A new twist: Conductor Luke Frazier brings different arrangements to 'Broadway's Brightest Lights'

Luke Frazier likes to shake things up.

As the founder/conductor of the American Pops Orchestra, Frazier wants to bring accessible events to the masses.

His latest project is called “Broadway’s Brightest Lights” and will air at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, on New Mexico PBS, channel 5.1.

“There are so many classic Broadway pieces, and they’ve been done so many times,” Frazier says. “That doesn’t mean that they can’t be done a different way. It’s like waving a flag for me to come up with a new way to do things. I wanted to take a look at reimagining these classics.”

Frazier also wanted to give the singers something out of the ordinary of what they are known for on stage. He pairs each performer with the American Pops Orchestra.

The APO was founded in 2015 with a mission to breathe new life into orchestral pops programming and inspire diverse audiences to discover the wealth of the material in the Great American Songbook in dynamic new ways.

The performance features Tony Award-winning Broadway star Megan Hilty alongside Michael Maliakel, Nikki Renée Daniels and Tommy Sutter with The American Pops Orchestra. Highlighting some of the greatest show tunes, from Golden Age classics to modern musicals, each song features brand-new arrangements and timeless renditions to be enjoyed by Broadway fans of all ages.

Some of the performances include “Popular” (Hilty), “The Trolley Song” (Sutter), “Being Alive” (Maliakel), “I Dreamed A Dream” (Daniels), “Suddenly, Seymour” (Maliakel and Hilty) and more.

“I wanted to give Megan some pieces that she doesn’t get to do,” Frazier says. “When you’re in ‘Aladdin’ every week, I wanted to see what Michael could do to shake it up. It was a chance to make it fresh. For me, it’s one of my great joys in building friendships with the artists. We’re never going to put anyone with artistic risks. The world is so upside down today, that this is an opportunity to take a break from the craziness and enjoy some reimagined classics.”

Frazier says putting together the performance was like playing a game of 3D chess.

“You have songs, performers and of course, it has to be done quickly,” he says. “I put them on stage and get the performance there. Each performer flew in and out just for this special. That’s the exciting part.”

Frazier’s also excited to have the special airing on PBS, which makes it accessible to the public.

“We’re taking this to the free network for America,” he says. “This is the one place where you can get art no matter the coast. It’s free and it’s special. I love breaking down those barriers. Not everyone can see a Broadway show. With this special, we’re bringing it back to the people to enjoy.”

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