Big Bird was there. So was a Soprano. Plus Mario Cantone, F. Murray Abraham, a slew of singing and dancing kids and a load of acrobats. They all came together to celebrate Macy's Remember Me to Herald Square event, a celebration of Macy's 100th year at its 34th Street location.
The celebration was produced by Robin Hall, Macy's group vice president of annual and special events. The evening began with a cocktail party inside the store for employees, catered by David Ziff Cooking, with music by a brass band. Guests were then ushered outside to a stage area where two sets of bleachers flanked both sides of the stage, which stood in front of Macy's Broadway entrance. Adam Pascal of Aida, former Rent cast member Anthony Rapp, F. Murray Abraham, Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Alix Korey of The Wild Party opened the show, followed by the fabulous fabric aerialists from Antigravity.
Jonathan Freeman of 42nd Street, the cast of Chicago, Jessica Boevers from Oklahoma and comedian Cantone—whose remarks were refreshingly wacky compared to the others' scripted words—followed the acrobats. Big Bird, who donned a tie for the occasion, joined Judy Kaye and Camp Broadway for a song. A duet by Darlene Love and Freda Payne and a song by Liz Callaway and the Highbridge Voices Choir were the final musical acts. A blast of fireworks by Pyro Spectaculars and confetti ended the show as the final acrobatic act bounced and spun through the air on harnesses.
Lighting designer Alan Adelman created a beautiful, multifaceted lighting scheme on the building's exterior that shifted colors throughout the night to change with the tone of the songs—so a sultry red highlighted the building for the cast of Chicago's performance of "Cell Block Tango." Towers of silver tressing held up the ceiling of the stage, where lights and the acrobats' harnesses were suspended.
—Suzanne Ito
The celebration was produced by Robin Hall, Macy's group vice president of annual and special events. The evening began with a cocktail party inside the store for employees, catered by David Ziff Cooking, with music by a brass band. Guests were then ushered outside to a stage area where two sets of bleachers flanked both sides of the stage, which stood in front of Macy's Broadway entrance. Adam Pascal of Aida, former Rent cast member Anthony Rapp, F. Murray Abraham, Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Alix Korey of The Wild Party opened the show, followed by the fabulous fabric aerialists from Antigravity.
Jonathan Freeman of 42nd Street, the cast of Chicago, Jessica Boevers from Oklahoma and comedian Cantone—whose remarks were refreshingly wacky compared to the others' scripted words—followed the acrobats. Big Bird, who donned a tie for the occasion, joined Judy Kaye and Camp Broadway for a song. A duet by Darlene Love and Freda Payne and a song by Liz Callaway and the Highbridge Voices Choir were the final musical acts. A blast of fireworks by Pyro Spectaculars and confetti ended the show as the final acrobatic act bounced and spun through the air on harnesses.
Lighting designer Alan Adelman created a beautiful, multifaceted lighting scheme on the building's exterior that shifted colors throughout the night to change with the tone of the songs—so a sultry red highlighted the building for the cast of Chicago's performance of "Cell Block Tango." Towers of silver tressing held up the ceiling of the stage, where lights and the acrobats' harnesses were suspended.
—Suzanne Ito