Lea Michele.Photo: Jared Siskin/Getty
Lea Michelehad a special reunion Monday night.
The actress took the stage at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City for theRagtime25th anniversary benefit concert, which featured cast members from the original production — including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Peter Friedman and Judy Kaye — performing the show once again.
Proceeds from the event went tothe Entertainment Community Fund(formerly the Actors Fund), an organization that provides everything from health and wellness to career, life and housing services nationally for people who work in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance.
The show began previews in December 1997 after an out-of-town tryout, opened in January 1998 and played for another two years before closing in January 2000. Michele stayed with the production its first year, leaving in December 1998.
Years later, in 2006, Michele would land her breakout role as Wendla inSpring Awakening.That show catapulted her to success, leading to television fame onGleeandScream Queens.
She recentlyreturned to Broadway to play the boisterous Fanny Brice in the revival ofFunny Girl— a part that has earned her praise (in the form of endless standing ovations) from critics and audiences alike.
But on Monday night, Fanny was nowhere to be found as a very solemn, serious Michele stepped on stage at the top of theRagtimeanniversary concert’s second act to introduce an emotional in-memoriam tribute to late members of the company, crew and staff.
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“It’s hard to grasp the fact that we’ve lost some of this family along the way. But the memory that we created inRagtimelives in all of us,” said Michele. “So let’s take a moment, as Marin would say, to remember the joy.”
Lea Michele.Lea Michele.Lea Michele.PHOTO: lea michele/instagramLea Michele.PHOTO: lea michele/instagram
Lea Michele.Lea Michele.
Lea Michele.
Lea Michele.PHOTO: lea michele/instagramLea Michele.PHOTO: lea michele/instagram
Michele did not sing at theRagtimeconcert, but watched from the audience withbest friend Jonathan Groff. Just last week, her 2-year-old sonEver Leowastaken to the hospital due to a “scary health issue.”
“I’m not ready,” she wrote on social media, before the performance began.
“I’m so honored to be a part of this incredible night,” Michele wrote in another message. “Reuniting with myRagtimefamily after 25 years.”
Later, Michele joined the company on-stage for a bow alongside Addyson Evelyn Tabankin, the young actress who played her role.
“I’ve never cried so hard,” she wrote on Instagram, moments before.
Ragtimewas nominated for 13 Tony Awards in 1998, and won four including best book of a musical for Terrence McNally and best featured actress in a musical for McDonald (her third of six wins).
An anniversary concert was originally planned for April 27, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tony winner Kelli O’Hara stepped into Mazzie’s role.
For more information about the Entertainment Community Fund,visit entertainmentcommunity.org.
source: people.com
