Michael Arden

Thank you, Ralph Ellison.

Well, not long after Big River, you joined Bear, a pop opera, a show that developed an intensely devoted audience and explored faith and sexuality and identity in ways musical theater was not often doing at that time.

What did working on Bear expose you to that surprised you?

Well, Bear was an amazing experience because it was like we did it in this tiny, tiny space.

So I had come from like a big musical on Broadway and then I was doing this like tiny drama.

And I really loved that experience and loved my cast and loved being able to play this like really complex character that I really connected with.

I mean, I grew up in the church and everything.

had struggled with how my identity would mesh with faith and, more importantly, other people's faith.

So it was kind of an incredible experience.

And the fans of that show, I mean, people still come up to me and talk about, like, that show changed my life.

That happened right after I left school.

I did that show.

How did you meet Barbra Streisand?

I met Barbra Streisand at a soundcheck for her European tour on which I had the insane opportunity to sing duets with her, have banter with her, escort her around a stage through stadiums in Europe.

Wow.

So that's when I first met her.

You became one of the Broadway boys.

How did that happen?

An amazing director, producer, now friend of mine named Richard J. Alexander, who has directed a lot of her concert work.

called me up.