♪♪

♪♪

Man: Will you come a little bit stage right?

Man #2: Places, everyone.

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Whatever you want

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Whatever you need

♪ Anything you want done, baby

♪ I do it naturally

♪ Cause I'm every woman

♪ Every woman

♪ It's all in me

♪ It's all in me

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪ I'm every woman

♪ It's all in me

♪ Anything you want done, baby

♪ I do it naturally

♪ I'm every woman

♪ It's all in me

♪ I can read your thoughts right now ♪

♪ Every one, from A to Z

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa

♪ I can cast a spell

♪ See, but you can't tell

♪ Mix a special groove

♪ Put fire inside of you

♪ Anytime you feel danger or fear ♪

♪ Then instantly

♪ I will appear

♪ Yeah, 'cause

♪ I'm every woman

♪ It's all in me

♪ Anything you want done, baby

♪ I do it naturally

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ Oh, oh, oh

♪ Instinct take me to another flow ♪

♪ Every time I hear a brother call a girl a bitch or a ho ♪

♪ Tryna make a sister feel low? ♪

♪ You know all of that gots to go ♪

♪ Now everybody knows there's exceptions to this rule ♪

♪ Now I don't get mad, when we playin', it's cool ♪

♪ Now don't you be calling me out my name ♪

♪ I bring wrath to those who disrespect me like a dame ♪

♪ Say, I ain't bragging

♪ 'Cause I'm the one

♪ Just ask me

♪ Ooh, and it shall be done

♪ And don't bother

♪ To compare

♪ 'Cause I've got it

♪ Ohhhh, yeah!

♪ Every woman

♪ Every woman

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa

♪ Oh, yeah, I've got it

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ Got it, got it, got it, oh

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ I-I've got it

♪ Ohhhhhhhhhhhh

♪ I'm every woman

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa

♪ I'm every woman

♪ I'm every woman

♪ I'm every woman

♪ I'm every woman

♪ Hee, yeah, yeah ♪ I'm every woman ♪ Whoa, baby ♪h

♪ I'm every woman

♪ Hee, yeah, yeah ♪ I'm every woman ♪ Whoa, baby ♪h

♪ Hee, yeah, yeah ♪ I'm every woman ♪ Whoa, baby ♪h

♪ Ohhhhhhh

♪ I'm every woman

♪ Ohhhhhhh

♪ Ohhhhhhh

♪ I'm every woman, baby

♪ I'm every woman

♪ I'm every woman, baby

♪ I'm every woman, baby

♪ Yeah, ah, ahhhhhhhh

♪ I'm every woman ♪ Yeah! Whoa, baby

♪ I'm every woman

♪ Yeah, ah, ahhhhhhhh

♪ Yeah, ah, ahhhhhhhh

Y'all sing! ♪ Whoa, oh, oh

♪ I'm every woman ♪ I'm every woman because I'm every woman, baby ♪

♪ I'm every woman ♪ I'm every woman because I'm every -- Hey! ♪

♪ I'm every woman ♪ I'm every woman, baby, 'cause I'm every woman, baby ♪

♪ I'm every woman ♪ I'm every woman, yeah

♪ I'm every woman

[ Music ends ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

Y'all sing! ♪ Whoa, oh, oh

Good evening, everyone! [ Chuckles ]

Welcome to "Women of Color on Broadway"

live in the Great Hall.

My name is Victoria Velazquez, and I am the Co-Founder

and Executive Director of "Women of Color on Broadway."

Let's give another round of applause.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Alexia Sielo and the "Women of Color on Broadway" band

with that epic rendition of our unofficial theme song,

"I'm Every Woman."

Now, I feel like this is something very important

that I need to know.

Not only is Alexia the other Co-Founder

of "Women of Color on Broadway," that's my little sister.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughs ]

Over the years, numerous Black women,

Latina women, and Asian women have performed on Broadway

to share messages of love, despair, joy, hardships,

social inequalities, and political unrest.

While the list may sound exhausting,

the stories have barely begun to scratch the surface

ofour -- women of color -- our truth.

We are here not only to enjoy some of the best music

that's ever been performed on a Broadway stage,

but we are also here to bring awareness to our initiative,

"Women of Color on Broadway," to encourage more women of color

to write, direct, produce,

stage design, sound design, light design,

and perform not only in theaters on Broadway,

but in theaters all across the country,

showcase more women of color

for women of color and by women of color.

We want to create a movement, and we're starting off

by showing off the wonderful things

we've accomplished so far.

And now, we gonna get on with the show.

[ Laughs ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

Before the late 1890s, the image portrayed

of African Americans on Broadway

was a secondhand vision of Black life

created by European-American performers.

Stereotypical coon songs were popular

and blackface was common.

However, in the 1920s, shows like, "Shuffle Along"

gave our actors respectable Black roles in theater.

And while "Shuffle Along" was the first

hit Black Broadway musical,

it was the Gershwins' 1935 musical opera "Porgy and Bess"

that really revealed the power

of the Black female voice onstage.

The great soprano, Miss Anne Brown,

who was the first African-American vocalist

to attend Juilliard was the very first Bess at the age of 20.

[ Applause ]

Yeah, that deserves applause itself.

And many of you may remember the great Dorothy Dandridge

playing Bess in the 1959 movie version.

But she wasn't the one doing all the voiceovers.

Producers approached the great Leontyne Price,

the best best of them all, if you ask a lot of people,

including myself, to do the voiceovers.

But she iconically declined by saying, "No body...

[ Chuckles ] ...no voice."

So here to perform a very special rendition

of "Summertime" to pay tribute to Anne Brown, Leontyne Price,

and all the amazing Besses out there,

please welcome to the stage Kuhoo Verma and Vanisha Gould.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Summertime

♪ And the livin' is easy

♪ Fish are jumpin'

♪ And the cotton is high

♪ Oh, your daddy's rich

♪ And your mama's good lookin' ♪

♪ So hush, little baby

♪ Don't you cry

♪♪

♪♪

♪ One of these mornings

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ You're going to rise up singing ♪

♪ Oh, then you'll spread your wings ♪

♪ And you'll head towards the sky ♪

♪ But until that old morning

♪ There's nothing to harm you ♪

♪ Oh, with mommy and daddy standing right on by ♪

♪♪

♪ Summertime

Y'all sing! ♪ Whoa, oh, oh

Y'all sing! ♪ Whoa, oh, oh

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

♪ And the livin' is easy

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

[ Scatting ]

♪ Fish are jumpin' [ Scatting ]

♪ And the cotton is high [ Scatting ]

♪ Oh, your daddy's rich

[ Scatting ]

[ Scatting ]

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ And your mama's good lookin' ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪ So hush, little baby ♪ Oh, oh

♪ Don't you ♪ Baby

♪ Cry-y-y-y-y ♪ Mmm, mmm, mmm

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Music ends ]

[ Cheers and applause continues ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

In 1957, a Caribbean storm hit Broadway

when Chita Rivera stared as Anita

in the original Broadway production of "West Side Story."

Surprisingly, Chita Rivera was the only Latino in the cast,

even though half the characters were Latino.

But that's okay because Miss Chita held it down.

[ Laughter ]

She later went on and won two Tony Awards

for her leading roles in "Kiss of the Spider Woman"

and "The Rink."

So here to pay tribute to Chita Rivera,

ladies and gentlemen, I want you to give a warm welcome to

Aléna Watters!

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Puerto Rico

♪ You ugly island

♪ Island of tropic diseases

♪ Always the hurricanes blowing ♪

♪ Always the population growing ♪

♪ And the money owing

♪ And the babies crying

♪ And the bullets flying

♪ I like the island Manhattan

♪ Smoke on your pipe

♪ And put that in

♪♪

♪ I like to be in America!

♪ Okay by me in America!

♪ Everything free in America

♪ For a small fee in America

♪♪

♪ Sooner or later, you're certain to meet ♪

♪ In the bedroom, the parlor, or even the street ♪

♪ There's no place on Earth you're likely to miss ♪

♪ Her k-i-i-i-iss

♪ Sooner or later, in sunlight or gloom ♪

♪ When the red candles flicker, she'll walk in the room ♪

♪ And the curtains will shake and the fire will hiss ♪

♪ Here comes her kiss

♪ And the moon grows dimmer

♪ At the tide's low ebb

♪ And her black beads shimmer

♪ And you're aching to move but you're caught in the web ♪

♪ Of the Spider Woman

♪ In her velvet cape

♪ You can scream

♪ But you cannot escape

♪♪

♪ Come on, babe, why don't you paint the town? ♪

♪ And all that jazz

♪ I'm gonna rouge my knees and roll my stockings down ♪

♪ And all that jazz

♪ Start the car, I know a whoopee spot ♪

♪ Where the gin is cold, but the piano is hot ♪

♪ It's just a noisy hall where there's a nightly brawl ♪

♪ And all

♪ That

♪ Jazz

♪ Find a flask, we're playing fast and loose ♪

♪ And all that jazz

♪ Right up here is where I store the juice ♪

♪ And all that jazz

♪ Come on, babe, we're gonna brush the sky ♪

♪ I betcha Lucky Lindy never flew so high ♪

♪ Cause in the stratosphere how could he lend an ear ♪

♪ To all

♪ That

Tss-ts-ts-tss!

Ta-ts-ts-tss, ts-ts-tss-tss!

Tss-ts-ts-tss-ta-tah!

♪♪

♪ Whoa, I'm no one's wife, but

♪ Oh, I love my life

♪ And all

♪ That

♪ J-a-a-a-a-azz

♪ That jazz [ Music ends ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Give it up for Aléna!

And please be on the lookout for Aléna

in the upcoming Broadway musical "Mrs. Doubtfire."

[ Cheers and applause ] Yes.

What do Melba Moore and Stephanie Mills

have in common?

Besides being two of the greatest vocalists in R&B music

and besides having tremendous success

in Black Broadway musicals,

they are and will always be little women with big voices.

[ Crowd murmurs in agreement ]

Stephanie Mills, born and raised in Harlem...

[ Cheers and applause ]

...was a high-school student by day

and Broadway star by night.

Tonight, we have a very special guest here to sing the song

that made every little Black girl sing it

at their school talent shows.

[ Laughter ]

Please help me welcome, from "The Tina Turner Musical,"

Miss Kayla Davion!

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪ 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 trees bend into leaning ♪

♪ Suddenly, the snowflakes that fall have a meaning ♪

♪ Sprinklin' the scene

♪ Makes it all clean

♪ Mmmmmmm

♪ Maybe there's a chance

♪ For me to go back

♪ Now that I have some direction ♪

♪ It would sure be nice to be back home ♪

♪ Where there's love and affection ♪

♪ And just maybe I can convince time to slow up ♪

♪ Giving me enough time in my life to grow up ♪

♪ Time, be my friend

♪ Let me start again

♪ Suddenly, my world's gone and changed its face ♪

♪ But I still know where I'm going ♪

♪ I have had my mind spun around in space ♪

♪ And yet, I've watched it growing ♪

♪ Ohhhhhh

♪ If you are listening, God, please, don't make it hard ♪

♪ To know if we should believe the things that we see ♪

♪ Tell us, should we run away?

♪ Should we try to stay?

♪ Or would it be better just to let things be? ♪

♪ Living here in this brand-new world ♪

♪ Might be a fantasy

♪ But it taught me to love

♪ So it's real to me

♪ And I've learned that we must look inside our hearts ♪

♪ To find

♪ A world full of love

♪ Like yours

♪ Like m-i-i-i-i-ine

♪ Like

♪ H-o-o-o-o-ome

[ Music ends ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Kayla gonna make me throw my shoe at her.

[ Laughter ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Ladies and gentlemen, I am so honored and privileged

to introduce to you

our first recipient of the Woman of Color on Broadway

Purple Crystal Honorary Award,

Miss Melba Moore.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Daughter of saxophones

and Teddy Hill and singer Bonnie Davis,

Melba Moore was born into music in Harlem, New York.

A graduate from Montclair State University,

started off as a music-school teacher.

However, in the 1960s,

she started to sing background vocals for artists

like Aretha Franklin and Frank Sinatra.

In 1968, she was approached to audition

for the Broadway production of "Hair."

For the first year, she played the role of Dionne

but soon replaced Diane Keaton for the role of Sheila.

This made Melba Moore the first African-American

to replace a white actress in a lead on a Broadway musical,

transcending racial boundaries

in the entertainment industry for generations to come.

In 1970, Melba Moore

originated the role of Lutiebelle

in the hit Broadway musical "Purlie"

and won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

[ Applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

In 1978, she returned to Broadway

and was cast with the late, great Eartha Kitt

in the Broadway production of "Timbuktu!"

And then in 1987,

Melba Moore pushed the limitsagain

by being the first Black woman to play Fantine

in the musical "Les Mis" on Broadway.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Melba Moore, a three-time Grammy Award nominee,

has had tremendous success

in the recording, television, and film industries.

She had her own TV series,

"The Melba Moore and Clifton Davis Show,"

and was featured in the movie "The Fighting Temptations"

alongside Beyoncé and many others.

So, here to sing "I Got Love"

from her Tony Award-winning performance in "Purlie,"

ladies and gentlemen, please get on your feet

and welcome the incredible Miss Melba Moore!

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Praise the Lord, everybody.

♪♪

♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

♪ Oooh-ooh

♪♪

♪ He thinks I'm afraid

♪ Well, he oughta know I'm not

♪ Why should I be scared?

♪♪

♪ I'm safe

♪ And sound

♪♪

♪ Because

♪ Oh, I

♪ Got

♪♪

♪ Love

♪♪

♪ Ooh, I got love

♪ I got love

♪♪

♪ I got love, love, love, love

♪ Love, love, love, love, love! ♪

♪ Oh, I got love

[ Applause ]

♪ Hey, I got love

♪ Sweeter than a flower

♪ Growing by the hour

♪ I got love

♪ Yes, sunshine shine

♪ I got mine

♪ Carve it on a willow

♪ Talkin' to my pillow

♪ 'Cause I got love

♪ Every time

♪ I'm with him

♪ I know I'm a lucky girl

♪ For the first time in my life ♪

♪ I'm feeling like somebody in this world ♪

♪ So, bye-bye, blues

♪ Just feel I can't lose

♪ Got a jar of honey

♪ Every day is sunny

♪ 'Cause I got love

♪♪

♪ Ah, I got love

♪ I got love

♪ Said it's sweeter than a flower ♪

♪ Growing by the hour

♪ I got love

♪ Whoo, every time

♪ I'm with him

♪ I know I'm a lucky girl

♪ First time in my life

♪ I feel like somebody in this world ♪

♪ B-y-y-y-ye-bye, blues

♪ I can't lose

♪ Whoo, got a jar of honey

♪ Every day is sunny

♪ 'Cause I got love

♪ Said I got love

♪ Such sweet, sweet, sweet love ♪

♪ Oh, yeah

♪ I got love, love, love

♪ I got l-o-o-o-ove

♪ I got l-o-o-o-ove

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Besides all of the accomplishments and accolades

that I previously mentioned, Melba Moore is

one of the very first supporters

of our nonprofit organization.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Besides sharing all of our social-media posts,

Melba Moore was gracious enough

to attend our very first show last year,

adding early legitimacy to our organization.

So, for that and so many other reasons, Melba Moore,

you will always have a special place in our hearts.

Tonight, Women of Color on Broadway, Incorporated,

presents the Women of Color on Broadway

Purple Crystal Honorary Award to Melba Moore

for your lifetime achievements,

your contributions, and services

to women of color in musical theater.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

[ Rhythmic thumping ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

I'd like to say praise the Lord, everybody.

[ Cheers and applause ]

This is a brand-new day.

It's a day when women of color

can celebrate each other, celebrate ourselves.

This is so special.

We've come such a long way,

and we have such a long way to go,

but I'm so excited and honored and proud

to be a part of this special, special, special moment.

Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Speaking of "praise the Lord"...

we're gonna talk about Broadway going to church.

[ Laughs ]

In the 1970s and the 1980s,

church people started to come to Broadway

to hear their own music on the big stage.

Shows like "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God"

and "Children of Eden"

brought church buses to the theater.

While some shows weren't necessarily

about reaching heaven, you couldn't tell them church folk

they weren't hearing angelic voices from center stage.

And there's one voice in particular,

better than any other,

that exemplifies bringing church to the Broadway stage

than that of the original Dreamgirl herself,

Miss Jennifer Holliday.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Paying tribute to Miss Holliday in her own very special way

is another phenomenal singer.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

international recording artist --

and my mother --

Miss Barbara Douglas.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Good evening.

♪♪

♪ Look at me

♪ Look at me

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪ I am

♪ Changing

[ Applause ]

♪ Trying every way I can

♪ I am changing

♪ I'll be better than I am

♪ I'm trying

♪ To find a way

♪ To understand

♪ But I need you

♪ I need your help

♪ I am changing

♪ Seeing everything so clear

♪ I am ch-a-a-anging

♪ Gonna start right now, right here ♪

♪ I'm hoping

♪ To work it out

♪ And I know I can

♪ I need you

♪ I need a h-a-a-a-and

♪ All of my life

♪ I've been a fool

♪ Who said I could do it all alone, ha-ha ♪

♪ How many friends have I already lost? ♪

♪ How many dark nights have I known? ♪

♪ Walking down that long road

♪ There was nothing I could find ♪

♪ All those years of darkness

♪ Can make a person blind

♪ Now I can see

♪ That I am changing

♪ Seeing everything so clear

♪ I am, I am changing

♪ I'm gonna start right now, right here ♪

♪ But I need a friend

♪ To help me start

♪ All over again

♪ And, ooh, just fine

♪ I know it's gonna work out this time ♪

♪ Hey

♪ This time I am

♪ Ooooooh

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪ I am

♪ Ch-a-a-a-anging

♪ Oooooh-ooh

♪ I am changing

♪ Oooh-ooh-ooh

♪ I know how I'm gonna start again ♪

♪ Oooh

♪ And leave

♪ My past beh-i-i-i-ind

♪ I'll change my life

♪♪

♪ Oooooh

♪ Nothing's gonna stop

♪ M-e-e-e

♪ N-o-o-o-o-o-ow

Whoo!

♪ Oooh

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

I love my mama.

[ Laughter ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

In the 1980s, there seemed

to be a resurgence of jazzin musical.

With shows like "Ain't Misbehavin',"

"Sophisticated Ladies," and "Black and Blue,"

everyone was just shuffling along to the theater.

To pay tribute to the music that found its way

from Bourbon Street to Broadway

and to honor the great Phyllis Hyman

and all of the other extraordinary

theatrical jazz vocalists,

ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome back

Vanisha Gould.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪ Now, what good is melody

♪ What good is music

♪ If it ain't possessin' something sweet? ♪

♪ Oh, no, it ain't the melody

♪ No, it ain't the music

♪ That makes this tune complete ♪

♪ It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing ♪

♪ Doo-wah, doo-wah doo-wah, doo-wah ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪

♪ It don't mean a thing

♪ All you gotta do is swing

♪ Doo-wah, doo-wah doo-wah, doo-wah ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪

♪ It makes no difference if it's sweet or hot ♪

♪ Just give that rhythm everything ya got ♪

♪ Well, it don't mean a thing

♪ All you gotta do is swing

♪ Doo-wah, doo-wah doo-wah, doo-wah ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪

[ Scatting ]

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Scatting ]

♪♪

[ Laughs ]

♪ I said it makes no difference if it's sweet or hot ♪

♪ You gotta give that rhythm

♪ You better give that rhythm everything ya got ♪

♪ It don't mean a thing -♪ It don't mean a thing

-♪ Bay, all you gotta do is swing ♪

♪ Doo-wah, doo-wah doo-wah, doo-wah ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Next, we travel around the world and through time

in search of true love, of forbidden love.

We will journey through New York City

at the turn of the 20th century, to wartime in Vietnam,

and finally Ancient Egypt to tell the tale of love

that was doomed from the start.

First, singing music from "Ragtime,"

please welcome from "Once on This Island,"

Darlesia Cearcy.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪♪

♪ Oooh

♪ Ooh-ooh

♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-oooh

♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooooh

♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

♪ Oooh

♪♪

♪ Daddy played piano

♪ Played it very well

♪ Music from those hands

♪ Could catch you like a spell

♪ He could make you love him

♪ 'Fore the tune was done

♪ You have your daddy's hands

♪ You are your daddy's son

♪♪

♪ Ooh-ooh

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪

♪ Daddy never knew

♪ That you were on your way

♪ He had other ladies

♪ And other tunes to play

♪ When he up and left me

♪ I just up and run

♪ Only thing in my head

♪ You were your daddy's son

♪♪

♪ Couldn't hear no music

♪ Couldn't see no light

♪ Mama, she was frightened

♪ Crazy from the fright

♪ Tears without no comfort

♪ Screams without no sound

♪ Only darkness and pain

♪ The anger and pain

♪ The blood and the pain

♪ I buried my heart in the ground ♪

♪ In the ground

♪ When I buried you

♪ In the ground

♪♪

♪ Daddy played piano

♪ Bet he's playin' still

♪ Mama can't forget him

♪ Don't suppose I will

♪ God wants no excuses

♪ I have only one

♪ You had your daddy's hands

♪ Forgive me

♪ You were your daddy's

♪ Son

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

To perform music from "Miss Saigon" and "Aida,"

ladies and gentlemen, please welcome,

from "Miss Saigon," Lianah Sta. Ana...

and, again, from the musical "Tina Turner" is Kayla Davion.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪ I will not cry

♪ I will not think

♪ I'll do my dance

♪ I'll make them drink

♪ When I make love, it won't be me ♪

♪ And if they hurt me, I'll just close my eyes ♪

♪ And see

♪ The movie in my mind

♪ They are not nice, they're mostly noise ♪

♪ The movie in my mind

♪ They kill like men, they die like boys ♪

♪ The dream that fills my head ♪

♪ They give their cash, they keep their hearts ♪

♪ A man who will not kill

♪ But every night, again it starts ♪

♪ Who will fight for me instead ♪

-♪ He'll keep us fear at bay -♪ He'll keep us safe all day

♪ So no one comes at night

♪ To blow the dream away

♪ Dream

♪ The dream I have to find

♪ The movie in my mind ♪

[ Segue into "Easy As Life" plays ]

♪ All I have to do is forget how much I love him ♪

♪♪

♪ All I have to do is put my longing to one side ♪

♪ Tell myself that love's an ever-changing situation ♪

♪♪

♪ The passion would have cooled ♪

♪ And all the magic would have died ♪

♪ It's easy

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪

♪♪

♪ Until I think about him

♪ As he was when I last touched him ♪

♪ And how he would have been ♪

♪ Were I to be with him today ♪

♪ Those very rare occasions don't let up ♪

♪ They keep on coming

♪ All I ever wanted

♪ And I'm throwing it away

♪ It's easy

♪ It's easy as life

♪ It's easy as life

♪ It's easy

♪ As l-i-i-i-ife

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

It is now time for our second

Women of Color on Broadway Purple Crystal Honorary Award

presentation of the evening.

With over 30 years of staying power on the Broadway stage,

a Tony Award, an Emmy Award, a SAG Award,

and raising two beautiful daughters,

LaChanze, this is for you.

LaChanze, which is Creole for "one who is charmed,"

moved from Florida to Connecticut

when her mother recognized her passion for performance.

She studied theater and dance

at the University of Arts in Philadelphia

and soon booked her first show

as a tap dancer in the musical "Uptown...It's Hot!"

That summer job turned into her first professional gig

when it premiered on Broadway in 1986.

Following the success of her Broadway debut,

LaChanze went on to understudy

another amazing woman of color on Broadway,

the infamous Sheryl Lee Ralph,

in the Tony Award-winning

Broadway production of "Dreamgirls."

Three years later,

LaChanze found Broadway fame as Ti Moune

in the 1990 production of "Once on This Island."

She was nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Following "Once on This Island," she continued working

in on and off Broadway shows

like "Company, "Ragtime,"

"The Vagina Monologues,"

"Funny Girl," and "If/Then."

LaChanze once said that the best thing about theater

is that every time we got on stage, the show is new.

With all her success on Broadway,

she expanded her career into film and television.

She was featured in Disney's "Hercules"

as one of the single muses

and made guest appearances in television shows

like "Law & Order: SVU,"

"Sex and the City," and "New York Undercover."

In 2006, she returned to Broadway

and won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical

for her portrayal of Celie in "The Color Purple."

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Following "The Color Purple,"

LaChanze returned to film and television

with PBS's "Handel's Messiah Rocks: A Joyful Noise"

and the award-winning film "The Help."

-Ooh. -Yeah. Fun fact, right?

[ Laughs ]

Almost 30 years later,

LaChanze is still headlining Broadway marquees,

as she just finished starring

in the holiday classic "A Christmas Carol."

LaChanze also made Broadway history

with her daughter, Celia Rose Gooding,

by being the first African-American

mother-daughter duo

to both star in leading roles on Broadway at the same time.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Ladies and gentlemen, here to help pay tribute to LaChanze,

please welcome LaChanze's costar

from the musical "Secret Life of Bees,"

Miss Anastacia McCleskey.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪♪

♪ A stranger in white

♪ In a car

♪ Going somewhere

♪ Going far

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪ 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, god, oh, gods, are you there? ♪

♪ What must I do to get you to look down and give in? ♪

♪ Oh, god, 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 [ Laughs ]

♪♪

♪ Mama's contented, and Tonton accepts what he gets ♪

♪ Ooh-la, ooh-la, ooh-la, ooh-la ♪

♪ Happy for tea in their cups and no holes in their nets ♪

♪ Ooh-la, ooh-la, ooh-la, ooh-la ♪

♪ Happy to have what they have and to stay where they are ♪

♪ Ooh-la, ooh-la, ooh-la, ooh-la ♪

♪ They never even look up at the sound of a car ♪

♪ Ooh-la, ooh-la, ooh-la, ooh-la ♪

♪ 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 dr-i-i-i-ive

♪♪

♪ Oh, gods, oh, gods

♪ Please be there

♪ Don't you remember

♪ Your little Ti Moune from 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 ♪

♪ Ooh-la, ooh-la, ooh-la, ooh-la ♪

♪ 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 ♪

♪ One small girl

♪ One small girl

♪ Waiting for life

♪ One small girl

♪ To beg-i-i-i-in

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Unfortunately, LaChanze cannot be here with us tonight

because she is filming a television series in Georgia.

However, her daughter, Celia Rose Gooding,

is here to accept the award on her behalf.

-[ Cheers and applause ] -Mm-hmm.

So tonight, Women of Color on Broadway, Incorporated,

presents the Women of Color on Broadway

Purple Crystal Honorary Award to LaChanze

for her lifetime achievements, contributions, and services

to women of color in musical theater.

Please welcome Celia Rose Gooding.

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Drumsticks tapping ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Hi, everyone. My mother is heartbroken

that she cannot be here tonight,

but she gave me a letter, so I will read it to you.

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

This is from her. [ Chuckles ]

"I am distraught that I cannot be here this evening

to accept this tremendous honor.

When I learned that I was being honored

by the Women of Color on Broadway, my heart melted.

And to be honored alongside one of my idols,

the legendary Melba Moore, makes this experience richer

than I could have ever imagined.

As a woman of color, I have been fortunate enough

to create roles that have gone on to inspire young actors.

It always fills me with pride and gratitude

when I see the hope in the faces of Brown girls

who say because of me

they have faith that they can, too, follow this path.

In turn, they have encouraged me to continue pursuing roles

that represent the strength, vulnerability,

and resilience of the Black woman.

I would like to thank

Victoria Velazquez and Alexia Sielo

and everyone at Woman of Color on Broadway

for this esteemed recognition.

Thank you from the center of my heart."

My mom, LaChanze.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪♪

Hey, hey! Okay, so, ladies and gentlemen,

we have a little surprise for you.

Please welcome the background singers

performing "The Schuyler Sisters."

♪♪

-♪ Angelica -♪ Work, work

-♪ Eliza -♪ And Peggy

-♪ The Schuyler sisters -♪ Angelica

-♪ Peggy -♪ Eliza

♪ Work

♪ Daddy says to be home by sundown ♪

♪ Daddy doesn't need to know

♪ Daddy says not to go downtown ♪

♪ Like I said, you're free to go ♪

♪ But look around, look around ♪

♪ The Revolution's happening

♪ In New York

♪ New York

♪ Angelica

♪ Work

♪ It's bad enough Daddy wants to go to war ♪

♪ People shouting in the square ♪

♪ It's bad enough there'll be violence on our shore ♪

♪ New ideas in the air

♪ Look around, look around

♪ Angelica, remind me what we're looking for ♪

♪ She's lookin' for me!

♪ Eliza, I'm lookin' for a mind at ♪

♪ Work, work

♪ I'm lookin' for a mind at

♪ Work, work

♪ I'm lookin' for a mind at

♪ Work, work

♪ Whoa, whoa

♪ Whoa, whoa, work

Whoo!

♪ There's nothin' like summer in the city ♪

♪ Someone lookin' fresh next to someone lookin' pretty ♪

♪ Excuse me, miss, I know it sounds funny ♪

♪ But your perfume smells like your daddy's got money ♪

♪ Why you slummin' in the city in your sexy heels? ♪

♪ You searchin' for an urchin who can give you ideals? ♪

-Burr, you disgust me. -Ah, so you've discussed me.

I'm a trust-fund baby. You can trust me.

♪ I've been reading "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine ♪

♪ So men say that I'm intense or I'm insane ♪

♪ You want a revolution? I want a revelation ♪

♪ So listen to my declaration ♪

♪ "We hold these truths to be self-evident ♪

♪ That all men are created equal" ♪

And when I meet Thomas Jefferson ♪ Unh ♪ Unh

♪ I'm-a compel him to include women in the sequel ♪

Work!

♪ Look around, look around

♪ At how lucky we are to be alive right now ♪

♪ Look around, look around

♪ How lucky we are to be alive right now ♪

♪ History is happening in Manhattan ♪

♪ And we just happen to be

♪ In the greatest city in the world ♪

♪ In the greatest city in the world ♪

♪ 'Cause I've been reading "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine ♪

♪ So men say that I'm intense or I'm insane ♪

♪ You want a revolution? I want a revelation ♪

♪ So listen to my declaration ♪

♪ "We hold these truths to be self-evident ♪

♪ That all men are created equal" ♪

♪ Look around, look around

♪ How lucky we are to be alive right now ♪

♪ History is happening in Manhattan ♪

♪ And we just happen to be

♪ In the greatest city in the world ♪

♪ In the greatest city in the world ♪

♪ Angelica

-♪ Eliza -♪ And Peggy

♪ The Schuyler sisters

♪ We're lookin' for a mind at work, hey ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, ooh

♪ In the greatest city, in the greatest city ♪

♪ In the w-o-o-o-o-orld

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Now, as many of you know, Amber Gray was scheduled

to perform here with us tonight.

Unfortunately, she called and she said

she couldn't be here because she felt sick.

I don't know if you guys know, but there's been a bug going around.

I just recovered from a really bad cold.

So we're wishing her a speedy recovery.

But just like any old other Broadway musical,

when the lead falls out, who do you call?

Their understudy.

Guess who we have!

Ladies and gentlemen,

please welcome, from "Hadestown,"

Kimberly Marable.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

I don't know about you boys.

♪ If you're like me

♪ Then hanging around this old manhole ♪

♪ Is bringing you down

♪ Six feet under getting under your skin ♪

♪ Cabin fever is a-settin' in

♪ You're stir-crazy, stuck in a rut ♪

♪ You could use a little pick-me-up ♪

♪ I can give you what it is you crave ♪

♪ A little something from the good old days ♪

♪ I got the wind right here in a jar ♪

♪ I got the rain on tap at the bar ♪

♪ I got sunshine up on a shelf

♪ Allow me to introduce myself

♪ Brother, what's my name?

♪ My name is

♪ Our Lady of the Underground ♪

♪ Brother, what's my name? ♪

♪ Our Lady of Ways, Our Lady of Means ♪

Tell 'em, y'all.

♪ Brother, what's my name?

♪ My name is

♪ Our Lady of the Upside Down ♪

Whoo!

♪ Want to know my name?

♪ I'll tell you my name

♪ Persephone

-Whoo! -Come on, sis!

♪♪

Whew!

♪♪

Look at that girl.

♪♪

Come here, brother! Let me guess.

♪ It's the little things you miss ♪

♪ Spring flowers, autumn leaves ♪

♪ Ask me, brother, and you shall receive ♪

♪ Or maybe these just ain't enough ♪

♪ Maybe you're looking for some stronger stuff ♪

♪ I got a sight for the sorest eye ♪

♪ When was the last time you saw the sky? ♪

♪ Wipe away your tears, brother ♪

♪ Brother, I know how you feel

♪ I can see you're blinded by the sadness of it all ♪

♪ But look a little closer

♪ And everything will be revealed ♪

♪ Look a little closer and

♪ There's a crack in the w-a-a-a-all ♪

♪♪

♪♪

Ain't this band bad?

Ain't they bad, y'all?!

[ Cheers and applause ]

Ladies and gentlemen, we got Cynthia Meng on the keys.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Come on. Give it up.

We got Laura Dadap on the cello.

[ Cheers and applause ]

We got Molly Goldman on the violin.

[ Cheers and applause ]

We got Vita Cleveland on the drums.

[ Cheers and applause ]

We got Jacinta Clusellas on the guitar.

[ Cheers and applause ]

It's so nice, I gotta say it twice --

we got Cynthia Meng on the keys, y'all!

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

You want stars?!

♪ I got a skyful

♪ Put a quarter in the slot, you'll get an eyeful ♪

♪ You want the moon? Yeah, I got her, too ♪

♪ She's right here waiting in my pay-per-view ♪

♪ How long's it been?

♪ A little moonshine ain't no sin ♪

♪ Tell my husband to take his time ♪

♪ What the boss don't know, the boss won't mind ♪

♪♪

♪♪

Yeah...

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

I just have to say before we move on

that I truly appreciate Kimberly

for coming through at the last minute tonight.

Give her a round of applause. [ Cheers and applause ]

As you know, show time was 7:00.

We called her at 5:30. [ Laughs ]

Asking her to come through. No rehearsals. No sound checks.

She just called, and she said, "Okay.'

And -- Yo, give her another round of applause, please.

Thank you so much.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

As world music starts

to make its presence known to the Broadway stage,

one of the objectives supported in our mission,

more roles for women of different shades,

are being created.

Another one of our objectives

is to create platforms to afford women of color

the opportunities to gain experience and exposure

in real-life musical-theater situations.

So tonight, we'll address both.

First, from the Tony Award-winning musical

"The Band's Visit,"

we have Kuhoo Verma performing "Omar Sharif."

Immediately following, we will practice what we preach

by giving two current musical-theater college students

a chance of a lifetime

by performing a song from "The Prince of Egypt."

This is a very exciting moment for us all.

But first, please help me welcome back Miss Kuhoo Verma.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Umm Kulthum

♪ And Omar Sharif

♪ Came floating on a jasmine wind ♪

♪ From the west, from the south ♪

♪ Honey in my ear

♪ Spice in my mouth

♪♪

♪ Dark and thrilling

♪ Strange and sweet

♪ Cleopatra and the handsome thief ♪

♪ And they floated in on a jasmine wind ♪

♪ Umm Kulthum

♪ And Omar Sharif

♪ And they floated in on a jasmine wind ♪

♪ Umm Kulthum

♪ And Omar Sharif

♪ Friday evening

♪ Omar Sharif

♪ In black and white and blurry through tears ♪

♪ My mother and I would sit there in a trance ♪

♪ Pharaoh of marrow, the pharaoh of romance ♪

♪ Sunday morning

♪ Umm Kulthum

♪ Her voice would fill our living room ♪

♪ The ship from Egypt always came ♪

♪ Sailing in on radio waves

♪ And the jasmine wind

♪ Deep perfume

♪ Umm Kulthum

♪ And the living room becomes a garden ♪

♪ And the TV set becomes a fountain ♪

♪ And the music flows in the garden ♪

♪ And everything grows

♪ Umm Kulthum

♪ And Omar Sharif

♪ Came floating on a lemon leaf ♪

♪ In the jasmine wind flying in ♪

♪ Umm Kulthum

♪ And Omar Sharif

♪ And we danced with them on a jasmine-scented wind ♪

♪ Umm Kulthum

♪ And Omar Sharif

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm very excited to present to you,

from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy...

[ Scattered cheers ]

Miss Serrin Joy...

and from the Professional Conservatory

of Musical Theater at New York Film Academy,

all the way from Japan, Miisha Shimizu.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Many nights we prayed

♪ With no proof anyone could hear ♪

♪ In our hearts a hope for a song ♪

♪ We barely understood

♪ Now, we are not afraid

♪ Although we know there's much to fear ♪

♪ We were moving mountains

♪ Long before we knew we could ♪

♪ There can be miracles

♪ When you believe

♪ Though hope is frail

♪ It's hard to kill

♪ Who knows what miracles

♪ You can achieve

♪ When you believe

♪ Somehow you will

♪ You will when you believe ♪

♪ Ye-a-a-a-ah

♪ In this time of fear

♪ When prayer so often proves in vain ♪

♪ Hope seems like the summer birds ♪

♪ Too swiftly flown away

♪ Yet now I'm standing here ♪

♪ My heart so full, I can't explain ♪

♪ Seeking faith and speaking words ♪

♪ I never thought I'd say

♪ There can be miracles

♪ When you believe

♪ When you believe

♪ Though hope is frail

♪ It's hard to kill

♪ Who knows what miracles

♪ You can achieve

♪ You can achieve

♪ When you believe

♪ Somehow you will

♪ You will when you believe ♪

♪♪

♪ They don't always happen when you ♪

♪ Ask

♪ And it's easy to give in to your fear ♪

♪ But when you're blinded by your pain ♪

♪ Can't see your way clear through the rain ♪

♪ A small but still resilient voice ♪

♪ Says hope is very near

♪ Ohhhhh

♪ There can be miracles

♪ When you believe

-♪ Though hope is frail -♪ Hope is frail

♪ It's hard to kill

♪ Ohh-ohh-ohh

-♪ Who knows what miracles -♪ Who knows what miracles

-♪ You can achieve -♪ You can achieve

-♪ When you believe -♪ When you believe

♪ Somehow you will

♪ Somehow you will

♪ Now you will

♪ Now you will

♪ You will when you

♪ Believe

♪ You will when you

♪ You will when you

♪ Believe

♪ Just believe

♪ Just believe

♪ You will when you

♪ Beli-e-e-e-eve

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

Velazquez: Give it up for the babies!

[ Laughs ]

Thank you, Serrin and Miisha.

We're so excited for your journey in musical theater.

I just want to let you know they're both 18 years old

and just started school.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Yeah, so we are so excited

to see what their future looks like.

And now we're gonna go to one of my favorite topics

about musical theater/Broadway --

revivals.

Some shows are so good, you got to do them again...

and again and again.

For example, "The Color Purple."

[ Cheers and applause ]

Besides having two very successful runs on Broadway,

the show really has great roles for women of color,

especially the lead role, Celie.

The lead role of Celie won two Tony Awards.

One for LaChanze in 2006,

any the other for Cynthia Erivo in 2016.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Oprah knows a good investment when she sees one.

So now please help me welcome back

my little sister and co-founder

of Women of Color on Broadway,

with the amazing Genesis Collado,

as they perform "What About Love?"

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Is that me

♪ Who's floating away?

♪♪

♪ Lifted up to the clouds

♪ By a kiss

♪ Never felt nothing like this ♪

♪♪

♪ Is that me

♪ I don't recognize?

♪ Love's the one thing

♪ I knew all about

♪ I had it all figured out ♪

♪ Hmm-mm-mm

♪ But what about trust?

♪ What about trust?

♪ What about tenderness?

♪ Tenderness

♪ What about tears 'cause I'm happy? ♪

♪ What about wings when I fall? ♪

♪ I want you to be a story for me ♪

♪ That I can believe in forever ♪

♪ And what about

♪ What about

♪ Love?

♪♪

♪ Will you be

♪ My light in the storm?

♪ Will I see a new world

♪ In your eyes?

♪ With you, my whole spirit rise ♪

♪ Hmm-mm-mm-mm

♪ And what about hope?

♪ What about hope?

[ Laughs ]

♪ What about joy?

♪ What about joy?

♪ What about tears 'cause I'm happy? ♪

♪ What about wings when I fall? ♪

♪ I want you to be a story for me ♪

♪ That I can believe in forever ♪

♪ And what about

♪ What about

♪ What about l-o-o-o-ove?

♪ What about

♪ What about

♪ What about

♪ What about

♪ What about love?

♪ You and me

♪ You and

♪ You and me

♪ Love

♪ What about

♪ What about

♪ L-o-o-o-ove?

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

One of the biggest -- Like,the biggest --

The most important thing about this movement, this foundation,

this program is to educate and inform young women of color

about what it really is like for people like us in this industry.

And I found that out when I entered the industry.

And I'm so happy that my sister and I,

we were able to just team up and be inspired

from her watching my experience and her --

We're just talking about the whole thing. And I'm so happy.

I want to say thank you to her for being an amazing partner

and a wonderful sister in this process.

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Drumsticks tapping ]

Yes.

So, now, to further practice what we preach,

we are going to end the show with a new musical

called "Medusa."

Audience member: Whoo! Now -- Yes!

That had to be the writers who are in the room tonight.

Yes. [ Laughs ]

Now, it's written by Rachel Dean and Wes Braver.

[ Cheers and applause ]

"Medusa" is about a young woman

who tries to regain control of her fate

after being attacked by a Greek god.

"Hold It High" is a song that's sung by Medusa

when she decides to stand up for herself

against Greek gods and mortals alike.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is "Hold It High."

♪♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

-♪ Why did you drink so much? -♪ Why did you wear so little?

-♪ You went where with him? -♪ Did he drive you there?

♪ Could you not fight him off? ♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ Do you think they would be able to do anything ♪

♪ Even if they believed you? ♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ There's a version

♪ Where I let them keep on goin' ♪

♪ There's a version

♪ Where I answer every question ♪

♪ There's a version

♪ Where I take them line by line ♪

♪ And tell them what it's like

♪ And how it feels and where it hurts ♪

♪♪

♪ But not in this life

♪ 'Cause I don't have words to spell it out ♪

♪ I won't waste time

♪ Explaining how I'm just like them ♪

♪ I won't give up

♪ I will stay mad until I die

♪ Until he's gone, I will be holding my head high ♪

♪ I will hold my head up high

♪ Hold it high

♪ There's a version

♪ Where my goddess really hears me ♪

♪ There's a version

♪ Where she springs to my defense now ♪

♪ But in that version

♪ Maybe she's just like my sisters ♪

♪ And it's up to me to make them see ♪

♪ What they try not to see

♪ But not in this life

♪ It isn't my job to cure the willfully blind ♪

♪ All I can do is say what I know is true in my mind ♪

♪ I won't shut up

♪ I will stay mad until I die

♪ And when I die, I will be holding my head high ♪

♪ I will hold my head up high ♪

♪ Higher than the lies, higher than the doubt, higher ♪

♪ Hold my head up high

♪ Higher than the tide, higher than the fear, higher ♪

♪ Hold it h-i-i-i-i-igh

♪ Holt it high

♪ Break the waves

♪ Right hand on the spear

♪ Other hand holding high

♪ And then swear that it's true, and he'll have to appear ♪

♪ Yes, sisters, hold your head up high ♪

♪ Higher than the lies, higher than the doubt, higher ♪

♪ Higher than the tide, higher than the fear, higher ♪

♪ Hold it high

-♪ Hold your head up high -♪ Hold it high

♪ The arc toward justice is long and slow ♪

♪ And the price for most is more than they can pay ♪

♪ But those who stand deserve a hand ♪

♪ So that the arc can bend

♪ I'll make sure the stories have its day ♪

♪ The arc of justice was more like a snake ♪

♪ Hold it high

♪ Hold it h-i-i-i-igh

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

[ Cheers and applause continue ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

[ Cheers and applause continue ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]

♪♪

♪ I'm every woman

♪ I'm every woman, baby

♪ I'm every woman

♪ Yeah, ah, ahhhhhhhh

♪ Yeah! Whoa, baby ♪ I'm every woman

♪ I'm every woman

Y'all sing! ♪ Whoa, oh, oh

♪ I'm every woman because I'm every woman, baby ♪ ♪ I'm every woman

♪ I'm every woman because I'm every -- Hey! ♪ ♪ I'm every woman

♪ I'm every woman, baby, 'cause I'm every woman, baby ♪ ♪ I'm every woman

♪ I'm every woman, yeah ♪ I'm every woman

♪ I'm every woman

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ Oh, oh, oh [ Scatting ]