Brian d'Arcy James inspiring performance of Who I'd Be (Shrek) - Broadway sings for Amigos de Jesus

On September 19, 2014, some of the biggest stars on Broadway were invited to perform at a benefit concert for the Amigos de Jesus Orphanage (www.amigosdejesus.org/) and the children of Honduras. The concert was held at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and guests enjoyed cocktails and tapas provided by award-winning chef, Jose Garces. The benefit concert featured such stars as Brian d’Arcy James (Shrek), Julia Murney (Wicked), Jennifer Damiano (Next to Normal), Mandy Gonzalez (In the Heights), Robin De Jesus (In the Heights), Taylor Noble (A Lasting Impression) and the up and coming composer, Zoe Sarnak. The performances included several Broadway hits, such as:
Blue Skies (Music and Lyrics by Irvin Berlin)
Breathe, from the musical In the Heights (Music and lyrics by Lin Manuel-Miranda)
Maria, from the musical West Side Story (Music by Leonard Bernstein and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim)
You’ve Got a Friend (music and lyrics by Carole King)
Give Words of Love (music and lyrics by Zoe Sarnak)
Let it Go, from the Disney animated film Frozen (Music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez)
Ring Them Bells, from the concert film Liza with a Z (Music by John Kander and Lyrics by Fred Ebb)
Who I’d Be, from the musical Shrek (Music by Jeanine Tesori and Lyrics by David-Lindsay-Abaire)
That’s How You Know (Music and Lyrics by Zoe Sarnak)
Somewhere Over the Rainbow, from the film The Wizard of Oz (Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg)
For Good, from the musical Wicked (Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz)
Rain on My Parade, from the musical Funny Girl (Music by Jule Styne and Lyrics by Bob Merrill)
To learn more about this organization and to donate to Amigos De Jesus, please visit www.amigosdejesus.org
Directed by: Laura Pietropinto
Presented by the D'Ambrosio family.
Follow Amigos de Jesús:
www.amigosdejesus.org
/ amigosdejesushogar
/ @amigosdejesushogar
/ amigosdejesushogar #amigosdejesushogar #amigosbroadwaynight

[@Merrydothe]

I love how he slipped into his Shrek voice 3/4 of the way through. :)

[@00rabbit7]

yeah I think he thought he'd sing it as himself and then got to the words "an Ogre always hides" and was like... oh crap the song doesn't actually work out of context :-P

[@zeldaglitchgamer]

I got to meet him during his run of Something Rotten. I was so star struck since he's my favorite Broadway actor

[@ignacioleonardo8500]

i know Im kind of randomly asking but do anybody know of a good website to stream new movies online?

[@ThirrinDiamond]

I love that the whole time he's trying to not slip into it, it's so cute 😭😭😭

[@Shindai]

Wow, Shrek cleans up pretty nice lol

[@zeldaglitchgamer]

He's getting ready for Shrek 2 the Musical

[@jillmcintyre8125]

I love shreak because I teaches you to not try to have your story like someone else's and have it be your own story

[@Elissasaurus]

@Jill McIntyre I have been struggling with "feeling behind" for a long time now. Your comment gave me the clarity I needed. God bless you!

[@o-stone8339]

Shrek is the role brian was born to play. Also this is my favourite song ever... and it was from shrek the musical. Unexpected

[@marknicolussi3856]

Shrek is a surprisingly great musical.

[@brooklyncampbell7389]

listening to him sing the end on his own made me think of something like Fiona and Donkey died, and he just wants to find his perfect happy ending again.

[@austinpoe3798]

I hate you cause now im crying

[@oliviasharbear]

WHY WHY WHY WHYYYY

[@aj.guevarra12]

Fck i hate your comment huhuhuhu

[@chris_producing]

now what possess a person to think that then comment it lol

[@reimichacha]

@myluv TV because an oger’s fate is known😭😭

[@Maryllima]

This song always makes me cry!

[@jenniferwaldron2513]

The piano was so loud lol

[@actorsnonactors]

I mean...BDJ could fart in a sock and call it a musical, and I'd still pay to see it.

[@ariana.m.lamark]

Same.

[@savehimgffff1777]

I love this comment man 😭😭

[@lindathetford3776]

I LOST IT HAHA

[@Les342]

I just recently found out about the awesomeness that is Brian d'Arcy James because of Something Rotten! but now I wish I could have seen him in Shrek. That was an amazing performance of a wonderful song! And I just love his voice. I think he could do a musical rendition of a phone book and make it sound great. lol

[@beef4869]

There is a DVD for sale.

[@Les342]

Thanks for letting me know. I didn't know about the DVD.

[@imaminecrafter2265]

Omg same i love something rotten and I'm not sure if I saw him as Shrek when I was little

[@firebros1695]

Lola Riven I know this was 2 years ago but they could of saw a production of these show off broadway or on broadway and Ben Crawford played Shrek(Crawford was Shrek’s understudy and shortly before Shrek closed in Broadway he was Shrek full time)

[@PanzerFalcon2232]

It's on Netflix right now!

[@blackroserevan6939]

He is truly amazing. The perfect shrek.

[@nataliepuddy3709]

One of the most uplifting songs I've heard in a while ✨

[@martaseabratavares7227]

NO ONE sings this better than him.

[@simonz.1544]

He is such a brilliant performer! Grande voice and great personality

[@ProfessorSassypants]

Listening to him sing this breaks my heart every damn time. Wow.

[@kathrynsimpson334]

You know how some people get tangles from ASMR? his voice does that to me

[@Mrbillingtons1]

You are amazing and loved you in Shrek.Your amazing .Thank you ,you as a singer gave me a purpose .Thank you from Auckland ,New Zealand.

[@SouthIndianbb101]

this song makes me SOB every time

[@jenniferodonnell6815]

I've seen shrek a hundred times, never seen him without the makeup!

[@drummingjedi7203]

His smile!!! 😍😍

[@sophia_ferrer]

His smile is so nice!!!!🌟🌟

[@michaelcareymph]

He is absolutely brilliant

[@Yagirlnyesha]

I cry everytime I hear this song

[@amiiwilliams9834]

I remember watching the musical on Netflix and I loved it so in Georgia on single mountain they did their own Shrek musical I was Gretel

[@niamhmcquemusic3282]

I had the pleasure of dining this song in March this year when I played shrek and have never loved a song so much and this man is brilliant 🤩

[@stacieberhart6272]

I want Brian to be my dad.

[@karitooumcrmymilk]

Staci Eberhart to Hannah wasn't that good have him as a dad xD (? Sorry I had to

[@pixeliien]

i’m actually related to him lmao (but he’s not my dad unfortunately)

[@avalynyost1498]

a wait what Lucky what’s your relation to him

[@Yagirlnyesha]

I never related to something so much

[@rayselle2532]

My school did Shrek the musical Jr last year (I was a dulocian dancer puppet thingie) but this song wasn’t included, and I was very upset

[@madikeck9031]

Baritone player Number yes I same I just finished our last night of preforming yesterday and this song wasn’t included😪

[@coastercraziness]

Lucky we’re doing Singin In The Rain instead

[@epicguy228]

How do you have Shrek the Musical and not include Who I'd Be? That's like making an omelet and forgetting the eggs.

[@RariettyC]

​​ @MechaGs It's not included in the jr. version, and jr. versions have a terrible habit of cutting out "slower" songs that are not directly contributing to the plot (even if they build towards character development or an emotional core like this song does beautifully) for the sake of performing a show within 60 minutes. My little brother was in a production that firmly stuck to the jr. script that was given to his school, and they didn't perform it either

[@joshuamaldonado1721]

​@@epicguy228 I know James and the giant peach Jr doesent have middle of a moment, they always cut the best songs.

[@Yagirlnyesha]

He’s such a good Baritone

[@declansmith2497]

this version is is amazing!

[@kennethlinscott4744]

Who mixed the audio for this song holy cow. Sounds like the audio engineer was drunk or left early

[@jghays]

I know it made me sad. But still he soared. He’s such a great talent.

[@rileysdad1923]

Best song ever.

[@ashleymancroni4657]

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH OMG

[@Turbo9987]

He was fucking awesome in Spotlight

[@SofiaSternGuat]

Turbo9987 he is my friends 2nd cousin.

[@kobewilson3177]

Who I’d be is great song and it describes on who Shrek would like to be instead of an Ogre

[@_victoria8601]

I'm crying omg..😍😭

[@cocosekhu6516]

My favorite song 💚💚💚

[@ljd6293]

Great song. Amazing Performance.

[@Dkazakis84]

Thank you Netflix for bringing Shrek to a revival!

[@gabrielleblondin5566]

To the guy in the front row just shaking his head yes: me too.

[@NocturneFexy]

Dat ending though

[@douglascorreia6858]

I Love this music 😢😢😢❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😭

[@sarahlucypenny]

Very clever cut! Loved the performance

[@abrianadomino8917]

I'm playing Shrek on the sames stage I'm am30 years old

[@Ellabassx]

Amazing!!👏❤

[@alexandervue9464]

This song is so beautiful!

[@aimeekyle4859]

What an amazing guy

[@elliejones8358]

he is just absolutely brilliant

[@ITSVTR]

i can tell that's the guy that play's shrek

[@graciexoxo4916]

I love him so much bro

[@alexiajones410]

just beautiful

[@brianflynn5136]

Shrek] I guess I'd be a hero, With sword and armor clashing Looking semi dashing, A shield within my grip Or else I'd be a Viking and live a life of daring While smelling like a herring, upon a Viking ship. I'd sail away, I'd see the world, I'd reach the farthest reaches I'd feel the wind, I'd taste the salt and sea. And maybe storm some beaches. That's who I'd be. That's who I'd be. Or I could be a poet and write a different story, One that tells of glory, and wipes away the lies And to the skies I'd throw it, the stars would do the telling The moon would help with spelling, and night would dot the 'I's I'd write a verse, Recite a joke, with wit and perfect timing. I'd share my heart, confess the things I yearn, and do it all while rhyming. But we all learn. But we all learn. An Ogre always hides, an Ogre's fate is known And Ogre always stays in the dark and all alone So yes I'd be a hero, and if my wish was granted Life would be enchanted, or so the stories say. Of course I'd be a hero, and I would scale a tower To save a hot-house flower, and carry her away But standing guard would be a beast, I'd somehow over whelm it, I'd get the girl, I'd take my breath, and I'd remove my helmet. We'd stand and stare, we'd speak of love, we'd feel the stars ascending We'd share a kiss, I'd find my destiny I'd have a hero's ending, a perfect happy ending. That's how it would be A big bright beautiful world But not for me. [Fiona] An ogre always hides. An ogres fate is know. An ogre always stays in the dark [Shrek] (same time as Fiona's same line) An ogre always stays in the dark [Donkey] you're all alone [Fiona] All Alone (All at the same time) [Shrek] So yes i'd be a hero, and if my wish was granted my life would be enchanted or so the stories say. Of course I'd be a hero and I would scale a tower to save a hot-house flower and carry her away! [Fiona] There are rules and there are strictures. I believe the story books i read by candle light [Donkey] All alone You need a pal, My calendar's open You need me. [All] A perfect happy ending, that's how.... it.. should be!

[@natalyromero4128]

Me enamoreee ame su personaje en Shrek para mi el unico y original

[@karitooumcrmymilk]

That piano ruined the whole song it was like too loud omg

[@davidsims780]

and very out of tune!

[@natsirt102]

Its the violin that ruined it for me!

[@littlechef5423]

Both! The piano+ voilin

[@littlechef5423]

LOUD!

[@katiejo6066]

Wow

[@davidmcaninch4714]

I guess I’d be a hero With sword and armor clashing Looking semi-dashing A shield within my grip Or else I’d be a Viking And live a life of daring While smelling like a herring Upon a Viking ship I’d sail away I’d see the world I’d reach the farthest reaches I’d feel the wind I’d taste the salt and sea And maybe storm some beaches That’s Who I’d Be That’s Who I’d Be Or I could be a poet And write a different story One that tells of glory And wipes away the lies And to the sky I’d throw it The stars would do the telling The Moon would help with spelling And night would dot the i I’d write a verse Recite a joke With wit and perfect timing I’d share my heart Confess the things I yearn And do it all while rhyming But we all learn But we all learn An ogre always hides An ogre’s fate is known An ogre always stays in the darkness And all alone So yes I’d be a hero And if my wish was granted My life would be enchanted Or so the stories say Of course I’d be a hero And I would scale a tower And save a hot house flower And carry her away But standing guard Would be a beast I’d somehow overwhelm it I’d get the girl I’d take a breath And I’d remove my helmet We’d stand and stare We’d speak of love We’d feel the stars ascending We’d share a kiss I’d find my destiny I’d have a hero’s ending A perfect happy ending That’s how it would be A big bright beautiful world That’s how it should be

[@sstar202]

And I'm also known by many as the HBO lawyer. Lol

[@JTPMalavet]

Hannah’s Dad! 😭

[@erulreza]

i'm here from john oliver vs bob murray musical

[@jessicaandreotta3130]

I care about your fealings Bryon

[@AyaBlue22]

Beautifully done, and kudos to making it through despite that off-key violin...

[@jonaheggert3321]

Did uh….. did they not think to tune to piano before this?

[@XJIcequeen]

Wow! He doesn’t look like Shrek

[@vickyrobinson6429]

DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT THE SCOTTISH ACCENT

[@DragonPrincessAoife]

Vicky Robinson yea, it does.

[@Disneyfreak_8]

It’s really too bad they never did a Shrek 2 The Musical, BDJ looks a lot like human Shrek clean shaven!

[@thegreenvoltage]

Was his voice modulated with like a computer for the show? Because it is much deeper than it is here

[@BebesMp5]

No, just assuming it was just the Shrek voice he would do. He was doing a impersonation during the performances, here he was just singing

[@averypflueger2035]

Lmao he's my dad's best friend its so weird to watch these videos

[@jesselee669]

do u know who brian d arcy james is is the self inharry today theater the veiw rosie o donnell show macy's thanksgiving day parade home and family late night with seth myersthe stand boys tallk and made in holly wood the 1st lawyer in last week tonight with john oliver the tim dude in the big c the happy clit in it could be worse the young mark in time out of mind the stone in song of back and neck the sherrif jones in 1992 the andy baker in 13 reasons why iorn man in the super mairo bros shrek in shrek the musical tom sheffield in all these small moments irsh eddie in ghost town a joe walker of the show in first mananton in devs the oldbard in molly's game a in the catedarl richard damrosch wwe star lord steven regal in raw smack down and more thats what he does..

[@andremarotto5966]

The volume of the piano is dreadful!