Replies: 34 Unseemly Comments
1: What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
2: The Greatest Medley Ever Sung (from "Sister Act Two")
3: Our Time (from "Merrily We Roll Along")
4: Overture (from "The Phantom of the Opera")
5: Grease! Megamix (from "Grease!")
6: And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going (Jennifer Holliday--from "Dreamgirls")
7: Buenos Aires (La LuPone--from "Evita")
8: A Moment Like This (Kelly Clarkson...yes, the American Idol girl...this is a guilty pleasure song for me)
9: Suddenly, Seymour (from "Little Shop of Horrors")
10: New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)
Posted by Jason @ 10/08/2002 08:18 AM PST
I have to come back w/my postings, mabye after/during lunch. Just wanted to say a big Welcome Back Jason (!!) and say to everyone who didn't read all the posts yesterday that Mr. William F. Orr (math professor) may have a second career working with the people from Forbidden Broadway. He re-wrote some lyrics as if Ethel Merman was doing TSOM. Laugh out loud funny they are! Go back and read them.
Posted by Ben @ 10/08/2002 08:24 AM PST
Well, I must first modestly accept Ben's compliment. However, lo these fifteen or so years ago I did call Mr. Alessendri (his phone was listed!) and leave a message inquiring as to whether he accepted submissions from other-than-himself, but he never replied. I had something involving "There are worse things than being in a musical by Sondheim..."
And now to Jason, who was sorely missed, I say sorely missed on Sunday night, but I am assuming that there was something that was more important careerwise than a Hainesy-Kimlet get-together, since I cannot imagine anything being more important socially than a Hainesy-Kimlet get-together (outside of True Love, that is).
Jason, I must take issue with one of your selections. I saw New York, New York, the film, in its initial release (at the Waverly--but unfortunately I lost his address...), and I think I was one of the three people in the country who really liked it.
So when Sinatra recorded the song, I was very disappointed. Liza's version is dynamite. But every note of Frank's tired rendition reminded me of what he could have done with that song when he was younger. I found it sad.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 10/08/2002 09:37 AM PST
Make that Alesandrini.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 10/08/2002 09:38 AM PST
I chose Frank's recording for two reasons...
1) I've never heard Liza's recording (BOY! did I just open up a whole new can of worms...)
and
2) I really enjoy the orchestrations in Frank's version. It's not so much his performance...just the orchestrations.
Posted by Jason @ 10/08/2002 09:47 AM PST
In fact, I absolutely abhor the section of the song where he pulls a Patti and slides and slurs all over the place ("Aaaaaaaaaaaannnnnd-uh if I can make it there I'mgonnamakeit...anywhere...") Only La LuPone can actually pull something that horrendous off and make it "work." Well...even that's a stretch.
Posted by Jason @ 10/08/2002 09:50 AM PST
I also like the film "New York New York", but not the truncated version shown in theatres. The restored version on Video is the only way to see this film because it includes "Happy Endings", a musical number that could have come from the Freed Unit featuring Liza and the late Larry Kert (who was thus left on the cutting room floor in the theatrically released version).
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/08/2002 10:13 AM PST
For those of you Hainsies and Kimlets in the NYC area who appreciate concert readings of neglected musicals with their original books and scores intact, the York Theatre Company has just announced their Fall Musicals in Mufti Season: Rodgers' and Hart's JUMBO; Robert Merrill's NEW GIRL IN TOWN; and The Elmer Bernstein/Carolyn Leigh HOW NOW DOW JONES. The York does five performances each (Friday, 2 Saturday and 2 Sunday) and these will be the last weekend in October and the first two weekends in November. Their casts are not announced in advance, but top Broadway names have frequently been in them. In the past they had Helen Gallagher, Karen Ziemba, Debbie Gravite, Mark Kudish, George S. Irving and many others. And the discussion groups that follow the matinees are worth the price of admission (which is usually very cheap)... you can see all 3 Mufti for less than one show on Broadway. This is not a paid ad, but a testimonial from someone who will take Mufti over Encores! any day... and I enjoy Encores! too. One tip: the drinking fountain has been broken for three years: bring your own water.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/08/2002 11:07 AM PST
Speaking of the Freed Unit...Where is he anyway? Haven't heard from him in a while.
P.S. The Cabaret West Calendar is up on our website. It's mighty full. Take a look by clicking on my name.
Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 10/08/2002 11:14 AM PST
I too loved New York, New York, both the original cut when I saw it for the first time and the expanded director's cut. Even though I have "issues" with Liza as a performer now, back then she still had her talent and could be quite amazing. I'll take her version over Frank's hands down.
My list, in no order, and it's good for today only. It could change tomorrow or depending on the mood I'm in.
1. Theme from the Mary Tyler Moore Show
2. Frank Mills (from Hair)
3. The Way You Look Tonight (done as a duet by Barbara Cook and Tommy Tune)
4. Corner Pocket (Manhattan Transfer from Mecca for Moderns)
5. What a Difference a Day Makes (Dinah Washington)
6. You're Nothing Without Me (City of Angels)
7. My Superman (from the Bruce Kimmel produced Gay 90s)
8. Listen to My Heart (Nancy La Mott)
9. Does Anybody Love You (Boy Meets Boy)
10. The Trolley Song (Liza's mom)
Posted by Ben @ 10/08/2002 11:17 AM PST
My desert island tracks (which would, of course, be completely different tomorrow):
In Buddy's Eyes (Follies) - Dorothy Collins
It Never Was You - Judy Garland
Shades of Scarlett Conquering - Joni Mitchell
Emmie - Laura Nyro
Third Symphony - Ned Rorem
Hero And Leander (Myths and Hymns) - Adam Guettel
Beauty Secrets (Lola) - Barbara Cook
The Worst That Could Happen - Jimmy Webb
The Way You Look Tonight - Fred Astaire
and (having just been reminded by Ben above):
Listen to My Heart - Nancy LaMott
But there are about a million more I could name!
Posted by Allan @ 10/08/2002 01:01 PM PST
I remember the Golden Globe awards for the year when "New York, New York" was nominated for Best Song. Liza was supposed to sing it, but she was ill, so sister Lorna stepped in...and she was SENSATIONAL!
There are too many songs and singers of songs to ever come up with just 10 on a CD-r and be satisfied:
On the S.S. Bernard Cohen -- Barbara Harris
The Music that Makes Me Dance -- Barbra Streisand
Last Tango in Paris -- Andy Williams
Nobody's Perfect -- Mary Martin/Robert Preston
Johnny One Note -- Judy Garland
Tango Tragique -- Barbara Cook
Trouble -- Robert Preston
I Won't Send Roses -- Robert Preston
The Tea Party -- Lansbury, et.al.
Now, Soon, Later -- Carious, et.al.
: (
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/08/2002 01:13 PM PST
Where have all the posters gone???
Posted by Paula Cole, folksinger with hairy armpits @ 10/08/2002 02:00 PM PST
A quick hello and welcome to Jason. And to Frank Mills!
I shall be back late to post my list.
Welcome back to Allan too.
Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 10/08/2002 02:02 PM PST
TOM FROM OZ: check yesterday's posts, please. :-)
Posted by Jason @ 10/08/2002 02:04 PM PST
Has no one really posted since 2:04 p.m. PST?
I see Jason's post with that time on it...and no more after?
Did someone send some sort of knockout virus that put everyone else to sleep?
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/08/2002 07:44 PM PST
No viruses here; just a busy night with rehearsal. and that fell after a lengthy, busy day at work. Ooh! My Feet! Indeed!
...and now back to the magnificent Platinum Edition of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST from Disney DVD.
Posted by td @ 10/08/2002 08:53 PM PST
"An Occasional Man"-Jeri Southern
Theme from "A Summer Place"- Percy Faith
"Hold My Hand"- Don Cornell
"Dream" - Fred Astaire
"The Folks Who Live On the Hill"-Peggy Lee
"Evening Star"- Guy Haines
"The Last Spring"- Lyn Larsen
Overture to "Gypsy"
Overture to "No, No, Nanette"
"Terminal"- Guy Haines
Posted by Kerry @ 10/08/2002 08:57 PM PST
"An Occasional Man"-Jeri Southern
Theme from "A Summer Place"- Percy Faith
"Hold My Hand"- Don Cornell
"Dream" - Fred Astaire
"The Folks Who Live On the Hill"-Peggy Lee
"Evening Star"- Guy Haines
"The Last Spring"- Lyn Larsen
Overture to "Gypsy"
Overture to "No, No, Nanette"
"Terminal"- Guy Haines
Posted by Kerry @ 10/08/2002 08:57 PM PST
Ooops!
Posted by Kerry @ 10/08/2002 08:57 PM PST
Ooops!
Posted by Kerry @ 10/08/2002 08:57 PM PST
My list...at the moment...
"Corner Pocket (Until I Met You) - Manhattan Transfer
"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" - Billy Joel
"Blue Rondo a la Turk" - Dave Brubeck Quartet
"Rose's Turn" - Gypsy
"Now/Later/Soon" - ALNM
"Color and Light" - SITPWG
"Spinning Wheel" - Blood, Sweat, & Tears
"Hello Twelve..." - A Chorus Line
"Luck of the Draw" - Violet (Jeanine Tesori)
"West Side Story Suite" - Buddy Rich
Posted by Jed @ 10/08/2002 09:53 PM PST
I, too, have not meant to be errant and truant, or truant and errant today. I actually had two rehearsals today for two different shows (one of which was a final tech), plus a brief meeting for a third show that I'll be doing. If I could have had some time to sit down at a computer and post away earlier, I would have. So, now that I am...
1) "This Time the Dream's On Me" - Ella Fitzgerald
2) "Finishing The Hat" - Mandy Patinkin
3) Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" - Dawn Upshaw
4) "Zombie Jamboree" - Rockapella
5) "Bring Me To Light" (Finale) from Violet (Boy, do I soooo love that score/show)
6) "Now I Have To Know" from big - Patrick Levis - A truly sentimental pick of mine, since Patrick was a student of mine, and now he's got a show on the Disney Channel - and recorded for our own BK!
7) "Bring Him Home" - Colm Wilkinson
8) "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top" - Nancy LaMott
9) "Tears of Joy" - Tuck & Patti
10) "On A Clear Day" - Christine Andreas
*Bonus, Internet Only Track - "Cantique de Jean Racine" (Faure)
**Hidden Track - My niece and nephew laughing.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/08/2002 10:24 PM PST
Ahh, Jose, I'm so glad to find another fan of Violet! A sadly unknown show, I think. Just a wonderful score, through and through. And to think our dear host BK has never heard it! Unseemly, says I, most unseemly.
Think I'm gonna have to stick it in the CD player when I get home (...just loving this fershluganah 9-midnight work shift, doncha know).
I also see that I'm going to have to track down this "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" that I've been hearing about so much around here...
Posted by Jed @ 10/08/2002 10:40 PM PST
My list:
Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast-
Wayne Newton/Downtown - Mrs Miller/Ringo - Lorne Green/Disderata - Les Crane/I'll Be There - Mariah Carey/Oops I Did It Again - Britney Spears/Losing My mind - Liza/Send In The Clowns - Mel Torme/We Can Fix It - Bob The Builder/Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/08/2002 11:11 PM PST
Here's the real one:
Carly Simon - Not A Day Goes By
Linda Ronstadt - Feels Like Home
Barbra Streisand - He Touched Me
Barbara Cook - Will He Like Me
Dusty Springfield - Windmills Of Your Mind
Peggy Lee - Pieces Of Dreams
Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer
Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea
Robert Goulet - Little Prince
Frank - Love's Been Good To Me
Posted by Tom Guest @ 10/08/2002 11:14 PM PST
Jed & Jose. "Violet" gets played in this house too.
Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 10/08/2002 11:16 PM PST
Here's my list...at the
moment...in no particular
order.
"Come What May" Moulin
Rouge (Call me a sap if you
must)
"At The Ballet" Chorus Line
"Crash" Dave Matthews Band
"One Day More" Les Mis
"Fortress Around My Heart"
Sting
"Sweet Transvestite" Rocky
Horror Picture Show
"Every Day A Little Death"
ALNM
"Overture" Candide
"Children and Art" SITPWG
"I Know Him So Well" Chess
(Barbra Streisand version)
Posted by Ann @ 10/08/2002 11:19 PM PST
To the other Violet fans (and soon to be fans, I hope)... I was very lucky to be able to do a production of the show a few years ago - I was the music director/pianist. I know it can be a hard show for some audience members to understand, but it simply is a beautiful show. I think I cried every night in the finale - there are two false climaxes before the real one, and then this great release with three voice sustaining notes - WOW! *I also was fortunate to have some contact with Jeanine Tesori, since I had known her in her "previous" life as Jeanine Levenson when she was a conductor for The Secret Garden and The Who's Tommy among other shows - she seemed to always be in the pit of the St. James whenever I was in NYC.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/08/2002 11:28 PM PST
So...where's all the chatter that usually gets added on to these columns when Bruce isn't able to post a new one?
Thanks to all of you for discussing a show I'd never heard of -- and one which did not show up when I plugged "Violet" into the Broadway database, or Amazon.com or Footlight.com.
Oddly enough, however, I got a hit on "Jeanine Tesori" on Amazon.com...and there the album was...and it's on order...and I'm betting you all are correct and that it will be another "lost treasure" for me to wallow in.
I love those wallows!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/09/2002 10:25 AM PST
I thought it was just my slow old computer that wasn't showing today's notes. BK is probably on his plane heading home, leaving us here with old used notes.
Posted by Laura @ 10/09/2002 10:34 AM PST
Chatter? You want chatter?
Violet: The CD can be hard to find. Jeanine actually put together the money herself with some other people to get the album produced. I thank them everytime I listen to the CD. The CD is actually "enhanced" in that there are extra singers for some of the chorus sections. However, both the CD and the live version are stunning on their own right. While the full Broadway Gospel Chorus sounds great on the CD, having a cast of 12 sing in almost 12-part harmony from time to time is amazing. Hopefully, it will continue to get produced here and there around the country. If I find myself having to take a long drive, I usually play it once (or twice) on the trip. And when I did my one and only bus & truck tour, sometimes the bus sequences on the album were enhanced by my real live bus trip.
It ran off-Broadway, so it might not show up in some of the on-line databases.
A Good Laugh: Oh, I meant to pass this on a few days ago... One of my guilty pleasures is the CBS daytime lineup of soap operas. -I still remember coming home from school, and the only thing on worth watching at the time seemed to be "Guiding Light". Well, on "The Young & The Restless" last week, there was a totally classic laugh out loud scene where Diego was trying to make up for an indiscretion he had had with his current girlfriend's sister-in-law - hey, it's the soaps. Well, after arguing with Victoria for a few mminutes - spread over out over a few commercial breaks - he was told to leave the house. So... The episode closed with him standing outside her window yelling, "Victoria! Victoriaaa! Victooooorrrriiiiaaaa!". I couldn't help but laugh... and then I laughed some more as they continued to show him yelling "Victoria"... Can the Tennessee Williams estate sue on the grounds of a bad imitation? -Oh, and when the story line was picked up the next time, they opened the episode with, "Victoria!!!!..."
Well, I hope all is well with Bruce, and that he's getting royal treatment on the plane ride back West.
Oh, and as for an innapropriate audition for a child, I once witnessed a 9-year old girl performing "Dance Ten, Looks Three" from A Chorus Line! It was scary and amazing all at the same time. Scary that she was doing the number at all, and amazing that she actually kind of did it well. She even included a little bit of the monologue that leads into it.
Oh, Poll for the day... Do you prefer "monolog" or "monologue".... Or "coffe" or "coffee"?
Just curious... and passing the time....
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/09/2002 11:19 AM PST
Oh, and child performers.
The Discovery Channel did a show a couple of years back about child beauty contests, with all the competitive, driven mothers making nasty cracks about the other little girls and all.
Well, one particularly aggressive mother had her little girl belting out "Everything's Coming Up Roses" (off key, of course), and evidently nobody noticed the irony.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 10/09/2002 11:29 AM PST
OK Jed, Jose, Tom & Ron - so much said about "Violet" I followed the yellow brick road path to Amazon and ordered a copy.
Jed - If you can't find Dawn Upshaw's recording of
"Knoxville" let me know. I bellieve it is still in print, but if not I would be glad to burn you a copy.
BK - sorry I missed you while in NY (sent regrets to Susan). Trust we'll get to share some ham & cheese next time you're in town. BTW - are you still in touch with David Levy? Sent himn a post on his web site the other day, haven't heard back from him yet.
Posted by Phil @ 10/09/2002 11:36 AM PST
