The Broadway Performances - 2015 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

School of Rock guitar float - 2015 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade brings out my inner child in a way that perhaps only Disney can unleash. Each year I head to the UWS, find a cozy spot along the parade route and coo at the floats along with the 2 to 3 million people who attend the parade. 

This means that I miss the Broadway performances, which take place in front of Macy's Herald Square. According to Pia Catton's WSJ article - Broadway Shows Battle to Perform During Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade - performing in the parade's five or so Broadway slots is coveted by Broadway producers. The three minute segments cost producers about $50K but they are well worth it to reach the 23 million households that watch the parade.  

Thanks to youtube, let's check out the lucky shows that performed at this year's parade: On Your Feet!, The King and I, Finding Neverland, Something Rotten,and Fiddler on the Roof. Also, let's get a preview of The Wiz Live.

Quote From DL Coburn's "The Gin Game"

Fonsia in DL Coburn's The Gin Game:

I fixed his wagon. He came home one night with half a load on...and I had everything he owned right on the street. I mean right on the street! That was the end of that!

I Spent Halloween Night at the Apollo's New Orleans Jazz Masquerade Featuring Tony Award Winner Dee Dee Bridgewater

Last night, I had a banging time at the New Orleans Jazz Masquerade. Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra set the Apollo Theater on fire. They regaled the house with New Orleans jazz classics as well as tunes from their new album Dee Dee's Feathers. After the concert, I remained in the Apollo and listened to DJ Olivia Dope spin a few beats. Then I was fortunate to be admitted to the sold out afterparty in the Apollo Music Cafe, where I boogied to the funky Brass-A-Holics. To end the evening, Dee Dee Bridgewater joined the Brass-A-Holics and took us home. 

What an evening!

But I am not here to brag about my fun-filled Halloween night. 

Throughout the evening, Irvin Mayfield repeatedly introduced Dee Dee Bridgewater as three time Grammy Award winner as well as a Tony winner. Each time, he said that, I paused and scratched my head because I could not recall for what performance the super talented Jazz singer won a Tony. So, with my extra hour from the end of Daylight Savings time, I am hitting up the Broadway and Tony Award databases to answer the question. 

According to the Broadway database, Mrs. Bridgewater appeared in the following: 

The 1940's Radio Hour -  Oct 07, 1979 - Jan 06, 1980
The Wiz - Jan 05, 1975 - Jan 28, 1979

I didn't see many Broadway shows during the period when these productions occurred. Okay, okay, I didn't see any production (I was too young). But after reviewing the list of productions, it is now clear. Dee Dee Bridgewater won the 1975 Tony for best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Musical for Glinda in The Wiz.