Titanic Revival Rehearsal - The Proposal/The Night Was Alive

It's been 17 years since Maury Yeston and Peter Stone's Tony-winning musical Titanic sailed onto Broadway. To celebrate, Manhattan Concert Productions will revive the show for a one-night-only concert staging on February 17 at Avery Fisher Hall. The evening will reunite much of the original cast, including Michael Cerveris, Brian d'Arcy James, Martin Moran, David Garrison, and Becky Ann Baker, backed by a chorus of 250 and the New York City Chamber Orchestra.
In preparation for the concert, the cast met with the press in their rehearsal studio to preview the event and sing through selections from Yeston's Tony-winning score. The resulting performances defined the phrase "emotional mess," with Moran and d'Arcy James bringing the entire roomful of people to tears with their rendition of the gorgeous "The Proposal/The Night Was Alive." Not bad for 10:30am.

[@madisonkeally8358]

IM SERIOUSLY THE GUY CRYING BEHIND THEM

[@elisabeththorne8131]

He’s set us all off!

[@anabellafairgrieve693]

Me too. My daughter’s tribute to him any the amazing cast ❤️ kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKDPfGN9m56ffdk

[@calebcox2937]

Bro me too

[@radiogirl85]

Me too! 😭

[@beneddiected]

A lot of them are crying 🥺🥺🥺

[@clairewilson335]

This is quite possibly one of my favorite musical theatre songs of all time. I come back to this video over and over again...

[@timreynolds7474]

I ugly cry every time I watch this. The powerful combination of a stunning song, beautifully song with a cast of old friends who just can't hold it together listening to these gents. So, so moving. What a special moment. Thank you for sharing it with us. Absolutely love this musical.

[@benjtan]

Knowing Martin Moran's life story and hearing him sing "I was young and shy, detached and sad..." really breaks my heart.

[@nickpilgrim7706]

I know what you mean. Moran's autobiography, 'The Tricky Part', was such a harrowing read. I am so glad he was able to make some kind of peace with what happened to him.

[@lovelawsonsoul]

Some of the most beautiful music I've heard on the Broadway stage.

[@hugablestpersonever]

You can hear that it was hard for their voices not to catch as they struggled not to cry. It's so beautiful and hard not to cry when watching this.

[@davidsilvas8509]

I cry listening to the beauty of this song and how it moved the cast mates as they rehearsed . They were all shedding tears.

[@larrydirtybird]

In my opinion this is the best song in the show.

[@nate983]

larrydirtybird you, friend, have good opinions.

[@tonyadams4989]

The first time I heard The Proposal, I was playing the CD in my car while travelling. I had to pull over because I started crying when I heared the most glorious lyrics that I have ever heard, "May God's heaven be your blanket as you softly sleep." I also think that, "STILL" is a great song, and "We'll meet tomorrow", which has me genuinely crying during every performance.

[@genevievehenderson9045]

I never thought I’d have a favorite song in the entire musical theatre canon and it is absolutely this one, no questions asked.

[@JaySmithmjaysmithjr1978]

I have played that role and it is a great song to sing. And the audience is with you through every note.

[@markjuarez6469]

But Autumn!!!

[@ProfessorStuDDS]

Seeing even the usually stoic Michael Cerveris visibly touched by this is amazing. GAH BDJ and Moran in this song... I just can't, I'm done, it's too perfect.

[@jscho8674]

Brian D'Arcy James just keeps getting better and better. I first saw him in the Les Miz tour in the early 90's, and even then he stood out. I can't wait to see what he does next.

[@ProfessorStuDDS]

WAIT HE WAS IN LES MIZ???

[@jscho8674]

+Broadwaypuppet Yep!! It was one of the early tours. he was a baby! Maybe....'92? Dave Clemmons was Valjean and Chuck Wagner was Javert. Amaaaaazing cast. He was one of the students in the rebellion. I think he sang the "Here's to witty girls who went to our beds" line. I worked on an Aids benefit with the cast on their Houston stop, and Bryan sang a song called "Shut de do'" (door) that was a capella and brilliant. I have it on VHS somewhere.

[@ProfessorStuDDS]

Daaaaaang what a cast to see!!

[@Rein5]

Wow. Could you put that up, maybe? I would love to see that.

[@jscho8674]

I'll try to figure out how. :)

[@dculp9284]

Wow!! I knew nothing of this show - but what a moment! I was already blown away by this, then I realized that the man next to Michael Cerveris getting the most emotional is actor Allan Corduner who was so brilliant in one of my all time favorite films Topsy-Turvy as Arthur Sullivan

[@donquixote1950]

My brother Joe is sitting behind the singer off his left shoulder with the beard. Doesn't seem possible it's been that long since I got to see him in titanic!

[@Katigirl23]

I saw this when it came out on broadway back in 1997 and Brian D’Arcy James blew me away!!! Clearly nothing has changed 🤩😘🤤

[@JeffreySelbst]

I was lucky to see the original run in 1997. The show was not a huge hit but it should have been. The score is amazing, more symphonic than Broadwayish. Just gorgeous.

[@allenmccullough]

Martin Moran- he just kills the whole room

[@emmersp12]

this song has always been one of my favorites, and god watching their castmates (i think) cry was beautiful/awful.

[@LondonLite02]

I was listening to the original recording in my car today and weeping too! Rolled up to Dunkin' wiping my eyes 😂

[@redbrian3655]

Watching Alan Corduner and Michael Cerveris crying just melted me

[@EmbraceTheInevitable]

Oh god this was beautiful. Seeing the casts reaction made me tear up 😢

[@SomedayBeginsToday]

The first time I heard this song I was attending my first Thespian festival and received a CD with several musical tracks. This particular track always made me cry. I fell in love even more with musical theater and its many harmonies. Just gorgeous. Thank you for bringing this song back into my life.

[@bway_car08]

One of the most beautiful musical theatre songs.

[@jamesstone3071]

I was in the cast of the first Canberra production of the show, my son playing the stoker and I played Captain Smith. That song ' The proposal' was to my mind, the most touching song in the show, and was beautifully done as well. Watching this, after so many years, brings tears to my eyes too. Wonderful memories.

[@MyNameIsWes]

James Stone This song and "Still" are for me the most amazing songs in the show. Having been on the touring production of it, I still got all weepy at those two songs even though I had heard them at least 100 times.

[@roelverheggen7768]

We will perform this iconic musical next fall and this video is just breathtaking. So much emotion, so beautifully sung. Amazing!

[@sifridbassoon]

no, I'm not crying, it's just a speck of dust in my eye. that is the most beautiful and poignant music in the whole stageplay.

[@jenniferaustin6778]

I came across this video today. One of my favorite songs!!!

[@Beautifullytragic6]

They're unbelievable. I love their acting choices...you really believe it when they sing this duet.

[@ashareeoo]

So amazing to see the cast in the back tearing up! (2:25). Magic.

[@khmeralallakooverjee6935]

It's the way the guy behind him is crying from how beautiful this is and you know what, same.

[@lukerentschler6769]

I love how emotional Michael Cerveis was getting during the song

[@sethdylanhunt3523]

Allan Corduner has no chill for this material or the performances and I can’t get enough!!!

[@brendanstanczyk5173]

love this song and i love the casts reaction to it unreal love

[@juliasalatti]

I will will never not be the people sobbing in the back when I watch this video

[@MadameCirce]

I was in my high school's production of Titanic 20 years ago and this was always my favorite song. It moved me and some of my fellow castmates in ways no other song from the show could. And we hadn't even seen this performance yet! Watching this makes me absolutely melt, it is a magical song and paired with these two back in their roles moving their castmates behind them... WOW! It gives me shivers. The good kind. Such an underrated song in the grand tapestry of musical theater. Pure magic.

[@AtlanticGiantPumpkin]

BRIAN D'ARCY JAMES BACK AT BARRETT DEAR GOD SOMEONE TELL ME THERE IS A RECORDING OF THIS PERFORMANCE!!!!

[@otomodachifan]

I have a full audio recording of the performance (I was there). The recording is muffled, but that's more from the acoustics of the auditorium than the recording itself. I can email it to you privately if you'd like.

[@dubilyou]

otomodachifan I would love a copy

[@therealameliabedelia7821]

otomodachifan I would love a copy of that as well, if you are still able to email it.

[@otomodachifan]

The Real Amelia Bedelia wilson curtis sure, my email is otomodachifan (at) gmail (dot) com

[@SpiritOfFireForged]

otomodachifan do you still have this recording is love it if you do

[@kimbychole12]

The feels are kicking in. I can't believe that I just found out about this performance right now.

[@dawngw26]

This is my favorite musical I ever saw on Broadway. I got emotional watching this rehearsal too! So good. I would LOVE to see this again someday, even if it's on Disney+ lol

[@AtlanticGiantPumpkin]

If they had just done this performance two year earlier it would have been perfect for a centennial memorial show.

[@jenniferphillips1651]

Wow. Breathtakingly beautiful.

[@gracegarner319]

So many chills

[@xiaoqingdu]

He is such a beautiful and talented man.This is so touching,I am every person sobing in the back.

[@richardweil8813]

Nice scene with the use of Morse. I've got a commercial radiotelegraph license, which is quite useless as all ships have dropped code in favor of satellite communications. But it is fun to see this in a musical. When it gets going Morse does have its own swing and rhythm, which the piano kind of catches. Anyway, I agree with everyone that this is a lovely song. Thanks for sharing.

[@richardweil8813]

Oh, and I should add that in 1912 my mother's parents were booked on the Titanic. But they were worried a new ship might have boiler issues and wanted to get home for an anniversary. So they switched to the Carpathia on its Southampton-NYC run. Funny how things work out.

[@ebarrett454]

OMG! Take my heart!!!

[@bettinaallzeit1823]

Awesome!❤

[@scissorysfriseure9809]

I had the honor to see this show life on stage and till today this was one of the best I've ever seen..... The proposal since then never gets out of my mind I LOVE this Song. And you guys are amazing!!!!!!

[@broadwaybaby243]

Just closed this show last week, it's such a beautiful piece of theatre

[@schparky2000]

Found this after learning its coming to Southampton and I WANT to see it!!

[@boohoo2948]

Really loved this musical.

[@Justmeforwhatitisworth]

Sobbing 😭

[@aussieskates]

Stage Art in Melbourne, Australia recently staged the chamber version which, knowing nothing about the show prior to seeing it, I immediately fell in love with Titanic, and ended up seeing it three times. Such a beautiful song and a haunting, emotional journey.

[@trinetiger1]

Amazing I cried aswell, as the one guy in the back.

[@THEBeautyofebony]

Don't care how long it been but this song is a mood!

[@crisissocoylike]

Shook. That was beautiful

[@LaLaLaAllDayLong]

So amazing I cried and then felt better that someone else did

[@everettmusicstudioandprodu1057]

there are several great songs! I produced the grand opening of the TITANIC at Mercado in Orlando where I had them sing several songs from the Musical when this show was still on Broadway! it was cool---I have always wanted to see a production of the show

[@jlasf]

There is only a snippet of the original set on film. It was amazing. It was three stories tall with each deck dedicated to each cabin class. Then, when the ship starts to sink, the entire set tilted. A memorable moment was when a piano slid across the stage. It was unbelievable.

[@xiaoqingdu]

Again,BDJ is freking awesome.

[@sempaiE28]

My school is currently doing this musical. I'm playing as charles clarke. lets just say that this is done a lot better here than what my school is doing :P. wish i could have seen it!

[@nickschiro9094]

I'm playing Bride in my school's production of Titanic. I'm so excited to sing this.

[@cdp55]

Nick Schiro Yeah, I'm playing Thomas Andrews. So excited.

[@katie100katherine]

Nick Schiro I'm in a local church's production of this show! I'm not a main character, but it's still fun!

[@gabriellenoellewood9538]

Everyone is crying

[@sophiajohnson2925]

Favorite version of this song simply cause the dude in the back is me

[@danmccloskey6207]

This song terrifies me It's so beautiful and I'm worried about messing up big-time It's such a beautiful duet and I hope to do it the justice it deserves

[@danielahough9782]

Who are the two main actors here? I have the german version cd since years and adore it! Only recently got around to look it up online and this clip is so touching! Acting, singing reaction of the people in the background.....amazing!!!

[@GhostLight-sp8ew]

Daniela Hough The man singing Barrett's part is Brian d'Arcy James and the one singing Bride's part is Martin Moran :D both of them are from the original Broadway production!

[@maestromuffin1]

Brian D'arcy James is a real broadway star....many many roles - look him up starring in shrek the musical!

[@JP-sj5zn]

Brilliant. The singing is something else- just a pity about the noise from that bloody camera/ignorant photographer!

[@alexanderbetka4660]

That cast is unwell

[@bigmigs94]

I’m the older man with the glasses crying behind them.

[@alandavison327]

Brings dampness to my eyes as well. Fab.

[@AtlanticGiantPumpkin]

Who's the man sitting next to Michael Cerveris trying to keep it together and failing?

[@dculp9284]

That is the awesome Alan Corduner - star of dozens of films and TV shows and plays - my favorite was his portrayal of Arthur Sullivan in Mike Leigh's great film Topsy-Turvy. In the musical Titanic he played Henry Etches. You might want to check this video out where he talks about why he and the reunion cast got so emotional during these rehearsals. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmPQgYCQpdSLrck

[@therealameliabedelia7821]

dculp9284 Wasn’t he Henry Etches in the OBC?

[@dculp9284]

@@therealameliabedelia7821 You are absolutely correct! Thanks for pointing out my error - I've edited my post above.

[@cherylcrawford3581]

Does anyone who actually knows Morse code know if what the guy who plays Harold bride it’s actually real Morse code or not?

[@BrianRIngram]

The poster in back lists the wonderful Victoria Clark, but I believe she had to back out for some reason. Pity.

[@CalvinRE]

Vicki Clark was doing LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA at the time, and the producers understandably did not want her giving a competing performance right next door! But I miss her so!

[@taie2419]

So Hannah's dad sings! 😂😂😂

[@ManhattanTina]

Third watch today - total mess.

[@elisabethnerolk2283]

i am sorry, but why was everybody crying?

[@alexdaley7616]

elisabeth nerolk In the context of the show, this is always a touching scene. It's a beautiful song that becomes heart-wrenching when you consider what is about to happen. For me, the line "the night is alive with a thousand voices fighting to be heard" breaks my heart because it foreshadows the horror of all the people who reportedly cried out for help after the ship went down. But, the other aspect is that the folks in this video are the original cast members of the show. They probably haven't all been together in 15+ years. So, they're likely remembering a high-point in their lives and feeling blessed to be able to re-live it in a way.

[@elisabethnerolk2283]

thanks very much for your kind and wonderful explanation Alex Daley!

[@alexdaley7616]

elisabeth: I rarely comment on KZbin because some people tend to be nasty for no reason. Thanks for the reply and I'm glad I could answer your question.

[@elisabethnerolk2283]

Alex Daley i completely understand what you are saying!

[@901mystery]

+elisabeth nerolk the lyrics to the song 'Proposal' are also completely verbatum. A poem was sent via telegraph to a young woman asking her to marry her then boyfriend. He obviously never returned. The lyrics you hear him singing are all directly taken from that poem