Kurt Peterson and Victoria Mallory reunited on stage in New York for the first time in 40 years on Sunday, April 29 in their new autobiographical piece, When Everything Was Possible, A Concert (with comments), a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS at New York City Center.
The 70-minute concert, which was introduced by Ted Chapin, featured Peterson and Mallory recounting their experiences as unknown actors in New York who rose to fame in the 1968 Lincoln Center revival of West Side Story (as Tony and Maria) and later appeared in the original production of Follies (as Young Ben and Young Heidi).
The pair sang songs from shows they appeared in separately and together, along with other favorites, including “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow” and “One More Kiss” from Follies, “Soon” from A Little Night Music, “Being Alive” and “The Little Things You Do Together” from Company, and “Kiss Her Now” from Dear World. The program also featured two songs written specifically for the concert by Peterson and Jesse Wiener.
Guests at the performance included Mallory’s husband Mark Lambert, their daughter Ramona Mallory, Peterson’s wife Julie, as well as Patricia Elliott, Harvey Evans, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Angela Lansbury, John McMartin, Charlotte Moore, Greg Naughton, Kelli O’Hara, Frances Sternhagen, Teri Ralston, and Jonathan Tunick.
When Everything Was Possible was directed by Larry Moss, with musical staging by Joshua Bergasse, musical direction by Michael Rafter, lighting by Carolyn Wong, sound design by Leon Rothenberg, and projection design by Telegraphicmedia. Tunick provided new orchestrations written specifically for the concert.
