Two months into preparing an album with an extensive guest list, actor Aaron Lazar had one question: What have we done?
鈥淭he costs are rising and we鈥檝e got this amazing roster of artists, their managers and their press representatives to deal with,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t became this really, really epic project. But there was no turning back at that point.鈥
The result, 鈥淚mpossible Dream,鈥 features a who鈥檚 who of Broadway singing a host of inspirational songs with Lazar. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the ALS Network 鈥 something Lazar knows a little something about. Diagnosed more than two years ago with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disorder, Lazar has been a vocal advocate for others dealing with the disease. In addition to speaking around the country about his journey, he decided it could get more attention with a 鈥淲e Are the World鈥-like project.
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Aaron Lazar records a song for "Impossible Dream," a new album of duets and group songs.聽
鈥淭he Impossible Dream,鈥 a number from 鈥淢an of La Mancha鈥 seemed like a natural, since it addressed Lazar鈥檚 life for the last few years. 鈥淲e got into the studio and I was like, 鈥楬old on. Why am I doing this? I don鈥檛 need to hear myself sing this song again,鈥欌 so he decided to break it into a series of聽performances and a huge chorus. The result is one of those stirring anthems that includes everyone from Kristin Chenoweth to Josh Groban to Lin-Manuel Miranda.
鈥淔rom a logistical perspective, it was a juggernaut,鈥 Lazar admits. Producers pulled everyone together and 鈥減eople had 10-minute slots. Everybody was coming in from show rehearsals and lunch breaks. It was unbelievable.鈥
The result, he says, is a testament to the friendships that form on Broadway. 鈥淚t reminded me of my early years in the city, when you get into a room and it鈥檚 like you鈥檙e with your heroes, but you鈥檙e wearing sweatpants and you鈥檙e in a s----- rehearsal studio and there鈥檚 nothing but words on a page. It felt like old home week. It felt like a bunch of friends getting together to do what we do, which is pour our hearts and passion into things and take risks.鈥
Kristin Chenoweth duets with Aaron Lazar on his new album, "Impossible Dream." She is among dozens of Broadway performers who answered the call for the project.聽
For the 48-year-old star of shows like 鈥淟ight in the Piazza,鈥 鈥淎 Little Night Music鈥 and 鈥淟es Miserables,鈥 the project was a way to shift the focus from his disease.
鈥淚 live my life as a healthy person and I deal with the challenges that ALS may bring with as little time as you know it needs,鈥 Lazar says. 鈥淚 have to be patient and gentle with myself鈥he healing process from this is pretty unique. It鈥檚 not something I can fix by exercising my way out of it. It鈥檚 a delicate process鈥t鈥檚 a transformative journey of the soul and I鈥檓 very grateful and honored that while I鈥檓 on this journey, I can share it.鈥
While he had ALS as a wakeup call, others have other kinds of adversity they鈥檙e dealing with.
Actor Aaron Lazar has created an album of duets that will benefit the ALS Network.
鈥淭here鈥檚 power聽in not presuming that聽you know what anybody else might be going through or how they feel about it. I believe love ultimately heals everything and it has to come from within. We have to love ourselves in order to love each other. That鈥檚 been a journey. It sounds clich茅 but it鈥檚 been anything but. It鈥檚 been an eye-opening, awakening of an experience.鈥
Before ALS, Lazar says, he didn鈥檛 know how to integrate situations. 鈥淭hese impossible circumstances have the potential to be divine opportunities.鈥
While the father of two is still acting聽and performing, he knows he doesn鈥檛 have the strength to do eight shows a week on a Broadway stage.
Other options 鈥 like the album 鈥 have opened.
When he was in his 20s, Lazar starred in a production of 鈥淢an of La Mancha鈥 and remembers having an out-of-body experience when his character climbed a big staircase out of a dungeon prison. 鈥淭his big metal door shut behind me and the lights went out. The show was over and I burst into tears. I just had, for the first time in my life, an appreciation that I was doing what God had put me on the planet to do. I was sort of overwhelmed with awe and gratitude.鈥
Aaron Lazar, left, starred with Corey Cott and Olivia Macklin in the Fox series, "Filthy Rich."聽
Now, 鈥淭he Impossible Dream鈥澛爄s back in his life and giving him new purpose.
A second album? 鈥淚 would love to,鈥 the former 鈥淵ellowstone鈥 and 鈥淎vengers鈥 star says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like when you do guest star work on a television series and then you become a series regular and then you鈥檙e on set every day, in the trenches doing it. I love every minute of making it and I would love to make another one.鈥
The first album? 鈥淚t鈥檚 just naivete,鈥 Lazar says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just being an artist and having an idea and then people crazy enough to support me. I don鈥檛 think any of us had an idea what we were in for.鈥
鈥淚mpossible Dream鈥 is now available online.
