Song of the Day: Moving Uptown

I went to go see the Columbia College production of The Wild Party yesterday and was extremely impressed. It's been a while since they've done a show there that was THAT WELL SUNG. If nothing else it sounded fantastic, but of course there are many many other qualities about it that make it worth seeing. One performance that I particularly loved came from the talented young actress playing Dolores. The role was written specifically for Eartha Kitt so I wasn't sure that anyone was going to be able to live up to that. I mean Kitt is a legend and it was written for that type of personality. Not only did this young actress pull it off she completely blew me away and she is definitely one of the highlights of the show. I will be going to see the opening night performance on Saturday so perhaps I will report more then (last nights performance was the invited final dress rehearsal). In the meantime here is a clip of Eartha Kitt singing one of her big songs from the show - Moving Uptown. Fantastic stuff, enjoy!

After seeing this version live I am DYING to do this show. The score is one of the best written in a long long time, even if LaChiusa can't help but want to be Sondheim much of the time. Great great stuff.

Song of the Day: The Harry Potter Musical

Today's song of the day is simply just for fun.  I'm not going to post the whole musical on here but you can certainly head over to youtube and check it all out.  But here is the first part of the absolutely ridiculous Harry Potter musical created by a bunch of Michigan University students.  It's stupid, but also fun as long as you understand all the in-jokes and quick aside Potter references.  I cant say I've made it all the way through it yet, but I've been watching off and on today, hope you all enjoy.

Note of Interest:  Scarily enough they are working on a real Harry Potter musical for The West End and I'm sure Broadway will follow soon after.  Frankly it's surprising that it took them this long to come up with one.

Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye Spelling Bee

Thursday November 6th at 330 in the afternoon the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee gave their arguably best and sadly final performance.  It was a great run of a great show and I was proud to be a part of that experience.  Our run garnered us lots of acclaim from teachers and students alike, plus at one performance a standing ovation (something pretty unheard of at this school).  I'm going to miss being with the cast and crew on a regular basis, but I can hope that we will all stay in contact with one another and get together whenever possible.  The process may have started off rough, but our end product was something to be admired.  I was privileged to work with some of the most talented and determined students in our department on Spelling Bee and I know that in the future I will get to work with you all again.  Your commitment to the piece and energy when on stage was at times awe-inspiring.  It isn't very often that you get to work on a show as good as ours was.  So basically I wanted to say thank you to everyone in the cast and crew.  Your raw talent pushed me to work harder and to be a better actor and for that I will always be grateful.  With each show you learn something new.  I learned a lot on Spelling Bee about myself and others around me.  I hope that you all did too.  So here's to the cast and crew of Spelling Bee.  I miss you guys already.  

P.S. - We kicked these guy's asses.

Song of the Day: Confrontation

Well I'm still sick, so this is the perfect opportunity to post a video of the day.  This is confrontation from Jekyll and Hyde, probably one of the worst musicals in the past twenty years that for one reason or another developed a huge following.  To be fair I did see the original production of this show before it ever went to Broadway and the staging was pretty remarkable and some of the score quite good.  Unfortunately by the time in arrived on the Great White Way it had been neutered and had lost much of its edge.  This was always a troublesome song in the show, but in the original production it was done with a video projection which made it less grueling on the actor.  Either way it's still a silly number and David Hasselhoff doesn't make it any better.  This is probably one of the most horrendous performances in the history of musical theater.  So in celebration of Halloween tomorrow here is confrontation from Jekyll and Hyde.  Enjoy.

Song of the Day: 13

Holy Jesus... is this the new face of Broadway?  If it is I am sufficiently terrified.  Has Jason Robert Brown completely lost his fucking mind?  Now I'm sure that these kids are all talented in their own right... but a musical featuring only 13 years olds that is about juvenile subjects with a score this bad is not going to make any money.  I'm expecting this to get slammed by the critics.  I'll be the first to say if I'm wrong later, but I don't think I will be.  Hey at least they are giving away really cheap tickets for teenagers.  I wish they would do this for more Broadway shows.  But somehow I don't think this is the kind of show that is gonna inspire kids to want to see South Pacific, Gypsy, or even In The Heights for that matter.  See for yourself what I'm talking about -

Find more videos like this on 13 The Musical Fansite

Note of Interest:  I have never been a huge Jason Robert Brown fan, but I do think his score for the musical Parade is one of the best to hit Broadway in the past 20 years and you all should definitely check that one out.

Song of the Day: One Singular Sensation

Well do to the fact that I've been selected to play the choreographer in A Chorus Line in my workshop class I decided to post the song I'm supposed to be dancing to before my big dramatic scene.  Anyone who knows me will find it pretty hysterical that I am playing Zach... Needless to say I am going to have to work my ass off the next few weeks to get this shit right.  All of my classes are going to push me rather hard this year, but Workshop is going to be another beast entirely. Enjoy.

Song of the Day: Passion Finale

Passion is a musical that took me a long time to like.  Initially when I saw it, I couldn't believe it was a Sondheim musical.  It was so unlikeable with characters that seemed so one-dimensional and incredibly selfish.  The music was a bit repetitive, though at times staggeringly beautiful.  Passion has grown on me a great deal and now it is one of my favorite Sondheim musicals. It's repetitiveness, selfishness, and unlike ability serve a purpose and the show itself says a lot about Sondheim as a person and an artist and his views on life and love. To me, Passion is like Sondheim's response to an Andrew Loyd Webber musical.  The ending to Passion is incredible and probably one of the most moving moments in musical theater history.  I recently got to see the Chicago Shakespeare production of Passion a few months ago and it was an incredible experience.  It was done as a very intimate and small black box production, which is just the way it should be done.  The only part of it I didn't like was Georgio.  I have never liked any Georgio that I have ever seen because I feel they all play it too safe.  No one is willing to take risks with the character.  No one is willing to make him truly vile and unlikeable.  In a sense no one is willing to make him human, instead he just becomes a vessel for the story.  It's a role I'm dying to get my hands on so I can turn it on it's head.  Hopefully one day I'll get to.  Enjoy.

Note of Interest: This was the last original musical of Stephen Sondheim's to ever play on Broadway.  Now we sure do get a lot of revivals.  But this is also the last Tony Sondheim ever received for best score, though he did get a lifetime achievement award at the Tony's this past year... and they sure did a piss poor job with it too.

Song of the Day: Everybody's Got the Right

Sorry for getting this up so late today, but I was at work all day and ever since I've gotten home i haven't been able to turn off the Democratic National Convention broadcast on CNN.  So I thought that today I'd post something kinda relevant - a song from the political musical Assassins.  It's the closing number of the show and I believe it speaks directly to what is happening right now in our country once again.  It's a great show and one of Sondheim's finest works.   Enjoy and if you're interested turn on the DNC broadcast.  It's good stuff so far.

Song of the Day: The Movie in My Mind

Apologies for not posting a song of the day yesterday.  I was at work from 10 in the morning till about 11 at night so there wasn't any time for updating the blog.  But the one thing I did accomplish yesterday was talking to my friend who just got back from Japan who now has a callback for the role of Gigi in Miss Saigon!  The show is being put on at the Drury Lane theater in Chicago in December.  To celebrate her callback I am posting the character's song from the show - The Movie in My Mind.  Miss Saigon is one of those productions I would love to have seen the original staging for.  I saw a touring version of the show and a lot of the splendor had been cut out of it.  I've heard the helicopter landing alone was worth a visit to Broadway back in the early 90's.  I got to see a projected one... great.  I'm not all about spectacle theater, but at times it can be very effective - Phantom of the Opera (a show i despise, but the Vegas production's staging is astounding) and Les Miserables being two great examples of this.  I believe back in it's day Miss Saigon was another.  Enjoy.

Song of the Day: Some Enchanted Evening

Back in March when I was in New York the revival of South Pacific was in previews and I was dying to catch it.  Unfortunately it was already sold out way past opening night.  I had a feeling this thing would be an enormous hit with critics and audiences especially since it hadn't been seen on Broadway in decades.  I have never been a huge fan of South Pacific, but it's score is probably one of the most iconic ever put on a Broadway stage.  Here we have the gorgeous Kelli O'Hara and renowned opera singer Paulo Szot singing the most famous song form the show - Some Enchanted Evening.  Enjoy

Note of Interest: There were rumors circling that a revival of My Fair Lady would be hitting Broadway sometime in the near future with Kelli O'Hara in the lead. Now that is a production I would LOVE to see.

Song of the Day: War is a Science

I just got done doing a production of Pippin back in April, with a sort of repeat concert excerpt in May.  It was a great experience and probably the most fun I have ever had doing a musical.  I played King Charles and after watching this video from a recorded production of Bob Fosse's Pippin I am extremely grateful that I didn't watch it in advance.  I clearly had a very different take on the character than what was originally designed and I'm glad my director allowed me to go there.  Pippin isn't a great musical by any means, but it's a fun one and a ball for character actors like me to sink their teeth into.  Enjoy.

Note of Interest: I'm playing with the idea of posting some clips of my work up here on this site, which would probably include this role.  We'll see how it goes.

Song of the Day: I Am Changing

When Dreamgirls came out a couple years a go I was pretty impressed with the film.  I thought it had an exceptional cast (minus Jaime Foxx), solid direction, inspired choreography, and beautiful orchestrations of the now infamous songs.  But the best thing about it was probably the fact that it wasn't scared of being a real movie musical, silliness and all.  I never really jumped on the Jennifer Hudson bandwagon.  I thought she was extremely affective in all of her singing scenes, but her straight acting scenes fell a little flat.  It didn't matter though and it still doesn't.  Effie is primarily a scene stealing role through song.  It's a showcase for a great singer and Jennifer Hudson is a great singer.  I had said long before the film ever came out that whoever played that role would end up winning the Oscar.  And I was right.  But for all the noise made about Effie's signature number And I Am Tellin' You, I personally thought that I Am Changing was the real star making number for miss Hudson.  She performs it impeccably and it is my favorite moment in the movie.  Enjoy.

Note of Interest: Personally for me the real star of Dreamgirls was Eddie Murphy in the role that should have won him the Best Supporting Actor Oscar that instead went to Allen Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine.  If you want to see the original Effie, Jennifer Holiday, singing I Am Changing click here.  This woman is such a parody of herself now.  It's kinda sad.

Song of the Day: Bitch of Living

It's time for another bad song.  I've been too kind lately by posting really good stuff.  So, now I'm posting crap.  Well at least I think it is, but I am in the extreme minority on this one.   I can't stand this show.  I think the concept is interesting, but poorly executed and completely inconsistent.  The lyrics can at times be poetic and at other times completely amateurish.  And don't even get me started about the shows supposed "choreography" that managed to win a TONY.  I think people of my generation love the show because of how hip it is trying to be and because it fuels teen angst.  And don't you know thats what sells these days.  Enjoy...

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.  blah blah blah blah blah.... jesus i love these lyrics!

Song of the Day: What Can You Lose?/Not a Day Goes By

Today's song of the day is a bit of a hybrid.  It's two Sondheim songs arranged together and sung by the beautiful Audra McDonald.  The first song is What Can You Lose? from the film Dick Tracy, which Sondheim wrote a few songs for.  The second is from Merrily We Roll Along, which is one of Sondheim's biggest musical flops, but the score is pretty well loved.  It's a powerful combination of songs and one of them just happens to tie in to my Films I love articles, which will be updated today.  Enjoy.

Song of the Day: Finishing the Hat

To counter yesterday's song of the day I am posting what is probably the greatest song that Sondheim ever wrote and the reason for that is because of how personal it is.  Finishing the Hat is from Sunday in the Park with George, which just received an outstanding revival treatment this past season from the Roundabout Theater Company.  It's a show about art and artists and how difficult that life can be.  It's an inspiring show to many a musical theater fan because it touches our heart and makes us look at our dreams and aspirations realistically while telling us to continue chasing them.  I cannot think of another piece of work in any medium that has captured the joys, triumphs, and heartbreaks of being an artist of any kind so vividly.  I've yet to meet a true artist of the musical stage who doesn't list Sunday as one of the greatest shows ever written.  Finishing the Hat is the ultimate embodiment of what Sunday is all about.  Sondheim lost the Tony for score to Jerry Herman for La Cage Aux Folles, but it was more than made up to him when Sunday won the Pulitzer Prize for drama.   I'm posting two versions below.  The first is the original George from Sunday - Mandy Patinkin and the second is from the revival version of the show starring Daniel Evans.  Both were nominated for their performances but walked away empty handed.  A shame really as they are both brilliant.  Enjoy

Note of Interest:  the head of my department at Columbia College is Sheldon Patinkin who just happens to be Mandy's cousin... pretty cool huh?

Song of the Day: I Am What I Am

I'm posting this at 1235 in the morning because I wont be around all day on Friday to post much of anything.  Today's song is I Am What I Am from the musical La Cage Aux Folles by musical stylist Jerry Herman.  This became a sort of gay anthem in the 80's during the AIDS crisis.  It's a poignant song that is inspiring without being trite (which is an accomplishment considering its Herman).  Jerry Herman is a composer of simple tastes, but he also wrote some of the most memorable and well loved Broadway scores of all time.  Here he has the great George Hearn helping his music along.  Enjoy.

Song of the Day: Beauty and the Beast

And continuing with my Angela Lansbury obsession - today we have the title song from the hit movie and the eventual hit Broadway Musical, Beauty and the Beast.  The movie is probably still my favorite animated film of all time.  It's a beautiful piece of work and perhaps the last great disney musical film.  Alan Menken's score is probably his best and most accomplished.  But it was Lansbury as Mrs. Potts who stole my heart away when I was a kid and still does to this day.  She brings tears of joy to my face when I hear this.  Enjoy.

Note of Interest:  If you wanna read a really great piece on the Disney film head on over to Hayden's blog where he has his weekly Thursday Top 50 Series.   You won't be disappointed.

Song of the Day: Everything's Coming Up Roses

To continue onward with my Gypsy obsession I've decided to post yet another song from the show.  This time its Patti Lupone's Tony Award performance of the Act I closing number - Everything's Coming Up Roses.  The performance speaks for itself.  This was definitely the point during the show, when I saw it, that she had me convinced.  Enjoy.

Song of the Day: By the Sea

For anyone who knows me it's not surprise that Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is my favorite musical of all time.  I've already posted one song from Sweeney Todd as a song of the day and you can probably expect more... but I'll try to keep it to a minimum.  What inspired me to post this was my love for Angela Lansbury.  She is an amazing Broadway actress who doesn't get nearly enough respect anymore because everyone always thinks of her in Murder She Wrote.  Well I hate to tell you people, but Lansbury is a multiple Tony winner (including winning for this role as Mrs. Lovett) and also has a few Oscar nominations under her resume as well.  She is an extremely well-rounded performer and I wish she act again.  She's getting old, but I saw her at the opening night of Gypsy this past spring and she looked stunning.  Today's song is By the Sea - one of the few comedic numbers in Sweeney Todd and one of the most impossible to sing, but Lansbury makes it all look so easy.  Enjoy.

Note of Interest: Yesterday's song of the day was Rose's Turn from Gypsy.  Lansbury also played the part of Momma Rose back in the day and managed to win a Tony for it.  There are some clips of her performing the part on youtube.  Take a look.  You won't be disappointed.

Song of the Day: Rose's Turn

This is getting up here pretty late today, but oh well I was at work.  Today's song is Rose's Turn from the legendary musical Gypsy, which is now enjoying another successful revival on Broadway starring Patti LuPone.  I got to see the current revival opening night to a packed house and it was a breathtaking experience.  LuPone's performance as Mamma Rose is one for the history books as she completely dominates this role and the stage.  But she is also a gracious performer and for the first time ever in a production of Gypsy the roles of Herbie, played by Boyd Gaines,  and Gypsy Rose Lee herself, played by Laura Benanti, are able to blossom on stage.  As a result, all three of the leading players work in perfect harmony and each of them has a Tony Award to prove it.  Gypsy is probably one of the most perfect pieces of musical theater ever put on the stage with a fantastic book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by God himself - Mr. Stephen Sondheim and music by Julie Stein.  The current revival is directed by Arthur Laurents and if any of you are in New York while it's playing, please make sure you see it.  I am including two clips below.  The first is from the current production starring LuPone and the second is from the 2003 Revival starring Bernadette Peters.  I'm including them both because of how unique the performances are.  They both play Rose's final number on stage drastically different, but both are fascinating to watch and have a similar affect on the audience.  While LuPone's version is a complete psychotic breakdown on stage, Peters's performance is more emotional, hesitant, and introverted.  Both ladies are true divas of the stage.  I prefer LuPone's overall arch to her character in the show and in this number, but there is something about Peters that makes this number really special.  Enjoy.

Note of Interest:  Out of all the women to play this part on Broadway (and there have been MANY) Bernadette Peters and the original Mamma Rose, Ethel Merman, are the only ones to not win the Tony for Best Actress.  Even Tyne Daily, who can barely sing the role, won a Tony for the part... and many would argue Merman and Peters were two of the best.  My vote still goes for LuPone.