Fleet Week Follies

Sunday, May 26, 2019

National Sawdust Music Venue–80 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY

Hosted by Andrew Rannells and Celia Keenan-Bolger

Music Direction by Lauren Cregor

1:00-4:00pm: Family Activities with Arts & Crafts, a Food Truck, along with hugs and photos with Sesame Street‘s Walkaround Rosita

5:30-7:00pm: Happy Hour

A military-civilian mixer before the concert begins. Enjoy cold brews by 14th Star Brewing Co. and bites served by Emma’s Torch and Dog Tag Bakery.

Celebrity guests: Marsha Stephanie Blake (Central Park Five), Ben McKenzie (Gotham), Morena Baccarin (Deadpool), Sarah Steele (The Good Wife), David Morse (Escape at Dannemora), Happy Anderson (Mindhunter), and Georgina Pazcoguin (“The Rogue Ballerina”).

7:00-8:30pm: Music and Entertainment

Performances by: Mike Birbiglia (The New One), Will Swenson (Hair), Sandra Lee (Blueprint Specials), Sherie Rene Scott (Aida), Darlesia Cearcy (Once On This Island), Brandon Victor Dixon (Emmy for Jesus Christ Superstar), Lemon Andersen (HBO’s Def Poetry Jam), Jean Rohe (singer-songwriter), members of Freestyle Love Supreme, and the American Military Spouses Choir.

In response to the public health crisis, Waterwell adapted its annual Fleet Week Follies into a vibrant digital festival. The event honored the National Guard and frontline workers while bridging the gap between military and civilian communities during Memorial Day Weekend.

Part 1: Tribute Performance Videos

These exclusive performances honored those navigating the pandemic, featuring celebrity hosts and world-class talent:

• Freestyle Love Supreme: Introduced by Stephen Colbert, the group performed an original improvised piece honoring a WWII POW.

• Brandon Victor Dixon: Featured host appearances by Audra McDonald, Will Swenson, and Corey Johnson; Dixon performed a moving original song by Peter Lerman.

• American Military Spouses Choir: Introduced by Anna Chlumsky and Bitta Mostofi, the America’s Got Talent finalists performed their signature anthem.

Part 2: The Conversation Project

Designed to combat the isolation of social distancing, this initiative hosted 100 participants across nine virtual rooms. Conversations paired active-duty service members from Fort Hamilton and West Point with healthcare workers, artists, and veterans. From a 94-year-old WWII veteran to young JAG reservists, participants shared first-hand accounts of life on the front lines, fostering new relationships during a time of global transition.

Watch the Digital Edition here!

HISTORY OF THE STAGE DOOR CANTEEN was a club on 44th Street run by Broadway performers that, from 1942-1945, hosted over one million service members for free food and entertainment before they deployed in WWII.

BLUE STAR FAMILIES is committed to strengthening military families by connecting them with their neighbors – individuals and organizations – to create vibrant communities of mutual support.

EMMA’S TORCH provides top-notch culinary training to refugees.

DOG TAG is a teaching ground to empower veterans, military spouses, and caregivers by training them as bakers.

14TH STAR BREWERY is a Veteran-owned craft brewery.

The Achelis & Bodman Foundation

Howard Gilman Foundation

The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation

New American Economy

New York State Council on the Arts

NYC Cultutal Affairs

National Endowment for the Arts

History Channel

Ligature Creative*

14th Star Brewing Company

The Creative Coalition

Blue Star Families

NYC Department of Veterans’ Services

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Dog Tag Bakery

Emma’s Torch

*Graphics by Ligature Creative