Monday, April 27, 2020

Broadway Heat: Mrs. Doubtfire Edition: The Finals!

Dude looks like a lady! Everyone's favorite Scottish nanny is back and live in a big new Broadway musical. In a cast that features Broadway favorites and newcomers alike, this show is generating a fair amount of buzz (shutdown be damned!). 

Last week, your vores cut the cast by half! This week, your Broadway Heat votes will decide who in the cast of Mrs. Doubtfire is the hottest/buzziest of them all! Who will ultimately represent the show at the end of the season when, together, we will find the HOTTEST BROADWAY MUSICAL CAST MEMBER OF THE 2019-2020 SEASON! You may choose up to 3 cast members! (NOTE: The kids in the show are not competing.)

The poll starts after the instructions!




πŸ”₯πŸ”₯BROADWAY HEATπŸ”₯πŸ”₯
Mrs. Doubtfire Edition: 
The Finals!


REMEMBER:
  • You may vote for UP TO 3 cast members in this round. There is a photo and check box for each person. You may tap or click to make each selection.
  • You will need to scroll down the ballot box to see all of them.
  • When you have made all of your selections, scroll to the bottom of the ballot and tap/click the "CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT" button. You MUST tap/click this button or your vote WILL NOT count! (Clicking just the little "OK" button does NOT complete your ballot.)
  • Your vote/device information is completely anonymous. The ballot is secure and is NOT collecting any data other than votes.
  • You may vote more than once!


HOT on Broadway (adj.) - fierce, talented, has potential; has "buzz," has the "it factor."

Create your own user feedback survey




πŸ”₯πŸ”₯ THIS POLL WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY, MAY 1st AT 5 PM! πŸ”₯πŸ”₯


#2318

Friday, April 24, 2020

The Friday 5 Quiz: Which Came First?

No, this isn't a chicken or egg situation. But you might need to do a little research to figure out which one happened first in each pair. This week's Friday 5 Quiz might teach you a little bit about Broadway! Also the answers to last week's quiz are below. Enjoy!


The Friday 5 Quiz:
Which Came First?

1. Andrew Barth Feldman's birth or opening night of Thoroughly Modern Millie

2. Les Miserables or The Phantom of the Opera


3. Steven Pasquale's Broadway debut or Phillipa Soo's Broadway debut


4. The Lyceum Theatre or The Winter Garden Theatre

5. In A Chorus Line: "The Music and the Mirror" or "Dance: Ten, Looks: Three"


*****     *****     *****     *****     *****
The Friday 5 Quiz: Name 3

1. Name 3 Sondheim musicals (not revues) that were NOT directed by Hal Prince.
Any 3 of these: Sunday in The Park With George, Passion, West Side Story, Gypsy, ...Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, and Into the Woods

2. Name 3 actresses that opened Sweeney Todd on Broadway playing Mrs. Lovett.
Angela Lansbury (Original), Beth Fowler (1989 Revival) and Patti LuPone (2005 Revival)

3. Name 3 shows that feature a turntable.
There are so many! But here are three that come to mind readily: Hadestown, Dreamgirls, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Joseph...Dreamcoat (revival), My Fair Lady (revival), Victor/Victoria, and of course, Les Miserables!



4. Name 3 songs from musicals that debuted on Broadway in the 21st century that contain the word "kiss."
Any 3: "Girl, Can I Kiss You?" from Cry-Baby, "His Kiss, the Riot" from Hadestown, "Kiss Me Deadly" from Rock of Ages, "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid, "The Crimson Kiss" from Lestat

5. Name 3 musicals that have a song in them called "I'm Alive."
Xanadu, Next to Normal and Tootsie


#2317

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Musical of the Month: The Drowsy Chaperone: The Cast Recording

These days, I bet a lot of us are feeling like The Man in Chair from The Drowsy Chaperone. I know I do. Sitting in my chair, listening to cast recordings and imagining the show coming to life before me. Well, if you are looking for something fun, vivid and 100% Broadway musical comedy, look no further than the cast recording for this little gem.

The Tony-winning score by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison is delightful from start to finish, with a sweetly old-fashioned (think 1920s, 1930s) pastiche and a droll, witty modern sensibility. The whole thing is kept together by a good deal of narration from Bob Martin's Tony-winning book.)

The recording starts off with a zippy overture, followed by one hell of an "introduce the characters" number (just as fun as a similar song in Great Comet). What's fun about that number is picking out the voices of some of today's biggest names - Sutton Foster, Danny Burstein and a glorious turn by Beth Leavel ("I'm drowsy..."). Later numbers include a jazzy tap number (complete with taps, naturally), and the delicious (and devilish) "(I Don't Want to) Show Off" lead by the perfection that is Sutton Foster. That last note! And then there's the encore... that last note, again! I will admit to getting a touch verklempt hearing the sweet, late Georgia Engle as Mrs. Tottendale warbling "Love Is Always Lovely in the End."

But, and this is a true rarity, there are two numbers that are just as riotous on the recording as they were live in the theater: "I Am Adolfo" featuring a never funnier Danny Burstein, chewing the scenery as if it were a banquet, and the truly incomparable Beth Leavel, who also revels in the stand out number, "As We Stumble Along." There really are no weak moments here. And much credit for how wonderful this recording is goes to the orchestrations by Larry Blank and the arrangements by Glen Kelly.



The CD is worth purchasing (as is the vinyl) for the included booklet, which features full lyrics, lots of production photos and a great essay from producer Kevin McCollum. Best of all is the faux period ephemera that is scattered about the booklet.

This unfortunate time may just have an antidote for the missing Broadway blues. Give this gem a listen or two. You'll be humming the tunes long after the recording ends.

Grade: A+

#2316

Monday, April 20, 2020

Broadway Heat: The Mrs. Doubtfire Edition! The Elimination Round!

Dude looks like a lady! Everyone's favorite Scottish nanny is back and live in a big new Broadway musical. In a cast that features Broadway favorites and newcomers alike, this show is generating a fair amount of buzz (shutdown be damned!).

This week, your Broadway Heat votes will decide who in the cast of Mrs. Doubtfire is the hottest/buzziest of them all! Which cast member will you move on to to compete in the season finals? Who will ultimately represent the show at the end of the season when, together, we will find the HOTTEST BROADWAY MUSICAL CAST MEMBER OF THE 2019-2020 SEASON! You may choose up to 12 cast members! (NOTE: The kids in the show are not competing.)

THIS POLL HAS CLOSED! PLEASE FIND THIS WEEK'S POLL AND VOTE THERE!



πŸ”₯πŸ”₯BROADWAY HEATπŸ”₯πŸ”₯
Mrs. Doubtfire Edition: 
The Elimination Round!



#2315

Friday, April 17, 2020

The Friday 5 Quiz: Name 3

Here's a little Friday 5 fun. Test your knowledge/memory (or look up the answers!) of Broadway by naming 3 of each of the following. Sometimes there are exactly 3 answers, other times there are more. We are only looking for 3. Good luck!


The Friday 5 Quiz:
Can you... name 3?


1. Name 3 Sondheim musicals (not revues) that were NOT directed by Hal Prince.

2. Name 3 actresses that opened Sweeney Todd on Broadway playing Mrs. Lovett.

3. Name 3 shows that feature a turntable.

4. Name 3 songs from musicals that debuted on Broadway in the 21st century that contain the word "kiss."

5. Name 3 musicals that have a song in them called "I'm Alive."


#2314


Thursday, April 16, 2020

Musical of the Month: The Drowsy Chaperone : The Cast

This charming little musical was all the more charming because of its thoroughly stellar cast. The talent on this roster of the original Broadway cast is mind-boggling. Not just chock full of award-winners, this company boasts several current day stage royalty. Most of them have had quite the career since The Drowsy Chaperone closed at the end of 2007! Let's see what they've been up to!


Musical of the Month:
The Drowsy Chaperone
The Cast



DANNY BURSTEIN (Adolpho): Currently, he's generating a lot of awards buzz for his boisterous, over-the-top turn as Zidler, owner and emcee of the Moulin Rouge! But he's been no stranger to the stage since Drowsy. There have been plays: Golden Boy and The Snow Geese. Musical revivals: South Pacific, Follies, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady. And (a personal favorite) a new musical: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Along the way, including Drowsy, he's been honored with 6 Tony Award nominations!


GEORGIA ENGEL (Mrs. Tottendale): Sadly, The Drowsy Chaperone  was her final Broadway appearance, though she was a part of the out of town tryout of Gotta Dance. Ms. Engel passed away in 2019.








SUTTON FOSTER (Janet Van De Graaff): A modern Broadway legend, Sutton Foster remains a regular on the New York stage. Following her Tony-nominated turn in Drowsy, she's been seen in Young Frankenstein, Shrek: The Musical (Tony nom), Anything Goes (Tony Award - Best Actress), and Violet (Tony nom). Off-Broadway, she appeared in a much talked about revival of Sweet Charity. Next up: a little show called The Music Man, with Hugh Jackman.



EDWARD HIBBERT (Underling): Since Drowsy, this fantastic character actor has appeared on Broadway in Curtains, Mrs. Warren's Profession, It Shoulda Been You, and Something Rotten!








TROY BRITTON JOHNSON (Robert Martin): He hasn't been seen since.










EDDIE KORBICH (George): Since Drowsy, he's played a judge (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), a doctor (Breakfast at Tiffany's), Santa Claus (A Christmas Story) and... a seagull! (The Little Mermaid) Talk about range!









GARTH KRAVITS and JASON KRAVITS (Gangster #2 and Gangster #1): Each Kravits has returned to Broadway just once since Drowsy. Garth was in Gettin' the Band Back Together; Jason was in Relatively Speaking.







BETH LEAVEL (The Drowsy Chaperone): The lady has been busy since winning a Tony Award as the title character! Her Broadway appearances include Mamma Mia!, Young Frankenstein, Elf, Baby It's You! (Tony nom), Bandstand and The Prom (Tony nom).







KECIA LEWIS-EVANS (Trix): Since her Drowsy days as the aviatrix, Ms. Lewis-Evans has been seen on Broadway in Chicago, Leap of Faith and Children of a Lesser God.









BOB MARTIN (Man in Chair): Not only did he win a Tony for Best Book of a Musical, Martin was also nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for Drowsy. In the years since, he's written the book for Elf, and was again nominated for a Best Book for his work on The Prom.







JENNIFER SMITH (Kitty): Ms. Smith is the quintessential Broadway ensemblist. In a career that goes all the way back to the mid-80s and the original production of La Cage aux Folles. Since her time in Drowsy, she has added five more credits to her resume: A Tale of Two Cities, Nice Work If You Can Get It, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Tuck Everlasting and Anastasia.





LENNY WOLPE (Feldzieg): His most recent credits include Wicked (national tour and Broadway) and Bullets Over Broadway.









#2313

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Standing @ Zero: Hamilton's Thayne Jasperson

This month, we are celebrating a Standing @ Zero Hero, who is that most revered (and rare) ensemblist: a long-run chorus member/multi-track understudy. In this case, The show is Hamilton, and the cast member is Thayne Jasperson, who has been with the show since its off-Broadway run. That production began at the Public Theater in January 2015. He's been at it for more than five years! Of course, that's not all he's accomplished. His career includes not one but two cultural phenomena, plus TV, national tour, regional, and two other Broadway credits. Congratulations, Thayne!



Standing @ Zero
Hamilton's
Thayne Jasperson





Jasperson showed the world he could dance on Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance, and continues to share his gifts by teaching lots of dance master classes! His other TV credits include High School Musical and High School Musical 2, as well as Smash.


So You Think You Can Dance

High School Musical
 Thayne's theater credits include regional productions of Footloose and Finding Neverland (he was replaced by a real dog!), the national tour of West Side Story, and the Broadway productions of Newsies, Matilda and Hamilton. In Hamilton, he is in the ensemble and plays Samuel Seabury. He understudies the roles of John Laurens/Philip Hamilton and King George.


Finding Neverland (at A.R.T.)














#2312
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