Not a solo, featured or even a cameo track; nor were royalties and CD credit part of the deal.
No, not one among us who were chosen to participate in that afternoon recording seemed to care. Sharing a space with the creator of mammoth hit “Wicked” was enough to make any theater geek go ballistic. Not to mention that me and my colleague Monette Rivera (of The Filipino Channel) were the only Filipinos among the eager bunch.
Attempting to do a first in the history of cast recordings, the producers assembled a few hundred “Pippin” fans via an online contest to lay-in the sing-along chorus tracks to Andrea Martin’s show-stopping number “No Time At All,” recreating the feel and sound that is experienced in the theater. Martin plays Grandma Berthe in the show.
There were no voice auditions necessary. Enthusiasm was the only passport to get in, along with a postcard bearing lyrics to the chorus part, which the staff gives out in exchange of the e-mail invite printout as we entered the gate. 
Expecting a good ratio of non-singers versus pros in the crowd that gathered at the Society for Ethical Culture Auditorium, music director Charlie Alterman drilled us with obligatory vocal warm-ups before leading us to practice runs in simple unison, as was originally planned.
Magic to do
But as soon as Mr. Schwartz was introduced and masterfully gave impromptu music lessons and tips (“sing with a smile—it actually changes the sound of your voice, makes it brighter and brings it more forward”) our amateur anxiety quickly transformed to a volcanic vibe of vocals. Visibly impressed, he had magic to do and proceeded to create four-part harmonies on the spot for his willing students.
Martin, who attended the session mainly to lend support and encouragement, pointed out that a historic moment is happening at hand as the show’s composer was creating new music for the landmark musical just for us—“because you are all gloriously good! Are there Mormons in this group? Literally, you sound like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.”
As I watched the awe-inspiring, circus-themed revival of “Pippin” at the Music Box Theater two days after—and with the widest grin on my face during the audience participation scene—I belted out the baritone harmony part, and it never felt so good!
Everything has its season and time. It wasn’t near a dream of being in a Broadway show or a platinum-worthy recording career, but this “corner of my sky” experience, definitely, was the next best thing.
