Behind the Scenes: Broadway Prepares to Light Up the White House

Most Broadway houses are dark on Monday night, but there's one abode you can bet will be brimming with Tony Award-worthy talent on July 19: the White House. The President and First Lady continue their "at home" performance series tonight with a special concert of Rialto hits titled A Broadway Celebration: In Performance at the White House, featuring stars like Nathan Lane, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Brian d'Arcy James, Chad Kimball, Karen Olivo and more. Broadway.com zipped down to D.C. to get exclusive coverage of the big event, including this shot of Michelle Obama dropping by the dress rehearsal to get a glimpse of what's in store.

The concert, set in the White House's East Room, isn't just another starry recital: Twenty students from Washington's Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the Joy of Motion Dance Center strutted their stuff in an educational workshop and performance led by Tony winner Jerry Mitchell, who schooled the eager hoofers in a segment from Hairspray's show-stopping "You Can't Stop the Beat," a moment that warmed the First Lady's heart—she described the White House as "lit up" with excitement over the evening's main event. If this teaser photo isn't enough to sate your appetite for the Obamas' Broadway extravaganza, stay tuned: The concert will be streaming live beginning at 7pm ET. Break legs, Broadway!