♪ Restlessly demand to see ♪ ♪ A vision of what else could be ♪ ♪ I don't know where this road ends ♪ ♪ But it starts with me ♪ ♪ With me ♪ ♪ With me ♪ ♪ It starts with me ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] My name is Macy Schmidt.

I am the founder and orchestrator of this beautiful ensemble, and the women up here with me appearing before you today as The Broadway Sinfonietta are often the reason I get out of bed in the morning.

I'm very excited for you to get to know all of them better over the course of our program tonight.

The one common thread throughout every step of creating this orchestra and all it's become has been voices.

Who gets to have a voice?

Who listens?

Which voices have power?

How do you tune out all the noise to listen to your own voice?

Once you've harnessed that voice, how do you use it?

This orchestra began in the midst of crisis.

A labor and employment crisis in the midst of a global pandemic.

A visibility crisis in Broadway pits.

A racial justice crisis in all of show business.

A performative activism crisis.

And this orchestra continues to exist for three reasons.

To create jobs where there were not jobs before.

To present you all with great work.

And to hopefully inspire someone else to use their voice in a way they might not yet have considered.

I'm convinced that at least, for me, personally, with every whisper of a little voice, my brain fires off like four counterattacks trying to convince me not to listen.

"Who cares what you have to say?"

"Where are you going to get the resources?"

And as traumatic is 2020 was for many of us, I doubt I'm the only person here who felt it created space to hear more clearly the little voice in the back of our heads, planting seeds of all that was to come.

I'm finally listening.

Even for the women whose voices are loud and clear as day, the road pavers and ceiling breakers, on the rare occasions that women rise up the ranks in this business, it feels even rarer that they are granted positions of true power, that their voices are heard and able to have impact.

So, anytime we get to be in charge of a set list, you will never hear The Sinfonietta perform songs about romantic love.

All other types of love, sure -- love for your community, for your career, for your family, and most importantly, for yourself.

Tonight, we are celebrating ourselves.

Rather than conduct -- Yeah.

[ Cheers and applause ] Rather than conduct the rest of tonight's set, I am very excited to sit back for this one and instead introduce you all to a few women conductors who I think you should know.

Beginning with Colleen McCormack.

Yeah.

if you've ever done business with The Sinfonietta, you have certainly spoken with Colleen and you know how brilliant she is.

Well, she's also a trained conductor, and after taking time to have three children, she's returning to the podium tonight for the first time in more than 10 years.

[ Applause ] So, let's take it back to where most dreams start, the beginnings of an echo in the back of your mind, trying to get you to trust yourself, to believe in all that you will one day be capable of.

This is Sara Bareilles' "Little Voice" sung tonight by Kim Blanck.

[ Applause ] ♪♪♪ ♪ It's everything I am and what I'm not ♪ ♪ And all I'm trying to be ♪ ♪ This is the part where I spit it all out ♪ ♪ And you decide what you think of me ♪ ♪ I'm not trying to be complicated ♪ ♪ I'm never waiting to get the last laugh ♪ ♪ But I've been handing out benefits of the doubt ♪ ♪ I'd like a little bit back ♪ ♪ It's just a little voice ♪ ♪ And if you're listening ♪ ♪ Sometimes a little voice ♪ ♪ Can say the biggest things ♪ ♪ It's just my little voice that I've been missing ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Looking over the precious moments ♪ ♪ It hurts, don't it ♪ ♪ They can cut both ways ♪ ♪ No amount of remembering the better things ♪ ♪ Will make the bad ones go away ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ But I've been broken and the one to blame ♪ ♪ So my savior of self-defense ♪ ♪ Taught me to sing what I can't say ♪ ♪ It's just a little voice ♪ ♪ And if you're listening ♪ ♪ Sometimes a little voice ♪ ♪ Can say the biggest things ♪ ♪ It's just my little voice that I've been missing ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ It's just my little voice that I've been missing ♪ Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] So what do you do next as a teenager with big Broadway music swirling around in your head every day?

In my case, you move to New York City.

♪♪♪ ♪ I studied all the pictures in magazines and books ♪ I memorized the subway maps, too ♪ It's one block north to Macy's ♪ ♪ And two to Brothers Brooks ♪ ♪ Manhattan, I've prepared for you ♪ ♪ You certainly are different from what they have back home ♪ ♪ Where nothing's over three stories high ♪ ♪ And no one's in a hurry or wants to roam ♪ ♪ But I do ♪ ♪ Though they wonder why ♪ ♪ NYC ♪ ♪ Just got here this morning ♪ ♪ Three bucks ♪ ♪ Two bags ♪ ♪ One me ♪ ♪ NYC ♪ ♪ I give you fair warning ♪ ♪ Up there ♪ ♪ In lights ♪ ♪ I'll be ♪ ♪ Go ask the Gershwins or Kaufman and Hart ♪ ♪ The place they love the best ♪ ♪ Though California pays big for their art ♪ ♪ Their fan mail comes addressed ♪ ♪ To NYC ♪ ♪ Tomorrow a penthouse ♪ ♪ That's way up high ♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ ♪ The "Y" ♪ ♪ Why not ♪ ♪ It's NYC ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Too hot, meh ♪ ♪ Too cold ♪ ♪ Too late ♪ ♪ I'm sold ♪ Why not?

♪♪♪ ♪ Here I go ♪ ♪ And there's no turning back ♪ ♪ My great adventure has begun ♪ ♪ I may be small ♪ ♪ But I've got giant plans ♪ ♪ To shine as brightly as the sun ♪ ♪ I will blaze until I find my time and place ♪ ♪ I will be fearless ♪ ♪ Surrendering modesty and grace ♪ ♪ I will not disappear without a trace ♪ ♪ I'll shout and start a riot ♪ ♪ Be anything but quiet ♪ ♪ Christopher Columbus ♪ ♪ I'll be astonishing ♪ ♪ Astonishing ♪ ♪ Astonishing ♪ ♪ At ♪ ♪ Last ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] So now you're here.

You're in the thick of it.

Broadway.

If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, right?

I personally came to Broadway with this gold standard in my mind of how things would work.

A gold standard which was informed entirely and exclusively by the 2012 television series, NBC's "Smash."

[ Cheering ] Yes!

Thank you.

You guys know Broadway hasn't been exactly like that, but it also hasn't been exactly not like that either.

And from the moment I set foot in the city, I have dreamed of performing an arrangement that would pay proper tribute, so I'm simply beside myself to get to introduce my real life Ivy Lynns.

This is Solea Pfeiffer, Elyse Bell, and The Sinfonietta "Smash" Medley.

[ Applause ] ♪♪♪ ♪ Fade in on a girl ♪ ♪ With a hunger for fame ♪ ♪ And a face and a name to remember ♪ ♪ The power and drive ♪ ♪ That make dreams come alive ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Her smile and your fantasies ♪ ♪ Play a duet ♪ ♪ That will make you forget ♪ ♪ Where you are ♪ ♪ The music starts playing ♪ ♪ It's the beat of her heart saying ♪ ♪ Let me be your star ♪ ♪ The pressure, it increases ♪ ♪ The closer that I get ♪ ♪ I could almost fall to pieces ♪ ♪ But I'm not quite there yet ♪ ♪ See I've been bravin' crazy weather ♪ ♪ Drownin' out my cries ♪ ♪ I pull myself together ♪ Together: ♪ I'm focused on the prize ♪ ♪ It's a tune you can hum ♪ ♪ Oh, Broadway, here I come ♪ ♪ So talent and ambition ♪ ♪ They cheered at my persistence ♪ ♪ Won me a chance to shine ♪ ♪ But prayed for my decline ♪ ♪ The path of least resistance ♪ ♪ Led to Hollywood and Vine ♪ ♪ I tried to go the distance ♪ ♪ But they just keep moving the line ♪ ♪ Get up, 'cause the rat race never ends ♪ ♪ This life is a marathon ♪ ♪ They thought they could dispose of me ♪ ♪ They tried to make me small ♪ ♪ I suffered each indignity ♪ ♪ But still rise above it all ♪ ♪ See, the price I paid was all I had ♪ ♪ But at last, I found release ♪ ♪ And if something good can come from bad ♪ ♪ The past can rest in peace ♪ ♪ There are some in this world who have strength of their own ♪ ♪ Never broken or in need of repair ♪ ♪ But there are some born to shine who can't do it alone ♪ ♪ So protect them and take special care ♪ ♪ Take care ♪ ♪ Fade up on a star ♪ ♪ With it all in her sights ♪ ♪ All the love and the lights ♪ ♪ That surround her ♪ ♪ Someday she'll think twice ♪ ♪ Of the dues and the price ♪ ♪ She'll have to pay ♪ ♪ She'll have to pay ♪ ♪ But not today ♪ ♪ But not today ♪ ♪ She'll do all she can ♪ ♪ With or without a man ♪ ♪ And for millions who look from afar ♪ ♪ I'm what you've been needing ♪ ♪ It's all here and my heart's pleading ♪ ♪ Don't forget me ♪ ♪♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheering ] Schmidt: So, little did I know, just a few later years later, we'd get to present this arrangement with my real life Ivy Lynns or that I would get to work with my real life Tom Levitt and Julia Houston while living out my Eileen dreams.

I always hoped I'd get to have my own bombshell to work on, a musical you pour your heart into with your collaborators, the relief of making it to opening night, the held breath when they announce award nominations.

Ironically enough, it was during the 2020 COVID pandemic that I got my first bombshell, except instead of Marilyn, our star's name was Remy.

A song which needs no introduction except a reminder to keep an ear out for some of the best lyrics I've ever heard, written by Kate Leonard, with music by TikTok's godfather of the "Ratatouille Musical" movement, Daniel Mertzlufft.

This is "Remember My Name" sung by Solea Pfeiffer.

♪♪♪ ♪ Am I really at Gusteau's?

♪ ♪ Can it actually be?

♪ ♪ I was waiting for a sign and found a 20-foot marquee ♪ ♪ I've been dreaming of a life ♪ ♪ Where I'm not just getting by ♪ ♪ And now that I'm here, I'm aiming high ♪ ♪ I'll boil and broil and fry ♪ ♪ Till my name's the one in the sky ♪ ♪ Paris, I hope you're ready for Remy's haute cuisine ♪ ♪ With style and presentation like no one's ever seen ♪ ♪ This epicure in miniature will set your hearts aflame ♪ ♪ And the world will remember my name ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Hear the clang of copper pots ♪ ♪ Take a whiff of that mirepoix ♪ ♪ See the final sprig of tarragon ♪ ♪ That makes the big ta-da!

♪ ♪ This is where I'm meant to be ♪ ♪ This is what I must pursue ♪ ♪ So I won't let a narrow-minded view ♪ ♪ Determine what vermin can do ♪ ♪ Look out 'cause this rat's coming through ♪ ♪ Paris, I hope you're ready for Remy's restaurant ♪ ♪ With service and innovation that's truly au currant ♪ ♪ This epicure in miniature is gonna change the game ♪ ♪ And the world will remember my name ♪ ♪ I'll wow all my guests with the dishes I'm trying ♪ ♪ Not changing new rules, merely rat-ifying ♪ ♪ From Maillard reactions to flavor extractions ♪ ♪ I'll prove what I knew all along ♪ ♪ I can be special ♪ ♪ A rat can be special ♪ ♪ My family was wrong ♪ ♪ Paris, I hope you're ready for Remy on the rise ♪ ♪ With passion and perseverance ♪ ♪ Surprising for his size ♪ ♪ This gastronome is finally home ♪ ♪ Ready to proclaim ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ That the world ♪ ♪ Will remember ♪ ♪ My name ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] It's a special thing to finally understand your voice and your purpose.

And yet, somehow, it seems the more we trust ourselves and listen to that little voice, the more people will try to doubt us and take those voices away.

So, we found our voices, we fought hard to keep our voices, but so many women in the world are still fighting to keep their voices and with far fewer resources or ammunition than what we share even just in this park.

When putting together this set list, I asked myself, "Where in the world do women have the least agency over their own voices?"

When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in the fall of 2021, I couldn't sleep.

As an adopted Middle Eastern woman raised in the States, I couldn't help but think every day that's so easily could have been me.

I couldn't be more excited to introduce Broadway's Arielle Jacobs, who you may have seen starring as Jasmine in Disney's "Aladdin"... [ Cheering ] Mm-hmm.

...conductor Cynthia Meng, and featured percussionist April Centrone, who's the founder of the New York Arabic Orchestra on the darbuka.

And my friend, Zarifa Adiba, from Afghanistan, who has been a fearless advocate for Afghan women in music and is one of the first two female conductors of Afghanistan.

[ Cheers and applause ] The first times Zarifa conducted was in 2016 for the first and only all-female orchestra of Afghanistan, and she continued this work through her most recent performance in 2017 at the World Economic Forum.

Tonight, Zarifa resumes her conducting career where it began, leading a group of all-women musicians, holding the baton again, this time in front of a different all-female orchestra, I'd like to read a dedication that Zarifa asked me to share tonight.

Tonight, Zarifa dedicates this performance to Ali Akbar Sakhi, to the true essence of being an Afghan, to real fighters, to all pure souls who are now stars of our nights, to those who truly loved Afghanistan and worked for Afghanistan.

She conducts this for Ali Akbar Sakhi, to the man of the mountains that has lost his life seeking his dreams.

Everyone will play like the mountains tonight -- rebel, solid, rough.

When -- When "Aladdin" was written, it drew inspiration from a blend of so many Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures.

And while this was such a touchpoint for my, and I'm sure many other Middle Eastern and South Asian women's, childhoods, I was excited to work with April and Zarifa to give this arrangement a little more cultural specificity.

This is "Speechless" by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for Disney's live action "Aladdin" except with a bit of a twist.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Here comes a wave meant to wash me away ♪ ♪ A tide that is taking me under ♪ ♪ Swallowing sand, left with nothing to say ♪ ♪ My voice drowned out in the thunder ♪ ♪ But I won't cry ♪ ♪ And I won't start to crumble ♪ ♪ Whenever they try ♪ ♪ To shut me or cut me down ♪ ♪ I won't be silenced ♪ ♪ You can't keep me quiet ♪ ♪ Won't tremble when you try it ♪ ♪ All I know is I won't go speechless ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'll breathe ♪ ♪ When they try to suffocate me ♪ ♪ Don't you underestimate me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know that I won't go speechless ♪ [ Darbuka playing ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪♪ ♪ Written in stone ♪ ♪ Every rule, every word ♪ ♪ Centuries old and unbending ♪ ♪ "Stay in your place" ♪ ♪ "Better seen and not heard" ♪ ♪ But now that story is ending ♪ ♪ 'Cause I ♪ ♪ I cannot start to crumble ♪ ♪ So come on and try ♪ ♪ Try to shut me and cut me down ♪ ♪ I won't be silenced ♪ ♪ You can't keep me quiet ♪ ♪ Won't tremble when you try it ♪ ♪ All I know is I won't go speechless ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'll breathe ♪ ♪ When they try to suffocate me ♪ ♪ Don't you underestimate me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know that I won't go speechless ♪ ♪ Try to lock me in this cage ♪ ♪ I won't just lay me down and die ♪ ♪ I will take these broken wings ♪ ♪ And watch me burn across the sky ♪ ♪ Hear the echo saying ♪ ♪ I won't be silenced ♪ ♪ No, you won't tremble when you try it ♪ ♪ All I know is I won't go speechless ♪ ♪ Speechless ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'll breathe ♪ ♪ When they try to suffocate me ♪ ♪ Don't you underestimate me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know that I won't go ♪ ♪ All I know is I won't go ♪ ♪ Speechless ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Last fall, around the same time the Taliban took Kabul, The Sinfonietta was invited, thanks to one of our many fairy godmothers, Diana Salameh, to perform -- Yeah!

-- to perform for "The Atlantic" magazine's 2021 festival.

I knew we wanted to take that space and opportunity to create something unique and something with impact, so I called Dan Mertzlufft and Kate Leonard -- who else?

-- with another cryptic assignment.

Write me a song about individual agency.

How can one person make a change when the obstacles plaguing women in our world are so huge and so global?

This song and arrangement are dedicated to Sammi Cannold, Safi Rauf, and Human First Coalition.

Written by Mertzlufft and Leonard and performed by Krystina Alabado, here is "It Starts With Me."

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ We're caught in the current ♪ ♪ In debt and in doubt ♪ ♪ No levers of power to lift us back out ♪ ♪ Faults in the framework ♪ ♪ Fracturing hope ♪ ♪ But we settle in silence ♪ ♪ Not meaning to cope ♪ ♪ But something within ♪ ♪ Won't let me give in ♪ ♪ When the light is faint and the fight's not fair ♪ ♪ I'll give what I got ♪ ♪ 'Cause surrender ain't gonna get us there ♪ ♪ So, ready or not ♪ ♪ I'll crush the pills too hard to swallow ♪ ♪ Counter acts too hard to follow ♪ ♪ Demand to see what else could be ♪ ♪ I don't know where this road ends ♪ ♪ But it starts with me ♪ ♪ It starts with me ♪ ♪ In far-off discussions ♪ ♪ Unseen an unheard ♪ ♪ Our future's been written ♪ ♪ Our dreaming deferred ♪ ♪ The fate of the many ♪ ♪ Devised by a few ♪ ♪ Well, I won't play a hand that I never drew ♪ ♪ No, I won't abide ♪ ♪ By the choices supplied ♪ ♪ When the light is faint and the fight's not fair ♪ ♪ I'll give what I got ♪ ♪ 'Cause surrender ain't gonna get us there ♪ ♪ So, ready or not ♪ ♪ I'll crush the pills too hard to swallow ♪ ♪ Counter acts too hard to follow ♪ ♪ Demand to see what else could be ♪ ♪ I don't know where this road ends ♪ ♪ But it starts with me ♪ ♪ With me, with me ♪ ♪ On course and I'm ready to ride ♪ ♪ My voice can avert the falling tide ♪ ♪ Pure and strong ♪ ♪ I am dead set and diamond clear ♪ ♪ A threat to persevere ♪ ♪ Defeating everyone ♪ ♪ It was in me all along ♪ ♪ When the light is faint and the fight's not fair ♪ ♪ I'll give what I got ♪ ♪ 'Cause surrender ain't gonna get us there ♪ ♪ Ready or not ♪ ♪ I'll crush the pills too hard to swallow ♪ ♪ Counter acts too hard to follow ♪ ♪ Restlessly demand to see ♪ ♪ A vision of what else could be ♪ ♪ I don't know where this road ends ♪ ♪ But it starts with me ♪ ♪ With me, with me ♪ ♪ It starts with me ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] This commission got me thinking of ways The Sinfonietta can be more than just a performance orchestra, ways to inspire real change.

It does start with each one of us, but we are also part of a greater whole.

Please welcome back Solea Pfeiffer premiering a full orchestra version of our arrangement of Beyoncé's bigger.

[ Cheering ] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ If you feel insignificant, you better think again ♪ ♪ Better wake up because you're part of something way bigger ♪ ♪ You're part of something way bigger ♪ ♪ Not just a speck in the universe ♪ ♪ Not just some words in a Bible verse ♪ ♪ You are the living word ♪ ♪ Mm, mm, mm, mm ♪ ♪ You're part of something way bigger ♪ ♪ Bigger than you, bigger than we ♪ ♪ Bigger than the picture they framed us to see ♪ ♪ But now we see it ♪ ♪ And it ain't no secret, no ♪ ♪ Understand that truth about that question in your soul ♪ ♪ Look up, don't look down, and watch the answers unfold ♪ ♪ Life is your birthright, they hid that in the fine print ♪ ♪ Uh, take the pen and rewrite it ♪ ♪ Step out your estimate ♪ ♪ Step in your essence and know that you're excellent ♪ ♪ Rise, the spirit is teachin' ♪ No, I'm not just preachin', I'm takin' my own advice ♪ Oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Bigger than you, bigger than we ♪ ♪ Bigger than the picture they framed us to see ♪ ♪ Legacy, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ You're part of something way bigger ♪ ♪ Let love be the water ♪ ♪ I pour into you and you pour into me ♪ ♪ There ain't no drought here ♪ ♪ Bloom into our actual powers ♪ ♪ I'll be your sanctuary, you just don't know it yet ♪ ♪ You just don't know it yet ♪ ♪ No matter how hard it gets ♪ ♪ You got my blood in ya ♪ ♪ And you're gonna rise ♪ ♪ You're part of something way bigger ♪ ♪ You're part of something way bigger ♪ ♪ Bigger than you, bigger than we ♪ ♪ Bigger than the picture they framed us to see, yeah ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, you're part of something way bigger ♪ ♪ Look up, don't look down, and watch the answers unfold ♪ ♪ Life is your birthright, they hid that in the fine print ♪ ♪ Take the pen and rewrite it ♪ ♪ Step out your estimate ♪ ♪ Step in your essence and know that you're excellent ♪ ♪ Rise, the spirit is teachin' ♪ ♪ No, I'm not just preachin', I'm takin' my own advice ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪ ♪ Ahh oh ♪ ♪ If you feel insignificant ♪ ♪ You better think again ♪ ♪ Better wake up because you're part of something way bigger ♪ ♪ You're part of something way bigger ♪ ♪ I'll be the roots, you'll be the tree ♪ ♪ Pass on the fruit that was given to me ♪ ♪ Legacy, yeah ♪ ♪ You're part of something way bigger ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] I have absolutely zero clever transition material to this next song, but it's perhaps my favorite in the set.

Anyone who's ever met me knows that one of my lifelong career dreams has been to arrange a Disney fireworks show spectacular.

Well, we had a little downtime over these past two years, so after another phone call to Dan Mertzlufft and Kate Leonard -- are we catching onto a pattern here?

-- we took our own stab at it.

Our homage to the Disney firework shows of past, present, and future.

Well, it's not Cinderella's castle, but I would say the New York skyline comes pretty close.

Here's Arielle Jacobs with the world premiere of "Magic in You."

[ Applause ] ♪♪♪ ♪ You see it in a starry sky ♪ ♪ Or feel it dance in the air ♪ ♪ There's inspiration hiding everywhere ♪ ♪ The flicker of a fantasy ♪ ♪ A wish beginning to grow ♪ ♪ How far can your imagination go?

♪ ♪ Let all the wonder that's within you begin to ♪ ♪ Create a dream that's all your own ♪ ♪ There's a magic inside of you that is waiting to ignite ♪ ♪ All it takes is a tiny spark and you feel it burning bright ♪ ♪ That inner glow is how you know ♪ ♪ That your wishes can come true ♪ ♪ The world is ready for the magic in you ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ You feel it in your fingertips ♪ ♪ Or hear it sing in your ear ♪ ♪ You never know where magic will appear ♪ ♪ The lightning of discovery ♪ ♪ A burning drive to explore ♪ ♪ So what will your tomorrow have in store?

♪ ♪ Let all the wonder that's within you begin to ♪ ♪ Create a life that's all your own ♪ ♪ There's a magic inside of you that is waiting to ignite ♪ ♪ All it takes is a tiny spark and you feel it burning bright ♪ ♪ That inner glow is how you know ♪ ♪ That your wishes can come true ♪ ♪ The world is ready for the magic in you ♪ ♪ The spirit ♪ ♪ The passion ♪ ♪ It makes us who we are ♪ ♪ Don't let the fear of crashing ♪ ♪ Ground your shooting star ♪ ♪ There's a magic inside of you that is waiting to ignite ♪ ♪ All it takes is a tiny spark ♪ ♪ There's a magic inside of you that is waiting to ignite ♪ ♪ All it takes is a tiny spark and you feel it burning bright ♪ ♪ That inner glow is how you know ♪ ♪ That your wishes can come true ♪ ♪ The world is ready ♪ ♪ For the magic in you ♪ ♪ For the magic in you ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Schmidt: One more round of applause for Broadway's Arielle Jacobs.

[ Applause ] Those of us who don't always have the right words to go and write lyrics to a song often rely on music to be our interpreter.

I'm very lucky to have had a literal interpreter of my little voice for this next song in Kate Leonard.

Not only was Kate able to create poetry to express this idea I so desperately couldn't figure out how to express, she's also a superb friend and collaborator who helped encourage me to use my voice in a very new and very scary way, writing my own music for the first time.

I had been thinking for a long time about the phrase "glass ceiling."

Every time a woman CEO takes over a "Fortune" 500 company, the headline is "Glass Ceiling Shattered."

But who established those companies, who built the corporate ladders, who oversees the media outlets framing those stories?

Predominantly wealthy White men?

I started to wonder if that's the narrative they want us chasing.

Be a good little corporate girl and climb up our building to try to reach our ceiling so that it never occurs to you that you could construct your own building one day with no ceiling at all.

[ Cheers and applause ] This plays out in the arts, too, even on Broadway.

Shocker, I know.

A good assistant doesn't ask for credit or pay.

She is good enough to be wanted but not good enough to make the wrong people feel threatened.

She certainly doesn't reject any advances by male colleagues, who will then spend years retaliating against personal rejection with career roadblocks.

This is the message so many of us run into -- play by our rules and perhaps you'll make it to the top.

But what happens when you reach a ceiling only to discover it's made of shatterproof glass?

♪♪♪ ♪ I played the good girl ♪ ♪ Always following rules that you've laid out ♪ ♪ To reach a future where your ladder was the only route ♪ ♪ So I tried to climb ♪ ♪ And reach that sunny ceiling ♪ ♪ But I found each time ♪ ♪ The roads were just for show ♪ ♪ Why fight for your skylight ♪ ♪ Knowing I might never break it?

♪ ♪ And the lone test is my own best ♪ ♪ And I won't rest till I make it ♪ ♪ Spent a long time on the wrong climb ♪ ♪ But I'm strong and I'm still going ♪ ♪ I will rise without the scars of shattered glass ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ So I keep building ♪ ♪ Discovering these heights I never knew ♪ ♪ Right here beside you ♪ ♪ And I want you to enjoy the view of the girl ♪ ♪ Who fought to reach that sunny ceiling light ♪ ♪ Until she found a better way to climb ♪ ♪ Why fight for your skylight ♪ ♪ Knowing I might never break it?

♪ ♪ When the lone test is my own best ♪ ♪ Got a new route, and I'll I make it ♪ ♪ I spent a long time on the wrong climb ♪ ♪ But I'm strong and I'm still going ♪ ♪ I will rise without the scars of shattered glass ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ I can climb the way you can't ♪ ♪ Trample glass until it's sand ♪ ♪ Not the way you want me to ♪ ♪ Spread into this penthouse view ♪ ♪ Changing nothing, owning nothing ♪ ♪ Building nothing new ♪ ♪ But, honey, I've got better things to do ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Why fight for your skylight ♪ ♪ Knowing I might never break it?

♪ ♪ When the lone test is my own best ♪ ♪ Got a new route, and I'll make it ♪ ♪ Spent a long time on the wrong climb ♪ ♪ But I'm strong and I'm still going ♪ ♪ So you can keep your windowed view ♪ ♪ For all I know, it's shatterproof ♪ ♪ I will rise without the scars of shattered glass ♪ ♪♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Schmidt: Can we have another round of applause for Sandra?

And for one of our fearless leaders, Cynthia Meng at the podium.

We've come to almost the end, and, so, we'll take it back to the very start.

Everything you've seen and heard tonight started with one song and a couple cold e-mails.

One to Jana Shea, who believed in this idea before I had anything to show for it.

And another to my now dear friend, Solea Pfeiffer.

I'd seen Solea's literal star turn in Sammi Cannold's "Evita" at New York City Center, and I'll never forget this is the first time she sang "Rainbow High."

I haven't had goose bumps in a theater like that since that moment.

This stunning, powerful woman of color standing center stage asking to be Christian Dior'd.

That was the moment this next arrangement was formed.

I want to thank two of the women who are the reason we're all here today.

If you've ever worked with The Sinfonietta, you know their names -- Leah Vicencio and Colleen McCormack, who keep this whole thing going with me.

As we all know, in the times of COVID, it takes often even more than your original village to pull something like this off.

So I want to thank every woman on this stage tonight, from those who have been with us since day one to those who I met only this week when they saved the day.

[ Applause ] Thank you to our unbelievable guest conductors, Meg Zervoulis, Cynthia Meng, Zarifa Adiba, Colleen McCormack.

Our vocalists, Solea Pfeiffer, Arielle Jacobs, Krystina Alabado, Sandra Okuboyejo, Elyse Bell, Kim Blanck.

You guys, thank you for everything tonight.

[ Applause ] A few more things I have to give.

To Carnegie Hall and Bryant Park for having us.

To the Bryant Park Hotel and the Bryant Park Grill for their support and hospitality.

To Jana Shea, Cori Silberman, and Broadstream.

To Daryl Roth, to Molly Barnett, and Chelsea Nachman.

To Diana Salameh, to Liz Paw, to Scott Farthing and the team at Sony.

To Sammi Cannold.

To Dan Mertzlufft and Kate Leonard, who wrote half this damn program.

To Larry Blank, who helped me get out of my head and write this first chart when I was too afraid to.

To Solea for saying yes two whole years ago.

And lastly, to my mom and dad for helping me grow my little voice into a big one.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Everyone tells me to know my place ♪ ♪ But that ain't the way I play ♪ ♪ Why am I daring to show my face?

♪ ♪ I've got something to say ♪ ♪ Move over sun ♪ ♪ And give me some sky ♪ ♪ I've got me some wings I'm eager to try ♪ ♪ I may be unknown, but wait till I've flown ♪ ♪ You're gonna hear from me ♪ ♪ Make me some room, you people up there ♪ ♪ On top of the world, I'll meet you, I swear ♪ ♪ I'm staking my claim ♪ ♪ Remember my name ♪ ♪ You're gonna hear from me ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Now, listen, world, you can't ignore me ♪ ♪ I've got a song that longs to be played ♪ ♪ Raise up my flag, begin my parade ♪ ♪ You'll pardon my haste ♪ ♪ I've no time to waste ♪ That's how it's gonna be, you'll see ♪ 'Cause we'll play a new melody, you'll see ♪ Yes!

♪ You're gonna hear ♪ ♪ From ♪ ♪ Me ♪ Me!

[ Cheers and applause ] This was going to be the secret encore, but I don't think we need to play that game.

So I have one last treat for you.

About a year ago, I scrolled past a TikTok by Abigail Barlow with 60 seconds of a song she wrote with the caption, "To my seven-year-old self."

I saved it and it never left my mind.

I even think the sentiment of it, writing a letter to your childhood self, inspired this whole program.

When I told her this, we got to work.

This one is for all of you.

Please welcome back Elyse Bell, joined by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Abigail Barlow.

[ Cheers and applause ] Performing the world premiere of "Little Voice" with music and lyrics by Abigail Barlow.

♪♪♪ ♪ I know you're young ♪ ♪ You've got big dreams and songs to be sung ♪ ♪ I know you're scared ♪ ♪ 'Cause you've got a heart as big as the county fair ♪ ♪ And you're thinking and wishing of wishes ♪ ♪ That seem out of reach ♪ ♪ But I promise your future is bigger and brighter than ♪ ♪ You would ever believe ♪ ♪ So don't be afraid of the voice in your chest ♪ ♪ Your DNA, it was... ♪ ♪ With the thoughts that run wild in your head ♪ ♪ So, don't give up yet ♪ ♪ Don't keep it inside ♪ ♪ Just let it go ♪ ♪ All that you ever wanted is closer than you know ♪ ♪ So don't be afraid of the little voice ♪ ♪ That speaks when your eyes are closed ♪ Give it up for Elyse Bell, everyone!

[ Laughing ] Oh!

Mwah.

[ Laughs ] Together: ♪ I know your soul ♪ ♪ It's got a thousand stories to be told ♪ ♪ I know you reach an age where you fear the change ♪ ♪ Of the seasons you can't control ♪ ♪ And you're thinking and wishing and wanting ♪ ♪ And weaving your way ♪ ♪ But I promise the view ♪ ♪ The view ♪ ♪ From the top of the mountain will be ♪ ♪ From the top of the mountain will be ♪ ♪ Well worth the wait ♪ ♪ So don't be afraid of the voice in your chest ♪ ♪ Your DNA, it was sculpted ♪ ♪ For sharing the thoughts that went wild in your head ♪ ♪ Sharing the thoughts in your head ♪ ♪ So don't give up yet ♪ ♪ Yet ♪ ♪ Don't keep it all in ♪ ♪ Take to the sky ♪ ♪ All that you've ever wanted is ♪ ♪ Closer than you know ♪ ♪ So don't be afraid of the little voice ♪ ♪ Keep your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground ♪ ♪ Ignore every doubt ♪ ♪ That you'll never be able ♪ ♪ To make mom and dad super proud ♪ ♪ You will ♪ ♪ We will ♪ [ Laughs ] ♪ So don't be afraid of the voice in your chest ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ Your DNA, it was sculpted ♪ ♪ For sharing the thoughts that went wild in your head ♪ ♪ So don't give up yet ♪ ♪ Don't give up yet ♪ ♪ Don't keep it inside ♪ ♪ Don't give up yet ♪ ♪ Just let it go ♪ ♪ All that you ever wanted is closer than you know ♪ ♪ So don't be afraid of the little voice ♪ ♪ That speaks from inside your soul ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Schmidt: Thank you all so much for coming out.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪♪ ♪ I played the good girl ♪ ♪ Always following rules that you've laid out ♪ ♪ To reach a future where your ladder was the only route ♪ ♪ So I tried to climb ♪ ♪ And reach that sunny ceiling ♪ ♪ But I found each time ♪ ♪ The roads were just for show ♪ ♪ Why fight for your skylight ♪ ♪ Knowing I might never break it?

♪ ♪ And the lone test is my own best ♪ ♪ And I won't rest till I make it ♪ ♪ Spent a long time on the wrong climb ♪ ♪ But I'm strong and I'm still going ♪ ♪ I will rise without the scars of shattered glass ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ So I keep building ♪ ♪ Discovering these heights I never knew ♪ ♪ Right here beside you ♪ ♪ And I want you to enjoy the view of the girl ♪ ♪ Who fought to reach that sunny ceiling light ♪ ♪ Until she found a better way to climb ♪ ♪ Why fight for your skylight ♪ ♪ Knowing I might never break it?

♪ ♪ When the lone test is my own best ♪ ♪ Got a new route, and I'll I make it ♪ ♪ I spent a long time on the wrong climb ♪ ♪ But I'm strong and I'm still going ♪ ♪ I will rise without the scars of shattered glass ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ I can climb the way you can't ♪ ♪ Trample glass until it's sand ♪ ♪ Not the way you want me to ♪ ♪ Spread into this penthouse view ♪ ♪ Changing nothing, owning nothing ♪ ♪ Building nothing new ♪ ♪ But, honey, I've got better things to do ♪ ♪♪♪ ♪ Why fight for your skylight ♪ ♪ Knowing I might never break it?

♪