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♪ ♪ ♪ (whooshing) ANNOUNCER: Black Broadway, a proud history, a limitless future.

Join us for an unforgettable concert celebrating iconic performances and roles made famous by Black actors.

We pay tribute to this rich history and lift up the next generation of Black Broadway stars, with performances and appearances by Corbin Bleu, E. Clayton Cornelious, Nikki Renée Daniels, Leah Flynn, Sydney James Harcourt, Amber Iman, Norm Lewis, John Manzari, Tiffany Mann, Stephanie Mills, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Nova Payton, Peppermint, Ephraim Sykes, and Allyson Tucker, with The American Pops Orchestra.

Only on PBS.

♪ STEPHANIE: I think about what Black people have contributed to the theater.

I'm proud of what we've done.

We've- we've made our mark on Broadway, and we can't be denied.

TIFFANY: I knew Broadway was a thing and it existed, but I didn't think there was a place for me there until I saw Nell Carter in "Ain't Misbehavin'."

And I was like, "Who is that woman?"

I wanna know more.

And I got a hunger for it.

SYDNEY: To be with my people, to be representing not just the kids who are coming up in the scene now, but the shoulders that I stand on, that went through degradation and lost opportunities, denied their- their chance at greatness because of racism, because of classism, because of colorism, um...

I felt like, "Hey, you know, it's called the Great White Way.

Let's go do Broadway Black."

(whooshing) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) (audience cheers) CORBIN: How you doin'?

(audience cheers) ("Make Them Hear You") ♪ ♪ Go out and tell our story ♪ ♪ Let it echo far and wide ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ How justice was our battle ♪ ♪ And how justice was denied ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ And say to those who blame us ♪ ♪ For the way we chose to fight ♪ ♪ That sometimes there are battles ♪ ♪ That are more than black or white ♪ ♪ And I could not put down my sword ♪ ♪ When justice was my right ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ Go out and tell our story ♪ ♪ To your daughters and your sons ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ And tell them in our struggle ♪ ♪ We were not the only ones ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ Your sword could be a sermon ♪ ♪ Or the power of the pen ♪ ♪ Teach every child to raise his voice ♪ ♪ And then my brothers, then ♪ ♪ Will justice be demanded ♪ ♪ By ten million righteous men ♪ ♪ Make them hear you ♪ ♪ When they hear you ♪ ♪ I'll be near you ♪ ♪ Again ♪ ♪ Again ♪ (audience cheers) (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) (audience cheers and applauds) ("Being Alive") ♪ ♪ Somebody hold me too close ♪ ♪ Somebody hurt me too deep ♪ ♪ Somebody sit in my chair ♪ ♪ And ruin my sleep ♪ ♪ And make me aware of being alive ♪ ♪ Being alive ♪ ♪ Somebody need me too much ♪ ♪ Somebody know me too well ♪ ♪ Somebody pull me up short ♪ ♪ And put me through hell ♪ ♪ And give me support for being alive ♪ ♪ Make me alive ♪ ♪ Make me alive ♪ ♪ Make me confused ♪ ♪ Mock me with grace ♪ ♪ Let me be used ♪ ♪ Vary my days ♪ ♪ But alone ♪ ♪ Is alone ♪ ♪ Not alive ♪ ♪ Somebody crowd me with love ♪ ♪ Somebody force me to care ♪ ♪ Somebody let me come through ♪ ♪ I'll always be there ♪ ♪ As frightened as you ♪ ♪ To help us survive ♪ ♪ Being alive ♪ ♪ Being alive ♪ ♪ Being alive ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) ALLYSON: The people that have had the most impact on me have been Pearl Bailey, Lena Horne, you know, our- our luminaries that way.

Dorothy Dandridge, Ethel Waters.

People like Andre De Shields, people like George Faison, Mercedes Ellington, Maurice Hines and Gregory.

Audra (laughs), I'll even go on with my husband, continues, Stokes does inspire.

They've had it for resilience, for dedication, for work ethic, LaChanze, I mean, it- it's a constant education.

Everybody's curious, everybody's intellectually curious.

Everybody's craft curious.

Everybody is one- upping each other.

Not in a competitive way, but to be the best that we can be, to show up authentically and be the best.

And that is what I see.

And- and have always been blessed with being and knowing people.

(whooshing) (audience cheers and applauds) ("Fools Fall In Love") ♪ ♪ Fools fall in love in a hurry ♪ ♪ ♪ Fools give their hearts much too soon ♪ ♪ ♪ Just play them two bars of Stardust ♪ ♪ Just hang out one silly moon ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ They've got their love torches burning ♪ ♪ ♪ When they should be playing it cool ♪ ♪ ♪ I used to laugh but now I understand ♪ ♪ Shake the hand of a brand new fool ♪ ♪ ♪ Fools fall in love ♪ ♪ Just like schoolgirls ♪ ♪ Blinded by rose- colored dreams ♪ ♪ They build their castles on wishes ♪ ♪ With only rainbows for beams ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ They're making plans for the future ♪ ♪ When they should be right back in school ♪ ♪ I used to laugh but now I understand ♪ ♪ Shake the hand of a brand new fool ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ Shake the hand of a brand new fool ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ Shake the hand of a brand new fool ♪ ♪ Shake the hand of a brand new fool ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) ("Who Can I Turn To") ♪ ♪ ♪ Who can I turn to ♪ ♪ ♪ When nobody needs me ♪ ♪ ♪ My heart wants to know ♪ ♪ And so I must go ♪ ♪ Where destiny leads me ♪ ♪ With no star to guide me ♪ ♪ And no one beside me ♪ ♪ I'll go on my way ♪ ♪ And after the day ♪ ♪ The darkness will hide me ♪ ♪ ♪ And maybe tomorrow ♪ ♪ ♪ I'll find what I'm after ♪ ♪ ♪ I'll throw off my sorrow ♪ ♪ Beg, steal or borrow ♪ ♪ My share of laughter ♪ ♪ ♪ With you I could learn to ♪ ♪ With you on a new day ♪ ♪ But who can I turn to ♪ ♪ If you turn away ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ With no star to guide me ♪ ♪ And no one beside me ♪ ♪ ♪ I'll go on my way ♪ ♪ And after the day ♪ ♪ The darkness will hide me ♪ ♪ And maybe tomorrow ♪ ♪ ♪ I'll find what I'm after ♪ ♪ ♪ I'll throw off my sorrow ♪ ♪ Beg, steal or borrow ♪ ♪ My share of laughter ♪ ♪ With you I could learn to ♪ ♪ ♪ With you on a new day ♪ ♪ But who can I turn to if ♪ ♪ ♪ Who can I turn to ♪ ♪ Who can I turn to if you ♪ ♪ ♪ Turn away ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) BRIAN: What struck me about James Earl Jones and his performances and I think resonated with me was his size.

I'm not talking about physical stature even though he brought that into the game as well.

He brought a spirit that was huge, that was regal, that was royal, that didn't wanna be tapped down.

As happened and still happens often with Black performers, you're not allowed to be the full expression of yourself, of your full sexuality, your full passion, your full anything.

It needs to be tapped down.

James Earl Jones showed us all what it's like to be a full human being and just own that.

(whooshing) (audience cheers and applauds) ("I'm Here") ♪ I don't need you to love me ♪ ♪ ♪ I don't need you to love ♪ ♪ ♪ I've got ♪ ♪ I've got ♪ ♪ ♪ I've got my sister ♪ ♪ I can feel her now ♪ ♪ She may not be here ♪ ♪ But she's still mine ♪ ♪ I know ♪ ♪ ♪ She still love me ♪ ♪ ♪ Got my children ♪ ♪ I can't hold them now ♪ ♪ They may not be here ♪ ♪ But they still mine ♪ ♪ I hope they know I still love them ♪ ♪ ♪ Got my house ♪ ♪ It still keep the cold out ♪ ♪ Got my chair ♪ ♪ When my body can't hold out ♪ ♪ Got my hands ♪ ♪ Doin' good like they s'posed to ♪ ♪ Showin' my heart ♪ ♪ To the folks that I'm close to ♪ ♪ Got my eyes ♪ ♪ Though they don't see as far now ♪ ♪ They see more 'bout how things ♪ ♪ Really are now ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm gonna ♪ ♪ Take a deep breath ♪ ♪ Gonna hold my head up ♪ ♪ Gonna put my shoulders back ♪ ♪ And look you straight in the eye ♪ ♪ I'm gonna flirt with somebody ♪ ♪ When they walk by ♪ ♪ I'm gonna sing out ♪ ♪ Sing out ♪ ♪ ♪ I believe I have inside of me ♪ ♪ Everything that I need to live a bountiful life ♪ ♪ And all the love alive in me ♪ ♪ I'll stand as tall as the tallest tree ♪ ♪ And I'm thankful for every day that I'm given ♪ ♪ Both the easy and hard ones I'm livin' ♪ AUDIENCE: Whoo!

Okay!

AUDIENCE: Yeah!

♪ ♪ But most of all ♪ ♪ I'm thankful for loving who I really am ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) ♪ I'm beautiful ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) ♪ Yes, I'm beautiful ♪ (audience hollering indistinctly) ♪ And I'm ♪ ♪ Here ♪ ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) (audience cheers) ("Home") ♪ ♪ When I think of home ♪ ♪ I think of a place ♪ ♪ Where there's love overflowing ♪ ♪ I wish I was home, I wish I was back there ♪ ♪ With the things I've been knowing ♪ ♪ Wind that makes the tall grass bend into leaning ♪ ♪ Suddenly the raindrops that fall ♪ ♪ They have a meaning ♪ ♪ Sprinklin' the scene ♪ ♪ Makes it all clean ♪ ♪ Maybe there's a chance for me to go back ♪ ♪ Now that I have some direction ♪ ♪ Maybe there's a chance I'll get home ♪ ♪ It sure would be nice to be back at home ♪ ♪ Where there's love and affection ♪ ♪ And just maybe I can convince time to slow up ♪ ♪ Givin' me enough time, ooh ♪ ♪ In my life to grow up ♪ ♪ But time, come on ♪ ♪ (audience cheers) ♪ Be my friend ♪ ♪ And let me start again ♪ STEPHANIE: But you know what, y'all?

♪ Suddenly my world's gone and changed its fate ♪ ♪ But I still know where I'm going ♪ ♪ I have had my mind spun around in space ♪ ♪ Yet I watched it growing ♪ ♪ And oh, if you're listening, God ♪ ♪ Please don't make it hard ♪ ♪ To know if we ♪ ♪ Should believe the things that we see ♪ ♪ Tell us should we try and stay ♪ ♪ Or should we run away ♪ ♪ Should we run away ♪ ♪ Or will it be better just to let things ♪ ♪ Let them be, oh ♪ ♪ Livin' here in this brand new world ♪ ♪ It might be a fantasy ♪ ♪ But it taught me love ♪ ♪ So it's real, it's so real, it's real to me ♪ ♪ And I've learned that we must look inside ♪ ♪ Inside our heart ♪ ♪ Inside our hearts to find ♪ ♪ A world full of love ♪ ♪ Like yours, like mine ♪ ♪ Like home ♪ (Stephanie whoops) ♪ Like home ♪ ♪ It's a world full of joy ♪ ♪ Talking about my home, whoo-ooh ♪ ♪ When I think of home ♪ ♪ When I, when I, when I, when I ♪ ♪ When I, I, I, I, I ♪ ♪ Home ♪ ♪ Hoo-oh-oh ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) (audience cheers and applauds) ("I Got Plenty Of Nothing") ♪ ♪ Oh, I got plenty of nothing ♪ ♪ And nothing's plenty for me ♪ ♪ I got no car, I got no mule ♪ ♪ I got no misery ♪ ♪ If folks with plenty, a plenty ♪ ♪ Got a lock on the door ♪ ♪ Afraid somebody's a-going to rob 'em ♪ ♪ While they's out a-making more ♪ ♪ What for ♪ ♪ I got no lock on my door, that's no way to be ♪ ♪ They can steal the rug from the floor ♪ ♪ That's okay with me ♪ ♪ 'Cause the things that I prize ♪ ♪ Like the stars in the skies ♪ ♪ All are free ♪ ♪ Oh, I got plenty of nothing ♪ ♪ And nothing's plenty for me ♪ ♪ I got my gal, I got my song ♪ ♪ Got heaven the whole day long ♪ ♪ No use complaining ♪ ♪ Got my gal, got my Lord ♪ ♪ Got my song ♪ ♪ (audience cheers) ♪ ♪ Oh, I got plenty of nothing ♪ ♪ And nothing's plenty for me ♪ ♪ I got the Sun, I got the Moon ♪ ♪ I got the deep blue sea ♪ ♪ The folks with plenty of plenty ♪ ♪ Got to pray all the day ♪ ♪ It seem with plenty you sure got to worry ♪ ♪ How to keep the devil away ♪ ♪ Away ♪ ♪ See, I ain't frettin' 'bout hell ♪ ♪ 'Til that time arrive ♪ ♪ Never worry long as I'm well ♪ ♪ Never one to strive ♪ ♪ To be good, to be bad ♪ ♪ What the hell ♪ ♪ I'm glad I'm alive ♪ ♪ Oh, I got plenty of nothing ♪ ♪ And nothing's plenty for me ♪ ♪ I got my gal, I got my song ♪ ♪ Got heaven the whole day long ♪ ♪ No use complaining ♪ ♪ Got my gal ♪ ♪ Got his gal ♪ ♪ Got my Lord ♪ ♪ Got his Lord ♪ ♪ Got my song ♪ ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) E. CLAYTON: One of the most influential or the person who had an impact on my career and my life, or in Broadway, I would have to say it was my father (laughs), for a man who was born in 1936 and had seven brothers and sisters and dropped outta school to take care of his whole family and was the patriarch of the family.

Uh, I saw that as an inspiration and it was great to see my father work so hard and become an entrepreneur.

He really pushed me, uh, in my career to do better.

The other part of my answer would be crazy enough, I think Billy Porter.

Billy and I grew up in Pittsburgh together, and, uh, we've always remained sort of friends and colleagues through the years.

And it was nice to see someone pave the way.

We were both small town, you know, Black boys from Pittsburgh, and just to see his career grow and- and all the things he had to deal with in his career, either personal or- or- or professional.

I just sort of very admired.

He's like sort of a mentor to me.

(whooshing) ("Low Down Blues") ♪ My heart is achin' ♪ ♪ It's about to break in two ♪ ♪ ♪ My head is reelin' ♪ ♪ And I am feelin' blue ♪ ♪ ♪ I feel just like a fish without a fin, ♪ ♪ And for the want of sleep ♪ ♪ I'm getting thin ♪ ♪ If you don't think I'm sinkin' ♪ ♪ Look what a hole I'm in ♪ ♪ ♪ I got the low-down ♪ ♪ The lowest of the low-down blues ♪ ♪ ♪ Yes and it feels just like my crown ♪ ♪ Sinkin' right on through my shoes ♪ ♪ ♪ Well, it's not because I'm broke ♪ ♪ With all my clothes in pawn ♪ ♪ But since that mornin' I woke ♪ ♪ And found my baby gone ♪ ♪ With that mournful news ♪ ♪ I got the lowest of the low-down blues ♪ ♪ Oh, believe me now, that fella never told no lie ♪ ♪ He said you'll never miss the water ♪ ♪ Until the well runs dry ♪ ♪ The one who took my sweetie ♪ ♪ He'd better leave this shore ♪ ♪ Or there will surely be some crepes ♪ ♪ A-hangin' on his door ♪ ♪ I've got the low-down ♪ ♪ Got the low-down blues ♪ ♪ This very evenin' ♪ ♪ Oh, it feels ♪ ♪ Feels like my crown ♪ ♪ O Lord it's sinkin' right on through my shoes ♪ ♪ (shoes tapping) (audience applauds) ♪ (shoes tapping) ♪ (shoes tapping) ♪ (audience cheers) (shoes tapping) ♪ (shoes tapping) ♪ (shoes tapping) ♪ (shoes tapping) ♪ (John grunts) (shoes tapping) (audience cheers) (shoes tapping) (audience cheers and applauds) JOHN: On it.

(shoes tapping) ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) ("Summertime") ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) (audience cheers and applauds) ("Visions Of Nowness") ♪ ♪ There are some things I must never reveal ♪ ♪ About the way I think and what I feel ♪ ♪ Keep the surface smooth, calm, and cool ♪ ♪ Eyes as deep and blue as a swimming pool ♪ ♪ And I can bet with certainty ♪ ♪ No interference will get through to me ♪ ♪ Like a picture that's been painted ♪ ♪ And is hanging on the wall ♪ ♪ And admired but untouchable ♪ ♪ Reflection, a vision of nowness ♪ ♪ A vision of now ♪ ♪ To know the world complex and wide ♪ ♪ To be temperamentally tranquilized ♪ ♪ I'll put you on, but envy none ♪ ♪ Will break you to care with stay free of want ♪ ♪ I am a curiosity ♪ ♪ Notorious, you'll never get what they see ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Like a picture that's been painted ♪ ♪ And is hanging on the wall ♪ ♪ And admired but untouchable ♪ ♪ Reflection, a vision of nowness ♪ ♪ A vision of nowness ♪ ♪ A vision of nowness ♪ ♪ A vision of now ♪ ♪ A vision of now ♪ ♪ A vision of nowness ♪ ♪ A vision of now ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) EPHRAIM: My biggest who or what inspiration for Black Broadway is, that's hard to pinpoint there's been so many people and so many shows and moments, two come to mind.

Uh, and one...

I was a kid, so I had never really seen, uh, any Broadway shows before.

I grew up in Florida.

And my first visual of it was from the movie, I believe it was "The White Knights" with, uh, Gregory Hines and his first scene coming out and doing "Porgy and Bess."

And I had just never seen anybody Black like myself, (chuckles) you know, sing, act, and dance to that caliber before.

It was one of the most electrifying things I had ever seen before.

I was just thrilled by that charisma, that performance and the depth that he was able to reach while dancing and singing.

Full embodiment of something that I now want to aspire towards.

And then when I got to, uh, Broadway and auditioning for Broadway, I'll never forget, one of my first auditions, uh, was for "The Wiz."

It was my first time being in a room like, you know, the Black Broadway auditions, the whole room was Black, it was blackity Black.

It was so great.

And I'll just never forget that first moment of, uh, there was no competition in sight.

There was nothing but just excellence and greatness being passed and shared, and we all rooted for each other.

We was just enjoying each other, being brilliant in a space, that wasn't necessarily built for us, the culture that is- that is Black Broadway and how much we love on each other, how much we support each other.

Being exposed to that sort of environment, that kind of room, that has always inspired me.

(whooshing) ("Come Rain Or Come Shine") ♪ ♪ I'm gonna love you like nobody's loved you ♪ ♪ Come rain or come shine ♪ ♪ High as a mountain, deep as a river ♪ ♪ Come rain or come shine ♪ ♪ I guess when you met me ♪ ♪ It was just one of those things ♪ ♪ But don't ever bet me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm gonna be true if you let me ♪ ♪ You're gonna love me just like nobody's loved me ♪ ♪ Come rain or come shine ♪ ♪ Happy together, unhappy together ♪ ♪ And won't that be fine ♪ ♪ Days may be cloudy or sunny ♪ ♪ We're in or we're out of the money ♪ ♪ I'm with you always ♪ ♪ I'm with you rain or shine ♪ ♪ You're gonna love me just like nobody's loved me ♪ ♪ Come rain or come shine ♪ ♪ Happy together, unhappy together ♪ ♪ And won't that be fine ♪ ♪ So now days they may be cloudy or sunny ♪ ♪ We're in or we're out of the money yes ♪ ♪ I'm with you always ♪ ♪ I'm with you rain or shine ♪ ♪ I'm with you rain or shine ♪ ♪ I'm with you rain or shine ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) TIFFANY: I think freedom is, uh, the sort of radical portion of the torch carrying and so honoring what was, and then making sure I add to it to pass to the next generation.

(whooshing) ("I Got Love") ♪ (Tiffany humming) ♪ ♪ He thinks that I'm afraid ♪ ♪ He oughta know I'm not ♪ ♪ Why should I be scared ♪ ♪ I'm safe ♪ ♪ And sound ♪ ♪ Because ♪ ♪ I ♪ ♪ Got ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ ♪ I got love ♪ ♪ I got love ♪ ♪ ♪ I got love, love, love, love ♪ ♪ Love, love, love, love ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ I got love ♪ ♪ I got love ♪ ♪ Sweeter than a flower ♪ ♪ Growin' by the hour ♪ ♪ I got love ♪ ♪ Sunshine shine ♪ ♪ I got mine ♪ ♪ Carve it on a willow ♪ ♪ I'm talkin' to my pillow ♪ ♪ 'Cause I got love ♪ ♪ Every time ♪ ♪ I'm with him ♪ ♪ I know that I'm a lucky girl ♪ ♪ For the first time in my life ♪ ♪ I'm someone in this world ♪ ♪ Bye bye blues ♪ ♪ I can't lose ♪ ♪ I've got a jar of honey ♪ ♪ And every day is sunny ♪ ♪ 'Cause I got love ♪ ♪ ♪ Ooh I got love ♪ ♪ Carve it on a willow ♪ ♪ I'm talkin' to my pillow ♪ ♪ 'Cause I got love ♪ ♪ Every time that I'm with him ♪ ♪ I know that I'm a lucky girl ♪ ♪ For the first time in my life ♪ ♪ I'm someone in this world ♪ ♪ Ba- baby bye ♪ ♪ Ba- baby bye, bye blues ♪ ♪ I can't lose ♪ ♪ I got a jar of honey ♪ ♪ And every day is sunny 'cause I got love ♪ ♪ I got love ♪ ♪ I got love ♪ ♪ I got love, love, love ♪ ♪ Oh, I got love ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) ("Learn To Love") ♪ ♪ I've been watching down on this world ♪ ♪ Watching to learn how they live ♪ ♪ But now I'm here ♪ ♪ Now I'm here beside them ♪ ♪ And I can see the heavens from their view ♪ ♪ Those perfect skies are blue ♪ ♪ If they only knew ♪ ♪ They think we know it all in heaven ♪ ♪ ♪ They think we always have it right ♪ ♪ ♪ I hear them yearning for the answers ♪ ♪ When they pray to us each night ♪ ♪ But if they only knew the truth ♪ ♪ ♪ They would know I'm yearning too ♪ ♪ ♪ I didn't learn it all above ♪ ♪ ♪ I never learned to love ♪ ♪ ♪ They are much braver than the gods ♪ ♪ They are so fearless with their souls ♪ ♪ They just open up and love ♪ ♪ With no end game, with no goal ♪ ♪ ♪ I wanna know that kind of faith ♪ (Amber vocalizing) ♪ I wanna know just how that feels ♪ ♪ If I could learn what hearts are made of ♪ ♪ I could learn to love ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh, if there's a leap to take I'll take it ♪ ♪ If there's a deal to make I'll make it ♪ ♪ Whatever it is let it come to me ♪ ♪ Whoa-oh ♪ ♪ When I close my eyes and let it go ♪ ♪ Like a river I can feel it flow ♪ ♪ I can feel it ♪ ♪ Oh, I can feel it ♪ ♪ I can feel it ♪ ♪ Oh, I can feel it ♪ ♪ I will learn to love ♪ ♪ But how much longer can I wait ♪ ♪ ♪ Hoping love will be my fate ♪ ♪ ♪ Will I get what I have dreamt of ♪ ♪ Should I have come down from above ♪ ♪ ♪ Will I learn what my heart is made of ♪ ♪ Whoa-oh ♪ ♪ ♪ Will I learn to love ♪ ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) AMBER: Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

(audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) (audience cheers and applauds) ("Stand Up And Fight") ♪ ♪ ♪ Thanks a lot ♪ ♪ I sure am glad to be ♪ ♪ To be where I can see ♪ ♪ So many friends of mine ♪ ♪ How've I been doin' ♪ ♪ How've I been doin' ♪ ♪ If you really wanna know da truth ♪ ♪ I'm doin' fine ♪ ♪ Seventeen ♪ ♪ Decisions in a row ♪ ♪ And only five on points ♪ ♪ Da rest was all K.O.

♪ ♪ Jackson and Johnson ♪ ♪ Murphy and Bronson ♪ ♪ One by one dey come ♪ ♪ And one by one to dreamland dey go ♪ ♪ How's it done ♪ ♪ You ask me, how's it done ♪ ♪ I got a trainer man ♪ ♪ Who tells me all I know ♪ ♪ Sure feels good to have him in my corner ♪ ♪ Hear his voice a- whisp'rin' low ♪ ♪ Big boy, remember ♪ ♪ You must remember ♪ ♪ Stand up and fight until you hear da bell ♪ ♪ Stand toe to toe ♪ ♪ Trade blow for blow ♪ ♪ Keep punchin' till you make your punches tell ♪ ♪ Show that crowd what you know ♪ ♪ Until you hear that bell ♪ ♪ That final bell ♪ ♪ Stand up and fight like hell ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) ♪ ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) ♪ When you fight ♪ ♪ Out in de open air ♪ ♪ In a patch o' light ♪ ♪ Da ring looks small and white ♪ ♪ Out in da blackness ♪ ♪ Out in da blackness ♪ ♪ You can feel a hundred thousand eyes ♪ ♪ Fillin' da night ♪ ♪ Cigarettes ♪ ♪ Are blinkin' in da dark ♪ ♪ And makin' polka dots ♪ ♪ Around da baseball park ♪ ♪ People are quiet ♪ ♪ Then there's a riot ♪ ♪ Someone throws a punch ♪ ♪ And lands it right smack on the mark ♪ ♪ Somebody's hurt ♪ ♪ You sorta think it's you ♪ ♪ You hang across the ropes ♪ ♪ That's all you wanna do ♪ ♪ Then you look 'round and see your trainer's eyes ♪ ♪ Beggin' you to see it through ♪ ♪ They say, remember ♪ ♪ Big Boy, remember ♪ ♪ Stand up and fight until you hear da bell ♪ ♪ Stand toe to toe ♪ ♪ Trade blow for blow ♪ ♪ Keep punchin' till you make dem punches tell ♪ ♪ Show that crowd what you know ♪ ♪ Until you hear dat bell ♪ ♪ Dat final bell ♪ ♪ Stand up and fight like hell ♪ ♪ Stand up and fight ♪ ♪ Stand up and fight ♪ ♪ Like ♪ ♪ Like hell ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) AMBER: I think a person who has influenced and impacted my career the most is LaChanze for one.

It is so wonderful to watch what I call her expansion, she's not moving away from acting, she's just expanding her reach.

To watch her move from two of the most iconic roles, Celie and Ti Moune, like first of all what that meant for little chocolate girls growing up.

Just to see a woman with that power, strength, that voice, that talent.

And now to watch her moving into producing and activism, it just reminds us that there is no limit, that we can do whatever we set our minds to and she's doing it with such grace, and joy and elegance.

Like, she's really, um... forcing me to, like, step my game up.

I think that we all need that, to see a woman, who for most people, you know, they'd assume that LaChanze has it all and has done it all.

And she's really just beginning, and I think that is really powerful to watch.

(whooshing) (audience cheers and applauds) ("Waiting For Life") ♪ ♪ A stranger in white ♪ ♪ In a car ♪ ♪ Going somewhere ♪ ♪ Going far ♪ ♪ ♪ How it must feel to go racing ♪ ♪ Wherever you please ♪ ♪ Flying as free as a bird ♪ ♪ With its tail in the breeze ♪ ♪ Even the fish in the sea must be longing to fly ♪ ♪ Catching a glimpse ♪ ♪ Of a stranger in white racing by ♪ ♪ Oh, gods, oh, gods ♪ ♪ Are you there ♪ ♪ What can I do to get you to look down and give in ♪ ♪ Oh, gods, oh, gods ♪ ♪ Hear my prayer ♪ ♪ I'm here in the field ♪ ♪ With my feet on the ground ♪ ♪ And my fate in the air ♪ ♪ Waiting for life to begin ♪ ♪ ♪ Mama's contented ♪ ♪ And Tonton accepts what he gets ♪ ♪ ♪ Happy for tea in their cups ♪ ♪ And no holes in their nets ♪ ♪ ♪ Happy to have what they have ♪ ♪ And to stay where they are ♪ ♪ They never even look up at the sound of a car ♪ ♪ A stranger racing down the beach ♪ ♪ Racing to places I was meant to reach ♪ ♪ My stranger, one day you'll arrive ♪ ♪ Your car will stop ♪ ♪ And in I'll hop ♪ ♪ And off we'll drive ♪ ♪ We'll drive ♪ (audience cheers) ♪ ♪ Oh, gods, oh, gods ♪ ♪ Please be there ♪ ♪ Don't you remember your little Norm Lewis ♪ ♪ In the tree ♪ ♪ Wake up, look down ♪ ♪ Hear my prayer ♪ ♪ Don't single me out ♪ ♪ And then forget me ♪ ♪ Oh, gods, oh, gods ♪ ♪ Let me fly ♪ ♪ Send me to places where no one before me has been ♪ ♪ You spared my life ♪ ♪ Show me why ♪ ♪ You get me to rise like a fish to the bait ♪ ♪ Then tell me to wait ♪ ♪ Well, I'm waiting ♪ ♪ Waiting for life to begin ♪ ♪ Waiting for life to begin ♪ ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) (audience cheers and applauds) AUDIENCE: Ms. Peppermint, we love you!

(audience whoops) ("Ain't Misbehavin'") ♪ ♪ No one to talk to ♪ ♪ All by myself ♪ ♪ No one to walk with ♪ ♪ But I'm happy on the shelf ♪ ♪ Ain't misbehavin' ♪ ♪ I'm savin' my love for you ♪ ♪ ♪ I know for certain ♪ ♪ The one I love ♪ ♪ I'm through with flirtin' ♪ ♪ It's just you I'm thinkin' of ♪ ♪ Ain't misbehavin' ♪ ♪ Just savin' my love for you ♪ ♪ ♪ Like Jack Horner ♪ ♪ In the corner ♪ ♪ Don't go nowhere ♪ ♪ What do I care ♪ ♪ Your kisses are worth waitin' for ♪ ♪ Believe me ♪ ♪ I don't stay out late ♪ ♪ Don't care to go ♪ ♪ I'm home about eight ♪ ♪ Just me and my radio ♪ ♪ Ain't misbehavin' ♪ ♪ Mm, just savin' my love for you ♪ ♪ ♪ Like Jack Horner ♪ ♪ In the corner ♪ ♪ Don't go nowhere ♪ ♪ What do I care ♪ ♪ Your kisses are worth my waitin' for ♪ ♪ Believe me ♪ ♪ I don't stay out late ♪ ♪ Don't care to go ♪ ♪ I'm home about eight ♪ ♪ Just me and my radio ♪ ♪ Ain't misbehavin' ♪ ♪ Just savin' my love for you ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) PEPPERMINT: I love you.

(whooshing) ♪ ("I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby") CORBIN: This song has been recorded by so many icons over the decades.

I mean, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong.

The list goes on and on and on.

But I recently had the opportunity to play the phenomenal Cab Calloway in a film.

I heard his rendition of it, and I just loved how much it swung and how he really leaned into that crooner sound of it all, you know?

Let's take it away.

♪ ♪ I can't give you anything but love, baby ♪ ♪ That's the only thing I've plenty of, baby ♪ ♪ Dream a while, scheme a while ♪ ♪ We're sure to find happiness and I guess ♪ ♪ All those things you always pined for ♪ ♪ Gee, I'd like to see you looking swell, baby ♪ ♪ Diamond bracelets Woolworths ♪ ♪ No it doesn't sell, my little baby ♪ ♪ Till that lucky day, you know darned well, baby ♪ ♪ I can't give you anything but love ♪ ♪ Love, love, love, love ♪ ♪ Love ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) BRIAN: My hope for the future is that people, whether they be Black writers, artists, creators, producers, directors that they can do the projects that they want to do that comes from their heart, that speaks about their life or perhaps somebody else's life, but that our stories are free to explore all kinds of subjects.

E. CLAYTON: I really hope that we can just have just stories on Broadway, not necessarily for POC or BIPOC, but just for everybody, a mix of people in one show and it just be about a story.

Not pointing out anything racially, not pointing out anything culturally.

BRIAN: These are universal stories, these are human stories.

What I would like to see in the future is for audiences to really embrace and recognize that these stories are about all of us, about our humanity, about our quirks, about our failures, about our successes, about everything in between, they're human stories.

EPHRAIM: I hope that they continue to take the ball and run with it, because my goal for all of us is for us to own and tell our own stories.

AMBER: My hope is for ownership, and also for us to be involved in telling our stories.

You can't talk about me without me.

We need to be writing it, producing, directing, casting it, choreographing, all of the above.

ALLYSON: They're boundaries but no limits and I think that is where we are.

We are at that precipice and if we've all decided to link arms and jump off that cliff which is- we can do nothing but fly.

(whooshing) (audience cheers and applauds) ♪ And I am tellin' you ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm not goin' ♪ ♪ ♪ You're the best man I ever know ♪ ♪ There's no way I can ever go ♪ ♪ Darlin' there's no way ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no, way ♪ ♪ I'm livin' without you ♪ (audience member whoops) ♪ I'm not livin' without you ♪ ♪ I don't wanna be free ♪ ♪ I'm stayin' ♪ ♪ I'm stayin' ♪ ♪ And you, and you ♪ ♪ You're gonna love me ♪ (audience cheers) ♪ You're gonna love me ♪ ♪ Oh ooh ♪ ♪ You're gonna love me ♪ ♪ Yes you are ♪ ♪ ♪ And I am tellin' you, I'm not goin' ♪ ♪ Even though the rough times are showin' ♪ ♪ There's just no way ♪ ♪ There's no way ♪ ♪ We're part of the same place ♪ ♪ We're part of the same time ♪ ♪ We both share the same blood ♪ ♪ We both have the same mind ♪ ♪ And time and time ♪ ♪ We have so much to share ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no, no, no ♪ ♪ I'm not wakin' up tomorrow mornin' ♪ ♪ And findin' that there's nobody there ♪ ♪ Darlin' there's no way ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no, way ♪ ♪ I'm livin' without you ♪ ♪ No I'm not livin' without ♪ ♪ I'm not livin' without you ♪ ♪ There's no way ♪ (audience cheers) ♪ There's no way ♪ ♪ Please don't go away from me ♪ ♪ Stay with me ♪ ♪ Stay with me ♪ ♪ Stay, stay and hold me yeah ♪ ♪ Stay, stay and hold me ♪ ♪ Please stay and hold me, Mr. Man ♪ ♪ Try it, mister ♪ ♪ Try it, mister ♪ ♪ I know, I know, I know ♪ ♪ I know you can ♪ ♪ Tear down the mountains ♪ ♪ Yell, scream and shout ♪ ♪ You can say what you want ♪ ♪ I'm not walkin' out ♪ ♪ Stop all the rivers ♪ ♪ Push, strike and kill ♪ ♪ I'm not gonna leave you ♪ ♪ There's no way ♪ ♪ There's no way I will ♪ (audience cheers) ♪ There's no way I will ♪ ♪ And I am ♪ ♪ Tellin' you ♪ ♪ I'm not goin' ♪ ♪ You're the best man I ever know ♪ ♪ There's no way I can ever, ever go ♪ ♪ Darlin' there's no way ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no, way ♪ ♪ I'm livin' without you ♪ ♪ No ♪ ♪ I'm not livin' without you ♪ ♪ Not livin' without you ♪ ♪ I don't wanna be free ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm stayin', I'm stayin' ♪ ♪ And you, and you, and you ♪ ♪ You're gonna love me ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ You're gonna love me, yes, you are ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, love me ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh love me ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Me ♪ ♪ You're gonna love ♪ ♪ Me ♪ (audience cheers) ♪ Me ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) (audience cheers and applauds) (whooshing) ("Brand New Day") ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) ♪ ♪ Everybody look around ♪ ♪ 'Cause there's a reason to rejoice, you see ♪ ♪ Everybody come out ♪ ♪ And let's commence to singing joyfully ♪ ♪ Everybody look up ♪ ♪ And feel the hope that we've been waiting on ♪ ♪ Everybody get glad ♪ ♪ Because our silent fear and dread is gone ♪ ♪ Freedom, you see ♪ ♪ Has got our hearts singing so joyfully ♪ ♪ Just look about ♪ ♪ You owe it to yourself to check it out ♪ ♪ Can't you feel a brand new day ♪ ♪ Can't you feel a brand new day ♪ ♪ Can't you feel a brand new day ♪ ♪ Can't you feel a brand new day ♪ (choir whoops) ♪ Ha ha ♪ ♪ (choir claps) ♪ Everybody be glad ♪ ♪ Because the Sun is shining just for us ♪ ♪ Just for us ♪ ♪ Everybody wake up ♪ ♪ Into the morning ♪ ♪ Into happiness ♪ ♪ Happiness ♪ ♪ Hello, world ♪ ♪ It's like a different way of living now ♪ ♪ Thank you, world ♪ ♪ We always knew that we'd be free somehow ♪ ♪ In harmony ♪ ♪ Let's show the world that we've got liberty ♪ ♪ It's such a change ♪ ♪ For us to live so independently ♪ ♪ Freedom, you see ♪ ♪ Has got our hearts singing so joyfully ♪ ♪ Just look about ♪ ♪ You owe it to yourself to check it out ♪ ♪ Can't you feel a brand new day ♪ ♪ Can't you feel a brand new day ♪ ♪ Can't you feel a brand new day ♪ ♪ Can't you feel a brand new day ♪ ♪ Brand new day ♪ ♪ Brand new day ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) ANNOUNCER: This program is available with Passport because of your generous donation to your local PBS station.

Thank you.