Monday, February 28, 2022

1960s Broadway Musical Show Art Tournament: The Sweet 16!

It's the 1960s and the Golden Age of the American Musical is in full swing, though, by the end of the decade it is replaced by the Modern Era. What a time to be a musical theater fan! Award-winners, popular titles, classics and flops are all here. We started with 64 works of art, and now we have The Sweet 16! 

Now, your votes this week determine The Elite 8! 

As always, we thank you for playing along.

Scroll down to see the match-ups, then vote! (Be sure to look at the rules!) Thanks for playing along!

              WHAT IS THE BEST 1960S BROADWAY MUSICAL LOGO OF THEM ALL?  

THE 1960s BROADWAY MUSICAL
SHOW ART TOURNAMENT: THE SWEET 16!
(THE ACTUAL SURVEY IS BELOW THESE FULL-SIZED VERSIONS)
HOW IT WILL WORK:
  • Each week, we'll open the voting for a different segment of the bracket, and you will select your favorite from each pairing.
  • Your selection should be based on the logo/window card ONLY. We are NOT looking for your favorite show! It is possible to like a logo from an unsuccessful show!
  • We will provide pictures of the full window card (in most cases) or logo above each week's ballot, then you scroll down and make your selections. You MUST click/tap the "Click Me to Count Your VOTES" button at the bottom of the survey.
  • REMINDER: Due to the large number of images used, the poll will take a few extra seconds to fully load.
THIS ROUND WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 4TH AT 5 PM!

Here we go again! May the best logo win! BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE FULL LOGOS BEFORE YOU VOTE! THE ACTUAL BALLOT IS BELOW THE FULL-SIZE LOGOS/WINDOW CARDS!

GAME 1:                                                                     GAME 2:
                         

GAME 3:                                                                     GAME 4:
                         

GAME 5:                                                                     GAME 6:
                         

GAME 7:                                                                     GAME 8:
                         

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Broadway in a Box CD Review: Show Boat (1966 LCT Cast)

At Christmas a few years ago, Jeff gave me a copy of Broadway in a Box: The Essential Broadway Musicals Collection. He has now given me the opportunity to use his blog to share my impressions of each of the 25 cast recordings contained in the set, in alphabetical order. 

This week’s entry is about the 1966 Music Theater of Lincoln Center Cast Recording of Show Boat.


Broadway in a Box CD Review:
Show Boat (1966 LCT Cast)

Easily the oldest musical (though not the oldest recording) in the set, Show Boat is generally recognized as a turning point in the history of Broadway storytelling, years ahead of its time in its integration of story and song. Unfortunately, despite its Lincoln Center polish and cast full of accomplished singers - including a genuine Broadway legend - this recording is much less than the sum of its parts, and it failed to make much of an impression when I listened to it recently.



The main problem, sad to say, is the singing. Don’t get me wrong - every voice is impressive in its own right, and wouldn’t sound out of place in a legitimate opera house. However, either due to miscasting, poor musical direction, or some combination of both, most of the main singers - Barbara Cook (Magnolia), Stephen Douglass (Gaylord Ravenal), Constance Towers (Julie), and William Warfield (Joe) - come off as just too generic on this recording. For a musical so closely tied to a particular time and place, there is basically no attempt to establish any specificity in the vocal characterizations. 


For a concrete example, I couldn’t help but notice that, even though the famous song is called “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” I never heard anything but “that,” with a perfectly enunciated voiced inter-dental fricative. Surely Oscar Hammerstein’s orthography is an implied request to add some local flavor to the articulation of these lyrics, but no attempt whatsoever is made to do this. It’s as if the producer of the recording were determined to stamp out anything approaching authenticity. (One exception is the contribution of Margaret Hamilton, as Parthy Anne Hawkes, whose vivacious musical comedy approach definitely stands out.)


   

As is the case with other recordings from the Music Theater of Lincoln Center series, technical production values are extremely high. The chorus sounds great, and an enormous orchestra plays Robert Russell Bennett’s original orchestrations. The balance between singers and orchestra is well-executed, and the lyrics are very easy to follow.


Next up is the Original Broadway Cast Recording of The Sound of Music.


Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Broadway Games: Come and Meet Those Dancin' Feet

Here's a game we haven't played in awhile! Can you identify the show just by seeing the cast's feet in action?

BROADWAY GAMES:
Come and Meet Those Dancin' Feet

Below are photos from 5 different shows. Can you name the show? Bonus: Can you name the characters, too?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.




ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S 
BROADWAY GAMES:
It All Adds Up!



A. 17 of dancers on the Chorus Line         B. 21 of American Idiot guns
C. 42 of street for those dancin' feet          D. 3 of Sophie's possible dads
E. 2 of beheaded Six queens                      F. 18 of Andy/April's Barcelona flight number
G. 5 of Tevye's daughters                           H. 10 of Hamilton duel commandments
I. 2 of Patti LuPone Tony Awards               J. 6 of merry murderesses
K. 4 of Jersey Boys                                     L. 3 of Hadestown fates
M. 4 of Cursed Child Hogwarts houses     N. 100 of people who got off of the train
O. 1 short days in Emerald City                 P. 6 of times Gypsy has been on Broadway
Q. 76 of Harold Hill's trombones                  R. 4 of ingredients needed for the Witch's potion
S. 3 of Val's "Looks" score                         T. 16 of Liesl's age... before "going on"...
U. 12 of days to Christmas in She loves Me    V. 9 of Best Musical that beat Dreamgirls
W. 13 of Jason Robert Brown's adolescent musical    X. 1 of "Singular Sensations"
Y. 10 of Tony Awards for The Band's Visit    


1. U + B + G = ____
    12 + 21 + 5 = 38

2. (Q/E) + (H - Y) = ____
    (76/2) + (10 - 10)
        38 + 0 = 38

3. A x M - (W + D + J) - (T/I) = ____
    17 x 4 - (13 + 3 + 6) - (16/2)
        68 - 22 - 8 = 38

4.  (C/L) x O + (X + N) - (F x S) - (K + P + V + R) = ____
    (42/3) x 1 + (1 + 100) - (18 x 3) - (4 + 6 + 9 + 4)
        14 x 1 + 101 - 54 - 23
            14 + 24 = 38

BONUS: Given the answers, what is a song that includes the numbers in it from a currently-running musical?
"38 Planes" from Come From Away
 

Monday, February 21, 2022

1960s Broadway Musical Show Art Tournament: Big 32 Part B!

It's the 1960s and the Golden Age of the American Musical is in full swing, though, by the end of the decade it is replaced by the Modern Era. What a time to be a musical theater fan! Award-winners, popular titles, classics and flops are all here. We started with 64 works of art, and after 4 weeks of voting, it's time to announce The Big 32! 

Now, your votes this week will finish determining the Sweet 16! 

As always, we thank you for playing along.

Scroll down to see the match-ups, then vote! (Be sure to look at the rules!) Thanks for playing along!

              WHAT IS THE BEST 1960S BROADWAY MUSICAL LOGO OF THEM ALL? 
THE 1960s BROADWAY MUSICAL
SHOW ART TOURNAMENT: BIG 32 PART B
(THE ACTUAL SURVEY IS BELOW THESE FULL-SIZED VERSIONS)
HOW IT WILL WORK:
  • Each week, we'll open the voting for a different segment of the bracket, and you will select your favorite from each pairing.
  • Your selection should be based on the logo/window card ONLY. We are NOT looking for your favorite show! It is possible to like a logo from an unsuccessful show!
  • We will provide pictures of the full window card (in most cases) or logo above each week's ballot, then you scroll down and make your selections. You MUST click/tap the "Click Me to Count Your VOTES" button at the bottom of the survey.
  • REMINDER: Due to the large number of images used, the poll will take a few extra seconds to fully load.
THIS ROUND WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH AT 5 PM!

Here we go again! May the best logo win! BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE FULL LOGOS BEFORE YOU VOTE! THE ACTUAL BALLOT IS BELOW THE FULL-SIZE LOGOS/WINDOW CARDS!

GAME 1:                                                                     GAME 2:
                         

GAME 3:                                                                     GAME 4:
                         

GAME 5:                                                                     GAME 6:
                         

GAME 7:                                                                     GAME 8:
                       

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Broadway Games: It All Adds Up!

BROADWAY GAMES:
It All Adds Up!

Okay, theater people! Time to put those math skills to the test. This week's game is a 2-part endeavor. First fill in the Broadway numbers below. Then use them to solve the 4 equations.
Good luck!



A. # of dancers on the Chorus Line            B. # of American Idiot guns
C. # of street for those dancin' feet            D. # of Sophie's possible dads
E. # of beheaded Six queens                      F. # of Andy/April's Barcelona flight number
G. # of Tevye's daughters                           H. # of Hamilton duel commandments
I. # of Patti LuPone Tony Awards               J. # of merry murderesses
K. # of Jersey Boys                                     L. # of Hadestown fates
M. # of Cursed Child Hogwarts houses     N. # of people who got off of the train
O. # short days in Emerald City                 P. # of times Gypsy has been on Broadway
Q. # of Harold Hill's trombones                  R. # of ingredients needed for the Witch's potion
S. # of Val's "Looks" score                         T. # of Liesl's age... before "going on"...
U. # of days to Christmas in She loves Me    V. # of Best Musical that beat Dreamgirls
W. # of Jason Robert Brown's adolescent musical    X. # of "Singular Sensations"
Y. # of Tony Awards for The Band's Visit    


1. U + B + G = ____

2. (Q/E) + (H - Y) = ____

3. A x M - (W + D + J) - (T/I) = ____

4.  (C/L) x O + (X + N) - (F x S) - (K + P + V + R) = ____

BONUS: Given the answers, what is a song that includes the numbers in it from a currently-running musical?

Broadway Games:
Brrr! Winter Weather!


Mame gives young Patrick this advice about living life: "Open a New WINDow"

How Corny Collins describes his dancers in Hairspray: "The NICEst Kids in Town"

When Evan Hansen wiggles his cast at the glass, he's: "Waving Through a WINDow"

Evita's "gambling" song - it's a big risk: "DICE Are Rolling"

Anna's big question for Elsa in Frozen: "Do You Want to Build a SNOWman?"

In She Loves Me, Amalia's sings of her favorite flavor of this frozen treat: "Vanilla ICE Cream"

When West Side Story's Jets visit a social worker and a judge (among others) to appeal to a certain cop: "Gee, OffICEr Krupke"

Eurydice and the Fates sing this almost at the start of Hadestown: "Any Way the WIND Blows"

When Into the Woods' Baker's Wife asks about her evening, Cinderella sings this: "A Very NICE Prince"

In Carousel, Carrie Pipperidge sings this song about her future plans: "When I Marry Mr. SNOW"

Spring Awakening has a purple summer and this azure breeze: "Blue WIND"

The two sides to Grand Hotel's aging ballerina, or how the two make up moguls are described in War Paint: "Fire and ICE"

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Broadway in a Box CD Review: Oliver! (1962 OBCR)

At Christmas a few years ago, Jeff gave me a copy of Broadway in a Box: The Essential Broadway Musicals Collection. He has now given me the opportunity to use his blog to share my impressions of each of the 25 cast recordings contained in the set, in alphabetical order. 


This week’s entry is about the 1962 Original Broadway Cast Recording of Oliver!


Broadway in a Box CD Review:
Oliver! (1962 Original Broadway Cast)

Oliver! is a bit of an outlier in this set, being the only show written by a non-American (native-born or naturalized), Englishman Lionel Bart. It also happens to be the first musical I participated in when I was in elementary school, as a stage manager for a severely truncated and almost certainly unlicensed performance in a school basement. While the show will never be among my favorites, and the recording itself has a few issues, this was a nice reintroduction to the score.



This is a true ensemble show, and its success depends critically on the chemistry among those playing its rich set of characters; in this respect, this recording is generally satisfying. Clive Revill (Fagin) is a near-constant presence, providing cohesion to the show with his authoritative but sensitive performance. The two main children on the recording, Michael Goodman (Artful Dodger) and Bruce Prochnik (Oliver), could not be more different in voice and temperament, but both are effective and even “cute” without being cloying. Among the larger roles, the only real disappointment is Danny Sewell (Bill Sikes); his big solo, “My Name,” lacks the sense of true menace necessary to distinguish him from a run-of-the-mill bad guy like Mr. Bumble (a too-similar-sounding Willoughby Goddard). (Apparently, this recording was made while the show was on tour months before reaching Broadway, which explains why the OBC Artful Dodger, Tony nominee Davy Jones, does not appear on this CD.)


The standout performance on this recording, hands down, belongs to Georgia Brown (Nancy). Her shattering torch song, “As Long As He Needs Me,” reaches astonishing heights of virtuoso singing and real pathos. She also is very charming in conveying Nancy’s rapport with the Artful Dodger and other ruffians in “I’d Do Anything” (currently famous for helping to pitch pet supplies) and “Oom-Pah-Pah.”



The backbone of the score consists of a series of songs for various combinations of soloists and chorus, including the title song, “Consider Yourself,” “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two,” and “Be Back Soon.” Even if the composer/lyricist might have gone to the well too many times with this type of song, their realization here is mostly successful. The voices contrast nicely with each other, and the characterizations are vivid enough that, even if the listener has forgotten the details of the story (as I admit that I have), the relationships among the major players are quite clear. 


My favorite song in the show, however, is “Who Will Buy?” Built around a complex and chilling vocal interplay among Oliver and a chorus of street vendors, it has a vaguely modernist feel to it that definitely stands out from the texture of the rest of the score. I can’t really think of anything quite like it from other musicals; the closest thing that comes to mind, oddly enough, is “Falling,” a simpler and shorter (but equally weird) song from Aspects of Love.


The CD leaves something to be desired in terms of recording quality; parts of it sound as if it were recorded in a cave, with lots of echo muddying things up. As a result, the orchestra and very frequent choral sections are sometimes not very clear, and the lyrics can be hard to follow, though it helps that they’re often repeated several times. Though this is one of the older recordings in the set, I can’t really blame its issues on that: How to Succeed was even older, and its sound was among the best in the box set.


Next up is the 1966 Music Theater of Lincoln Center Cast Recording of Show Boat.

 

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