The Musical Chronicles

CD OF THE WEEK: THE BOY FRIEND

2012-02-04T17:29:00.000Z

Although the original Broadway cast has Julie Andrews as Polly, I prefer this 1984 London cast recording. I think that Sandy Wilson’s delicious score never sounded better.

This Twenties musical comedies spoof began life as a small show but soon its charms turn it into a big hit. For a lover of the 20s like me, this is musical heaven! This may sound like a naïve musical, but it’s a flashback to happier innocent times and songs like “Won’t You Charleston with Me”, “I Could Be Happy with You” and “The Riviera” are an irresistible invitation to dance!

… and the cover is simply delicious!

CD OF THE WEEK: MAME

2012-01-22T10:58:00.000Z

My all time favorite song, “It’s Today”, belongs to this musical and the rest of the score is unpretentiously glorious.

Jerry Herman was at the top of his form when he wrote it and he was lucky to have a perfect cast to give life to the characters; Angela Lansbury, Beatrice Arthur and Jane Connell are irresistible and irreplaceable.

Herman is known for his feel good scores and this is perhaps his most uplifted work. With unforgettable songs like “We Need a Little Christmas”, “Open a New Window”, “Bosom Buddies”, “Gooch’s Songs” and the breathtaking “If He Walked Into My Life”, this is truly Broadway at its best!

CD OF THE WEEK: INTO THE WOODS

2012-01-15T17:43:00.000Z

Since I was child that I love fairy tales and Stephen Sondheim is one of my favorite composers, so its no wonder that I fell in love with this score since the first time I heard it.

This is probably Sondheim’s most accessible score and, although it may not have the genius of SWEENEY TODD or COMPANY, the truth is that I prefer it to those distinguished scores.

The original Broadway cast is excellent, but this London recording has more feeling, atmosphere and is more theatrical. The cast couldn’t be better and among my favorite moments there’s “It Takes Two”, “Our Little World” (specially written for this London production) and “Moments in the Woods”.

Please accept this invitation and “go into the woods” and be “happy ever after”.

BEST CD RELEASES OF 2011

2012-01-08T13:14:00.000Z

With each year that goes by, it seems I’m buying less and less CDs. There are two strong reasons for that to happen. I’m lucky to have a good and strong CD library, which means that I already own many of the reissues that were released in 2011. The other reason has to do with the Internet. Today is easy to listen to samples of the new musical scores that are released and so I only buy the ones that fancy me.

Anyway, 2011 was a good year for Musical fans and I managed to buy more than a dozen CDs. If you’re interested in knowing which ones were my favorite, visit the following link:

Cast_BestReleases.htm

CD OF THE WEEK: WHITE CHRISTMAS

2011-12-25T16:13:00.000Z

What a delight it is to put a CD playing and feel transported to a magic world of song and dance. That’s what happens to me each time I play this cast recording.

One of the great joys of it is the fact that, besides the classic songs, there’s a couple of lesser known (I think I never heard them before) Berlin tunes and both are delightful; I’m talking about “Love and the Weather” and “Falling Out of Love Can Be Fun”. As for the classics, the terrific cast and the new orchestrations by Larry Blank give them new life and the likes of, among others, “Snow”, “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm”, “Blue Skies” and “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” sound better than ever.

For me the highlight is the contagious “I Love a Piano”. A terrific musical number that will put you tapping wherever you are.

Brian d’Arcy James, in the Bing Crosby role, shows why is one of the best leading actors of his generation and Anastasia Barzee, in the Rosemary Clooney role, is a true revelation. The singing & dancing team of Jeffry Denman and Meredith Patterson is a perfect match and the veteran Karen Morrow gives her all in “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy”.

This is a fantastic cast recording and a must in every musical fan library.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: “We Need a Little Christmas”

2011-12-25T15:34:00.000Z

Song number 12, the last one for this Xmas: “We Need a Little Christmas” from the musical MAME, Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: “Sleigh Ride”

2011-12-24T13:00:00.000Z

Song number 11: “Sleigh Ride” written in 1948 by Music by Leroy Anderson & Lyrics by Mitchell Parish.

A MAGIC XMAS AND A CRAZY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU

2011-12-24T12:10:00.000Z

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow”

2011-12-23T18:35:00.002Z

Song number 10: “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow” written in 1945 by Music by Jule Styne & Lyrics by Sammy Cahn.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: “The Christmas Waltz”

2011-12-22T19:17:00.000Z

Song number 9: “The Christmas Waltz” written in 1954 by Music by Jule Styne & Lyrics by Sammy Cahn.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: “Santa Baby”

2011-12-21T21:46:00.000Z

Song number 8: ““Santa Baby” written in 1953 by , Music by Joan Javits & Philip Springer.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: “When You Wish Upon a Star”

2011-12-20T20:33:00.002Z

Song number 7: “When You Wish Upon a Star” from the 1940 movie PINOCCHIO, Music by Leigh Harline and Lyrics by Ned Washington.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: “Make Someone Happy”

2011-12-19T18:51:00.002Z

Song number 6: “Make Someone Happy” from the musical DO RE MI, Music by Jule Styne and Lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph Green.

CD OF THE WEEK: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

2011-12-18T12:12:00.000Z

For his Broadway debut as composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim came up with this hilarious Roman farce and the result is highly enjoyable. With songs like “Comedy Tonight”, “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid” and “Lovely”, this is musical comedy at its best and besides LITTLE ME this is the funniest of all musical scores.

The original Broadway cast with Zero Mostel is great, but the Broadway revival with Nathan Lane and new orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick is much better and livelier. Among other things it includes the terrific “The House of Marcus Lycus” and a better ensemble cast.

If you think Sondheim can’t write simple songs, just play “Love, I Hear” and “Pretty Little Picture” and I’m sure you’ll change his mind.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: “What’s This?”

2011-12-18T11:07:00.000Z

Song number 5: “What’s This?” from the movie THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Music and Lyrics by Danny Elfman.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: “Marshmallow World”

2011-12-17T12:23:00.000Z

Song number 4: “Marshmallow World” written in 1949, Music by Peter DeRose and Lyrics by Carl Sigman.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: “Bless Our Show”

2011-12-16T19:01:00.000Z

Song number 3: “Bless Our Show” from the musical SISTER ACT, Music by Alan Menken and Lyrics by Glenn Slater.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: "Snow"

2011-12-15T19:29:00.001Z

Song number 2: “Snow” from the musical WHITE CHRISTMAS, Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin.

TWELVE SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS: "Twelve Days to Christmas"

2011-12-14T19:38:00.001Z

To celebrate Christmas, what’s better than a dozen songs? So, here is the first of my recommend “12 Songs for Christmas”.

It was written in 1963 by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick for the musical SHE LOVES ME.

CD OF THE WEEK: NO, NO, NANETTE

2011-12-11T19:10:00.000Z

This Broadway revival was a surprise hit when it opened in 1971 and thanks to it we have this highly enjoyable recording. The songs by Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar & Otto Harbach never sounded fresher and livelier and the result is one of those scores that just makes you want to dance.

Classics like “Tea for Two” and “I Want to Be Happy”, together with lesser known titles like “Too Many Rings Around Rosie” and “You Can Dance With Any Girl at All”, make this a pleasure trip into nostalgia. The cast, that includes Helen Gallagher, Jack Gilford, Patsy Kelly, Susan Watson, Bobby Van and Ruby Keeler, sound just like they were having the time of their lives and they sure give us a great time.

If you love the music of the 20s as much as I do, this is a real treat! Like they sing in one of the songs “take a little one-step”.

CD OF THE WEEK: GUYS AND DOLLS

2011-12-04T15:51:00.000Z

This “musical fable of Broadway” has one of the most perfect scores ever written for a musical. Frank Loesser must have been deeply inspired when he wrote it and it never sounded better than in this 1992 Broadway revival.

The irreprehensible cast is fantastic, specially Nathan Lane and Faith Prince, who sing their roles like they have been written just for them. Peter Gallagher and Josie de Guzman also sound very convincing in their roles and Walter Bobbie delivers an exhilarating “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”.

Fill with gorgeous songs, from beautiful ballads like “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” to comic ones like “Adelaide’s Lament”, not forgetting perfect musical tunes like “Luck Be a Lady”, this is pure Broadway and there aren’t many opening numbers as good as “Runyonland”.

CD OF THE WEEK: STEEL PIER

2011-11-27T16:48:00.000Z

In one of the songs they ask “Why don’t you come to the Steel Pier?” and it’s a pity that the public didn’t went to see it on Broadway when it opened. But thank God someone decided to record it and the result is this terrific CD.

For me this is Kander & Ebb’s best work since CHICAGO. The score sounds like pure Broadway and has a theatrical feeling missing from most new musicals. Among the songs there are the delightful “Second Chance”, the riveting “Willing to the Ride”, the haunting “First You Dream” and the delicious “Leave the World Behind”. The orchestrations by Michael Gibson are a match made in heaven and the whole recording is simply wonderful!

The cast couldn’t be better. Karen Ziemba shines more than ever, Daniel McDonald has a flawless sweet voice, Debra Monk is in great shape and delivers the hilarious “Everybody’s Girl”, Gregory Harrison is in perfect command of his strong voice and Kristin Chenoweth shines in the funny “Two Little Words”.

If you never listened to this score, you don’t know what you’re missing. So, come to the Steel Pier and you’ll never be “gloomy or glum”.

CD OF THE WEEK: 42ND STREET

2011-11-20T12:43:00.000Z

Inspired by those delicious black and white movies that Busby Berkeley did for Warner, this show delivers the unforgettable songs of Harry Warren and Al Dubin (“Young and Healthy”, “Lullaby of Broadway”, “We’re in the Money” and “Dames” among others).

This Broadway revival recording is much better than the original one, with improved orchestrations and a few more numbers, among those the delightful “With Plenty of Money and You” and “I Only Have Eyes for You”.

The cast lead by a terrific Christine Ebersole and a manly Michael Cumptsy couldn’t sound better. In supporting roles, Mary Testa and Jonathan Freeman are great and, as the young couple, David Elder and Kate Levering sing like if they were in one of those black and white classics.

There’s only one problem with this score; I can’t keep still. Whenever I’m listening to it I just have to “go into my dance”.

So join those happy feet in one of the most dazzling scores Broadway adapted for the stage.

CD OF THE WEEK: MACK & MABEL

2011-11-13T18:52:00.001Z

Jerry Herman is one of my favorite composers and is responsible for some of the more cheerful scores ever written for a musical. For me this is his best work, there isn’t one song that isn’t great and it’s difficult to understand why this show failed when it opened in 1974.

There are two cast albums of this show and it’s very difficult for me to choose one of the two. Both are wonderful and their casts are terrific, but since the London recording is longer I’ll go for this one.

The London cast has Howard McGillin as Mack and I confess that, although he has a better voice than Robert Preston, I still prefer Preston in the role. But it’s the ladies that really convinced me to choose this cast recording instead of the fabulous Original Broadway Cast. Caroline O’Connor is flawless as Mabel and I love her renditions of “Look What Happened to Mabel” and “Time Heals Everything”; as Lottie, Kathryn Evans sounds perfect and delivers the most riveting of all the versions I heard of my favorite song of this show - “Tap Your Troubles Away”.

Among the unforgettable songs, there’s the strong “Movies Were Movies”, the beautiful “I Won’t Send Roses” and the delightful “Hundreds of Girls”, that brings to the memory the movies of Busby Berkeley”. I always get high when I hear “When Mabel Comes in the Room” and “Big Time”, and a big time you’ll have while listen to this amazing score.

It’s sad that no ones writes scores like this any more and I only hope that one day this show will get the success it deserves. I think it would do great at the City Center Encores.

COMING SOON IN CD

2011-11-10T22:33:00.000Z

Here is a list of the most recent cast recordings that’ll be released on CD in the near future:

GODSPELL - Original Broadway Revival Cast recording of Stephen Schwartz's pop-rock take on the “Gospel of Matthew”. Starring Hunter Parrish, Lindsay Mendez, Telly Leung, Wallace Smith, Nick Blaemire, Celisse Henderson, Morgan James, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle and George Salazar. Release date: 2012

A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL - Cast Album featuring original cast members Clarke Hallum and John Bolton, plus Matthew Lewis, Liz Callaway and Tom Wopat. Score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Release date: December 2011

INSIDE OUT - Re-mastered and re-packaged original 994 Off-Broadway Cast recording of the Doug Haverty/ Adryan Russ score. Featuring Ann Crumb, Harriett D. Foy, Kathleen Mahony-Bennett, Jan Maxwell, Cass Morgan and Julie Prosser. Pre-order at Krittzerland. Release date: December 2011

FRESHER - THE MUSICAL - Original Cast Album of Mark Aspinall's score for new pop-funk musical-comedy. Edinburgh Fringe 2010. Featuring Natalie Bush, James Darch, Grace Eccleson, Dan Buckley, Alexis Gerred, Natasha J Barnes, Andrew Bryant, Rebekah Hinds and Gary Hughes. Release date: November 2011

THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE - Original Broadway Cast recording, starring Donna Murphy, Nicole Parker, Alexander Gemignani , Christopher Innvar , Hal Robinson , Lewis J. Stadlen, Joyce Van Patten, Chip Zien and Rachel Resheff. Music by Mike Stoller and Lyrics by Iris Rainer. To be released by Kritzerland. Release date: December 2011

For a more complete list of titles planned for CD release go to FutureReleases

CD OF THE WEEK: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

2011-11-06T15:57:00.000Z

Do you love waltzes? If you do you’ll love this Stephen Sondheim score. I’m not an expert in music, but I read that all this show’s songs were written as waltzes and the result is one of the most melodious scores that have ever been written for a musical.

Sondheim’s most famous song, “Send in the Clowns”, belongs to this musical, but my favorite is the haunting “Every Day a Little Death”. I also have to mention the superb “A Weekend in the Country”, a flawless example of Sondheim’s genius. For me this Royal National Theatre cast recording is the best of all this show’s recordings. There’s something dramatic and artificial about it that makes it perfect and the cast is truly remarkable.

Judi Dench is brilliant as Desiree and her “Send in the Clowns” is the most touching rendition of that song that I ever heard. Joanna Riding is the best Anne ever, Patricia Hodge is a very human Charlotte, Siân Phillips is a perfectly decadent Madame Armfeldt and Claire Cox is a lovely Fredrika. Laurence Guittard as Fredrik and Lambert Wilson as Carl-Magnus are both strong. One last word for the excellent Issy Van Randwyck, who delivers a winning “The Miller’s Son”.

This is Sondheim at his best and this is probably the most haunting of all Musical scores. In a word, this cast recording is perfection!

CD OF THE WEEK: CRAZY FOR YOU

2011-10-31T12:45:00.000Z

The first time I heard about this cast recording, I didn’t pay much attention. I had recordings of most of the songs and I thought this wouldn’t bring anything new to them. But I loved the CD cover and, miracle of miracles, the CD was on sale here in Lisbon. So, after a while, I decided to buy it and I was in for a big surprise.

Using old songs from the Gershwin’s songbook, this new musical was responsible for bringing dance back to the musical and you can almost see the choreography in the album tracks, all you have to do is close your eyes. As a huge fan of dance, I surrendered completely to the charms of this cast recording.

Believe me, this Broadway album is riveting and it’s a pleasure to hear so many great songs in just one show. With, among others, “I Got Rhythm”, “I Can’t Be Bothered Now”, “Someone to Watch Over Me”, “Shall We Dance”, “Embraceable You”, “Nice Work If You Can Get It”, “But Not for Me”, “Slap That Bass” and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me”, who can ask for anything more? I’m sure I can’t and it’s lamentable that no one writes songs like these nowadays.

The cast is terrific! As the romantic couple, Harry Groener and Jodi Benson is a match made in heaven. Michele Pawk brings down the “house” with “Naughty Baby” and Bruce Adler, together with Groener, is hilarious with “What Causes That?”. The fabulous orchestrations by William D. Brohn are lively and, among others, turn “I Got Rhythm” into a fabulous contagious number.

Cast albums don’t get much better than this and this one is among my top list. An unforgettable experience, that gives wings to our feet and put love in our hearts. Simply “S wonderful! 'S marvelous!”.

CD OF THE WEEK: SIDE SHOW

2011-10-23T12:29:00.000+01:00

This week’s choice may seem a little odd for someone who, like me, loves traditional Broadway scores. After all, this score has a pop flavor that I usually don’t like. But when the music and lyrics are this strong and emotional I can’t resist it.

I had the pleasure of discovering this musical on my first trip to Broadway and I fell instantly in love with it. I never understood why if flopped, but I guess the main subject was too dark and the story a bit disturbing. Anyway, thanks to this cast recording it became a kind of cult show and I hope that one day it’ll get the success it deserves. Until then we can all enjoy this wonderful score.

Composer Henry Krieger (“Dreamgirls”) came up with his best work, giving us a perfect match between traditional Broadway songs like “When I’m By Your Side” and “We Share Everything” and modern beats like “Tunnel of Love” and “I Will Never Leave You”. Bill Russell’s lyrics catch the spirit of the story and are truly character oriented. The cast couldn’t be better, with Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner giving truly star turns. At their side Jeff McCarthy, Hugh Panaro and, specially, Norm Lewis, who delivers the beautiful “You Should Be Loved”, are great.

From the disturbing “Come Look at the Freaks” to the touching “I Will Never Leave You”, not forgetting those period songs and the dramatic “Say Goodbye to the Freak Show”, this is contemporary Broadway at its best. I love it and it’s one of my all time favorites.

CD OF THE WEEK: THE BIOGRAPH GIRL

2011-10-16T18:41:00.000+01:00

This musical opened at the West End in 1980 and closed after 57 performances. The fact that the production flopped could have been the death of the show, but fortunately someone (Norman Newell) thought they should do a cast recording and at least the score leaves on.

The subject of this musical was similar to the one of MACK AND MABEL and, like that show, the result is a very tuneful score. Written by David (HALF A SIXPENCE) Heneker, who co-wrote the lyrics with Warner Brown, the songs are easily assimilated and catching, with atmospheric orchestrations by Michael Reed & Alan Roper. The cast is also in perfect tune with the era of the silent movies, with Sheila White delivering a terrific performance as Mary Pickford.

Things start with the nostalgic “The Moving Picture Show” and move to the amusing “Working in Flickers”, sung by a shy Mary Pickford. Later, Lillian Gish sings two sad ballads “Every Lady Needs a Master” and “More Than a Man”. The one and only D. W. Griffith leads the company with the epic “Beyond Babel” and Adolph Zukor leads the company at the rhythm of tango with “The Industry”. But there’s more to enjoy, like Mack Sennett’s “I Just Want to Make Him Laugh”. The only odd song is the modern, kind of out of place, “Diggin’ Gold Dust”.

My favorite songs are the delicious “I Like to be the Way I Am in My Own Front Parlour” and the very 20s “Nineteen Twenty Five” and the title song. It’s true, I have a love affair with the music of the 20s and so it’s easy for me to love these songs.

This is true Broadway in its best style; traditional, funny and tuneful! I just hope that one day someone will give this show another chance. Until there, I hope you’ll enjoy the delights of this delightful cast recording.

To listen to samples of the songs just click here.

CD OF THE WEEK: ANYTHING GOES

2011-10-10T22:17:00.000+01:00

The score of this musical is classic Broadway and one of the best written by Cole Porter. As you all know, there have been several recordings of it through the years. Ethel Merman, created the character of Reno Sweeney on the original Broadway production, but other followed, among them the likes of Patti Lupone, Elaine Paige and Kim Criswell. Now we have a new cast recording, this time with Sutton Foster in the leading role and, guess what? This is my favorite rendition of the score.

I know many people don’t like Foster that much, but I’m not among them. I think her Reno is livelier than any other of the ones I heard before and she brings an energy to this recording that is missing from some of the previous recordings. Just listen to her in the title song or belting “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” and you’ll understand what I mean. At her side, Joel Grey is perfect as Moonface Martin. Together they deliver a really comic “Friendship”. As the romantic couple, Colin Donnell and Laura Osnes sound loving in “Easy to Love” and “All Through the Night”; they also give us a lovely “It’s De-Lovely”.

One of my favorite songs is the funny “Buddie, Beware”, sung with delight by Jessica Stone. I’m also very fond of “The Gypsy in Me”, here sung by Adam Godley.

What this new CD has more than any of the previous recordings is dance music. And I love that! The new dance arrangements by David Chase are really exciting; “Anything Goes” never sounded better and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” never sounded less religious and more sexy.

I know we probably didn’t need another recording of this score, but when it’s as good as this one, I don’t mind. Give it a try; it’s kind of contagious!

CD OF THE WEEK: HELLO,DOLLY!

2011-10-02T19:21:00.000+01:00

On the day of my 11th birthday my mother took me to the cinema to see HELLO,DOLLY!. Three things happened on that day. I fell in love with the movie, I fell in love with Barbra Streisand and I fell in love with the Jerry Herman (of whom I never heard before) score. Later, much later, I discovered that a lot of people hated the fact that Streisand took the leading role, but for me she was perfection.

After seeing the movie I went crazy looking for the movie soundtrack, but I was only able to get a copy of it (on a audio tape) years later. Since then it become my favorite of all movie soundtracks, a place it still holds “near and dear to my heart”. When, later, I bought the Broadway cast recording with Carol Channing, I confess I was a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, I love Carol, but she didn’t have the pipes of Miss Streisand.

But let me talk about this unforgettable soundtrack. Things begin beautifully with the amusing “Just Leave Everything to Me” that suits Streisand’s talents; later she has another great comic number a la Mae West with “So Long Dearie”. Between these two numbers she strongly delivers the powerful “Before the Parade Passes By” and no one sings it like she does. She’s also at her best with the sad ballad “Love is Only Love”.

It’s true, Walter Matthaw is a terrible singer, but he has his moment with the sexist “It Takes a Woman”. On the other hand, Michael Crawford is great as Cornelius, sings the sweet “It Takes a Moment” (later used in WALL.E) and together with Marianne McAndrew, Danny Lockin and E.J. Peaker give us the amusing “Elegance”. McAndrew, as Irene Molloy, has her solo with “Ribbons Down My Back”, the poorest song of the score.

Back to Streisand and my three favorite numbers of the movie. The third one is the terrific “Dancing”, which unfortunately wasn’t recorded in its entirety for the soundtrack. The second one is the fabulous title song, where she leads the male company and has a classic moment with Louis Armstrong. The first one is the contagious and exciting “Put on Your Sunday Clothes”; I’m passionate about this song! I think it’s one of the best ever written and it never sounded better than in this soundtrack.

I could put here all the positive adjectives I know, but that’s not necessary. I simply love this movie and its soundtrack. They are both irresistible! If you never listened to it, please say hello to Dolly/Streisand and company, you won’t regret it.

CD OF THE WEEK: SING BEFORE BREAKFAST

2011-09-25T17:52:00.000+01:00

Subtitled “songs from the great Talking Pictures Musicals, 1929-1939”, this recording was made in 1990 and released in 1991 by Shadowland Music Rialto Recordings. I don’t know if it sold many copies or not, but one thing I know, it should have been a hit!

Like they wrote on the CD sleeve, “once you entered this world, the harsh realities of the Depression were mocked – or more often simply forgotten – by the happy-go-lucky denizens of the talkies”. And believe me, this is a different world, where a simple melody lift-up our heart and a contagious rhythm make us tap. The fact that we’re living in another Depression era makes this even more important. Unfortunately, today the talkies don’t give us this kind of songs, but thankfully we can travel back in time and listen to these old wonderful tunes.

There are 28 tracks here and all of them are a pleasure to the soul. Things start with Paige O’Hara singing a delicious melody of “Good Morning Glory” and “Sing Before Breakfast” and end with Kevin McMahon “Sweepin’ the Clouds Away”. My favorite track is the amusing “Give Her a Kiss” that Rodgers & Hart wrote for the movie THE PHANTOM PRESIDENT; here it’s sung by Ann Morrison, who also has a terrific time with “I Love to Walk in the Rain”. Gordon Goodman manly delivers “One Song” from Disney’s SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. Another highlight is a Harry Warren & Al Dubin medley sung by Gregg Edelman, George Dvorsky and Kevin Ligon. There are many more enjoyable and, sometimes, forgotten songs here, and they are all sung by a terrific cast that includes Randy Graff, Jason Graee, Diana Canova, Rebecca Luker, Greg MacKellan, Adam Gruper and Anna Marie Gutierrez.

This album is a little jewel, with plenty to discover and it should be part of every musical fan CD library.

CD OF THE WEEK: GOOD NEWS!

2011-09-19T19:34:00.000+01:00

I think some of us believe there is an age that is more suitable for our tastes than the one we are actually living. For me it’s the 20s. I love the art deco sets, the elegant wardrobe, the glamour, the crazy parties and the music. So, it comes as no surprise, that I love musicals set on the 20s. All this brings me to GOOD NEWS!, one of my all time favorite scores.

With music and lyrics by B. G. DeSylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson, it’s a reminder of long forgotten times when the aim of a musical was simply to entertain. The show opened in 1927 and return to Broadway in 1974, in a different production that took the action to the 30s. Between those two productions, it got the MGM treatment and became a successful movie in the 40s. In 1993, at The Music Theatre of Whichita, a new revised production returned to the 20s and interpolated other songs by the three-team composer. Fortunately, John Yap recorded it, giving us this exceedingly enjoyable cast recording.

There aren’t big famous names in the cast, but everyone sounds like they were born on the 20s and they make us want to go back in time and have as much fun as they had in those times. I believe that most of the cast was older than their characters, but I don’t care; they sound like the real thing. Among the cast members there’s Ann Morrison (“Merrily We Roll Along”) who as Babe, a “vivacious flapper”, leads the company in the contagious “Varsity Drag” and simply delights with her duets with Wayne Bryan, “Button Up Your Overcoat” and “Never Swat a Fly”. Kim Huber and Michael Gruber are the romantic couple that delivers the lovely “The Best Things in Life Are Free” and alone, Huber sings the beautiful “Just Imagine”. Michael McCormick has a good time as the football trainer and cheers us all with “Keep Your Sunny Side Up”. As the astronomy teacher, Linda Michele teaches her young pupils “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries” and I like to agree with her.

The terrific orchestrations by Craig Barna truly evoke the flavor of the 20s and the result is a true party for the heart and soul. So “Down on your heels, Up on your toes, Learn how it goes
Everybody do the varsity drag!”. You won’t regret it!

Sandy Duncan does "The Varsity Drag"

CD OF THE WEEK: DEAR WORLD

2011-09-11T19:34:00.000+01:00

If all Broadway flops had a score like this one I would say “God bless the flops!”. I don’t know how it worked on stage, but this cast recording is exquisite and unforgettable.

After turning Angela Lansbury into a Broadway star with MAME, Jerry Herman teamed up with her again for this musical adaptation of "The Madwoman of Chaillot" by Jean Giraudoux. Unfortunately, the audience and the critics didn’t like it and the show closed after a few weeks. Nevertheless, Lansbury won her second Tony with her performance.

For the score, Jerry come up with one of his best and most accomplished works. In fact his score is among the best ever written for a musical. The music is fabulous, but Herman’s lyrics are the best ones he ever wrote. Just listen to the genial “The Tea Party” and you’ll understand; this song is a true masterpiece. He also gave us his most beautiful waltz ever, the haunting “I Don’t Want to Know”. But there’s more, the enchanting “Kiss Her Now”, the sad “And I Was Beautiful”, the funny “Garbage”. In fact, for me there isn’t a minor song here and, although I read the Herman didn’t like it, I really enjoy the title song (I’m a sucker for this kind of numbers).

As for the cast, I can’t imagine anyone else as Countess Aurelia (the Madwoman of Chaillot). Angela Lansbury is perfection and puts her heart and soul in all her numbers, from “Each Tomorrow Morning” to “One Person”, she’s at the top her game. At her side, Jane Connell and Carmen Matthews are pure pleasure; together with Lansbury they bring the “house down” with the already mentioned “The Tea Party”.

This is a cast recording that should be cherished by every musical fan. There aren’t many jewels like this one and I just wish that one day this musical will get the success it deserves.
Like Herman wrote, this “It's the size of a dream!”

CD OF THE WEEK: THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER

2011-09-04T19:19:00.000+01:00

Charles Laughton’s only movie as director is one of the darkest and more poetic fairy tales in the Cinema story. It’s simply beautiful and haunting! When I heard that it was to be transformed into a musical I feared the worst. But, although I never saw it in stage, it works perfectly on this concept album.

Composer Claibe Richardson wrote a score as haunting as the movie, which begins just like a fairy tale with the great Dorothy Loudon telling a story. Stephen Cole’s lyrics are very character oriented and respectful to the spirit of the movie; just listen to the powerful “Love & Hate”. In the whole it’s a rich score, where we can find a kind of gospel number, “The River Jesus”, a beautiful ballad that transforms into a highly dramatic song, “Wedding Night”, a playful number that ends in murder, “Trading Secrets”, and a sexy blues little number, “Ruby at the Drug Store”.

The cast was very well chosen and it’s hard to imagine someone else than Ron Raines as Harry (the Robert Mitchum role). His strong dramatic voice is perfect, that’s evident on his first song “The Lord Will Provide”, and he never fails to deliver the goods. Dorothy Loudon sounds sweeter than ever and has her big moment with “One More Harvest”. Sally Mayes shines in “Lookin’ Ahead” and, as the kids, Frankie J. Galasso and Andrea Bowen are really convincing.

It’s one of those recordings that you should listen to with your eyes closed, imagining the dark fairy tale that its unfolding. Its evocative score and great cast makes it a must for any musical fan.

CD OF THE WEEK: THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE

2011-08-28T18:32:00.000+01:00

The brothers Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman are mainly known for their work for Disney, that includes MARY POPPINS and BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS, but for me their best work was the score they wrote for this 1976 British movie.

The first time I saw this new adaptation of the famous Cinderella tale was back in 1977 (I was 13 years old). I was instantly conquered by its charms and by its melodious score. One song in particular sent me to heaven and stayed forever in my mind – “Suddenly It Happens”. For me, it’s the best Cinderella song ever written and it’s one of my all time favorite songs. But that’s more to enjoy, a lot more.

A solid group of British actors, not famous for their singing talent, have a ball as the members of the court and give us the funny “What Has Love Got To Do With Getting Married?” and “Protocoligorically Correct”; among that group of actors there’s dancer Christopher Gable, who leads the cast into the big production number “Position and Positioning”. As the Fairy Godmother, Annette Crosbie couldn’t be sweeter and it’s she who introduces the magical “Suddenly It Happens”.

As the Prince, Richard Chamberlain is truly charming and reveals a nice singing voice with “Why Can’t I Be Two People?” and perfectly duets with his Cinderella in the romantic ballad “Secret Kingdom” and in the beautiful waltz “He Danced With Me / She Danced With Me”. As Cinderella, Gemma Craven couldn’t be better; she makes her way to our heart with “Once I Was Loved” and breaks it with the sad “Tell Him Anything (But Not That I Love Him)” and “I Can’t Forget the Melody”. But she’s at her best with the terrific “Suddenly It Happens”.

I don’t know if the movie was a big box-office hit, but the Sherman Brothers got two Oscar nominations for their work: Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation and Best Original Song (He Danced With Me / She Danced With Me). They should have won both. Anyway, although this musical was later adapted to the stage, this original movie soundtrack is the only recording of the score available and I strongly recommend it. It’s magic, melodious, charming, uplifting and deserves to be discovered!

CD OF THE WEEK: OH MY GODMOTHER!

2011-08-22T19:17:00.000+01:00

This new and gayer version of the classic Cinderella story began its career in San Francisco in 2005.

With the tag line “a fabulous fairy tale”, this musical by Ron Lytle has an old fashion sound that pleases my tastes. The songs are simple but melodic, with more than a couple of catchy tunes like “Look at the Way” or “CinderAlbert” as part of the score. In fact, Lytle songs sound more musical than many of the new musicals that open on Broadway or Off-Broadway nowadays.

As you probably may guess, with a drag-queen as the fairy godmother and a sex change for the Cinderella character, who falls in love with the gay Prince, you’re in camp territory. But it’s all done with good taste, no one is taking this seriously and the end result is a funny take on the classic fairy tale.

As Albert (the new Cinderella), Brandon Finch has a sweet voice and have a ball with “CinderAlbert” and also delivers a sad tango “Midnight”; as the Prince, Kyle Payne delivers a strong voice and has a good moment with “Who Am I?”. Scott Phillips is the funny Godmother and shines with “Fabulous!”. One of the highlights, the hilarious “Bitch”, belongs to Jenifer Tice as the Stepmother and Lisa Otterstetter and Julia Etzel as the Stepsisters; this two also have a great time with “Somebody for Everybody”. As the Prince parents, Steve Yates and John Erreca sound convincing in their duets. One final word for Tomas Theriot who sings may favorite song of the score, the gay “Look at the Way”.

The cast is good, the heart is in the right place, the musical influences (Cole Porter, 20s musicals and the chorus numbers reminded me of “Mr. Cinders”) give it a nostalgic touch, in fact it only needs better orchestrations and a bigger orchestra. I’m sure someone like Doug Besterman (“The Producers”, “Young Frankenstein”, the movie version of “Chicago”) could turn this score into gold, until that happens it still is an enjoyable little musical score.

CD OF THE WEEK: FINE AND DANDY

2011-08-15T11:55:00.000+01:00

It’s hard to describe the pleasure we can feel when we discover an old forgotten show, but it can be a highly rewarding experience. Well, that’s exactly what happened when I first played the CD of this FINE AND DANDY.

Written in 1930 by Kay Swift & Paul James and lost until now, this is the kind of score that makes me wish I was born during the golden age of musical comedy (“the most glorious words in the English language”). Of course this is an old fashion musical, with simple tuneful songs, a contagious joy of living and a freshness that is missing from almost all contemporary musicals.

A great cast was ensemble by PS Classics and they couldn’t have made a better choice. Carolee Carmello, Gavin Creel, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Andrea Burns and the rest of the cast sound like they were having the time of their lives and their voices are a perfect match for the terrific songs. The same can be said about the exciting orchestrations by Russel Warner, Larry Moore and Hans Spialek.

There’s something Gershwin and Porter about this score, but that’s natural since their shows belong at the same age. Some of the songs (“Etiquette” and “Wedding Bells” for example) could only have work in the 20s or 30s, but some of them are true jewels like the romantic “Can This Be Love?” or the great “Nobody Breaks My Heart”, sung with gusto by Carmello. She and Creel have a fine moment with the funny “Let’s Go Eat Worms in the Garden” and he delivers a perfect “Starting at the Bottom”. Martin is fantastic with “I’ll Hit a New High” and the dance sensation “The Jig-Hop”. And let’s not forget the comic title number and the tuneful “Rich or Poor”.

If today someone was able to write such a score, Broadway would be a much happier place.

CD OF THE WEEK: OH, BROTHER!

2011-08-07T10:24:00.000+01:00

In 1938 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart adapted Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” into one of their best musicals – THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE. In 1981, Michael Valenti and Donald Driver took the same Shakespeare play, placed the story in the Middle East and the result was OH, BROTHER! Unfortunately, this new show didn’t do well on Broadway (it closed after three performances), but even so it got a cast recording.

When, and if, you play this CD don’t expect to discover a forgotten gem. It isn’t. What you got here is a very entertaining score, best described in the title of one of its songs – “A Loud & Funny Song”, that by the way it’s my favorite on the whole album. Yes, this is kind of loud, but it’s also very funny.

The idea of taking the action to the Middle East works perfectly in numbers like “We Love an Old Story” and “Opec Maiden”. I guess it didn’t work on stage, but I believe that, besides the titles already mentioned, songs like “How Do You Want Me?” and “Everybody’s Calls Me By My Name” should get a life. There’s also a jazzy “My World’s Comin’ Unwrapped”, sung with style by Joe Morton and a very seventies “It’s a Man World” sung by the ladies and the company.

Let me get your attention by telling you who the ladies are - Judy Kaye, Alyson Reed and Mary Mastrantonio (before being known as Mary Elisabeth Mastrantonio). Alone they sound great, but together they had a wonderful time with the winning “A Loud & Funny Song”. As for the boys, besides Joe Morton, there’s Harry Groener, David-James Carroll, Alan Weeks and Richard B. Shull.

If you love musical comedy, I’m sure you can have a good time with this cast recording and some of the songs are really catchy.

CD OF THE WEEK: BLITZ!

2011-07-31T17:29:00.001+01:00

Probably most people don’t recall this lively score, but if you never heard it I promised you’re in for a treat. This is probably one of the best scores ever written for an English musical and, although I believe the show wouldn’t probably work outside England, the cast recording is a must for every musical fan.

This was Lionel Bart’s follow-up to his famous hit OLIVER! and I confess that I think he came up with a much better score for this musical, with the action taking place in London during World War II. The show ran on the West End for more than two years, the cast album reached the Album Chart of that time where it remained for 21 weeks (something almost impossible to happen with the recent cast recordings) and one the songs, “Far Away”, was a hit in the voice of Shirley Bassey.

When you put this recording on your CD player the first thing you heard are the sirens warning of an air raid over London, followed by the rousing music-hall song “Our Hotel” and the mood is set for an highly enjoyable time. From there to the end there are plenty of songs to keep you entertained like “I Want to Whisper Something”; the beautiful ballad “Far Away”, tenderly sung by Grazina Frame; strong characters songs like “Tell Him – Tell Her” and “Be What You Wanna Be”; a big Broadway kind of number sung by Graham James, “Who Wants to Settle Down?” and a lively wedding song, “Is This Gonna Be a Wedding?”. 

Of course the best is “Who’s This Geezer Hitler?”, sung with gusto by the excellent Amelia Bayntun and Company. With a line like “He’s a nasty little basket with a black moustache / And we don’t want him here”, this is another funny Hitler song, almost as good as “Springtime for Hitler”.

Besides Bayntun, who easily steals this recording, there’s also the good Toni Palmer who leads the Company in “Leave It to the Ladies” and the contagious “Down the Lane”, that always made me want to join them. Thomas Kempinski has a great time with the comic war song “Duty Calls” and the sweet voice of Vera Lynn delivers the most touching moment of the score with the nostalgic “The Day After Tomorrow”.

It’s true, the entire cast sounds very British and that may put some of you off, but it wouldn’t work any other way and the end result is a score that should make part of every musical lover CD library.

As for the show, let’s hope that the cast recording will catch the ear of some theatre producer and that one day, in the near future, there will be a big London revival of this show. Until then enjoy the score and let it transport you to another era, you won’t regret it!

STRIKE UP THE BAND - A CD Review by Me

2011-07-30T16:56:00.000+01:00

We had to wait 20 years for this studio cast recording. It was about time!

Let me explain. This Gershwin musical had two versions, one in 1927 and one in 1930, and in 1991 a studio cast was made of both versions but, for reasons unknown to me, the 1930 version was put on hold and only now, thanks to PC Classics (Tommy Krasker was part of the 1991 group), we’re able to listen to it.

I guess that if, like me, you have the 1927 version you may think you don’t need the 1930 one. After all, the double CD of that recording had (as a kind of bonus) a few tracks from this one. But if you like classic musicals as much as I do, you shouldn’t miss it.

The 1930 version changed the main subject of the musical from cheese to chocolate and things became lighter and, for my delight, it seems more dance was introduced. As for the Gershwin’s score it didn’t lose any of its qualities and there’s plenty to enjoy here, in fact there isn’t a dull track here. From the star cast to the chorus, everyone involved gives their best and the result is a great album, with great orchestrations and the delicious sound of Broadway’s golden age.

I can’t resist numbers like “I Mean to Say”, “I’ve Got a Crush on You” and “Hangin’ Around with You”, here sung by the charming duo of Jason Graae and Juliet Lambert. It’s a pity that Rebecca Luker and Brent Barrett only share a song, the melodious “Soon” (in the 1927 version they had more duets, among those one of my favorites – “Meadow Serenade”), but Barrett strongly delivers the title song. Another couple that enjoys a funny moment, “If I Become the President”, is Beth Fowler and Charles Goff. I also love “Mademoiselle in New Rochelle”, “How About a Boy?” and “Ring-a-Ding-a-Ding-Dong Dell”. They sure don’t write songs like this anymore.

This is a great way to introduce STRIKE UP THE BAND to new generations and this is the kind of CD that should be in every Musical fan’s library. I have to end this review with a big thanks to PS Classics; you did it again!

Rate: 5 (from 1 to 5)

Read more CD reviews at Cast_Reviews.htm

MAD ABOUT ABOUT SHOW TUNES

2011-07-24T18:28:00.000+01:00

Why do we like what we like? Most of the times we don’t know the answer to this question. Take me for an example. When I was a kid I saw an Astaire & Rogers movie on television and I fell in love with that style of music. Why? Honestly, I still don’t know.

In my parent’s house there wasn’t any record player, so it wasn’t from them that I got my taste in music, although they loved to dance tango and other ballroom dances (in fact they meet at a ball). They told me that when I was a little boy I was fascinated with music, but at an early age I was more into Opera and Operetta. Back on those days, both art forms were a constant in our television and I refused to go out every time they were broadcasted. I don’t know exactly if my first taste with the Musical was with an Astaire & Rogers movie, but that’s what I remember.

Soon I forgot all about Opera and I start focusing only on the Musical. There was something in that kind of music that attracted me and it was like it spoke privately to my feelings. One day my parents gave me a cassette player (remember that?) and I started recording the songs from the movies that were broadcasted on the television. When I did my fourth grade I finally got my first record player. It was in the shape of a suitcase and the sound wasn’t that good, but I loved it! My first vinyls were the movie soundtracks of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, MY FAIR LADY and SONG OF NORWAY. Soon I found out that, for someone living in Portugal, it wasn’t easy to find musicals in vinyl.

By the age of eleven I also found out that my musical tastes didn’t match the ones of my school colleagues. For them I was kind of weird. While they listened to the likes of Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Queen, Michael Jackson, Madonna and others, I was listening to OKLAHOMA!, THE KING AND I, CHICAGO, HIGH SOCIETY, CABARET and everything I could find in that genre. A couple of colleagues were fond of Musical Movies, but they also enjoyed the music of our time. Not me.

I felt lonely in my musical tastes and my father was always saying “I had the mania of being different”. But in truth I didn’t care much about my generation music styles. Yes, Disco was fun, but I preferred Jerry Herman. So, I enjoyed my Musicals in solitude and thought I was all alone in the world.

Forward in time. In 1989, I went to London for the first time in my life and guess what? There I discovered two shops, Dress Circle and another one that closed years ago, specialized in Musicals and for the first time in my life I realized I wasn’t alone. There were others like me, who enjoyed the work of Gershwin, Porter, Sondheim, Berlin, Coleman, Kander, etc, and that made me feel very happy.

I still don’t know exactly why I love this kind of music, but it has something to do with its power to uplift my heart and soul, for its joy of living, for its delicious melody, for its contagious rhythms and for its irresistible humor. Mel Brooks said, "Musicals blow the dust off your soul." and he couldn’t be more right. Believe me, there’s nothing better than a musical to “kick the clouds away” and put you in a good mood.

Composer and lyricist Jerry Herman got it right in one of his first songs – “There’s Just No Tune as Exciting as a Show Tune”.

Read more of my Chronicles at MusicalChronicles.htm

CD OF THE WEEK: NICK & NORA

2011-07-24T11:06:00.000+01:00

The musical NICK & NORA opened on Broadway on December 8, 1991, and closed on December 15, 1991. It only lasted 9 performances. Even so, it got a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score, Music by Charles Strouse and Lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr., and someone had the good idea of releasing the score on CD.

I don’t know how it worked on stage, but there’s plenty to enjoy in the cast recording. Among the songs, there’s one of my all time favorites, “Everybody’s Wants to Do a Musical”, sung with gusto by a terrific Christine Baranksi, in what I believe is her musical theatre debut. In the leading roles, Barry Bostwick & Joanna Gleason, sound just swell and had a good time with songs like “Is There Anything Better Than Dancing” and “As Long As You’re Happy”. Also in the cast there’s Faith Prince, who strongly delivers “Men”, Debra Monk with the funny “People Get Hurt”, Chris Sarandon doesn’t sound bad with the ballad “Class” and Yvette Lawrence gives us a kind of out-of-place “Boom Chicka Boom”.

As you can see, this had a really strong cast, but somehow (I read somewhere the problem was the book) it failed on Broadway and that’s a pity. Composer Charles Strouse score (his last for Broadway, at least until now) deserves to be discovered. His songs are melodious and catchy, with excellent orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, and the lyrics by Maltby Jr are very character oriented and funny. Besides “Everybody’s Wants to Do a Musical”, I’m very fond of “Busy Night at Lorraine’s”, where the entire cast reveals their feelings for the murdered Lorraine (Faith Prince’s character).

So forget all about this show detractors and give the cast recording a chance. You may get a nice surprise.

CD OF THE WEEK: CHICAGO

2011-07-17T18:05:00.001+01:00

In this new “column” I’ll recommend, for one reason or another, a CD each week or so. This will be my way of sharing with you personal favorites of mine or other interesting recordings, so don’t expect anything very serious.

I have to start this with my all time favorite score, John Kander & Fred Ebb’s CHICAGO.
There are several recordings of this musical, including a fine movie soundtrack, and although the terrific Broadway Revival Cast is more complete, I have to choose the fantastic Original Broadway Cast starring Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera and Jeff Orbach.

When I was 12 years old, my parents gave me this cast album as a Christmas gift and, from the first time I played it to today, it never fails to give me a fabulous time. Everything in it is perfect: the brilliant songs, the exciting Ralph Burns orchestrations, the decadent front cover, a cast made in heaven and a strong theatrical feeling that is missing from all the other recordings of the score. Nevertheless, I’ve to confess that I can’t resist the contagious “Me and My Baby“ and “Hot Honey Rag” tracks of the Broadway Revival Cast.

There isn’t a song here that I don’t like (not an easy task), but I always have a special spot in my heart for the emotional “My Own Best Friend”, the terrific “Nowadays” and the genial “Cell Block Tango”.

When I’m listening to it, all I have to do is close my eyes and I’m there, in a dark theatre with the best cast in earth and Bob Fosse’s debauched staging. It’s an unforgettable experience!

PORGY AND BESS ON BROADWAY - Hello Tony Awards

2011-07-08T20:19:00.001+01:00

Another revival is coming to Broadway.

The American Repertory Theatre production of PORGY AND BESS is schedule to open on Broadway later this year. With a revised book by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks and Pulitzer Prize nominee Diedre Murray, they say this production will be closer to a musical than to opera, with spoken dialoges and a jazzy approach to the score.

The titles roles will be played by Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald, with David Alan Grier as Sportin' Life. I'm not a psychic, but I think this production will do great at the next Tonys. Let's wait and see.

THE BOOK OF MORMON - A CD Review by Me

2011-06-26T20:12:00.004+01:00

The idea of a musical about Mormons may sound strange, but years ago there was a musical on Broadway entitled URINETOWN and it was a hit, so why don’t give Mormons a chance to sing and dance? The result was a big winner at this year Tonys and a box-office success.

I haven’t seen the show yet (living in Lisbon, Portugal, makes it a little bit difficult), but the Broadway Cast recording has already arrived at my hands and I had a fun time listening to it.

Written by the guys responsible for the famous “South Park”, with the help of AVENUE Q’s Robert Lopez, this score has a lot of four letter words in its lyrics and sometimes I think they went too far (“Joseph Smith American Moses”), that meaning it isn’t for everyone’s taste. Even so, the lyrics are sometimes hilarious and we forget all the “sinful” words” (“Hasa Diga Eebowai”). The authors we’re really inspired and their imagination and humor is, most of the time, contagious; just listen to “All American Prophet”, “I Believe” or “Turn It Off” to understand what I mean.

Surprisingly, most of the music is melodious. Although this isn’t exactly my type of music (sometimes it’s too modern for me - “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” or “Man Up”) there are some catchy tunes like “Two by Two” and, no surprise here, my favorite “Turn It Off”. Some of the songs reminded me of Stephen Schwartz.

The cast sounds great and the “saint” boys really shine here. Andrew Rannells strongly delivers “I Believe”, Josh Gad has his big moment in the duet “Baptize Me” and Rory O’Malley has a terrific time with “Turn It Off”. On the female department, Nikki M. James is a revelation with “Sal Tlay Ka Siti” and “Baptize Me”.

I’ve to confess that if I had power over the Tonys, I would have given the Best Original Score to SISTER ACT, but even so this is a joyful score, with plenty to discover and to laugh with.

Rate: 3 (from 1 to 5)

Read more CD reviews at http://www.jorgeplace.com/Cast_Reviews.htm

BROADWAY 2011/2012 – THE REVIVALS SEASON?

2011-06-26T17:01:00.000+01:00

Last season, Broadway saw the opening of several new musicals and only two revivals, but things look different for the new season.

The new musical SPIDERMAN: TURN OF THE DARK, a leftover from last season, finally had it’s opening, becoming the first musical of the 2011/2012 season. Frank Wildhorn’s BONNIE & CLYDE (this guy got guts, after the flop of WONDERLAND is already back) will follow soon. But, besides those, the only new musicals announced are the Off-Broadway transfer YANK!, with music by Joseph Zellnik and book & lyrics by David Zellnik, and the “new” Gershwin’s musical NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT (inspired by OH, KAY!) starring Matthew Broderick and staged by Tony Winner choreographer Kathleen Marshall.

The other planned productions are all revivals. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s EVITA brings Ricky Martin back to Broadway, with Elena Roger in the title role. The last and winning revival of HAIR returns, with its national tour, for a limited run. Stephen Schwart’s GODSPELL will finally have its long announced revival. Kennedy Center’s production of FOLLIES transfers to the Marquis Theatre, but only for a limited run. Roundabout Theatre’s production of Bob Fosse’s DANCIN’ directed by Graciella Daniele. And Michael Mayer will direct Harry Connick Jr in his reconceived version of ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER.

Let’s see what surprises this Broadway season has in store for us musical lovers.

A LOOK AT BROADWAY’S 2010-2011 SEASON

2011-06-19T18:18:00.000+01:00

As usual, after the Tony Awards, I build a page regarding the Musicals (new ones and revivals) that opened during the theatre season, plus the City Center Encores! In it you’ll find images from those shows and for more information you just have to click on those images. Here is the link:

http://www.jorgeplace.com/MusicalChronicles/Broadway_Seasons/Chr_season2010_2011.htm

I hope you’ll enjoy it and let me know what you think about it.

THE TONYS - NEIL PATRICK HARRIS VS HUGH JACKMAN

2011-06-19T12:10:00.000+01:00

This year Tony Award’s host, Neil Patrick Harris, faces Hugh Jackman (who has hosted the Tonys in two previous occasions) in this hilarious and winning musical number.

For me the Tony Awards is the more heartfelt, exciting and emotional award show. Everyone seems like they are having a great time and that feeling is kind of contagious.

To end my Tony 2011 posts, here is the hilarious and winning musical number, where this year Tony Award’s host, Neil Patrick Harris, faces Hugh Jackman (who has hosted the Tonys in two previous occasions).

An inspired moment!

THE TONYS - COMPANY

2011-06-19T12:08:00.000+01:00

The televised new concert version of Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY, starring Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone, has opened in several movie theatres across the United States of America (I don’t have a clue if it’ll be shown elsewhere in the world).

At this year’s Tony, the cast of that production delivered the always delicious “Side by Side”.

THE TONYS – THE BOOK OF MORMON

2011-06-19T11:57:00.000+01:00

The surprise hit of the season and the biggest Tony winner of the year (won 9 awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score), THE BOOK OF MORMON may offend more sensitive minds, but I’m sure Andrew Rannells’ rendition of “I Believe”, with its simple but effective staging, will bring many people to the show.

THE TONYS - CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

2011-06-19T11:55:00.000+01:00

In this number from the new Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, Norbert Leo Butz shows why he won this year Tony (his second) for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.

I had the pleasure of seeing him, years ago, in the Broadway flop THOU SHALT NOT and he was the best thing on that show. It was that performance that gave his career a strong impulse and anyone who saw him in it could see that he had a lot to give.

Singing and dancing “Don’t Break the Rules”, with a kind of electric choreography by Jerry Mitchell, with the show’s company, he reminded me of the late Michael Jeter in GRAND HOTEL.

THE TONYS – SISTER ACT

2011-06-19T11:53:00.000+01:00

I saw this musical in London and I had a great time with it. To be honest, if I was in charge I would have given its score by Alan Menken & Glenn Slater the Tony for Best Original Score.

At the Tonys show, Patina Miller (who I confess didn't convince me in the role) leaded the fabulous nuns in “Raise Your Voice” and it’s hard to resist this rousing number.

THE TONYS – THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS

2011-06-19T11:51:00.000+01:00

The new musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, the last collaboration between John Kander & Fred Ebb, was a hit Off-Broadway, but unfortunately flopped on Broadway early in the season. Even so, it got nominated for several Tonys.

This medley of two of its musical numbers shows the always-inventive work of Susan Stroman (one of my favorite choreographers) and I hope it helps the show to get a long life after Broadway.

THE TONYS – PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT

2011-06-19T11:48:00.000+01:00

In London the audience, when I saw it, was very excited and for moments the theatre was almost transformed in a gigantic disco party. Personally, I liked the colorful sets and the imaginative costumes, but I didn’t care for the characters and the dance numbers wasn’t that good.

For its Tony performance, the producers invited Martha Wash, the original “Weather Girl”, to lead the PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT’s company in “It’s Raining Men”. That number shows exactly what the show is all about.

THE TONYS - ANYTHING GOES

2011-06-19T11:45:00.000+01:00

I know many people doesn’t like Sutton Foster that much and when I saw her in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE she didn’t conquer me. A few years later I saw her in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE and I changed my mind. She is a multi talented and versatile girl who sings, dances and acts. I had the pleasure of meeting her in two occasions at the stage door (MILLIE and SHREK) and she was always very nice. A true star!

At this performance at this years Tonys, she leads the company in the contagious rendition of Broadway’s Revival ANYTHING GOES title song.

The show won three Tonys, Best Revival, Best Choreography to Kathleen Marshall (who has here one of her best works) and Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Sutton Foster. At the age of 36 Foster wins her second Tony (the first was for MILLIE). Congratulations to her, she deserved it.

THE TONYS - HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS...

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Daniel Radcliffe, of Harry Potter fame, reveals his musical talents and convinces leading the cast of the new Broadway Revival of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WIHOUT REALLY TRYING through the “Brotherhood of Man” number.

The choreography by Rob Asford is very funny, but I think the more acrobat movies weren’t necessary. Sometimes its better to keep things simple.

As for Radcliffe I confess I was surprised with his dance and, although he doesn’t have a great voice, he sings pretty well and looks the part.

THE TONYS - "NOT JUST FOR GAYS ANYMORE"

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The 65th Annual Tony Awards had one of the best and funniest openings ever. Neil Patrick Harris, the evening’s host, took the stage with an original song titled “Not Just for Gays Anymore” and the result was highly enjoyable. Rob Ashford directed the musical number that include nuns, business man, sailors, mormons and female flight attendants, plus the participation of Stephen Colbert, Brooke Shields (now on Broadway as Morticia Addams) and Bobby Cannavale.

The song written by David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger (the team responsible for the score of Broadway’s CRY-BABY) is hilarious and here are a few lyrics excerpts:

“If you feel like someone that this world excludes, it's no longer only for dudes who like dudes.

Attention every breeder, your invited to the theatre. It's not just for gays anymore.
The glamour of Broadway is beckoning straights—the people who marry in all 50 states.
We're asking every hetero to get to know us better-o. It's not just for gays anymore!”

“So, people from Red states, and people from Blue, a big Broadway rainbow is waiting for you.
Come in and be inspired, there's no sodomy required.
Cause it's not just for gays, it's not just for gays—we'd be twice as proud to have you if you go both ways—Broadway is not just for gays anymore!!”

Shields tried to sing “When I'm up on stage, there's lots of men who like to watch. In fact, one guy sent a Twit-pic of his crotch.” and Cannavale “sung Broadway touches parts of me that never have been touched. I love it very CENSORED much.”

A LITTLE INTRODUCTION

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I’m just a regular guy who fell in love with The Musical at a very early age and whose passion for it has been growing ever since. I don’t have any kind of academy degree regarding the subject and so everything you may read here it's just the humble opinion and thoughts of someone who loves Musicals.

In this blog I plan to post things about the magical world of The Musical, probably nothing very original, but I hope it might be stuff that interest other genre fans. Nothing very boring, I expect.

If you wish to know more about me visit my website www.jorgeplace.com