHOWS WERE--I MEAN, I WAS SO LUCKY TO GET TO BE A PART OF ALL OF THEM, AND THEY ALL HOLD A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART. BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN A PART OF SOME OTHER SHOWS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT ALSO HOLD A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART. FOR INSTANCE, I GOT MY EQUITY CARD PLAYING THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF DOODY IN "GREASE" THE MUSICAL AT THE WESTCHESTER BROADWAY DINNER THEATRE.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

OF SOME REALLY EXTRAORDINARY MUSICALS

I WAS ALSO IN "POKMON LIVE" AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL. AND I WAS ALSO IN THE SMASH OFF-OFF-OFF-OFF-OFF-OFF-OFF BROADWAY HIT "IT'S KARATE, KID!," THE MUSICAL.

APPLAUSE

OF SOME REALLY EXTRAORDINARY MUSICALS

IT WAS CALLED "IT'S KARATE, KID!," THE MUSICAL FOR LEGAL PURPOSES.

LAUGHTER

OF SOME REALLY EXTRAORDINARY MUSICALS

LAST YEAR, I GOT THE GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THE BROADWAY REVIVAL OF "FALSETTOS."

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

OF SOME REALLY EXTRAORDINARY MUSICALS

THANK YOU. WHICH WAS SUCH A THRILL. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS. AND TO GET TO DO IT WITH THAT INCREDIBLE CAST AND TO WORK WITH WILLIAM FINN AND THE AMAZING JAMES LAPINE. IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY A DREAM COME TRUE. AND I JUST--I LOVED THAT EXPERIENCE SO MUCH. THIS NEXT SONG IS NOT FROM "FALSETTOS."

LAUGHTER

OF SOME REALLY EXTRAORDINARY MUSICALS

DID YOU LIKE THAT SEGUE? KEEPING YOU ON YOUR TOES. BUT IT IS BY COMPOSER WILLIAM FINN, AND IT FROM A SHOW THAT HE WROTE CALLED "A NEW BRAIN." PONIES IN THE SUN THE RACE IS SOON BEGINNING MY FATHER BET THE FAMILY FORTUNE ON A SLEEK BROWN HORSE MY FATHER HAD A HUNCH WE GAVE UP LUNCH SO DADDY COULD MAKE A WAGER MA WOULD SCOFF SHE WOULD SCOFF, HEAR HER SCOFF AND THEY'RE OFF LA LA LA LA LA... YEAH, THEY'RE OFF LA LA LA LA LA... AND THEY MOVE IN A HERD LIKE A FOUR-LETTER WORD AND THEY'RE OFF LA LA LA... TICKETS FLOAT TO THE GROUND AND THE BAND STARTS TO PLAY AS THE HORSES GO ROUND AND THEY'RE OFF MOMMY SAT AND CRIED BUT DAD WAS UNAFFECTED HE SAID, "HAVE YOU EVER HAD A BETTER TWO MINUTES "IN THE LAST THREE YEARS?" WE SAID "BUT, DAD, THE DUMB HORSE LOST" HE SAID, "SOMETIMES JOY HAS A TERRIBLE COST "I KNOW THAT" MA WOULD SCOFF SHE WOULD SCOFF, HEAR HER SCOFF AND THEY'RE OFF LA LA LA LA LA... YEAH, THEY'RE OFF LA LA LA LA LA... MOMMY'S BITING HIS NECK AS THEY ROLL ON THE DECK AND THEY'RE OFF LA LA LA LA LA THERE IS BLOOD ON THE GROUND AND THE BAND STARTS TO PLAY AS THE HORSES GO ROUND AND THEY'RE OFF ISN'T LIFE FUNNY? PEOPLE LOSE MONEY AND HAVE FUN BETTING, OF COURSE, IS HELL ON THE HORSES AND ON FAMILIES WHERE THE BETTING IS DONE IT'S A JOKE TO BELIEVE SOMEONE'S WON ALL THEY DID WAS FIGHT PLUS THEY DISCUSSED THE WEATHER MY FATHER BET THE FAMILY FORTUNE TILL IT DISAPPEARED WE ALSO LAUGHED A LOT THAT WAS A THING I OFTEN FORGOT TO TELL YOU BUT IT'S TRUE YES, IT'S TRUE, IT IS TRUE, AND HE'S OFF LA LA LA LA LA... DADDY'S OFF LA LA LA LA LA... WE GET LETTERS FROM MAINE WHERE HE TRIES TO EXPLAIN WHY HE'S OFF LA LA LA LA... WHAT WAS LOST WAS NOT FOUND AND THE BAND STARTS TO PLAY AS THE HORSES GO ROUND

ALL

AND THEY'RE OFF AND THEY'RE OFF! I HEAR THE BELL AT THE STARTING GATE YEAH, THEY'RE OFF WE'RE SALIVATING AS WE'RE MOVING, MOVING DOWN THE TRACK AND THEY MOVE IN A HERD LIKE A FOUR-LETTER WORD AND THEY'RE OFF COMING DOWN THE STRETCH THERE IS BLOOD THERE IS BLOOD... ON THE GROUND ON THE GROUND... AND THE BAND STARTS TO PLAY AS THE HORSES GO ROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND... AND AROUND... AND THEY'RE OFF!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

EXHALES

ALL

SO THIS IS MY FRIEND AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR, MR. TODD ALMOND.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ALL

AND WHEN WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THIS SHOW, THERE WERE SOME SONGS THAT JUST, AUTOMATICALLY, WE WERE LIKE, "WE LOVE THAT SONG, AND THIS IS WHY...AND WE WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE THAT." AND THEN THERE WERE OTHER SONGS THAT WE JUST LIKED BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHY. AND THIS NEXT SONG IS ONE OF THEM. I CAN'T REALLY TELL YOU THAT I KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

LAUGHTER

ALL

IT SORT OF CHANGES EVERY TIME WE DO IT A LITTLE BIT, RIGHT? SO I'M JUST GONNA SING IT, AND MAYBE YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

LAUGHTER

ALL

AND IF SOMEDAY I SHOULD BECOME A SINGER WITH A SPANISH BUM WHO SINGS FOR WOMEN OF GREAT VIRTUE I'D SING TO THEM WITH A GUITAR I BORROWED FROM A COFFEE BAR WELL, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW DOESN'T HURT YOU MY NAME WOULD BE ANTONIO AND ALL MY BRIDGES I WOULD BURN AND IF I GAVE THEM A SONG THEY'D KNOW I'D EXPECT SOMETHING IN RETURN I'D HAVE TO GET DRUNK EVERY NIGHT AND TALK ABOUT VIRILITY WITH SOME OLD GRANDMOTHER WHO MIGHT BE DECKED OUT LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND NO PINK ELEPHANTS I'D SEE THOUGH I'D BE DRUNK AS I COULD BE STILL I WOULD SING MY SONG TO ME ABOUT THE TIME THEY CALLED ME JACKIE IF I COULD BE FOR ONLY AN HOUR IF I COULD BE FOR AN HOUR EVERY DAY IF I COULD BE FOR JUST ONE LITTLE HOUR CUTE, CUTE, CUTE IN A STUPID-ASS WAY IT'S WEIRD, RIGHT? IT JUST KEEPS GETTING WEIRDER.

LAUGHTER

ALL

AND IF I JOINED THE SOCIAL WORLD BECAME PROCURER OF YOUNG GIRLS THEN I COULD HAVE MY OWN BORDELLOS MY RECORDS WOULD BE NUMBER ONE AND I'D SELL RECORDS BY THE TON ALL SUNG BY MANY OTHER FELLOWS MY NAME WOULD THEN BE HANDSOME JACK AND I'D SELL BOATS OF OPIUM WHISKY THAT CAME FROM TWICKENHAM AUTHENTIC QUEERS AND PHONY VIRGINS I'D HAVE A BANK ON EVERY FINGER A FINGER IN EVERY COUNTRY AND EVERY COUNTRY RULED BY ME I'D STILL KNOW WHERE I'D LONG TO BE LOCKED UP INSIDE MY OPIUM DEN SURROUNDED BY SOME SHADY MEN I'D SING THE SONG THAT I SANG THEN ABOUT THE TIME THEY CALLED ME JACKIE IF I COULD BE FOR ONLY AN HOUR IF I COULD BE FOR AN HOUR EVERY DAY IF I COULD BE FOR JUST ONE LITTLE HOUR CUTE, CUTE, CUTE IN A STUPID-ASS WAY THE GUY WHO WROTE IT WAS FRENCH. IS THAT HELPFUL?

LAUGHTER

ALL

LAST VERSE! NOW TELL ME, WOULDN'T IT BE NICE THAT IF ONE DAY IN PARADISE I SANG FOR ALL THE LADIES UP THERE? AND THEY WOULD SING ALONG WITH ME WOULD BE SO HAPPY THERE TO BE 'CAUSE DOWN BELOW IS REALLY NOWHERE MY NAME WOULD THEN BE JUPITER AND I WOULD KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING AND THEN I WOULD BECOME ALL-KNOWING AND MY BEARD SO LONG AND FLOWING IF I BECAME DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND BECAUSE I'D PITIED ALL MANKIND AND BROKE MY HEART TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT I'D KNOW THAT EVERY SINGLE NIGHT WHEN MY ANGELIC WORK WAS THROUGH THE ANGELS AND THE DEVIL, TOO WOULD SING MY CHILDHOOD SONG TO ME ABOUT THE TIME THEY CALLED ME JACKIE IF I COULD BE FOR ONLY AN HOUR IF I COULD BE FOR AN HOUR EVERY DAY IF I COULD BE FOR JUST ONE STINKIN' HOUR CUTE, CUTE, CUTE IN A STUPID-ASS WAY

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ALL

I HAVE TO SAY, SOMEONE'S TAKING PHOTOS OVER THERE. WHAT ARE YOU MAKING, A DAMN FLIPBOOK? IT'S LIKE YOU JUST KEEP TAKING THEM AND TAKING THEM. WE'RE MAKING IT FOR TV, HON. YOU COULD JUST WATCH IT AT HOME.

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

ALL

YOU DON'T NEED TO TAKE PHOTOS, GIRL. IT'S OK. IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE TV, SO LET'S KNOCK IT OFF, SHALL WE? A THIN ICE COVERS MY SOUL MY BODY'S FROZEN BUT MY HEART IS COLD AND STILL SO MUCH ABOUT ME IS RAW I SEARCH FOR A PLACE TO UNTHAW SOMETHING IN ME BREATHES LOVE INTO FEAR IT VEILS MY VISION MAKES MY THOUGHTS UNCLEAR MY EYES BLUE TURN TO GRAY HOPING TO MASK WHAT THEY SAY I'VE BEEN OUTSIDE MYSELF FOR SO LONG ANY FEELING I'VE HAD IS CLOSE TO GONE I'VE BEEN OUTSIDE MYSELF FOR SO LONG O-ONG I HAVE BEEN IN A STORM OF THE SUN BASKING, SENSELESS TO WHAT I'VE BECOME A FOOL WHO WORSHIPS JUST NIGHT WHEN AFTER ALL FOLLOWS NIGHT I'VE BEEN OUTSIDE MYSELF FOR SO LONG ANY FEELING I'VE HAD IS CLOSE TO GONE I'VE BEEN OUTSIDE MYSELF FOR SO LONG I'VE BEEN OUTSIDE MYSELF FOR SO LONG ANY FEELING I'VE HAD IS CLOSE TO GONE I'VE BEEN OUTSIDE MYSELF FOR SO LONG OUTSIDE MYSELF

APPLAUSE

ALL

SO LAST YEAR IN ADDITION TO GETTING TO DO "FALSETTOS," WE ALSO HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO RECORD IT FOR PBS, WHICH...

APPLAUSE

ALL

THANK YOU. WHICH WAS SO EXCITING BECAUSE AS A KID--I AM FROM NEBRASKA; TODD IS FROM NEBRASKA, AND WE BOTH WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS AS WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THE SHOW, THAT THOSE PBS SHOWS WERE REALLY OUR WINDOW TO BROADWAY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ACCESS TO-- WE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS AT ALL TO NEW YORK OR TO BROADWAY. SO THOSE PBS SPECIALS WERE VERY IMPORTANT, SO IT WAS VERY HUMBLING AND VERY EXCITING TO GET TO BE A PART OF ONE. AND ALONG THOSE LINES, TODD AND I, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHICH ONE WAS OUR FAVORITE? AND WE AGREED, MUCH LIKE MOST OTHER SANE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET, THAT IT WAS "INTO THE WOODS."

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ALL

YES. WE KNEW WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FROM "INTO THE WOODS," BUT IT'S HARD TO PICK BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY GREAT SONGS IN THERE. SO WE DECIDED THAT MAYBE IT WAS BEST JUST TO GIVE YOU A TINY GLIMPSE OF WHAT 13-YEAR-OLD ANDY RANNELLS LOOKED LIKE IN HIS BEDROOM MIRROR.

LAUGHTER

ALL

"IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU THERE'S "A GIANT IN OUR MIDST AND MY WIFE IS DEAD." "BUT IT ISN'T MY FAULT I WAS GIVEN THOSE BEANS "YOU PERSUADED ME TO TRADE AWAY MY COW FOR BEANS "AND WITHOUT THOSE BEANS, THERE'D HAVE BEEN NO STALK "TO GET UP TO THE GIANT IN THE FIRST PLACE" "WAIT A MINUTE, MAGIC BEANS FOR A COW SO OLD "THAT YOU HAD TO TELL A LIE TO SELL IT, WHICH YOU TOLD "WERE THEY WORTHLESS BEANS, WERE THEY OVERSOLD? "OH, AND TELL US WHO PERSUADED YOU TO STEAL THAT GOLD" "SEE, IT'S YOUR FAULT," "NO," "YES, IT'S YOUR FAULT," "NO!" "YES, IT IS," "IT'S NOT," "IT'S TRUE" "WAIT A MINUTE, BUT I ONLY STOLE THE GOLD "TO GET MY COW BACK FROM YOU" "SO IT'S YOUR FAULT," "YES," "NO, IT ISN'T "I'D HAVE KEPT THOSE BEANS, BUT OUR HOUSE WAS CURSED "SHE MADE US GET OUR COW TO GET THE CURSE REVERSED" "IT'S YOUR FATHER'S FAULT THAT THE CURSE GOT PLACED "AND THE PLACE GOT CURSED IN THE FIRST PLACE" "OH, THEN IT'S HIS FAULT," "NO," "YES, IT'S HIS FAULT," "SO?," "YES, IT IS, IT'S HIS," "I GUESS" "WAIT A MINUTE, THOUGH, I CHOPPED DOWN THE BEANSTALK "RIGHT, THAT'S CLEAR "BUT WITHOUT ANY BEANSTALK, THEN WHAT'S QUEER "IS HOW DID THE SECOND GIANT GET DOWN HERE "IN THE FIRST PLACE?, SECOND PLACE?" "YES," "HOW?," "HMM," "WELL, WHO HAD THE OTHER BEAN?", "THE OTHER BEAN?" "THE OTHER BEAN?," "YOU POCKETED THE OTHER BEAN?" "I DIDN'T, YES, I DID" "SO, IT'S YOUR--" "NO, IT ISN'T, BECAUSE I GAVE IT TO MY WIFE" "THEN IT'S HERS," "NO, IT ISN'T" "THEN WHOSE IS IT?," "WAIT A MINUTE" "SHE EXCHANGED THAT BEAN TO OBTAIN YOUR SHOE "SO THE ONE WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BEAN IS YOU" "YOU MEAN THAT OLD BEAN THAT YOUR WIFE--OH, DEAR "BUT I NEVER KNEW, AND SO I THREW IT, DON'T LOOK HERE" "SEE, IT'S HER FAULT, YES, IT'S HER FAULT "AND IT ISN'T MINE AT ALL," "BUT WHAT?" "WELL, IF HE HADN'T GONE BACK UP AGAIN" "WE WERE NEEDY," "YOU WERE GREEDY, DID YOU NEED THAT HEN?" "BUT I GOT IT FOR MY MOTHER," "THEN IT'S HER FAULT, THEN" "YES, AND WHAT ABOUT THE HARP IN THE THIRD PLACE?" "THE HARP, YES," "SHE WENT AND DARED ME TO" "I DARED YOU TO?," "SHE DARED ME TO "SHE SAID THAT I WAS SCARED TO, SHE DARED ME" "NO, I DIDN'T," "YOUR FAULT" "WAIT A MINUTE," "IF YOU HADN'T DARED HIM TO" "AND IF YOU HAD LEFT THE HARP ALONE "WE WOULDN'T BE IN TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE" "WELL, IF SHE HADN'T RAISED THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE" "IT WAS YOU WHO RAISED THE BEANS IN THE FIRST PLACE" "YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE," "YOU'RE THE ONE TO BLAME," "IT'S YOUR FAULT" "NO MORE QUESTIONS, PLEASE "NO MORE TESTS "COMES THE DAY YOU SAY, 'WHAT FOR?' "PLEASE, NO MORE" "NO MORE RIDDLES" "NO MORE JESTS" "NO MORE CURSES "YOU CAN'T UNDO "LEFT BY FATHERS YOU NEVER KNEW "NO MORE QUESTS" "NO MORE FEELINGS" "TIME TO SHUT THE DOOR" "JUST NO MORE" "RUNNING AWAY "LET'S DO IT "FREE FROM THE TIES THAT BIND "NO MORE DESPAIR "OR BURDENS TO BEAR "OUT THERE IN THE YONDER" "RUNNING AWAY "GO TO IT" "WHERE DID YOU HAVE IN MIND? "HAVE TO TAKE CARE "UNLESS THERE'S A WHERE "YOU'LL ONLY BE WANDERING BLIND "JUST MORE QUESTIONS" "DIFFERENT KIND" "WHERE ARE WE TO GO?" "WHERE ARE WE EVER TO GO?" "RUNNING AWAY "LET'S DO IT" "WHY SIT AROUND, RESIGNED? "TROUBLE IS, SON "THE FARTHER YOU RUN "THE MORE YOU FEEL UNDEFINED "BY WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT UNDONE "AND, MORE, WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND" "NO MORE GIANTS "WAGING WAR "CAN'T WE JUST PURSUE OUR LIVES "WITH OUR CHILDREN AND OUR WIVES "TILL THAT HAPPY DAY ARRIVES? "HOW DO YOU IGNORE "ALL THE WITCHES? "ALL THE CURSES? "ALL THE WOLVES, ALL THE LIES "THE FALSE HOPES, THE GOOD-BYES, THE REVERSES? "ALL THE WONDERING WHAT EVEN WORSE IS STILL IN STORE? "ALL THE CHILDREN "ALL THE GIANTS NO MORE"

MUSIC ENDS

APPLAUSE

CHEERING

ALL

SO SOMETIMES I'M ASKED BY YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT AUDITIONING, AND "WHAT SHOULD I SING FOR MY AUDITION?" AND I'M, LIKE, THE WORST PERSON TO ASK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I FOUND THIS NEXT SONG AND I LOVED IT, AND I HAD ALWAYS LOVED THIS SONG, BUT I STARTED SINGING IT FOR AUDITIONS, AND I SANG IT FOR EVERY AUDITION. AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK, LIKE I SANG IT FOR "HAIRSPRAY" AND THAT WORKED; I SANG IT FOR "JERSEY BOYS," THAT WORKED; I SANG IT FOR THE REVIVAL OF "SOUTH PACIFIC" AT LINCOLN CENTER. DIDN'T WORK.

AUDIENCE LAUGHTER

ALL

UM... ONE OF THOSE "LES MIS" REVIVALS. DIDN'T WORK. BUT I JUST KEPT SINGING IT AND I WAS LIKE, "I DON'T CARE. I'M JUST GONNA KEEP SINGING THIS SONG, EVEN THOUGH IT'S HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE."

LAUGHTER

ALL

SO, FOLKS, THIS IS MY GO-TO AUDITION SONG. 1, 2... IN THE DAY WE SWEAT IT OUT ON THE STREETS OF A RUNAWAY AMERICAN DREAM AT NIGHT WE RIDE THROUGH MANSIONS OF GLORY IN SUICIDE MACHINES SPRUNG FROM CAGES ON HIGHWAY NINE CHROME-WHEELED, FUEL-INJECTED AND STEPPIN' OUT OVER THE LINE OH, BABY, THIS TOWN RIPS THE BONES FROM YOUR BACK IT'S A DEATH TRAP, IT'S A SUICIDE RAP WE GOTTA GET OUT WHILE WE'RE YOUNG 'CAUSE TRAMPS LIKE US BABY, WE WERE BORN TO RUN

CHEERING

ALL

OH WENDY, LET ME IN, I WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND I WANT TO GUARD YOUR DREAMS AND VISIONS JUST WRAP YOUR LEGS ROUND THESE VELVET RIMS AND STRAP YOUR HANDS 'CROSS MY ENGINES TOGETHER, WENDY, WE CAN BREAK THIS TRAP WE'LL RUN TILL WE DROP BABY, WE'LL NEVER GO BACK OH, WILL YOU WALK WITH ME OUT ON THE WIRE? 'CAUSE, BABY, I'M JUST A SCARED AND LONELY RIDER BUT I GOTTA KNOW HOW IT FEELS I WANT TO KNOW IF LOVE IS WILD, BABE I WANT TO KNOW IF LOVE IS REAL OH, CAN YOU SHOW ME?

CHEERING

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ALL

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

RANNELLS

MMM OH, OH, OH-OH-OH WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, OH, OH MMM BABY, WE WERE BORN... OH WHOA, OH, OH, OH, WHOA WHOA, OH, OH, OH, OH

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

SONG ENDS

RANNELLS

IF I'D BROUGHT THAT BAND, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN "SOUTH PACIFIC."

LAUGHTER

RANNELLS

SO IN ADDITION TO, UH, BEING VERY TALENTED AND FROM NEBRASKA, TODD IS ALSO A REALLY BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL SONGWRITER. AND I HEARD THIS NEXT SONG BEFORE I MET TODD, AND I COMPLETELY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. AND HE WAS VERY GENEROUS AND IS GONNA LET ME SING IT TONIGHT, BUT TODD AND I ARE FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF NEBRASKA, BUT BOTH VERY FAMOUS ENDS.

LAUGHTER

RANNELLS

I AM FROM OMAHA, WHERE THE STEAKS ARE FROM.

LAUGHTER

RANNELLS

TODD IS FROM ALLIANCE, AND, TODD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL EVERYONE WHAT ALLIANCE IS FAMOUS FOR? WE HAVE AN EXACT REPLICA OF STONEHENGE MADE OUT OF CARS.

LAUGHTER

RANNELLS

AND WHAT'S IT CALLED, TODD? CARHENGE.

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

RANNELLS

CARHENGE. I HAVE SOME FAMILY HERE FROM NEBRASKA. THEY KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? CARHENGE. UM, THERE YOU GO. SO THIS NEXT SONG IS BY THE LOVELY TODD ALMOND.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

RANNELLS

I MISS THIS OLD TOWN LIKE I MISS LIFE BEFORE YOU NOT AT ALL, NOT AT ALL NOT AT ALL, NOT AT ALL WHEN I'M HERE, I GET THIS FEAR THAT I WON'T LEAVE AGAIN AND WILL YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND FIND ME OR JUST MOVE ON? BECAUSE I FEEL YOU HANGIN' ON JUST LIKE THE MOON TONIGHT OVER NEBRASKA YES, AND I FEEL JUST LIKE THE HORIZON STRETCHED IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND I'D CALL YOU NOW BUT I KIND OF LIKE THIS FEELING SO THEN I, I'LL JUST CALL YOUR NAME THINGS GET PLANTED IN THE GROUND HERE AND YEAH, THEY GROW AND YEAH, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL BUT EVEN CARS GET TIPPED ON END SO THEY CAN'T DRIVE AWAY AND I GUESS I FEEL LIKE THAT TONIGHT, JUST TIPPED ON END BECAUSE I FEEL YOU HANGIN' ON JUST LIKE THE MOON TONIGHT OVER NEBRASKA YES, AND I FEEL JUST LIKE THE HORIZON STRETCHED IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND I'D CALL YOU NOW BUT I KIND OF LIKE THIS FEELING SO TONIGHT I'LL JUST CALL YOUR NAME I WISH YOU COULD SEE THE SKY TONIGHT FROM WHERE I'M STANDIN' AM I THE ONLY ONE ALIVE? NO, THERE'S YOU, NO, THERE'S YOU NO, THERE'S YOU AND I'D COME RUNNING TO YOU RIGHT NOW BUT I'M PLANTED HERE TONIGHT BUT I'LL BE COMIN' HOME SOON, I SWEAR OH, I'M COMIN' HOME AND I FEEL YOU HANGIN' ON JUST LIKE THE MOON TONIGHT OVER NEBRASKA YES, AND I FEEL JUST LIKE THE HORIZON STRETCHED IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND I'D CALL YOU NOW BUT I KIND OF LIKE THIS FEELING SO TONIGHT I'LL JUST CALL YOUR NAME HEY

SONG ENDS

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

RANNELLS

SO, TO SAY THAT MY MUSICAL LIKES ARE ECLECTIC...

LAUGHTER

RANNELLS

IS A LITTLE REDUCTIVE. I HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF MUSICAL APPRECIATION, FOR WHICH I BLAME MY PARENTS BECAUSE THEY HAD A VERY ECLECTIC RECORD COLLECTION. MY MOTHER IS HERE, CHARLOTTE RANNELLS.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

RANNELLS

AND I GREW UP LISTENING TO SOME RECORDS THAT I THOUGHT WERE POPULAR MUSIC.

LAUGHTER

RANNELLS

AND IT TURNED OUT NO OTHER LITTLE BOYS WERE LISTENING TO IT.

LAUGHTER

RANNELLS

SO, LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, I LISTENED TO "VIKKI

CARR

LIVE AT THE GREEK THEATRE" LIKE IT WAS MIAMI SOUND MACHINE, OK?

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

CARR

YOU KNOW, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT POPULAR MUSIC, SO THIS NEXT SONG IS FOR THE GREAT VIKKI CARR. NOW, 1, 2, 3 AND...

MUSIC BEGINS

CARR

I TELL MYSELF

LAUGHTER

CARR

WHAT'S DONE IS DONE I TELL MYSELF DON'T BE A FOOL PLAY THE FIELD, HAVE A LOT OF FUN IT'S EASY WHEN YOU PLAY IT COOL I TELL MYSELF DON'T BE A CHUMP WHO CARES? LET HIM STAY AWAY THAT'S WHEN THE PHONE RINGS AND I JUMP AND AS I GRAB THE PHONE, I PRAY LET IT PLEASE BE HIM OH, DEAR GOD, IT MUST BE HIM IT MUST BE HIM OR I SHALL DIE OR I SHALL DIE OH, HELLO, HELLO MY DEAR GOD, IT MUST BE HIM BUT IT'S NOT HIM AND THEN I DIE THAT'S WHEN I DIE

LAUGHTER

CARR

AFTER A WHILE I'M MYSELF AGAIN PICK THE PIECES OFF THE FLOOR PUT MY HEART ON THE SHELF AGAIN HE'LL NEVER HURT ME ANYMORE I'M NOT A PUPPET ON A STRING I'LL FIND SOMEBODY ELSE SOMEDAY THAT'S WHEN THE PHONE RINGS

LAUGHTER

CARR

AND ONCE AGAIN I START TO PRAY LET IT PLEASE BE HIM OH, DEAR GOD, IT MUST BE HIM IT MUST BE HIM OR I SHALL DIE OR I SHALL DIE OH, HELLO, HELLO MY DEAR GOD, IT MUST BE HIM BUT IT'S NOT HIM! AND THEN I DIE OH, THEN I DIE NOW PLEASE BE HIM OH, DEAR GOD, IT MUST BE HIM IT MUST BE HIM OR I SHALL DIE OR I SHALL DIE

SONG ENDS

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CARR

IT'S VIKKI CAR, YOU GUYS. GET INTO IT.

LAUGHTER

CARR

I'M SORRY TO SAY WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE SONGS LEFT.

AUDIENCE GROANS

CARR

I KNOW. BUT THAT'S WHAT'S-- THAT'S THE DEAL, FOLKS. THEY'RE KICKING US OUT. [LAUGHTER[ SOMEBODY ELSE COMES IN AFTER THIS. CHAKA KHAN? IS IT CHAKA KHAN, PLAYS AFTER THIS?

LAUGHTER

CARR

WITH THIS SET? SHE'S DOING MY SET LIST, WHICH IS WEIRD.

LAUGHTER

CARR

WHEN WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THIS SHOW, TODD AND I, WE FOUND THIS NEXT SONG-- OR REMEMBERED THIS NEXT SONG THAT WE BOTH REALLY LOVED-- AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS A NICE WAY TO BEGIN TO CLOSE OUT OUR EVENING, AND IT'S BY THE WONDERFUL GEORGE MICHAEL.

APPLAUSE

CARR

AND IT'S A SONG THAT WE THINK REALLY SORT OF SPEAKS VERY WELL TO THE RATHER TROUBLING TIMES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN.

PIANO PLAYING

CARR

THESE ARE THE DAYS OF THE OPEN HAND THEY WILL NOT BE THE LAST LOOK AROUND NOW THESE ARE THE DAYS OF THE BEGGARS AND THE CHOOSERS THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE HUNGRY MAN WHOSE PLACE IS IN THE PAST HAND IN HAND WITH IGNORANCE AND LEGITIMATE EXCUSES THE RICH DECLARE THEMSELVES POOR AND MOST OF US ARE NOT SURE IF WE HAVE TOO MUCH BUT WE'LL TAKE OUR CHANCES 'CAUSE GOD'S STOPPED KEEPING SCORE I GUESS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY HE MUST HAVE LET US ALL OUT TO PLAY TURNED HIS BACK AND ALL GOD'S CHILDREN CREPT OUT THE BACK DOOR IT'S HARD TO LOVE THERE'S SO MUCH TO HATE HANGING ON TO HOPE WHEN THERE IS NO HOPE TO SPEAK OF AND THE WOUNDED SKIES ABOVE SAY IT'S MUCH TOO, MUCH TOO LATE AND MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL BE PRAYING FOR TIME THESE ARE THE DAYS OF THE EMPTY HAND YOU HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU CAN AND CHARITY IS A COAT YOU WEAR TWICE A YEAR THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE GUILTY MAN YOUR TELEVISION TAKES A STAND AND YOU FIND THAT WHAT WAS OVER THERE IS OVER HERE SO YOU SCREAM FROM BEHIND YOUR DOOR SAY, "WHAT'S MINE IS MINE AND NOT YOURS" I MAY HAVE TOO MUCH BUT I'LL TAKE MY CHANCES 'CAUSE GOD'S STOPPED KEEPING SCORE AND YOU CLING TO THE THINGS THEY SOLD YOU DID YOU COVER YOUR EYES WHEN THEY TOLD YOU THAT HE CAN'T COME BACK 'CAUSE HE HAS NO CHILDREN TO COME BACK FOR? IT'S HARD TO LOVE THERE'S SO MUCH TO HATE HANGING ON TO HOPE WHEN THERE IS NO HOPE TO SPEAK OF AND THE WOUNDED SKIES ABOVE SAY IT'S MUCH TOO LATE AND MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL BE PRAYING FOR TIME

SONG ENDS

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CARR

2...

MUSIC BEGINS

CARR

I'M ON MY WAY, I'M MAKING IT

BACKGROUND SINGER

YEAH I'VE GOT TO MAKE IT SHOW, YEAH MMM SO MUCH LARGER THAN LIFE I'M GONNA WATCH IT GROWING

VOCALIZING

BACKGROUND SINGER

YEAH THE PLACE WHERE I COME FROM IS A SMALL TOWN THEY THINK SO SMALL THEY USE SMALL WORDS BUT NOT ME I'M SMARTER THAN THAT YEAH I WORKED IT OUT I'VE BEEN STRETCHING MY MOUTH TO LET THOSE BIG WORDS COME RIGHT OUT I'VE HAD ENOUGH HA! I'M GETTING OUT HA! TO THE CITY THE BIG, BIG CITY I'LL BE A BIG NOISE WITH ALL THE BIG BOYS SO MUCH STUFF I WILL OWN AND I WILL PRAY TO A BIG GOD AS I KNEEL IN THE BIG CHURCH BIG TIME I'M ON MY WAY, I'M MAKING IT BIG TIME WHOO BIG TIME I'VE GOT TO MAKE IT SHOW, YEAH BIG TIME HEY BIG TIME SO MUCH LARGER THAN LIFE BIG TIME BIG TIME I'M GONNA WATCH IT GROWING BIG TIME OH, OH, OH, OH, OH OH, OH, OH, OH, OH ALL MY PARTIES HAVE ALL THE BIG NAMES MY PARTIES HAVE ALL THE BIG NAMES AND I GREET THEM WITH THE WIDEST SMILE TELL THEM HOW MY LIFE IS ONE BIG ADVENTURE AND ALWAYS THEY'RE AMAZED HA! WHEN I SHOW THEM ROUND MY HOUSE TO MY BED I'VE HAD IT MADE LIKE A MOUNTAIN RANGE WITH A SNOW-WHITE PILLOW FOR MY BIG FAT HEAD AND MY HEAVEN WILL BE A BIG HEAVEN AND I WILL WALK THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR BIG TIME I'M ON MY WAY, I'M MAKING IT BIG TIME BIG TIME BIG TIME I'VE GOT TO MAKE IT SHOW, YEAH BIG TIME BIG TIME SO MUCH LARGER THAN LIFE BIG TIME BIG TIME I'M GONNA WATCH IT GROWING BIG TIME BIG TIME MY CAR IS GETTING BIGGER BIG TIME BIG TIME MY HOUSE IS GETTING BIGGER BIG TIME MY EYES ARE GETTING BIGGER BIG TIME AND MY MOUTH BIG TIME MY BELLY'S GETTING BIGGER BIG TIME AND MY BANK ACCOUNT BIG TIME BIG TIME LOOK AT MY CIRCUMSTANCE BIG TIME AND THE BULGE IN MY BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

McDONALD

WE HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED ANDREW RANNELLS IN CONCERT. FOR "LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER," I'M AUDRA McDONALD. GOOD NIGHT. BIG TIME BIG TIME

SUSTAINED CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

McDONALD

BIG TIME BIG TIME BIG TIME BIG TIME BIG TIME BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG

MUSIC ENDS, CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

McDONALD

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