the four-time nominee to get the inside scoop. ♪ tap, tap, tapping on the glass ♪ >> reporter: michael greifwith the great jonathan larson. ♪ that breaks my back ♪ >> i thought jonathan's music was wonderful and transporting and i loved what the musical was about. i loved that he was honoring his friends who were suffering with the disease and many who had passed and jonathan's death had the most extraordinary and tragic and unforgettable impact on all of our work and all of our lives, and we all started working on another level in order to keep his voice in our culture. ♪ how we gonna pay ♪ ♪ how we gonna pay ♪ >> reporter: michael reflecting with "gma" about that showstopping music nearly 30 years ago when "rent" first opened on broadway. >> it was always jonathan's intention to remarry popular music and the musical theater, and i think we're all excited that we have the possibility to do that. >> reporter: three decades later michael continues that tradition opening three musicals on broadway all in the same season including an adaptation of "the notebook." >> what kind of book is it? >>