Musical Words of Wisdom

The cast recording of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is once again responsible for some serious thought.  If you are reading this, I'll assume that you have more than a passing interest in musical theatre.  If you are at all like me, you find the lyrics of Broadway shows to be a treasure trove of clever turns of phrase, witty witticisms, and poignant words to live by.

If you have listened to the score of WOTV at all, you know it is full of the aforementioned wit and poignancy.  It was one time when I was enjoying the ever so catchy "On the Verge" that I got my Broadway Vocabulary Quiz blog idea (the word was "ululating") and the idea for this blog came to  mind as I laughed out loud at a certain line in the song that struck me as funny, true, and as a clever turn of phrase.  (See below)  And I asked all of you to send me your favorite lines from Broadway musical numbers.  

Please note that there were several repeats, so I might not attribute the line to you.  Understand that appreciate all of your contributions!  And so, here are some of my favorites along with some of yours.

• "It's murder on a hairdo when your head is underwater." - "On the Verge" from Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
• "You've got pain in your stomach like a long-neglected tooth, dilated pupils that refuse to see the truth..." - "Lovesick" from Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

• "The price of love is loss, but still we pay.  We love anyway." - "Light" from next to normal

• "Because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true." - "Thank Goodness" from Wicked (GalindaU89 from NYC)

• "Christmas bells, ringing out goodwill to men, and peace on Earth; Ev'rything they taught you when you were a child - the things a child once taught the world." - "Christmas Day" from Promises, Promises (Sherilyn F. from Newark, NJ)

• "Life is what you do 'til the moment you die." - "Life Is" from Zorba (Barb P. from Manhattan)

• "I'd walk through the quad, and think, 'Oh My God!  These kids are so much younger than me!'" - "I Wish I Could Go Back to College" from Avenue Q (Tim Z from Geneva, NY)

I could probably do a whole blog just from the entries sent in from AChorusLineFREEK from Long island, NY!  Thanks! (He or she didn't leave a name, but DID leave words of wisdom and clever wording from almost every song in that show's score!

From A Chorus Line:

• "Who am I anyway?  Am I my resume?  That is a picture of a person I don't know." - "I Hope I Get It"
• "All thanks to Sis (Now married and fat)" - "I Can Do That!"
• "'Diff'rent' is nice, but it sure isn't pretty.  'Pretty' is what it's about.  I never met anyone who was 'diff'rent'.  Who couldn't figure that out?" - "At the Ballet"
• "Too young to take over, too old to ignore." - "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen"
• "Six months later I heard that Karp had died.  And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul... and cried.  'Cause I felt... nothing." - "Nothing"
• "Tits and ass won't get you jobs, unless they're yours.  Didn't cost a fortune, neither.  Didn't hurt my sex life, either." - "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three"
• "Give me a job and you instantly get me involved.  If you give me a job, then the rest of the crap will get solved." - "The Music and the Mirror"
• "Kiss today goodbye, and point me t'ward tomorrow.  We did what we had to do.  Won't forget, can't regret what I did for love." - "What I Did For Love"
• "One smile and suddenly nobody else will do." - "One"

Next week, I'll do another blog entirely made up of quotes from the musicals of Stephen Sondheim - thanks to contributions from Tyler, Catherine and SteFANSondheim13!

And keep sending in your favorite lyrics and vocabulary words for future blogs!  Lloyd Webber fans - send me your quotes, too!  I'll do a whole blog on those if I get enough!

Rate this blog below, and leave your comments here, by email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com, or Tweet me!

Jeff

2.336

Goodbye Old Friends, Part I

Let the "Great Broadway Shut Down of 2011" begin.  Just as shows close after the Tonys each spring, a bunch of shows usually close after the holidays as Broadway hunkers down for the cold, lonely winter.  It is an annual cycle, one which allows theatres to become available for that next big hit.

Still, this year seems very brutal, with 14 shows scheduled to close before February starts.  A lot of them are limited engagements, a problem in and of itself.  A few are long timers who just ran out of steam.  And a few, most problematically to my mind, are brand new shows that never caught on with audiences.

Today, we mourn the loss of 8 Broadway shows.  EIGHT!   As the lights dim and each becomes a memory of Broadway history, here are my thoughts:

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Opened: October 13, 2010
Previews: 26     Performances: 94
My Review Grade: A
My Thoughts:  While I can understand the thinking behind saying things like "this show is too off-Broadway for Broadway," I think it is wrong to perpetuate the notion that Broadway audiences can't handle something a-typical and boundary pushing.  Heck, isn't that what most theatre fans beg for?  Well, they gave it to us with this show, and no one showed up.  Like it or not, it was different and fresh and deserved more attention.  Shame on us.  Still, we got a set of hot new writers and director in Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers, and a brand new Broadway Male Star in Benjamin Walker.  And can you beat the tag line, "History just got all sexy pants!"?  An open run sadly cut short.

Brief Encounter
Opened: September 28, 2010
Previews: 21     Performances: 119
My Review Grade: A+
My Thoughts: Director/writer Emma Rice spun gold out of two middling Noel Coward pieces, combing them into a glib, romantic and thrillingly theatrical evening.  Noel would be thrilled.  The visuals were stunning and memorable, but instead of overwhelming the story, it only enhanced it.  The show was part of the Roundabout season, and so was only ever to be a limited engagement, and it was extended at that.

Elf: The Musical
Opened: November 14, 2010
Previews: 15     Performances: 58
My Review Grade: A
My Thoughts: Finally, a holiday show that I would like to see again, and any time of the year.  My love affair with writers Chad Begeulin and Matthew Sklar, as well as Amy Spanger.  And Sebastian Arcelus is at the top of my favorites list.  A limited engagement always, the show made a ton at the box office - I hope it recoups - and I really wouldn't mind it if it showed up this time next year.

Fela!
Opened: November 23, 2009
Previews: 34     Performances: 462
My Review Grade: I didn't see this one.
My Thoughts:  You could have knocked me over with a feather back in the fall when it was announced that the show would close so soon.  I can only judge by people's reactions, many of whom put the show on their best of the year lists in 09 and 10.  Still, a unique entertainment that lasted this long is to be commended.  When it opened off-Broadway, did they really think Broadway, London and National Tour?

The Pee-Wee Herman Show
Opened: November 11, 2010
Previews: 18     Performances: 62
My Review Grade: I didn't see this one.
My Thoughts:  A hit show is a hit show, right?  Lots of people just a bit younger than I am went, loved it, and would never have dreamed of seeing a Broadway show before this.  Maybe Pee-Wee has birthed a few life long theatre goers.  A limited engagement that was extended and recouped is a great thing these days.

Promises, Promises
Opened: April 25, 2010
Previews: 30     Performances: 291
My Review Grade: A+
My Thoughts: I loved this show and will miss it terribly.  I won't dwell on the controversies that plagued the show.  But it did provide me with two unforgettable experiences that I will cherish always: Kristin Chenoweth Tweeting about my review, and later, meeting her at the stage door to thank her.  She actually stopped for more than a minute to shake hands and speak to me.  People looked at me like I was a star.  And I was smitten all over again!  Too short a run for a great old-fashioned, beautifully staged musical.

West Side Story
Opened: March 19, 2009
Previews: 27     Performances: 748
My Review Grade: A+
My Thoughts: This classic is one of my all time favorites, and a staging that recreated the original was both nostalgic and profound.  The dancing was as breathtaking as I always imagined.  I didn't even mind the Spanish.  And how many shows get better when replacements come in?  This is one show I wish I had gotten to one more time.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Opened: November 4, 2010
Previews: 30     Performances: 69
My Review Grade: I didn't formally review the 2nd preview - I had hoped to get back to it on the 16th.  But even as it was, I'd have given it a B- at the 2nd preview.
My Thoughts:  Congratulations, Internet rats!  You finally killed one before it got off the ground.  OK, it probably still lacked some how (Sherie Rene Scott was miscast, and really not good.  It wasn't the material.) as it was busy, but never frenzied.  Ultimately, it was a mix of circumstances, including unrealistic expectations that killed this one.  Still, it was a lot of fun and a thrill to see such talent all a one time.
Prediction: Laura Benanti will be Tony nominated and could even win.

Comments?  Leave one here, email me at jkstheatrescene or Tweet me!@yahoo.com
Jeff
2.124

And the Grammy Goes to...

The Grammy Award nominations were announced a couple of days ago, and as usual the big pop music nominees grabbed the headlines (you go, Eminem!).  But my favorite category went by without so much as a notice beyond the theatre websites.  No biggie! We all know a good thing when we hear it, right?

 

The good news is (at least in my opinion) that the Best Musical Show Album category has zero filler this year and it represents the fair spectrum of musicals that have played Broadway in the last year.  But I'm not sure who votes for the winners.  Is it people that are part of that category?  Is it the entire voting population? Have the voters seen the productions, too and does that influence the voting?  And do they vote on just the recording -quality of sound, music and lyrics - or the whole package - the CD booklet, the entire production of the album?  (If you know the facts, please feel free to share with me and I'll post it!)

 

In the interest of full disclosure, I own only three of the five cast recordings nominated, and I have actually seen four of the five productions.  So the opinions I offer here are somewhat incomplete, and for that I apologize.

 

Here are the nominees, in alphabetical order, and my thoughts:

 

Green Day's American Idiot

 

The link to my CD review is HERE.

 

My thoughts:

• The album plays as well, if not better than the actual show.  Free of all the visual clutter, the CD allows you to really listen to the lyrics and the music.  Tom Kitt's orchestrations are superb and really add to the music without making any of them sound like typical show tunes.
• If it matters, the the CD itself is wonderfully produced with great pictures, and a booklet that includes liner notes and full lyrics.
• Depending on who votes, the fact that this was once a rock album (or two) could be a plus if everyone votes, or a minus if the stuffy old school theatre folk only vote.  If that is the case, the nomination is the award.
• Unless musicians who know what they are hearing vote, Kitt's masterful contribution will again go unnoticed, much like his snub at the Tonys.

 

Personally, it is my favorite of the cast recordings nominated this year.

 

Fela!

 

I do not have the CD, nor have I seen the show.  But based upon what I know...

 

My thoughts:

• The producers of the show, namely Will Smith and "Jay-Z" are popular and well-regarded in the music business, a real plus here.
• The show itself got nearly unanimous raves.
• Its political underpinnings could be a plus or a minus, again depending upon who votes.
• On the down side, the style of music, minus the staging visuals may have very limited appeal.
• And I certainly hope that when recorded, the cast sounded better than any of the live on TV performances I've seen.

 

Ultimately, the recording may lose out, due to its narrow appeal, despite its acclaim and musical producers.  Or it could win just because of those very things!

 

A Little Night Music -The New Broadway Cast Recording

 

The link to my CD review is HERE.

 

My thoughts:

• Amongst theatre goers, feelings about this production are sharply divided, which might come into play depending on who votes.
• A Sondheim score is pretty much a given in terms of quality, so that isn't an issue, especially with a known score like this one.
• What might play against it is that the score is already beloved in its original cast version with a very full orchestra.  Despite what you think of the smaller orchestration (I like it), and no matter what you thought of it as played live in the theatre, purists and musicians alike may shy away from the less is more approach.
• What it does have going for it is its completeness, including superbly acted short scenes from Angela Lansbury and company.  It makes the whole thing more understandable, especially if you haven't seen the show.

 

I love the recording.  But I don't think it is "showy" enough.

 

Promises, Promises - The New Broadway Cast Recording

 

The link to my CD review is HERE.

 

My thoughts:
I personally love this recording, but I see more "against" it than "for" it.
"For" it: 

• The performances are uniformly good, and fairly jump out of the speakers.
• The orchestrations and pit voices are crystal clear and sound great.
• Kristin Chenoweth is in terrific voice here, and Lord knows the girl is popular in any medium.  And Sean Hayes also sounds great, which might surprise people who know him only from Will and Grace.
• The production values of the CD and booklet are top rate, if that counts at all.

"Against" it:

• The original cast recording is a classic, and that production is still remembered fondly.
• This version suffers in comparison because, while it replicates (very well) the distinctive "Bacharach-David" sound, the fact that it is so crystal clear might actually work against it.
• If the voters follow theater, they might be influenced by the controversy surrounding Ms. Chenoweth's performance, though the recording by itself offers a wonderful characterization and superb readings of the songs, including "I Say a Little Prayer" and "A House is Not a Home."  Their addition to the score could be a plus or minus.

 

I have never taken this out of my CD player since I got it - that is how much I love it.  But I'm thinking its chances are 50-50.

 

Sondheim on Sondheim

 

I saw this production, but I do not have the CD yet.  I can, however, offer this:

 

My thoughts:

• As always, depending upon who votes, the styling of the songs, most of which veer far from their original interpretations, may be a plus for musicians who can appreciate the styling, the re-arrangements and out-of-context nature of the selections.  For purists who like their Sondheim shot straight, this could be a turn-off.
• If seeing the show plays into it at all, this show had the shortest run.
• The singers - particularly Vanessa Williams and Barbara Cook are well-known and loved by the music community, Broadway and otherwise, which is a definite plus.
• Not having heard it, but knowing that some of the Sondheim narration is included.  How it plays on the CD, I can't say, but if they've worked it into the CD as well as they did the show, it is a definite plus.
• And whether this should influence votes or not, Sondheim is a master, and he has been the focus of dozens of tributes, etc., to the extent that the public at large knows who he is and that he has hit an age milestone.
• Will the fact that two of the five recordings have all to do with Stephen help or hurt?  Will it split the vote and open the door for one of the other three nominees.

 

I have no idea how this will play out.  But I can say that -even without hearing two of them - the quality of the selections this year is very high.  It may be cliche, but cliches all have a grain of truth to them:  all of these choices are winners!  And think about the shows with CDs that did NOT get nominated...

 

Comments?  Leave one here, email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me!
Jeff
2.94

TheatreScene: October 11 - 17

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THIS WEEK!

 

On the Verge of a Review:  2nd Preview Musings

THEATRE BOOK REVIEW: Spring Awakening: In the Flesh
THEATRE LEGEND: Theoni V. Aldredge
LOGOS: La Bete
Ms. Broadway October 2010: Leigh Zimmerman
Broadway Crossword by Blog #3, Clues, Part V

 

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN THIS WEEK'S NEW POLL!

 

OCTOBER 11:
HISTORY:

 

From the Original Broadway Playbill

• 1984:  August Wilson's first play to open on Broadway did just that.  Ma Rainey's Black Bottom opened on this date at the Cort Theatre, earning 3 Tony nominations, including Best Play and one for Charles S. Dutton.
• 2009: The controversial play Oleanna opened a year ago, starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles.  Audiences stayed away...

BEGINNINGS:

• Dee Snider, lead singer of Twisted Sister, makes his Broadway debut in Rock of Ages as the club owner.  Rock on, Dee!
• Brent Barrett, perhaps the most underrated Broadway talent in recent years, returns to Chicago as Billy Flynn.  The man has a great voice and presence.  Have you heard him on the Cast Recording of Grand Hotel: The Musical?  Amazing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jane Krakowski, Actor (Grand Hotel: The Musical, Nine)

 

OCTOBER 12:
HISTORY:

 

Ben Vereen in Jesus Christ Superstar

• 1971: Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice's first collaboration to reach Broadway, Jesus Christ Superstar, opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, turning the Great White Way on its ear.  Rife with controversy and a pretty popular concept album, the establishement was still shocked.  By today's standards, it sseems pretty tame.  The original production ran 268 performances, and earned Webber/Ride their first Tony nod, and brought Ben Vereen much attention.  He was Tony nominated for this, but would go on to greater glory the following season in a little show called Pippin.
• 1995: My Patti LuPone streak continues!  Her one woman show, Patti LuPone on Broadway opened for a limited run at the Kerr Theatre.  It was pretty awesome!

NEWS:

• A Life in the Theatre opens today.  Starring Patrick Stewart and TR Knight, the David Mamet play runs at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre through January 2, 2011.
• Love Never Dies is reborn!  News that the show will be re-vamped by Lord Vader Lloyd Webber and rebuilt by a new Australian creative team should come as a surprise to no one.  Will this be the version that makes it to Broadway in a few years?  Who knows?  But this is not without precedent.  Sunset Boulevard received similar treatment, when the revamped LA version was a critical and popular (if not financial) success on Broadway.  The newer version soon replaced the older on the West End.
• Broadway's best friend, Gregory Jbara, announces that he will be staying with Billy Elliot through June 2011!  His Tony winning performance gets better with age.  If you get the chance to see it with him, take it!  You won't be sorry.
• Speaking of Billy Elliot, I forgot (shame on me) to talk about one of my favorite Broadway divas, Emily Skinner, who joined the cast on October 2nd as Mrs. Wilkinson.  She comes to the Broadway company directly from the First National Touring Company.

 

• And finally... even though it is probably the new musical I am looking forward to the least, the casting news announced to day does make Wonderland. A New Alice. A New Musical a little more interesting.  Janet Decal of In the Heights fame heads that cast as the grown-up Alice.  Joining her are: Darren Ritchie (Little Shop of Horrors, Thoroughly Modern Millie) as White Knight/Jack/Lewid Carroll, Tituss Burgess (Jersey Boys, Little Mermaid) as Caterpillar, Jose Llana (Spelling Bee, Flower Drum Song) as El Gato, Karen Mason (Hairspray, Mamma Mia!) as The Queen of Hearts, Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde, Cabaret, Jekyll and Hyde) as Mad Hatter and Edward Staudenmayer (Spamalot, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me) as White Rabbit.  The ensemble will include: April Berry, Sae La Chin, Dan Domenech, Mallauri Esquibel, Derek Ferguson, Lauren Lim Jackson, Morgan James, Stefan Raulston, Julius Anthony Rubio and Danny Stiles.  The show is the first production of the Broadway Genesis Project, an initiative by the Straz Center for the Performing Arts to develop and prepare new musical theatre for Broadway. From a show's inception to final staging, the Project "provides a safe and nourishing environment in a state-of-the-art complex with artistic, technical and administrative resources."  Wonderland begins previews at the Marquis Theatre on March 21,2011.

TOPS AND BOTTOMS:

• Wicked was the top grossing show last week, with $1.6M; Jersey Boys had the top attendance at 99.5%
• The Scottsboro Boys was the lowest grossing show last week, with just under $175K (6 previews); American Idiot was the least attended show at 55.6%.
• Memphis joins the millionaire's club this week, grossing over $1M for the first time this week at the B.O.

BEGINNINGS:

• Ryan Jesse begins performances as Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys.  He replaces Sebastian Arcelus, who is Elf - bound.  

 

• Molly Shannon makes her Broadway debut as Marge MacDougal in Promises, Promises.
• Priscilla: Queen of the Desert begins its pre-Broadway engagement in Toronto.  Keep your pretty fingernailed fingers crossed...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Hugh Jackman, Actor (The Boy from Oz, A Steady Rain)

 

OCTOBER 13:
HISTORY:

• 1834: The Oldest Opening of the Week: Mathews at Home!/The Comic Annual opened at the Park Theatre.  Subtitled "A Lecture on Men, Manners and Peculiarities", the show lasted 18 days.  Sounds like a show about some guys I know...
• 1962: The now classic Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opened at the Billy Rose Theatre, where it ran for 664 performances.  It starred Uta Hagen and George Grizzard.  It was notable for two other reasons: it had an entirely different cast for matinee performances, and it cost a then whopping $42,000.00!

NEWS:

• Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson opens tonight at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre.  The off-Broadway transfer is the first new musical to open this season.  If rumors are to be believed, it might not last too long.  I hope it makes it to the 23rd...I have great seats...
• Rumors were confirmed today as it was officially announced that James Lapine would be directing the 2012 revival of Annie.

 

 

Priscilla meets the North American Press!

• And people wonder why the gays love her so much... today, Bette Midler was announced as a co-producer of the Broadway mounting of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.

MILESTONE:

 

The Current Jersey Boys

• The 8 PM performance of Jersey Boys will mark a new record for the history of the August Wilson Theatre.  It will be the longest-running show to ever play that space with 2,037 performances.  The previous record holder, Smokey Joe's Cafe, closed after 2,036 performances.  Interestingly, Matt Bogart will have been in both performances.  He was in the closing night company of Smokey Joe's Cafe, and he is currently playing Nick Massi in Jersey Boys.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Marie Osmond, Singer/Actor (The King and I)

 

OCTOBER 14:
HISTORY:

• 1929: Could this be a play from today?  The Nut Farm  opened at the Biltmore, lasting just 40 performances.

 

 

• 1961: How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying! opened at the 46th Street Theatre, starring eventual Tony winners Robert Morse and Charles Nelson Reilly.  The show itself eventually won 7 Tony awards, including Best Musical, and the Pulitzer Prize.

NEWS:

 

• La Bete opens at the Music Box Theatre for a limited engagement through January 11, 2011.

 

• The stars of this year's Best Musical, Memphis, Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, have extended their stay through September 2011.  Talk about loyalty...and job security!
• Mary McColl was named Executive Director of Actors Equity.  Her term begins in the new year.
• As the Witch warns in Into the Woods, "be careful the things you say..." Xanadu and Wicked star Marty Thomas filed papers in court to expose the name of "bwayanonymous" on Twitter for defamation charges.  Seems this tool idiot individual thought it would be fun to start some gossip about Thomas and "a star of Avenue Q" and an STD!  You know, it is one thing to criticize an actor's work on the Internet, another entirely to personally attack them.  It is amazing that we don't hear about more of this... even more amazing is the fact that certain message boards are allowed to continue for doing this and worse to people.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Lillian Gish, Late Actor and Usher Raymond, Singer/Actor (Chicago)...better known to music fans by just his first name.

 

OCTOBER 15:
HISTORY:

• 1938: Abe Lincoln in Illinois opened at the Plymouth Theatre.  The Pulitzer Prize winning play starred Raymond Massey, and lasted 472 performances.
• 1953: Another Pulitzer Prize (and Tony Award - Best Play), The Teahouse of the August Moon opened at the Matin Beck Theatre and ran an impressive 1,027 performances.  John Forsythe and David Wayne were in the original cast.
• 2009: A star-filled revival of Bye Bye Birdie re-opened the newly re-constructed Henry Miller's Theatre.  It seems so long ago, doesn't it?

NEWS:

 

 

• The Scottsboro Boys television commercial makes its debut.  It is exciting and spectacular...more in a later blog!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Gavin Lee, Actor (Mary Poppins)

 

OCTOBER 16:
HISTORY:

• 1939: The classic comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner debutes at the Music Box Theatre, where it ran for 739 performances.
• 1967: Rosencrantz and Guildendstern Are Dead, Tom Stoppard's avante-garde play opened at the Alvin Theatre, running 420 performances, earning 8 Tony nods, and winning 4, including Best Play.

 

 

• 1997: The cult favorite musical that made Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner tops on the Broadway divas list, Side Show opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, lasting a mere 91 performances.

NEWS:

• The Chicago engagement of Billy Elliot is ipulling up stakes a little earlier than anticipated, closing at the end of November.  I bet little Billy is doing the Angry Dance and Michael is raiding his sister's closet in anticipation of the move.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Angela Lansbury, Actor (Mame, Sweeney Todd)

 

OCTOBER 17:
HISTORY:

• 1965: The musical On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever  opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, running 208 performances, and earning John Cullum a Theatre World Award.
• 1972: 6 Rms Riv Vu, a constant regional and community theatre staple, opened at the old Helen Hayes Theatre, starring Jane Alexander and Jerry Orbach.  The play ran 247 performances.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rob Marshall, Actor (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Choreographer (Victor/Victoria, Damn Yankees), Director (Cabaret (co), Little Me)

All Good Things...

Geez, you take to your sick bed for a couple of days and all hell breaks loose!  (Thank you to those thoughtful emailers who were actually worried when I missed 2 days!  You are sweet to worry; I appreciate it!)

OK, first comes the news that my favorite revival, West Side Story will NOT feature a retuen of Tony winner Karen Olivo!  Then, to add insult to injury... the show will close!  (I'm not surprised, just disappointed.)

THEN, my other favorite revival, Promises, Promises will be closing, too!  ON THE SAME DAY!  And I am thankful that all of the major players saw fit to extend 1 week to finish out the show.

And if unconfirmed (but highly likely) rumors are true, I will be inconsolable if a certain favorite - absolute favorite - of mine also closes on that date.  I simply cannot name it until it becomes true...

Still... much to be thankful for on all three accounts. 

We will never see a West Side Story again directed by the man who wrote it.  And it will have run longer than the original Broadway production - 732 original, 748 revival.

This Promises, Promises won't even come close to its original run, but what are the chances that this perios piece will be done again anytime soon?  Plus, it inroduced Sean Hayes to Broadway, in what I hope will NOT be his only role.  And perhaps, in the long run, more importantly, we saw one of musical theatres greatest stars, Kristin Chenoweth take a risk in a role that most people couldn't bend their frame of reference enough to see her fit.  In my opinion, she was smashing and brave.

And should the lost one that shall not be named close on that date (or one later in the month as further speculation has it)... who would have thought that a show that serious and off the beaten path would have lasted as long as it did?  And improve with age to boot!  Regardless of your personal feelings about it, the show will eventually hold its place on a very short list of those who changed musical theatre boundaries forever.

Whether 2 or 3 shows (or more) end up closing on that day the joy of the New Year will be short lived for this theatre fan.  Still, it is a reminder that the very thing I love so much about live theater - that it is live, done and gone forever - is also thing that I hate the most.  Gone.  Forever.

But then again, if shows didn't close, there wouldn't be room for the West Side Storys or the Promises, Promises... talk about your "circle of life"!  Any word on when THAT might close!?  :-)

And I am really looking forward to the fun that I am sure will be Priscilla: Queen of the Desert!



Comments? Leave one here, Yahoo me, or Tweet me...
Jeff
2.17

Bits and Pieces for 09.12.10

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN THE POLL TO YOUR RIGHT!  IT CLOSES SOON!

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THIS WEEK!

• next to normal in Norway
• Back to School with a Broadway Curriculum*
• Looking Forward to Fall: 2010
• Broadway and the Kennedy Center Honors
• What Happened This Week on Broadway (8/30 - 9/5)
• A JKTS Rant: Spider-Man Debuts!

*  BACK TO SCHOOL AT BROADWAY U!

A special thank you to Tina C. from New Jersey for not making me feel stupid for missing the obvious!  She suggested the following:

Art
Art (art appreciation)
Sunday in the Park with George (classic AND modern art)
RED (very modern art!)

Awesome, Tina!  And thanks again for being apart of my blog!

THE PROMISES OF GREAT CASTING - SUPERSTAR!

Is anyone else as excited as I am that Molly Shannon is going to replace Katie Finneran inPromises, Promises?  The woman is hysterical, and perfect for this small role.  (A little Molly can go a long way...)  And we already know she has chemistry with Sean Hayes - she was an excellent guest star on Will and Grace.  Here's hoping when she's through, we can see a little more of her on Glee!

THIS SISTER IS A CLASS ACT

Say what you want about Whoopi Goldberg, but when she commits to something she commits!  You might have heard that she took over the role of Mother Superior in the London version of her (she's a producer) Sister Act, but had to leave suddenly to look after her ill mother.  How many other celebrities honor their commitment after a crisis like that?  Damn few!  That's right, Whoopi arranged to come back for 5 performances before the show closes.  And even more graciously, is rotating in the role with the actress who was chosen to close the show so she won't miss out, either!

Sister Act  is Broadway-bound.  Let's hope the show is half as classy as its producer.

VERGE DELAYED

Citing technical transition issues, the musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, delayed previews by three days, and will now begin on October 5th.  In the mean time, here's another couple of fun promo pics!

These ladies are DEFINITELY

on the verge of something!

WONDERLAND AT THE MARQUIS

Just how big is Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland that it is getting one of Broadway's most prime pieces of real estate, the Marquis Theatre?  You could have knocked me over with a feather when I read that.  Something tells me that my guess, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert will either go into the Al Hirschfeld after Elf leaves or it will get the Palace (how fitting for a queen!) when West Side Story either closes or moves to a smaller house.  Of course, the Nederlander and or the St. James may be both big enough and up for grabs for a spring opening of Priscilla.

PICTO-GRAM ANSWERS

Here are the answers to the Broadway Picto-grams Game.  If you want to play before you read the answers, click HERE.

FAMOUS CHARACTERS

1. Rocks + E Heart = Roxie Hart
2. Doll + Levi - Dolly Levi
3. Fan + Tom Tom = Phantom

FAMOUS THEATER PEOPLE

1. Hair + Old Prints = Harold Prince
2. Shy + Anne Jacks + Sun = Cheyenne Jackson
3. No + Bert Leo Butts = Norbert Leo Butz

SHOW TITLES

1. Million Dollar Quartet
2. Atoms Family = The Addams Family
3. Kiss  Dove - "D" Spider Woman - Kiss of the Spider Woman
4. Rock  Love - "L" Ages = Rock of Ages

How'd you do?

Happy Birthday last week to:

09/05: Carol Lawrence, Actress (West Side Story 1957)
09/06: Anika Noni Rose, Actress (Caroline, or Change)
09/07: Jerry Zaks, Director (Anything Goes 1987)
09/08: Sid Caesar, Actor (Little Me 1962)
09/09: Edward Hibbert, Actor (The Drowsy Chaperone)
09/10: Jeff Marx, Composer, Lyricist (Avenue Q)
09/11: Harry Connick, Jr., Composer, Lyricist (Thou Shalt Not), Actor (The Pajama Game 2006)



Comments?  Leave one here, Yahoo me or Tweet me!
Jeff
2.14

CD REVIEW: Promises, Promises (Original London Cast Recording)

At this point, I feel like I might be rubbing your noses in it when I tell you that the Original London Cast Recording of Promises, Promises is a must-have for fans of the show, the score or its stars, Tony (Anthony) Roberts and Betty Buckley.  Why is it like rubbing your noses in it?  Well, Kritzerland Records only releases 1,000 limited edition copies of each CD that it remasters, and in visiting their site today for background information, I found out it was sold out!  Of course, it wasn't due to be released until the first week of September, so there must have been a lot of pre-orders (like mine).

For once, I didn't wait too long to get something I really wanted for my collection.  Promises, Promises with Betty Buckley has long been on my list, and I'm so glad I ordered it the day it was announced.  If you have it, too, please write and share your thoughts on it!  If you missed out, be sure to add Kritzerland's website to your "favorites".  They have an excellent catalogue with new titles coming out frequently.

Who knows?  Maybe they'll release more copies?  Go to http://www.kritzerland.com/ for more information on this and dozens of other collectible CDs they have.  And in case you find a copy someplace, here's my 10 cents worth on the recording:

Title: Promises, Promises
Artist: The Original London Cast Recording
Label: Kritzerland
Number: KR 20016-3
Format: Single CD
Case: Single Jewel Case
Booklet: Black and white production photos; liner notes by Bruce Kimmel, so up to date that it includes the fact that the current revival opened and includes extra Bacharach/David tunes.

Anthony Roberts and Kelly Britt:

"A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing"

Noteworthy About This CD:

• It restores the score in its original order as seen on stage, which the OBCR did not, but the NBCR does.
• It is re-mastered from the original two-track album masters.
• The orchestrations and background vocals are, in some songs, significantly different from any other version.
• There is only 1 verse of "Upstairs" on the recording, with Roberts ending after the "Kirkeby" verse.
• It contains a bonus track: the complete - including the entire dance break - "A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing".  In Italian!  No joke...

"The Falling Girl" Logo

(Here on the Broadway Windowcard)

The Artwork/Booklet:

• The cover features the London logo, which is the Broadway logo - the girls lounging on the apartment key, but with a blue background.
• The CD itself (and the background page behind the CD) features the "falling girl" (I'm being polite here) logo that was later used in both the Broadway and London advertisements, as well as the London Playbill.

The London Playbill

• The booklet includes the same billing as the London Playbill, as well as a complete cast list.  However, it does not include Donna McKechnie, who is billed on the cover, and did, in fact, recreate her dance solo in "Turkey Lurkey Time."  There is a picture of her doing just that, but there is no explanation to be found as to why.

Donna McKechnie and the London Cast in

"Turkey Lurkey Time"

• It is especially fun to see stills of the stars, Anthony Roberts and Betty Buckley, both of who were at the start of two long and illustrious stage and film careers.  Mr. Roberts went on to decades of Broadway success, with different generations knowing him for different things: a host of Neil Simon plays, Arsenic and Old Lace, Victor/Victoria  and most recently, Xanadu and The Royal Family.  His film success has largely been found in several films by Woody Allen.  Ms. Buckley has enjoyed a similarly long, successful career on Broadway from 1776, Cats, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Song and Dance, Carrie, to Triumph of Love.  She is also a staple on the cabaret scene and the charity concert circuit.  Movie audiences may  know her from Carrie, Frantic, Tender Mercies, TV audiences may know her work in Eight is Enough, OZ, and in the upcoming HBO miniseries The Pacific.

The Pros and Cons to the London Cast Recording
Based, of course, on only what I can hear:

Pros:

+ Having the recording to begin with!

+ Betty and Tony at the start of their careers!

+ Jonthan Tunick's orchestrations are similar but mostly pretty different here than in either of the other versions, which he also orchestrated.  Like Buckley and Roberts, Promises, Promises is at the start of his long career.

+ Jack Kruschen plays Dr. Dreyfuss, the same role he played in the film The Apartment.  He was nominated for an Academy Award for that performance.

+ The arrangement (both orchestral and vocal) of "Christmas Day" are the best here than either of the versions.

+ The Italian "A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing" proves that quality works in any language!

+ Tony Roberts:

• Sounds genuinely thrilled and in love in "She Likes Basketball!"  His enthusiasm really comes through.
• He belts the hell out of the end of both "Half as Big as Life" and "Promises, Promises".
• As on the revival recording, "A Young Pretty Girl Like You" (aka "Happy"), here sung by Roberts and Kruschen stands out for its joy and character.
• He sounds great with Betty Buckley on "I'll Never Fall In Love Again".

+ Betty Buckley:

• Her amazing belt, in its infancy here, shines through magnificently on "Knowing When to Leave," which is, I think, the best of the three cast recorded versions.
• Her quirky enunciation (and extremely hard "ing", for example) and prolonged, sometimes odd vowel sounds may put some off, but they really work here when you consider the quirky, odd character she's playing.
• She displays character the best and most consistently of any of the others on the recording.  Her "Whoever You Are" is heart-breaking, and her plain, no frills "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" is just as thrilling for its naturalness.
• I found myself wishing she had had the same opportunity as Ms. Chenoweth to sing "A House is Not a Home" and "Say a Little Prayer," regardless of whether they add to the show or not.  (I think they do...)

The London Principals:

Anthony Roberts, Betty Buckley

James Congdon, Jack Kruschen

Cons:

- The lack of full use of the "orchestra voices" which add so much to the "Bacharach/David sound".

- James Congdon is the worst of the three recorded Sheldrakes.

- "Upstairs" is incomplete.  Only one verse?  Really?  It's not like it doesn't set up a major plot point or anything...

- "Where Can You Take a Girl?" sounds especially smarmy and ready for a sexual harassment video.  I know that's the point, but eewww...

Of the three, this is probably my third favorite, but considering I love them all and all for different reasons, it's still a winner in my book!

Grade: A-

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Jeff