April 18, 2023

Start spreading the news! MSM students perform at launch of new Broadway musical New York, New York!

Previews of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s new musical New York, New York kicked off on March 24, along with the reveal of a new “Kander & Ebb Way” street sign outside the St. James Theatre on West 44th St.

MSM musical theatre and instrumental students performed the iconic Kander & Ebb song, New York, New York, arranged by MSM Musical Theatre program Music Director David Loud, a long-time friend of John Kander.

The opening festivities included remarks from John Kander, contributing lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, and the New York, New York team: producers Tom Kirdahy and Sonia Friedman; book writers David Thompson and Sharon Washington.

New York, New York opened on Wednesday, April 26, at the St. James Theatre on the newly named “Kander & Ebb Way.”

MSM Instrumental and Musical Theatre students were glowing with excitement as they watched some of Broadway’s biggest names make speeches honoring composer John Kander and his longtime lyricist partner, the late Fred Ebb.

“It’s an incredibly momentous occasion to be recognized and included with this honor for Kander & Ebb, I’m absolutely thrilled to be here,” says Piatt Pund (BM ’24, Musical Theatre).

Alesha Jeter (BM ’23, Musical Theatre) added: “It’s really cool that MSM has given us so many opportunities. It’s my senior year so this is a wonderful way to bring it to a close. Fun fact, this is actually my second time performing for Lin-Manuel Miranda. I was able to meet him last year when he came to our production of Don’t Stop Me.”

MSM Students in front of the new "Kander & Ebb Way" street sign

“It’s an honor to be here for the new naming of the street,” said Madison Miller (BM ’25, Musical Theatre). “It’s really exciting to be able to share this moment with my friends and colleagues.”

New York, New York will be the first Kander and Ebb musical to open on Broadway since their 2015 Tony Award-nominated musical, The Visit. The new musical will be perfomed at the St. James Theatre, which most recently housed the Tony-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods (which featured MSM Musical Theatre alumna Alysia Velez (BM ’22) as Rapunzel).

Click through the slideshow to see photos from the day’s festivities:

John Kander, left, and David Loud

MSM students and David Loud (center)

MSM instrumental and Musical Theatre students

MSM instrumental students

MSM instrumental and Musical Theatre students

MSM Musical Theatre students

MSM instrumental and Musical Theatre students

MSM instrumental students

MSM instrumental and Musical Theatre students outside the St. James Theatre

Lin-Manuel Miranda, left, and John Kander

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda, left, John Kander, center, and NYC Mayor Eric Adams

“Singing David Loud’s arrangment of ‘New York, New York’ for John Kander himself on Broadway in New York City is a story-book moment I will never forget for the rest of my life.”

Watch the highlight reel from the preview launch:

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