On Thursday, July 18, buyers at the TKTS booth on 46th Street in New York got a special treat. Mandy Patinkin was in the area shooting a PBS special about his latest recording project Leonard Bernstein's New York and he treated folks to an impromptu performance as well as gave some hopefuls 15 seconds of fame.

It seemed that Mandy needed some extras for his special, so he rushed through the TKTS line shouting "Do you want to be in a video about New YorK?" More than 100 people eagerly answered his casting call.

Right smack in Duffy Square, the cameras rolled while Mandy lead the group in a rousing rendition of "New York, New York," one of the many classics on his new recording.

Incidentally, Mandy Patinkin was nominated for a 1996 Emmy Award nomination for his guest appearance on "The Larry Sanders Show." He was told of his nomination in the midst of filming the segment.

Leonard Bernstein's New York will be released by Nonesuch Records on August 20. Also featured on the recording are, Judy Blazer, Audra McDonald, Richard Muenz, Donna Murphy and Dawn Upshaw. The PBS special is scheduled to air in December. --By Katia Lundy