REVIEW: OBCR: The Prom - On Vinyl!

The nostalgic/stubborn side of me is thrilled that vinyl cast recordings are back in style. I know, I know. I've written about this before. But now I have reason to write about it again, because I got the double-album Original Broadway Cast Recording of The Prom!

Grade: A+

Everything about the experience was a sweet rush of sense memory. From peeling off the cellophane wrapping, to opening the fold and reading the liner notes, I was in Heaven. And, happily, the whole package is wonderful. I especially appreciate the inclusion of a complete lyrics sheet, which allows you to read them without manhandling the album cover or a disc sleeve if they had been printed either place.

So, how's the record? Awesome! I fell in love with the show immediately (my review HERE), and revisiting the Chad Beguelin-Matthew Sklar score brought back a flood of images from a great, fun evening at the theater. But it also allows for exciting discoveries - Easter eggs, if you will. In short, there are hilarious bits, sharp turns of phrase, and a sweet sentimentality. My favorite thing is getting to listen to the salute to Broadway woven throughout this delicious score. Among my favorites are the tributes to Godspell and Evita, made all the more glorious by the belty vocals of Tony nominee Beth Leavel.

Offering a meaningful counterpoint both in the show and on this recording is Tony nominee Caitlin Kinnunen, whose presence practically jumps off the record. The fear, pain, sorrow and, importantly, her strength shines through in all of her numbers, but particularly in "Just Breathe," "You Happened," and the stunning "Unruly Heart," which mage me misty just listening to it.

As in the show, the second record offers up tour de force performances, one after the other. It would be unfair - impossible, even - to pick out a favorite, because I enjoy each for entirely different reasons. Act Two begins with that Chicago-esque/Fosse gem, "Zazz," featuring my favorite Broadway hoofer, Angie Schworer, and continues with that scathing (and riotously funny) indictment on the right, "Love Thy Neighbor," featuring Christopher Sieber. But the real standouts come from Leavel, who absolutely kills it with the faux signature number, "The Lady's Improving," and her fellow Tony nominee, Brooks Ashmanskas, who has never been better than he is in the utterly joyous "Barry Is Going to Prom."

Each act ends with fabulous production numbers and they come across very well here. But, alas, they also point out the one shortcoming of this album. There are no videos or even written instructions for how to do those Casey Nicholaw dances!!

(Photos by J. Kyler)

#2072

The Friday 5: 5 Old School Theater Experiences

I make no secret that I like some things done the old-fashioned way. That especially includes some aspects of the theater-going experience. For now, some of those things are firmly in place, others are gone forever, and some are making a comeback. This week's Friday 5 is about five of those things. Let me know what you think!

1. Paper tickets: While I understand the whole e-ticket thing - convenience, lack of a paper trail, etc. - I like the traditional card stock ticket. First of all, it's a souvenir of the experience. Secondly, more and more I'm finding myself stuck behind someone whose printer didn't print the bar code clearly or too lightly (and talk about a waste of paper!) and heaven forbid Broadway goes to bar codes on the phone like the airlines do. If it ain't broke don't fix it!

2. Cast recordings on vinyl: Talk about every thing old is new again! I used to love going to a record store and browse the bins of cast recordings. The best ones had lots of big production photos, extensive liner notes, and the lyrics printed on the paper sleeve. Double albums were my favorite.  These days, it seems like a special mark of success for a show to release their cast recording on (specially colored) vinyl. I applaud this.

3. Dressing up: If you know me, this one may come as a shocker. I am all about being comfortable, and have no problem wearing shorts when it is warm or jeans any time. But there is something to be said about getting dressed up for the theater. When I was younger, my grandmother took me to shows frequently, and she always made me wear a tie, and many times a jacket. It felt special and like an event.

4. Ushers that actually take you to your seat: Talk about service! Maybe there were more ushers back in the day? Maybe they have to do more these days? I remember hand over my ticket and dutifully following the usher to my row, having my location explained to me ("4th and 5th seat from this aisle" or "you are right next to that nice lady with the fur coat"), getting my tickets back with a Playbill, and a "enjoy the show" exit. These days, it happens many times that I know the seats better than the ushers.

5. No eating or drinking at your seat: I hate that you can eat and drink at your seat. As if cell phone users weren't distracting enough. Spills, crinkly paper, ice clacking against plastic cups, and more just cheapen the whole experience. Want to do that? Go to a movie or stay home and do it! I know a lot of people complain about this, and I also know it is a money maker (at $5 for a regular bag of M and Ms, how can they be losing cash). So my question is this: why can't producers come up with cups that won't clack when ice touches the side, and NOT sell a candy that comes in pieces that require multiple dips into a noisy bag. It seems so obvious to me.


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The answers to the last round of Broadway Jeopardy! (From 3/29/19)

$200 - What is a play? My Fair Lady is based on Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.

$400 - What is a movie? Hairspray is based on a John Waters film of the same name.

$600 - What is a book? Wicked is based on a novel of the same name by Gregory Macguire.

$800 - What is a play? Hello, Dolly! is based on The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder.

$1000 - What is a book? The Phantom of the Opera is based on the book Le Fantom de L'Opera by Gaston Leroux.

Final Jeopardy! - Who is Tony Walton? He designed the sets and logo for the original Broadway production of Pippin.

#2052

#TBT: Broadway Magic on Vinyl

When I switched to CDs years ago, and started replacing my favorite albums, I got rid of my turntable along with of most of my record collection. The only vinyl I kept was a small collection of Broadway cast recordings, mostly for the liner notes and pictures which are much easier to enjoy larger. It seems funny - and it delights me - that vinyl is making a comeback.

Not even a month ago, I was talking about getting rid of them - trying to purge/downsize, etc. Then what did my best friend do? He bought me a turntable for Christmas. I love it. It makes me feel very nostalgic.  The very first record I played on it is the subject of today's blog.

Many Christmases ago - probably in an effort to get me to play anything but Pippin - my parents bought me the 6 album box set of Broadway Magic. Put out by the then-King of Broadway Cast Recordings, Columbia Records, these were a 60-song greatest hits collection from some of the greatest musicals of all time (along with a few flop gems), sung by legends of the Broadway stage. Each album has a theme: The Best of the Great Broadway Musicals, The Great Performers, The Showstoppers, Super Hits, Great Performances and All Time Favorites. And the back of each sleeve has terrific liner notes, too! Columbia put out a second Broadway Magic compilation series, by the decade - 50s, 60s, 70s.

Now I'm all for the amazing sound quality of CDs and digital, but there is a lot to be said for hearing these older recordings in the vinyl platform. Julie sounds like Julie when she sings "I Could Have Danced All Night," and nothing beats Ethel belting out "Everything's Coming Up Roses," both just the way they were recorded. Apparently, I'm not the only one, otherwise, I'm sure there wouldn't be a (rapidly) growing market for them again.

And you know I'm going to get a current show on vinyl sooner or later...

#1975