>> ♪ 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 ]