CD Review: Head Over Heels

As a teen in the mid-80s, MTV actually showed music videos, and recording artists became even bigger stars. I enjoyed The Go-Go's hits, especially "Our Lips Are Sealed." And I enjoyed Belinda Carlisle's solo hits, too. "Mad About You" was my favorite. But outside of their biggest pop hits, I knew nothing of the rest of their catalog. 30+ years later, it turns out I'm a fan of their big hits still and I enjoy more of their other songs enough to look into their albums. Why? Head Over Heels that's why.

If you follow this blog or my Twitter timeline at all, it is no secret that I love all things HOH. And this adoration wasn't a given. I will admit I'm starting to suffer from jukebox musical fatigue, and one based on the song list of an 80's group with 5 or 6 recognizable hits seemed even less likely to make me very happy. Still, the pedigree of the show's creators (particularly Tom Kitt, Jeff Whitty and Michael Mayer) and a few of my favorite Broadway regulars (Alexandra Socha, Jeremy Kushnier and Rachel York) piqued my interest enough that I got a ticket. The rest is history. I am, well, head over heels for the whole thing.

Grade: A+

Title: Head Over Heels

Artist: Original Broadway Cast 

Label: Masterworks Broadway/Sony Classical

Number: B07H5VVL5M

Format: Single CD

Case: Single Jewel Case

Booklet: Full color, 22 pages. Complete lyrics. Graphic design by Elisabeth Ladwig. Production photos by Joan Marcus. Recording session photography by Jeremy Daniel. Album produced by Scott M. Riesett and Tom Kitt.
Bonus Tracks: "Turn to You" (Pre-prise), "Automatic Rainy Day" (Acoustic Version), "This Town" (The Go-Go's)

Where you can get it: Amazon (currently $13.69); iTunes ($11.99)

Part of the reason the songs work so well as a score is that the songs do drive the plot, are character driven, and underscore the themes of the clever book (by Jim Magruder). The lyrics are uniformly clever and smart, and though they are a modern departure from the otherwise Elizabethan-esque dialogue, they fit seamlessly. the tonal shift works much like the juxtaposition of the book and songs of Spring Awakening, with the comic irreverence of Mamma Mia!.

"We Got the Beat" - Taylor Iman Jones and the Company

While I still enjoy the familiar songs very much, I have to say I've fallen in love with the songs I didn't previously know. Every time I listen to it, I feel like I have a new favorite song! And what makes the whole CD so enjoyable is that, like in the show, the songs are both fun pop and full-fledged Broadway fare. Much of the credit for that goes, I think, to Tom Kitt, who orchestrated and arranged the score. His vocal arrangements are just superb. The band is... sublime.  Kudos, too, to the ensemble, whose background vocals are amazing - they frequently give me goose bumps.

Here are some of the standout moments for me (subject to change depending on how many times I've listened to it):

1. "We Got the Beat": Just like at the show, the CD starts with an explosive opener, featuring fierce vocals by Taylor Iman Jones leading company. I dare you to sit still when you hear this song.

"Beautiful" - Bonnie Milligan and Ensemble

2. "Beautiful": Speaking of fierce, breakout star Bonnie Milligan supplies emotional power and sheer joy in this catchy ode to self-love. One of my favorites of them all.

3. "Mad About You": I love the simple power of Andrew Durand's voice on this number. He sounds so innocent and sexy all at once. Here's a great example, too, of what I meant about the backing vocals.

4. "Automatic Rainy Day": This is the best girl/girl duet since RENT's "Take Me or Leave Me." Milligan and Jones are jaw-dropping not once but twice. (The acoustic version is just as good later in the CD.)

5. "Head Over Heels": Act Two starts with the same toe-tapping blast of fun that Act One does. Again, Durand's vocals are wonderful in their unadorned simplicity. Plus I love the dance break music and "the clap."

Rachel York, Tom Alan Robbins, Jeremy Kushnier, Andrew Durand

The rest of the company is just as terrific: Rachel York and Jeremy Kushnier are great in their duet, "The Old Feeling," and Alexandra Socha is awesome throughout, particularly in "Here You Are." History-maker Peppermint delivers perfectly mysterious vocals in "Vision of Nowness," and oozes sexy charm leading the company in the romp version of "Heaven is a Place on Earth." The bonuses are fun, too. And The Go-Go's fans can rejoice in their first studio recording in years, "This Town," which closes the cast recording.

My sadness at the announced closing of the show is made lighter by this wonderful Original Broadway Cast Recording which is just as great as the show. Get thee to the Hudson Theatre by January 6th! Long live Arcadia!

#1948

Broadway Heat: The Prom Edition: The Championship!

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

BROADWAY HEAT: THE PROM EDITION

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR TOP 3!

1ST PLACE: ANGIE SCHWORER

2ND PLACE: CHRISTOPHER SIEBER

3RD PLACE: BETH LEAVEL

ANGIE WILL COMPETE AT THE END OF THE SEASON FOR THE TITLE OF "HOTTEST BROADWAY STAR OF THE SEASON"!

Click the "Broadway Heat" tab at the top of the page to see who else has made it so far!

#1947

The Friday 5: 5 Favorite Places to Christmas Shop for Theater Lovers

Before you start your first day of Thanksgiving leftovers, you are probably going to do what millions of others will do - Christmas shop! I, like many of you, do most of my shopping online, but I have to admit there's something about going to the stores in search of that perfect gift. Picking it yourself off the shelf, selecting the exact one you want (I never take the one in front on the shelf if I can help it...), and bringing it home to wrap. I have some wonderful memories of going to the mall with my parents and grandparents - the decorations, the shop windows, Santa... Even the annoying aspects - the crowds, the lines, the rude people - feel nostalgic.

A lot of my friends are fellow theater fans, so I like to hit the specialty shops for the perfect gift. Here are my 5 favorites:

THE FRIDAY 5:

5 Favorite

Broadway Shops for the Holidays

5. Books - a - Million: This is for those of you who aren't near the city. A dying breed, these stores are sprinkled around the east coast, from the mid-Atlantic to New England. They have an enormous selection of books as the name implies, but they also have a wonderful selection of games, toys...and theater stuff! It's the only store where you can get the OBCR of Avenue Q on vinyl, and they have many other cast recordings on vinyl, too. Of course, you can go online from anywhere, too: https://www.booksamillion.com/

4. Triton Gallery: A few years ago, this place would have been at the top of my list. Man, do I miss their quaint little store across from the Hirschfeld Theatre... but their new little space is fine, if not a little difficult to get to. It's in a mid-block office building, with sign-in security. But the space itself is fun - window cards adorn every inch of wall space, and it is library quiet. The personal service is excellent; they pack your purchases nicely.

• Address: 690 Eighth Avenue, 6th Floor (between 43rd and 44th Streets)
• Phone: 212-765-2472
• Store Hours: They vary weekly
• Online: http://broadwayposters.com/

3. One Shubert Alley: The one that started it all! It's tiny. More than 4 customers at once makes it crowded. But it is amazing how they utilize every inch of space (even the floor!) to offer a big selection of theater goodies!  And it is convenient - Shubert Alley really is the heart of Broadway.

• Address: 222 West 45th Street
• Phone: 212-944-4133; phone orders: 212-391-7075 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday - Friday
• Store Hours: 10 AM - 11 PM, Monday - Saturday, 12 PM - 6:30 PM, Sundays
• Online: https://www.oneshubertalley.com/

2. Theater Circle: Sister store to One Shubert Alley, this place is probably four times as big, with a selection to match. Be sure to go to the back room for bargains and hundreds of play scripts, musical librettos and theater books. They also have a big selection of cast recordings on CD, window cards, programs and other memorabilia.

• Address: 268 West 44th Street, #1
• Phone: 212-391-7075
• Store Hours: 10 AM - 11 PM, Monday - Saturday, 12 PM - 7 PM, Sundays
• Online: http://www.theatrecircleshop.com/

1. Drama Book Shop: Sadly, it looks like this one won't be on next year's list, as the place is closing in early 2019, after over 100 years in business. The owners say they hope to re-open in another location, so let's be optimistic. This is the place to find scripts, librettos and theater related books. The selection is enormous - lots of rarities and obscure titles - and they can find you just about anything you need. They have lots of events, too. And their store windows are always great, loving tributes to current and historic productions. Get there before you can't anymore!

• Address: 250 West 40th Street, #1
• Phone: 212-944-0595; phone orders: 212-391-7075 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday - Friday
• Store Hours: 10 AM - 7 PM, Monday - Saturday, 10 AM - 8 PM, Thursdays, 12 PM - 6 PM, Sundays
• Online: https://www.dramabookshop.com/

Happy shopping! And happy holidays to all of you!
#1946

Thankful Thursday

Every day, the world becomes more and more technology dependent. A lot of good things come from that, but one bad thing (I think) that comes from that is a lack of human to human connection. Texting has replaced conversation, for example. Heck, even when we are together, our ears are plugged and our attention is fully on our device screen.

So far, theater remains one place where we still have direct connection with each other. People are watching other people play out stories about the human experience. But there are other people involved in this exchange that make it all possible.  It is for these people that I offer my gratitude on this Thanksgiving Day.

The box office staff: These people have the patience of Job. I can't imagine answering the same questions over and over. "Will Ben Platt be in the show on Wednesday evening, March 3rd, 2020?" "What do you mean I can't get tickets for tonight's show? I didn't think Hamilton was that popular still." "Where is the best place to sit?" "Are these prices for real?" They go into superhero mode when they have to make exchanges when Glenda Jackson calls out. Thank you, box office staff!

The cleaning crew: I don't know about you, but I personally have almost fallen flat on my face more than once after slipping on a Playbill left on the floor. And how about those wet, sticky sippy cups with wine left in them? Unfortunately, I guess that's to be expected. People are pigs. Add to that every show that shoots confetti, party streamers or snow into the audience and you have a mess on your hands. Enter the cleaning crew who gets every piece of trash, pesky piece of glitter and every nasty spill off the floor, aisles, steps and seats. Then imagine doing that on a two-show day. Thank you, cleaning crew!

The merch staff: This is one area I can speak about with some authority, having worked merch for two different national tours. It is largely a fun job, actually. You get to meet people with the same enthusiasm for theater. Most people are really nice. But you also get to see the uglier side of people. People pushing and shoving, complaining about prices ("Do you know how much I've already spent to bring my family to see this!!??"), not moving out of the way when they are done, and the one that has caused actual fist fights: butting in line. What ever happened to class? I was fortunate to work behind spacious booths. I really feel for those folks who stand pressed against a wall in a puny Broadway lobby, next to what amounts to a microwave cart. Thank you, merch people!

The security team: It is a sad state of affairs that security teams are even necessary. I am glad we have people willing to do the job. Even if all it does is offer a small peace of mind, I'm glad for it. I take some further solace in the knowledge that there is more security in place than we are aware of. Thank you, security team!

The ushers: Another area that I have first-hand experience with. The unsung heroes of the live theater experience. Most patrons are kind and excited to be there. But then there are the ticket holders who arrive late and blame you because you can't seat them until 15 minutes into the show (or later), or the people who complain when you tell them they can't drape their coat over the balcony and then blame you when their coat starts smoking because it's on a hot light (true story, hand to God). And contrary to popular belief, an usher can't simply remove a patron for talking, taking pictures or recording.  That is someone else's job (for the most part). There's a lot more to the job than handing out Playbills and pointing out seats. It's basically a ratio of 1 usher to every 150-200 patrons. Thank you, ushers!

I'd like to give personal thanks to a particular usher at the Golden Theatre. For the past three shows I've seen there, she's been stationed at the top of the first set of steps from the lobby to the mezzanine. She is the best. Knowledgeable, friendly and genuinely enthusiastic about the show she's working. When we went to see The Waverly Gallery, she told us to be sure to come back for the next show, "by that nice young playwright, Lucas Hnath!" The Shuberts are getting their money's worth with this gem of a lady.

Have a wonderful holiday, readers. I'm so thankful for every single one of you.
Jeff

#1945

LOGOS: The Cher Show

Like the lady who is the subject of the latest bio-musical to hit the stage, the logo for The Cher Show is classy, multi-faceted, colorful and iconic. And like any great Broadway logo, it is eye-catching and reveals a lot about the show it is trying to sell. Plus, it has a great tagline.

In short, this logo is A+ stuff!






As far as the color goes, this is pretty perfect. An even black background really makes the other colors used stand out with a sharp clarity. By using white sparingly, it makes the title also stand out, which is key to advertising.

Then there's the font - so seventies I feel like doing macrame and turning on my lava lamp - so perfect for Cher. After all, her TV show aired then.

And that tagline. What can I say? Can't you just hear her saying it? It not only sounds like her, it's a funny way to say, "come in...buy tickets...see my show." I'll leave it to you to determine how effective the creative, show-related use of "bitches" is.

The Star

The Babe and The Lady

The logo-related images hit all the right notes, too. Even though her career is still going strong, it is really easy to nail down three iconic periods in Cher's life as a performer.  They chose wisely. 60's - 70's Sonny and Cher era (aka "The Babe"), 70's - 80's solo Cher (aka "The Lady"), and 80's - 90's movie star/pop queen Cher (aka "The Star") are easily recognized by the outfits each figure is pictured in. Bob Mackie designs, all, and a great set up for the costume parade you'll see during the show. I mean who doesn't recognize her Oscars gown and headdress?

Again the colors are great, the orange, blue and fuchsia not only stand out against the black, they look great together. They catch your eye and make you look closer. Looking closer = time spent noticing the show = better chance at ticket sales. (So far, judging from weekly grosses, it seems to be working.)

Frankly, I'm surprised there aren't separate window cards for each Cher. I wouldn't know which to choose. Thankfully, there is one with all three. Now, I'll have to choose between that great poster and the equally awesome "3 Faces of Cher" version. Who are we kidding? Both!

Still, part of me will miss the chance to buy just the orange one. Then I could look at it and say, "I got you, Babe!" Ba-dum-dum.

#1944

CD REVIEW: Pretty Woman: The Musical

For me, the biggest surprise of the Pretty Woman: The Musical Original Cast Recording is that I liked it better than the show itself. This, of course, leads me to believe that I'll enjoy the show even more now that I know the music better. For fans of the film, the cast recording features enough of the famous lines from the film to help connect the dots as to where/how the songs would fit in the property they love so much. Full disclosure: I am a fan of the film. I can probably do some of the scenes by memory. When I saw the show, I had to suppress the urge to talk along with the cast. Now I can do that happily in the privacy of my own home.

Grade: A

Title: Pretty Woman: The Musical

Artist: Original Broadway Cast 

Label: Atlantic Records

Number: 573906-2

Format: Single CD

Case: Single Jewel Case

Booklet: Full color, black and white photos, 34 pages.  Essay by J.F. Lawton. Complete lyrics. Album design and layout by SpotCo. Production photos by Andrew Eccles, Matthew Murphy and Bryan Adams.  New York Times review excerpt by Ben Brantley. Album produced by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance.

Where you can get it: Amazon (currently $10.60); iTunes ($9.99)

That Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance will join the ranks of pop artists writing quality Broadway scores (Cyndi Lauper, Sting, Sara Bareilles) remains to be seen. While they have made songs that fit the narrative, and in many cases either reveal character or advance the plot, they seem to be sticking a little too close to their comfortable pop song wheelhouse.  But the score they did create is nothing to be ashamed of, either. Its heart-on-its-sleeve lyric simplicity perfectly matches the book and beloved film upon which it is based. Helped greatly by a uniformly powerhouse cast, it is a lot of fun and very easy on the ears. I'll be adding this to my I-need-to-relax-and-feel-happy playlist of Broadway scores.

Here are the numbers that stand out for me:

1. "Welcome to Hollywood" - Right out of the gate, the opening number sits us right in the middle of the action, setting up the plot quickly, and setting the scene of the seedy side of Hollywood easily. How can you not love singing hookers, pimps and tourists? It also sets Eric Anderson's Happy Man character up as narrator/moral compass. And it is catchy as hell!

2. "Anywhere But Here" - In her Broadway debut, Samantha Barks makes Vivian her own. And this beautiful belt-fest of an "I Want" song proves she was worth the wait. My new "belt in the shower" go-to.

3. "Something About Her" and "You're Beautiful" - Okay, so the titles (and most of the lyrics) are a bit too on the nose, but Andy Karl's delivery of both is so smooth and unassuming, it is amazing. On stage, Richard may get a little lost among all the bright and loud characters, but Karl brings his suave, low-key sexiness to the role and shines. He's the perfect foil for Ms. Barks.

4. "Rodeo Drive" - Orfeh.

5. "Never Give Up On a Dream" - Orfeh and Eric Anderson. Together. Probably the biggest and best departure from the film is giving us more to the characters of Kit and Happy Man. A great number on stage, it's just as good on the recording.

6. "You and I" - The opera house scene. It is lovely, allows Barks and Karl to ooze charisma and chemistry through your ear buds. And you get to hear Allison Blackwell's glorious voice.

No matter the format, this will make a nice addition to your cast recording collection.

#1943

Broadway Heat: The Prom Edition (The Final 4!)

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

BROADWAY HEAT: THE PROM EDITION

Last week, The Prom opened to raves (including right here on this blog!), and you voted on your favorites from the cast. This week, you'll decide which two of the Final 4 cast members - Beth Leavel, Angie Schworer, Christopher Sieber or Teddy Toye - will face off in next week's Championship!

It doesn't matter if you've seen the show or not!  You can still vote! Can't decide? (I can't blame you - these 4 are really something special!) You can vote as many times as you like! 3 clicks and you are done. That's it!

Thanks in advance for voting and for supporting this blog!

Please! Don't forget to click "Finish Survey" at the bottom of the poll. YOUR VOTE WILL NOT COUNT IF YOU DON'T. 

THIS POLL WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23 AT 5 PM

#1942