tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46431602363282189752024-02-08T11:49:54.648-08:00Write Around The Corner // Beth TurnbullPittsburgh-based PR pro. Infrequent blogger.Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-60182586523409950292022-01-01T09:37:00.001-08:002022-01-01T09:37:27.960-08:00BEST OF: Broadway 2 A Day (Favorites by Decade + Suggestions for Listening)<p>Happy New Year! As promised, this is the <b>final</b> Broadway 2 A Day blog where I will list my favorite listens from the challenge and suggest a smaller number of shows for those of you looking to expand your musical theatre horizons. </p><p>The creator of this challenge is providing materials for a One A Day challenge this year which will allow folks to listen to one show each weekday for a longer timeline. If you are interested in doing that please let me know! </p><p>Note, I'm going to try to pick shows that don't get as much attention where it makes sense. Okay, one last time - let's dive in.</p><p><b>Best Shows by Decade</b></p><p><b>1950s</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Brigadoon</li><li>Annie Get Your Gun</li><li>West Side Story </li><li>Gypsy</li></ul><div><b>1960s</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Camelot</li><li>She Loves Me</li><li>Sweet Charity </li><li>Cabaret</li></ul><div><b>1970s</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Company</li><li>Jesus Christ Superstar</li><li>A Little Night Music</li><li>Sweeney Todd</li></ul><div><b>1980s</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Sunday in the Park with George</li><li>Into the Woods</li><li>Les Miserables</li><li>Phantom of the Opera</li></ul><div><b>1990s</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Falsettos</li><li>Rent</li><li>Jekyll & Hyde</li><li>The Secret Garden</li></ul><div><b>2000s</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Aida</li><li>The Producers</li><li>Spring Awakening</li><li>Next to Normal</li></ul><div><b>2010s / 2020s</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Newsies</li><li>The Bridges of Madison County<b> </b></li><li>Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812</li><li>Waitress</li><li>Hadestown</li><li>Six</li></ul><div><b>My Personal Favorite Shows Of All Time (at the moment) (and in no particular order)</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Les Miserables</li><li>Next to Normal</li><li>Spring Awakening </li><li>Falsettos (2017 revival)</li><li>Company</li><li>Jekyll & Hyde</li><li>Little Shop of Horrors</li><li>Waitress</li><li>Hadestown</li></ul><div><b>Theatre Kids - Expand Your Horizons</b></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>If you are a big ol' theatre nerd like me here are some shows you <u>might</u> not have listened to yet that I would recommend adding to your rotation: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Once Upon a Mattress</li><li>Call Me Madam</li><li>Damn Yankees</li><li>Anyone Can Whistle</li><li>Man of La Mancha</li><li>1776</li><li>Evita</li><li>The Secret Garden</li><li>La Cage Aux Folles</li><li>Chess</li><li>Once on this Island</li><li>The Who's Tommy</li><li>Titanic</li><li>Aida</li><li>Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson</li><li>First Date</li><li>Bright Star</li></ul><div>And one final reminder, I have a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tKKd9Hxhe3zNnjXhMNarj?si=7a45387bdaec4c8b" target="_blank">Spotify playlist</a> with one song from each show I listened to if you're interested in getting a little taste of everything we covered this year - and each full cast recording listed here is available for free on Spotify (and likely YouTube and Apple Music as well.)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading and listening along - til next time!</div><div><br /></div><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-37130441380406781342021-12-30T10:07:00.001-08:002021-12-30T10:07:34.010-08:00FINAL Broadway 2 A Day: 2018 - 2020 (Hadestown, Beetlejuice, Diana and Six)<p></p><div>451 shows in the span of one year. The Broadway 2 A Day challenge is complete. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the 3-5 people who followed this blog for a whole year. This challenge has allowed me to connect with new people and share my love of musical theatre while unable to see shows due to COVID. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although this challenge became overwhelming at times I'm so glad I stuck with it and continued to document it on this blog and on my <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tKKd9Hxhe3zNnjXhMNarj?si=83fee49019d14f34" target="_blank">Spotify.</a> Early in the new year, I plan to do a "Best Of" style recap to recommend a handful of shows for listening, then I will be taking a long break from this blog.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks again, let's dive in one more time.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Hadestown</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, this is one of my favorite shows of all time. This was my top album on my Spotify Wrapped in 2019.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, this music is so beautiful and haunting. </li><li>Synopsis: Orpheus, a passionate and talented musician, and Eurydice, an independent and resilient young woman, fall in love at first sight, as though it was--and perhaps is--destined by The Fates. Though neither has much to their name, Orpheus is determined that love will see them through anything. Their love blossoms in spring and flourishes in summer, but is tested when autumn and hardship come. Hardship breeds doubt and difficult choices must be made. When Eurydice unknowingly signs away her soul to Hades, master of the factory Hadestown, Orpheus is prepared to venture to hell and back, armed with nothing but his music and his love, to bring her home once more. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Chant</li></ul><li><b>Tootsie</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? But it never intrigued me enough to listen, and I know there was some <a href="https://www.out.com/theater/2019/5/06/tootsie-may-be-funny-its-hella-problematic" target="_blank">controversy</a> about the production being insensitive to the trans community. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really, I found a lot of the songs to be annoying.</li><li>Synopsis: Michael Dorsey is a skilled actor with a talent for not keeping a job. His volatile, stubborn nature gives him a reputation for being a difficult actor and a director’s worst nightmare. After a string of failed auditions, Michael is turning forty and desperate. He is further riled when his best friend and roommate, Jeff, reminds him of the ambitious ‘To-Do List’ he made to accomplish before he turned forty. Michael has a bright idea and decides to make one last-ditch effort at achieving theatrical success. Dressed in drag, he attends his next audition as actress Dorothy Michaels. Sure enough, Dorothy is cast as the lead in the new, Broadway-bound musical, Juliet’s Nurse, and Michael/Dorothy experiences a meteoric rise to stardom. Promising that “I Won’t Let You Down”, Dorothy soon has audiences falling at her feet. Looking at the world through Dorothy’s eyes, Michael has a life-changing epiphany: “Women listen to each other.” He becomes close friends with his co-star Julie and it isn’t long before Michael (disguised as Dorothy) starts to fall for her. Can Michael sustain his greatest acting challenge or will he reveal the truth and be true to himself? (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Whaddya Do</li></ul><li><b>Beetlejuice</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, the online theatre community is obsessed with this show.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? There are some fun songs but I won't be rushing to see it when it re-opens in the spring.</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the film of the same name, Beetlejuice tells the story of the demon bio-exorcist, Betelgeuse, in his pursuit to be seen by the living again. When Barbara and Adam Maitland fall through the floor of their beloved home, Betelgeuse sees this as his opportunity to get what he wants. If these recently deceased can get a living human to say his name three times, he will be set free. His plan is quickly thrown off when one of the new members of the house is Lydia, a quick-witted and sharp-tongued girl. She tests Betelgeuse in a way he never imagined as well as befriending the Maitlands. As expected, chaos ensues as this crazy cast of characters finds their way to freedom and happiness, dead or alive. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Dead Mom</li></ul><li><b>Moulin Rouge</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but somehow I still haven't seen the movie...</li><li>Did I enjoy it? The songs are fun and high energy but I think a lot of the appeal of this show is reflected in the dancing, costumes and set design</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the 2001 film by Baz Luhrman, Moulin Rouge first came to the Broadway stage in 2019 in just as grand a fashion as the movie. The show follows Moulin Rouge star performer, Satine, and American man, Christian, as they navigate through a tumultuous love affair. The Moulin Rouge is going bankrupt and Harold Zeigler, the club’s owner, is willing to do whatever is necessary to save his beloved show and the jobs of all involved. He sets Satine up with The Duke, a wealthy man looking for a woman to be his own. It is Harold’s hope that she is what will entice The Duke to put up the money to save the Moulin Rouge. Little did Harold know of The Dukes violent past when it came to his relationships. This puts a massive obstacle in between Christian and Satine. It leaves all wondering, “ Is it all worth it for love?” But, love always prevails, as following the Bohemian ideals of “truth”, “beauty”, “freedom”, and “love”. With a pop score from artists ranging from The Rolling Stones to Beyonce to David Bowie and more, Moulin Rouge is truly a spectacular, spectacular addition to the Broadway canon. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Come What May</li></ul><li><b>The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, this is another favorite of Gen Z theatre fans online.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? There are a couple good songs but overall it's almost too much teen angst for me (which is saying a lot)</li><li>Synopsis: Percy Jackson is a teenage boy who always seems to get into trouble, no matter how hard he tries to be good. When he is expelled from school for the sixth time, his mother decides that it is time for Percy to know the truth. The Greek gods are real and, what’s more, Percy is a demigod, the son of Poseidon. Along with fellow demigod Annabeth (the daughter of Athena) and best friend and protector Grover (who happens to be a Satyr), Percy must go on an epic quest to retrieve Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt and prevent war amongst the gods. The quest turns into an epic adventure, with the Furies, Medusa, and Ares (the god of war) among those wanting to stop Percy in his tracks. With time running out, Percy soon discovers that nothing is normal when you’re a demigod. (Stage Kid)</li><li>Favorite song: Good Kid</li></ul><li><b>Tina: The Tina Turner Musical</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah, it's a fun jukebox musical with a talented cast</li><li>Synopsis: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is a jukebox musical featuring the music of Tina Turner and depicting her life from her humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into a rock 'n roll star. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: River Deep, Mountain High</li></ul><li><b>Jagged Little Pill</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, although unfortunately this show was also steeped in <a href="https://people.com/theater/jagged-little-pill-broadway-stars-accuse-producers-harm-trans-non-binary-community/" target="_blank">controversy </a></li><li>Did I enjoy it? I love JLP as an album so of course the songs are great</li><li>Synopsis: Based around the music of Alanis Morisette, Jagged Little Pill centers on the Healy family: MJ and Steve and their teenage children Frankie and Nick. The Healy’s appear to be the picture-perfect family in their competitive Connecticut suburban neighborhood. Yet pictures can be deceiving. Despite her efforts to keep up appearances, MJ battles a growing addiction to opiates following a car accident and battles with trauma in her past that she has not yet come to terms with. Steve watches his wife become increasingly withdrawn and distant from him, without knowing why. Meanwhile, their children are battling challenges of their own. Frankie is determined to find her own voice and discover her sexuality, while Nick must balance the pressure of his parents to do well against exposing his own faults in order to make sure justice is served. Exploring a range of sensitive issues, including rape, sexuality, addiction, and racism, Jagged Little Pill presents a vivid, messy, and chaotic portrayal of a modern-day family who deal with their pain and try to heal. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: You Learn</li></ul><li><b>Girl from The North Country</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Honestly, I'd rather just listen to a Bob Dylan album - but I would also go see it live out of curiosity. </li><li>Synopsis: It is the winter of 1934 and America is in the midst of the Great Depression. And nowhere is it more keenly felt than in a rundown boarding house in Duluth, Minnesota. Proprietor Nick Laine is struggling to keep the house from being taken over by the bank, while his wife Elizabeth suffers from dementia and floats in and out of moments of clarity. He has been having an affair with Mrs. Neilsen, one of the renters, but is she what he really wants? Nick and Elizabeth’s children also have their own problems--Gene is going nowhere in life and struggles with the demon drink, while Marianne is unmarried and 5 months pregnant. In a Eugene O’Neill-esque storyline, guests and various eccentric locals come in and out of the house, all with their own secrets and backstories. From jail time to blackmail to morphine addiction, their secrets are slowly revealed to the haunting backdrop of Bob Dylan’s evocative music. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Want You</li></ul><li><b>Sing Street</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was fine, kind of forgettable but I might watch the movie.</li><li>Synopsis: Sing Street is a coming-of-age comedy-drama, the story revolves around a boy starting a band to impress a girl in 1980s Ireland. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Up</li></ul><li><b>Diana</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Oh yes, this show just started and quickly ended its run and people either love it or hate it. There is a pro-shot on Netflix that I will watch eventually.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I didn't hate it... it's a little cringe at times but overall it was fun</li><li>Synopsis: It’s 1981 and the world is hungry for a royal wedding — but is the 20-year-old bride prepared for what comes after? Following her fairytale union, Princess Diana faces a distant husband, an unmovable monarchy and overwhelming media scrutiny. But her modern perspective and remarkable compassion galvanizes a nation, even as it threatens the royal family’s hold on England. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: Pretty, Pretty Girl</li></ul><li><b>Six</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes I love this show and want to see it in NYC very badly.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, I wish they would play this album in the club.</li><li>Synopsis: Six is a modern retelling of the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. They have come together as a band to stage a pop concert and invite the audience to hear their stories. They cannot decide who should be the lead singer, so they initiate a competition, or singing battle, to see who suffered the most as Queen. Each wife believes they had it toughest and they belittle each other’s attempts to prove their hardship. However, they become frustrated that their place in history is defined by one man. Together, they decide to pick up the pen and the microphone, and re-write their own stories. They are more than a rhyme, more than a wife, and much more than one King could handle. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: All You Wanna Do</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-49939115794916796702021-12-26T14:29:00.003-08:002021-12-26T14:29:36.123-08:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2017 - 2019 (Frozen, Mean Girls, The Prom, etc.)<p>Hello again! We are down to the penultimate blog and what a journey. <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tKKd9Hxhe3zNnjXhMNarj?si=a8510eb77fd4413e" target="_blank">Don't forget you can listen to all my favorite songs from the year in my mega Spotify playlist.</a> Let's get into it.</p><ul><li><b>Frozen: The Broadway Musical</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Hasn't everyone at this point?</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, I like all the added songs</li><li>Synopsis: When newly-crowned Queen Elsa accidentally sets off an eternal winter in the town of Arendelle, her younger sister Anna (along with her friends Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven) goes off on a thrilling adventure to find her sister and save the kingdom. Facing an unsuspected villain, unpredictable ice powers, and something new waiting round every corner, Anna must fight alongside her friends to bring back summer. Frozen reveals how true love can come in many forms, and that the bond between sisters is something truly special. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Monster</li></ul><li><b>Pretty Woman: The Musical</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? This is one of my favorite movies of all time</li><li>Did I enjoy it? There are some great leading lady numbers for Samantha Barks in here</li><li>Synopsis: Vivian, a Hollywood prostitute is picked up on the street by Edward Lewis, a tough but lonely business mogul. Employed as his companion, Vivian is immersed into the elite Beverly Hill society, but she soon realizes that she is a fish out of water. She wants to make something of her life, but she must be true to herself along the way. During a week of romance, both Vivian and Edward embark on a journey of self-discovery and discover true love along the way. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Anywhere But Here</li></ul><li><b>Mean Girls</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I honestly really like this show</li><li>Did I enjoy it? The music is very poppy and surface-level but I am singing along...</li><li>Synopsis: After years in the making, Mean Girls: The Musical hits the stage with the favorite characters from the movie, powerful music, and timely pop culture and news references. Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard welcome the audience to their “Cautionary Tale”: Cady Heron is the new girl at North Shore High School in Chicago, desperate to fit in and find friends. Janis and Damian befriend the new girl, and when The Plastics set their sights on Cady, Janis convinces naive Cady to be their “friend” in order to bring down Queen Bee Regina George’s reign. Along the way, Cady loses herself, her friends, and her crush, all for the chance to be popular and loved. When dethroned Regina gets revenge by releasing the Burn Book, Cady is brought down and must mend her broken relationships with Janis, Aaron, and even Regina. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: World Burn</li></ul><li><b>Head Over Heels</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This show seems very fun and upbeat and I wish I would have been able to see it live</li><li>Synopsis: A jukebox musical featuring the songs of The Go-Go’s and based on Philip Sidney’s The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia, Head Over Heels is the story of what happens when the royal court of Arcadia is threatened by the mystical Oracle of Delphi with the loss of its “Beat,” the divine power that ensures the kingdom’s prosperity. King Basilius, whose own title is at stake, forces the members of the royal family and court on a journey to the woods in an attempt to escape the Oracle’s seemingly unavoidable prophecies. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Our Lips Are Sealed</li></ul><li><b>Getting the Band Back Together</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No, and apparently very few people have because some of the songs on Spotify have less than 1,000 listens</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really</li><li>Synopsis: Mitch Papadopolous always dreamed about being the next Bon Jovi, but he chose security over stardom and left those daydreams behind for a day job. For a while, he thought he had everything—the high-paying job, the high-rise apartment—until his 40th birthday when he got handed a pink slip and had to move back in with his Mom in Sayreville, New Jersey. And when his high school arch nemesis (with a 20-year-old grudge and a tangerine spray tan) threatens to foreclose on their house, this big-shot banker must save his small-town home the only way he can… by winning The Battle of the Bands. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: Getting the Band Back Together</li></ul><li><b>The Prom</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes I watched the movie they made for Netflix when it came out, it was kind of cringe but fun</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah it's got some fun songs and I'm always happy to see female LGBTQ+ representation </li><li>Synopsis: The careers of four eccentric Broadway stars are struggling and they desperately need a new stage upon which to shine brightly once more. Seeking out a cause, they head straight to small-town Indiana. Through social media, they have heard of trouble brewing around a school prom. Local girl, Emma Nolan, wants to take her girlfriend to prom but the homophobic PTA are on a mission to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow. Determined to transform lives and put themselves back in the limelight, the Broadway celebrities muscle in to change the town and give Emma the prom she deserves. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Alyssa Greene</li></ul><li><b>The Cher Show</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I will watch anything Stephanie J. Block stars in</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Of course I did, I like Cher, Cher is fun</li><li>Synopsis: The Cher Show is based on the life of Cherilyn Sarkisian La Piere Bono Allman or as her friends call her, Cher! The kid on a tricycle, vowing to be famous. The teenage phenom who crashes by twenty. The glam TV star who quits at the top. The would-be actress with an Oscar. The rock goddess with a hundred million records sold. The legend who’s done it all, still scared to walk on stage. The wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. The woman, looking for love. The ultimate survivor, chasing her dream. They’re all here, dressed to kill, singing their asses off, telling it like it is. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: If I Could Turn Back Time</li></ul><li><b>Be More Chill</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I have, this has kind of become the favorite musical of the anxious/depressive Gen Z'er</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I like a couple songs but it doesn't really resonate with me </li><li>Synopsis: What if popularity came in a pill? Would you take it, no questions asked? In Be More Chill, achieving that elusive "perfect life" is now possible thanks to some mysterious new technology-but it comes at a cost that's not as easy to swallow. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: Michael in the Bathroom</li></ul><li><b>Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations </b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I never gave it a listen</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, but The Temptations have never been a favorite of mine</li><li>Synopsis: After breaking house records at both Berkeley Rep and The Kennedy Center, Ain't Too Proud, written by three-time Obie Award winner Dominique Morisseau (Pipeline, Skeleton Crew), directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys), and featuring choreography by Tony nominee Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, On Your Feet), now brings the untold story of this legendary quintet to irresistible life on Broadway. Get ready — cause here they come! This thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal is set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and so many more. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: Supremes Medley </li></ul></ul>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-62829032205843991792021-12-26T14:05:00.003-08:002021-12-26T14:05:49.468-08:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2016 - 2018 (Anastasia, Band's Visit, Spongebob and more)<p>Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays! I am soooo close to the end of this challenge. I've had fun with it but I am ready to take a break and just listen to my favorite musicals for my own enjoyment and nothing else. I've got about two more blogs' worth of shows after this post so stay tuned. Then early in the new year, I will do a "best of" wrap-up. Thanks for reading all year, let's dive in.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, but I'd rather just watch the Gene Wilder movie</li><li>Synopsis: When young Charlie wins a golden ticket to the mysterious Wonka Chocolate Factory, it's the chance of a lifetime to feast on the sweets and chocolates that have always been right under his nose but unaffordable for the Bucket family. Could it also be his family’s route out of poverty? Along with the other winners--Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee, and Augustus Gloop--Charlie is swept inside of the mysterious factory with his Grandpa Joe. Inside, the winners encounter a magical world full of amazement, innovation, sugary treats, and, of course, Oompa-Loompas. But as the winners begin to let their greed and selfish nature's get the better of them, it seems that everything is not as sweet as it seems. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Pure Imagination / Grandpa Joe (Reprise)</li></ul><li><b>Cirque du Soleil Paramour</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really, how can you enjoy Cirque du Soleil without watching the tricks?</li><li>Synopsis: Paramour was Cirque du Soleil's first resident musical theatre show at the Lyric Theatre on Broadway, New York City. Paramour was themed to the "Golden age of Hollywood" and followed the life of "a poet who is forced to choose between love and art." (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: The Hollywood Wiz</li></ul><li><b>Anastasia</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes! This is one of my favorite childhood movies and I was so excited they made a stage version. I saw it on tour and it was wonderful.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, and there are so many great female solos in this show</li><li>Synopsis: Set amidst the turmoil of the Russian revolution with the Bolshevik regime on the rise, Anya, an amnesiac orphan stranded in what was once the Russian capital, St. Petersburg, is on a quest to rediscover her past which she believes lies in Paris. Joined by a dashing conman, Dmitry, and an ex-aristocrat, Vlad Popov, who want to use Anya to bamboozle the only remaining Romanov, Dowager Empress Marie into believing that Anya is the lost Anastasia, she escapes to Paris with a determined Soviet officer on their heels. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: In My Dreams</li></ul><li><b>Bandstand</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I never listened to the score</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, the music is great and the plot is very emotional</li><li>Synopsis: It is 1945, World War Two has ended and America’s soldiers return home to a grand welcome. But what happens after that is a trickier field to navigate. Private Donny Novitski returns home, burdened with the grief and guilt of losing his best friend, Michael. He is determined to rebuild his life and pick up his music career where he left off. However, after several years away, he has been replaced by younger men playing piano in Cleveland’s hottest clubs. When NBC announces a national competition to find the next best swing band, Donny quickly hatches a plan. He recruits a group of musical veterans—each wrestling their own demons—and they form a swing band the like of which America has never seen. They are soon joined by Julia Trojan, Michael’s widow and a talented singer. She, too, is wrestling with her grief, but she and Donny soon form a talented song writing duo. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Welcome Home</li></ul><li><b>Prince of Broadway</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I remember when this show was in development Broadway.com was advertising it to me daily</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, I don't usually like revues but I like all the songs in this one</li><li>Synopsis: Harold Prince is a legend in the American theatre—the acclaimed director and producer behind a long list of America’s most iconic musicals and the winner of a staggering, record-breaking 21 Tony Awards. Now, he's bringing together six decades of magical moments in a new musical event, Prince of Broadway. This thrilling night of theatre includes hits from such celebrated musicals as West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, Evita, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, The Phantom of the Opera and more, in an unforgettable tribute to an unmatched Broadway career. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: You've Got Possibilities </li></ul><li><b>In Transit</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Never</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Noooo</li><li>Synopsis: In Transit is a love song to New York City, an a cappella romp through the subway stations and the places connected by the trains. Street performer Boxman welcomes the audience and explains that the average commute is one hour--so passengers spend two hours every day, in between destinations. And as he says, “If you’re not there, and you’re not here, then where are you?” This question in mind, Boxman navigates and narrates the lives of New York City commuters. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Deep Beneath the City</li></ul><li><b>The Band's Visit</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but I only knew one song</li><li>Did I enjoy it? The music is beautiful but it's not a top-tier show for me</li><li>Synopsis: It is 1996, and through an error in pronunciation, the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra is stranded in the isolated desert town of Bet Havitka, Israel (rather than the city Petah Tikva, their actual destination). Without knowing the language and with very little money, the band members - led by conductor Tewfiq Zakaria - are welcomed by the locals, including cafe owner Dina and her two employees, Papi and Itzik. During this one night in a sleepy town where nothing much changes, the Egyptian band members and their Israeli hosts communicate in English (their only common language) and find their mutual love of music, whether traditional Middle Eastern ballads or American jazz and Chet Baker. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Omar Sharif</li></ul><li><b>Summer: The Donna Summer Musical</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, I like a dance party as much as the next person</li><li>Synopsis: This vibrant musical charts the incomparable life of Donna Summer—the undisputed Queen of Disco. Features more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits and electric dancing, all in tribute to the voice of a generation. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: Hot Stuff</li></ul><li><b>SpongeBob SquarePants</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I was avoiding this show for a long time...there are moments of Spongebob as a TV show that I genuinely think are funny... but I will never touch this show again</li><li>Synopsis: SpongeBob SquarePants is the musical adaptation of Nickelodeon’s long-running animated children’s sitcom of the same name. We find ourselves in the undersea city of Bikini Bottom, inhabited by happy-go-lucky and ever-optimistic yellow sea sponge SpongeBob SquarePants and his equally quirky circle of friends and neighbors. SpongeBob’s pleasant existence is abruptly interrupted when it is discovered that Mt. Humongous, a nearby volcano, will erupt within the next 48 hours and completely obliterate Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob, trying to prove to himself and the world that he is not “just a simple sponge,” resolves to save the day when everybody else has given up all hope. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: (Just a) Simple Sponge </li></ul><li><b>Escape to Margaritaville</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really, I don't know why anyone would go to see a Broadway show and choose to see this</li><li>Synopsis: A part-time bartender, part-time singer and full-time charmer thinks he’s got life all figured out until a beautiful career-minded tourist steals his heart and makes him question everything. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: Cheeseburger in Paradise </li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-72954071651123705272021-12-12T08:39:00.003-08:002021-12-12T08:39:27.415-08:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2014 - 2017 (Hamilton, Waitress, Great Comet, DEH, Come From Away)<p>This blog might just include the best shows of modern musical theatre in one grouping. This is the third blog I've written this week to keep up so let's dive in! </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Amazing Grace</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I really like Josh Young but this show did not really need to exist</li><li>Synopsis: A tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, the show follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change that gave birth to the abolitionist movement. John Newton, a willful and musically talented young Englishman, faces a future as uncertain as the turning tide. Coming of age as Britain sits atop an international empire of slavery, he finds himself torn between following in the footsteps of his father—a slave trader—and embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart. (Broadway.com)</li><li>Favorite song: Truly Alive</li></ul><li><b>Hamilton</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? ...</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I really do love this show and will always feel so lucky I got to see it on tour</li><li>Synopsis: At the center of this groundbreaking multi-award-winning new musical is the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton, whose ambition drove him from the position of Caribbean outsider and bastard child to American war hero and George Washington's right-hand man. In the process, Alexander Hamilton powerfully shaped America as we have come to know it -- and gave us all a template for what it means to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and realize the American Dream. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Room Where It Happens</li></ul><li><b>On Your Feet!</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This is a fun jukebox show</li><li>Synopsis: On Your Feet! follows the lives and music of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, the powerhouse husband-and-wife team that took the pop music world by storm. See how these legendary artists rose to international success through determination and creativity in this high-energy, non-stop show.</li><li>Favorite song: Get On Your Feet</li></ul><li><b>Allegiance</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I never listened to the full score</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I did, I think there's a pro-shot somewhere I'd like to watch it</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the life of George Takei, Allegiance explores one family’s journey during the Japanese internment camps during World War II. Sammy and Kei Kimura are the Japanese-American children of Tatsuo Kimura, a domineering father and first-generation Japanese-American immigrant (or Issei). The family struggles with their opposing views of America when anti-Japanese sentiments begin to sweep across the country after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. While Sammy wants to join the army to prove his American loyalty, Kei protests against the unfair treatment of the Japanese people and demands freedom for her people. As their family is torn apart in the internment camps, Sammy and Kei fight in their own ways for freedom and acceptance for themselves and for their culture. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Higher</li></ul><li><b>School of Rock</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I loved the movie and think it does make sense as a musical</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's not bad but it didn't change my life</li><li>Synopsis: School of Rock follows Dewey Finn, a failed wannabe rock star who is down on his luck. After Dewey is kicked out of his band, and threatened with eviction, his fortunes take a turn for the better when he intercepts a phone call meant for his flatmate, Ned Schneebly. He quickly decides to make a bit of cash and pose as Ned to take up a supply teaching post at Horace Green, a prestigious prep school. He is horrified to discover that his straight-laced and straight-A students haven’t a clue about rock and roll, and he makes it his mission to educate them. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Stick It to the Man</li></ul><li><b>Disaster!</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's a funny jukebox musical and would be a fun night out</li><li>Synopsis: Disaster! pays homage to the 70s, an era of bell-bottoms, platform shoes, boogie dancing and...disaster movies. It's 1979, and New York's best-dressed are queueing up to board The Barracuda, a new floating casino and discotheque. Performing on board the ship is Jackie, a sexy nightclub singer with her eleven-year-old twins Ben and Lisa, who is hoping to find marital bliss with the boat’s crooked owner, Tony Del Vecchio. Into the mix comes Levora (a faded and desperate disco diva), Ted (a determined disaster expert), Shirley and Maury (an older couple celebrating retirement), Chad and Scott (caterers looking for work….and hot women), SIster Mary (a conflicted nun with a gambling addiction), and Marianne (a feminist reporter with a past). However, there is one big problem. The construction of the new pier has drilled directly into a fault line and the ship is in real danger. Disco fever soon turns to disaster as earthquakes, man-eating piranhas, tidal waves, and explosions threaten the lives of those aboard. As time ticks by, it becomes a race against time to survive, rediscover love, and not be eaten by a killer rat. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Hot Stuff</li></ul><li><b>Bright Star</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes I knew Steve Martin wrote the music but I never listened to it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes! I loved it, the intersection of bluegrass and Broadway was perfect</li><li>Synopsis: Bright Star is the story of one woman at two different points in her life: the first, when she is a wild young thing growing up barefoot and carefree in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina; the second, when she is a well-to-do magazine editor in Asheville, 22 years later. Her story is inevitably woven with that of an idealistic young man named Billy, with whom she shares a mysterious connection. As a young teen in Zebulon, NC, Alice Murphy is hopelessly in love with small-town heartthrob Jimmy Ray, the mayor’s son. Although their love was pure, it falls victim to the interference of ambitious parents, and their infant son is whisked away before their happy ending could ever begin. More than two decades later, Alice is the successful editor of The Asheville Southern Journal, and meets a promising young writer named Billy. Eventually they realize that they share a hometown, and when Alice sees the handmade sweater she knitted for her baby twenty years before in his personal belongings, she realizes that he is the son she lost so long ago. Their happiness is compounded at the end of the story with a Shakespeare-esque double wedding. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Bright Star</li></ul></ul><p></p><ul><li><b>American Psycho </b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes I've been meaning to watch this movie forever but I'm too chicken</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was cool but I won't be listening again</li><li>Synopsis: It is 1989. Wall Street greed is at its peak, and investment banker Patrick Bateman is determined to achieve the highest echelon of status in his image-driven, yuppie world. Restaurant reservations and swanky business cards are identifiers of success in his crowd, and Patrick meets his nemesis in Paul Owen, a rival banker who seems to have it all. But as Patrick enjoys the luxuries of consumerist greed, he feels increasingly disconnected from his world until his homicidal impulses can no longer be controlled. On his 27th birthday, Patrick commits his first murder--and takes off on a psychotic killing spree, taking out Paul, prostitutes, and anyone who even mildly annoys him. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Opening (Morning Routine)</li></ul><li><b>Waitress</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I was lucky enough to see this on Broadway and on tour</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This is one of my favorite shows of ALL-TIME</li><li>Synopsis: Waitress, based on the 2007 movie of the same title, follows the story of Jenna, a woman who is pregnant without any desire to be, trapped in an abusive relationship in a small town with no hope for a future outside of fear and false positivity. She escapes from her trauma through the baking of pies, creations of her own that she names after their uniquely combined themed ingredients and the events that inspired them, and recipes of her mother’s that once instructed her own baking. What begins as a story of a romantic love that helps to free Jenna from all the things chaining her to a miserable life becomes a story of love in so many other contexts. Jenna finds her happiness by accepting the kinds of love she truly deserves, especially the love that will be there for her the longest, and rejecting those who compromise her potential to feel powerful in her own life. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: What Baking Can Do</li></ul><li><b>Tuck Everlasting</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I think this is one where visuals play a bigger role and I'd like to see it live</li><li>Synopsis: Tuck Everlasting is based on the novel of the same name by Natalie Babbitt. It tells the story of a family who drink water from a magical spring and become immortal. When they encounter a young girl who lives in their rural New England town, she becomes friends with one of the sons, who soon offers her the secret to everlasting life. She then has to decide if she wants to join her new friends in immortality, or if she will live out her normal life. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Good Girl Winnie Foster</li></ul><li><b>Shuffle Along</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really, it's hard to just listen to such a dance-focused show</li><li>Synopsis: Shuffle Along centers around the upcoming mayoral election in Jimtown. Sam Peck and Steve Jenkins, partners in the local grocery store, both decide to run for mayor and make a corrupt pact. If either of them wins, they will appoint the other as Chief of Police. Supported by Tom Sharper, a dishonest campaign manager, Steve wins the election and makes good his promise to Sam. However, their arrangement clearly will not last, as their constant bickering gets the better of them and they come to blows in a comical ballet-fight. All is not lost however, as their virtuous opponent, Harry Walton, has a mysterious ally. Detective Jack Penrose is a stranger in town, but he decides that Steve and Sam’s corrupt jurisdiction must come to an end. Exposing their cheating ways, he removes them from office and installs Harry as the rightful mayor of Jimtown. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Love Will Find a Way</li></ul><li><b>Holiday Inn</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love a Christmas classic</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah it's fun and like I said, a classic</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the 1942 award-winning movie, Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical, is a fresh take on an old classic. When singer-songwriter Jim Hardy tires of showbiz, he shocks his best friend Ted and fiancee Lila by leaving the bright lights of Broadway behind and for a calm life in a farmhouse in Connecticut. At first, he greets his new life with enthusiasm, but, just as he starts to think farm life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, he meets Linda Mason, a spunky school teacher harboring immense talent and big dreams. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Holiday Inn / Happy Holiday</li></ul><li><b>Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I only knew a couple songs</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This is one of the best (and most creative) shows I've heard in quite some time and is my current obsession</li><li>Synopsis: In Europe, the Napoleonic Wars are raging, but in Moscow, the opulent, glittering world of Russia’s elite parties under the magical glow of the Great Comet. The innocent, romantic Natasha arrives in Moscow, longing for the return of her fiancé, Andrey. When she meets the dashing, seductive Anatole, she quickly falls head over heels for the charming rogue. But when Natasha throws off her engagement and attempts to elope with Anatole, it is up to Pierre—the melancholy, lost Pierre (Josh Groban), desperate to feel alive once more—to save Natasha and her family from ruin. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Sonya Alone</li></ul><li><b>A Bronx Tale</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was well done but not memorable for me</li><li>Synopsis: A Bronx Tale is a streetwise musical that takes you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s—where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Featuring a doo-wop score, A Bronx Tale is a story about respect, loyalty, love, and above all else: family. (Broadway.com)</li><li>Favorite song: Out of Your Head</li></ul><li><b>Dear Evan Hansen</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Oh yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This is a divisive show - I think many of the songs are emotional and moving - but I hate the plot. I have yet to see the movie.</li><li>Synopsis: Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of a young man with a social anxiety disorder who so yearns to make a connection with his peers that he fabricates a relationship with a deceased student to become closer to the boy’s family. When a classmate commits suicide, shy Evan Hansen finds himself at the center of the tragedy and turmoil. In a misguided attempt to comfort the boy’s grieving family, Evan pretends that he was actually good friends with their son. He invents a fabricated email account to “prove” their friendship, and when a fake suicide note makes its way online, Evan finds himself the unintended face of a viral video about loneliness and friendship. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Words Fail</li></ul><li><b>Come From Away</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I held off listening because I knew it would wreck me emotionally</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, but it did indeed wreck me emotionally. I need to watch the pro-shot on Apple TV.</li><li>Synopsis: Come From Away chronicles the real-life experiences of the people of Gander, Newfoundland, and the almost 7000 airline passengers who were forced to land there when US air space was closed on September 11, 2001. Twelve actors tell the story of both the Islanders and the Plane People, revealing the fear and uncertainty that came with the terrorist attacks – as well as the profound generosity and compassion of strangers. While some characters and stories are an amalgamation of several people and experiences, others are grounded in true people, such as Captain Beverly Bass, the first female captain for American Airlines; Kevin Tuerff and Kevin Jung, the couple from LA; and Nick and Diane, the couple who met in Gander. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Me And The Sky</li></ul><li><b>Amelie </b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I never listened to the show or watched the movie it was based on</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This was pretty boring overall</li><li>Synopsis: While times may be hard for dreamers, dreaming is all Amélie Poulain does. After surviving a tragic and isolated childhood, Amélie heads out on her own, joyfully finding her way through Paris and making friends from all walks of life: Suzanne, a trapeze artist-turned-cafe owner; Georgette, a hypochondriac tobacconist; Julian Dufayel, an artist with brittle bone disease; and many more. Through a chance discovery, Amélie finds a child’s box of treasures in the floor of her apartment, and sets out to return it. After her success, and the joy it brings to Bretodeau, the owner, Amélie resolves to anonymously do good for those around her. Most importantly, Amélie finds love in the form of Nino, a mysterious young man, and his photo album. Living in her imaginary world of make-believe and whimsy has been safe, but Amélie knows it is time to step out of her dreams and find joy for herself. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Times Are Hard for Dreamers</li></ul><li><b>War Paint</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Only because it starred Patti LuPone</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Sorry Patti - I really couldn't get into the music</li><li>Synopsis: War Paint tells the remarkable story of cosmetics titans Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, who defined beauty standards for the first half of the 20th Century. Brilliant innovators with humble roots, both women were masters of self-invention who sacrificed everything to become the country’s first major female entrepreneurs. They were also fierce competitors, whose 50-year tug-of-war would give birth to an industry that would forever change the face of America. (Broadway.com)</li><li>Favorite song: Face to Face</li></ul><li><b>Groundhog Day</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I love the movie </li><li>Did I enjoy it? I was afraid a musical version would be so much worse than the movie but there were some fun songs - pretty forgettable overall though </li><li>Synopsis: Groundhog Day follows TV weatherman Phil, who reluctantly goes to cover the story of Punxsutawney Phil for the third year in a row. Making no effort to hide his frustration, he covers the story and moves on, expecting his job to be finished. However, he awakes the "following" day and discovers that it's Groundhog Day again, and the fun happens again and again and again. He soon realizes he must take advantage of it in order to secure the love of a coworker. (Broadway.com)</li><li>Favorite song: One Day </li></ul></ul>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-74891007826052057632021-12-09T13:48:00.002-08:002021-12-09T13:48:46.341-08:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2013-2015 (If/Then, Fun Home, Something Rotten and more)<p>By the grace of God, I will catch up with this challenge - mark my words! I can't believe we're already in 2015. These shows were coming out as a graduated high school - time flies. And as always you can listen to all of these favorite songs on my <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tKKd9Hxhe3zNnjXhMNarj?si=b3df1c9e74334794" target="_blank">Spotify</a>. Buckle up this is a long one.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Rocky</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I have never seen the movie don't get mad at me</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Andy Karl was great but I don't really think we needed a Rocky musical</li><li>Synopsis: Rocky the Musical is based on the 1976 film of the same name written by Stallone. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Fight From The Heart</li></ul><li><b>Aladdin</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course, this is one of my favorite animated Disney movies of all time. I haven't seen the stage show yet.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, the added songs really do fit well with the show.</li><li>Synopsis: In Agrabah, City of Enchantment, every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail! Aladdin, a kind but wily, street urchin, falls in love with beautiful Princess Jasmine, who he knows is waaaaay out of his league. It just so happens, however, that the Sultan has declared Princess Jasmine must choose a husband within the next day. After she turns down the offers from various wealthy suitors, Aladdin -- with the help of a fast-talking, magical Genie -- introduces himself as wealthy suitor Prince Ali Ababua. Meanwhile, evil royal advisor Jafar also has his sights set on the kingdom, and tries to convince the Sultan to force Jasmine to wed him. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: A Million Miles Away</li></ul><li><b>If/Then</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I was obsessed with this music when it came out</li><li>Did I enjoy it? The plot is dumb but the music is good and the entire cast, led by Idina Menzel, is insanely talented</li><li>Synopsis: What if? What if we could know the future effects and consequences of our choices? If we knew how things we turn out, then would we still make the same decisions? This is the premise of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s If/Then: Elizabeth Vaughn has returned to New York City after her marriage fell apart. She is meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends, and is immediately given a choice. Should Elizabeth (as Beth) join her college friend Lucas in the world of community activism and city planning? Or should Elizabeth (as Liz) join her new neighbor Kate to get coffee and listen to a local band? Kitt and Yorkey take the audience through both stories simultaneously, shifting between the worlds of Beth and Liz--and occasionally the two collide. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Always Starting Over</li></ul><li><b>Bullets Over Broadway</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was fun but I think I'd have to see it live to really fall in love with it</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the screenplay of the acclaimed film, Bullets Over Broadway is loaded with big laughs, colorful characters and the songs that made the 20s roar. Bullets Over Broadway is ready to bring musical comedy back with a bang. The story revolves around a playwright who needs someone to back his next show and a mobster who needs some way to please his showgirl girlfriend. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I've Found a New Baby</li></ul><li><b>Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Only because it stars queen Audra McDonald</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I respect Billie Holiday but this is a bit too depressing for me</li><li>Synopsis: The play takes place in South Philadelphia in March 1959. Billie Holiday is performing in a run-down bar, during one of her last performances before her death in July 1959. She sings, accompanied by Jimmy Powers on the piano, and also tells stories about her life as she becomes increasingly intoxicated and incoherent. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Strange Fruit</li></ul><li><b>Violet</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes! But I only knew one song</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was good but forgettable in my opinion</li><li>Synopsis: Set in 1964 in the Deep South during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, Violet follows the growth and enlightenment of a bitter young disfigured woman. In hopes that a TV evangelist can cure her, she embarks on a journey by bus from her sleepy North Carolina town to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Along the way, she meets a young black soldier who teaches her about beauty, love, courage and what it means to be an outsider. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: On My Way (the very same one we sang at PPU graduation)</li></ul><li><b>Hedwig and the Angry Inch</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love the movie and was glad this show finally got a Broadway run</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This show can be a bit depressing but the pop/rock ballads really do hit</li><li>Synopsis: Hedwig and the Angry Inch tells the tale of how a “slip of a girlyboy” from communist East Berlin, Hanschel, becomes the “internationally ignored song stylist” known as Hedwig after a botched sex-change operation. The show daringly breaks the fourth wall, as Hedwig directly tells the audience of her past tribulations and heartbreak in the form of an extended monologue paired with rock songs. With a little help from her band and her backup singer Yitzhak, Hedwig examines her quest for her other half, for love, and ultimately for her identity. Featuring a groundbreaking rock musical score by Stephen Trask, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is hilarious, harrowing, and essentially uplifting for anyone who’s ever felt different. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Origin of Love</li></ul><li><b>The Last Ship</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Extremely forgettable, although Sting wrote the music </li><li>Synopsis: The Last Ship is set in the English seafaring town of Wallsend, a close-knit community where life has always revolved around the local shipyard and the hardworking men construct magnificent vessels with tremendous pride. But Gideon Fletcher dreams of a different future. He sets out to travel the world, leaving his life and his love behind. When Gideon returns home 14 years later, he finds the shipyard's future in grave danger and his childhood sweetheart engaged to someone else. As the men of Wallsend take their future into their own hands and build a towering representation of the shared dream that defines their existence, Gideon realizes that he left behind more than he could have ever imagined. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: If You Ever See Me Talking to a Sailor</li></ul><li><b>A Night with Janis Joplin</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Honestly - this is another jukebox musical that didn't need to exist</li><li>Synopsis: The musical is presented as Janis Joplin, backed by a band of hippies, performing a concert in 1970, shortly before she in fact died of drug overdose, at age 27. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Piece of My Heart</li></ul><li><b>Honeymoon in Vegas</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Only because I was mad it replaced Newsies at the Nederlander when it opened</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah this was fun and had some toe-tappers</li><li>Synopsis: Honeymoon in Vegas is a comedic eye-popping spectacle based on the film of the same name. The musical follows its characters through New York, Las Vegas, and Hawaii as they grapple with past relationship traumas and future expectations. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Love Betsy</li></ul><li><b>An American in Paris</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes but the dancing in this is the real star</li><li>Synopsis: The musical is set in the City of Lights, Paris, as it emerges from the shadows of World War II. As the weight of the Nazi Occupation begins to lift, the city’s inhabitants come alive and rediscover life’s grandest possibilities. An American veteran and aspiring painter, Jerry, is still reeling from the war when he discovers the girl of his dreams: Lise, a captivating young dancer at the ballet. Jerry falls in love with the mystery girl as soon as he spots her in a crowd on the street. By chance or fate, Jerry and Lise are brought together at a ballet rehearsal, where Jerry has come to visit his friend Adam, the company’s composer. While there, Jerry catches the eye of Milo, an American heiress and Adam’s patron. To add more confusion to this love triangle, Lise is already engaged to marry Henri, a rich young business man, who dreams of being a performer, himself. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I've Got Beginner's Luck</li></ul><li><b>It Shoulda Been You</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? This is another one I only know of because of The Tony's</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was fun but not going into the regular rotation</li><li>Synopsis: The bride is Jewish. The groom is Catholic. Her mother is a force of nature, his mother is a tempest in a cocktail shaker. And when the bride’s ex-boyfriend shows up, the perfect wedding starts to unravel faster than you can whistle “Here Comes the Bride! Plots are hatched, pacts are made, secrets exposed – and the sister of the bride is left to turn a tangled mess into happily ever after! (Playbill.com)</li><li>Favorite song: Jenny's Blues</li></ul><li><b>Doctor Zhivago</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Unfortunately</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's got some pretty songs - just listen to Anastasia instead</li><li>Synopsis: Doctor Zhivago is an epic romance set during the final days of Czarist Russia, the First World War, and the chaos of the Russian revolution. Raised as an aristocrat, Zhivago is a political idealist, physician, and poet who is torn between a life with his devoted wife, Tonia Gromeko, and the passionate and mysterious Lara Guishar. Zhivago is not alone in his yearnings for Lara, competing for her affections with the young revolutionary Pasha Antipov and the aristocrat Viktor Komarovsky. (Playbill.com)</li><li>Favorite song: When the Music Played</li></ul><li><b>Finding Neverland</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I really like the movie and think this show captured that spirit</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes! (but I wish they hadn't replaced Jeremy Jordan with Matthew Morrison)</li><li>Synopsis: It’s 1904, and successful London playwright J.M. Barrie has a serious case of writer’s block. While he is working on a new play, he recognizes that there is nothing original about it and the characters and plot are simply recycled from plays he’s already written. Despondent at the potential end of his career, Barrie meets a lovely and caring widow, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, and her four sons (George, Peter, Jack, and Michael) in Kensington Park. They embark on adventures of imagination together - all except Peter, unwilling to play and still reeling from his father’s death. As Barrie helps Peter learn to play again, his writer’s block gives way to a new art form: children’s theatre. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Believe</li></ul><li><b>Fun Home</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Anyone in the LGBTQ+ community (or the alphabet mafia as we say) has heard of this show</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Dang it's sad, but also so good</li><li>Synopsis: Fun Home traces the coming-of-age of lesbian author Alison Bechdel, from her youth to her years at Oberlin College, and finally to the present, where Alison, now grown, is struggling to write her own graphic autobiography. As Alison reflects on her past, she struggles to make sense of it, particularly her relationship with her father, Bruce, a closeted gay man and the owner of the family business -- the Bechdel Funeral Home (“fun” home, as it’s known to young Alison and her brothers). As she watches her father’s self-loathing consume him, Alison recognizes her own experience of discovering, and ultimately embracing, her identity. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Ring of Keys (The Tony's performance makes me cry)</li></ul><li><b>Something Rotten</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I saw it on Broadway and then saw the National Tour, I love this show</li><li>Did I enjoy it? If you listen to one show from this particular blog - make it this one</li><li>Synopsis: Welcome to the Renaissance, where the Black Plague has ceded power to the Puritans, farthingales and codpieces are the latest fashion trend, and the biggest celebrity in England is a playwright named William Shakespeare. In the midst of all this excitement, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are trying to keep their acting company afloat. In a desperate attempt to out-Bard the Bard, Nick consults with a soothsayer, who informs him that the future of theatre involves acting, singing, and dancing -- sometimes all at once! As the Bottom brothers strive to write the world’s very first “musical”, they find themselves caught in a bitter battle with the Bard. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Hard to be the Bard</li></ul><li><b>The Visit </b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Chita Rivera is amazing, but no</li><li>Synopsis: Claire Zachanassian, a famously wealthy woman, decides to return to her hometown of Brachen, Switzerland, for the first time since she left it, at 18 years old. The inhabitants of the town, now utterly impoverished after “The War”, are hopeful that Claire might offer financial support to revive their community. In fact, Claire has returned to Brachen for one reason, and it’s not philanthropy: she wants revenge. Meeting her former lover, Anton Schell, for the first time since her departure, Claire finds familiar emotions bursting to life; the pair are haunted by their former selves. In this remarkable allegory about aging, greed, and the violent power of love, a town is forced to face its demons while a woman makes her final, powerful step towards absolution. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Love and Love Alone</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-57743929373158530842021-12-07T14:14:00.002-08:002021-12-07T14:14:46.867-08:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2012 - 2014 (Kinky Boots, Bridges of Madison County, Matilda and more)<p></p><div>Would you believe me if I told you I had listened to 415 Broadway cast recordings so far this year? I truly cannot believe how far we've come... There are just a few more years left until we reach the 2020 shows and the end of this challenge - but don't worry I will do a "best-of" style wrap-up. Let's dive in.</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It had some fun numbers but was forgettable overall</li><li>Synopsis: The musical relates events in the life of early 20th century evangelist and pop culture icon Aimee Semple McPherson. It follows her life and career from her childhood to her controversial death in 1944, focusing on her mysterious kidnapping and the ensuing trial. Other highlights include her becoming the first woman to obtain a radio broadcast license in the United States, her cross-country drive unaccompanied by a man, her multimedia empire that included several newspapers, and her interactions with such contemporaries as Charles Chaplin and William Randolph Hearst. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Why Can't I? (great female audition song!)</li></ul><li><b>A Christmas Story: The Musical</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I of course love the movie so I've avoided the musical version for years</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really but I understand the appeal for a novelty show around the holidays/peak NYC tourist season</li><li>Synopsis: It's a Christmas Story y'all. Ralphie, the BB gun - all that.</li><li>Favorite song: Counting Down to Christmas</li></ul><li><b>Hands on a Hardbody</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I remember seeing the cast perform on the Tonys, but beyond that I knew nothing</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really, the songs were a little painful at times in my opinion</li><li>Synopsis: For ten Texans who are down on their luck, the chance at a new life is only fifty-some hours and a hardbody truck away. Based on the real-life “Hands on a Hard Body Contest,” chronicled in the 1997 documentary Hands on a Hardbody, this all-American musical tells the story of a small-town Texas endurance contest, where the contestant who keeps their hands on a truck the longest, gets to keep the truck. With tuneful country-rock melodies and soulful lyrics by Phish’s Amanda Green and Trey Anastasio, Hands on a Hardbody explores a diverse cross-section of a small-town Texas community and the trials they’ll endure for a chance to win a Nissan hardbody truck. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Joy of the Lord</li></ul><li><b>Kinky Boots</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course I have, what kind of queer would I be if I hadn't?</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I did. Cyndi Lauper deserved her Tony for these songs.</li><li>Synopsis: After trying to escape his father’s low-key, family ambitions for him, Charlie Price has suddenly inherited his father's shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Charlie must now face the decision of whether to pursue a new life in London with his fiancee Nicola, or return to the town in which he grew up and save his father’s dreams. Ultimately, Charlie decides to try to live up to his father's legacy and rescue his family business, and, in doing so, he finds unlikely inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous drag queen in need of some sturdy stiletto boots, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he's meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Not My Father's Son</li></ul><li><b>Matilda</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but the movie traumatized me as a child so I never listened to this full score</li><li>Did I enjoy it? There are some good songs and the kids in the cast are impressive</li><li>Synopsis: Matilda is the story of an extraordinary little girl with extraordinary powers. The daughter of abusive parents, Matilda finds refuge in library books, which she reads quickly and in creating her own stories. Things are no better at school, where Matilda also must face a tyrannical and cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, who believes in Crunchem Hall’s motto: “Bambinatum est Magitum,” or “Children are Maggots.” She finds companionship in her teacher, Miss Honey, though well-intentioned, is shy and fragile. Brave little Matilda knows she has to stand up against the adults in her world, and in doing so, discovers her own remarkable powers. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: When I Grow Up</li></ul><li><b>Motown: The Musical</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I did but I think this is one you need to see live</li><li>Synopsis: Motown: The Musical is based on Berry Gordy's autobiography To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown (1994), and on the history of his founding and running of the Motown record label, and his personal and professional relationships with Motown artists such as Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and Michael Jackson. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Get Ready / Dancing in the Street</li></ul><li><b>Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love this version of Cinderella (especially the Disney version with Brandy and Whitney Houston) and can't believe it wasn't produced on Broadway until 2013 when it was written in the late 1950s!</li><li>Did I enjoy it? See above :)</li><li>Synopsis: Based upon the classic fairy tale, and particularly the French version Cendrillon ou la Petite Pantoufle de Verre, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s adaptation brings new life to the story of a young woman forced into servitude who dreams of – and achieves – a better life. Cinderella features some of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago.”</li><li>Favorite song: Impossible</li></ul><li><b>First Date</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I used to be obsessed with this show when it first came out. If you were a fan of shows like Smash and the music on there - you will love this.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I always enjoy listening to Krysta Rodriguez and Zachary Levi sing</li><li>Synopsis: What does a person expect out of a blind date? The 2012 musical First Date takes the audience through the first meeting of Casey and Aaron, two 30-ish New York City singles set up by friends and family. The two have nothing in common: Aaron is a conservative banker, Jewish, and looking for a meaningful relationship, while Casey is an artist, a shiksa, and a little too funky for Wall Street. With the influences of their friends and family (played out in their imaginations) as well as the effects of social media (Google, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube personified), this first date seems to be doomed. But with the help of a meddling but well-meaning waiter, Casey and Aaron might make a connection after all. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Safer</li></ul><li><b>Big Fish</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I like a few songs from the show but still have yet to see the original movie!</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes! I could listen to Norbert Leo Butz sing all day long.</li><li>Synopsis: Edward Bloom has lived a full and fantastical life, populated by witches, giants, and mermaids, marked by true love that stops time in its tracks, and framed by heroics that push the limits of believability. His adult son, Will, is no longer amused by his father’s fantastical tales, insisting on a rational rather than a fantastical account of one’s life. When Edward’s health declines, and Will learns that he and his wife, Josephine, will have a son of their own, Will decides to find out his father’s “true” life story, once and for all. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Fight the Dragons (always makes me emotional)</li></ul><li><b>A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I remember this one from the Tony Awards too, but didn't know much except that it won Best Musical in 2014</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This is funny and has decent songs but it's not going into my regular rotation</li><li>Synopsis: On the night of his mother’s funeral, middle-class Englishman Monty Navarro learns an incredible secret: he is the “son of the daughter of the grandson of nephew of the second Earl of Highhurst.” In other words, Monty Navarro is an aristocrat -- if he can only find a way to prevent the eight earls preceding him from inheriting the earldom first. Buoyed along by love for two different women, the stunning and self-centered Sibella and the pious and witty Phoebe, Monty takes on his mission. As for the D’Ysquith family? One actor plays each ill-fated member, from the flamboyant country squire to the terrible actress to the aging war hero. In the witt, and ceaselessly entertaining A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, the audience is treated to Edwardian style, classic farce, and stunning operatic singing. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I've Decided to Marry You</li></ul><li><b>Beautiful: The Carole King Musical</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I love Carole King so was happy to see her life get the musical treatment</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I did but to be honest, I think I'll continue to just listen to Carole sing her own songs as much as I love Jessie Mueller</li><li>Synopsis: Beautiful tells the true story of Carole King’s meteoric rise to fame as one of the twentieth century’s foremost singer-songwriters. We are introduced to Carole when she is 16 and pitching her first song (“It Might As Well Rain Until September”) to New York music producer Don Kirshner. Soon after, she meets her future husband and creative collaborator, Gerry Goffin. In a musical whirlwind, the couple are married, King gives birth to their first child and the duo make a name for themselves in the music business, knocking out hit after hit. However, while their careers are on the rise, Carole’s personal life falls apart when Gerry announces that he wants an affair. As Carole tries to negotiate marriage, adultery and personal happiness, she is supported by friends and playful rivals, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. Although they all compete for number one hits on the pop chart, Carole relies on their support to change her life and find her own voice. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Beautiful </li></ul><li><b>The Bridges of Madison County</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I am obsessed with this show. The music. The romance-novelness of it all. Obsessed.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I have listened to this score often in the years since it came out and I never get tired of it.</li><li>Synopsis: Francesca is a dedicated, Iowan housewife, living a simple, yet dispassionate, life. Everything changes when her family goes on a trip to the State Fair in Indianapolis, leaving Francesca behind to take care of the house. Francesca is taken aback by a handsome National Geographic photographer named Robert, who asks for directions to the covered bridges of Madison County. The two connect, starting an emotional four-day love affair that has repercussions long after it’s over. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Almost Real</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-90634481948981825952021-11-27T13:15:00.000-08:002021-11-27T13:15:08.493-08:00A Legacy in Lyrics - Sondheim Songs that Shaped Me<p>Legendary composer Stephen Sondheim passed away yesterday at the age of 91. He was a creative giant in the Broadway community and inspired so many artists throughout the years with his unique concepts and intricate songwriting. </p><p>Sondheim's most notable work included the music and lyrics for Company, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, Merrily We Roll Along, Passion, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, and the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy. He worked on 20+ shows throughout his career and never really wrote about the same topic twice.</p><p>I have loved Sondheim's work for as long as I can remember loving musical theatre in the way I do now. The first role I ever played (granted, I played her pretty poorly) was The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods Jr. I feel more in love with his finesse for songwriting and just how witty and emotional his shows could be.</p><p>In honor of his legacy, I would like to share just some (I could go on for a while) of his lyrics that have stuck with me, and hope you will appreciate them too. </p><p><b>Into the Woods</b></p><p>Let the moment go / Don't forget it for a moment, though / Just remembering you've had an "and" / When you're back to "or" / Makes the "or" mean more / Than it did before</p><p>Sometimes people leave you, halfway through the wood. / Do not let it grieve you. / No one leaves for good. / You are not alone. / No one is alone.</p><p>Running away- go to it. / Where did you have in mind? / Have to take care / Unless there's a "where,"/ You'll only be wandering blind. / Just more questions. / Different kind.</p><p><b>Company</b></p><p>Someone to crowd you with love / Someone to force you to care / Someone to make you come through / Who'll always be there / As frightened as you / Of being alive</p><p>You can be my best friend, / I can be your right arm.</p><p>So here's to the girls on the go— / Everybody tries / Look into their eyes / And you'll see what they know: / Everybody dies / A toast to that invincible bunch / The dinosaurs surviving the crunch. / Let's hear it for the ladies who lunch—/ Everybody rise!</p><p><b>Sweeney Todd</b></p><p>No one's gonna hurt you / No one's gonna dare / Others can desert you / Not to worry, whistle, I'll be there / Demons will charm you with a smile / For a while / But in time / Nothing can harm you / Not while I'm around</p><p>And in the darkness / When I'm blind with what I can't forget / It's always morning in my mind / My little lamb / My pet / Johanna</p><p>He kept a shop in London Town / Of fancy clients and good renown / And what if none of their souls were saved? / They went to their maker impeccably shaved / By Sweeney / By Sweeney Todd / The demon barber of Fleet street</p><p><b>Sunday in the Park with George </b></p><p>Stop worrying where you're going / Move on / If you can know where you're going / You've gone / Just keep moving on ... I chose, and my world was shaken / So what? / The choice may have been mistaken / The choosing was not</p><p>Mapping out a sky / What you feel like, planning a sky / What you feel when voices that come / Through the window / Go / Until they distance and die / Until there's nothing but sky</p><p>And how you're always turning back too late / From the grass or the stick / Or the dog or the light / How the kind of woman willing to wait's / Not the kind that you want to find waiting / To return you to the night/ Dizzy from the height</p><p>Pausing on a Sunday / By the cool blue triangular water / On the soft green elliptical grass / As we pass through arrangements of shadow / Toward the verticals of trees / Forever</p><div><br /></div><p><br /></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-75513178340607709502021-11-27T12:20:00.000-08:002021-11-27T12:20:08.334-08:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2010-2013 (Bonnie & Clyde, Once, Newsies)<p>Hello all and happy belated Thanksgiving - I'm a bit behind on this challenge (shocking) but am determined to finish no later than January. </p><p>In recent news, theatrical genius Stephen Sondheim passed away yesterday at the age of 91 - leaving behind a powerful legacy. I plan to post a compilation of some of my favorite lyrics of his soon so stay tuned. </p><p>In the meantime let's check in on these 2010s shows.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, this show made a lot of headlines for cast member injuries and going over budget</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really</li><li>Synopsis: The musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down—literally—when he’s bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek—suddenly endowed with astonishing powers—soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical strength but also his strength of character. (Broadway.com)</li><li>Favorite song: If The World Should End</li></ul><li><b>Leap of Faith</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I sort of tuned this one out</li><li>Synopsis: Leap of Faith is a stage musical based on the 1992 American movie of the same name, which starred Steve Martin. The music is by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Janus Cercone and Slater about a con man posing as a man of faith, who is redeemed by the love of a good woman. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Dancing in the Devil's Shoes</li></ul><li><b>Ghost</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but I still haven't seen the movie and need to</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah there's some really touching songs in here</li><li>Synopsis: Longtime couple Sam and Molly are happily in love and living together in Brooklyn. Walking back to their apartment one night, they are mugged at gunpoint, leaving Sam murdered on a dark street. Sam is trapped between this world and the next as a ghost and unable to leave Molly--- who he quickly learns is in grave danger. With the help of a storefront psychic named Oda Mae Brown, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of protecting her. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: With You</li></ul><li><b>Lysistrata Jones</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I think I would have to see this one live</li><li>Synopsis: Lysistrata Jones is a new transfer student to Athens U., and is shocked at the apathy and lack of school spirit amongst her friends. First she tries to create a cheerleading squad and a team mascot to drum up support. When that doesn’t work, she takes inspiration from Aristophanes’ play in which wives goes on a sex strike until the men quit fighting the Peloponnesian War. Lysistrata gathers the girls around her to take a pledge to give up “giving it up.” Guided by Hetaira, the narrator and chorus, Lysistrata vows to inspire and motivate the students around her to find their passion for their school and each other. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Where Am I Now?</li></ul><li><b>Bonnie & Clyde</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Oh yeah, I was obsessed with this show when it came out and may or may not have watched the bootleg recording more than once.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? As always - Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes were perfect in this show</li><li>Synopsis: Frustrated with their poor, ordinary lives, Bonnie and Clyde both dream of the exciting lives they have seen in the movies. After escaping from jail, Clyde meets Bonnie and recognizes a fellow dreamer. Their craving for fame and thrills leads them into a life of crime and a life on the run. Despite the pleas of their families, the couple embarks on a series of robberies at gunpoint, continuously evading the police and becoming the celebrities they desperately wanted to be. They are soon joined by Clyde’s brother, Buck, and the “Barrow Gang” plans increasingly ambitious heists. As their fame and ambition grow, their inevitable fate draws closer. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Dyin' Ain't So Bad</li></ul><li><b>Once</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes! Another musical based on a movie that I need to watch.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah, the music is very folksy and moving</li><li>Synopsis: You know the story: Guy meets Girl. But in Once, an unconventional and romantic musical based on the award-winning 2006 film, what follows is not a traditional love story. Guy, a heartbroken musician busking for coins on the streets of Dublin, meets Girl, a Czech immigrant with a complicated history and a broken vacuum cleaner. Despite their differences, Guy and Girl find common ground, a shared language, and genuine love in creating music together. With a cast of incredible actor-musicians who accompany themselves on the soaring, gut-wrenching folk-rock score, Once is a unique theatrical experience. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Falling Slowly</li></ul><li><b>Newsies</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Oh yeah. This was the first show I was on Broadway in NYC my sophomore year of high school and I've seen it on tour and watched the pro-shot on Disney+ a couple times since.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I love this show - great music, amazing dancing - fun for the whole family</li><li>Synopsis: New York City, 1899. Jack Kelly and his ragtag team of newsboys make a meager living selling newspapers on the city streets. But when the prices of “papes” are hiked and the newsies are hung out to dry, there is nothing left to do but “open the gates and seize the day!” Led by charismatic Jack and independent, young newspaper reporter Katherine Plummer, the Newsies form a union and organize a strike against the greedy publisher of the New York World. Can a group of idealistic newsboys win against a foe as powerful as acclaimed publisher Joseph Pulitzer? Inspired by the true story of the 1899 Newsboys Strike. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Once And For All</li></ul><li><b>Bring It On</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but yet again another movie turned musical I haven't watched yet</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was catchy and I'm sure the onstage cheerleading stunts would be cool to see</li><li>Synopsis: Bring It On: The Musical tells the story of Campbell Davis, a young cheerleader who dreams of leading her squad to victory at a National competition. The story focuses on the world of competitive cheerleading and the intense rivalries it creates. Campbell’s future is secure: handsome boyfriend, a killer squad, and the newly awarded title of cheer captain. Suddenly, however, she is mysteriously reassigned to another school: the inner-city Jackson High, where she knows hardly anyone and worse: they don’t have a cheerleading squad. Despite the challenges of fitting in at a new school, Campbell befriends some tough girls on the dance squad and helps them become a powerhouse competitor for the National Cheerleading Championships. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: What I Was Born to Do</li></ul></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Nice Work If You Can Get It</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yeah I have but it's never been one of my favorites</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's nice but to be honest we probably didn't need another show of Gershwin songs</li><li>Synopsis: A new take on the 1920s musical farce, Nice Work If You Can Get It features the iconic music of George and Ira Gershwin. Billie Bendix, a tough-as-nails bootlegger, and wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter, meet on the weekend of his impending wedding. Jimmy has a habit of marrying chorus girls, but needs to settle down with a respectable woman before his mother will hand over the family business. He has gotten engaged to Eileen Evergreen, the self-proclaimed finest interpreter of modern dance, hoping that this will be a better choice than his usual chorus dancer. Needing somewhere to stash 400 bottles of gin, Billie swipes Jimmy’s wallet and hides her stash in his empty Long Island beach house. However, when the wedding party arrives at the beach house, the bootleggers must juggle the guests and their business. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Someone to Watch Over Me </li></ul><li><b>Chaplin </b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, only because Jenn Collela was in it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah it's got some fun songs</li><li>Synopsis: In 1913, Chaplin arrived in Hollywood aged just 24 years old. He experienced a meteoric rise from an unknown, small-time London music hall performer to becoming one of the richest, most famous man in the movie business. His iconic role as The Little Tramp propelled him to stardom but fame and notoriety posed its own challenges for Chaplin. With three failed marriages, a paternity suit, and a ruthless journalist determined to expose him as a communist, Chaplin’s fall from grace was meteoric and he spent the remainder of his life exiled in Switzerland. Charlie Chaplin: The Musical moves backward and forward throughout time, exploring how Chaplin’s childhood and inner insecurities shaped Hollywood’s greatest star….and also created his biggest problems. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: All Falls Down</li></ul></ul>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-72128195186400199532021-11-11T16:29:00.001-08:002021-11-11T16:29:08.879-08:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2008-2011 (Addams Family, American Idiot, Book of Mormon, Catch Me If You Can)<p></p><div>Howdy howdy - we are in the second to last month of this challenge and I truly cannot believe it. I am listening to shows from 2011 and I started this with shows from 1950. Strange the passage of time. There's a lot of great shows ahead and we're heading into the holiday season so spirits are high. Let's dive in. </div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>The Story of my Life</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Absolutely not, this was truly awful</li><li>Synopsis: The Story of My Life is a musical with music and lyrics by Neil Bartram, and a book by Brian Hill. The show follows two childhood friends from age six to 35 and has only two characters. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: The Butterfly</li></ul><li><b>The Addams Family</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes this is a fun show</li><li>Synopsis: The Addamses have lived by their unique values for hundreds of years and Gomez and Morticia, the patriarch and matriarch of the clan, would be only too happy to continue living that way. Their dark, macabre, beloved daughter Wednesday, however, is now an eighteen-year-old young woman who is ready for a life of her own. She has fallen in love with Lucas Beineke, a sweet, smart boy from a normal, respectable Ohio family — the most un-Addams sounding person one could be! And to make matters worse, she has invited the Beinekes to their home for dinner. In one fateful, hilarious night, secrets are disclosed, relationships are tested, and the Addams family must face up to the one horrible thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations: change. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Crazier Than You</li></ul><li><b>Memphis</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I would like to see it live eventually</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah there are some really great songs in here</li><li>Synopsis: Memphis is the story of Huey Calhoun (loosely based on real-life 1950s disc jockey Dewey Phillips) and his mission to bring blues and soul music to a white southern audience. In a time of segregation, Huey optimistically believes that music can transcend race, and with him on his journey is aspiring singer Felicia Farrell. The two fall in love, but must contend with social barriers, a prejudiced mother, and an overprotective brother. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Memphis Lives in Me</li></ul><li><b>Fela!</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Music was not really my taste if I'm being honest</li><li>Synopsis: Fela! takes place around 1977, at the height of Fela Kuti's influence as a composer and performer in Nigeria. Kuti was an originator of the Afrobeat sound, and the musical opens with him addressing the audience from a concert at his club, the Afrika Shrine in Nigeria's largest city, Lagos. Kuti indicates that the Afrika Shrine had become a hugely popular venue, and a gathering place for youth opposed to Nigeria's military dictatorship. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Water No Get Enemy</li></ul><li><b>Million Dollar Quartet</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was fine, a bit boring</li><li>Synopsis: On December 4, 1956, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley all found themselves at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, and proceeded to record a legendary jam album. A Tony® Award Winning musical, Million Dollar Quartet recounts that single night with the meaningful and humorous story of five men’s journeys through the music business. A venerable rock concert where audiences relive the glory days of early rock and roll, the score features major hits performed live onstage by legendary characters. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Walk The Line</li></ul><li><b>American Idiot</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes I love this show</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's great music, especially when I'm feeling angsty </li><li>Synopsis: American Idiot follows a young anti-hero, Johnny, the self-proclaimed “Jesus of Suburbia”, and his two buddies, Will and Tunny, as they attempt to break out of their mind-numbing, aimless suburban existence. After escaping to the city, Johnny finds himself embroiled in a passionate affair with a stunning and unpredictable young woman, and an even more passionate affair with hard drugs.Tunny finds a sense of purpose by enlisting in the Army, but is wounded in the line of duty, both physically and emotionally. Meanwhile, Will, who decided to remain in the suburbs with his newly pregnant girlfriend, becomes moored to his couch, hopeless and stuck. Each of the men struggles to find the balance between rage and love -- a conflict that defines their generation. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Too Much Too Soon</li></ul><li><b>Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love this show!</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes this show is so gritty and feels like it was written by high college students - but in a good way I promise</li><li>Synopsis: Mirroring the current populist landscape, we trace Jackson’s life from rural, impoverished Tennessee upbringing, to early successes against British blowhards, Spanish sissies, and those pesky Native Americans, deep into political rabble-rousing, and eventually, to the American presidency. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I'm Not That Guy</li></ul><li><b>Everyday Rapture</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I never really got into it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? The vocals are top-tier but the songs didn't really stick with me</li><li>Synopsis: Everyday Rapture is a musical with a book written by Sherie Rene Scott and Dick Scanlan and music by various composers. It ran Off-Broadway in 2009 and opened on Broadway in 2010. The musical is a loose autobiography of Scott herself, showing her travels from her half-Mennonite Kansas childhood to a life in show business. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Up the Ladder to the Roof</li></ul><li><b>Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yeah this show has a star-studded cast of powerhouse women so you know I love it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes this score is very funny and engaging</li><li>Synopsis: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is a musical with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane. Based on the Pedro Almodóvar film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), the musical tells the tale of a group of women in late 20th-century Madrid whose relationships with men lead to a tumultuous 48 hours of love, confusion and passion. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Model Behavior</li></ul><li><b>Elf</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course I've seen the movie 100 times</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I think this musical is made specifically for tourists in NYC in December but it's not awful</li><li>Synopsis: In this heart-warming musical, Santa narrates the story of Buddy, an apparently oversized elf who has been raised in the North Pole. During the lead-up to Christmas, Buddy overhears the other elves discussing how he is really a human but hasn’t realized. He is devastated and Santa must reveal to his wannabe elf that baby Buddy mistakenly crawled into Santa's bag of gifts on Christmas Eve many years ago and was transported to the North Pole on Santa’s return home. With Santa's blessing, Buddy decides to travel to New York City to find his real father (who is on the naughty list). Shocked that his own father could be on the naughty list, he is further astounded that his half-brother doesn't believe in Santa. How can this be? Buddy decides to change the outlook and behavior of his new family and bring the true meaning of Christmas back into New York City. Along the way, he discovers friendship, romance, and his true identity. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Christmastown</li></ul><li><b>Priscilla, Queen of the Desert</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, what kind of member of the LGBTQ+ community would I be if I hadn't</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes this score is super fun</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the 1994 popular movie of the same name, Priscilla Queen of the Desert follows the journey of two drag queens, Tick and Adam, and a transgender woman, Bernadette, as they travel across Australia in their bus, named Priscilla. Tick has been asked to perform at a hotel in Alice Springs by his estranged wife, Marion. Taking Adam and Bernadette along with him, the trio drive from Sydney to the remote resort town in the middle of the desert. Tick tells his companions that the trip is a favor to his wife, from whom he is separated, but does not reveal that he also has an 8-year-old son he does not know, but who now wants to meet his father. As they head west, Tick, Adam, and Bernadette learn to accept and support each other, whilst encountering a number of strange and colorful characters. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: We Belong</li></ul><li><b>The Book of Mormon</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? This show is incredibly offensive but a blast, especially live</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It is full of toe-tappers that's a fact</li><li>Synopsis: The hit Broadway musical The Book of Mormon, written by “South Park”’s Trey Stone and Matt Smith and Frozen’s Robert Lopez, is a irreverent, hysterical, and surprisingly sweet send-up of religion, culture shock, and classic musical theatre. In The Book of Mormon, two very different young LDS missionaries-- the talented, eager Elder Price and the nerdy, pathologically lying Elder Cunningham-- are paired together and sent to Uganda to perform their two-year mission. To the missionaries’ disappointment, the local population seems to be more focused on the poverty, famine, AIDS epidemic, and the despotic warlord in their midst than religion. It’s going to be a fight for salvation. While Elder Price combats his own expectations and doubts, Elder Cunningham battles his inability to remember scripture or tell the truth, fellow missionary Elder McKinley crushes his homosexual urges, and the beautiful Ugandan Nabalungi fights to keep her hopes and dreams alive in the midst of great terror and uncertainty. It will take a little inventiveness, a lot of teamwork, and perhaps an ex-communication or two for the Elders to succeed in their mission. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: All-American Prophet </li></ul><li><b>Catch Me If You Can</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I love this movie and the musical is so fun</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Every song in this show is a winner and it made Aaron Tveit a star</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the unbelievable true story of one of the most famous con artists in history, Frank Abagnale Jr., Catch Me If You Can is a rousing musical set in the 1960s. We begin as Frank is captured by Agent Carl Hanratty, after years of pursuit. Frank, however, thinks the audience deserves to hear his version of the truth, and narrates his life as a hip, dance-heavy variety television show. We see Frank, as a teenager, run away from his unhappy home to live a life of great adventure, conning people by assuming a multitude of identities: airplane pilot, doctor, and lawyer, to name a few. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Someone Else's Skin</li></ul><li><b>Wonderland</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah this was better than I expected and fun to listen to</li><li>Synopsis: Wonderland: A New Alice, formerly called Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure, is a musical with a book by Jack Murphy and Gregory Boyd, lyrics by Murphy, and music by Frank Wildhorn. The story, a contemporary version of the novels Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (1871) by Lewis Carroll, is set in New York City and focuses on writer Alice Cornwinkle and her 10-year-old daughter Chloe. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Will Prevail </li></ul><li><b>Sondheim on Sondheim</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Anything Sondheim does - I'm there</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, I always like hearing Sondheim's best songs in new contexts</li><li>Synopsis: Sondheim on Sondheim is a musical revue consisting of music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim for his many shows. It is conceived and directed by James Lapine. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Losing My Mind/Not While I'm Around</li></ul><li><b>Sister Act</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course - I love the movies and this show is super high energy and fun</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes</li><li>Synopsis: Deloris Van Cartier is an aspiring singer in Philadelphia, where she is auditioning to perform at her gangster boyfriend's nightclub. Deloris believes that Curtis is going to introduce her to a big producer, but is upset when he tells her she is not ready. Hurt and rejected, Deloris decides to break up with him, but when she goes to find him she accidentally sees him kill one of his cronies. Deloris runs to the police, who place her in hiding at a convent until Curtis is brought to trial. At first, Deloris feels as though it will be the worst thing in the world, chafing against the constraints of convent life and an immovable Reverend Mother, but once she is introduced to the struggling choir at the convent, everything changes. She finds that many of the nuns at the convent are not that different from her, and that they are quite fun to be around. They help give her a bigger purpose in her life, showing her genuine love and affection that was missing prior to her arrival at the convent. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Life I Never Led</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-85210757994122680712021-11-01T11:51:00.003-07:002021-11-01T11:51:37.058-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2007-2009 (In the Heights, Billy Elliot, Next to Normal, 9 to 5)<p>Happy November! I can't believe how simultaneously slow and fast this year has been. I hope everyone had a fun and festive Halloween and is excited for the coziness of Thanksgiving and Christmas, the best days of the year in my opinion. </p><p>We are squarely in the mid to late-2000s of this challenge and so it is my time to shine. So many of these shows hold a special place in my heart and I'm excited to continue to share them with you. Let's get started. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>The Little Mermaid</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I did, Disney does a great musical</li><li>Synopsis: Beautiful mermaid Ariel should be a happy girl -- she lives in an enchanted undersea country, her father is a King, and she has the most beautiful singing voice. But she is a passionate, headstrong teenager, and wants what she cannot have -- to live on land. When she falls in love with a handsome human prince, Ariel is more determined than ever to gain a pair of legs. But her only option is to defy her furious father and bargain with Ursula the Sea Witch, giving her voice as the price of entry onto dry land. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Poor Unfortunate Souls (I love a villain song!)</li></ul><li><b>Passing Strange</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This was kind of in one ear and out the other for me</li><li>Synopsis: Rock musician Stew makes a powerful debut as playwright and narrator, telling the story of a nameless Youth who is on a quest to find “the real.” On the way, this young, African-American, middle-class man discovers what a bohemian life really involves, “passing” through the worlds of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’roll -- and all the ups and downs in between. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Keys (It's Alright)</li></ul><li><b>In the Heights</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course, this is the show that made Lin-Manuel Miranda a star</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, I think this show is better than Hamilton and I'm not afraid to say it</li><li>Synopsis: Over the course of In the Heights, we encounter the many colorful residents of Washington Heights -- a New York City neighborhood on the brink of change. Usnavi, a first-generation Dominican-American corner bodega owner, and his friends and family are dealing with the pressures of rising rents and closing neighborhood businesses. As one family struggles to figure out how to pay for an Ivy League tuition for their brilliant and hard-working daughter, a young woman is trying to put a down payment on a new apartment, and Usnavi himself is trying to get back to the Dominican Republic to reconnect with his roots after the death of his parents. In Washington Heights, community is everything, and we see how each of these individuals struggles to survive and how these same individuals come together as a community to mourn their losses and rejoice in their triumphs. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: It Won't Be Long Now</li></ul><li><b>Glory Days</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really, the music felt very surface-level to me</li><li>Synopsis: Glory Days is a musical with music and lyrics by Nick Blaemire and a book by James Gardiner about four high school friends reuniting a year after graduation. The musical opened at the Signature Theatre in 2008 and was then produced on Broadway in 2008 but closed after one regular performance. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Open Road</li></ul><li><b>A Catered Affair </b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Some of the music was pretty but seems forgettable to me</li><li>Synopsis: Jane and Ralph decide to marry in a simple City Hall ceremony. But Jane's mother, bereaved from her son's death in the Korean War, envisions a lavish affair and strains family relationships and finances to plan the wedding she has always wanted. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: One White Dress</li></ul><li><b>Cry-Baby</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes! This is a fun and ridiculous show. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes</li><li>Synopsis: The delinquent Drapes and the squeaky-clean Squares can’t see eye to eye on anything. But when Drapes leader Cry-Baby and Square member Allison meet at the Anti-Polio Picnic and discover that they are both orphans, their star-crossed love story begins to blossom. Allison longs to shake off her Square identity and join Cry-Baby’s rock n’ roll lifestyle. As Allison gets a bad girl makeover, king of the Squares Baldwin hatches a plan to get rid of the Drapes gang and win Allison back. When Cry-Baby whisks Allison away to Turkey Point and asks “Girl, Can I Kiss You With Tongue?”, Baldwin and the Squares frame Cry-Baby for arson and he is carted off to prison. Cry-Baby must fight to clear the Drapes’ name and get back to Allison before she gets trapped in a Square life forever. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Screw Loose</li></ul><li><b>title of show</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I'm a big fan of Susan Blackwell's Broadway.com interviews and this show comes up often</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's pretty ridiculous but I like how it pokes fun at musical tropes in a different way</li><li>Synopsis: Jeff and Hunter, two self-confessed nobodies in New York, make a pact: They will write an original musical and submit it to a festival. The only catch? The deadline is in three weeks! They gather their two actress friends, Susan and Heidi, and their accompanist and music director, Larry, on the keys. With the full team assembled, Jeff and Hunter hit another roadblock-- what should they write about? Jeff and Hunter decide to follow the old adage, “write what you know,” and set off on a unique musical adventure: writing a musical about writing a musical. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Nine People's Favorite Thing</li></ul><li><b>13</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I'm a big fan of Jason Robert Brown's music. This was also pop superstar Ariana Grande's Broadway debut.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I did, but it's not going in the regular rotation - too much tween/teen angst </li><li>Synopsis: Evan Goldman is about to turn thirteen, and he can’t wait. His life seems full of possibilities -- that is, until his parents get divorced, and he is forced to move with his mom from big-city New York to podunk Appleton, Indiana. If Evan can’t get the coolest kids to come to his bar mitzvah, how is he going to survive the school year, not to mention, the rest of his life? (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: It Can't Be True</li></ul><li><b>Billy Elliot</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? This is truly a classic in the world of contemporary musical theatre</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes</li><li>Synopsis: Billy Elliot tells the story of a young boy from a coal mining village in northeast England who transcends class and circumstance to become a ballet star. The musical is set against the backdrop of the 1984-5 miners strike, which tragically affects the whole village. Billy is looked after by his father, brother, and grandfather, after his mother’s death a few years earlier. They are not well off and have no experience with, or tolerance for, the arts. His dad and brother are totally against the idea of him learning to dance but Billy finds himself drawn towards the ballet world. As a result, Billy is forced to take his boxing lesson money and use it secretly for dance lessons from local dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson. She quickly notices that Billy is a prodigy and takes him under her wing. Soon, despite his family’s resistance, Mrs. Wilkinson manages to get Billy an audition with The Royal Ballet School in London. The village learns to overcome their ill-founded prejudices and, along with Billy’s father, come around to support Billy's dream to become a dancer as Billy defies the odds and is finally accepted into The Royal Ballet School. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Electricity </li></ul><li><b>White Christmas</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course, I love the movie and it made sense to do a Broadway production</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, especially now that it's time for Christmas music again (Nov 1st)</li><li>Synopsis: Soldiers Bob Wallace and Phil Davis served under General Henry Waverley in World War Two and, ten years later, they are still working together in a popular song and dance duo, Wallace and Davis. When they meet the singing sisters, Betty and Judy Haynes, Phil becomes enamored with the beautiful Judy, while Bob is more reserved about his feelings for Betty. The two men follow the sisters up to their seasonal engagement at The Columbia Inn in Vermont. They discover the inn is owned by General Waverley but, unbeknownst to him, the inn is struggling to survive. With the help of Martha, the concierge, and the General’s granddaughter, Susan, Bob, Phil, Betty and Judy decide to put on a big show to draw in business. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me</li></ul><li><b>Shrek The Musical</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, and although I am a big fan of Shrek as a movie, I don't love it as a musical</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's got some good songs but it's never going to be a favorite for me</li><li>Synopsis: hrek the Musical is a one-of-a-kind, hilarious fairy tale in which curses are reversed, monsters get the girls, donkeys and dragons find love, and princesses are beautiful in all shapes and sizes. Grumpy, gruff, green ogre Shrek lives alone in his swamp. The world is fearful and mocking of him, and he is more than happy to leave the world to itself, in turn. Suddenly, his hermit existence is thrown open, when a group of homeless fairy tale characters — Pinocchio, the Gingerbread Man, the Three Little Pigs, and more — burst upon his swamp, seeking refuge from the persecution of the cruel, vertically-challenged Lord Farquaad. Shrek seeks out Farquaad, who offers him a deal: if Shrek rescues the Princess Fiona (whom Farquaad wishes to marry for her crown), then Farquaad will ensure the return of Shrek’s swamp by returning the fairy tale creatures to their homes. In a desperate attempt to regain his swamp’s hermetic piece, Shrek enters the world for the first time in his life. He travels to Princess Fiona’s prison, rescues her from a fire-breathing dragon, and then – scariest of all – is forced to get to know the princess as he tries to bring her back to evil Farquaad To the determinedly unsocial ogre’s dismay, Fiona is very different from what he expected a princess to be. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Know It's Today (another former audition song of mine :) )</li></ul><li><b>Rock of Ages</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes I freaking love this show</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, this is one of the rare shows where I feel like the movie is better though</li><li>Synopsis: It is 1987, and the fabled West Hollywood club the Bourbon Room is the seedy, sordid, vibrant heart of the Sunset Strip. The music venue has seen better days, but as run by chilled-out former rock impresario Dennis Dupree, and tended to by Dennis’s mischievous assistant Lonny, it is the essence of rock and roll. When bright-eyed young hopeful Sherrie Christian, a small-town girl who wants to make it as an actress, arrives in town, she bumps into Drew, a Bourbon Room busboy with dreams of rock and roll stardom. Love-struck Drew convinces Dennis to hire Sherrie, and the stage seems set for their romance. But when the Mayor of West Hollywood, persuaded by a couple of scheming German real estate developers, announces his intention to demolish the Bourbon Room and the entire gritty Sunset Strip, the stakes are raised. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Harden My Heart / Shadows of the Night</li></ul><li><b>Next to Normal</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, this is one of my favorite musicals of all time.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I always do, but I need a few business days to recover after listening. </li><li>Synopsis: Next to Normal is the story of Diana Goodman and her family. Traumatized by the death of her infant son from an undiagnosed intestinal obstruction, Diana has lived with bipolar depressive disorder and delusional episodes for the past seventeen years. The illness has affected everyone in her life, and has nearly torn her family apart on several occasions. With subject matter rendered achingly recognizable by Brian Yorkey, and a dynamic, energetic pop-rock score by Tom Kitt, Next to Normal is a show that enables a small group of actors to showcase powerhouse vocals while exploring pressing contemporary issues of trauma, loss, mental health treatment, and the meaning of family. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Miss the Mountains </li></ul><li><b>9 to 5</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course, 9 to 5 is a classic, feminist story</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, the music is fun and the cast is great</li><li>Synopsis: Office satire about three female secretaries who decide to get revenge on their tyrannical, sexist boss by abducting him and running the business themselves. The trio, one of whom has been passed over for promotion because she is a woman, spend a night together having drug-induced fantasies of killing the slave-driving chauvinist. One of them panics the following day when she suspects she really has poisoned the tyrant. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Get Out And Stay Out</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-65172345963145335562021-10-24T17:24:00.000-07:002021-10-24T17:24:05.324-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2005-2008 (The Color Purple, Spring Awakening, Legally Blonde and more!)<p>I can't believe October is almost over and there are only two months of shows left! Seeing shows like Spring Awakening and Legally Blonde on the list reminds me of just how far we've come since January. I have listened to, or at the very least skimmed through, 333 shows and am firmly in the era of modern musical theatre. </p><p>It's only getting better (or at least more familiar from here.) Let's get into it.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>The Woman in White</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No, I don't know how I missed all these random Andrew Lloyd Webber shows</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, this score was truly painful</li><li>Synopsis: Drawing master Walter Hartright arrives at Limmeridge House to teach sisters, Laura and Marian. Walter falls instantly in love with Laura and his feelings are returned. However, their relationship is thwarted by Laura’s engagement to the apparently honorable and charming Sir Percival Glyde. When Walter has a chance encounter with a mysterious woman, dressed all in white and looking the double of Laura, he realizes that Sir Percival is not all he seems. Although Walter finds himself unable to prevent Laura’s marriage, when he hears the news of her sudden death, he and Marian embark on a mission to reveal the truth about Sir Percival Glyde’s past and his role in Laura’s death. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Believe My Heart</li></ul><li><b>The Color Purple</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course, it's a classic text</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes I enjoy the music overall and it is very moving</li><li>Synopsis: The Color Purple spans 35 years in the life of Celie, a teenage African-American girl living in Georgia who is given by her abusive stepfather to an even more abusive husband. Though Celie spends most of her days as a servant in her own household, she, cut off by her husband from those she loves, tries to remain hopeful that she will ultimately be reunited with her sister Nettie and her children by way of her stepfather, Adam and Olivia. Over the years, Celie, increasingly jaded by her lot, finds ways to cope with life--a potential lover in the fabulous Shug Avery, a friend in her stepson’s wife Sofia, a love of making stretchable pants that turns into a booming business. Though her string of unfortunate events, though, Celie learns that the most important thing is that she is a survivor, and that no matter what happens to her, she is still here. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I'm Here</li></ul><li><b>Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No, but I'm not surprised Martin Short had a one-man show</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I had a couple laughs but I think this is one you have to be in the audience for to really enjoy</li><li>Synopsis: In order to give the people what they want, Martin Short alters his somewhat tame musical autobiography mid-show to interject some struggle, pain and scandal. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: All I Ask (Is You Love Me)</li></ul><li><b>Grey Gardens</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I never listened to it in full</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes it is very dramatic and feels very classic (in a good way)</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the 1975 documentary film of the same name, Grey Gardens is a tragic, frequently funny, and utterly unforgettable musical about two “staunch” and legendary American women: Edith Bouvier Beale, and her grown daughter, Edie. Grey Gardens begins at the grand 1941 engagement party of stunning and spirited “Little Edie” Beale to handsome Navy man Joe Kennedy, Jr., hosted by Edie’s mother, Edith Bouvier Beale. As the upper-crust, New England family gathers, so do the storm clouds of trouble that eventually leave both “Big” and “Little” Edie alone and heartbroken. The second act launches the narrative into the overgrown, cat-riddled, and bug-infested estate in 1973, where the two Edies live, alone. “Big Edie” is now bedridden, and “Little Edie” grows more eccentric by the day, haunted by dreams of love and success, long since dashed. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Another Winter in a Summer Town</li></ul><li><b>Mary Poppins</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Always, it's a fun show you have to admit</li><li>Synopsis: In the musical, Bert, a jack-of-all-trades, invites us into the world of London, England in 1910 — and, specifically, into the dysfunctional home of the Banks family. Jane and Michael, the young Banks children, have sent yet another nanny packing, dismissing these children as hopelessly and irrevocably spoiled and misbehaved. With a father who works constantly and mother who is always distracted, Jane and Michael have suffered without strong caretaking forces in their lives. Then the magical Mary Poppins flies in on the wind, bringing with her a combination of whimsy, magic, and disciplined common sense to the children’s lives. Together, they go on memorable and magical adventures — and also learn the importance of a tidy nursery and of taking the medicine they need (with a spoonful of sugar, of course.) (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Step in Time</li></ul><li><b>High Fidelity </b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope but I gather it's based on a movie</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I did! If you like shows like Rent you would probably enjoy this one</li><li>Synopsis: The show follows the adventures of Rob, a record store owner who knows almost everything there is to know about pop music, but almost nothing about how to keep a girl. Rob's love life, already a broken record of heartache, falls off the charts completely when he gets dumped by Laura. But that just sets him up for a romantic comeback. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Number 5 with a Bullet</li></ul><li><b>Spring Awakening</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Oh yeah, the obsession I had with this show in early high school was intense</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Always do - great music but don't think about the plot too much if you want to be happy</li><li>Synopsis: Based on Frank Wedekind’s groundbreaking and controversial play (once banned in Germany), Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik’s brilliant rock score and searingly emotional book take the story of sexual awakening, youth revolt, and self-discovery into a new century. It’s 1891, and grown-ups hold all the cards. Headstrong Melchior and naive Wendla stumble into each others’ arms, passionate and curious, while anxious Moritz struggles to live up to the stringent expectations of society. With only each other for guidance, this group of young men and women travel the fraught and rocky path of adolescence, discovering their bodies, their minds, and themselves along the way. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Those You've Known</li></ul><li><b>Curtains</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I'm pretty sure my high school did this while I was in middle school</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not particularly, it's not bad but it's kind of boring musically </li><li>Synopsis: Boston, 1959. At the Colonial Theatre, the cast of Robbin’ Hood takes their bows on opening night. Just as the curtain falls, so does Jessica Cranshaw, the profoundly untalented leading lady of the production. Enter Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, a fast-talking cop with a love for musical theatre. He quarantines the cast and crew inside the theatre while he searches for clues. But Cioffi doesn’t just investigate the murder--he also offers advice and insight into improving Robbin’ Hood. The musical will open again in 24 hours with a new leading lady, so the clock is ticking to find the killer and put on a killer show. Who could it be? Carmen Bernstein, the sassy and brassy producer? Christopher Belling, the campy and egotistical director? Georgia Hendricks, the lyricist who replaces Jessica onstage? Niki Harris, the ingenue with a secret? Everyone is a suspect, and only Cioffi can make sense of the evidence. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Wide Open Spaces (although I prefer the song of the same name by The Chicks)</li></ul><li><b>Legally Blonde</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Oh yes, I had the honor to star as Saleswoman/Harvard Student/Ensemble in this production in high school and it was a blast </li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah this is such a fun show, I love Legally Blonde as a story in all forms</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the novel and the hit-movie of the same name, Legally Blonde: the Musical chronicles the journey of the famously perky Elle Woods, a fashion-savvy, UCLA sorority girl who finds her life turned upside down when she is dumped by her boyfriend Warner. In an effort to prove to Warner that she is more than just some blonde sorority girl, she follows him to Harvard Law, where she struggles to fit in and do well. Ultimately, she defies expectations and manages to stay true to her delightfully pink personality. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: So Much Better</li></ul><li><b>LoveMusik</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No it was super slow</li><li>Synopsis: The story explores the romance and lives of Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya, based on Speak Low: The Letters of Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya, edited and translated by Lys Symonette & Kim H. Kowalke. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: September Song</li></ul><li><b>Xanadu</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Of course I did it's ridiculous and fun. If you like shows like Mamma Mia you'll love this</li><li>Synopsis: Xanadu follows Clio, the lovely and precocious Greek muse who decides to put on some rollerskates. legwarmers, and an Australian accent in order to help Sonny Malone, a chalk artist with half a brain and a heart of gold, rediscover his own creativity. With both help and hindrance from the other muses -- and from a clarinetist-turned-real estate mogul named Danny Maguire -- Sonny and Clio work to rebuild their “apex of the arts”: a roller disco. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Xanadu</li></ul><li><b>Young Frankenstein </b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I love the movie but never gave the musical a full listen</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes it's fun and hokey like Spamalot but none of the songs are super memorable </li><li>Synopsis: Victor Frankenstein, the mad scientist of legend, has died and left everything to his grandson, Frederick, who wants nothing to do with the family’s notorious legacy. To settle his inheritance, he travels to his grandfather’s castle in Transylvania, meeting the grandson of Victor’s loyal henchman, Igor; the beautiful lab assistant, Inga; and the mysterious Frau Blücher. Before long, Frederick is sucked into his grandfather’s experiments and succeeds in creating human life. But by the time they realize that the Monster’s been accidentally given an abnormal brain, the Monster has already escaped, seemingly set to terrorize the countryside like the Frankensteinian monsters before him. Will Frederick repeat the mistakes of his grandfather? Or will he succeed where the others have not and turn his Monster into a dapper, intelligent man about town? (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Roll In The Hay</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-64483524191640043142021-10-16T14:27:00.002-07:002021-10-16T14:27:28.259-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2003-2006 (Assassins, Spelling Bee, Spamalot, Drowsy Chaperone)<p>What's up party people??? You'll be thrilled to know that as of today I am caught up on this challenge. It's truly a miracle and it will not last long.</p><p>320 shows down and only two-ish months more to go. We're in the mid-2000s so we're getting into some of the shows that I discovered in middle school and early high school when I really become a Broadway junkie. </p><p>Let's dive in. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Caroline, or Change</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but I didn't know anything about it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? There were some good moments but overall I felt like it was too long and I didn't love any of the songs</li><li>Synopsis: Caroline Thibodeaux, an African-American single mother of four, is underground, in the basement of the Gellman’s home, where nothing ever changes. Her company is the hum of the washer, the croon of the radio, the heat of the dryer, and -- occasionally -- 8-year-old Noah Gellman, a motherless boy who, unable to connect with either his eager-to-please stepmother, Rose, or his distant and grieving father, Stuart, idolizes Caroline. Rose decides that any change Noah leaves in his pants pockets can be taken by Caroline when she does the laundry. In response, Noah quietly deposits quarters in the bleach cup, hoping to somehow become a part of Caroline’s life. Caroline, loath to take money from a child, nevertheless needs to provide for her family, including the headstrong, rebellious, and hopeful Emmie. From the quarters in the bleach cup to the protests in the streets, change is coming for Caroline, whether she wants it or not. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: No One Waitin'</li></ul><li><b>Assassins</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love this show and the way its set-up</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes</li><li>Synopsis: In this darkly humorous musical revue, Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and John Weidman (book) depict nine misfit men and women who attempted (four of them successfully) to assassinate American Presidents. While every nation has its assassins and would-be assassins, only in America, the authors suggest, do disturbed and disturbing individuals act not because they hope to influence national politics, but because they are wrapped up in a malignant sense of entitlement. Feeling betrayed by the failed promise of American democracy and the American Dream, they strike out at the symbol for America: the American President. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Ballad of Booth</li></ul><li><b>The Frogs</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, in passing and I thought it sounded so lame</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah this was actually really entertaining (in large part to Nathan Lane)</li><li>Synopsis: The Frogs is a musical based on the Ancient Greek comedy of the same name written by Aristophanes in 405 BC. The story of Dionysos’ quest to bring Euripides back from the dead has been "freely adapted" by Stephen Sondheim and Burt Shevelove, and then “even more freely adapted” by Nathan Lane in 2004. In the musical retelling of the story, Dionysus, has lost faith in mankind as he watched the Peloponnesian War rage on and on. He decides that the only solution is to travel to Hades with his loyal servant, Xanthias, to bring back his favorite writer--George Bernard Shaw--whose writing will inspire mankind to end their foolish battle. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Shaw</li></ul></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Dracula</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but never cared to listen</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was alright, not good, not bad </li><li>Synopsis: Dracula by Steven Dietz closely follows the source material of the novel. The suspenseful story is based on the classic legend of the Transylvanian vampire Dracula. The lead characters in the play work to piece together Dracula’s identity. They make a valiant attempt to stop him from taking new victims. Dracula is considered a technically challenging play from a production standpoint. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Before the Summer Ends</li></ul><li><b>The Light in the Piazza</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I knew a couple songs but had no idea of the plot</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes this is such a beautiful score</li><li>Synopsis: Margaret Johnson, an elegant and strong-willed Southern woman, has taken her daughter, Clara, on a vacation to Italy. When a gust of wind blows Clara’s hat right into the hands of a young Italian gentleman, neither age nor language nor familial disapproval can stop their whirlwind love affair. As Clara and Fabrizio fall into each others’ arms, Margaret must grapple with the question of whether to disclose Clara’s devastating secret to Fabrizio’s warm, passionate Italian family. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Beauty Is</li></ul><li><b>The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, this is a modern classic but one I haven't invested much time in</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah there are some funny and touching moments but I don't think it's going in my regular rotation </li><li>Synopsis: An eclectic group of sixth-graders arrives at the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, each eager to win for very different reasons. Sweet and shy Olive brings only her best friend (the dictionary) with her to the bee; bold and hyperallergic speller William Barfee uses his “magic foot” to propel him to greatness; former champion Chip is struggling with his burgeoning puberty; easily distracted Leaf is unconvinced that he’s smart enough to be a challenger; overachiever Marcy is disappointed by her consistent success; and politically aware Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre only wants to impress her gay dads. In hilarious, touching, and catchy songs, each speller reveals his/her hopes, struggles, and passions as they make their way through the competition. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The I Love You Song</li></ul><li><b>Bombay Dreams</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, this was truly awful and I can't believe this was produced. Not Andrew Lloyd Webber's finest work.</li><li>Synopsis: Bombay Dreams tells the story of Akaash, a poor young man who dreams of becoming the next big star in Bollywood. Fate steps in when a wealthy pro-bono lawyer and his fiancee, the daughter of a famous Bollywood director, arrive to prevent the demolition of Akaash's slum. Akaash quickly falls in love with the lawyer's fiancee, Priya, who helps Akaash rise to fame in Bollywood. All is well until Akaash has to deal with the difficulties surrounding show business life, fame, his love for Priya, and his obligations to his friends and family back in the slum. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Love's Never Easy</li></ul><li><b>Little Women</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, the musical adaptation has a couple great songs</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah it's pretty good but not one of my all-time faves</li><li>Synopsis: The Civil War is in full swing, and the March sisters -- Meg, the oldest, a romantic, the spirited and tomboyish Jo, sweet and loving Beth, and irascible, playful Amy -- live in Concord, Massachusetts with their Marmee while their father is on the battlefield. Filled with adventure (both lived and imagined), heartbreak, and a deep sense of hope, the struggle of these “Little Women” to find their own voices mirrors the growing pains of a young America. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Some Things Are Meant to Be</li></ul><li><b>Spamalot</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Being in this show in high school was the highlight of my performing career.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Of course</li><li>Synopsis: Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur’s quest to find the Holy Grail. Inspired by the classic comedy film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the musical also diverts a bit from more traditional versions of the legend. Instead, Spamalot features shenanigans including a line of beautiful dancing girls, flatulent Frenchmen, and killer rabbits. Outside, there is plague with a 50% chance of pestilence and famine. Throughout the show, Arthur, traveling with his servant Patsy, recruits several knights to accompany him on his quest, including Sir Bedevere, Sir Robin, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Galahad. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: You Won't Succeed on Broadway</li></ul><li><b>All Shook Up</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I think my high school did this show when I was in middle school</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's okay, pretty forgettable</li><li>Synopsis: The music of Elvis comes alive in All Shook Up. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, All Shook Up follows a small Midwestern town that is thrown into a frenzy with the arrival of Chad, a good-looking, motorcycle-riding roustabout, who rides from town to town with a guitar on his back, blue suede shoes on his feet, and a song in his heart. Repressed by their conservative mayor, the town begins to come alive once more under Chad’s influence. Lovers meet, woo, pursue, and more, all in one zany night that will change the town forever. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Can't Help Falling In Love With You</li></ul><li><b>Ring of Fire</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I'd rather just listen to Mr. Cash sing his own songs honestly</li><li>Synopsis: It's Johnny Cash's life story set to his music.</li><li>Favorite song: Jackson</li></ul><li><b>The Wedding Singer</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I love the movie and knew there was a musical version because I love Laura Benanti, but I never listened to the score</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah it was fun but I think I'd rather just watch the movie</li><li>Synopsis: Rock star wannabe Robbie Heart is New Jersey’s most in-demand wedding singer as “love is what I do”. However, when his own wedding plans go down the pan and he is left standing at the altar, Robbie his heartbreak and grief suddenly make him the worst wedding singer you can find. He ruins every wedding he plays at until he connects with Julia, a pretty young waitress who dreams of her own perfect wedding. There’s just one problem: she’s already engaged to Glen, a rich, shallow Wall Street broker. Despite Robbie and Julia’s growing feelings, a series of miscommunications lead them away from each other. When Julia elopes with Glen to Las Vegas, Robbie decides to play the gig of his life to win her heart and her hand in marriage. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Someday</li></ul><li><b>The Drowsy Chaperone</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I love this show, Point Park put it on and I saw it multiple times and laughed and cried every time. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? This show is just so fun to me, it's got all the elements of a good musical</li><li>Synopsis: When wealthy widow Mrs. Tottenham hosts the wedding of the year, she gets a lot more than a write-up in the society pages: Janet Van de Graaff, glittering starlet of Feldzieg’s Follies, is leaving the stage for love, a turn of events which horrifies the angry and anxious Mr. Feldzieg, whose chief investor has sent two gangsters disguised as pastry chefs to make sure he stops the wedding. Hiring Aldolpho, a Latin lover more vain than virile, to seduce the bride, is unsuccessful, as Janet’s chaperone, a drunken diva, gets herself mistaken for the bride and seduced in Janet’s place. It is left to the eager best man, George, to quite by accident break up the happy pair, when he sends groom Robert Martin out to the garden, blindfolded, and in roller skates. Such are the antics of The Drowsy Chaperone, a fictitious 1928 musical comedy. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: As We Stumble Along</li></ul><li><b>Tarzan</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? C'mon now</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes but I really only liked the songs I already knew from the movie</li><li>Synopsis: On the shores of West Africa, a baby boy is orphaned when his shipwrecked parents become the victims of a fierce leopard. He is taken in and raised by a family of gorillas who have recently lost their own baby to the same predator. They name him Tarzan, and he grows up as one of the pack. However, his foster father, Kerchak remains wary of having a human in the jungle. When an expedition of human explorers and naturalists enter the jungle, Tarzan encounters creatures like himself for the first time. As he learns about human life and grows increasingly enamoured of Jane, a young naturalist, Tarzan begins to realize that they are not so different. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Son of Man</li></ul><li><b>Jersey Boys</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I feel like this show got so popular it was impossible not to hear about it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's fun, but not one for the regular rotation</li><li>Synopsis: Jersey Boys is the inspiring rags-to-riches tale of The Four Seasons. When Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi met, they were just four New Jersey teens singing together under street lamps, scraping for gigs and money in their working-class neighborhood. As the quartet rises to international stardom, they celebrate the highs and endure the lows that come hand-in-hand with fame. Each member of the group takes a turn narrating events, illustrating how a ragtag group of guys from New Jersey -- and their decades-long friendships -- became music history. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: December 1963 (Oh What A Night)</li></ul><li><b>Dirty Rotten Scoundrels</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? The movie has been on my to-watch list forever and I knew about the musical but never listened to the score</li><li>Did I enjoy it? 100% Norbert Leo Butz and Sheri Renee Scott are perfect in this show</li><li>Synopsis: In the exotic French Riviera, Lawrence Jameson makes his living by smooth talking rich, single women out of their money. He has been in the trade for many years and has got his technique down to a tee. But then he bumps into Freddy Benson… Freddy takes a humbler, more laid back approach, swindling women with emotional lies about his grandmother's failing health and his own economic struggles. The two men initially decide to form a double act but their egos soon clash and the French coast isn't big enough for the two of them. To settle their rivalry, they agree on a bet: the first to swindle $50,000 from the latest young heiress in town, Christine Colgate, can stay and the other must leave town. However, is Christine really all she seems? (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Here I Am</li></ul></ul>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-86794563303609751012021-10-05T08:28:00.001-07:002021-10-05T08:28:11.230-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 2000 - 2004 (The Producers, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Wicked and more)<p>Alright, we're into the 2000s and we are about to hit some absolute MONEY MAKERS, some SHOWSTOPPERS - let's get into it. And as always, you can follow along with my favorite songs on Spotify <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tKKd9Hxhe3zNnjXhMNarj?si=8efef71602d2420b" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Jane Eyre</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No, I had no idea there was a musical version</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Overall, but it was sooooo long</li><li>Synopsis: This musical adaptation follows the independent, passionate governess Jane Eyre, through her harsh childhood after being left as an orphan to an uncaring aunt, through her employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets the mysterious and magnetic Edward Fairfax Rochester, master of the house and warden of her pupil. Though drawn to each other, they are haunted by the ghosts of Mr. Rochester’s past, which threaten to enjoy any possibilities of a future of love or happiness for either. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Sirens</li></ul><li><b>A Class Act</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really</li><li>Synopsis: A Class Act is a quasi-autobiographical musical loosely based on the life of composer-lyricist Edward Kleban, who died at the age of 48 in 1987. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Next Best Thing to Love</li></ul><li><b>The Producers</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love this show so much and it's one of my favorite stage to screen adaptations too</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Always</li><li>Synopsis: Fading Broadway producer Max Bialystock is desperate to get to the top of his profession again, and he finds an unlikely ally in mousy accountant Leo Bloom, who hypothesizes that one could make far more money with a flop of a show than with a hit. Together, the two set out to produce the worst musical ever to hit Broadway, with the worst script, the worst director, and the worst cast they can find; the catch is that they will raise two million dollars to finance the show, and they plan to take the money and head to Rio when the show inevitably closes after just one performance. Too bad for Bialystock & Bloom that, against all odds, the show is a total hit! (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Wanna Be A Producer</li></ul><li><b>Urinetown</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but never listened to the full show</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This show is absolutely ridiculous but I did enjoy it</li><li>Synopsis: In the not-so-distant future, a terrible water shortage and 20-year drought has led to a government ban on private toilets and a proliferation of paid public toilets, owned and operated by a single megalomaniac company: the Urine Good Company. If the poor don’t obey the strict laws prohibiting free urination, they’ll be sent to the dreaded and mysterious “Urinetown.” After too long under the heel of the malevolent Caldwell B. Cladwell, the poor stage a revolt, led by a brave young hero, fighting tooth and nail for the freedom to pee “wherever you like, whenever you like, for as long as you like, and with whomever you like.” A brilliant satire modeled off the plays of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, Urinetown is a wickedly funny, fast-paced, and surprisingly intelligent comedic romp. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: It's a Privilege to Pee</li></ul><li><b>Mamma Mia!</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Mamma Mia is a lifestyle for me</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I will never tire of this sweet, sweet ABBA jukebox musical</li><li>Synopsis: On a small Greek island, Sophie dreams of a perfect wedding — one which includes her father giving her away. The problem? Sophie doesn’t know who he is! Her mother Donna, the former lead singer of the 1970s pop group Donna and the Dynamos, refuses to talk about the past, so Sophie decides to take matters into her own hands. Sneaking a peek in her mother’s old diaries, she discovers three possible fathers: Sam, Bill, and Harry. She secretly invites all three to the wedding, convinced that she’ll know her father when she sees him. But when all three turn up, it may not be as clear as she thought! (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Lay All Your Love On Me</li></ul><li><b>By Jeeves</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before?</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, this show seems so odd and out of place</li><li>Synopsis: At a benefit gala to raise money for a new church steeple, Bertram “Bertie” Wooster is preparing to take the stage. The banjo-playing star is thrown for a loop when he finds his banjo has been stolen! Bertie’s faithful manservant, Jeeves, suggests Bertie tell the story of his adventure to Totleigh Towers to entertain the impatient audience. Bertie recounts to the audience how he became embroiled in the romances of several dim-witted members of the privileged class. With mistaken identities, romantic entanglement, and the adventures of the upper class, By Jeeves is the quintessential British musical farce. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Travel Hopefully</li></ul><li><b>The Sweet Smell of Success</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes I really did and think this could get a great revival</li><li>Synopsis: The show concerns sleazy press agent Sidney Falcone and his willingness to do anything to get ahead. Sidney manages to capture the attention and patronage of powerful gossip columnist J.J. Hunsecker. JJ is the most popular columnist in America and holds the power of life and death for celebrities and the businesses that cater to them. With JJ's help, Sidney becomes one of the hottest agents in New York. However, catering to JJ's egotistical desires is dangerous business. When Sidney fails to keep JJ's sister Susan from running off with a jazz musician, JJ arranges for Sidney to be murdered. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: At the Fountain</li></ul><li><b>Thoroughly Modern Millie</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I saw this in Pittsburgh a few years ago and Not for the Life of Me was another of my go-to audition songs</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Good music, dumb plot</li><li>Synopsis: It’s 1922, and small-town girl Millie Dillmount has just arrived in New York City, ready to make her dreams come true. Millie’s plan is simple: find a job as a secretary for an eligible bachelor, and then marry him. It doesn’t take long, however, for Millie’s “thoroughly modern” plan to go awry. Her conniving landlady plots to kidnap Millie’s best friend and sell her into slavery in Hong Kong, her wealthy boss seems entirely uninterested in her flirtations, and -- worst of all -- the man with whom she falls head over heels in love doesn’t have a penny to his name. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Not for the Life of Me</li></ul><li><b>Hairspray</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course! This is another great stage to screen adaptation</li><li>Did I enjoy it? As always</li><li>Synopsis: It’s 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, and quirky, plus-sized, teenage Tracy Turnblad has one dream: to dance on "The Corny Collins Show". When she gets put in detention with the African-American students in the school, they teach her some of their dance moves, and her new found groove wins her a spot on Corny’s show. Overnight, Tracy transforms from a nobody into a star, and uses her newfound influence to advocate for racial integration on the television show. Tracy faces scrutiny and bullying from the network producer, Velma, and her popular, but vicious, daughter, Amber. With the help of the teenage heartthrob Link, host Corny Collins, and Motormouth Maybelle (the host of "Negro Day" on Corny's show), Tracy overcomes the odds and succeeds in her mission to integrate "The Corny Collins Show". (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Without Love</li></ul><li><b>Movin Out</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah but I could just listen to Billy Joel sing the songs himself</li><li>Synopsis: Using 24 of Billy Joel's greatest hits, Movin' Out tells the story of five childhood friends whose lives are changed forever due to the Vietnam War. As teenagers they all are excited about life and love. After the war, their lives are filed with death, drugs and sorrow. In the end, love manages to give them some peace. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Uptown Girl</li></ul><li><b>The Boys from Syracuse</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was fine but forgettable</li><li>Synopsis: Boy loses twin. Boy seeks twin. Boy finds trouble. When Antipholus of Syracuse leaves his home, with his trusty servant Dromio in tow, and spends seven years searching for his long-lost twin brother, he finds his life in danger upon arriving in the city of Ephesus. With Ephesus and Syracuse at war, the travelers try to tread carefully, and make plans to leave as soon as possible. Their attempts to escape from Ephesus go awry when strange things start to happen: the local merchants and craftsmen demand payment for pre-ordered wares, a high-born lady and her lusty cook claim them for husbands, the local courtesans greet them like old friends, and everyone knows their name... (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Falling in Love With Love</li></ul><li><b>A Year with Frog and Toad</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This was truly so awful, I think kids would like it though </li><li>Synopsis: The musical follows Frog and Toad through four colorful seasons, from hibernation to hibernation. Frog and Toad, along with their playful, quirky friends Snail, Turtle, the Birds, and more, enact many adventures, from rushing down a hill in a runaway sled in the winter, to taking a picnic and a quiet moment in the summer. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: A Year with Frog and Toad</li></ul><li><b>Little Shop of Horrors</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? This is one of my favorite shows of all time and it's almost time for my annual viewing. This was also one of the last shows I saw before COVID.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? As always</li><li>Synopsis: Seymour Krelborn is a meek and dejected assistant at a floral shop who happens upon a strange plant, which he affectionately names “Audrey II” after his crush at the shop. Little does he know that this strange and unusual plant will develop a soulful R&B voice, a potty mouth, and an unquenchable thirst for HUMAN BLOOD. As Audrey II grows bigger and meaner, the carnivorous plant promises limitless fame and fortune to Seymour, as long as he continues providing a fresh supply of blood. Just when it’s too late, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s extra-terrestrial origins and his true drive for world-domination. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Feed Me (Git It)</li></ul><li><b>Taboo</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was okay, not my fave</li><li>Synopsis: Taboo is a stage musical with a book by Mark Davies Markham (extensively rewritten for the Broadway production by Charles Busch), lyrics by Boy George, and music by George, John Themis, Richie Stevens and Kevan Frost. Set in an abandoned London warehouse, the partly imagined story of a group of club 'names' set in the location of what was the city's most fashionable nightclub, the now-legendary Taboo (1985–87) of the title, which was the creation of Leigh Bowery. Boy George is featured as one of the club's regulars, but in reality, George rarely attended. The show also focuses on George's life prior to and after achieving fame. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Stranger in this World</li></ul><li><b>The Boy from Oz</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but only because of Glee...</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah it's got some fun upbeat numbers </li><li>Synopsis: "The Boy From Oz" tells about the life of the great Australian entertainer, Peter Allen. The show starts with in the 1950s with his humble beginnings growing up in an Australian bush town. He then experiences a meteoric rise to fame as an international star opening for Judy Garland and selling out week-long engagements at Radio City Music Hall. Later, Allen marries her Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli. Within a few years, Allen and Minnelli split due to Allen's homosexuality. Eventually, Allen dies from AIDS - but before he dies, he is able to give one final concert back in his homeland. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Not The Boy Next Door (please watch Hugh Jackman perform this at the Tonys)</li></ul><li><b>Avenue Q</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love this show and think it's so funny</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Always</li><li>Synopsis: Winner of the Tony Triple Crown for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book, the hilarious Avenue Q tells the timeless story of a recent college graduate trying to find his way in the world. Set in New York City all the way out on Avenue Q (he couldn’t afford anything better), we are introduced to fresh-faced Princeton as he struggles to find his purpose: meeting friends, finding love, losing love, and finding it again, along the way. Inspired by the beloved children’s show Sesame Street, Avenue Q creates a puppet-filled world that is a little more reflective of the difficult, R-rated realities that we face when we learn that real life isn’t as simple as we dreamed it might be – but perhaps, suggests Avenue Q, life is all the more colorful and worthwhile for it. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: What Do You Do With a B.A. in English</li></ul><li><b>Wicked</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? It would be impossible not to have at this point</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I really do love the music in this show even though I don't think it still needs to be running in New York </li><li>Synopsis: Before Dorothy was even alive, two young girls met in the Land of Oz, became rivals, and then friends. One was born with emerald green skin, with a brilliant mind and a fiery spirit. The other was classically beautiful, with great ambition and incredible drive. The green-skinned Elphaba was ostracized by her family and by everyone at school. The beautiful Galinda was destined to be forever popular. Over the course of Wicked, we discover how these two young women became rivals and then the closest of friends – and how they ended up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Thank Goodness</li></ul></ul>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-12876159563918575172021-10-05T07:52:00.006-07:002021-10-05T07:53:10.765-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1998 - 2001 (Aida, The Full Monty, Seussical)<p>Heeeyyyyy, how y'all doin??</p><p>To no one's surprise I am behind on this blog, the problem this time is that there are a lot more good shows the closer we get to the "present day." </p><p>Also, if you are still reading this blog 300+ shows later you may be entitled to financial compensation. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Fosse</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Not specifically</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, I'm so over revues</li><li>Synopsis: Fosse’s innovative and utterly unique style of dance--jazz hands, turned-in knees, bowler hats, gloves--has become a cornerstone of modern musical theatre. Fosse, created by his closest associates and friends, is a celebration of the great artist’s work. Fosse’s original choreography from 13 of his shows is recreated, continuing the legacy of one of the greatest musical theatre artists of all time. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Big Spender</li></ul><li><b>It Ain't Nothin But The Blues</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No</li><li>Synopsis: It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues is a musical revue written by Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor, and Dan Wheetman. It was originally produced at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts and later presented by the Crossroads Theatre, in association with San Diego Repertory Theatre and Alabama Shakespeare Festival in New York City. The revue traces the history of "blues" music with more than three dozen songs. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: The Thrill is Gone</li></ul></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Saturday Night Fever</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but never listened to the recording</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah, it was exactly what you think it'll be</li><li>Synopsis: The musical focuses on Tony Manero, an Italian-American Brooklyn youth whose weekend is spent at the local discotheque. There he luxuriates in the admiration of the crowd and a growing relationship with Stephanie Mangano, and can temporarily forget the realities of his life, including a dead-end job in a paint store and his gang of deadbeat friends. In an effort to make it a family-friendly show, many of the film's darker elements, including references to racial conflict, drug use, and violence, were eliminated from the plot. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: You Should Be Dancing</li></ul><li><b>Contact</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Nope</li><li>Synopsis: Contact is a musical "dance play" that was developed by Susan Stroman and John Weidman, with its "book" by Weidman and both choreography and direction by Stroman. It ran both off-Broadway and on Broadway in 1999–2002. It consists of three separate one-act dance plays. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Runaround Sue</li></ul><li><b>Putting It Together</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, this is a nice roundup of some of Sondheim's best songs</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes</li><li>Synopsis: The show is a compilation of songs by Stephen Sondheim, including numbers from Follies, Company, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd, Assassins, Dick Tracy, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, and others. The theme is a party and the songs cleverly weave a tale of action and reflection on, of course, the subject of relationships. Cast members use their own names. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Miller's Son</li></ul><li><b>Marie Christine</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Never</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I did more than I expected to, largely due to Audra McDonald, but it is super dark</li><li>Synopsis: Set in New Orleans of the 1890s, the story is loosely based on the Greek play, Medea. Marie Christine, an African-American, falls madly in love with a white ship captain, Dante, and becomes pregnant. Marie's brothers object to the relationship and beat Dante. Coming to his defense, Marie ends up stabbing her brother and she and Dante escape to Chicago. Once in Chicago, Dante abandons Marie for his political career. He ends up being engaged to his benefactor's daughter, Helena. In the end, Marie murders Helena and her own children. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Beautiful </li></ul><li><b>The Wild Party (LaChiusa)</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but I've heard most people prefer the Andrew Lippa version</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really</li><li>Synopsis: The 1920s prove to be a rough time for Queenie, a Vaudevillian chorus girl, and her violent lover Burrs, a black-face Vaudevillian performer. When things start to get violent between them and Queenie pulls a knife on Burrs, Burrs suggests that they throw a party and invite all their friends to calm the fire. Queenie agrees and the party appears, complete with a collection of their rough and tumble chums. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Queenie Was A Blonde</li></ul><li><b>Swing!</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was nice but forgettable</li><li>Synopsis: Swing! combines high energy dancing, singing and acrobatics. There is no dialogue in the show, and the story is told entirely through music and dance. The show tries to recreate the swing style of jazz, which used large bands, fixed musical arrangements and solo-driven improvisations. Together with the development of the music, various forms of swing dancing emerged, varying by geographic regions, such as the Lindyhop or Jitterbug in Harlem or the Whip in Houston. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: It Don't Mean A Thing</li></ul><li><b>Aida</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love this show and it is so underrated. My Strongest Suit used to be my go-to upbeat audition song.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes</li><li>Synopsis: At the Nile’s edge, the enslaved Nubian princess, Aida becomes romantically entangled with the Egyptian captain, Radames, who is betrothed to the Pharaoh’s daughter, Amneris. As their forbidden love grows deeper, Aida is forced to find balance between her heart’s yearning for Radames, and her responsibility to lead her people. Based on the opera by Giuseppe Verdi, Elton John and Time Rice's Aida is a timeless love story, featuring an award-winning pop/rock score from the seasoned pop duo who brought musical life to Disney’s The Lion King. Rousing rock numbers and heart-wrenching ballads bring the ill-fated lovers into a new era. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Written in the Stars</li></ul><li><b>The Full Monty</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I never listened to it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I really did - it was funny and had some great songs</li><li>Synopsis: The Full Monty follows the fortunes of six unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, New York. With no job, money or prospects, they are fed up. When the men spy their wives and other local women going crazy over a group of male strippers, an idea begins to emerge. Overcoming their jealousy and feelings of emasculation, they decide to make some quick cash by forming their own act--a team of male strippers with ‘real man’ bodies. However, their rehearsals are not easy. As they prepare for the performance of their lives, they are tested and exposed, both physically and emotionally. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Man</li></ul><li><b>Seussical</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I have been avoiding this show for years</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really, I just can't get into it and I'm so glad my high school never did this one</li><li>Synopsis: Seussical takes us into the world of Dr. Seuss, where we revisit beloved characters including The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie, and JoJo. The Cat in the Hat guides us into The Jungle of Nool where we see Horton, the kind hearted elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whoville. He meets JoJo, a Who child sent to military school for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton decides he must protect the speck of dust on a nearby clover, while at the same time protecting an abandoned egg left to his care by the lazy Mayzie la Bird. Horton tries to convince the other animals in The Jungle of the existence of the Whos, but he is ridiculed and put on trial for insanity. Only his loyal neighbor, Gertrude McFuzz, never loses faith in him. Eventually, the two fall in love. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Alone in the Universe</li></ul></ul>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-59216520380120461142021-09-20T11:29:00.002-07:002021-09-20T11:29:28.169-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1993 - 1999 (Sunset Blvd, Rent, Titanic, Jekyll & Hyde, Lion King, Ragtime...and more)<p>Howdy! I am about a week behind on this challenge because I was partying it up for my birthday and am trying to soak up the last few weeks of summer.</p><p>This is an exciting time -- Broadway shows are slowly re-opening in New York, tours are starting up again, and we are finally getting the new West Side Story in December. Notice how I didn't include this year's Tony Awards in the list...what a mess.</p><p>I have listened to <b>275 </b>Broadway cast recordings so far, and the 80s and 90s have really delivered. So let's dive in.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Smokey Joe's Cafe</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was alright</li><li>Synopsis: The songs of legendary hitmakers Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber come to life in the Rock and Roll musical revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe. Packed with memorable tunes like, “Hound Dog”, “Love Potion #9”, “On Broadway” and “Stand By Me”, it is the longest-running revue in Broadway History. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: On Broadway</li></ul><li><b>Sunset Boulevard</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I never listened to the full show because the score is so long, and also because Andrew Lloyd Webber treated Patti LuPone so badly</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah it's a compelling and weird story with good music</li><li>Synopsis: The plot revolves around Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent screen era, living in the past in her decaying mansion on the fabled Los Angeles street. When young screenwriter Joe Gillis accidentally crosses her path, she sees in him an opportunity to make her return to the big screen, with romance and tragedy to follow. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: As If We Never Said Goodbye</li></ul><li><b>Rent</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? What kind of theatre kid would I be if I hadn't??</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Always</li><li>Synopsis: Based on Puccini’s beloved opera La Bohème, Rent follows the ups and downs of a year in the life of a group of impoverished, artistic friends living in Manhattan’s East Village. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, struggles to find his place in the world; his roommate Roger, an HIV-positive musician, wonders how he will leave his mark before he dies. Mimi and Angel look for true love as they face the harsh reality of life as HIV-positive young people, while the businesslike Joanne seeks fidelity from her wild-child performance artist girlfriend Maureen. The group’s dreams, losses, and love stories weave through the musical’s narration to paint a stunningly raw and emotional portrait of the gritty bohemian world of New York City in the late 1980s, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: It's so hard to pick but, La Vie Boheme</li></ul><li><b>Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? 100% did not, although I'm sure the tapping is amazing on stage</li><li>Synopsis: Bring in 'da Noise/Bring in 'da Funk is a combination of dance, music, singing, tap, a history of America, and above all, rhythm. The show tells the history of African-Americans from slavery to the present through dance, specifically, tap. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: In 'Da Beginning</li></ul><li><b>A Christmas Carol</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I'm 90% sure I saw a community theatre production of this years ago</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's a great story obviously, but the score is mostly forgettable</li><li>Synopsis: A Christmas Carol is the Broadway adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 festive novella. It tells the tale of the curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge. A prosperous businessman, he believes that personal wealth and heartless financial tactics are much more valuable than the friendship, happiness, and comfort of those around him. However, this Christmas, he is forced to come face to face with his selfish ways when he is confronted by three ghosts on Christmas Eve: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Future. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: A Place Called Home</li></ul><li><b>Titanic</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I never listened to the score, I was excited for this one</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, this is a great show with a beautiful score</li><li>Synopsis: In a stunning chamber musical as massive as the ocean liner that shares its name, Yeston and Peter Stone’s musical, Titanic, tells the stories of the people on board the legendary steamer and the men who got them there. Spanning all classes, Titanic captures the stories from the whole range of humanity aboard the ship: from workers in the boiler room to first-class attendants, from the poorest passengers, who scraped together their life savings to purchase third-class tickets to America, to some of the wealthiest men of the Victorian age, including John Jacob Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim. Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s musical tells the tragic story with a compassionate book, intelligent lyrics, and soaring melodies. Full of memorable characters based on the real men and women on the ship, Titanic is a powerful, complex look at the making of a tragedy. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: We'll Meet Tomorrow (get some tissues)</li></ul><li><b>The Life</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This was boring and cookie cutter to me, just listen to Sweet Charity instead</li><li>Synopsis: The Life is a musical with a book by David Newman, Ira Gasman, and Cy Coleman, music by Coleman, and lyrics by Gasman. Based on an original idea by Gasman, the show explores the underbelly of Times Square's 42nd Street, inhabited by pimps and prostitutes, druggies and dealers, and runaways and street people in the era prior to its Disneyfication. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: The Oldest Profession</li></ul><li><b>Steel Pier</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This show sounds very dance-heavy, so the score didn't really entice me too much</li><li>Synopsis: On the dance marathon circuit of the 1930s, contestant Rita Racine deals with her nefarious promoter boyfriend, until a mysterious pilot partners with her in the contest and teaches her to believe in her own dreams. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: Everybody's Girl</li></ul><li><b>Jekyll & Hyde</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes! This is one of my favorite shows of all time and is perfect for getting you into the spooky Halloween spirit.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? See above. I recommend looking for videos of the 2001 production starring David Hasselhoff (yes you read that right.)</li><li>Synopsis: Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic thriller, Jekyll & Hyde is the gripping tale of a brilliant mind gone horrifically awry, set to a powerful pop-rock score by Frank Wildhorn with book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. In an attempt to cure his ailing father’s mental illness by separating “good” from “evil” in the human personality, talented physician Dr. Jekyll inadvertently creates an alternate personality of pure evil, dubbed Mr. Hyde, who wreaks murderous havoc on the city of London. As his fiancée Emma grows increasingly fearful for her betrothed, a prostitute, Lucy, finds herself dangerously involved with both the doctor and his alter ego. Struggling to control Hyde before he takes over for good, Jekyll must race to find a cure for the demon he has created in his own mind. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: This Is the Moment</li></ul><li><b>Play On</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Jazz is just not my thing, I'm sorry!</li><li>Synopsis: Play On! is a musical adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, featuring the music of Duke Ellington, with a book by Cheryl L. West. The musical resets the story in 1940s Harlem. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Hit Me with A Hot Note</li></ul><li><b>Side Show</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I knew the two female duets because they were so popular with all voice teachers for the last decade </li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's got a couple good songs but circus content is just too uncomfortable for me</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the true story of conjoined twins and famed entertainers Violet and Daisy Hilton, Side Show is a remarkable musical about acceptance, love, and embracing one’s uniqueness. As the starring act of a sideshow, helmed by an abusive ringmaster, Violet and Daisy Hilton are eager to accept an offer of fame, fortune, and potential romance proffered by Terry, a talent scout, and Buddy, a budding musician. As stars on the Orpheum Circuit, it seems that Violet and Daisy have everything they ever wanted. The one thing they lack, however, is the fulfillment of their hearts’ desires. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Will Never Leave You</li></ul><li><b>The Scarlet Pimpernel</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I knew the story but didn't know there was a musical version!</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This was pretty lackluster and I was disappointed</li><li>Synopsis: Paris, 1794. The French Revolution has reached its bloody climax and “Madame Guillotine” is in full force. The beautiful actress, Marguerite St Just, marries the dashing Sir Percy Blakeney after a whirlwind romance and travels with him to England. However, their wedding night is interrupted by news of Marguerite’s indirect involvement in the execution of Blakeney’s friend, the Marquis de St. Cyr. Fearing that his new wife might be a French spy, Percy resolves to rescue as many innocent men and women from the guillotine as he can. Disguising himself as the heroic Scarlet Pimpernel and recruiting a select group of friends to assist him, Percy travels to and from France, carrying out increasingly daring rescue missions. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Riddle</li></ul><li><b>Lion King</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Come on now.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes! I've seen this live twice and cried both times.</li><li>Synopsis: I really can't bring myself to recap the plot of The Lion King, sorry :)</li><li>Favorite song: They Live in You</li></ul><li><b>Ragtime</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, this show is amazing and I would looovveee to see it live.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, it is such an underrated gem.</li><li>Synopsis: Ragtime is a compelling epic capturing the American experience at the turn of the 20th century. Tracking three diverse families in pursuit of the American dream in the volatile “melting pot” of turn-of-the-century New York, Ragtime confronts the dialectic contradictions inherent in American reality: experiences of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair. Over the course of the show, the worlds of a wealthy white couple, a Jewish immigrant father and his motherless daughter, and an African American ragtime musician intertwine. Together, they discover the surprising interconnections of the human heart, the limitations of justice, and the unsettling consequences when dreams are permanently deferred. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Make Them Hear You</li></ul><li><b>The Capeman</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No, I had no idea Paul Simon had written a musical</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, I wish I could go back to not knowing Paul Simon had written a musical</li><li>Synopsis: "The Capeman" is based on the true story of Salvador Agron, a teenage Puerto Rican gang member who grew up in New York. The show starts with his childhood in Puerto Rico. Soon, his family moves to New York and Salvador must deal with the difficult transition and an abusive step father. He soon joins a gang, the "Vampires", and is convicted in the slaying of two teenage boys. After many years in jail, Sal finally repents and becomes a better man. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Born in Puerto Rico</li></ul><li><b>Parade</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I was dreading this one because I know the music is great but the plot is devastating</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's a great show but it's too sad for me to get through at the moment</li><li>Synopsis: Parade tells the heart-wrenching, true story of Leo Frank: a Brooklyn-raised Jewish man living in Atlanta who was wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of his thirteen-year-old employee, Mary Phagan, in 1913. Because Frank’s trial was replete with faulty testimony and lacked any clear evidence, Georgia’s governor eventually commuted his sentence from death to life imprisonment. Despite this ruling, a lynch mob hanged Frank in Mary Phagan’s hometown of Marietta, Georgia. The momentous case drew national attention to Anti-Semitism and was pivotal to the founding of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as well as the reviving of the Ku Klux Klan in the South. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: This Is Not Over Yet</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-42671626528133539872021-09-05T10:25:00.001-07:002021-09-05T10:25:28.221-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1991-1994 (Falsettos, The Who's Tommy, Passion)<p>Welcome back, yes we're still doing this. And we're into the 90s already! This next group of shows is all over the place so let's dive right in.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Crazy For You</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was fine</li><li>Synopsis: Crazy For You -- the “new Gershwin musical comedy” with a book by famed comedic playwright Ken Ludwig -- is the classic tale of a boy, a girl, and a theater in need of salvation. Stage-struck Bobby Child works as a banker for his overbearing mother, Lottie, but spends his off-hours practicing dance routines and sneaking in to audition for Zangler’s Follies, the most popular show in New York City, helmed by Bela Zangler, a temperamental Hungarian producer. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Someone to Watch Over Me</li></ul><li><b>Five Guys Named Moe</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, jazz is just not my thing</li><li>Synopsis: The show is a musical revue using the hit songs of Louis Jordan, the great 1930s composer and saxophonist who brought a popular new slant to jazz that paved the way for the rock-and-roll of the 1950s. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Know What I've Got</li></ul><li><b>Falsettos</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, this is one of my favorite shows of all time</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Of course, I think this is a criminally underrated show but it's also very sad</li><li>Synopsis: Falsettos is the story of a large, eccentric, and dysfunctional -- but loving -- Jewish family in New York at the end of the 1970s. Initially, Marvin seems blessed with the perfect family. He has a caring wife, Trina and a young son, Jason. Nevertheless, the family is soon broken apart, when the homosexual Marvin leaves Trina for a man called Whizzer. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Games I Play</li></ul><li><b>Jelly's Last Jam</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, again too much jazz</li><li>Synopsis: Jelly's Last Jam is the story of the jazz pioneer, Jelly Roll Morton. The show starts with Jelly playing piano in the whorehouses of Storyville and finishes with Jelly being a star living in Chicago. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Jam</li></ul><li><b>My Favorite Year</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I will give anything Tim Curry is in a listen</li><li>Synopsis: It’s 1954, and young Benjy Stone is realizing his life-long dream of writing for television, working as a freshman writer on TV’s most popular comedy show: King Kaiser’s Comedy Cavalcade. Life is crazy but exhilarating, and just when he thought it couldn’t get any more interesting, Benjy is assigned as chaperone (read: babysitter) to swashbuckling veteran Hollywood star, Alan Swann. Swann has been Benjy’s movie idol and inspiration since he was a child. Benjy was raised by a single mother, and used to fantasize about Swann being his real father. It’s a dream come true, until he meets the real Swann and realizes that life is much more complicated than it ever looks in the movies. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: If the World Were Like the Movies</li></ul><li><b>The Goodbye Girl</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I knew nothing about it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It had a couple good songs</li><li>Synopsis: Set in New York City, "The Goodbye Girl" tells the story of an unlikely romance between Paula, a bitter, single mother who has been jilted one too many times, and Eliot, the opinionated actor who shows up on her doorstep with a lease to sublet her apartment. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: How Can I Win? (just for Ms. Bernadette Peters)</li></ul><li><b>The Who's Tommy</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, Point Park put this on one year and I've been obsessed ever since</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I really do love this show and soundtrack even though the premise is very sad</li><li>Synopsis: After witnessing the murder of his mother's lover by his father, Tommy is traumatized into a catatonic state. As young Tommy floats through life in post-World War II England, he suffers abuse from sadistic relatives and neighbors. In his adolescence, Tommy discovers a talent for playing pinball and is catapulted into stardom. When his mother, Mrs. Walker is finally able to break his catatonic state, Tommy is transformed into an international pinball superstar, inspiring youth around the world. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Sensation </li></ul><li><b>Blood Brothers</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I kind of zoned out during this one to be honest</li><li>Synopsis: Opening in 1960s Liverpool and moving forwards in time to the early 1980s, Blood Brothers revolves around twin boys Mickey and Edward. With seven older siblings, their mother, Mrs. Johnstone, cannot afford to keep both babies and she agrees to give one away to the wealthy Mrs. Lyons. Separated at birth, they are brought up in completely different environments within the city. When they are seven years old, Mickey and Edward meet each other for the first time and realize they share a birthday. They immediately become best friends and blood brothers, but are still unaware of their true relationship. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Tell Me It's Not True</li></ul><li><b>Kiss of the Spider Woman</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I did not realize how upsetting the plot actually was</li><li>Did I enjoy it? There's some good songs but it's just so sad</li><li>Synopsis: It is the 1960s in Argentina, a time of civic, economic, and cultural turmoil. Window-dresser Luis Alberto Molina is in the third year of his eight-year prison sentence for sexual deviancy and corrupting a minor. He lives in the fantasy world of cinema, often visited by the beautiful Aurora, his favorite film star. And while he loves her, he fears the Spider Woman, a vampy diva who kills men with her kiss. One day, Marxist revolutionary Valentin Arregui Paz is pushed into this cell after being tortured. Valentin is hostile, secretive, and confrontational towards the chattering Molina, and even draws a line down the center of the cell to keep Molina away from him. But Molina is a caring man, and tends to Valentin after brutal torture, and even keeps Valentin’s secrets while sharing his daydreams of Aurora. The men develop a trusting relationship that extends beyond simple friendship into a true love and dedication to each other. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Kiss of the Spider Woman</li></ul><li><b>A Grand Night for Singing</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's a revue so good songs but nothing unique</li><li>Synopsis: A Grand Night for Singing is a musical revue showcasing the music of Richard Rodgers and the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Overture</li></ul><li><b>Passion</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but never gave it a full listen</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, but I think I would need to see it to get the full experience</li><li>Synopsis: It is 1863. At a remote outpost in Italy, Captain Giorgio Bachetti and his beautiful lover Clara engage in a passionate relationship through letters, only reuniting through brief moments during Giorgio’s leave. But while he is at the outpost, Giorgio meets Fosca, the sickly and unattractive cousin of his superior officer. Focsa becomes obsessed with Giorgio and falls desperately in love with him. Giorgio refutes her advances, but cannot stay away from her, and finds himself understanding and appreciating her devotion to him. While he does love Clara, she is in Milan, and is married to another man. Giorgio realizes that he must make a choice and decide what kind of love he wants to have in his life. Will he continue the happiness of letters and an occasional reunion with the beautiful and devoted Clara? Or will he give in to the unrestrained passion of the sickly and obsessive Fosca? (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Loving You</li></ul><li><b>Beauty and the Beast</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Who hasn't?</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Of course, I think this is one of Disney's best screen to stage adaptations </li><li>Synopsis: Based on the smash hit 1991 Disney movie and dating back to a late 18th-century classic French fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who feels out of place in her provincial French village. When her father is imprisoned in a mysterious castle, Belle’s attempt to rescue him leads to her capture by the Beast, a grisly and fearsome monster, who was long ago trapped in his gruesome form by an enchantress. The only way for the Beast to become human once again is if he learns to love and be loved in return. There is a time limit, too: once a magical rose loses all of its petals, all hope will be lost and he will stay a Beast forever. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Home</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-58397767209802961792021-08-24T15:47:00.001-07:002021-08-24T15:47:49.278-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1988 - 1991 (Once on This Island, Miss Saigon, The Secret Garden)<p>Back at it again and we're crossing into the 90s! I can't believe we started with shows from 1950 I am in shock. A lot of these shows are boring, or forgettable, or just bad BUT there have been some gems within, and because of that, I am determined to finish this challenge. Let's go.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Legs Diamond</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was okay, but it was cool to hear Peter Allen for the first time (The Boy from Oz)</li><li>Synopsis: The Almost Totally Fictitious Musical History of Legs Diamond follows the travails of its title character, a Depression-era mobster who wants to break into show business. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Sure Thing Baby</li></ul><li><b>Jerome Robbins' Broadway</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Not specifically</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It's just a revue of shows Jerome Robbins worked on so it's fine</li><li>Synopsis: Jerome Robbins' Broadway is an anthology comprising musical numbers from shows that were either directed or choreographed by Jerome Robbins. The shows represented include, for example, The King and I, On the Town and West Side Story. Robbins won his fifth Tony Award for direction. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Overture ;)</li></ul><li><b>Black and Blue</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really</li><li>Synopsis: Black and Blue is a musical revue celebrating the black culture of dance and music in Paris between World War I and World War II. Based on an idea by Mel Howard and conceived by Hector Orezzoli and Claudio Segovia, it consists of songs by artists such as W. C. Handy, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, and Big Maybelle and skits peppered with bits of bawdy humor. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: I'm A Woman</li></ul><li><b>City of Angels</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I feel like I have but can't remember</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was okay</li><li>Synopsis: When Hollywood offers New York novelist Stine the opportunity to adapt his books into a film for the silver screen, he packs up and moves to the home of perennial sunshine, palm trees, and stars. Tony award-winning City of Angels moves between the beautiful Technicolor world of Hollywood and Stine’s glamorous film noir-in-progress of the same title. While Stine’s movie plays out in black and white, Stine finds the dangerous temptations of the world of Los Angeles – the distraction of women, the lure of fame, and the artistic compromises being made right and left – all too colorful. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: You're Nothing Without Me</li></ul><li><b>Grand Hotel</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but I knew nothing</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It had some fun moments</li><li>Synopsis: In 1928 Berlin, the world is between wars and the stock market is booming. The center of the action is the illustrious Grand Hotel. The show concerns the eccentric guests of the hotel including a beautiful Prima Ballerina; the charming but broke young Baron; the determined Hollywood hopeful; the deathly ill bookkeeper; the honest, hardworking father-to-be; and the cynical doctor. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Want To Go To Hollywood (more Jane Krakowski content)</li></ul><li><b>Aspects of Love</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, Andrew Lloyd Webber is really hit or miss is what I'm learning</li><li>Synopsis: Lovers come together, break apart, exchange partners, and return to each other in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love. Adapted from David Garnett’s novella, the musical follows a group of friends and family and their fluctuating romantic entanglements: Alex Dillingham, a young Englishman who falls in love at first sight with Rose Vibert, a magnetic actress; his uncle, George, with whom Rose falls in love and chooses over Alex; George’s on-again-off-again mistress, Giulietta; and George and Rose’s teenage daughter, Jenny, who falls in love for the first time with her much-older cousin, Alex. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Love Changes</li></ul><li><b>Once on This Island</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I loved the clips I'd seen of the revival but didn't know much else</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes! I wish more people talked about this show</li><li>Synopsis: From the Tony Award-winning songwriting team, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, comes a story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid. With a Caribbean-tinged score, follow the story of Ti Moune as she goes on her quest to prove that love is stronger than death. Once on this Island is a fairy tale celebration of love, hope, life, and death. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Waiting for Life</li></ul><li><b>Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I skipped through this one not gonna lie</li><li>Synopsis: Buddy is a bio-musical about the legendary Buddy Holly. The story concerns Buddy's start in the music business as the lead singer for a Country & Western band, his marriage to a Puerto Rican receptionist after a courtship of five hours, his trials and tribulations as a solo artist, and finally his tragic death in an airplane accident. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: It's So Easy</li></ul><li><b>Miss Saigon</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love this show so much and it was the last one I saw live before COVID.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Of course</li><li>Synopsis: Miss Saigon is a powerful and poignant tale of love in a war-torn country. In the dangerous days before Saigon’s fall in 1975, Chris (an American GI) and Kim (a destitute Vietnamese orphan working her first night as a prostitute) fall in love. When the city falls, the lovers are forced apart, and each must find their own way, alone. When, years later, Chris is able to return to Vietnam, he brings with him an American wife. Kim, who has waited for Chris, has raised their son, Tam, who is “bui-doi”-- a term for a child conceived during the horrors of war. With so much devastation behind them, Kim and Chris must decide how to move forward. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I'd Give My Life For You</li></ul><li><b>The Secret Garden</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I read the book growing up and knew a couple of the songs</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, this is going into my sad musicals rotation</li><li>Synopsis: When young Mary Lennox loses her parents to a cholera outbreak in India, she is sent to live with her uncle, hermit Archibald Craven, who lives in an imposing, secluded manor on the British heath. Inside the haunting house upon the hill, Mary finds a reclusive, long-suffering collection of souls. Since her aunt Lily’s death, Mary’s uncle has pushed away his surviving loved ones, leaving his bedridden son, Colin, alone. Sickly Colin, hidden away in the depths of the manner, bears the guilt of his mother’s death on his crippled shoulders. When Mary discovers her Aunt Lily’s hidden garden, locked shot and overgrown with vines, stubborn Mary is determined to revive the beauty that once was. </li><li>Favorite song: How Could I Ever Know</li></ul><li><b>Will Rogers Follies</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really I thought it was kind of boring </li><li>Synopsis: As decreed by the great Florenze Ziegfeld himself, the current spectacular celebrates the--somewhat elaborated--life of the great American cowboy, entertainer, and popular star, Will Rogers. With Ziegfeld’s voice booming out instructions, Rogers is your host for the evening. He leads you through his life, from his departure from the family cattle ranch to his exponential rise in fame, concluding finally with his untimely death. Accompanied by the glamorous Follies (led by Ziegfeld’s favorite), he introduces the important characters in his life. We begin in the small Oklahoma town where he grew up and meet his father, Clem, who just wants his only son to take over the ranch. But Will has other plans. He travels the world, experiencing life outside of Oklahoma and becoming a truly cosmopolitan cowboy. Will returns home to marry Betty, the love of his life, and she accompanies him on tour across the country as the star of a popular Wild West Show. When Will is offered a spot on Vaudeville, then a radio show, and finally the chance to be a star in Hollywood, who can refuse?! Though his family grows and Betty desperately wants him home, Will becomes more and more famous for his quirky humor and cowboy tricks. He even runs for President! However, when the Great Depression hits America and Will loses most of his fortune, he finds himself wondering what he has truly done with his life. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Ziegfeld Follies (My Big Mistake)</li></ul></ul>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-56603621029694343722021-08-10T14:22:00.001-07:002021-08-10T14:22:38.828-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1985 - 1989 (Edwin Drood, Les Mis, Into the Woods, Phantom, Carrie)<p>Hi friends! I have officially listened to (or skipped through) an absurd amount of cast recordings (238) and this challenge is living up to its name at the moment!</p><p>I have been very busy with work, traveling, trying to maintain a social life, trying to focus on my mental health with therapy and ample time to rest - and I often feel like I don't have enough time in the day to do it all, especially this blog. But - I have come this far and I think it will be worth it in the end to have this comprehensive record of how I felt about these shows. </p><p>Things are really picking up now in the 80s and we have a lot of hits, so let's dive in!</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>The Mystery of Edwin Drood</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but only knew a couple songs</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, I would definitely go see this.</li><li>Synopsis: The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a hilarious, interactive whodunit mystery musical that allows the audience to enter the action and become the ultimate detectives. The show is based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel of the same name. In small town of Chesterham, England, the young and charming Edwin Drood has been mysteriously murdered. But by whom? His leering romantic rival, John Jasper? The infamous purveyor of opium and vice, Princess Puffer? The mysterious Landless twins, newly arrived from Ceylon? Or someone else even more dastardly and villainous? Dickens passed away before he was able to reveal the culprit. Rupert Holmes’ award-winning musical solves this predicament by asking the audience to choose which character is the killer by putting it to a vote. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Writing on the Wall (Stephanie J. Block version)</li></ul><li><b>Me and My Girl</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Sounds familiar, but no</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was a little boring, but a couple funny moments</li><li>Synopsis: The show revolves around an unapologetically unrefined cockney gentleman named Bill who learns that he is the 14th heir to the Earl of Hareford. However, he will only receive his inheritance if Sir John and the Duchess approve of him. The Duchess feels that with a little grooming, Bill will be suitable to inherit the title – and the money. However, she insists that Bill break up with his cockney girlfriend, Sally. Bill refuses to accept the title if cannot keep Sally as his girl. Eventually, Sally is groomed to become more lady-like. Thus, Bill is allowed to inherit the title and keep his girl. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Thinking of No-One But Me</li></ul><li><b>Rags</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was okay, but it's no Ragtime </li><li>Synopsis: Rebecca Hershkowitz and her young son David arrive on the shores of America in 1910, hoping to find a better life than the one they left behind in Russia. However, New York City is not as welcoming to Jewish immigrants as Rebecca was hoping. A single mother in search of new opportunities, Rebecca finds a community of Jewish immigrants and other social outsiders who come together to find a sense of community in their new home. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Children of the Wind</li></ul><li><b>Smile</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was okay, this is the first show that really feels like the modern Jason Robert Brown-type music where every song is also almost speaking</li><li>Synopsis: Smile chronicles the backstage troubles of the fictional 1985 California Young American Miss beauty pageant held in Santa Rosa, California. The main characters include Robin Gibson and Doria Hudson, two contestants who befriend and help each other throughout the week; Brenda DiCarlo Freelander, an ex-Young American Miss second-runner-up coordinating the pageant; and Brenda's husband Big Bob, an RV salesman trying to help her through the week. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Disneyland</li></ul><li><b>Stepping Out</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Nothing inherently wrong with it but I couldn't get into it</li><li>Synopsis: Stepping Out is a warm and very funny play about the lives of a group of women (and one man) attending a weekly tap-dance class in a dingy North London church hall. As the play progresses, the class's dancing improves to such an extent that by the climax, a grand charity show performance, they have been transformed into triumphant tappers, worthy of any chorus line. (Guide to Musical Theatre)</li><li>Favorite song: Quite</li></ul><li><b>The Mikado</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, I can't do anymore Gilbert and Sullivan</li><li>Synopsis: As with many of Gilbert and Sullivan’s productions, the show satirizes aspects of Victorian Britain’s politics and aristocracy; in The Mikado, however, the duo cleverly cloaked these criticisms behind a charming story set not in Britain, but in exotic Japan. Nanki-Poo, the son of the Mikado (the Japanese emperor), has fled in disguise to avoid marrying a much older suitor, and to find and marry his own beloved, the beautiful Yum-Yum. Yum-Yum, however, is the ward of Ko-Ko, the lord high executioner, and has become betrothed to him against her will. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Overture</li></ul><li><b>Les Miserables</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? This show has been a staple in my life since I was a kid. I've been lucky to see it live as well. Don't ask me about the movie.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Always do</li><li>Synopsis: One of the world’s most iconic and longest-running musicals, Les Misérables tells the story of Jean Valjean, a former convict who spends a lifetime seeking redemption. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France and the aftermath of the French Revolution, this timeless story of intertwined destinies reveals the power of compassion and the quiet evil of indifference to human suffering. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Stars</li></ul><li><b>Starlight Express</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Unfortunately. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? No. If you thought Cats was weird, good old Andy Webber also decided to sexualize trains for an entire musical. Yes, trains. Cats was only 5 years before this.</li><li>Synopsis: A child’s train set magically comes to life while he sleeps and the various engines compete to become the “Fastest engine in the World!” The underdog, Rusty the Steam train, dreams of becoming the champion but he is belittled by Greaseball, an arrogant diesel train, and Electra, the new electric engine. Encouraged by Poppa, an aging steam train, he turns to the legend of the “Starlight Express” and begs for her help. With her assistance, Rusty realizes that he already has the power to win deep inside himself. He ultimately defeats his archrivals Greaseball and Electra, winning the heart of the lovely first class coach, Pearl, who is waiting for her dream train. Performed entirely on roller skates, Starlight Express is a visual and aural explosion of the senses. (Stage Agent)</li><li>"Favorite" song: There's Me (just for Jane Krakowski)</li></ul><li><b>Late Nite Comic</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This had some funny moments throughout but it only ran for 17 performances...</li><li>Synopsis: A standup comic and an aspiring dancer have an on-again, off-again romance through their careers' ups and downs. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: Gabrielle (first Brian D'Arcy James feature!)</li></ul><li><b>Into the Woods</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? This was the first musical I was in and it became my whole personality for a few months. I played the Baker's Wife and I was awful, but I had fun. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? I really do think the music and lyrics in this show are top-tier. </li><li>Synopsis: The story follows The Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to go the King’s Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give some milk. When the Baker and his wife are visited by the neighborhood witch, who reveals to them that she placed a curse on their family, the two set off on a journey into the woods to reverse the curse. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Your Fault / Last Midnight</li></ul><li><b>Phantom of the Opera</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Big fan of both the movie (controversial) and the stage version which I can brag and say I've seen in both Pittsburgh and NYC</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah the music slaps</li><li>Synopsis: The Phantom of the Opera is a thrilling and romantic account of the legendary Phantom, a musical genius who dwells deep beneath a majestic opera house in Paris. Shunned by society for his horrible facial deformity, he takes a promising young soprano, Christine, under his wing and grooms her for operatic fame, all the while falling deeply in love with her. As Christine grows ever more successful, and a handsome young man from her past begins to successfully court her, the Phantom descends into a jealous rage and terrorizes the opera company with increasingly dangerous threats. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Phantom of the Opera</li></ul><li><b>Sarafina!</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? As interesting and important as the plot is, I couldn't get into this one</li><li>Synopsis: The plot centers on students involved in the Soweto Riots, in opposition to apartheid. The story is told from the point of view of an ambitious school girl actress-activist named Sarafina. She feels shame at her mother's acceptance of her role as domestic servant in a white household in apartheid South Africa, and inspires her peers to rise up in protest, especially after her inspirational teacher, Mary Masembuko is imprisoned. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Sarafina!</li></ul><li><b>Gospel at Colonus</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Hard no, but I didn't enjoy the Greek version of Oedipus either</li><li>Synopsis: The Gospel at Colonus is an African-American musical version of Sophocles's tragedy, Oedipus at Colonus. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Live Where You Can</li></ul><li><b>Chess</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, there are some great female solos in this show</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes!</li><li>Synopsis: Chess is used as a metaphor for romantic rivalries and the US-Soviet rivalry during the Cold War. The main characters form a love triangle: the ill-mannered American Grandmaster, the intense Russian champion who plans on defecting to the West, and the Hungarian-American female chess second, who arrives at the International Championships with the American but falls in love with the Russian. From Bangkok to Budapest, the players, lovers, politicians, and spies all struggle to get the upper hand. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Know Him So Well</li></ul><li><b>Carrie</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Y'all heard of Stephen King..yeah it's that Carrie</li><li>Did I enjoy it? There are a couple goods songs and it paved the way for shows like Heathers but overall it is pretty dark and depressing</li><li>Synopsis: In this revamped, contemporary version of the famous (and infamous) 1988 production, Carrie: The Musical follows a young woman with telekinetic powers. An outcast at school, where she is bullied viciously for her differences, Carrie is also lost at home, with a fervently religious mother whose love traps her in its maw. When PE teacher Miss Gardner, kind classmate Sue Snell, and boyfriend Tommy Ross reach out to try and help Carrie, it seems that for once, Carrie might have a shot at being accepted. But Chris Hargensen, the class’s most vicious bully, has other ideas. Pushed to the brink, Carrie’s powers threaten to overwhelm her, and devour everyone around her in flame. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Do Me A Favor?</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-14847522887238337422021-07-29T19:01:00.000-07:002021-07-29T19:01:05.663-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1980-1986 (I am falling behind...but there are some great shows in the 80s!)<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div>Hi friends - I am a bit behind this month because I've been busy having fun and leaving the house! I traveled to Boston for work and also had a chance to visit my good college friend Taylor. Then I turned around and went to the beach with my family, it's been a good month.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I am behind on this blog and there are some great shows in the 80s so let's dive in. 220 shows down, lots more to go...</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Tintypes</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Forgettable</li><li>Synopsis: ‘Tintypes’ chronicles the growing pains of a nation in a musical revue that takes the audience back to turn of the century America, when the innocent, slower-paced days of ice cream socials and hoop skirts are giving way to a bustling world of automobiles, electricity and the telephone, where American optimism and ingenuity run high in leaders like J.P. Morgan, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. It is also a time of growing social turmoil, as increased immigration begins to change the cultural and ethnic makeup of the nation. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Fitting In</li></ul><li><b>Woman of the Year</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No this was boring as heck but Lauren Bacall did her best with the material </li><li>Synopsis: The show focuses on the relationship between busy TV personality, Tess Harding, and her relationship with the handsome cartoonist, Sam Craig. As Tess is about win a ‘Woman of the Year’ award, she realizes that she values her relationship with Sam more than her hectic career which is ruining their relationship. Thus, she announces to the world that she is resigning from the show to devote herself to Sam. However, Sam tells her that he wants her to keep her career and they both resolve to work things out and give it another try. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Wrote the Book</li></ul><li><b>Merrily We Roll Along</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I only knew one song from Sondheim medleys</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes! If you are a fan of Sondheim, and like shows with irregular timelines like The Last Five Years you will enjoy this. </li><li>Synopsis: Merrily We Roll Along follows the successful career of Broadway composer turned Hollywood producer Franklin Shepard backward in time. Throughout the course of the show, during which time regresses from 1976 to 1957, we learn how Frank accomplished this - with the help of his best friends Charley (who writes the books and lyrics) and Mary (who is a writer in her own right and is always around for support and guidance). (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Opening Doors</li></ul><li><b>Dreamgirls</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes I'm a big fan of the movie version</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, the original cast is incredible</li><li>Synopsis: Dreamgirls follows the rising stardom of the Dreamettes, an all-girl singing trio from Chicago. The three best friends—the phenomenally talented, but demanding Effie White, the beautiful and appealing Deena Jones, and the eager, romantic Lorrell Robinson—team up with driven, demanding manager Curtis Taylor, who is determined to see their—and his—star rise. As their careers begin to take off, changes are made to ensure their mass appeal to the pop market. Egos are bruised, tempers flare, and hearts are broken in pursuit of stardom. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: It's All Over (unconventional choice but I love a chaotic group number)</li></ul><li><b>Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, this is a comfort show for me. I love how campy it is and the movie brings me genuine joy even though it's completely ridiculous. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes the original cast is great and the music is fun</li><li>Synopsis: The biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes alive in the musical retelling. Joseph -- the favorite son of Jacob -- is blessed with vivid dreams that foretell the future. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph endures a series of adventures that challenge him to his core. A truly timeless Old Testament tale, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is set to a multitude of musical genres, spanning from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock and roll. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Prologue - You Are What You Feel</li></ul><li><b>Pump Boys and Dinettes</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes! The music was catchy and it seemed like something a high school or college would do</li><li>Synopsis: The musical tells the story of four men (L.M., Jackson, Jim and Eddie) who work at a gas station and two waitresses (sisters Prudie and Rhetta Cupp) at the Double Cupp Diner, a dinette, located somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, North Carolina. The music is mostly from the country rock/pop music genres. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Highway 57</li></ul><li><b>Nine</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but only because Laura Benanti was in the latest revival</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes this was very dramatic and had cool songs, but it was a biiiiittt too long.</li><li>Synopsis: Nine centers around Guido Contini, a famous Italian film director and ladies man. His last couple of movies have been panned by the critics, and Guido is under pressure to make a return to form with his latest film. However, there is one major problem: he hasn’t written a line of the script and has lost all inspiration. Guido’s professional and personal lives become intertwined as he attempts to save both his career and his marriage. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Unusual Way</li></ul><li><b>Blues in the Night</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No and I'm starting to wish reveues were not included in this challenge </li><li>Did I enjoy it? I skipped through this to be honest</li><li>Synopsis: Blues in the Night is a musical review using music from great artists such as Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer and Harold Alen. With no spoken text, the songs tell of the sweet, sexy and sorrowful experiences three women have with the lying, cheating snake of a man who wrongs them. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Another Suitcase in Another Hall (originally from Evita)</li></ul><li><b>Cats</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? It's kind of hard to avoid this one</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I don't hate Cats as much as some people hate it but I also don't enjoy it. I think it's fine but Andrew Lloyd Webber is a weirdo for creating it.</li><li>Synopsis: Based on T.S. Eliot’s whimsical collection of poems, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular musical brings together a tribe of Jellicle Cats on a moonlit evening, who must make the “Jellicle choice” to decide which of them will ascend to the mysterious Heaviside Layer to be reborn. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Memory is too obvious so - Macavity: The Mystery Cat</li></ul><li><b>Show Boat</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was okay, probably one that you need to see to appreciate</li><li>Synopsis: Spanning from the 1880s to the 1920s, Show Boat is an American epic that tells the story of three generations of performers travelling from the Mississippi River to Chicago, and ultimately, Broadway. Join Cap’n Andy and the family of performers on board the Cotton Blossom show boat as they navigate love, heartbreak, ambition, racism, and integration. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Can't Help Lovin Dat Man</li></ul><li><b>La Cage Aux Folles</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I truly love this show and also the movie The Birdcage which is based on this story</li><li>Did I enjoy it? 100%</li><li>Synopsis: Georges is the owner of the La Cage Aux Folles nightclub, which features a drag show starring his partner and the love of his life, Albin. After twenty years of un-wedded bliss, Georges and his partner Albin face the hardest challenge of their relationship, yet: meeting their son, Jean-Michel’s fiance’s parents. Albin has always raised Jean-Michel, Georges’ biological son, as his own. But when Jean-Michel falls in love and becomes engaged to the daughter of an ultra-conservative, anti-gay politician, Georges feels compelled to try to present a more “traditional” family to Jean-Michel’s potential in-laws. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: I Am What I Am (try not to cry with this one, especially if you're a member of the Alphabet Mafia)</li></ul><li><b>Sunday in the Park with George</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes any show with Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters in the original case - I'm a fan</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes this show has some of my favorite Broadway songs of all time</li><li>Synopsis: Inspired by George Seurat’s magnificent painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s soaring musical is itself an artistic masterpiece. The musical begins with the story of George and his model and lover Dot. As George struggles to find his artistic voice, he becomes more and more distant from the one woman who truly sees him for who he really is. Meanwhile, the characters that inhabit George’s painting have lives unto themselves, which George captures with his paintbrush. A century later, George and Dot’s descendants, themselves struggling artists, grapple with the same issues of artistic ingenuity, and a public who just doesn’t understand. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Finishing the Hat</li></ul><li><b>Big River</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I feel like every Broadway.com vlogger I used to watch said they grew up listening to this show </li><li>Did I enjoy it? I really did not so I don't know what I'm missing</li><li>Synopsis: It's Huckleberry Finn. </li><li>Favorite song: Free At Last</li></ul><li><b>Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Has anyone?</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, I might have fallen asleep actually</li><li>Synopsis: Four performers sing a selection of Jerome Kern songs that appeared in Hollywood films. (Playbill)</li><li>Favorite song: Pick Yourself Up</li></ul><li><b>Song and Dance</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, this might be one of the worst shows I've ever listened to. I don't know how they got Bernadette Peters to be in this but every song is horrible and her British accent keeps coming and going. It is just so bad. </li><li>Synopsis: Tell Me on a Sunday, the first act of Song and Dance by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black tells the story of an ordinary British hat-maker who journeys to America in search of love. Her romantic misadventures take her on a journey from New York City, to Los Angeles and back to Manhattan again as she moves from one lover to the next, and realizes the road to love is never as simple as it seems. In the second act, told entirely through dance, we examine the journey through the eyes of one of the lovers. (Stage Agent)</li><li>"Favorite" song: Let Me Finish </li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-20512026560031283222021-06-27T08:03:00.002-07:002021-06-27T08:03:37.948-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1976 - 1980 (200 shows - Annie to Evita)<p>Hi friends! I have now listened to over 200 Broadway cast recordings (201 to be exact) and I'm continuing to learn that if I haven't heard of a show before, chances are, there's a good reason!</p><p>At the end of the year (or whenever I decide to just give up on this) I plan to make a condensed list of a few favorites per decade that you guys can listen to if you're interested in an abridged experience. We've got quite a few shows to cover so let's dive in. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>I Love My Wife</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, this was forgettable with a weird plot </li><li>Synopsis: In I Love My Wife, Alvin and Wally have been friends ever since high school and are now married men. They decide that on Christmas Eve they will have a foursome. Alvin will have sex with Wally's wife and Wally will have sex with Alvin's wife. In the end they fail to follow through with their hoped-for orgy. However, both couples manage to keep their friendships intact. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Someone Wonderful I Missed</li></ul><li><b>Side by Side by Sondheim</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes I am a dedicated Sondheim fan and like *almost* everything he makes</li><li>Synopsis: ‘Side by Side by Sondheim’ is a musical revue focusing on both famous and obscure songs by Broadway icon Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim’s songs bring up themes such as marriage and the meaning of happiness. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Everybody Says Don't</li></ul><li><b>Annie</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah Annie is a classic and reminds me of my childhood</li><li>Synopsis: With a perfect combination of street-smarts and optimism, Annie warms the hearts of the audience as we witness her rise from next to nothing in New York City. She is determined to find her parents, who left her at the orphanage years ago. Though things don’t quite work out the way she has planned, she does manage to thwart the plans of the evil Miss Hannigan and find a new family with billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his secretary Grace Farrell, and her lovable pooch, Sandy. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Tomorrow (it's a classic what can I say)</li></ul><li><b>The Act</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? There were some fun, upbeat numbers</li><li>Synopsis: The action takes place at the Hotel Las Vegas at the present time and concerns Michelle Craig's nightclub act and her memories. The Act was written as a vehicle for Liza Minnelli and originally directed by Martin Scorsese. However, the show was a bomb on Broadway. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Arthur in the Afternoon</li></ul><li><b>Ain't Misbehavin </b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but I still know very little about it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This didn't really capture my attention, revues hardly ever do </li><li>Synopsis: The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s comes to life in the three-time Tony award-winning musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin’. Join five performers on a journey through the timeless music of Thomas “Fats” Waller. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Ain't Misbehavin / Lookin' Good But Feelin' Bad</li></ul><li><b>On the Twentieth Century </b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Only because Kristin Chenoweth was in a recent revival</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, I was disappointed in this one. I had high hopes but the soundtrack was so long and none of the songs held my attention. </li><li>Synopsis: "On the Twentieth Century" focuses on egomaniacal producer Oscar Jaffee and his volatile personal and professional relationship with the arrogant film actress Lily Garland. After producing four flops in a row, Jaffee's theater is being foreclosed. He then books a suite on the luxury train the Twentieth Century Limited, heading from Chicago to New York City with Garland and her new beau, narcissistic heartthrob Bruce Granit, on board, in the hope he can lure her back to the stage and salvage his sinking career. Garland, who abhors Jaffee, is just as determined to escape his charm, and a battle of wits begins. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Saddle Up The Horse / On the Twentieth Century </li></ul><li><b>Working</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I actually did, it was a unique concept and a lot of the songs were catchy </li><li>Synopsis: Working concerns the hopes, dreams, joys and concerns of the average working American. In the course of one twenty-four hour workday, the audience meets and hears stories of various workers including the schoolteacher, the parking lot attendant, the waitress, the mill worker, the mason, the trucker, the fireman and the housewife. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: It's An Art</li></ul><li><b>The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, only because queen Dolly Parton was in the movie version</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah it was fun, I'd like to watch the movie at some point</li><li>Synopsis: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, a rollicking hootenanny of a musical, is based on the true story of a legendary Texas brothel, which operated from the 1840s to 1973. Protected by a friendly sheriff and frequented by politicians, football teams, and others, the “Chicken Ranch” thrived in the small town of Gilbert, Texas. Girls came from all over to work at the ranch and make a little extra cash. However, a crusading do-gooder Houston radio commentator and his conservative audience expose the Chicken Ranch, forcing it to shut its doors forever. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place</li></ul><li><b>Ballroom</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really</li><li>Synopsis: Ballroom is the story of a widow, Bea Asher, who finds love again with a mailman, Al Rossi, while visiting a local dance hall. It has been a year since Bea’s husband died and she is thrilled to rediscover the joys of dance and love. However, trouble ensues when it turns out that Al is a married man. Further, Bea's family feels that she should still be in mourning for her husband. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: One by One</li></ul><li><b>They're Playing Our Song</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I have, but knew nothing about it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I was bored </li><li>Synopsis: Nominated for Tony Awards in Best Musical and Best Book (1979), this romantic comedy explores the ups and downs of the professional and personal relationship of songwriters Vernon and Sonia. After a series of trials and tribulations, love conquers all as they find true love before the final curtain. With a book by Neil Simon, the musical is inspired by the real-life relationship of Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Fill In The Words</li></ul><li><b>Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? This is one of my favorite shows of all time and I really love every version of it I've seen, I am still upset they cut The Ballad of Sweeney Todd from the movie though. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? 100%</li><li>Synopsis: Sweeney Todd is the unsettling tale of a Victorian-era barber who returns home to London after fifteen years of exile to take revenge on the corrupt judge who ruined his life. When revenge eludes him, Sweeney swears vengeance on the entire human race, murdering as many people as he can, while his business associate Mrs. Lovett bakes the bodies into meat pies and sells them to the unsuspecting public. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: A Little Priest (it was so hard to pick)</li></ul><li><b>Evita</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? This is also one of my favorite shows of all time and I own the original cast recording on iTunes, CD and vinyl. I also have loved the movie for years. I got to see Caroline Bowman and Josh Young in the show a few years ago and it was fantastic. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, I really love Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin in this show</li><li>Synopsis: Evita is based on the historical story of María Eva Duarte de Perón, a poor Argentinian girl who grows up to be the wife of the president of Argentina, worshipped by her people. As a young woman who longs for an acting career, fame, and fortune, Eva quickly learns that her feminine wiles hold power among a culture, and a political system, run by men. Once she makes it to Buenos Aires, Evita finds fame and power in her powers of seduction, eventually seducing the rising political figure, Juan Perón, who becomes the President of Argentina. As First Lady of Argentina, she aligns herself with the poor, winning herself, and Perón, popularity among Argentinians. Evita becomes a hero to the poor and the working class—and an enemy to the rich. A young and unknown revolutionary, Ché, narrates the rise and fall of the beloved matriarch of the Argentinian people. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: A New Argentina (also very hard to pick just one)</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-3905644705080809012021-06-10T14:30:00.002-07:002021-06-10T14:30:12.311-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1974 - 1977 (Chicago, Chorus Line, Godspell)<p>Hello again! Once again I am bad at planning these so this may be a bit long. Might want to grab a snack or drink before you dive in. </p><p>Before I dive in I have to highlight some new music from Eleri Ward. Eleri is an independent musician, theatre performer and content creator. Her new album, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5IqaDvS5nbpkJ0Erg6QRH5?si=T7iu8A3hQIK44tJpq1OGDw&dl_branch=1" target="_blank">A Perfect Little Death </a>takes the music of Stephen Sondheim and blends it with the folksy style of Sufjan Stevens. If you like calming, pretty folk music (big Joni Mitchell vibes too) - I urge you to give it a listen on Spotify (linked above) or whichever streaming service you use.</p><p>Now let's get into it. 189 shows down!</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Shenandoah</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Music wasn't super exciting to me</li><li>Synopsis: Shenandoah centers on a pacifist widower, Charlie Anderson, living with his large family in the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. While trying to keep his family shielded from the war, he is forced to take action when his youngest son is taken prisoner by Federal soldiers. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Only Home I Know</li></ul><li><b>Where's Charley</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Has anyone?</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Another one that has already left my memory</li><li>Synopsis: Taking place in 1892, Oxford University students Charley and Jack are excited about their upcoming date with young and attractive Kitty and Amy. Unfortunately, Charley’s aunt Lucia, who is needed as a chaperone, fails to arrive. In desperation, Charley disguises himself as his aunt so they young ladies can still visit. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Once in Love with Amy</li></ul><li><b>Goodtime Charley</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No, and somehow this is unrelated to the last show - what are the odds of two Charleys in a row?</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This had a couple funny moments thanks to Joel Grey and Ann Reinking (RIP), but wasn't amazing overall</li><li>Synopsis: Putting a comic spin on history, Goodtime Charley re-tells the story of Joan of Arc and a fun-loving, hedonistic Dauphin of France. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: You Still Have a Long Way to Go</li></ul><li><b>The Rocky Horror Show</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Oh yeah, although I did discover it through Glee. It's still a goal of mine to go to a live performance and throw toast or whatever it is they do.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah it's a fun one</li><li>Synopsis: One fateful night, Brad Majors and his fiancée, Janet Weiss — a wholesome, well-behaved, utterly normal young couple in love — innocently set out to visit an old professor. Unfortunately for them, this night out is destined to be one they will never forget. A thunderstorm and a flat tire force them to seek help at the castle of Dr. Frank ’N’ Furter, an alien, transvestite scientist with a manic genius and insatiable libido. Brad, Janet, and Frank’ N’ Furter’s cohorts are swept up into the scientist’s latest experiment. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Sweet Transvestite</li></ul><li><b>Very Good Eddie</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nah</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This was a filler show</li><li>Synopsis: Eddie Kettle is a very short young man. He is newly married to Georgina, who is spectacularly tall. They honeymoon aboard a Hudson River Day Line. Also on board: Percy Darling, an athlete, who is spectacularly tall, and his new wife, Elsie (very, very short). Chaos ensues when two honeymooning couples cross paths and trade partners…. accidentally. The vaudeville adventure continues while the mismatched couples find their way to each other and somehow, true love prevails. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: If You're A Friend of Mine</li></ul><li><b>Chicago</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes! This is my favorite stage-to-screen movie adaptation, but I'd still love to see it live one day.</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Of course - the original cast was Gwen Verdon (Roxie) and Chita Rivera (Velma) so you can't go wrong</li><li>Synopsis: Broadway’s longest-running American musical, Chicago is a dazzling and satirical look at fame, justice, and the media machine. Set in 1920s Chicago and based on real-life murders and trials, Chicago follows Roxie Hart, a wannabe vaudevillian star who murders her lover and is arrested, despite her attempts to convince her pushover husband, Amos, to lie for her. In the Cook County Jail, Roxie meets her hero, the famed double-murderess and nightclub performer Velma Kelly. When both acquire the same lawyer, the greedy and lustful superstar, Billy Flynn, tensions come to a head as they vie for the spotlight. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Roxie (but all of them)</li></ul><li><b>A Chorus Line</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love the music. The movie is meh so I'm dying to see it on stage. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes I listened on the $2 vinyl record of it that I have</li><li>Synopsis: A Chorus Line examines one day in the lives of seventeen dancers, all vying for a spot in the “chorus line” of a Broadway musical. After the first round of cuts, Zach, the director and choreographer, asks each dancer to speak about themselves. Discomfort opens into revelation, confession leads to redemption, and within the bright, outwardly homogenous chorus, the audience begins to see each dancer’s individuality. Based on real Broadway dancers’ stories, as told to fellow dancer and choreographer Michael Bennett, A Chorus Line is funny, heartbreaking, and refreshingly honest. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Music and the Mirror (it's my fave right now, but it changes)</li></ul><li><b>Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, I listened to this for 5 minutes and had to give up, I can't do opera</li><li>Synopsis: Treemonisha is an opera by American ragtime composer Scott Joplin. ... The opera celebrates African-American music and culture while stressing that education is the salvation of African Americans. The heroine and symbolic educator is Treemonisha, who runs into trouble with a local band of conjurers, who kidnap her. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Overture (we all know what that means by now)</li></ul><li><b>Bubbling Brown Sugar</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Not really, revues are not for me</li><li>Synopsis: Bubbling Brown Sugar is a musical revue written by Loften Mitchell based on a concept by Rosetta LeNoire and featuring the music of numerous African-American artists who were popular during the Harlem Renaissance, 1920–1940, including Duke Ellington, Eubie Blake, Count Basie, Cab Calloway and Fats Waller. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Stormy Monday Blues</li></ul><li><b>Pacific Overtures</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I knew Sondheim did the music and lyrics but I never listened to it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, I had high hopes for this but the music was really boring</li><li>Synopsis: Taking place in 19th century Japan, the story concerns the culture clash sparked by America's 1853 mission to open up Japan to the West. Up to this point, Japan had been an island empire living in peace for centuries, undisturbed by foreign intruders. However, once Commodore Perry and the Americans arrive, a civilization of timeless tradition and seamless serenity begins to unravel under the impact of new ideas. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Someone in a Tree</li></ul><li><b>Rex</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, this was soooooo boring. At this point I'm suffering.</li><li>Synopsis: Taking place in 1520, the show revolves around Queen Elizabeth I of England and her father, King Henry VIII. (Stage Agent) That's all we get.</li><li>Favorite song: Overture and Te Deum</li></ul><li><b>Threepenny Opera</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes but knew nothing about it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? More suffering - maybe I need to watch it instead of just listen</li><li>Synopsis: The Threepenny Opera is a biting satire of the post-war rise of capitalism, wrapped up in Weill's jazzy score, and the tale of Macheath (Mack the Knife), a debonair crime lord on the verge of turning his illegal empire into a legitimate business. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Pirate Jenny</li></ul><li><b>Godspell</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes I like a few songs but never really got into it</li><li>Did I enjoy it? I did, it's got catchy songs and there's not a lot of "skip tracks"</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the Gospel according to Matthew, Godspell is the first musical theatre offering from composer Stephen Schwartz who went on to write such well-known hits as Wicked, Pippin, and Children of Eden. The show features a comedic troupe of eccentric players who team up with Jesus to teach his lessons in a new age through parables, games, and tomfoolery. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Bless the Lord (Lindsay Mendez version)</li></ul><li><b>The Robber Bridegroom</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, only because Patti LuPone was in the original off-Broadway production at Julliard</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It had some toe-tappers and seemed like it would be a fun show</li><li>Synopsis: Set in eighteenth-century Mississippi, ‘The Robber Bridegroom’ is a darkly comic Southern fairy tale about a charming gentleman bandit, the rich plantation owner’s daughter he loves, the wicked stepmother who wants her dead, and an evil thief who carries his brother’s head around in a trunk. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Love Stolen</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-56738967300832101462021-05-29T10:24:00.001-07:002021-05-29T10:24:56.516-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1972 - 1975 (From A Little Night Music to The Wiz)<p>The 70s has been an interesting mix so far, some shows feel modern and groundbreaking but a lot sound exactly like the cookie-cutter shows we had in the 50s. For perspective, Hair, which was a crazy show at the time, was years ago at this point in 1968. </p><p>I have also now listened to 175 shows so far this year so I'm feeling a bit looney. Let's dive in. </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>A Little Night Music</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I liked a few of the songs but never listened to the full show until now. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, I actually loved this show and it will be in my regular rotation now. Classic Sondheim. </li><li>Synopsis: In the turn of the century Sweden, trysts abound. The lawyer Fredrik Egerman has married the virginal 18-year old Anne, with whom Fredrik’s son, the melancholy academic Henrik, has fallen in love. Desiree Armfeldt, a stage actress of great beauty (and a reputation for taking on as many lovers as she does theatrical roles) is involved with the buffoonish Count Carl Magnus Malcolm, the husband of the cynical and wryly comedic Countess Charlotte Malcolm. When Desiree spots her old flame Fredrik Egerman in the audience of her most recent production, however, her interest in him is immediately rekindled. All parties meet for a “Weekend in the Country” at Desiree’s mother, Madame Armfeldt’s, estate, where the tangled web of romantic involvements continues to surprise us with its twists and turns. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Miller's Son (or Send in the Clowns)</li></ul><li><b>Seesaw</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was fun, couple jazzy songs but meh overall</li><li>Synopsis: Jerry Ryan, a simple, young Midwestern lawyer comes to New York where he has a fling with a young Broadway dancer, Gittel. While the fling is only temporary, both Jerry and Gittel learn a great deal about themselves and have a great time exploring New York City. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: It's Not Where You Start (I actually really love this song, especially the version Anna Kendrick sang at The Kennedy Center Honors tribute to Shirley MacLaine)</li></ul><li><b>Cyrano</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, this was so boring I expected more from Christopher Plummer</li><li>Synopsis: The great Cyrano de Bergerac is an amazing fighter, a born leader, and a fabulous poet. His only flaw is that he was born with a giant nose. While he never shies away from a fight, Cyrano is very sensitive about his looks. He secretly loves the beautiful Roxana but is unable to tell her due to his insecurities. Meanwhile, she asks Cyrano to take care of her love interest, Christian. Cyrano does that and more “ writing Christian's love letters and advising him on how to talk and act. Years after Christian dies in a battle, Roxana finally realizes that she really is in love with Cyrano. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Tell Her</li></ul><li><b>Raisin</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This was okay but didn't really stick with me</li><li>Synopsis: “Raisin” takes place in 1950s Southside Chicago and revolves around a working-class black family aspiring to a better life after the death of their father. Hope is sparked by the arrival of a $10,000 life insurance check. However, conflict ensues when mother and son want to spend the money in different ways. Walter Lee Younger Jr. wants to use the money to open a liquor business. For Mama Lena, however, the windfall means the opportunity to move out of the slums and finance daughter Beneatha's medical school education. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Whose Little Angry Men</li></ul><li><b>Gigi</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, they did a revival with Vanessa Hudgens a few years ago. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? This felt like it should have come out in the 50s but it was fun to listen to</li><li>Synopsis: Gaston is a restless Parisian playboy who moves from one mistress to another, while also spending time with Gigi, a precocious younger friend learning the ways of high society. The platonic relationship between Gaston and Gigi changes, however, when she matures, but the possibility of something lasting seems unlikely since he won't commit to one woman. Gigi refuses to be anyone's mistress, however, and Gaston must choose between her and his carefree lifestyle. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The Night They Invented Champagne </li></ul><li><b>Lorelei</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This was okay, couple of hits but pretty forgettable</li><li>Synopsis: Subtitled Gentlemen Still Prefer Blondes, it opens with the title character, a heavily-bejeweled, very wealthy widow, about to set sail on the SS Ile de France. The moment reminds her of a past voyage she took with her best friend and fellow showgirl Dorothy Shaw, and in a flashback, we relive their madcap adventures after Lorelei's plans to marry Gus Esmond are derailed by his father and the two women sail from New York City to Paris and settle in at the Hôtel Ritz. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Diamonds Are A Girl's Friend</li></ul><li><b>Over Here!</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? If you like big band music I'm sure you would like this more than I did</li><li>Synopsis: Over Here! was a follow-up to the Sherman brothers' World War II musical Victory Canteen, an off-Broadway production that featured 1940s icon Patty Andrews. The setting is a cross-country train trip in the United States during World War II (hence the name of the play, in contrast to the popular patriotic war anthem entitled Over There). The show begins as a nostalgic look at 1940s America (where fashion, music, big bands and swing dance dominate) but, quickly evolves into a social commentary about the fear of dying in battle, prejudice, and discrimination. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: The Big Beat</li></ul><li><b>Mack & Mabel</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, Bernadette Peters starred in this so a couple of the songs were on my radar</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, the music was fun even though the plot was a bit dark at times</li><li>Synopsis: Based on the real-life story of the director, Mack Sennett, and his star and lover, Mabel Normand. Narrated in flashback by Mack himself, he begins the show a broken man. His beloved silent two-reel comedies are no longer hit with the audiences in the late 1930s. The silent film industry has been made obsolete by talkies and Mack is forced to sell his Hollywood studio. Alone on the stage, he reminisces about the past, recalling his early days in New York, his rising success in Hollywood, and his turbulent love affair with Mabel. Mack discovered Mabel when she was just a sandwich delivery girl and made her a star. Although he loves her deeply, he cannot bring himself to fully commit to her. Frustrated and humiliated, Mabel is driven into the arms of William Desmond Taylor, an unsympathetic director who leads her into a life of drugs and partying. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Time Heals Everything</li></ul><li><b>The Wiz</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I enjoyed the live version on NBC a few years ago</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes, it's a toe-tapper</li><li>Synopsis: The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is a joyous modern retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic children’s story reflecting contemporary African-American culture. After Dorothy gets swept up in a tornado, she finds herself in the fantastical world of Oz. There, she makes new friends, battles evil witches, and seeks the aid of the all-powerful and mysterious Wiz. Ultimately, Dorothy finds that, if you believe with all your heart, you can always find your way home. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Home (yes I did hear it for the first time on Glee)</li></ul></ul>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-74828396484431364262021-05-29T09:12:00.001-07:002021-05-29T09:12:14.064-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1971 - 1973 (Grease, Pippin & some duds)<p></p><div>Hi all. I've been falling behind on these because I've actually been leaving the house and seeing friends! Who would've thought?</div><div><br /></div><div>Every decade has been better than the last so I'm excited to keep working my way through the 70s. Let's dive in. Part two coming later today.</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Two Gentleman of Verona</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? The play yes, not the musical</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Very forgettable music</li><li>Synopsis: Two Gentlemen of Verona is a rock musical, with a book by John Guare and Mel Shapiro, lyrics by Guare and music by Galt MacDermot, based on the Shakespeare comedy of the same name. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: I Am Not Interested in Love</li></ul><li><b>Inner City</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No but the plot seems interesting in theory </li><li>Synopsis: Based on Eve Merriam’s The Inner City Mother Goose, it dealt with the classic nursery rhymes repertory, suffused with social protest attitudes that were not in the original, the whole thing set to music by Helen Miller, and directed by Tom O’Horgan. (Masterworks Broadway)</li><li>Favorite song: Nub of the Nation</li></ul><li><b>No, No, Nanette</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? I think they referenced this in The Producers but that's all I know</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This was a pretty classic score, fun to listen to but not super memorable </li><li>Synopsis: No, No, Nanette is a lighthearted romp showcasing the charming music of Vincent Youmans. The wacky story involves three couples sharing a cottage in Atlantic City in the midst of a blackmail scheme, with plenty of deception, romantic mishaps, and comical misunderstandings. (Concord Theatricals) </li><li>Favorite song: I Want To Be Happy</li></ul><li><b>Don’t Play Us Cheap!</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? No, I skipped through most of this</li><li>Synopsis: Don't Play Us Cheap is a 1972 musical written, produced, and directed by Melvin Van Peebles, about an imp and a devil who take human form and try to break up a Harlem house party. (Wikipedia)</li><li>Favorite song: Saturday Night</li></ul><li><b>Grease</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Of course</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yeah, I'd never actually listened to the Original Broadway Cast before, just the movie soundtrack and the soundtrack from Grease Live!</li><li>Synopsis: I think we all know the plot at this point.</li><li>Favorite song: Those Magic Changes (wish it was performed in the movie)</li></ul><li><b>Pippin</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love a lot of the songs. I was once at a summer theatre camp and they tried to teach us some of the original Fosse choreography to Glory and it was so freaking hard and that's when I knew I was not destined for the stage. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes</li><li>Synopsis: As told by a traveling troupe of actors led by the cunning and charming Leading Player, Pippin is the story of a young prince, heir to the throne, who is searching for his own “corner of the sky.” Pippin returns from university certain that he will find a fulfilling purpose in life. As encouraged by the Leading Player, Pippin dabbles in bloody battle, licentious and lusty sexual entanglements, and savvy political maneuvers, only to discover that true happiness is more complicated than he thought. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Glory (but they are all great)</li></ul><li><b>Irene</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? No</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Pretty forgettable</li><li>Synopsis: ‘Irene’ concerns a delightful and strong-willed Irish girl, Irene O’Dare. While helping her widowed mother in a little shop in New York City, she dreams of being a successful businesswoman. She successfully manages a dress salon and eventually marries the shop’s financial backer, Donald Marshall. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: The World Must Be Bigger Than An Avenue</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643160236328218975.post-6233901261830908242021-05-11T17:44:00.001-07:002021-05-11T17:44:17.643-07:00Broadway 2 A Day: 1970 - 1972 (Follies, Charlie Brown, Superstar)<p></p><div>Welcome back friends, if you're still here I know you truly love me, so thanks for that. This will be an incredibly short post because the last post was incredibly long and I am not good at planning these out. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, these shows actually have something to offer (unlike many we discussed last week) - so things are looking up!</div><div><br /></div><div>In other musical theatre news, last week I watched both Dreamgirls (rent on Prime) and Once Upon A Mattress (free on Disney Plus) for the first time and really enjoyed both movies! Gotta keep up my movie musical knowledge too!</div><div><br /></div><div>Plus, several Broadway shows are re-opening on my birthday - it's got to be some kind of sign.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway. Let's dive in. </div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Follies</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes</li><li>Did I enjoy it? Yes! I knew about a third of the songs prior to this but after a full listen I'm a true fan. </li><li>Synopsis: It is 1971, and the iconic Weismann Theater, now a crumbling shell of its former glory, is about to be demolished to provide precious New York City parking space. Broadway impresario Dimitri Weismann arranges a reunion of the actors, singers, dancers, and personalities who peopled his famous Follies in the years between the World Wars, as a farewell tribute to the doomed building. In a shabby yet sparkling atmosphere of bittersweet nostalgia, a wide variety of faded glamour girls -- the famous Follies beauties of years gone by -- laugh, reminisce, brag, boast, express regret, and perform the musical numbers which made them famous, trailed by the ghostly memories of their younger selves. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Losing My Mind</li></ul><li><b>70, Girls, 70</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Nope</li><li>Did I enjoy it? This was forgettable overall but I didn't want to turn it off either. I think I would need to see a full production. </li><li>Synopsis: The show concerns a group of senior citizens living on New York's Upper West Side who learn that the long-term hotel they live in will be sold off to developers - making the seniors homeless. To save the hotel, the seniors form a ring of unlikely thieves, wreaking havoc in stores from Sadies' Second Hand Furs to Bloomingdales. In the process, they regain their zest for life. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: Old Folks</li></ul><li><b>You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Yes, but only because Kristin Chenoweth was in the revival</li><li>Did I enjoy it? It was cute but it was too close to legitimate children's theatre to me, I hate watching adults play kids. </li><li>Synopsis: The whole gang is here: bossy Lucy is hopelessly in love with piano prodigy Schroeder who doesn’t give her the time of day, perfectionist Sally is still mocking blanket-toting Linus, Snoopy is in the doghouse, and “blockhead,” himself, Charlie Brown, is in rare form. Brief vignettes span the months from Valentine’s Day to Beethoven Day, from wild optimism to utter despair. (Stage Agent)</li><li>Favorite song: My New Philosophy (technically only in the revival but I don't care, Kristin kills it)</li></ul><li><b>Jesus Christ Superstar</b></li><ul><li>Have I heard of it before? Oh yeah, this is in the rotation all year - but Easter Week - it's on repeat. The 2012 filmed arena tour is a family favorite. </li><li>Did I enjoy it? Always, I even bought the cast recording on vinyl so I listened to that this week :)</li><li>Synopsis: Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of biblical Jesus in the final days leading up to his crucifixion. Need I say more?</li><li>Favorite song: Heaven on Their Minds (in an alternate universe where I am a Broadway star and asked to perform at Miscast - I will be singing this, or Stars from Les Mis)</li></ul></ul><p></p>Write Around the Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17758490199792509056noreply@blogger.com0