Broadway stars performed Hercules’s “Go the Distance” from home, and we’re belting it out with them
Unfortunately for theater fans, the lights on Broadway will be dimmed until at least June 7th amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. But, thankfully, there are plenty of ways to get your Broadway fill as you remain in quarantine. A bunch of stars from Disney’s Broadway shows teamed up for a Zoom performance of “Go the Distance” from Hercules. It’s the hefty dose of happy your day could probably use.
The performers each belted out the Alan Menken ballad from their respective homes, coming together to hit us right in the feels.
Good Morning America aired the performance on Thursday, April 9th. The star-studded cast included Jelani Alladin (who played the lead in last summer’s stage run of Hercules), James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin), Ryan McCartan (Frozen), Adrienne Walker (The Lion King), Ciara Renée (Frozen), Heather Headley (The Lion King), McKenzie Kurtz (Frozen), Michael James Scott (Aladdin), and L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King).
The at-home serenade was part of ABC’s “Day of Hope,” which hoped to shine a light on food bank workers and on families experiencing food insecurity amid the coronavirus crisis. And fair warning: It will definitely give you goosebumps. Okay, fine; we cried a little at our screens.
While #Broadway is dark, the @disneybroadway family performs emotional rendition of Alan Menken’s “Go the Distance.” https://t.co/GA9JH4rnvB #DayofHope pic.twitter.com/spDaJybUga
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 9, 2020
McCartan, who plays Hans in Broadway’s Frozen, told GMA that he hopes that the song brings people together.
“Even though we can’t be together physically, [we’re] coming together to stand in hope,” he said, “to deliver that message to our brothers and sisters across the country and the world to say, ‘It is okay, we will get through this, and we’ll see each other on the other side of this thing.’”
He also announced that, for the first time ever, Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney on Broadway will be available to stream on April 13th.
McCarten will host the stream, which will raise money for the COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund created by Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS. The fund helps entertainment professionals impacted by coronavirus.
Watch our stream of Celebrating 25 Magical Years of @disneybroadway this Monday at 7pm at https://t.co/dusqtdOtgi. Thanks @ryanmccartan and @GMA. https://t.co/c86Pv7qVeA
— Broadway Cares (@BCEFA) April 9, 2020
The one-night event features a cast of 79 performers and a 15-piece orchestra to celebrate 25 years of Disney on Broadway. It will be available to stream, with bonus content, at 7 p.m. ET on Monday via Broadway Cares, YouTube, or Facebook, according to Entertainment Weekly. It’s exactly what we need to keep our hearts singing while we continue to stay apart.
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