Last week, Freddie Gershon reminded me of two wonderful stories. We were at The 2017 Business Leaders for the Arts Annual Dinner at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gershon, the chairman and CEO of Musical Theatre, was the keynote speaker.

As we approach the centennial of Leonard Bernstein's birth - on August 25, 2018 - cultural institutions around the world are beginning to celebrate the varied life of this decidedly American icon - this composer, conductor, teacher, and activist.