One of the joys of summer is outdoor concerts and it’s a wonderful way to hear and see some of your favorite Broadway performers. Last night The New York Pops, conducted by an ebullient Steven Reineke, performed at the West Side Tennis Stadium in Forest Hills. The guest performers were TV and Broadway stars Matthew Morrison and Megan Hilty.
Both referred to the event as Smash vs. Glee because of their musical television programs. Although undoubtedly many in the audience were attracted to the concert because of the shows, both performers have impressive Broadway credentials. Most recently Hilty was nominated for a Tony for her hysterical portrayal of sexy Vicki in Noises Off, and Morrison starred as J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland.
Most of the songs came from Broadway musicals. The first thing I did was go through the program and list the shows. Hilty and Morrison’s own shows were well represented. Morrison did medleys from Hairspray and Finding Neverland. Hilty did an adorable rendition of “Popular” from Wicked and invoked the spirit of Marilyn Monroe when she wore a slinky sequined dress for her song, “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.”