Black Broadway: A Proud History, A Limitless Future

• Watchlist

This concert special celebrates iconic stage performances made famous by Black artists and features the best of the current generation of Black Broadway stars. Performing classics from "The Wiz", "The Color Purple", "Company", "Porgy and Bess", "Ain't Misbehavin'" and more, the cast is joined by multiple guest conductors and a choir of students from Howard University and Morgan State University and was filmed on October 5, 2022, at Howard University's Cramton Auditorium. All vocalists are accompanied by the American Pops Orchestra, founded by Music Director Luke Frazier. Featured artists include television and Broadway star Corbin Bleu ("Make Them Hear You" from "Ragtime"); Broadway performer and concert soloist Nikki Renée Daniels ("Being Alive" from "Company" and "Come Rain Or Come Shine" from "St. Louis Woman"); and Broadway and TV star Tiffany Mann ("Fools Fall In Love" from "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and "I Got Love" from "Purlie"). Nova Payton sings "I'm Here" from "The Color Purple", a show in which she starred in Washington, D.C., followed by Stephanie Mills, who portrayed Dorothy in the original Broadway run of "The Wiz" singing "Home". Additional performers include Emmy, Tony and SAG Award nominee Norm Lewis ("I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'" from "Porgy and Bess" and "Waiting For Life" from "Once On This Island"); Broadway artist, acclaimed tap dancer and choreographer John Manzari ("Low Down Blues" from "Shuffle Along"), and teenage prodigy violinist Leah Flynn ("Summertime" from "Porgy and Bess"). From Broadway's "Hamilton", Amber Iman performs "Learn To Love," followed by Grammy winner Sydney James Harcourt with "Stand Up An' Fight" (from "Carmen Jones"). Actress, singer and drag artist Peppermint gives her rendition of the title song from "Ain't Misbehavin,'" and Nova Payton returns to close the concert with the show stopping "And I Am Telling You" from "Dreamgirls."