Seth Rudetsky's 'Big Fat Broadway' concert series brings stars, surprises to Shore

No one knows what's going to happen at one of Seth Rudetsky's concerts ? not even him.

Or the Broadway stars he's spotlighting.

"What I think is so special about the concerts is that it's nothing anyone's ever seen before, including the stars themselves," he says. "There's always new stuff that happens during these concerts."

That's because he eschews scripted patter for the kind of on-the-spot interviews he's a master of, unearthing never-before-heard stories, inside scoop and other Broadway lore.

Rudetsky, the host of "Seth Speaks!" on SiriusXM radio, is a musician, actor, author and more. The New York Times has called him "Broadway's go-to guy."

He and husband, James Wesley, created the live-streamed daily series "Stars in the House" during the COVID-19 shutdown to benefit the services of The Actors Fund, keep spirits high, and keep the public informed about health and safety measures.

'Stars in the House': Recomposing Broadway history during its darkest moments

Still running as an occasional series, "Stars in the House" has raised more than $1 million for the organization now known at The Entertainment Community Fund, and more than $500,000 for other nonprofits and social justice causes.

Seth's Big Fat Broadway LIVE!

Never fear, you'll hear the stars sing all of the biggest songs they're known for when they perform at Rudetsky's Seth's Big Fat Broadway LIVE! concert series, which is coming to the Bell Theater in Holmdel. Housed at Bell Works, the Bell Theater is curated by Axelrod Performing Arts Center.

Rudetsky's first guest is Mandy Gonzalez, who joins him at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10.

She'll sing from her well-known roles as Elphaba in "Wicked," Nina in "In The Heights" and Angelica Schuyler in "Hamilton."

More: 'Stranger Things' prequel 'The First Shadow' is coming to Broadway

But then there may be you-had-to-be-there moments like this one: "At one point I remember doing a show with her," Rudetsky said, "and she said she always wants to be in 'Evita.' And I was like, 'Well, I know "Evita" by heart,' so I went to the piano and I made her sing 'Rainbow High.'"

Audiences will be one of the first to hear her sing from "Sunset Boulevard," where she will serve as an alternate to Nicole Scherzinger's Norma Desmond when the revival hits Broadway this fall.

More: From border crisis to Broadway, 'Hamilton' star Mandy Gonzalez preaches unity

As a Broadway conductor and music director, as well as a self-described super fan, Rudetsky has the perfect set of skills to push actors to live out their theater dreams (and ours) in a way that sets them up to succeed and ensures spectacular performances, whether it's Adam Pascal singing from "The Phantom of the Opera" or Patti LuPone singing from "Sunset Boulevard" for the first time in decades.

"It's not the Jerry Springer show, but it is very much like when you have a theater party with your friends in a living room, and it's like, 'Oh my god, sing this for everybody,' " Rudetsky said. "It's never gonna make anybody look bad, but it's gonna make the audience feel like they're part of an inside party."

Rudetsky enjoys getting to show off how funny performers can be, especially those who specialize in roles that don't often afford the opportunity on stage.

"Audra McDonald's always playing someone who basically dies by the end of Act 2, but she is actually really funny in real life," he said. "Or Sierra Boggess, playing Christine in 'Phantom of the Opera' gets so dark, but she's hilarious. So I really want to show audiences how funny people are."

More: 'Annie' returns to NYC this holiday season, starring Whoopi Goldberg as Miss Hannigan

And of course, he uncovers all the good gossip, plus things you never knew you needed to know.

Like Pascal's stage name in his wanna-be rock band days? Rayne Madison.

The concert series continues in the fall at Bell Theater with Boggess ("The Little Mermaid") on Saturday, Sept. 7; Pascal ("Rent," "Aida") on Saturday, Oct. 12; J. Harrison Ghee ("Some Like It Hot," "Kinky Boots") on Saturday, Nov. 9; and Krysta Rodriguez ("The Addams Family," TV's "Smash") on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Go: Seth's Big Fat Broadway LIVE! at Bell Theater, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, $65 to $85; 732-531-9106, ext. 14, belltheater.org.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Seth Rudetsky's 'Big Fat Broadway' concerts promise stars, surprises