Friday 5: 5 Favorite Charles Strouse Songs

Yesterday brought the sad news that Broadway composer Charles Strouse passed away at age 96. Chances are that even though you may not know his name, you've heard his music. Three of his shows were Tony Award winning Best Musicals. You might have heard of them: Annie, Bye Bye Birdie and Applause.  As great as his biggest hits were, his flops were just as accomplished. As musical theater lovers, we are all that much better for his contributions.

Thank you, Mr. Strouse. RIP

5 Favorite Charles Strouse Songs

"We'd Like to Thank You" from Annie (Lyrics by Martin Charnin)

This choice probably surprises you, but "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard-Knock Life" are just too obvious. Instead, I love the cynical meaning of the song wrapped up in that catchy, big show sound. The juxtaposition of the Hooverville-ites and the music is just delicious. Family-friendly to the ear, biting social commentary for the brain. Love it!!

"One Hallowe'en" from Applause (Lyrics by Lee Adams)

The second of three shows he composed that won Best Musical, this score is a no skips for me. Sure, it's a bitchy, mod take on the classic film All About Eve, and Bacall's vocals are iffy at times, but it's the consistently catchy, moody music that really sells it. So why this short solo number? Because it is a perfect character piece - defiant, slow-building, and packs a wallop even when the music takes a halting pause.

"Normal American Boy" from Bye Bye Birdie (Lyrics by Lee Adams)

Here is the classic show that put Strouse and Adams on the map. A score full of tuneful toe-tappers, on any given day I could put any one of those songs on this list. Like his later score for Annie, his music is sweet Americana, but with a great undercurrent of seriousness and a healthy cynicism. I chose this one for exactly that combination.

"Busy Night At Lorraine's" from Nick and Nora (Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.)

I didn't see this show - not many did - but the score is one of my favorites. In this number, Strouse (with stunning orcheatrations by Jonathan Tunick) gives us appropriate Thin Man 30s film noir undercurrents with Broadway brassiness, and uses pizzicato strings to highlight the wordy delivery of Maltby's lyrics and oboes to add urgency. The whole thing is catchy, and if you close your eyes, you can just picture what is going on. It may have only lasted for 9 performances, but it earned its Best Score Tony nomination. 

"Greenhorns" from Rags (Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz)

This is the show that walked so that Ragtime could run. This epic number brings together classic European styles and American ragtime. Strouse goes all in with the tune that utilizes all sections of an orchestra, gorgeous horns and woodwinds, driving rhythms and an ominous use of time and key changes. This whole score is a winner.

One That Got Away: Rags

Rags played the Mark Hellinger Theater in August 1986

Another mid to late 80's musical that I never got to was Rags. It's really not surprising - it only ran for 18 previews and 4 performances. (In August...not a lucky month...) Two and a half weeks; a gigantic flop. Still, there are several reasons why I feel like this one got away.

Despite its brief stay, it did manage to nab five Tony Award nominations, including the Big Three - Best Book, Best Score and Best Musical. This meant that it would be on the Tony Awards, and it didn't disappoint there. Even all those years ago, I knew Judy Kuhn was going to be a Broadway star. At that point, she had only been in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She sang, or rather, belted the title tune with such gusto, and I loved it. The bonus was that she also performed with Les Misérables on the show that year, too! I couldn't wait for the cast recording.

Turned out to be quite a wait. And when it came out, it wasn't exactly an Original Broadway Cast Recording, but rather a studio cast, featuring some members of the cast. Still, it was most of them, including most of the principals, save for star Teresa Stratas who was replaced for the recording by Julia Migenes. Well, the wait was worth it. I love the score, and it's really not that much of a stretch to believe, considering the writing team of Joseph Stein (book), Charles Strouse (music), and Stephen Schwartz (lyrics). Lovely, catchy, lyrical and beautifully orchestrated by Michael Starobin. From what I'd seen and heard, I couldn't fathom why it was a flop.

Finally, I really feel like I missed out on a fantastic cast. Not only did it feature the great opera diva Stratas, and Ms. Kuhn, the company included Larry Kert, Dick Latessa, Marcia Lewis, Lonny Price and Terrence Mann. Three of those people are no longer with us, making it even more of a regret.

The ephemeral nature of live theater is what makes it unique and special. But sometimes it really stinks, too. But all is not lost: in recent years, the remaining creatives have taken another stab at the show. Who knows? Maybe a revival may happen. Be assured I'll get a ticket to a preview (just in case), and I'll cross it off my "one that got away" list.

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The Friday 5: 5 Musicals on the Immigrant Experience

Yesterday gave me a chance to reflect on our country and its current state. It wasn't a pleasant reflection, I'm sorry to say. My thoughts went to what is happening at our southern border, and it really got me down. Thinking of Broadway shows always provides me with an escape, and I got to remembering musicals that reflect various aspects of the immigrant experience in the United States. There are so many, but this is the Friday 5, and that's the limit. So, here's what I came up with:

THE FRIDAY 5:

5 MUSICALS ON THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE

Allegiance: It would be impossible to believe that we'd go down this horrible path again, but here we are. People in camps. Again.

Hamilton: "Immigrants - we get the job done!" Our founding fathers would be appalled by today's American experience. I hope.

Rags: People came to this country with hopes and dreams. They were greeted with racism and suspicion. Not much has changed, sadly. Still, I have hope for everyone brave enough to come here.

Ragtime: This caustic look at the American Dream through the eyes of the white privileged elite, the willing immigrants full of hope, and the once-here-against-their-will African-American class trying to make their own place in this country, only goes to show how much things haven't changed in the last century. Wheeee.

West Side Story: Leave it to a Shakespeare to give us a tale about division that is just as true today as it was centuries ago. Leave it to Bernstein, Sondheim and Laurents to take it to the next level and give us a tale of racial division. Only several unnecessary deaths brought about any semblance of unity. Are we that numb these days?

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