Jason Robert Brown & Ron Schaefer Photo

From: Photo Coverage: Jason Robert Brown Performs At French Woods

No, not in the 1980's when he was a teenage camper.  It happened last night in the Pavilion at French Woods, whose stage has been the spawning ground for many of the actors and musicians who subsequently went on to Broadway.  Ron Schaefer the founder and owner of the camp didn't need to introduce Jason by listing his credits.  The 500 plus campers who filled every inch of space in the Pavilion were very familiar with Jason's work. The cheers and squeals when he appeared on the stage indicated he is one of their musical theatre heros.  Not only did they mouth the words while he was singing and playing the piano, at times Jason pointed to them and the campers responded by singing the next lyric. Some of them surrounding us were even supplying his complicated harmonies as back up.  This was some fantastic bit of spontaneous  sing-a-long, unlike any I've ever heard at a concert.