♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS," WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JACK FORD.

SINCE THE ONSET OF THE 2020 PANDEMIC, AMERICAN CITIES HAVE FACED PARTICULAR CHALLENGES THE LIKES OF WHICH THEY HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

REBUILDING A DEVASTATED ECONOMY, PROVIDING ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION FOR THEIR RESIDENTS, FIXING A BROKEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND DEALING WITH THE EVER GROWING THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE ALL COME TO THE FOREFRONT AS SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING OUR CITIES AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEM.

IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES THE WNET GROUP RECENTLY PARTICIPATE IN THE A LIVE STREAMED JOURNALISM SERIES CALLED "AMERICAN CITIES REBUILDING" FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR.

MADE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PBS STATIONS AND WELLS FARGO BRINGS TOGETHER THE TOP MINDS OF TODAY FOR CONVERSATIONS ON THE UNIQUE PROBLEMS CITIES ARE FACING AND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO BOUNCE BACK HOPEFULLY BETTER THAN EVER.

I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH NEW JERSEY SENATOR CORY BOOKER AS PART OF AMERICAN CITIES REBUILDING ABOUT HOW CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IS AN ESSENTIAL STEP IN HELPING CITIES REBUILD IN A POST PANDEMIC REALITY.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE WANT TO WELCOME TO THIS SESSION NEW JERSEY SENATOR CORY BOOKER, WHO IS GOING TO JOIN US AS WE CONTINUE OUR "AMERICAN CITIES REBUILDING CONVERSATION".

SENATOR, WELCOME.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH.

>> WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLICE REPERFORM AND WHERE WE ARE NOW AND I WANT TO START WITH A BIGGER PICTURE QUESTION IF I CAN, AND THAT IS WHY YOU PERSONALLY ARE SO DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE IDEA THAT POLICE REFORM IS SO ESSENTIAL TO HELP WITH AMERICAN CITIES AND COMMUNITIES IN THEIR REBUILDING AND MOVING FORWARD.

>> WELL, I LIVE IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AND HAVE FOR THE LAST QUARTER CENTURY.

WHEN I MOVED THERE, WE HAD A REALLY SERIOUS CRIME PROBLEM.

AND EVENTUALLY I BECAME MAYOR AND WAS TASKED WITH DRIVING DOWN CRIME.

IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR VOTERS IN MY CITY.

AND WE BEGAN TO MAKE TREMENDOUS HEADWAY, BUT WE SOON FOUND OUT THERE WAS THIS LONG LEGACY IN NEWARK OF EROSIONS OF TRUST BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITIES, AND ULTIMATELY REALLY UNDERMINED THE PROGRESS WE WERE MAKING, AND WE HAD TO DO A LOT.

THE DOJ CAME IN AND OTHERS, AND THEY SHOWED ME THAT WHEN YOU SCRAPED THE DATA AND ACTUALLY CREATED MORE TRANSPARENT AND I ACCOUNTABILITY, YOU SAW WHAT THE POLICE WERE DOING THAT IN MANY WAYS FOR DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO COMMUNITIES AND VIOLATING CIVIL RIGHTS.

AND SO WE BEGAN A MUCH MORE EXPANSIVE VIEW OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND A LOT OF OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP LEANED IN UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT KIND OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WOULD MAKE THE PROFESSION BETTER STRONGER, BUT ULTIMATELY BETTER ABLE TO ACHIEVE WHAT EVERYBODY WANTED, WHICH WAS A SAFE, STRONG CITY.

>> THIS MOVEMENT HAS BEEN SUBJECT, AS WITH SO MANY, TO FITS AND STARTS AND MAKING SOME PROGRESS, STEPPING BACK, TRYING TO REACH OUT.

CERTAINLY AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME MORE MOMENTUM HERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FIRST.

WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF PROGRESS COMING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR POLICE REFORM?

>> WE'VE GOT TO EXPAND THE VIEW OF WHAT WE THINK OF AS POLICE REFORM INTO A MUCH BIGGER CONVERSATION ABOUT OVERALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

WE KNOW THAT AT EVERY POINT IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE STILL HAVE DISPARITIES, WHETHER IT'S WHO'S MORE LIKELY TO GET PULLED OVER, WHO'S LIKELY TO GET STATION HOUSE ADJUSTMENTS, HIGHER CHARGES, LONGER SENTENCES, AND THE LIKE.

AND YOU SEE A LOT OF DISPARITIES IN OUR SYSTEM THAT ARE VERY PROBLEMATIC.

NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING MOVES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

I'M JUST COMING OUT OF A STAFF MEETING WHERE WE'RE TALK ABOUT STRONG ALLIANCES FOR CONSERVATIVE GROUPS FOR MORE REFORMS THAT WE'RE PUSHING.

EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT THESE FUNDAMENTAL IDEALS IN OUR COUNTRY OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE REALLY COME TO THE POINT OF POLICING IN OUR COURT SYSTEM.

I HAVE HAD NINE YEARS IN THE SENATE NOW ALMOST EXACTLY AND HAVE BEEN VERY ENCOURAGED ABOUT HOW IN A BIPARTISAN WAY WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS SOME SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION, AND I CONTINUE TO BE IN TALKS WITH NOT JUST POLICE REFORM, BUT OVERALL SYSTEM REFORM THAT WILL HELP TO RESTORE PEOPLE'S FAITH IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, HELP PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT WE TOGETHER AS A SOCIETY CAN MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.

AND WHAT IS WONDERFUL ABOUT THIS IS THAT THROUGH THIS ALL I'VE DEEPENED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUPS.

IN FACT, THE LARGEST POLICEDOWN THAT REPRESENTS THE MAJORITY OF POLICE OFFICERS, THE FOP, HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS PARTNER IN EVERYTHING FROM MAKING SURE WE HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY IN POLICING TO MAKING SURE WE HAVE HELP WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE OF POLICE, AS WELL AS TRYING TO DRIVE IDEAS THAT WE ARE, I THINK, GOING TO SEE MORE OF IN SOCIETY THAT DON'T PUT ALL THE BURDEN FOR SAUFT ON POLICE.

POLICE OFFICERS KNOW WHEN THERE'S MORE DRUG TREATMENT, WHEN THERE'S MORE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CRISIS, THE LESS POLICE HAVE TO GET INVOLVED, THE LESS THINGS WILL GO BAD, AND THE MORE WE CREATE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS.

AS MY PLACE DIRECTOR SAID TO ME, TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT HAVING A POLICE STATE.

TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY IS EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES SO WE'RE NOT RESPONDING TO CRIME BUT CREATING COMMUNITIES WHERE THAT CRIME DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

TO HAVE A SPECTRUM, INCLUDING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT'S GOING TO HELP US MAKE A LOT OF PROGRESS.

>> SENATOR, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, AND YOU TALK ABED ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS YOU HAD WITH OTHER ORGANIZES INVOLVED, AND THE PUBLIC.

HAVE YOU FOUND THAT USING THE RIGHT WORDS TO COMMUNICATE WHAT THIS IDEA ACTUALLY MEANS HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN MOVING FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALL WANT TO BE UNDERSTOOD, AND I THINK WHAT ADVANTAGED ME IN A LOT OF MY DISCUSSIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THEY UNDERSTOOD I WAS A GUY THAT WAS A MAYOR OF A CITY WITH A LOT OF CRIME.

I ROAD IN POLICE CARS FOR COUNTLESS HOURS, WITNESSED THE INCREDIBLE COURAGE OF OFFICERS, KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THEIR JOB IS, AND STARTING WITH THAT BASIS OF EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING, REALLY CREATED A GREAT FOUNDATION WHERE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE NEGOTIATIONS DID NOT FEEL THEY WERE UNDER ATTACK, FELT UNDERSTOOD, AND HAD A COMMON SET OF VALUES ABOUT THIS NATION NEEDING TO DO A LOT MORE TO REALLY HELP AND SUPPORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

THAT DOESN'T NEGATE THE CHALLENGING ISSUES OF UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY OF POLICING IN THIS COUNTRY, THE CHALLENGES THAT MANY HAVE FACED IN TERMS OF RACIAL DISPARITIES AND MORE.

SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST INDICATIVE OF THE LARGER CLIMATE IN OUR COUNTRY.

ARE WE SPEAKING AT EACH OTHER OR WITH EACH OTHER?

ARE WE SEEKING TO SCORE POLITICAL ADVANTAGE OR COME TO COMMON GROUND AND COMMON UNDERSTANDING?

WE HAVE SO MUCH WE AGREE ON IN THIS IN ADDNATION IN TERMS OF CT OUR DIALOGUE HAS BEEN SUFFERING A LOT FROM A CULTURE OF CONTEMPT WHERE WE'RE NOT SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, TO LEAD WITH EMPATHY, BUT INSTEAD JUST TO TRY TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS.

SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS CONVERSATION WILL GROW, BECOME MORE NUANCED AND THAT CAN USE THE WISDOM OF MANY DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS TO COME TO A CONCLUSION WHERE WE HAVE A SAFER, FAIRER, MORE JUST SYSTEM OF POLICING IN AMERICA.

>> QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.

ON THE HEELS OF THE MIDTERMS, AS FAR AS WE KNOW THIS JUNCTURE, WHAT ALL THE RESULTS ARE, HAVE ANY CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM THAT THIS MIGHT HELP, THE RESULTS MAGNIFICENT HELP TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD?

>> I'M A PRISONER OF HOPE ALWAYS, AND I THINK WE ARE DEALING WITH A TIME IN OUR NATION WHERE A LOT OF THE EXTREME VOICES IN THIS COUNTRY ARE BEING REJECTED BY VOTERS.

AND I DON'T SAY THAT IN A PARTISAN WAY, BECAUSE CLEARLY NOW WE ARE LIKELY TO HAVE A CONGRESS THAT HAS A HOUSE CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS, SENATE CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS.

BUT I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT WE ARE LEARNING LESSONS IN YOUR POLITICAL SPHERE, THAT THIS CULTURE OF CONTEMPT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR POLITICS, THIS ZERO-SUM GAME WE'RE SEEING IN OUR POLITICS, SENSE OF MOIGT MAKES RIGHT, OR DEMOCRAT, NORMS BEING ERODED, THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE A NATION THAT THE GREATEST CALLING, SEEN IN EVERYTHING FROM OUR IDEAL TO E PLURIBUS UNUM TO OUR PLEDGE THAT CALLS US TO PUT MORE INTO THIS ONE NATION INDY VISIBLE, I'M HOPINGT A SEASON THAT'S GONE SO FAR ONE WAY, WHERE WE CAN DEAL WITH ISSUES FROM POLICING TO IMMIGRATION AND SEE THE TRUTH THERE IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF COMMON GROUND AND A LOT OF WORK WE CAN DO TOGETHER TO MAKE US SAFER AND STRONGER AND MORE PROSPEROUS AS A NATION.

>> LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.

SHIFTING TOP,S, YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE -- AND WE'VE SEEN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS GOTTEN INVOLVE IN THE DISPERSING FUNDS THAT WERE ALLOCATED THROUGH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT TO HELP WITH FARMERS AND THE ECONOMIC DISTRESS THEY ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN.

GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT'S BEING DONE AND HOW IT CAN HELP PEOPLE.

>> WE HAVE A FOOD SYSTEM THAT IS SO INTEGRATED, WE ARE ALL PART OF THE SAME FOOD SYSTEM.

AND SO INJUSTICES IN ANY PART, WHETHER IT'S FARM WORKERS, END CONSUMERS IT'S ALL RELATED.

WE HAVE A FARM SYSTEM WHERE WE TELL PEOPLE WHAT IS A HEALTHY DIET, BUT ONLY 2% OF OUR AG SUBSIDIES GO TO THE THINGS WE TELL AMERICANS TO EAT THE MAJORITY OF, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE CONCENTRATION, FARMERS ARE BEING SQUEEZED ECONOMICALLY WITH THEIR SHARE OF THE CONSUMER DOLLAR GOING DOWN DRAMATICALLY AS THESE LARGE CHEMICAL COMPANIES OR CORPORATIONS ARE PUTTING TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON FAMILY FARMERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR FARMS FOR GENERATIONS BUT NOW ARE SUDDENLY LOSING THEM.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF OBVIOUS THINGS WE COULD BE DOING TO FIX OUR FOOD SYSTEM THAT WOULD HELP THE HEALTH OF AMERICANS WHO RIGHT NOW MOST AMERICANS DON'T REALIZE WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT WHERE 1 OUT OF $3 WE SPEND IN GOVERNMENT IS HEALTH CARE BECAUSE WE HAVE AN EXPLOSION OF DISEASES WITH HALF OF OUR POPULATION NOW DIABETIC OR PREDIABETIC.

AND ALWL THE WAY, AGAIN, TO THE STRUGGLING FARMERS.

THERE'S THINGS WE CAN BE DOING TO ALIGN WITH SUBSIDIES, INCENTIVES WITH THE AGRICULTUAL PRACTICES THAT EMPOWER ENVIRONMENT.

AND FINALLY, START ENFORCING THE ANTI-TRUST LAWS THAT WERE USED GENERATIONS AGO TO KIND OF STOP THE AG SECTOR CONSOLIDATION THAT OUR ANCESTORS, FROM FDR AND TRUMAN AND EISENHOWER SAW AS SUCH A THREAT TO THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF FARMERS.

I'M ONE OF THESE FOLKS THAT MOVED TO THE AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE AS A NEW JERSEY SENATOR KNOWING WE COULD NOT ONLY DO BETTER BUT CREATE A THRIVING HEALTH ECONOMICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY THAT IS REALLY WORTHY OF OUR GREAT NATION.

>> SENATOR CORY BOOKER, WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU TAKING SOME TIME TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND UPDATES WITH US.

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, AND YOU TAKE CARE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALWAYS GREAT TO BE IN CONVERSATION WITH YOU, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU GUYS HAVING ME ON.

>> THANKS, SENATOR.

>>> NEW YORK CITY IS HOME TO A NOU NUMBER OF MUSEUMS CELEBRATING OUR RICH ARTISTIC AND CULTURE HISTORY, BUT UNTIL NOW THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PERMANENT MUSEUM DEDICATED TO HONORING WHAT IS PRAPGS NEW YORK'S GREATEST CONTRIBUTION, THE PLAYS AND MUSICALS OF BROADWAY.

WELL, AFTER YEARS OF PREPARATION WE CAN FINALLY SAY THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE, BECAUSE THE BRAND NEW MUSEUM OF BROADWAY IS OFFICIALLY OPEN.

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF MANHATTAN'S THEATER DISTRICT, THE 26,000 SQUARE FOOT MUSEUM COVERS HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF BROADWAY'S HISTORY AND SHOWCASES PROPS AND COSTUMES AND OTHER MEMORABILIA FROM COUNTLESS BROADWAY SHOWS.

THE MUSEUM, CREATE IN THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ORTIVES AND DESIGNER FROM THE COMMUNITY ITSELF ALSO FEATURES SEVERAL PERMANENT EXHIBITS, INCLUDING ONE DEDICATED TO THE BEHIND THE SCENES CREWS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO PUTTING TOGETHER THE SHOWS THAT WE ALL LOVE.

AND WE ARE THRILLED NOW TO BE JOINED TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE BROADWAY MUSEUM WITH THE MUSEUM'S COFOUNDERS, DIANE NICOLETTI AND JULIE BOARDMAN.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THE QUESTION IS THIS, AND THAT IS, AS MOST FIRST QUESTIONS ARE, WHY THE MUSEUM AND WHY NOW?

>> REALLY, REALLY GREAT QUESTION.

YEAH, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A MUSEUM DEDICATED TO BROADWAY AND THE HISTORY OF BROADWAY IS SO RICH, AND THE THEATER IN NEW YORK HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1700s, SO IT'S MIND BLOWING IT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE.

WE FEEL REALLY FORTUNATE AND ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO BE THE ONES WHO ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN, AND WE FOUND THIS INCREDIBLE SPACE IN THE MIDDLE OF TIMES SQUARE WHERE WE CAN CELEBRATE BROADWAY AND ITS HISTORY, SO YEAH.

>> DIANE, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

I'M ALWAYS FASCINATED BY THE GENESIS OF AN IDEA, WHERE IT SPRINGS OUT, WHEN.

PEOPLE SAY, HEY, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

HOW ABOUT FOR THE TWO OF YOU.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU SAID, WHOA, THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

IT WAS ALL JULIE'S IDEA.

IT WAS FROM A CONVERSATION SHE HAD WITH A FRIEND, AND WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

AND SHE WAS LIKE, WHY IS THERE IN THE A MUSEUM OF BROADWAY?

WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT THE OTHER DAY.

AND I JUST PAUSED FOR A MINUTE.

I WAS LIKE, YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE ISN'T ONE.

HOW DOES ONE NOT EXIST?

WE STARTED BRAINSTORMING ON IF WE WERE TO CREATE ONE WHAT WE WOULD DO AND HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT IT, AND THEN THAT WAS SORT OF THE IMPETUS FOR THE IDEA, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS LATER, HERE WE ARE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT FIVE YEARS LATER BUT OF COURSE THERE WAS A CHUNK OF TIME IN THE MIDST OF THAT FIVE YEARS WHERE EVERYTHING WAS THRUST INTO DISARRAY IN OUR LIVES.

AND I SUSPECT ALSO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MUSEUM.

TELL US ABOUT THAT AND THE IMPACT THAT COVID HAD ON GETTING THIS UP AND RUNNING.

JULIE?

>> YEAH, WE -- SO, AS DIANE SAID, ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO STARTED BRAINSTORMING AND WHITE BOARDING THE CONCEPT, AND WHAT WAS THE STORY WE WANTED TO TELL AND FIGURING OUT HOW IT WOULD WORK.

AND SO WE WERE WORKING ON ALL OF THAT AND STARTING TO FUNDRAISE TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, AND THEN COVID HAPPENED.

IT, YOU KNOW, WAS HARD AT FIRST BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING FOR A SPACE, AND YOU COULDN'T ACTUALLY GO TO SEE SPACES.

LIKE, EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED.

IT GAVE US SOME TIME TO REALLY CONTINUE TO HONE AND WORK ON THE TIME LINES WITH BEN WEST WHO'S OUR CURATOR AND RESIDENT HISTORIAN.

THE DESIGN.

AND WE WORKED A LOT OVER ZOOM, LUC LUCKILY, DURING THAT TIME.

AND AS SOON AS WE COULD, WE GOT OUT AND STARTED LOOKING AT SPACES.

AND ACTUALLY, THE SPACE THAT WE'RE IN, IT USED TO BE AN IRISH BAR THAT UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH COVID.

THEY HAD TO SHUT THEIR DOORS.

AND I GUESS WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER OPENS, AND WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE TO FIND THE SPACE.

AS YOU SAID, IT'S 26,000 SQUARE FEET.

IT'S RIGHT OFF OF TIMES SQUARE ON 45th STREET.

WE'RE NEXT DOOR TO THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING THEATER, WHICH IS A REALLY NICE PLACE TO BE.

SO BIT OF A SILVER LINING, IF YOU WILL, FROM COVID, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THE SPACE, SECURE IT, SIGN THE LEASE, AND GET GOING.

>> HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT -- DIANE, I'LL ASK YOU THIS -- HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT, OR HOW WAS IT ESSENTIAL, FOR THIS SPACE TO BE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF BROADWAY, THE HEART OF THEATER?

>> IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

IT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES, TOO, BECAUSE WE WERE LIMITED, OBVIOUSLY, INTO THE THIS GEOGRAPHIC SPACE, WHICH WE FELT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE THERE.

IT TOOK A LITTLE LONGER.

WE HAD TO GET CREATIVE BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T AS MANY SPACES THAT HAD THE SQUARE FOOTAGE WE NEEDED.

AND ALSO THE LAYOUT, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE THE CONCEPT PRIOR TO FINDING THE SPACE, WHICH WAS IMPORTANT.

>> LET ME TALK ABOUT -- I MENTIONED THIS IN THE BEGINNING.

I WANT TO GIVE OUR VIEWERS A SENSE OF SOME OF WHAT'S THERE, TO DRAW THEM IN AND GET THEM THERE, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

BUT I MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PERMANENT EXHIBITS.

THERE WILL BE OTHER EXHIBITS COMING IN.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERMANENT EXHIBITS.

I MENTIONED ONE IN THE BEGINNING, WHICH IS HOW DOES A PRODUCTION GET MADE?

WE ALL SEE WHAT'S ON THE STAGE, BUT AS YOU KNOW -- AND YOU'VE BOTH BEEN INVOLVE IN THE THIS -- THERE ARE YEARS OF WORK INVOLVED BEFORE IT FINALLY BECOMES THAT.

WHY, JULIE, WAS IT THEN SO IMPORTANT TO SAY, WE NEED A PERMANENT EXHIBIT TO SAY, THIS IS HOW THIS THING GETS MADE?

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THE THINGS AS WE WERE BRAINSTORMING, AGAIN, WHAT IT COULD BE AND THE STORY, IT WAS ALSO WHAT WE WISHED EXISTED WHEN WE WERE LITTLE AND COMING TO NEW YORK.

I GREW UP A HUGE FAN OF BROADWAY.

I STARTED PERFORMING WHEN I WAS 5.

WE CAME TO NEW YORK TO SEE MY FIRST BROADWAY SHOW WHEN I WAS 10.

SO I HAVE BEEN A FAN FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTED WHEN I FIRST CAME TO NEW YORK, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE TRAJECTORY OF MY -- MAYBE MY PATH WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I WAS PERFORMING, AND IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE ROLES BACKSTAGE.

I'M ON THE PRODUCING END FOR BROADWAY, BUT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT WAS A THING WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

I JUST THOUGHT YOU HAD TO BE THE ACTOR.

SO THIS ROOM, DAVID ROCKWELL'S DESIGNED THE ROOM, AND IT'S MEANT TO SHOW YOU KIND OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, JOBS THAT EXIST IN BROADWAY THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN.

LIKE YOU SAID, YOU SIT IN THE AUDIENCE AND YOU SEE THE FINAL PRODUCT, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THE SEVEN, TEN YEARS SOMETIMES IT TAKES TO DEVELOP A SHOW TO GET IT TO BROADWAY AND KIND OF ALL THE STAGES.

SO WE WANTED TO KIND OF GO BEHIND THE SCENES AND SHOW A BIT OF THAT MAGIC AND HOPEFULLY EXPOSE PEOPLE TO SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT BROADWAY.

>> DIANE, TELL ME A COUPLE OF THE OTHER -- GIVE ME A QUICK GLIMPSE OF SOME OF THE OTHER PERMANENT EXHIBITS.

>> WE TOOK THE TIME LINE OF BROADWAY, SO EACH OF THE DIFFERENT SHOWS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED ON THE EXHIBITS OR WITH THE EXHIBITS ARE, LIKE, "PHANTOM OF THE OPERA", WHERE WE HAVE A CRYSTAL CHANDELIER WITH CLOSE TO 15,000 -- MADE OUT OF CRYSTALS.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT ONE WAY, YOU SEE THIS LOVELY CRYSTAL INSTALLATION, BUT IF YOU TURN JUST RIGHT, YOU SO THE MASK COME THROUGH.

SO IT'S ORIGIN ART WORK THAT PAYS HOMAGE TO PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

YOU GO THROUGH THE CORNFIELDS IN "OKLAHOMA".

YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE COOL AND AMERICA RE-CREATED BY DANCERS FOR WEST SIDE STORY.

EACH ROOM HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT SORT OF BRINGS IT TO LIFE IN ADDITION TO SEEING PHOTOS AND ARTIFACTS AND COSTUMES AS WELL.

SO IT REALLY IMMERSES YOU IN COSTUMES AND EXHIBITS.

>> I HAVE SEEN MORE THAN A THOUSAND OF THEM ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE MUSEUM.

THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

JULIE, WHERE DID YOU FIND THEM ALL?

>> WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OF CURATORS WE ARE WORKING WITH, AND A LOT CAME FROM JUST RELATIONSHIPS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THE MUSEUM ARE PART OF THE BROADWAY COMMUNITY.

AND SO IT'S JUST CONVERSATIONS AND KIND OF UNCOVERING WHAT STILL EXISTS.

NOT EVERYTHING WAS KEPT FROM THE PAST, SO THERE ARE A COUPLE KEY PLACES WE WORKED WITH, LIKE GOOD SPEED OPERA HOUSE.

THEY HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF COSTUMES.

THE TDF COSTUME COLLECTION.

THE PUBLIC THEATER THAT HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF KEEPING, LIKE, THE ENTIRE -- BASICALLY FROM "A CHORUS LINE", THEY PUT AWAY ONE OF EVERY COSTUMES FROM THE LINES.

AND WE UNCOVERED THESE INCREDIBLE COSTUMES.

WE HAVE MERYL STREEP'S COSTUME FROM HER BROADWAY DEBUT, WE HAVE SOMETHING KEVIN KLEIN AND ESTELLE PARSONS WORE ON STAGE.

IT'S WONDERFUL FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GET TO SEE UP CLOSE AND THAT YOU GET TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE HAND BEADING THAT GOES INTO MAKING THESE COSTUMES.

IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE.

OUR TEAM OF CURATORS HAS DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB OF BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.

SOME JUST HAPPENED I WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET, AND RAN INTO MY FRIEND, THE PRODUCER OF ""HADES TOWN".

I WAS LIKE, CAN WE HAVE HIS COSTUME?

SHE WAS LIKE SURE.

>> DO YOU HAVE FAITHS OF THE EXHIBITS, THE THINGS THE ARTIFACTS?

MAYBE THIS IS LIKE ASKING A MOTHER, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CHILD?

TO COME EXTENT, BUT I'M STILL GOING TO ASK YOU.

DO YOU HAVE SOME FAVORITES IN THE COLLECTION?

>> THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE REALLY INTERESTING STORIES BEHIND THEM.

SO THERE'S, LIKE, A PART OF THAT THAT MAKES IT EXTRA INTEREST.

ZIGFELDFOLLIES, DISNEY, WE HAVE THEM ON LOAN.

JUST SO IMPRESSIVE THEY WERE PRESERVED AND THEY STILL EXIST, BECAUSE THERE'S MANY COSTUMES ANYMORE THAT DON'T.

SO IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE ORIGINAL ZIGFELLD COSTUMES ON DISPLAY THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL AND ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

>> REAL QUICK, JULIE, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, SOMETHING COOL ABOUT THE FOLLIES COSTUMES SOMEBODY SAID TO US IS WHEN YOU THINK OF THE FOLLIES YOU THINK IN BLACK AND WHITE BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS SEEN BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS, BUT THE COLORS ARE EXTRAORDINARY.

IT'S REALLY -- THEY'RE SO BRIGHT AND VIBRANT, AND SO IT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE.

>> QUICK QUESTION.

GO AHEAD.

IS THERE A FAVORITE?

>> YEAH, THAT'S REALLY HARD.

IT KIND OF CHANGES EVERY DAY, I GUESS.

>> THAT'S A GOOD SIGN, DON'T YOU THINK?

THAT WHEN YOU WANDER THROUGH A MUSEUM, ONE DAY IT'S LIKE, THIS IS FABULOUS.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SEE ANOTHER ONE AND SAY, THAT'S FABULOUS, TOO.

ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU WANT FROM US?

OUR MUSEUM WAND EAER ERS, DON'TU WANT THEM TO HAVE THAT REACTION?

>> GREAT TO SEE SOMEONE'S FAVORITE.

THE YOU'RE IN THE MOOD FOR SOMETHING ABOUT TRACT OR MOODY OR CHEERFUL, THERE'S A DIFFERENT ROOM AND DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FOR YOU IN TERMS OF WHAT YOUR FAVORITE MIGHT BE.

>> IT'S SO WONDERFUL.

WE'RE THRILLED BROADWAY IS BACK.

WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK TO TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER ISSUES SOME TIME ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'RE THRILLED BROADWAY IS BACK.

WE'RE THRILLED THE MUSEUM OF BROADWAY IS UP AND RUNNING.

SO FOLKS OUT THERE, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, GET THERE AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

I'M SURE YOU WILL LOVE EVERYTHING THAT'S AVAILABLE.

JULIE, DIANE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOTH OF YOU, FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US AND FOR THE WORK YOU DID PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

A JOB VERY WELL DONE.

LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING WITH YOU AGAIN SOON.

BOTH BE WELL NOW.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU TOO.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- .