Andrew Lippa's oratorio about the life of America's first openly gay politician to be elected to public office is finally making its way to New York, for one night only, at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. The piece, which premiered in July 2013 with the help of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, follows the life of Milk from childhood through his assassination. "Harvey Milk himself was a very uplifting hopeful, person. Leaping, trying something before you know what the end result is going to be. Moving, you might soar. It's great lesson for us all today," Chenoweth told BuzzFeed.
The production will feature Lippa in the title role along with Chenoweth and a chorus of over 125 singers. "I've now rehearsed it for several weeks and it still brings me to tears, and always in different spots," Chenoweth added of the show which benefits the Harvey Milk Arts Fund and includes a committee of stars supporting the production including Senators Tammy Baldwin and Kirsten Gillibrand as well as stars like Hugh Jackman, Julianne Moore, Jonathan Groff, and Alan Cumming. "I love that Harvey Milk single-handedly changed the gay community with his love and hope. And because of him, in his death, it was truly the beginning of change. And I'm proud Andrew chose to write about him."