Seth Rudetsky Reveals How He Organized Broadway's Best for DNC Performance

In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley explain how they managed to bring some of the biggest names in theater together for a performance of "What the World Needs Now" at this week's Democratic National Convention. Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Richard Kind, Debra Messing, Rosie Perez, and Darren Criss were among the many stars who participated in the event, held Wednesday evening in Philadelphia.

Convention organizers contacted Rudetsky and Wesley just two weeks prior to the event, prompting the duo to assemble as many talented artists as they could lickity split. "It was a lot of scrambling to see who was available, but it was extraordinary," noted Wesley. Many performers had to make last minute arrangements in order to participate. Idina Menzel, who appeared at the convention a day earlier, changed her plans in order to stay one day more and join her colleagues. Her FROZEN co-star Kristen Bell requested a day off from the LA set of her new series "The Good Place" in order to fly east. "She literally got up at five in the morning and flew middle-seat coach across the country to join us," shared Wesley. "All the different lengths everyone took to get there, it was so important to them." Meanwhile, New York-based stars boarded a Philly-bound bus early Wednesday morning, planning and rehearsing the performance as they travelled down the New Jersey Turnpike.

Explained Rudetsky, "It really felt like it was changing people. That's what we talked about before we went on - Rosie Perez was nervous about singing, and I said, 'It's not about our voices, it's about this message and trying to get through to people.' And Ben Vereen said, 'It's really our jobs as artists to enlighten people,' and that old chestnut of, 'If we can change one person, we can change the world.'"

Prior to their performance, the 40-plus singers waited backstage, listening to the emotional speeches from survivors of the Orlando shooting, and the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner. "We were all sobbing and telling each other, 'How are we going to be able to sing if we're all crying?'" Wesley shared. Adds Rudetsky, "It was devastating, hearing those speeches from these parents who have the bravery to talk about their children. I can't imagine being that brave to talk about something that tragic, and also not be filled with rage." He continues, "But once we were doing it, it was beautiful, moving and thrilling. It also felt like a rock concert - we're all Broadway performers, we're not used to being in stadiums. It was much bigger than a Broadway theater!"

Watch the performance of "What the World Needs Now" at the Democratic National Convention below:

The original recording of Broadway for Orlando's "What the World Needs Now Is Love" is available for purchase on iTunes. Proceeds from the sale of the songs benefit the LGBT Center of Central Florida.

Read the THR interview in full HERE