Ferguson: I'm just -- I'm so moved.

Thank you, Sarah Stern, thank you, Doug Aibel, and everyone at the Vineyard Theatre for making this night such an incredible experience.

It's by far the best gala I've ever been to, but that's partly because they're honoring me.

LuPone: ♪ The drum beats out of time ♪ ♪ If you're lost, you can look, and you will find me ♪ ♪ Time after time ♪ ♪ If you fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting ♪ ♪ Time after time ♪ ♪ If you're lost ♪ It seems I've known Jesse forever, but the truth is, I have no idea when I met Jesse.

[ Laughter ] Or where I met Jesse.

Or with whom.

Is it me, or does Jesse just not leave a lasting impression?

[ Laughter ] I must've met him somewhere and assumed that I love him.

I am so grateful to get the opportunity to sort of celebrate Jesse, but also to celebrate this theater.

The Vineyard Theatre is one of my true passions -- to have people come out and champion the Vineyard and just show up and be of service and help.

I'd gotten a chance in my career to work at a place and meet people like Jesse and remain friends with him, so I'm thrilled.

Bareilles: It's so wonderful to be here to support the Vineyard and to support Jesse, who's getting honored tonight.

He's a dear friend.

♪ On the inside and no sunlight ♪ ♪ Sometimes a shadow wins ♪ ♪ But I wonder what would happen if you ♪ ♪ Say what you want to say ♪ ♪ And let the words fall out ♪ ♪ Honestly, I wanna see you be brave ♪ The nonprofit world is the creative backbone of our community.

They're the ones who are really putting their neck out on the line for keeping theater moving forward, and I'm just so proud to call myself a New York theater actor.

Bareilles: He just wants to do right by the theater.

I just love it when you see somebody go off and have wild success in another medium, but you know where their heart and soul actually lies, and it is in the theater space.

He's just as kindhearted as they come.

He's impossible not to love.

♪ Don't run, just stop holding your tongue ♪ ♪ Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live ♪ ♪ Maybe one of these days you can let the light in ♪ ♪♪