By Eyal Solomon, Theater Pizzazz Publisher and Editor…
A magical peformance honoring one of the greatest composers of our time
The New York Pops marked its 43rd Birthday Gala with a program honoring the great Stephen Schwartz, whose popularity and ubiquity – Pippin, Pocahontas, Wicked and so many more – have never diminished the strength of his work. Led by music director Steven Reineke, the program wisely covered the breadth of Mr. Schwartz’s career. I can only imagine how hard it was to choose which songs of Mr. Schwartz’s to leave out.
The gala also functioned as the primary fundraiser for the New York Pops’ music education programs, and that purpose was visible throughout the evening. Students filled the upper level of the hall through an access initiative that integrates young audiences into the main event rather than separating them. Some middle school students even performed during a sequence from Wicked, and scholarships for continued music education were awarded.
The performances progressed from high to even higher. Shoshana Bean delivered “Bless the Lord” with steady control, building energy without strain. Ben Platt approached “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin with restraint, soaring only at the close of the song. Tituss Burgess performed “Meadowlark” from The Baker’s Wife, one of Schwartz’s more challenging tunes, with strong vocal command. Mary Testa’s “It’s an Art” relied on timing and articulation rather than embellishment. Lindsay Mendez kept “Stranger to the Rain” from Children of Eden grounded, letting the structure of the song shape its emotional effect.
Schwartz’s Disney music was represented by Judy Kuhn, the original soundtrack performer of “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas, who sang with tenderness and sincerity, and by Kyle Dean Massey’s moving “Out There” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Aisha Jackson and Jasmine Amy Rogers created magic in “When You Believe,” blending without competing for prominence. Three-time Tony nominee Sherie Rene Scott’s “This Is Not the Way” from The Queen of Versailles brought experience to the fore.
Wicked, rightfully so, received its own segment. Brittney Johnson, who played Glinda on Broadway, performed “Popular” exquisitely, and Mary Kate Morrissey built “Defying Gravity” gradually, joined by a student ensemble that greatly enhanced the performance. The only thing that could be added to the music of Mr. Schwartz at this point was the man himself, who joined for the closing portion. He joined Michael McCorry Rose for “No Place Like Home” from Wicked and “Beautiful” from Godspell, and later returned to join Johnson and Morrissey in “For Good.” The evening ended with the education program’s students performing “Dancing Through Life,” bringing another great performance to a close.
The New York Pops’ 43rd Birthday Gala – Changed for Good: A Celebration of Stephan Schwartz, Carnegie Hall April 27, 2026
Photos: Rebecca J Michelson
