STAGE TUBE: University of Michigan Alumni Gather to Honor Brent Wagner

When Tony Award winners step up to the podium to give their acceptance speeches, along with parents and fellow collaborators, there is a group of people that seems to crop up in the list of "thank yous" more than any other: educators. For most artists, they have a teacher, or professor, or mentor who they can trace back to the reason that they fell in love with the theatre in the first place. On May 16, 2016, a group of over 300 University of Michigan Alumni-led by Celia Keenan-Bolger and Gavin Creel-gathered together for a one-night-only, sold-out performance to honor the beloved long-time Musical Theatre Department Chair, Brent Wagner.

The performance, titled "Maize & Blue on Broadway," which required 17 months and 21 alumni committee members to plan, took place at 7:00pm at the August Wilson Theatre, the rental of which was generously donated by the theater's owners. The evening was comprised of work writing by alumni, numbers frequently taught in class by Wagner, and some of the professor's personal favorites, including a finale of "Sunday in the Park with George," which the alumni in the audience were invited to sing along with the cast.

For more behind-the-scenes information, check out the full "making of" article on the University's website, and don't miss the amazing highlights video of "Maize & Blue on Broadway" below!