A question for our esteemed BK: How do you think the DVD of Sweeney Todd in Concert (with Mr. Hearn and Ms. LaPone) stacks up in comparison with the Hearn/Lansbury taping of the full (or nearly) production?
Second question: Which Sondheim related DVDs do you consider essential for anyone who loves musical theater?
(I won't ask which ones you think should be ignored completely, because that would be rude. Someone else can ask that!)
MBarnum - You are about to become a Thousandaire! Post Number 27 put you at 999. I'm slowly working my way there with 894 posts.
Well, here is a thought-provoking question :
What song immediately pops into your head when each of these dear readers is named?
All right, then:
Which of the following Sondheim-related productions would you recommend the proverbial lover of musicals have in their video collection?
FILMS:
West Side Story
Gypsy, starring Rosalind Russell
Gypsy, starring Bette Midler
A Little Night Music
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Dick Tracy (hey, he won an Oscar for that song! It counts!)
The Last of Sheila
STAGE PRODUCTIONS PRESERVED ON FILM (OR TAPE):
Sweeney Todd
Sunday in the Park with George
Into the Woods
Passion
Putting It Together
OTHER PERFOMRANCES:
Bernadette Peters in Concert (a.k.a. "Mostly Sondheim")
Original Cast Album: Company
Sweeney Todd in Concert
Go ahead, get catty if you want to!
BK, since you've known DR Jane and DH (that's Dear Husband - happy birthday by the way DH) Keith since their childhoods, I wonder, are they compiled as passing characters in any way in any of the Kritzer books?
Dear Friend BK, did you and Mr W discuss the subject of my phone call yesterday? I'm sorry your neck's acting up. Have it checked; I might have avoided cervical disc surgery in 1999 if I'd kept tabs on the symptoms.
Mornin', All!
BK Question: Sweeney Todd is one of my very favorite shows, and even though there are a lot of nits to pick at on this taping, I am very happy that it's finally been preserved on DVD. But ST had been available before on video. There is a ton of shows that had been broadcast on TV that I would also love to see on DVD, like Applause and the Japanese broadcasts of Pacific Overtures, The Will Rodgers Follies and 42nd Street. But one of the things we always hear is that any transfers of these kinds of broadcasts would be held up because of the "rights". I have just a vauge idea about what these rights entail. Could you give a brief explaination what they are and what the possible snags could be for the shows I've mentioned?
Well, here is a thought-provoking question for ASK BK DAY:
With respect to ALL of the lovely dear readers, I have singled out only the TOP TEN POSTER in order to ASK BK:
What song immediately pops into your head when each of these dear readers is named?
JRand
Tomovoz
Matt H.
Jennifer
Panni
Jane
TCB
td
S Woody White
Michael Shayne
It's early in the morning here, so you have lots of time to think of answers,
Here is my BK question for the day (for all HHWers to answer)...what are some recurring dreams that you have or used to have.
One problem: I still can't get the HHW Broadway show to work on my 'puter. I have the latest version of Real Player but all it does is open up the intro and pauses halfway through (somewhere around Donald's "Welcome") and then absolutely nothing happens no matter HOW long I wait.
I used to love listening to Donald's show so this bugs me to no end.
My Question to BK: What gives? :)
MBarnum...
I am indeed a PC person and I have Real Player 10. The program works properly with all other Real Player shows I have listened to and also with the RP blurbettes on amazon.com
I have had this problem ever since I got my computer back in October. Back then I assumed it was yet another issue with my ongoing drivers woes but once those were fixed it still doesn't work. And it's only at this site.
Oh well... I guess I'll just have to be Donald-less for a little while more. :(
Mornin', All!
BK Question: Sweeney Todd is one of my very favorite shows, and even though there are a lot of nits to pick at on this taping, I am very happy that it's finally been preserved on DVD. But ST had been available before on video. There is a ton of shows that had been broadcast on TV that I would also love to see on DVD, like Applause and the Japanese broadcasts of Pacific Overtures, The Will Rodgers Follies and 42nd Street....
The change of 2 hours time difference due to daylight savings has thrown my posting times quite out of sync with my daily routine. This will be a long few months!
Here is my BK question for the day (for all HHWers to answer)...what are some recurring dreams that you have or used to have.
Here's another song that comes to mind -
Jennifer: Food, Glorious Food (works for me, too, as well as other dear readers I'm sure)
I would be very surprised if the tape to APPLAUSE is lost. Is it not in the archive of the Museum of Television and Radio?
What song immediately pops into your head when each of these dear readers is named?
JRand
Tomovoz
Matt H.
Jennifer
Panni
Jane
TCB
td
S Woody White
Michael Shayne
I imagine DR Panni often hears the same song that's serenaded to me:
Panni!
Panni, Panni, Bo, Banni!
Banana, Fanna, Fo, Fanni!
Fee, Fie, Fo, Manni!
Panni!
Now let's do Chuck!
Chuck, Chuck, Bo, Buck!
Banana, Fanna, Fo...
Good morning everyone! I did an interview for Kinko's this morning...and it actually went really well! It would only be a part time gig, it turns out, but one I could do whilst still keeping my current job. This would be hunky dory for me, if nothing else full-time comes along.
Cars - currently I drive a 1994 White Plymouth Acclaim. A very good car, I have no complaints. I have decided that she is a transvestite. Sometimes she wants to be referred to as a girl, sometimes a boy. My last car was a 1984 Chrysler New Yorker...aka The Talking Car aka The BBQ Machine. The license plate read 632-BBQ. I thought that was the coolest thing ever.
Matt H, Keith did write the post to Charles Pogue today since I don’t know what I’m talking about when it comes to computers and software. :)
Which makes me think Barry Manilow might be a pretty good vocal coach, because with the strange exception of George, I thought most people gave strong performances and were on their game last night.
And for you and anyone else who might be celebrating this weekend, take a moment to Learn to Dance Properly!
http://www.zefrank.com/invite/swfs/index2.html (http://www.zefrank.com/invite/swfs/index2.html)
LOL - but Jennifer those moves DO catch the eye.
I'll push us to Page 3 with post 90 and then a little song, a little dance, a little selzter down your pants
Jennifer, I expect they chose someone like Manilow because at least he's lasted and has had some staying power (I'm not a huge fan of his music). Most of the pop stars of your generation are here today and gone tomorrow. And, as is apparent from this board, much of the audience is not under 25. Heck, last year they had Neil Sedeka on. He goes back to when I was about 12.
Same with TV shows, one of the reasons the Networks are sinking faster than an anvil tied to an anchor is they are marketing to a group that doesn't really watch all that much network TV or TV at all. They have other amusements...DVDs, videos, cable, computers, gameboys, etc. Meanwhile there is a whole group of stay-at-home older folk they are completely ignoring.
Here is my BK question for the day (for all HHWers to answer)...what are some recurring dreams that you have or used to have.I keep dreaming about being back at my old workplace. It seems that, even though they know I've retired, they've still got just a little more that they need me to do.
I Don't Know My Lines!!! -- very much like MBarnum's dream.
Nuclear NightmaresHad one of these a few decades ago. I was at college, we were rehearsing a play when the word came that nuclear bombs had been exchanged and that fallout was eminent. We went into the basement of the theater, but I ran to the outside door and looked and saw snow...and realized I'd never see my parents again.
Sex DreamsMine have always been "lessons" in being too shallow, too unwilling to look beyond "the right look means right here and right now" -- bodies have exchanged heads in my dreams. I always end up laughing and agreeing with the lesson being taught.
NY Post: Monkey Do by Michael Riedel:Riedel is quite the terrible writer, and seems proud of the fact. NAMBLA jokes, IMO, are never appropriate in a family newspaper. And I thought everyone knew that Joe Allen saves his wallspace for flop musicals.
On the play Prymate:
"Early preview crashers and Internet gossipmongers are buzzing about a sex scene between a gorilla and a young woman - a scene, one of my spies says, that's "going to make Broadway history." "
:)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04212004/entertainment/19179.htm
Had one of these a few decades ago. I was at college, we were rehearsing a play when the word came that nuclear bombs had been exchanged and that fallout was eminent. We went into the basement of the theater, but I ran to the outside door and looked and saw snow...and realized I'd never see my parents again.
What song immediately pops into your head when each of these dear readers is named?
Jennifer, maybe they got Barry Manilow for the same reason they got Paula Abdul...neither one has anything else to do right now.
George did you choose the nifty license plate or just get lucky?
I was very impressed that Barry Manilow seemed to take the time to work with each contestant.
But (and this was pointed out by a friend), why would they choose to do songs by somebody like Barry Manilow?
The performers are all under 25 and the viewers are mainly young as well. Why not cater to their viewership?
I drive a Red (they go faster) Misubishi Lancer (1997).
JMK - I haven't seen the castrecl notice, but I think I know what you're talking about. I don't really know what it means yet - it could mean one of several things.
Do any Dear Readers have a favorite new sitcom this season?
Jennifer, go to the website which will not be named and notice their "notice," so to speak. What goes around.....
For some reason, I never believed Frank really wanted to see Salome dance!
DR JRand asked: "In a couple of movies I notice they have Wardrobe Direction Charles LeMaire and Costumes by Travilla. What is the difference? And Peyton Place credits Adele Palmer for costumes, but in the commentary Terry Moore says that Charles LeMaire did her dresses. Of course it doesn't matter now because most everything is purchased rather than built for films, but what's the deal?"
During the studio system days, the major studios had a head of the wardrobe department. Edith Head functioned as the head of Paramount for many years. Adrian, then Irene, then Helen Rose functioned as MGM's wardrove head. At Fox, Charles LeMaire was their wardrobe head. Some of the designers had their hands in every production and got credit on every one (read Edith Head). Others were more supervisory in nature and often other staff designers (like Travilla or Walter Plunkett) or freelancers (Irene Sharaff) were used for the primary wardrobe. In some cases, the head designer would design for a star and then someone else would do the rest of the clothes. Sounds like that's why both LeMaire and Travilla got credit on the film.
As I said last night, I'm guessing the bottom three tonight will be John, Jasmine, and LaToya.
Jennifer, go to the website which will not be named and notice their "notice," so to speak. What goes around.....I notice they're also selling a certain something. Whether or not they're shipping is a different matter.
SWW - I don't know Lullabye from CHESS. I hope it doesn't meant I put you to sleep! :-\In the Broadway version of Chess, the second act takes place in Budapest. Florence, who was a child refugee, gets to meet a man who she is told is her father. He sings to her a lullaby in Hungarian (and I appologize for not knowing how to accent properly):
Sorry I must have missed where you wrote that.
I think John will be bottom 3. But I would be surprised if LaToya was. Simon basically said last night that she was the best singer. And I think the public generally listens when he says someone is good.
Aludj kicsi lanykam
Hunyd be szmecsked
Almod edes szarnyan
Suhanj konnyeden
Apukad eros kezen.
Elaludt a parnad
Elalszik a feny
Suhanj kicsi lanykam
Almod kek egen
Apukad eros kezen.
Jatekaid arvan
Varnak szerteszet
Egyetlen bogarkam
Aludj konnyeden
Apukad eros kezen.
I got rid of some of the my photos from the past....maybe that will help.
I'm a blank! :(
Jane, the reptile man at the zoo identified them as gopher snakes. So my morning wasn't as exciting as I had thought.
Jennifer, maybe they got Barry Manilow for the same reason they got Paula Abdul...neither one has anything else to do right now.
Has anyone ever tried lucid dreaming?
DR Panni: I meant no disrespect to your heritage, you certainly must know that. My reaction was based purely on orthography. I'm truly sorry if you took it otherwise.
Good, photos are back. Just post them judiciously.
I have no pictures of judges.
My boss said, "That's IT! When we get back to the office, your taking those darn (paraphrase there) shoes off before you KILL yourself!" Of course there were comments about my wearing heels to the shows when I take my trip up to NYC. Soooo to make a long story short I have ordered some new FLAT shoes off the net. Sigh. I hope they get here in time. And I had such lovely high heeled shoes too. Double Sigh.
DR Panni: I meant no disrespect to your heritage, you certainly must know that. My reaction was based purely on orthography. I'm truly sorry if you took it otherwise. I have absolutely no knowledge of Hungarian, other than certain Rhapsodies I was forced to play repeatedly as a child learning the piano. :)I'm partly guilty here, for not providing the translation given in the CD booklet.
DR Danise, you know what I think? Well, I'll tell you anyway. I think you should ignore these slugs who want to kill your dream. I think you should put in some practice time with the heels on the kitchen floor. Practice! Practice! Practice! So by the time the New York trip comes up, you'll be able to put these cynical killjoys in their place and walk tall!
That's right, Danise. If Dan (the Man) can learn to walk in heels, then so can you!
SWW -- I don't know the song you chose for me, either. The Legacy? Can you give me some details?From On the 20th Century, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Act two: Oscar's hopes of getting Lily to star in his production, and save him from total ruin. He decides to end it all, and being the thorough melodramatic sort that he is, takes time to distribute his worldly posessions between his loyal cohorts Owen and Oliver. The posessions are all theatrical, as befits the man who owned them. His cape and his fedora, two ticket stubs from Abie's Irish Rose, that sort of thing.
From On the 20th Century, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Act two: Oscar's hopes of getting Lily to star in his production, and save him from total ruin. He decides to end it all, and being the thorough melodramatic sort that he is, takes time to distribute his worldly posessions between his loyal cohorts Owen and Oliver. The posessions are all theatrical, as befits the man who owned them. His cape and his fedora, two ticket stubs from Abie's Irish Rose, that sort of thing.
It's a fun song. When I heard that Green had died, I automatically reached for the recording, as Green himself the most fitting tribute anyone could give him. Heck, it's a great tribute to anyone who lives in the theater.
Let's all put on heels and makeup and go walking in our various and sundried neighborhoods.
I feel we should start a Frank Thring fan club. We should have Frank Thring t-shirts and hats.
I cheated -- oh yes I did!
I went to the AI community chat room.
Let's all put on heels and makeup and go walking in our various and sundried neighborhoods.Which reminds me, the first annual Rehoboth Beach Dog Walk on the Boardwalk is this Saturday. All funds raised will go to the Humane Society of Delaware, to help make this a kill-free state.
Happy birthday Keith!
I used to get the elevator dream a lot. Has anyone else had this? The dream starts off like any other dream. I go into a building of some kind, like a store or someone's house. And I always end up getting in an elevator even if there isn't one in that building in real life. The doors close and the elevator goes up, and then the doors won't open again. The elevator keeps moving up and down and I can't get out. I really hate that one.
Well, if they do have enough phone lines to accommodate the calls for AMERICAN IDOL, that must be on the West Coast only. I have consistently gotten busy signals since the competition began, and last night was no exception.
I see what the AI producer meant by shock. Not so much who went home but who the bottom three were. Totally unexpected.
We haz come to a stand still. Perhaps Mr. Frank Thring will come along and save the day.