7 Top Moments From Stephen Schwartz’s 70th Birthday Bash

The Dramatists Guild celebrated Stephen Schwartz’s 70th birthday with a special concert at the Hudson Theatre on Monday, April 23. Some of Broadway’s best turned out to celebrate the famed composer, and here are seven highlights from the evening.

1. Alan Menken sang a medley of everyone’s favorite Disney hits that he wrote with Schwartz, including “Colors of the Wind” from “Pocahontas.” “This is the first song we ever wrote together,” Menken said. Cue all the tears!

2. Brothers Corey and Casey Cott teamed up to sing  “Loathing” from “Wicked.” They really leaned into their roles as Galinda (Corey) and Elphaba (Casey), hashing out what we can only assume is come deep childhood competition trauma.

3. Lindsay Mendez, current Carrie in “Carousel” and former Elphaba brought down the house with her face melting vocals on “The Wizard and I.” Yes, that really just happened!

4. Broadway sweetheart and everyone’s favorite princess Laura Osnes of course brought all the feels when she sang from Schwartz’s “Mass.”

5. Darren Criss is known for reinventing Broadway tunes and lending his classic singer/songwriter folksy vibe we’ve all come to love. He crooned hard on “Out There” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

6. Former Letterman house band frontman and original “Godspell” conductor Paul Shaffer was the host for the evening. He stepped away from the podium to dance across the stage and sing “All For the Best” from the show with composer and DSG president Andrew Lippa.

7. “Dear Evan Hansen” songwriters Justin Paul and Benj Pasek gushed over their love and admiration of Schwartz with an adorable story of a letter they received from Schwartz when they were in college. They hosted the group sing-a-long of “No Time at All” from “Pippin.” Their performance was downright adorable.