The Concert in Central Park influential concert promoters, developed the idea of helping Central Park financially with a free open-air concert, under the legal guidance of Bob Donnelly. The city would use profits from merchandising, television, and video rights to renovate the park. Earlier park performances by Elton John and James Taylor showed that this concept could be a success. Davis authorized the project, and Delsener entered discussions with cable TV channel HBO to decide who would perform. They decided on Simon & Garfunkel, a group that had formed in New York City in the 1960s, and had been one of the most successful folk
Concert version presented concerts of musicals such as "On the Twentieth Century", "Dreamgirls", "Funny Girl", "Chess" and "Hair". A concert version of "Anyone Can Whistle" was presented as a benefit for Gay Men's Health Crisis at Carnegie Hall in 1995. The 10th Anniversary reunion of "Into the Woods" was presented as a concert in 1997, to benefit Friends In Deed and God's Love We Deliver. James Lapine noted that this concert was "a bit more informal" than the concert reunion of "Sunday in the Park with George", which was given in formal dress. Some companies produce staged concerts to benefit the company.