Ben Platt will welcome a surprise guest each night during the 18-night residency running from May 28 through June 15
The Palace Theatre in New York City will house performances from Ben Platt for 18 shows, running from May 28 through June 15. Each night, the attending audience will be treated to a surprise appearance from a special guest. For the opening show, Platt kicked off the nightly tradition with country star Kacey Musgraves to perform a duet of “Rainbow” from the singer’s Grammy Award-winning album Golden Hour.
The performance marked a full-circle moment for both artists.
In 2022, Platt presented Musgraves with the Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards. The singer performed “Rainbow” in dedication to the LGBTQ+ community. “One of the biggest compliments I’ve ever gotten in regards to my career is a gay country fan telling me they heard my music and finally felt invited to a party they’d never got invited to,” she said. “I will continue to have your backs, and I so dearly appreciate you having mine.”
And back in March 2020, when being locked at home meant that musicians had little else to do but perform virtually for their Instagram followers, Platt uploaded a cover of “Rainbow.” In the comments, Musgraves responded with a crying emoji. Platt has also shared covers of Musgraves’ deep cuts “Mother” and “Slow Burn,” the latter of which featuring an appearance from Molly Gordon.
Ben Platt: Live at the Palace similarly pays homage to some of Platt’s favorite musicians. Directed by Michael Arden, the residency features music from the performer’s newly-released third studio album, Honeymind, and a selection of Broadway favorites.
The opening night performance found Platt delivering his own renditions of Hugh Martin’s “The Boy Next Door,” James Taylor’s “Your Smiling Face,” and Joni Mitchell’s “River.”