SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON AND THE "MENTAL HEALTH" SYSTEM

I've been thinking a lot about the way that Michael Jackson's life and death have been covered by the media and perceived by the public, and how the way he's been covered/perceived is shaped by our "mental health" system.

The way that we perceive folks with drug abuse problems is that the problem stems from some private struggle or individual neurosis. That's the idea that our entire "mental health" system is based on - that if you feel, experience, or show a difficulty in a way to makes others uncomfortable or seemingly interferes with your ability to be a "productive member of society"
then you are seen as having a personal problem.

People's individual struggles are often connected to bigger societal hurts, to different kinds of oppressions. Racism is one of the biggest forms of oppression. Racism and internalized racism had a lot to do with Michael Jackson's struggles. So did the expectations that are placed on men to act and behave in a certain way.

It looks to me that the pressures put on high-profile Black male entertainers are brutal. I'm thinking about Michael Jackson, and I'm also thinking about Dave Chappelle and Martin Lawrence. When things got tough for them (e.g. when Chappelle left his show and went to Africa or when Martin Lawrence had skirmishes with the law), there were a lot of references to mental instability.

We need a more accurate framework for seeing the struggles of Black men. Struggles around visibility, or with drugs, or with the tremendous pressure to absorb the expectations and longings of the public or entertainment execs, are intertwined with the deep blows of racism and also the small box of behaviors that is labelled as "acceptable" for men.

ZORA DORA'S PALETAS ROCK!

For the 4th of July weekend, Mike and I took a long journey - subway to Grand Central Station and then Metro North train - to Beacon, New York. A long trip, and well worth it. We went up to be part of blogger Phyllis Bobb's fiesta. Since we got to Beacon on the early side, we walked from the train station to Main Street. After getting a burger made of grass-fed meat, we stumbled upon an adorable place - Zora Dora's - that sells micro batch ice cream, hand-crafted frozen desserts, paletas, and cakes.

The paletas were definitely the center stage item there. As Steve explains on his Facebook page:

These Mexican ice pops -- chock-full of chunks of fresh fruit and available in a hypnotizing array of colors and clear, not-too-sweet flavors -- conjure images of hot afternoons in the park, time spent on a bench under a shady tree, clear blue skies dotted with red, white and green balloons.

Personable, friendly Chef/Owner Steven Astorino was there to answer all our questions about the place. He explained that he operates the store in the spring and summer time and uses seasonal, fresh ingredients only.

One of my favorite things about the store was its clean, uncluttered look and also its popsicles paintings which were strung on diagonal lines and hung in the window. It's the kind of place I could hang out in for hours, just admiring in the aesthetics.

Zora Dora's is located at 201 Main Street in Beacon, NY
646-206-3982

IMAGINE: NDI'S TRIBUTE TO JOHN LENNON

About ten years ago, I found a video at the NYPL called He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'. Curious, I checked it out, took it home, and was blown away by what I saw.

The documentary followed New York City Ballet principal dancer Jacques d'Amboise, in his journey as the founder and director of NDI, a 31-year-old dance program for young people in the public schools.

Then I found Who's Dancin' Now, which documents what became of the young people who were some of the first to go through his program. In their 20s, they talked about the impact that dancing with Jacques and his program had had on them.

Down the road, as a coordinator for volunteers in NY's public schools, I got to watch some of NDI's staff teach young people dance moves which culminated in an end-of-the year performance.

I learned that the best of the best from each school are pulled out each Saturday to do special rehearsals at LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. This group is know as the Saturday S.W.A.T. Team, and this year they put on a spectacular tribute to John Lennon.

The performance was held at LaGuardia and the audience was packed each time the cast performed. They depicted the life and the music of Lennon through mostly dance, with one song sung by the cast at the end. There was a special tap dance number which featured Chloris Leachman.

The energy up there on the stage was through the roof high. These young people had obviously worked hard, hard, hard over the last year to master the many dance numbers which movingly portrayed Lennon's life, music, and message of peace.

After the show was over, I talked with an NDI staff member on the phone. He told me that some of the NDI graduates are open about the fact that the program kept them off drugs and out of jail.

I strongly encourage you to track this organization, to donate to their work, and to attend next year's end of the year performance.

Long live NDI!!!

MAKE YOUR HEART DANCE - BY YOKO ONO

When you are feeling bad

Do one thing a day
To make your heart dance.
It could be a simple thing like looking up at the sky.
If you can’t manage even that
Do something for someone
To make their heart dance
It could be a simple thing like giving a call.
Do this for a couple of months and
Your life will change in a big way
One day we’ll all dance together.

Alright?

I Love You,
yoko

MANIFEST YOUR POSITIVE FUTURE (FROM DAILY OM)

reprinted from daily om
Scorpio Daily Horoscope

Your plans may make you feel optimistic about the future today. Seeing your opportunities in a positive way might help you realize all of your aspirations. Perhaps you recognize that by thinking about the future in this way your thoughts could bring about the results you seek.

Creating positive affirmations could help you affect these changes. Every time you start to think about what will happen to you today, you might repeat a sentence to yourself such as “The future holds everything I want” to keep you in a hopeful and confident frame of mind. While these affirmations are not true catalysts for change, they can alter your perspective about the events that happen to you, which in turn may initiate your openness and willingness to take the risks you need to reach your goals.

Thinking positively about the future encourages us to put our mental energy into something that is promising and optimistic. When we feel that the future holds wonder for us we focus on what is going right in our lives at present. This feeling of contentment allows us to look at the things that occur in our lives—even things that might seem negative—as opportunities for growth. Viewing our lives as a series of possibilities means we see the future as an opening instead of something unknown and fearful. By putting yourself in a positive frame of mind today, the future will unfold for you in transformative ways.

SUMMER ORGANIZING SPECIAL FOR BUSY BROOKLYN WOMEN

Are you a Busy Brooklyn Mom?

Would you like to live life with less clutter and more room for the people and projects you love?

If so, then this Summer Organizing Special is for you!!!!

* 3 hours of professional organizing services for the price of 2 hours

* Offer runs from now until July 31


* 9 hour package good through August (and locks in 3 for 2 special)

* 15 hour package good through September (and locks in 3 for 2 special)

This is the perfect service for the woman who wants to.......................

* Sit down to a clear desk top

* Fnd any paper document in 30 seconds or less

* Clear out the clutter to start a new business or project

* Open a closet door to find the clothes you feel good in and love to wear

* Experience more serenity and focus in your daily live

To chat with Eleanor about your organizing goals, call: 917-499-7395

Julie Markes, PS 321 parent /chidlren's book author/photographer has this to say about Inspired Organizing:

Eleanor is a wonderful organizer and has inspired me. She helped me make order out of my very cluttered workspace and gave me great advice on how to move forward with my photography business. I highly recommend her to anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by clutter and needs to clear the decks.

PUT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL IN YOUR LINE OF SIGHT

At my desk, I make sure to surround myself with things that give me a boost - photos and magazine images of what brings me joy, what inspires me. For example, on the wall that I face while on my computer, I have a newspaper article about Michelle Obama speaking to young people in the schools; a winning horse jockey who never made it past the 8th grade; Ellen DeGenerous surrounded by portraits people have done of her; Chris Rock as a teenager.

I also like to keep fresh flowers right by me. Right now, it's some sunflowers.

ATIBA EDWARDS: LEADING THE WAY IN THE NONPROFIT ARTS WORLD

How does someone with a full-time job also manage to run a nonprofit arts organization? F.O.K.U.S Co-Founder Atiba Edward's laid back, almost shy demeanor belies a man with unending energy for leading a "multicultural arts organization whose missions are to use the arts as a tool of empowerment and to create a diverse community using the arts as the common medium."

Part of Atiba's success lies in his ability to harness the energies of his dozen or so staff members (also unpaid) as well as well as other volunteers to "produce art events such as art shows, concerts, and film screenings and hold discussions related to these events and general points of interests as a means to increase the participation in and appreciation of the arts."

Here's what I learned about Atiba in my interview with him:

He started F.O.K.U.S - Fighting Obstacles Knowing Ultimate Success - in the Summer of 2003 with one of his best friends, Alma, while they were both students at the University of Michigan. They had spoken about the self-defeating internal barriers which artists face and wanted to do something about those barriers before leaving college.

After graduating from college in 2006, Atiba brought F.O.K.U.S to New York and built their volunteer staff. They also brought their organization's magazine, INSIGHT, which features the art and writing of local artists.

F.O.K.U.S sponsors and organizes New York based events, including the annual "The Stoop" in Forte Green Park; the Family Day portion of the Hip Hop Festival; and a block party with City Year.

Atiba himself loves to write poetry, take photographs, play the piano, build computers, and ride his bike. He was Born in St. Vincent in the Caribbean and remembers hearing about his mother's participation in Carnival. Also, his dad was someone who loved making things with his hands. One year, he crafted a bar for the family's barbecue get together. The overall message Atiba got from his family was "Do what you can with what you have."

Atiba, who studied engineering, poetry, and musicology while at U of M, now works as a financial analyst. According to Edwards, the profession, combined with his studies, helps him see inefficiency with people, places, and things and to keep asking the questions that will get below the surface of a problem.

As the Co-Founder of F.O.K.U.S, Atiba's philosophy is to treat the organization as "one big learning pot" where staff and other volunteers have plenty of room to try things, and to make mistakes.

If you want to see Atiba and F.O.K.U.S in action come to The Stoop on August 8th at 1:00 in Brooklyn's Fort Greene Park.

To make a donation to FOKUS, CLICK HERE.

CHECK OUT COLLEEN NEWVINE'S BLOG

Colleen Newvine has a seriously wonderful blog. It's called Newvine Growing - exploring evolution, revolution and living life intentionally. I told her in an email: "I like the combo of good information about personal and professional development, the way you are thoughtful without being fruity or crystal-waving. (Speaking of fruity, remember Jack Handy from Saturday Night Live? When you're in the right mood, it can be hilarious to read from his books.)"

Here's a recent post from Ms. Colleen; I know she welcomes comments.

On moving to BrooklynAs I write this, I am surrounded by cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and old newspapers. We are preparing for a move in about two weeks and living in chaos in the meantime.

Google "New York City map" and you're likely to get an image like this -- Manhattan, with perhaps the hint there there's something else.

We are leaving the city. Not New York. Just Manhattan.

For those of you not well-versed in New York geography, the city of New York is actually made up of five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. But informally, when someone refers to living in “the city,” what they usually mean is Manhattan.

Meanwhile, just across the East River is Brooklyn, which has about 2.5 million residents — about 1 million more than Manhattan. If it were its own city, Wikipedia says it would be the fourth biggest in the country. But since it doesn’t have Broadway shows, Central Park, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree or Ground Zero, you might assume “New York City” and “Manhattan” are interchangeable and not think of the most-populous borough.

When we moved to New York about three years ago, I felt strongly that if were were moving to New York, I would regret it if we never lived in Manhattan. Though many of my colleagues commute in from the suburbs, I was set on having the city experience.

That’s meant paying an astronomical amount of rent to live in an apartment smaller than where I lived my senior year of college.

Now three years in, we’re looking to make a change. It’s partially driven by finances, but it’s also motivated by a desire to have a different kind of New York experience.

There’s a sense that all the creatives have been priced out of Manhattan by years of booming real estate escalating both rents and purchase prices. Curious? Check out this search for three-bedroom rentals in Manhattan on Craigslist. A three-bedroom would hardly be considered indulgent in much of the country but here, if you learn that someone lives in that much space in Manhattan, you might ask in a whisper whether they got it under rent control in the ’70s or if they’re a trustifarian. It’s not uncommon for a decent one bedroom to go for $3,000 or so in Manhattan, and with bigger apartments more rare, they command premium prices.

Where have the creatives gone? Many of them are in Brooklyn, though now there’s talk that gentrification is pushing some of the pioneers out into Queens. But a story on NPR-affiliate WNYC a while back noted that for the second year in a row, Brooklyn had more winners in an arts grant program than Manhattan, which would seem to say that at least some artists are still there.

We feel that choosing a place to live isn’t just about square footage or the amenities inside the front door. Where you live determines much about your lifestyle. How long is your commute? What kinds of grocery stores and restaurants are nearby? Who are your neighbors? Do you socialize with people nearby or have to travel a long distance to spend time with people you like?

So while we were checking out new apartments, we were also shopping for neighborhoods and lifestyle. We want to unpack our boxes into an improved quality of life, not just a slightly bigger apartment with lower rent.

Have you chosen where you live intentionally? Does your neighborhood suit you well? How about your city or state? If not, would you consider leaving or are you held in place by family, friends or your job?

A BRAND NEW DAY (EVERYBODY REJOICE) FROM THE WIZ

One of my favorite parts of the movie version of The Wiz is when Evilene's sweatshop workers unzip themselves out of their cumbersome leather suits to reveal fantastic dancer's bodies in bright yellow outfits. They twirl and jump in a celebratory fashion along with Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion in an amazing number set to this song.The suits could represent anything we're happy to shed - outdated beliefs, internalized oppression, etc.

What a terrific number. The lyrics are by Luther Vandross.

Everybody look around
Cause there's a reason to rejoice you see
Everybody come out
And let's commence to singing joyfully
'Cause there's a reason to rejoice you see
Everybody come out
And let's commence to singing joyfully
Everybody look up
And feel the hope that we've been waiting for

Everybody's glad
Because our silent fear and dread is gone
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?

Everybody be glad
Because the sun is shining just for us
Everybody wake up
Into the morning into happiness

Hello world
It's like a different way of living now
And thank you world
We always knew that we'd be free somehow
In harmony
And show the world that we've got liberty

It's such a change
For us to live so independently
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?

Everybody be glad
Because the sun is shining just for us
Everybody wake up
Into the morning into happiness
Hello world
It's like a different way of living now
And thank you world
We always knew that we'd be free somehow
In harmony
And show the world that we've got liberty

It's such a change
For us to live so independently
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?
Can't you feel a brand new day?

HOW ABOUT TITHING TO CREATIVE TIMES?

Something I learned from Paula Langguth Ryan's book Giving Thanks: The Art of Tithing is that tithing is not limited to giving 10% of one's income to religious institutions. In fact, tithing stems from Jewish law, predates the Bible by centuries, and has been practiced in various forms by all different cultures!

Paula suggests that tithing is about giving to the places and people that inspire us. Ideally, the money is given out of a sense of thanksgiving, not charity.

She says: "Practicing the art of tithing allows you to give up the emotional struggle that surrounds financial issues. Tithing teaches you how to release your attachments to the abundance in your life. When you release your attachment to the prosperity that flows in and out of your life, you allow that abundance to glow more freely."

If this ad-free blog, Creative Times, has been a source of inspiration to you, consider tithing to it. The the spirit moves you to do so, you can click on the yellow "Donate" button below and to the right.

TISCHINA ARNOLD IS IN THE WIZ!

Upon closer look at the subway stop billboard ad for the re-make of The Wiz, I was delighted to discover that Tichina Arnold (pictured right) is one of the stars. She'll be playing the villanous Evilene.

Tichina brilliantly plays Chris' mom in the Friday-night sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. The show is based on the life of comedian Chris Rock, who grew up in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bed-Stuy in the 80s.

You may also remember Tichina from the days when she played the character of Pamela on the television show Martin.

(Photo by Robert J. Saferstein)

TEN REASONS TO WATCH THE WIZ

* New York City is the backdrop

* Lion comes from the steps of the NYPL!

* Diana Ross' vocal talents and facial expressions

* "Ease On Down the Road"

* Michael Jackson as Scarecrow

* Lena Horne's as Glinda

* The dancing and singing in "Brand New Day"

* Richard Pryor as The Oz

*The scenes filmed at the Emerald City which included six hundred fifty dancers, three hundred eighty-five crew members and twelve hundred costumes.

^* The way Costume designer Tony Walton enlisted the help of high fashion designers in New York City for the Emerald City sequence, securing costumes and fabric from designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Norma Kamali

THE ART OF WATERCOLOR

I found this great card at Kisan Concept Store in SoHo. Kisan is also located in Iceland (!) When I mentioned to the sales clerk that Bjork is on the cover of Interview magazine, she said that that the owner of Kisan has some kind of indirect connection with the singer of Icelandic origins. (I'll confirm with the owner to find out what the connection is.)

The card, by Paper House Productions, is entitled Watercolors.On the back of the card, they explain that "The art of watercolor [...] has been in existence since the primitive hunter gatheres used water and pigment to depict scenes on the walls of caves."

COME HELP MY FRIEND ATIBA CELEBRATE ISSUE 2 OF HIS ARTS MAGAZINE

A few months back, Mike and I went to the launch party of our friend and F.O.K.U.S Founder Atiba Edward's art magazine. Hope to see a bunch of you there. Atiba, along with a huge crew of volunteers, runs an amazing grass-roots nonprofit arts organization. The energy of Atiba and his work is contagious and inspiring.

Join F.O.K.U.S. + Solefood NYC on Saturday, June 13th, 2009 at 4pm for the heART + SOLE art show and the celebration of the release of F.O.K.U.S.' INSIGHT Magazine Vol II Issue 2 at Solefood NYC's gallery in TriBeCa (38 Lispenard Street).

Works by legendary graffiti artists, STAN-ONE TSF and PRIZ TS5, will be on display at Solefood NYC. Both artists have been tagging since the 1970s, evolving from spraying trains to legally painting murals and canvases throughout New York City. Additionally, the contents from INSIGHT Volume II Issue 2 will be on display. The magazine features a special cover designed by See One; photography by Silvia Laserna; images from STAN-ONE TSF, PRIZ TS5 and REE-2 MTA and much more.

F.O.K.U.S. Presents: heART + SOLE: Art Show & INSIGHT Issue 2 Release Party
Where: Solefood NYC
38 Lispenard Street (btwn Church St. and Broadway)
New York, NY 10013

Cost: FREE

When: Saturday June 13, 2009
4pm - 7pm

Directions:

-You can take the 1; A, C, E; to Canal Street and walk South-East to Church St. Turn Right onto Church St and Left onto Lispenard St.
-You can take the N,Q,R, W; 6; or J,M,Z trains to Canal Street Station. Walk North-West on Canal to Broadway. Turn Left onto Broadway and Right onto Lispenard St.

About the Artists:
PRIZ started "solo-bombing" above ground in the late 70's as a novice street writer. While attending Public School on the Upper West side of Manhattan, PRIZ became heavily influenced by subway veterans like DEAN, JEAN-13, and BAD among other writers from Brandeis High School. By the 1980's, he was tagging subway train exterior panels and the IRT Broadway No. 1 line. Influenced by letter flow movement and arrow connections, PRIZ, describes his style as "old school."

STAN-ONE tagged and painted walls, subway cars and stations on the Broadway IRT No. 1 line in 1979. He was influenced by a group of older known writers from his Harlem neighborhood called The Spanish Five. When the first generation members of The Spanish Five graffiti crew aka TSF/TS5 retired from the subway graffiti scene, STAN-ONE was granted presidency of the crew by LEO, the crew's founding president. In the 1980's, STAN-ONE was instrumental in revitalizing the The Spanish Five and recruiting talented new blood above and below ground. By the 80's, he was President of TSF/TS5. STAN-ONE disappeared from the graffiti scene in the late 80's until Priz brought him out of retirement in 2001.

About Solefood NYC:
Solefood NYC is a restaurant themed, lifestyle drive, custom sneaker boutique and art gallery. Specializing in street wear, custom sneakers and custom apparel, this boutique gallery offers a one on one consultation between their clients and quality staff, which consists of sneaker customizers, a clothing designer and a stylist. Visit www.solefoodnyc.com for more information.

About F.O.K.U.S.
F.O.K.U.S. is a non-profit arts organization, whose mission is to use the arts to create a diverse community and as a tool of empowerment and highlight the enrichment the arts provide in our lives. F.O.K.U.S. has produced workshops, film screenings and have produced shows with artists such as John Legend, Kidz in the Hall, Janelle Monae, Saul Williams, Justin Bua, Michael Skolnik, Paola Mendoza, Gene Pendon and Slum Village; as well as headed up the Family Day at the annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. Visit www.onefokus.org for more information.

In the utopian future, art “would no longer refer exclusively to the specialists within the modern art world, but extend to the whole work of humanity.” - J. Beuys

---

COME SEE CECILIA ANDRE'S ART AT GOVERNOR'S ISLAND THIS WEEKEND

CECILIA ANDRÉ

R E C E N T W O R K

Join me at FIGMENT

ARTS FESTIVAL

June 12,13 & 14 of 2009

Governor's Island, NYC

Ferries 10 am to 5 pm

www.govisland.com

arteny@msn.com

cell (917) 892 6705

To read more about Cecilia on my blog, CLICK HERE.

PROMOTING INSPIRATION (FROM DAILY OM)

This is a reprint from the website of Daily Om

Promoting Inspiration
Scorpio Daily Horoscope

Your own successes can inspire you to help others achieve a similar level of prosperity today. Though you may not know precisely how to ensure that the people around you can freely pursue the paths that have long intrigued them, you can nonetheless provide them with some of the tools they need to embark upon these journeys of achievement.

By offering sincere words of encouragement, praise, and support today, you may be able to motivate colleagues, friends, and family to revisit ambitions that they have previously deemed too challenging. You will likely be surprised to discover that your upbeat words give others the strength to believe that they are capable of making their dreams come true.

We can foster the spread of inspiration among those with whom we share our environment by first encouraging others to follow their dreams whenever an opportunity to do so arises and then supporting them in their efforts. Though the positive and optimistic thoughts we share may seem at first to have no effect on those individuals to whom we endeavor to offer motivation, our words can grow in significance as they are incubated in their minds and hearts.

The impact of even a simple compliment or kind word can prove intensely meaningful as most people thrive in an atmosphere in which they know their colleagues and peers believe in their abilities. The support and enthusiastic reception you offer others when they share their dreams today will ensure that you have done your part to encourage them to strive for greatness.

BE MY HERO: HOOK ME UP WITH A TICKET (OR TWO) TO THE 2009 TONY AWARDS

My dream-come-true would be to find one or two tickets to this Sunday's 2009 Tony Awards at the Radio City Music Hall.

Do you or anyone you know have extra tickets?

Call me at 917-499-7395 anytime between now and Sunday afternoon. (Ticket-holders have to be in their seats at 7; show starts at 8)

JOIN ME IN WATCHING YOUNG NDI DANCERS IN A TRIBUTE TO JOHN LENNON

2009 Event of the Year:

A Celebration of John Lennon

Directed by Ellen Weinstein

With guest stars Cloris Leachman
and George Englund, Jr.

Join 200 children of NDI’s Advanced Team for a joyous celebration in dance and music of the legendary John Lennon. This theatrical event weaves together vignettes of Lennon’s life with original, energetic choreography set to his masterful music. The young dancers, ages 9-15 present a moving portrait of Lennon’s enduring legacy, accompanied by the NDI Orchestra.

PERFORMANCE TIMES

Sat, June 20, 3pm & 6pm
Sun, June 21, 3pm
Mon, June 22, 6:30pm

LaGuardia High School Concert Hall
65th Street bet. Amsterdam & West End, NYC

Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

THE 2009 TONY AWARDS ARE THIS SUNDAY AT 8 PM

Watching the 2009 Tony Awards is a great way to support theatre, and catch up on what's been happening in theatre this past year.

And while you're at it, why not pick a musical or play to go see?

This year's Tony Award will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. Presenters include:

Lucie Arnaz, Kate Burton, Kristin Chenoweth, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, Edie Falco, Will Ferrell, Carrie Fisher, Jane Fonda, Hallie Foote, James Gandolfini, Lauren Graham, Colin Hanks, Marcia Gay Harden, Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Lange, Frank Langella, Angela Lansbury, Samantha Mathis, Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, David Hyde Pierce, Piper Perabo, Oliver Platt, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Spacey, John Stamos and Chandra Wilson.