TONIGHT ON METROFOCUS

> TONIGHT ON 'METROFOCUS,' THE RACE IS OVER BUT IT'S ONLY JUST BEGUN.

ACTOR CYNTHIA NIXON WAS CRUSHED AT NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION AS KWOUMMO WON THE NOD FOR THE THIRD TERM.

PRESIDENT TRUMP MET WITH CHEERS AND JEERS IN VISIT TO LONG ISLAND AS HE GETS TOUGH OVER NOTORIOUS MS-13 GANG.

IT'S FLEET WEEK, NEW YORK TRADITION.

MUST-DO EVENTS.

TONIGHT IN TRUE NEW YORK FASHION, HEADED BAN TO FAMOUS ALGONQUIAN HOTEL WHERE INFAMOUS ROUND TABLE OF WRITERS MADE INDELIBLE IMPACT ON WHAT WE READ TODAY.

REVIVAL OF 'CAROUSEL' ON BROADWAY.

RENEE FLEMING WILL BE HERE.

'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪

Announcer: THIS IS 'METROFOCUS' WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY --

> SO OUR STATE IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THE PROGRESS THAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN WE HAVE TOUGH, EXPERIENCED DEMOCRATIC LEADERS DEFENDING OUR VALUES, STANDING UP TO ONSLAUGHT OF ATTACKS FROM THIS PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT ANDREW CUOMO HAS DONE.

A STRONG ENDORSEMENT FROM HILLARY CLINTON.

NIGHT OF CONVENTIONS, ENDORSEMENTS AND RACES THAT HAVE JUST BEGUN.

WELCOME TO 'METROFOCUS,' I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

LOCAL NEWS WITH NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS.

ACTRESS CYNTHIA NIXON HAD GUBERNATORIAL RUN BRUISED IN BIG WAY, SIDE TRKED BY PARTY'S PICK OF CUOMO, SETTING HIM UP FOR WHITE HOUSE RUN IN 2020.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS GREETED WITH CHEERS FOR PUSH TO COMBAT DEADLY GANG MS-13 THAT HAS WREAKED HAVOC ON THE ISLAND BUT MET WITH JEERS FOR PUSH AGAINST THE UNDOCUMENTED.

BOTH EVENTS HAVE WIDE IMPLICATIONS IN POLITICAL AND PUBLIC ARENA.

HERE TO SORT IT OUT, JONATHAN LENTZ OF CITY AND STATE.

GLAD TO BE ON.

DEMOCRATS ON LONG ISLAND.

WAS IT A SURPRISE THEY PICKED CUOMO OVER NIXON?

NOT AT ALL.

INCUMBENT, BEEN IN OFFICE YEARS, THE FAMILY NAME.

FATHER WAS GOVERNOR.

95% OR MORE.

CYNTHIA NIXON CAN PETITION TO GET ON THE BALLOT, SEEMS LIKELY.

AND JUST BECAUSE BRUISED, SHE'S NOT OUT, ENDORSEMENT OF THE WORKING FAMILY PARTY.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO SAY?

GOING TO SUPPORT THE INCUMBENT FOR ANOTHER TERM BUT SHE'S INCHING UP CLOSER IN THE POLLS.

LONG WAY TO GO TO CATCH UP WITH CUOMO BUT A POSSIBILITY.

ANY OTHER BIG NEWS -- NOT THAT THAT ENDORSEMENT WAS BIG NEWS BUT ANYTHING SURPRISING?

HILLARY CLINTON WAS THERE AND SPOKE.

SENT AN INTERESTING MESSAGE.

SHE REPRESENTS MORE CENTRIST, MODERATE WING OF THE PARTY IN ERA WHEN PEOPLE ARE SHIFTING LEFT.

NIXON IS THE SHIFT LEFT BUT CUOMO DOWN THE MIDDLE BUT HILLARY CLINTON IS POPULAR IN NEW YORK WHERE SHE WAS A SENATOR.

OTHER BIG THING, EXPECTED BUT SOLIDIFIED.

LETICIA JAMES, RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, RALLYING A LOT OF SUPPORT THIS WEEK.

GLAD YOU BROUGHT HER UM.

CYNTHIA NIXON'S CAMPAIGN TREASURER, WHO WE KNOW FROM HER RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND THE 19th DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, SHE HAD ALSO HOPED TO GET ENDORSEMENT TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

DOES THAT MEAN SHE WILL BE ALSO ON THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY LINE?

SEEING A SPLIT LEFT TICKET COMING UP?

TO SOME DEGREE.

INTERESTINGINGLY ENOUGH IN HER CASE, SHE MAY RUN IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IF SHE GETS ENOUGH PETITIONS.

ALSO SEEKING SUPPORT FROM WORKING FAMILIES PARTY.

THEY HAVE STRONG TIES TO JAMES AS WELL SO DECLINED TO NOMINATE EITHER, SAID WOULD ENDORSE BOTH.

HAND OF GOVERNOR CUOMO IS SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND HERE.

DIDN'T WANT THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY TO GET BEHIND LETICIA JAMES.

SHE MAY HAVE SUCCUMBED TO PRESSURE.

IT'S PLAYING OUT LIKE A SOAP OPERA.

YES.

FOR THE REPUBLICANS, CUT AND DRIED.

YES.

LONG SEEN FRONT RUNNER MARCUS MOLINARO, A YOUNGER GUY, 42, HAD HIS CORONATION IN THEIR CONVENTION IN MANHATTAN.

INTERESTING THING THERE, DONALD TRUMP WAS IN NEW YORK, DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE NEW YORK REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

THAT SEEMS WHAT YOU EXPECT.

MOLINARO HAS DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM TRUMP.

WE HAD HIM ON THE SHOW AND HE SPOKE ABOUT THE FACT HE DIDN'T SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT AND WOULD BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF REPUBLICAN.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT AS THE CAMPAIGN ROLLS ON.

GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE PRESIDENT, HE WAS ALSO HERE SPEAKING ABOUT -- WHY IS HE HARPING SO HARD ON MS-13?

TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT -- I MEAN NOT A NATIONAL GANG, CORRECT?

VERY LONG ISLAND CENTRIC.

HEAVY PRESENCE IN LONG ISLAND AND IN SOME WAYS INTERNATIONAL WITH TIES TO CENTRAL AMERICA I BELIEVE, BUT IT'S AN ISSUE RESONATING IN LONG ISLAND.

I THINK IT'S SMART POLITICS FOR THE PRESIDENT EVEN AS THE RHETORIC IS INFLAMMATORY.

THERE IS A PIECE OUT THIS WEEK, SUFFOLK COUNTY, PART OF LONG ISLAND THAT WENT FOR OBAMA WHEN HE RAN WENT STRONGLY FOR TRUMP, THEY LIKE TRUMP, PROTOTYPICAL SWING AREA BUT MICROCOSM OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

DID HE USE THAT CHANCE TO PIVOT TALKING POINTS TOWARDS HIS ISSUES WITH IMMIGRATION?

THINK IT'S MORE OF THE SAME HONESTLY.

VERY HARD LINE PUSHING TO CLOSE WHAT HE CALLS LOOP HLS.

VERY EMOTIONAL ACCOUNTS BY PARENTS OF CHILDREN KILLED BY THE MS-13 GANG.

WITH HARD CORE REPUBLICAN BASE, THAT'S GOING TO RESONATE.

ALL RIGHT.

JONATHAN THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE PROGRAM.

WE'LL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT EVENTUALLY COMES OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

REPUBLICANS SEEM ALL TOGETHER.

THEY HAVE DOWNTICKET BALLOT PEOPLE THEY ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE ARE READY TO GO.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK ON.

THANK YOU.

♪ NEW YORK, NEW YORK, A WONDERFUL TOWN, BRONX IS UP ♪ BATTERY IS DOWN.

> IT IS A WONDERFUL TOWN, HIGH TECH WAR SHIPS ARE CRUISING INTO THE HARBOR, THOUSANDS OF SAILORS ENGAGING IN ADVENTURE ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY, NOT INVASION BUT ONE OF THE CITY'S FAVORITE EVENTS, FLEET WEEK.

JOINING US IS COMMISSIONER OF VETERAN AFFAIRS IN NEW YORK CITY, RETIRED BRIGADIER GENERAL LAURIE SUTTON.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

ICONIC SHOT OF THOSE GUY IN TOWN, IN MANHATTAN.

BUT MIGHT BE FOLKS NOT SURE WHAT FLEET WEEK IS.

WHAT IS IT?

A LONGSTANDING TRADITION IN NEW YORK CITY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

ONE WEEK EVERY YEAR WE HAVE OVER 2,000 SAILORS, MARINES, COASTIES, WHO COME TO NEW YORK.

THIS YEAR 14 SHIPS AT SIX PORTS, THERE'S A NAVY DIVE TANK AT TIMES SQUARE.

COAST GUARD SILENT DRILL TEAM.

TOURS OF THE SHIPS, THINGS FOR FAMILIES.

IT'S A WAY FOR NEW YORKERS TO EXPERIENCE THEIR MARITIME TRIPS.

WE LOVE OUR SAILORS, COASTIES AND MARINES.

WAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.

CAN TALK TO OUR TROOPS, BUY THEM A BEER, GO TO A SHOW.

WE'RE SO EXCITED.

AND WIDE-EYED SAILORS, MARINES AND COASTIES --

INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY THAT, WALKING AROUND THIS WEEK HISTORICALLY, I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING THE REACTION OF THE NEW YORKERS, VERY EMBRACING.

NEW YORKERS, WE LOVE --

AND I REMEMBER MY FATHER-IN-LAW, HE WAS VETERAN OF D-DAY, LANDED IN THIRD WAVE ON OMAHA BEACH, SEVERELY WOUNDED ABOUT TEN DAYS INTO THE BATTLE.

LOST PART OF HIS HAND, ARM, BUT HE LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THE MILITARY, INTERESTED IN THE GREATEST GENERATION, DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT BUT LOVED IT.

WHEN FLEET WEEK WOULD SHOW UP, HE WAS SO EXCITED.

AND HE WAS IN THE ARMY, ONE OF YOU.

BUT HE JUST LOVED SEEING IT.

AND IT'S INTERESTING HOW IT'S EVOLVED FROM LIBERTY STOP TO AN ENTIRE EVENT.

TALK ABOUT -- STARTED TO TOUCH BASE ON IT.

TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT TAKE PLACE WHEN EVERYBODY'S IN TOWN FOR THIS.

LISTEN, FIRST OF ALL, JUST DIRECT FOLKS TO THE FLEET WEEK NEW YORK WEBSITE.

HAS THE ENTIRE SCHEDULE.

THERE ARE DOZENS OF EVENTS.

THINGS FOR FAMILIES.

TO WATCH KIDS AND FAMILIES GO THROUGH THE TOURS, SIX DIFFERENT PORTS.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE --

GET ON SOME OF THE SHIPS.

GET ON THE SHIPS AND TALK TO SAILORS, MARINES AND COASTIES AND LEARN WHAT THEY DO TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND WAY OF LIFE.

FROM THE DIVE TANK IN TIMES SQUARE AND SILENT TRILL TEAM, WILL BRING A SENSE OF REVERENCE AND PRIDE TO THE HEART OF EVERY NEW YORKER.

IT STOPS EVERYBODY IMMEDIATELY.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?

SOMETHING YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING?

TOUR YOU WANT TO DO, EXHIBIT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN?

I LOVE THE BAND CONCERTS.

OH, LOOK FOR THE BAND CONCERTS.

WILL BE IN EVERY BOROUGH, DON'T WANT TO MISS THEM.

OR THE PARADE OF SHIPS.

IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ON A SHIP GET OUT FOR A TOUR, DIVE TANK, SILENT DRILL TEAM.

EVEN IF YOU'RE OUT OF TOWN THIS WEEK AND MISS IT, DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR, GO TO THE INTREPID ANY DAY OF THE YEAR.

WONDERFUL SPOT.

NATIONAL TREASURE.

SHOT A STORY ON ONE OF THE BRAND NEW AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, IT WAS A FLOATING CITY.

AND GETTING ON THE INTREPID AS YOU SAID, SUCH A WONDERFUL SPOT TO VISIT HERE IN NEW YORK, GET A SENSE OF WHAT LIFE WAS AND IS LIKE.

AND THERE ARE STILL CREW MEMBERS WHO SERVED ON THE INTREPID.

STILL ALIVE WITH US.

TOUCHING TO LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES AND RECOGNIZE WHEN THE INTREPID WAS OUT AMONG THE FLEET AND DOING ITS DUTY, AVERAGE AGE OF THE SAILORS ON THE DECK WAS 18, 19 YEARS OLD.

YOU REALIZE HOW YOUNG THEY ARE.

JUST AMAZING, POETRY IN MOTION.

IT'S ALWAYS A DELIGHT TO CHAT WITH YOU.

ALWAYS.

I'M SURE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY I'M GOING.

IF NOTHING ELSE, GOING TO THE DIVE TANK AND SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

AS THEY SAY IN THE NAVY, BRAVO ZOO, BRAVO ZULU.

FOR ARMY PERSON TO SAY GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE NAVY.

LAST THING ANY OF MY ARMY FRIENDS SAY IS BEAT NAVY.

THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION.

I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU.

FREE INFORMATION ON FLEET WEEK 2018 AND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND EXHIBITS, GO TO THE WEBSITE OR VISIT US OT METROFOCUS.ORG.

YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT TIME.

> PBS IS IN SEARCH OF AMERICA'S BEST-LOVED NOVEL AND NEEDS YOUR HELP.

'THE GREAT AMERICAN READ,' EIGHT-PART SERIES TAKES US ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO COVER NOVELS AND PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM.

HOPE YOU'LL HELP BY VOTING ON YOUR FAVORITE NOVEL.

STANDING OUTSIDE THE LEGENDARY ALGONQUIAN HOTEL IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN.

HOW DOES IT FACTOR IN?

ALGONQUIAN, IT'S THE CORNERSTONE OF THEIR FOUNDATION AND ONE OF LITERARY LEGACY.

LET'S GO INSIDE.

WE'RE AT THE ALGONQUIAN HOTEL.

JOINING ME IS KEVIN FITZPATRICK.

SITTING AT THIS LEGENDARY SPOT.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE ALGONQUIAN ROUND TABLE?

RIGHT AFTER WORLD WAR I, A GROUP OF FOLKS STARTED MEETING FOR LUNCH SIX DAYS A WEEK, SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS.

ABOUT 16 PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE.

WOULD HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME CRACKING JOKES, TALKING ABOUT THE NEWS AND LATEST STORIES.

WHAT THEY SAID WAS USUALLY REPORTED IN NEXT DAY'S NEWSPAPERS.

HAD 20 DAILIES AT THE TIME.

SO COLUMNISTS WERE REPEATING WHAT WAS SAID AROUND THE TABLE.

99 YEARS BEFORE TWITTER, WHAT WAS SAID AT ROUND TABLE WAS GOING TO GO COAST-TO-COAST RIGHT AWAY.

TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT SAT HERE.

WAS IT OFFICIAL?

HOW DID IT START?

WHAT WOULD THEY TALK ABOUT?

SURE.

ROOTS OF THE ROUND TABLE ARE IN PARIS.

MANY OF THE MEMBERS WERE IN FRANCE IN WORLD WAR I.

WHEN THE WAR ENDED, WELCOME BACK LUNCHEON FOR ALEXANDER WOLCOTT, THE CHIEF DRAMATIC CRITIC FOR THE 'NEW YORK TIMES.'

HAD A WELCOME BACK TO NEW YORK GET TOGETHER FOR HIM AND INVITED CREAM OF THE CROP OF THE WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS AND BROADWAY FOLKS.

WHO WAS COMING WERE PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH 'VANITY FAIR' AND VOGUE AND 'NEW YORK TIMES' AND 'NEW YORK WORLD' AND 'NEW YORK TRIBUNE' TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE WORKING ON AND WHAT THEY HAD SEEN, A BIGGER THEATER SCENE.

LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

ANY THAT JUMPED OUT TO YOU?

FAVORITES?

SURE.

YOU'RE SITTING IN ROBERT SHERWOOD'S SEAT.

WON FOUR PULITZER PRIZES SO MAYBE THE MOJO WCOME OUT.

FAVORITES ARE DOROTHY PARKER FROM THE UPPER WEST SIDE, POET, WRITER, CRITIC.

ROBERT BENCHLEY AND FRANK ROBERTS FROM CHICAGO.

HE WAS IMPORTANT COLUMNIST, PUBLISHING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FUTURE ALL-STARS, THURBER, MILL LAY, PARKER.

HE WAS GIVING THEM A LEG UP.

A FEW OF THE MORE THAN 30 MEMBERS THAT STARTED COMING HERE.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT DOROTHY PARKER THAT ATTRACTS YOU SO MUCH TO HER CHARACTER?

LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHY I'M DRAWN TO PARKER, WAS A REALLY GREAT NEW YORKER AND AHEAD OF HER TIME, KIND OF A REBEL.

I LIKED THAT ABOUT HER.

AND -- WAS ALSO PART OF IT AS WELL?

HAROLD ROSS WAS -- JANE GRANT FOUNDED NEW YORKER RIGHT HERE.

ROSS AND GRANT MET IN PARIS, HE WAS WITH 'STARS AND STRIPES' SHE WAS VOLUNTEER.

THEY MET, CAME BACK TO NEW YORK AND GOT MARRIED.

BANKED ONE SALARY AND GOT BY ON THE OTHER.

GOAL TO LAUNCH MAGAZINE.

SAID WE HAVE EDITORIAL BOARD, PARKER, CONNOLLY AND ADAMS.

THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF WORKING FOR ROSS.

THOUGHT HE WAS KIND OF A FOOL BUT ENDED UP WRITING FOR HIM.

IT WAS THAT KIND OF PUSH FROM THE GROUP THAT GOT THE MAGAZINE OFF THE GROUND IN 1925.

WITHOUT THIS ROUND TABLE, NEW YORKER TLT WOULDN'T BE WHAT IT IS?

NOT WITHOUT THE ALGONQUIAN ROUND TABLE.

HE CAME TO NEW YORK WAS NOBODY AND CONNECTIONS MADE IN THE ROOM GOT THE MAGAZINE OFF THE GROUND.

DOING FANTASTIC, JUST WON A PULITZER PRIZE LAST MONTH.

ALL ATTRIBUTED TO THE FOLKS WHO MET IN THIS ROOM.

THIS IS 99 YEARS AGO, YOU THINK 20 YEARS AGO YOU MIGHT NOT B IMAGINE WHAT THE WORLD IS NOW AND INFLUENCE SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE ON IT.

HOW DOES THIS STILL INFLUENCE POPULAR CULTURE TODAY?

YOU SEE ECHOS OF THEM IN OTHER WRITERS.

DAVID SEDARIS, TINA FEY, NORA EFRON, THEY HAVE THE DNA OF THE ALGONQUIAN ROUND TABLE IN THEM.

IF ANYONE WAS GOING TO TAKE ONE THING, SOMETHING NOTABLE ABOUT THIS ROUND TABLE, THE PEOPLE THAT SAT HERE, THIS HOTEL, WHAT IS THAT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT IT?

IF THERE'S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE ROUND TABLE IS NOT JUST WITTY THINGS THEY SAID.

THEY WROTE SOME FANTASTIC, TIMELESS PIECES.

EDNA FERBER WROTE 'SHOWBOAT' THE FIRST BIG MUSICAL.

HERMAN MANKIEWICZ, EXPERIENCE GAVE HIM THE BACKGROUND TO WRITE 'CITIZEN KANE,' THEY WENT ON TO CREATE REALLY GOOD WORK.

SOMEWHERE SOMEONE IS PERFORMING GEORGE F. KAUFMAN PLAY.

SOMEONE IS DOING 'THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER,' 'THE ROYAL FAMILY' THEY LEFT THIS REALLY GREAT LEGACY OF WRITING.

♪

> FOR DECADES INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SOPRANO AND FOUR-TIME GRAMMY WINNER RENEE FLEMING HAS BEEN A SHINING STAR ON THE WORLD'S GREAT OPERA STAGES, INCLUDING IN NEW YORK.

NOW APPEARING IN SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT ROLE AND WINNING EVEN MORE ACCLADS FOR BROADWAY MUSICAL DEBUT IN REVIVAL OF RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S SAGA OF DOOMED LOVE, 'CAROUSEL,' SINGS MANY OF THE CLASSICS, AMONG THEM THE ANTHEM 'YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE' TAKE A LOOK, SHE LEAVES HARDLY A DRY EYE INCLUDING MINE IN THE HOUSE.

♪

AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE RENEE FLEMING JOIN US.

ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU.

GREAT TO SEE YOU TOO, JACK.

WIFE AND I SAW IT LAST WEEK, IT'S MARVELOUS.

THANK YOU.

DO WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT -- SO MANY ICONIC SONGS IN IT.

DON'T REALIZE IT UNTIL YOU SIT IN IT.

CONSIDERED TO BE THE GREATEST AMERICAN MUSICAL AND IN MANY WAYS CLOSEST TO THE CLASSIC ARTS.

BALLET AND --

THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON ON THE STAGE.

WERE YOU SURPRISED AT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CLASSICAL ARTS AND THIS PRODUCTION?

MY COLLEAGUES AND I TALK ABOUT THE FACT WE THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL.

YOU HAVE ME, SPECTACULAR DANCERS FROM NEW YORK CITY BALLET, MIAMI BALLET, AND GREAT ENSEMBLE OF SINGERS, EXTRAORDINARY BROADWAY SINGERS SO VERSATILE, DISCOVERED THEY CAN SING CLOSER TO THE STYLE I SING IN AND THEY'VE NEVER TRIED IT BEFORE.

QUALITY ON EVERY LEVEL IS SO HIGH.

ONE OF THE THINGS I FIND FASCINATING IS WHEN SOMEBODY WHO IS KNOWN IN ANOTHER VENUE COMES ON TO BROADWAY, HOW BROADWAY FOLKS REACT TO THEM.

AS YOU WALKED ON STAGE FOR FIRST APPEARANCE, AUDIENCE WENT CRAZY.

THEY ARE LOVING HAVING YOU HERE.

IT'S SO WONDERFUL.

IS THERE A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE VIBE, REACTION BETWEEN ON OPERA STAGE, THOUSANDS OF FOLKS, AND BROADWAY THEATER WITH HUNDREDS OF FOLKS?

THIS IS A PRETTY BIG HALL, ABOUT 1,400, EIGHT SHOWS A WEEK, AUDIENCE NUMBERS ADD UP.

BUT RESPONSE SO POSITIVE, PEOPLE ARE LOVING IT, THE SHOW.

ANDED MELODIC MATERIAL IN THIS.

77 YEARS OLD.

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S SECOND WORK.

ALWAYS WATCHING THE AUDIENCE, EVERYBODY IS HUMMING AND SINGING IT, EVEN YOUNGER PEOPLE.

DO YOU GET THAT REACTION?

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU BURST INTO THESE SONGS AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THEM.

IT'S FUNNY, MOSTLY YOUNG PEOPLE WAIT OUTSIDE, I ALWAYS POLL THEM.

DID YOU KNOW THIS?

DID YOU LIKE IT?

ARE YOU LEARNING THIS MUSIC?

SOME GET IT AS PART OF THEIR MUSICAL EDUCATION.

LOT OF PEOPLE SAY NO, I DIDN'T KNOW IT, I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

IT'S VERY MIXED.

BUT I HAD NEVER SEEN THE SHOW, I HAVE TO CONFESS.

I DIDN'T KNOW THE SHOW AS WELL AS I THOUGHT I DID.

KNEW THE MUSIC.

EXACTLY.

AND IT'S DARK, REALLY COMPLEX.

IT'S MAGNIFICENT MUSIC BUT AS YOU SAID VERY DARK AND DEEPLY PROBING STORY.

EXACTLY.

HOW ABOUT YOUR DAILY ROUTINE?

EIGHT SHOWS A WEEK, SOMETIMES TWO A DAY.

DEMANDING SONGS, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY ON THAT STAGE GOING ON.

HOW IS YOUR DAILY ROUTINE DIFFERENT DOING A BROADWAY MUSICAL AS OPPOSED TO PERFORMING AT THE MET?

IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT.

WHEN I SING ANY CLASSICAL CONCERT, IT'S SO PHYSICALLY TIRING AND DEMANDING IN TERMS OF THE VOCAL 71st WOSITY OF IT.

I HAVE TO BE QUIET, REALLY PREPARE AND REST MY VOICE.

THIS I'M FINDING TO BE QUITE DIFFERENT.

POLLED A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO DID THIS.

EITHER SAID CLOISTER YOURSELF, DON'T DO ANYTHING OR LIVE YOUR LIFE, WALK ON STAGE, WHAT'S THE FIRST LINE.

GO.

WHAT HAVE YOU CHOSEN?

THE LATTER SO FAR.

KNOCK ON LEATHER.

SO FAR I'M ENJOYING IT.

PART OF IT IS BECAUSE IN MY MIND I'VE IMAGINED I'M AWAY FROM MY OWN WORLD AND NOBODY KNOWS ME AND I CAN JUST HAVE FUN.

FACT IS EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU, BUT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE ENJOYING YOURSELF.

LOOKING ON THE STAGE AND INTERACTION WITH THE OTHER ACTORS.

YES.

QUESTION FOR YOU.

TALKED ABOUT 'YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE,' ANTHEM, YOU'VE PERFORMED IT MANY TIMES IN DIFFERENT VENUES.

NOW ON STAGE WITH LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU AND ACTING.

IS IT DIFFERENT TO PERFORM IN THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT?

IT'S SO POWERFUL, IT'S SO EMOTIONAL, QUITE DIFFERENT.

ON ITS OWN IN STAND ALONE SITUATION, EVEN WHEN IT'S TRAGIC LIKE 9/11 MEMORIAL I SANG AT, IT IS ABSOLUTELY AN ANTHEM, AND ONE THAT PEOPLE KNOW, DON'T KNOW IT'S FROM MUSICAL.

ITS TRAGIC.

REALLY THE STRENGTH OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE THREE WOMEN IS THE SOUL OF THIS WORK.

HER TRYING TO COMFORT JULIE WHOSE HUSBAND JUST COMMITTED SUICIDE, REALLY.

INCREDIBLY POWERFUL MOMENT.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO TALK WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR THE TIME.

LOOK FORWARD TO CHATTING AGAIN.

RENEE FLEMING IN 'CAROUSEL' AT IMPERIAL THEATER.

'METROFOCUS'.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Announcer: FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY -- CORPORATE FUNDING FOR 'METROFOCUS' WAS PROVIDED BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA, YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.

AND BY PSE&G, SERVING CUSTOMERS, STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.

♪