Inspīr, the luxury senior living residence on the Upper East Side that is akin to living in a fancy five star hotel, brought Broadway to its residents, many of whom are just not capable of going shows in person.
To celebrate Broadway week, Inspīr lured theater royalty to their building with an all-star line-up that included producer Jeffrey Seller of Hamilton and Avenue Q (Seller is currently in previews for Sweeney Todd too), musical director David Loud and producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper who wrote the book The Untold Stories of Broadway.
58-year-old Seller, who also produced the hits Rent and In the Heights, was candid with the Inspīr audience, admitting that at the start of his career in the 1980s he “didn’t feel worthy enough for Zabar’s. I’d see all of the people ordering at the fish counter and I was so intimidated. I felt like an imposter! It took me years to finally have the confidence to order smoked salmon.”
Photo courtesy of InspīrMusical Director Loud, who is behind Ragtime and Sondheim on Sondheim, amongst others, brought tears to the audience when opening up about his journey with Parkinson’s Disease. “David Loud was truly an inspiration,” says Inspīr resident Marilyn Snyder. “He took his Parkinson’s diagnosis and did not allow it to minimize his dreams, ambitions and goals. Positive representation of those with Parkinson’s is slim and David gave us all a message that transcends any diagnosis.” Loud ended his talk with a moving piano performance.
Inspīr’s Broadway bonanza, in tandem with Broadway Plus (whose mission is to being the thrill of “the Great White Way” to private groups) was such a smash that it will now be a regular, year-long program.
