American Songbook at NJPAC Hosted by Michael Feinstein

Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ana Gasteyer & Lucas DeBard - Full
Series host Michael Feinstein welcomes Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ana Gasteyer and Songbook Youth Ambassador Lucas DeBard to NJPAC in Newark, NJ, for stimulating conversation and performances. Highlights include dynamic renditions of “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, “What a Wonderful World” and “Hello, Dolly!” plus conversations between the entertainers.
TRANSCRIPT
>> ♪ Hello, Dolly
♪ Well, hello, Dolly
>> Coming up on this episode of
"American Songbook At NJPAC
Hosted by Michael Feinstein"...
>> ♪ I can tell, Dolly
♪ You're still glowin'
>> ...joining Michael in song
and stimulating conversation
are...
>> ♪ When the wind goes a whip,
whip, whip, whip, whippin'
'round... ♪
>> ..."Saturday Night Live"
alum, television and theater
star Ana Gasteyer...
>> ♪ I'm gonna sit right down
>> ...the 2015
Great American Songbook Youth
Ambassador Lucas DeBard...
>> ♪ And make believe it came
from you ♪
>> ♪ There's no business like
show business ♪
>> ...and the incomparable
two-time Tony award winner and
Theater Hall of Fame inductee
Brian Stokes Mitchell.
>> ♪ Standing out in front on
opening nights ♪
♪ Smiling as you watch the...
>> The
"American Songbook at NJPAC"
series is presented in part
through the generous support
of...
Support for this broadcast is
provided by...
>> ♪ Let's go
♪ On with the show
>> And now, from the
New Jersey
Performing Arts Center in the
Victoria Theater, your host, the
ambassador of the
Great American Songbook,
Michael Feinstein.
>> ♪ Pick out a pleasant
outlook ♪
♪ Stick out that noble chin
♪ Wipe off that full-of-doubt
look ♪
♪ Slap on a happy grin
♪ And spread sunshine
all over the place ♪
♪ Just put on a happy face
[ Tempo quickens ]
♪ There are girls just ripe for
some kissin' ♪
♪ And I mean to kiss me a few
♪ Oh, those girls don't know
what they're missin' ♪
♪ I've such a lot of livin'
to do ♪
♪ And there's wine all ready
for tastin' ♪
♪ And there's Cadillacs
all shiny and new ♪
♪ Gotta move
'cause time is a-wastin' ♪
♪ There's such a lot of livin'
to do ♪
♪ There's music to play,
places to go, people to see ♪
♪ Everything for you and me
♪ Life's a ball
if only you know it ♪
♪ And it's all
just waitin' for you ♪
♪ You're alive,
so come on and show it ♪
♪ There's such a lot of livin'
♪ Such a lot of livin'
Take it, guys.
At the piano Mr. Tedd Firth.
[ Applause ]
♪ There's music to play,
places to go, people to see ♪
♪ Everything for you and me
♪ Life's a ball
if only you know it ♪
♪ You'll find it's all
just waitin' for you ♪
♪ You're alive,
so come on and show it ♪
♪ There's such a lot of livin'
♪ Such a lot of livin'
♪ Tonight's the night we're
gonna fly ♪
♪ Let's kick this slick town in
the eye ♪
♪ Such a lot of livin' to do
♪ To do-o-o-o-o-o-o
[ Cheers and applause ]
Good evening, ladies and
gentlemen.
Welcome to the
"American Songbook" series here
at the New Jersey Performing
Arts Center.
I am so glad to be with you.
My name is Michael Feinstein,
and it is my honor to host
this incredible series.
We have an amazing lineup of
artists tonight whom you're
going to get to know a little
bit better.
You will hear their amazing
music, but you're also going to
have some elements of fun,
because we have a few surprises
in store for you, as well as for
our artists.
So let's meet them right now,
this illustrious cast who have
joined me -- Ana Gasteyer,
Lucas DeBard, and
Brian Stokes Mitchell.
Hello, hello.
>> Hi!
>> Hey, Michael.
>> [ Laughs ]
It's so nice to be with all of
you to celebrate the
"American Songbook."
In order to sort of break the
ice, we have this little device
here that we call our bowl of
truth.
It's become a rather popular
feature on our program, and
they are questions of which I
know nothing, and hopefully you
will nothing, and I ask you to
pick one and hand it to me, and
I will mellifluously read it to
you, and then we will illicit an
answer.
And, Ana, I would be honored if
you would be the first person
to --
>> Okay, I hope it's not "What
does 'mellifluous' mean?"
[ Laughter ]
Well, I won't answer that very
well.
>> Ah. Don't look.
>> Okay.
What does "mellifluous"...
[ Laughter ]
"mellif-- mellif-- mel--" Ah...
No. Must be --
>> It means "bad water."
>> Bad water.
>> That's my guess.
>> Here it is -- If you were on
a desert island and could only
listen to one recording, what
would it be?
>> Ohh.
Well..."The First 12 Sides,"
Aretha Franklin's record, was
probably the first record that I
played straight though on vinyl
over and over and over and over
again.
So the first 12 tracks she ever
recorded.
>> Does this say "one" --
It said one recording.
>> One recording.
Oh, so I don't get to bring a
whole album?
>> Well, yeah, you do.
I'm giving you a whole album.
>> Yeah, I would say that I was
able to listen to it 650,000
times, so I could probably
endure it for a little bit
longer on the island.
>> Okay, yeah, that --
>> Does that count?
>> Absolutely, it counts.
If I had to pick one artist to
listen to forever, it would
probably be Fred Astaire.
>> Oh, that's such a good one.
>> Well, so is Aretha Franklin,
and she thanks you.
>> No, but you're right.
He's so understated and -- His
recording of "Cheek to Cheek" is
one of my favorit-- It's so
quiet, and so as somebody who
sort of feels like they are
constantly overselling things
and wearing wigs and glasses, I
really appreciate anything
that's understated.
[ Laughter ]
>> Yes.
Well, I would love it if you
would, in your understated way,
perform a song for us right now
to get things going.
Do you want to introduce it,
or do you --
>> Yeah, sure.
It's a song from a musical that
I never saw that I'm not sure
many people are -- I think it
was called "Wish You Were Here."
Do you know that musical?
>> 1952. Jack Cassidy.
>> Good job.
>> Joshua Logan.
>> Okay, so --
>> Can I keep interrupting?
>> No, keep telling us about it,
'cause I don't know anything
about the musical.
It was written by Harold Rome.
>> It was the first Broadway
musical to have a swimming pool
on stage.
>> Really?
It was early Cirque.
I was early Cirque du Soleil,
then.
>> Yes. Yeah.
>> I -- You know, I've been
married for 20 years this month,
actually, and -- Yay, still
married.
[ Applause ]
>> To the same person?
>> To the same person, and I
have a few secrets to my
marriage, one of them is that he
brings me coffee every morning,
which is -- He's never given me
a piece of jewelry, but he
always brings me coffee, so it's
just a little tip, marriage tip.
But I also, you know -- You
know, people talk about having a
work husband or a work wife.
Have you heard that expression?
>> Yes.
>> My husband's work wife is
this woman named Aarthi.
She's a good friend of ours, and
she does a lot of things I don't
do.
Like, she does PowerPoint, and
she reads spreadsheets and stuff
like that.
So, I like to sing this song,
because I like to think of every
opportunity at work, and this is
work, to maybe, potentially get
a work husband.
So I'm gonna sing this song from
"Wish You Were Here" called
"Shopping Around," and I'm gonna
try to get a work husband.
I'm looking at you, Stokes.
>> I'm married. Sorry.
>> Ladies and gentlemen,
Ana Gasteyer.
>> It's a work husband.
It's a different thing.
>> [ Laughs ]
>> ♪ If you wanna know why I've
a roving eye ♪
♪ For every cute guy passing
there ♪
♪ I just wanna try before I
buy ♪
♪ The bargains and husbands
ready-to-wear ♪
♪ 'Cause a man isn't like an
expensive sweater ♪
♪ Or department-store dress
on the rack ♪
♪ If you wrap him up and take
him home ♪
♪ And then see something
better ♪
♪ Nobody, but nobody
will take him back ♪
♪ So I'm shopping around
♪ Just looking
♪ Where men are concerned,
I'm just shopping around ♪
♪ A girl must compare men for
wear and for tear before she
buys ♪
♪ If she wants the best, then
she just has to test all kinds
of merchandise ♪
♪ So while I'm still youngish,
I'm sampling ♪
♪ Don't wanna be stung
♪ No, sir, not little me
♪ The husband-to-be carries no
guarantee ♪
♪ So if you want the best to be
found, you've got to keep
shopping ♪
♪ Leisurely shopping
♪ Not buying
♪ Just shopping around
Okay.
Well, the audience is very far
away, but I'd like to shop the
couch.
I don't know how much I can
walk over here, but I'm gonna
look.
Stokes, I'm looking at you.
One of the things I've picked up
about you is you're a baritone,
and so I'm guessing you're
straight.
That's one of the things I like
about you.
[ Laughter ]
I know that you have a long-term
marriage to Allyson.
It's a wonderful marriage.
But as a work relationship, a
work husband/wife, I think it
could work out.
My only concern is I don't want
our work children to take your
full Stokes Mitchell name,
because "Brian Stokes Mitchell"
starts to sound like a serial
killer or an assassin.
Luckily, you're a star, so
that's just one of my concerns.
But, anyway, if you want to talk
after, I'll happily -- You know,
we could go to Jamba Juice or
something.
We'll do something together.
And the little one over here...
[ Laughter ]
You know, I was thinking I might
be ready for my Mrs. Robinson
phase.
>> Okay.
>> I don't know.
I'm not sure.
You're young.
How old are you?
>> 20.
>> 20. Okay, great.
I think it's legal, still.
You've voted.
You can't drink.
That's okay.
I'll drink for both of us, and
that'll be good.
So maybe we could get together
and I'll have two drinks, and
then I can not be arrested of
any untoward crimes.
That'll be good.
So I can get away with a clean
record.
And, Michael, I would happily,
happily take you on as my work
husband, but I think that you've
already established that you
order from a different side of
the menu, and I'm fine with
that.
So I'm gonna move on here.
I've already blown through the
band, so I can't do it.
It's a nightly routine.
So let's just keep singing.
♪ You don't buy the first pair
of shoes from the clerk ♪
♪ You don't buy perfume
till you spray it ♪
♪ You don't buy a clock till
you're sure it will work ♪
♪ You don't buy a piano till
you play it ♪
♪ A new vacuum cleaner may be
a sensation ♪
♪ But, ladies, always get
a free trial demonstration ♪
♪ So while I'm still young-esque
I'm sampling ♪
♪ I'm taking romance
in the smorgasbord way ♪
♪ From the last organ note,
love is all table d'hôte ♪
♪ So if you want the best to be
found, you've got to keep
shopping ♪
♪ Leisurely shopping
♪ Not buying
♪ Just shopping around
Okay.
[ Applause ]
Thank you.
>> That was fantastic!
You took a song that I have not
thought of in a long time and
made it absolutely fresh as a
daisy, which is what I love
about...
>> Thank you.
>> ...this material.
>> I know. It's timeless.
>> Yeah, it really is. Yeah.
Stokes, are you ready to do a
bowl-of-truth question?
>> Sure. Absolutely.
>> You look game. Okay.
>> Yeah, why not?
Let's see here. Okay.
Let's see.
I'm feeling that one.
That one went to my hand, so...
>> So magical.
>> ...let's go. Yes.
>> ♪ It went to my hand
Okay.
Oh, boy.
>> Uh-oh.
That scares me.
>> Which personal flaw of yours
can sometimes be your greatest
asset?
>> Good question.
>> That is a great question.
Probably my impatience.
I'm very impatient, I find, with
things.
I'm impatient with myself.
I'm impatient waiting in lines.
I'm impatient.
But as a result, I think it
makes me -- It keeps me active.
It makes me work.
It makes me work hard, because I
don't want to sit around, you
know, and wait for things to
happen.
It's like, "Okay, well, then
I'll do it."
>> You're always prepared,
right?
>> I try to be, yes, as much as
I can, but sometimes you can --
It's hard to be prepared, you
know, especially when you're
doing a lot of concerts where a
lot of things are happening at
the same time.
>> Are you prepared to sing this
song for us now?
>> We'll find out, won't we?
We'll know pretty soon.
>> Would you, please?
Ladies and gentlemen,
Brian Stokes Mitchell.
>> Yay.
[ Applause ]
>> ♪ The butcher, the baker,
the grocer, the clerk ♪
♪ Are secretly unhappy men,
because ♪
♪ The butcher, the baker,
the grocer, the clerk ♪
♪ Get paid for what they do
but no applause ♪
♪ They'd gladly bid their dreary
jobs goodbye ♪
♪ For anything theatrical
and why? ♪
♪ There's no business like show
business like no business I
know ♪
♪ Everything about it is
appealing ♪
♪ Everything the traffic will
allow ♪
♪ Nowhere could you get that
happy feeling while you are
stealing that extra bow ♪
♪ There's no people like
show people ♪
♪ They smile when they are low
♪ Even with a turkey
that you know will fold ♪
♪ You may be stranded out
in the cold ♪
♪ Still, you wouldn't change it
for a sack of gold ♪
♪ Let's go on with the show
♪ The costumes, the makeup,
the scenery, the props ♪
♪ The audience that lifts you
when you're down ♪
♪ The headaches, the heartaches,
the backaches, the flops ♪
♪ The sheriff who escorts you
out of town ♪
♪ The opening when your heart
beats like a drum ♪
♪ The closing when the customers
won't come ♪
♪ There's no business like show
business like no business I
know ♪
♪ You get word before the show
has started that your favorite
uncle died at dawn ♪
♪ Top of that, your pa and ma
have parted ♪
♪ You're brokenhearted
but you go on ♪
♪ There's no people like show
people ♪
♪ They don't run out of dough
♪ Angels come from everywhere
with lots of jack ♪
♪ And when you lose it,
there's no attack ♪
♪ Where would you get money
that you don't give back? ♪
♪ Let's go on with the show
♪ There's no business like show
business like no business I
know ♪
♪ Traveling through the country
is so thrilling ♪
♪ Standing out in front
on opening nights ♪
♪ Smiling as you watch the
theater filling ♪
♪ And there's your billing up
there in lights ♪
♪ There's no people like show
people ♪
♪ They smile when they are low
♪ Yesterday they told you
you would not go far ♪
♪ That night you opened
and there you are ♪
♪ Next day on your dressing room
they hung a star ♪
♪ Let's go on with the show
♪ Let's go
♪ On with the show
[ Cheers and applause ]
>> Very good.
Beautiful, fresh, delightful.
That was fun.
>> Thank you.
>> You know, when I found out
you were gonna sing that song,
and, incidentally, I sometimes
think I would trade it for a
sack of gold, but that's just...
[ Laughter ]
...that's just me.
[ Laughs ]
I found a number of years ago --
I bought, through some estate
sale, the effects of a
gentleman, a songwriter named
Sammy Lerner, and in his stack
of music there was a lyrics
sheet from Irving Berlin's
typewriter of extra lyrics he
wrote for
"No Business Like Show Business"
that is not in the
"Complete Lyrics of
Irving Berlin."
>> Crazy. Will you do them?
What are they?
>> I'm not gonna sing them, but
because of your association with
the Actor's Fund, I thought that
this particular set of words was
appropriate, and I thought I'd
share them with you, and then if
you'd like to sing them, I'll
sell this to you for a small
amount of --
[ Laughter ]
>> For a sack of gold.
>> Yeah, for a sack of gold.
>> Okay.
>> "There's no business like
show business like no business
I know.
Management complaining about the
grosses, censors telling you to
keep it clean, and the leading
man who's blowing doses of
halitosis in every scene."
[ Laughter ]
"There's no people like show
people, they smile when they are
low.
Shows are so expensive, they're
an awful nut.
Instead of closing, you take a
cut.
Everyone gets paid except the
actors, but let's go on with the
show."
Isn't that great?
>> That's fantastic.
>> That's fantastic. Wow.
[ Applause ]
>> Well, this young man who
joins us tonight -- We've
established that you're 20 years
old, Mr. Lucas DeBard.
>> My new boyfriend.
>> Yes.
>> Wait a second.
I thought I was your new
boyfriend.
>> It takes a village.
>> Oh, okay.
[ Laughter ]
>> Well, Lucas is a young man I
discovered through our
Great American Songbook
Foundation.
He was our Songbook Ambassador.
What year was that, Lucas?
>> 2015.
>> 2015.
Oh, the time flies.
And he is a marvelous vocalist,
too.
Right now you're at
Indiana University.
>> Yeah.
>> And he is an example of
taking an incredible talent and
just watching it grow and grow
and grow, and I would love it if
you would demonstrate your art
right now for us.
>> Yes.
>> Ladies and gentlemen,
Lucas DeBard.
[ Applause ]
>> ♪ The mailman passes by
♪ And I just wonder why he never
stops to ring my front
doorbell ♪
♪ There's not a single line from
that dear, old love of mine ♪
♪ No, not a word
since I last heard farewell ♪
♪ I'm gonna sit right down
and write myself a letter ♪
♪ And make believe it came from
you ♪
♪ I'm gonna write words
oh, so sweet ♪
♪ They're gonna knock me
off my feet ♪
♪ A lot of kisses
on the bottom ♪
♪ I'll be glad I got 'em
♪ I'm gonna smile and say,
"I hope you're feelin' better" ♪
♪ And close "With love"
the way you do ♪
♪ I'm gonna sit right down
and write myself a letter ♪
♪ And make believe it came from
you ♪
Now hang on a second really
quick.
I got to take a quick selfie
with my mentor and my new
girlfriend, in fact, so...
Oh.
So the reason I did that...
Sorry. I get distracted.
>> [ Laughs ]
>> I'm sorry, Michael.
These lyrics are just outdated,
aren't they?
>> Well, a little.
>> When was the last time you
guys have written a letter?
Really?
Have you guys?
'Cause I haven't.
But maybe I can explain a couple
ways that I do communicate and
make this song a little more
modern.
♪ I'm gonna sit right down
and tweet myself a Twitter ♪
♪ And make believe it came from
you ♪
♪ Oh, I'm gonna write words
oh, so small ♪
♪ You'll hardly know they're
words at all ♪
♪ A lot of hashtags
on the bottom ♪
♪ I'll be glad I got 'em
♪ I'm gonna tag your mom,
your dad, your friends,
and your brother ♪
♪ Maybe add a few emojis, too
♪ Oh, I'm gonna sit right down
and write myself a letter ♪
♪ And make believe it came
♪ Make believe it came
♪ I'm gonna make believe it came
from you ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
>> Fabulous!
Lucas DeBard.
Thank you so much, Lucas.
You know, when you were doing
that beautiful climax, which is
what the greatest songs give us
in one way or another -- either
a loud one or a quiet one -- I
was thinking -- One day I was
with Liza Minnelli and we were
hanging out, and she said,
"Michael, let's sing a duet
where we end it where we're
really in each other's faces."
[ Laughter ]
'Cause you see so often a
certain connection that comes
from that musical experience
that just -- It transcends.
I felt a feeling of
transcendence when you were
singing, and I think that's why
we all do it, right, because it
makes us feel otherworldly.
Ana, when you have 30 minutes of
free time, how do you fill it?
>> I stare at the wall.
I have two kids. I work.
I'm always -- I'm always doing
something.
I never, ever have free time.
So, yeah, I'm delighted to
center myself.
I also cook.
I cook a lot to wind down.
That's how I know I'm grounding.
In fact, I can tell that I'm
relaxed if I cook well.
That's how I know that I'm
mellowing out.
>> What if you think you're
cooking well, and the meal
turns out tasting terrible?
What does that mean?
>> I'm a narcissist.
[ Laughter ]
>> Well, since you're a
narcissist, would you please
introduce this next song?
>> Oh, how exciting!
>> [ Laughs ]
>> Yes. It's...
Well, you know, my first musical
theater role in seventh grade
was Annie Oakley, actually,
so it's from
"Annie Get Your Gun."
Yeah, so I listened to
Ethel Merman a lot in junior
high, and this is a song I came
to know through Ethel Merman.
But it's a Harold Arlen song,
you know, who wrote
"The Wizard of Oz," obviously.
It's not cheerful or positive,
though.
It's about Satan.
So, I like to --
>> Well, we can't wait.
>> Yeah, so I'm gonna sing about
Satan.
Why not?
[ Applause ]
[ "Satan's Li'l Lamb" starts ]
♪ When the wind goes a-whip,
whip, whip, whippin' 'round my
floor ♪
♪ And the rain goes a-rap, rap,
rap, rappin' at my door ♪
♪ Give me gin to forget
the sin, sin, sinner that I am ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm only
Satan's li'l lamb ♪
♪ Give me drums that'll start
that thump, thump, thumpin' in
my heart ♪
♪ Give me horns that'll blow,
blow, blow, blow the blues
apart ♪
♪ Give me thrills that'll break
the Ten Commandments with a
wham ♪
♪ 'Cause you know I'm Satan's
li'l lamb ♪
♪ For it's
>> ♪ Glory, glory
>> ♪ While I'm a-livin'
>> ♪ Purgatory
>> ♪ When I'm gone
♪ What a welcome I will be given
when my soul marches on ♪
♪ Hi-de-ho when I'm waiting
for that fatal telegram ♪
♪ When I'm gone, little daisies
won't be caring who I am ♪
♪ 'Cause it's heads
>> ♪ He wins
>> ♪ And it's tails
>> ♪ You lose
>> ♪ When you're Satan's
li'l baby lamb ♪
♪ When the wind goes a-whip,
whip, whip, whip, whippin'
'round my floor ♪
♪ And the rain goes a-rap, rap,
rap, rap, rappin' 'round my
door ♪
♪ Give me gin to forget the sin,
sin, sinner that I am ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm only
Satan's li'l lamb ♪
♪ Give me drums that'll start
that thump, thump, thumpin' in
my heart ♪
♪ Give me horns that'll blow,
blow, blow, blow, blow those
blues apart ♪
♪ Give me thrills that'll break
the Ten Commandments with a
wham ♪
♪ 'Cause you know I'm Satan's
li'l lamb ♪
♪ For it's glory, glory
while I'm a-livin' ♪
♪ Purgatory when I'm gone
♪ What a welcome I will be given
when my soul marches on ♪
♪ Hi-de-ho when I'm waiting
for that fatal telegram ♪
♪ When I'm gone, little daisies
won't be caring who I am ♪
♪ 'Cause it's heads you win
♪ And it's tails you lose
♪ When you're Satan's li'l
heartbreakin', no fakin',
Godforsaken lamb ♪
Help me, Jesus.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Thank you.
>> Wow!
>> One of the things I love
about Broadway is that it
constantly reinvents itself.
It's amazing how all of these
classic shows do have a life
that finds new generations,
young generations that embrace
the classic, and there is a
revival that is impending here
in New York right now, written
by a gentleman who I consider to
be one of the finest of
musical-theater writers.
His name is Jerry Herman.
Jerry Herman is about to
witness, as we all are, the
revival of his classic show
"Hello, Dolly!" and I am so
excited about that, because this
particular show and the song
from it is seminal in my
formative years, because when I
was 8 years old, it was my hit
at family bar mitzvahs and
weddings and brises and all of
that.
And so in a moment of
self-indulgence, I would like to
revisit my childhood and sing
for you what was my earliest
familial hit.
It was a hit record for a
gentleman that was a rather
unlikely pairing, but he truly
turned this song into a
standard, and if it weren't for
him and my hearing of it, I
might not be here tonight.
[ As Louis Armstrong ] ♪ Hello,
Dolly ♪
♪ This is Louis, Dolly
♪ It's so nice to have you back
where you belong ♪
♪ Za-za-za za, za, za, za
♪ You're lookin' swell, Dolly
♪ Yeah, I can tell, Dolly
♪ You're still glowin'
♪ You're still crowin'
♪ You're still goin' strong
Take it, Michael!
[ Normal voice ] Thank you,
Louis!
♪ I feel the room swayin'
while the band's playin' ♪
♪ One of your old favorite songs
from way back when ♪
♪ So take her wrap, fellas
♪ Find her an empty lap,
fellas ♪
♪ Dolly'll never go away
♪ Dolly'll never go away
♪ Dolly'll never go away
again ♪
Well, ladies and gentlemen, in
celebration of this revival of
"Hello, Dolly!" that is to star
Bette Midler and
David Hyde Pierce, Jerry has
given us some fresh lyrics for
the old gal that I'd like to
sing for you right now.
♪ Hello, Dolly
♪ Well, hello, Dolly
♪ It's so nice to have you
snuggling with me now ♪
♪ You've still got flair,
Dolly ♪
♪ Class to spare, Dolly
♪ You're enticing
♪ You're the icing
♪ You're the cat's meow
♪ You're razzmatazz, Dolly
♪ You're pizzazz, Dolly
♪ Simply add up to an
uncontested 10 ♪
♪ What shape you're in, Dolly
♪ Pity you're not a twin,
Dolly ♪
♪ Promise you'll never go away
again ♪
♪ Well, hello, Dolly
♪ Well, hello, Dolly
♪ You're a gin and tonic
when I'm feeling blah ♪
♪ Those fancy clothes, Dolly
♪ Goodness knows, Dolly
♪ You're still dashing
♪ You're still smashing
♪ You're still ooh-la-la
♪ Your brand of chic, Dolly
♪ Your mystique, Dolly
♪ Are enough to lure the lions
from the den ♪
♪ But bottom line, fellas
♪ Sorry the lady's mine,
fellas ♪
♪ And she promised she'll never
go away ♪
♪ Dolly'll never go away
♪ Dolly'll never go away
[ Tempo quickens ]
Tedd Firth and the band.
[ Applause ]
♪ Hello, Dolly
♪ Well, hello, Dolly
♪ Nice to have you back
where you belong ♪
♪ You're lookin' swell, Dolly
♪ I can tell, Dolly
♪ You're still glowin'
♪ You're still crowin'
♪ You're still goin' strong
♪ Feel the room swayin'
while that band keeps playin' ♪
♪ One of your old favorite songs
from way back when ♪
♪ Wow, wow, wow, fellas
♪ Look at the old girl now,
fellas ♪
♪ Dolly'll never go away
♪ Dolly'll never go away
♪ Dolly'll never go away
again ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
Hello, Dolly!
As my grandmother would say,
"Hello, Dolly!"
Thank you very much, ladies and
gentlemen.
Mr. Stokes -- Brain Stokes --
Would you indulge me, and would
you join me in a song?
Ladies and gentlemen,
Brain Stokes Mitchell.
I'm going to move to the piano.
[ Intro to "How Long Has This
Been Going On" plays ]
>> ♪ I could cry
salty tears ♪
♪ Where have I been
all these years? ♪
♪ Little wow, tell me now
♪ How long has this been
going on? ♪
♪ There were chills up my
spine ♪
♪ And some thrills I can't
define ♪
♪ Listen sweet, I'll repeat
♪ How long has this been
going on? ♪
♪ Ooh
♪ I feel that I could melt
♪ Into heaven I'm hurled
♪ I know how Columbus felt
finding another world ♪
♪ Kiss me once,
then once more ♪
♪ What a dunce I was before
♪ What a break
for heaven's sake ♪
♪ How long has this been
going on? ♪
♪ Ooh, I feel that I could
melt ♪
♪ Into heaven I'm hurled
♪ I know how Columbus felt
finding another world ♪
♪ Kiss me once,
then once more ♪
♪ What a dunce I was before
♪ What a break
for heaven's sake ♪
♪ How long has this been
going on? ♪
♪ How long has this been going
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-on? ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
Beautiful. [ Chuckles ]
That was good. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Michael Feinstein on the piano!
>> Brian Stokes Mitchell!
>> [ Laughs ]
>> Great. Thank you.
Stokes, would you talk about
your work with The Actor's Fund?
That's such an important part of
what you do.
I think it's amazing that you
have this incredible full-time
career as a performer, and then
you're doing something else
that's very important for all
people who are entertainers.
>> Yeah, thanks for so much for
asking, Michael.
I'm the chairman of the board of
a human-services organization
called The Actor's Fund, and
even though it's called
The Actor's Fund, it's not just
for actors.
It's for anybody who's made
their living in show business,
performing arts -- singers,
dancers, cameramen, musicians,
ticket takers, circus
performers -- in times of need
or crisis or transition,
because -- It's funny about that
lyric that you were reading
before.
People assume -- You know, when
they think of actors, they
think, "Oh, all actors are rich.
They're making scads of money.
They're fine, you know?
I see them in the movies.
What do they need help for?"
But the vast, vast majority of
actors are struggling, so it's a
really incredible
organization -- actorsfund.org,
if anybody wants to know more
about it.
I could talk forever, but I
won't.
>> Well, thank you for your
amazing work with this very
important organization.
We applaud you.
Well, I didn't expect for
tonight to be a tribute to
Louis Armstrong, but I'd love it
if you would sing a song that
also is associated with him.
>> Oh, okay. Yeah.
This is actually one of my
favorite numb-- If you ask me
what my favorite song was, it
may be this song, and one of the
things I love about this song
and a lot of the standards, the
older songs, is they say so much
with so little.
They're almost like haiku
poetry...
>> Mm-hmm.
>> ...you know, with very few
words.
It's usually less than 100
words a lot of songs have, and
they'll bring you a whole
different world.
So this is one of my favorites.
>> Yay.
Brain Stokes Mitchell.
[ Applause ]
[ Intro to
"What A Wonderful World" plays ]
>> ♪ I see trees of green,
red roses, too ♪
♪ I see them bloom
for me and for you ♪
♪ And I think to myself,
"What a wonderful world" ♪
♪ I see skies of blue
and clouds of white ♪
♪ The bright blessed day,
the dark sacred night ♪
♪ And I think to myself,
"What a wonderful world" ♪
♪ The colors of the rainbow
♪ So pretty in the sky
♪ Are also on the faces
of the people going by ♪
♪ I see friends shaking hands
saying, "How do you do?" ♪
♪ They're really saying,
"I love you" ♪
♪ I hear babies cry
♪ I watch them grow
♪ They'll learn much more
than I'll ever know ♪
♪ And I think to myself,
"What a wonderful world" ♪
[ Instrumental break ]
♪ The colors of the rainbow
♪ So pretty in the sky
♪ Are also on the faces
of the people passing by ♪
♪ I see friends shaking hands
saying, "How do you do?" ♪
♪ They're really saying,
"I love you" ♪
♪ I hear babies cry
♪ I watch them grow
♪ They'll learn much more
than I'll ever, ever know ♪
♪ And I think to myself,
"What a wonderful world" ♪
♪ And I think to myself,
"What a wonderful world" ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Intro to "'S Wonderful"
plays ]
>> ♪ Don't mind telling you
in my humble fash ♪
♪ That you thrill me through
with a tender pash ♪
♪ When you said you care,
imagine my emoshe ♪
♪ I swore then and there
permanent devoshe ♪
♪ From now on, lady, I insist
♪ For me, no other girls exist
♪ 'S wonderful
♪ 'S marvellous
♪ You should care for me
♪ 'S awful nice
♪ 'S paradise
♪ 'S what I long to see
♪ You've made my life
so glamorous ♪
♪ You can't blame me
for feeling amorous ♪
♪ Oh, 's wonderful
♪ 'S marvellous
♪ That you should care for me
♪ 'S wonderful
♪ 'S marvellous
♪ You should care for me
♪ 'S elegant
♪ 'S what I want
♪ 'S what I need to see
♪ But, oh, what's all this
dizziness? ♪
♪ I thought that I came here
on business ♪
♪ Oh, 's wonderful
♪ 'S Marvelous
♪ That you should care for me
♪ My dear, I feel so tingleish
♪ I'll even overlook
your Engelish ♪
♪ 'S exceptional
♪ 'S no bagatelle
♪ That you should care for me
♪ That you should care
for me-e-e-e-e-e ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
Thank you so much, ladies and
gentlemen.
Please help me thank our
incredible, incredible,
incredible "American Songbook"
trio -- Mr. Tedd Firth...
[ Applause ]
...Mark McLean...
[ Applause ]
...Mr. Phil Palombi.
Thank you, gentlemen.
You are stellar.
I am going to close out this
performance tonight with a song
that I like a lot.
It has lyrics by the great
Johnny Mercer, music by
Richard Whiting, and it needs
no further explanation.
♪ Once I was a crass,
callow youth ♪
I was.
♪ Then I found my
temple of truth ♪
♪ While the other kids were
hollering, "Hey, Mike,
come out and play" ♪
♪ I would watch old movies,
sitting through five films
a day ♪
♪ I was Mickey courting Judy
♪ I was Jimmy wooing Kim
♪ Should have seen
my Esther Williams ♪
♪ And I couldn't even swim
♪ Joan Crawford was
my ideal mother ♪
[ Light laughter ]
♪ Bing -- the perfect dad
♪ And I dreamed that I'd grow up
to be as tall as Alan Ladd ♪
And I did.
[ Laughter ]
♪ Well, now the tinsel's kind of
tarnished ♪
♪ And the guilt's begun to
peel ♪
♪ Still I'd like to thank that
town that made it all so real ♪
♪ Hooray for Hollywood
♪ That screwy, ballyhooey
Hollywood ♪
♪ Where any office boy or young
mechanic ♪
♪ Can be a panic with just a
good-looking pan ♪
♪ And any barmaid
can be a starmaid ♪
♪ If she dances with or without
a fan ♪
♪ Hooray for Hollywood
♪ Where you're terrific
if you're even good ♪
♪ Where anyone at all from
Raymond Massey to dear, old
Lassie is equally understood ♪
♪ Go out and try your luck
♪ You might be Donald Duck
♪ Hooray for Hollywood
♪ If the traffic there
should make you apoplectic ♪
♪ E.T. can take you ridin'
on the moon ♪
♪ Though the pace might often
get a little hectic ♪
♪ We can always take a trip
to Brigadoon ♪
♪ Though the smog is often heavy
and horrific ♪
♪ Don't you worry
♪ Don't you suffer
♪ Don't you fret
♪ There's a very lovely view
of the Pacific ♪
♪ On the "Beach Blanket Bingo"
set ♪
♪ Though the Cocoanut Grove
is gone now ♪
♪ Filled with memories
sentimental ♪
♪ Come along with me
and I swear you'll see ♪
♪ Fred and Ginger doing
"The Continental" ♪
♪ If the peep shows and the
pushers try to rope ya
on Sunset Boulevard ♪
♪ You can find the road
to utopia ♪
♪ Back in Paramount's backyard
♪ The clocks tick
♪ The years fly
♪ The scenes change
♪ The styles die
♪ The stars fade
♪ The film's gone
♪ The films end
♪ But the glow and the show
go on ♪
♪ Hooray for Hollywood
♪ That phony, super coney
Hollywood ♪
♪ They come from Pennsylvanias
and Ohios with bogus bios ♪
♪ To get their names up in
lights ♪
♪ All armed with photos
from local rotos ♪
♪ With their hair in ribbons
and legs in tights ♪
♪ Hooray for Hollywood
♪ You may be homely in your
neighborhood ♪
♪ But if you think that you can
be an actor, see Mr. Factor ♪
♪ He'd make a money look good!
♪ In only half an hour
you could be Tyrone Power ♪
♪ With a brand-new chin
you could be Errol Flynn ♪
♪ Don't sit around and weep,
you could be Meryl Streep ♪
♪ Give out a great big cheer,
you could be Richard Gere ♪
♪ Hooray for Hollywood
[ Cheers and applause ]
Thank you so much, ladies and
gentlemen.
Please help me thank our amazing
artists who joined us tonight --
Brian Stokes Mitchell,
Ana Gasteyer, Lucas DeBard.
Thank you so much.
Come and join me.
Come on, come on!
We love you.
We'll see you next time.
Good night, everybody!
>> The
"American Songbook at NJPAC"
series is presented in part
through the generous support
of...
Support for this broadcast is
provided by...
[ Cheers and applause ]
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