Berkshire Magazine May/June 2024 | Page 36

and the general manager left that same year to become operations director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra . They called me and invited me to audition , I got the vote , and they gave me the job . After I got there , the iris opened ever further , and I think it all started because I had made that one initial good impression . The principal horn , tuba player , and the flute player on the University of Akron staff played a huge role in moving my career forward towards the Boston Pops . When people believe in you and say good things about you , you can be invited to a bigger stage .

Sherman : You ’ ve worked with countless talented artists over the years . Are there any musical collaborations that are still on your wish list ?

Lockhart : The person whom I always thought should do the Fourth of July at Tanglewood is “ The Boss ," Bruce Springsteen . We could just put him on stage , and my job would be done .

Sherman : Bradley Cooper recently portrayed Leonard Bernstein . If a movie were made about your life , what movie star would you want to play you ?

Lockhart : Hugh Grant . There ' s enough of a physical resemblance , and he has an intelligent demeanor and an approachable , everyday manner about him that I think would work if he played me in a movie . Plus , I like the accent .

Sherman : How did the Broadway Today !: Broadway ’ s Modern Masters program come together ?

Lockhart : I ' ve always been a huge Broadway fan . I love the combination of words , storytelling , and music . When I came to Boston , I was able to do things like collaborate with Stephen Sondheim , which was really a great thrill . I got to know a lot of really wonderful Broadway performers , and I ’ ve been lucky to collaborate with a whole catalogue of the greatest people who ' ve been on Broadway in this last half century . Recently , I was talking with my friend , Jason Danieley , and we realized that we hadn ’ t showcased the work of the next generation of Broadway composers who were influenced by Sondheim , such as Jason Robert Brown , Adam Guettel , Jeanine Tesori , and Lin-Manuel Miranda . I told Jason that I wanted to find a way to put that music onstage , and he enthusiastically agreed and came on board as director . That ’ s how we got to where we are today .

Sherman : How did you and Jason go about selecting the music ?

Lockhart : I gave Jason a lot of the lead on this but suggested some gentle guidance because he had very specific ideas of things he wanted to highlight . One of the things we particularly wanted to look at was the diversification of Broadway voices . Jeanine Tesori then became an obvious choice with Kimberly Akimbo , and David Yazbek brought

MASS MoCA , in association with Williamstown Theatre Festival , presents

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