2018: August 28, 21, 14, 7 | July 31, 24, 17, 10, 3 | June 26, 19, 12, 5 | May 29, 22, 15, 8, 1 | April 24, 17, 10, 3, March 27, 20, 13, 6 | February 27, 20, 13, 6 | January 30, 23, 16, 9, 2
2017 | 2016 | 2015
CDs Now Available:
Bernstein: Wonderful Town
(LSO Live - new on Hybrid SACD - DSD/on mp3/at iTunes)
2017 London Symphony Orchestra concert at the Barbican Concert Hall conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. Cast includes Danielle de Niese, Alysha Umphress, Nathan Gunn, Ashley Richards, Duncan Rock, and David Butt Philip. "Overture," "Christopher Street," "Ohio," "Conquering New York," "One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man," "What a Waste," "A Little Bit in Love," "Pass the Football," "Conversation Piece," "A Quiet Girl," "Conga!," "Entr'acte," "My Darlin' Eileen," "Swing!," "Quiet Incidental," "Ohio (Reprise)," "It's Love," "Ballet at the Village Vortex," "Wrong Note Rag," "It's Love (Reprise)," "Conga! (Audience Participation Version)" (Bonus Track). Digital album includes digital booklet.
Chip Deffaa's Gay Love
(new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Twenty-eight songs of love, loss, and longing, sung by Trent Armand Kendall, Jon Peterson, Seth Sikes, Clark Kinkade, Dylan Adams, Cody Jordan, John Brady, Luka Fric, Bailey Cummings, dave warren, Peter Charney, Keith Anderson, John Tartaglia, Santino Fontana, Chip Deffaa, Tyler Duboys, Magnus Tonning Riise, Austin Owen, Alec Deland, Ellis Gage, Timothy Britten Parker, Baby Jane Dexter, Kristy Cates, Tom Andersen, Lee Roy Reams, Stephen Bogardus. "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," "There Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth the Salt of My Tears," "I Hate You," "Pretty Baby," "I Can't Give You Anything but Love," "Until I Fell in Love with You," "Gay Love," "Kiss Your Sailor Boy Goodbye," "I'm Crazy for My Baby in a Uniform," "You'd Be so Nice to Come Home To," "More Than You Know," "You're so Beautiful," "Here," "Do It Again," "The Old Dancer's Blues," "He's a Good Man to Have Around," "We Have Much to Be Thankful," "He May Be Your Man, But He Comes to See Me Sometimes," "I Used to Love You but It's All over Now," "I Wonder Where My Lovin' Man Has Gone," "My Buddy," "Matelot," "Something to Live," "Maskulinum-Femininum," "I Loved Him but He Didn't Love Me," "I'd Rather Be Blue over You," "Old Friends," "I'll Follow My Secret Heart." Produced by Chip Deffaa. Released April 2018.
Renée Fleming: Broadway
(Decca Classics - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Album of showtunes. "Fable," "Loneliness of Evening," "Children Will Listen/You've Got to be Taught" (with guest star Leslie Odom Jr.), "So Big So Small," "Something Wonderful," "Wonderful Guy," "Lay Down Your Head," "Down in the Depths," "Love and Love Alone/Winter," "Dear Friend," "The Sound of Music," "Unusual Way," "Till There Was You," "The Glamorous Life," "Tell Me on A Sunday," "August Winds," "All the Things You Are." Music supervisor Rob Fisher and producer David Frost.
Sandhog: A Folk Opera studio album
(Stage Door Records - new on CD at Amazon)
Score by Earl Robinson and Waldo Salt. The musical opened at New York's Phoenix Theatre in November 1954 featuring a cast that included Jack Cassidy, Alice Ghostley, David Brooks and Betty Oakes, closed after 48 performances, and was never recorded. In 1956, Earl Robinson and Waldo Salt recorded an album of the score with Robinson singing and accompanying himself on piano and Salt providing linking narration. It was issued on the Vanguard label, no released for the first time on CD. Bonus tracks: five tracks form the Off-Broadway cast recording that features Jack Cassidy, Alice Ghostley, and Betty Oakes; and recordings of the show's main theme "Katie-O" / "Johnny-O" covered by Edmund Hockridge, Felicia Sanders, and Vince Martin. Part of Stage Door's Collector's Series, presented in the retro style of a miniature long-playing record. Limited to 500 units. 31 tracks. Also at StageDoorRecords.com.
Unexpected Joy
(JAY Records - new on CD/at iTunes)
York Theatre cast recording. Score by Janet Hood and Bill Russell. Cast includes Courtney Balan, Allyson Kaye, Daniel, Luba Mason, and Celeste Rose. "How Do We Go On?," "Like a Good Girl," "I Think Im Losing My Voice," "Before You Arrive," "She's Got a Mind of Her Own," "I Don'T Wanna Get Married," "What a Woman Can Do," "Better Times Are Comin'," "You Are My Worst Nightmare," "Unexpected Joy," "When Will I Have My Own?," "Raising Them Right," "Common Ground," "Bows (Unexpected Joy Reprise)," "Exit Music."
DIGITAL RECORDINGs Now Available:
Lena Hall Obsessed: Beck
(Ghostlight Records - new EP on mp3/at iTunes)
Series continues with "Sexx Laws," "Think I'm in Love," "Tropicalia," "Devil's Haircut."
Michele Brourman: The Price of Love
(FingerFood Music - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Michele Brourman performs her own songs. "Let's Order In," "Help, Thanks, Wow" (lyric: Amanda McBroom), "Orange Blossoms," "Consolation Prize," "Mary Said No" (lyric: Amanda McBroom, "Buttercup Moon," "Indian Boy" (lyric: Karen Gottlieb, "And I You" (lyric: Sally Mayes), "We Can Let It Go ," "You're Only Old Once" (lyric: Amanda McBroom), "The Price of Love" (lyric: Robin Brourman Munson), "London in the Rain" (lyric: Amanda McBroom). Produced and Arranged by Michele Brourman and Stephan Oberhoff. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Stephan Oberhoff at Full Circle Productions.
Ibeyi: "Rise Up Wise Up Eyes Up"
(Atlantic Records - digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Part of Hamildrop series of covers from Hamilton. Released 8/31/18.
BOOKs Now Available:
Broadway to Main Street: How Show Tunes Enchanted America
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Laurence Maslon. Based on new interviews with Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Chita Rivera, Barbara Cook, Julie Andrews, Steve Lawrence, and prominent record producers and music critics. Places the original cast album within the larger context of our national identity.
Includes companion website with audio examples. 320 pages; 39 photos.
Corduroy Takes a Bow
(Viking Books for Young Readers - Hardcover Book/Audible Audiobook)
By Viola Davis. Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. Corduroy goes to the theatre for the first time. "From the orchestra pit to the prop table to the dressing rooms, Corduroy sees it all." 32 pages. Audiobook version narrated by Viola Davis. Preschool-Kindergarten level.
The Essentials of Theater: A Guide to Acting, Stagecraft, Technical Theater, and More
(Allworth Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Lisa Mulcahy. Includes a brief history on theater over the centuries and basic terminology, tips on interpreting scripts, developing characters, and utilizing props. 256 pages.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Going to the Theatre (But Were Too Sloshed To Ask, Dear)
(Nick Hern Books - Paperback Book)
By "West End Producer." Advice on "What shows to see and what to avoid (how to see the hits and not the shits), "Where to sit (without developing ongoing neck problems and deep vein thrombosis), "How to combat theatre rage (and get to the ladies' loos before anyone else), "What to eat (crisps, sweets, or kebabs?), "What to wear (from the correct attire at press night, to the importance of a good, reliable codpiece at The Globe), "How to leave early if the show is rubbish (a 'Shrubbish'). 224 pages. Released on Kindle in 2017.
Recordings RECENTLY MADE AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER:
After Anatevka: A Novel Inspired by "Fiddler on the Roof"
(Pegasus Books - Audible Audiobook)
By Alexandra Silber. Foreword by Sheldon Harnick. Historical novel that imagines what happens to the characters of Fiddler on the Roof (original stories by Sholem Aleichem) after the curtain falls. Narrated by the author. Hardcover Book and Kindle Edition released earlier.
The Boy Who Danced on Air
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
Original cast (Abingdon Theatre Company) recording of score by Tim Rosser and Charlie Sohne. Cast includes Osh Ghanimah, Troy Iwata, Deven Kolluri, Jonathan Raviv and Nikhil Saboo. Bonus track by Grammy Award winner India.Arie. "A Song He Never Chose," "Little Dance," "For a Night," "All That I've Known," "With Him Around Me," "Kabul," "Play Your Part," "Into Your Hands," "A Song He Never Chose (Reprise)," "A Boy of My Own," "Denying the Sun," "What You Did to Me," "In the City," "I Can See It," "Paiman's Dance," "I Know How You Feel," "A Song He Never Chose (Finale)," "Feda's Song," Bonus Track: "His Song" (India.Arie). Also at BroadwayRecords.com. [Amazon link should start working soon.]
King Kong: A Jazz Musical Original London Cast / Original South African Cast
(Stage Door Records - new on import CD)
Music by Todd Matshikiza and lyrics by Pat Williams, from 1959 Johannesburg musical inspired by the life and death of the heavyweight boxing champion Ezekiel Dlamini. Cast includes Nathan Mdledle, Peggy Phango, Sophie Mgcina, Joseph Mogotsi, Ben Masinga, Lemmy "Special" Mabaso, The Alexander Junior Bright Boys, Patience Gcowabe. 1961 London cast Nathan Mdledle, Miriam Makeba, Ruth Nkonyane, Joseph Mogotsi, Dan Poho. Bonus tracks include pop covers of by Elaine Delmar and a jazz instrumental of the show's title song by Terry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen. Also at StageDoorRecords.com.
Let's Go in to a Picture Show
(Harbinger Records - new on CD)
Original recordings of popular songs on the subject of moving pictures from the first two decades of the 20th century. Artists include: Harry Burr and the Peerless Quartet, Elliott and Everett Clark, Arthur Collins, Billy De Rex, The Edison Military Band, George Henry Elliott, Harry Fay, Rube Goldberg, Byron G. Harlan, Charles Hart, Ada Jones, Irving Kaufman, Harry MacDonough, Billy Murray, M.J. OConnell, Len Spencer, Walter VanBrunt, George Watkins. Extensive liner notes are written by Ron Magliozzi, Curator, Department of Film, Museum of Modern Art. As an added bonus complete lyrics and background information are included on each song. Produced by Ken Bloom.
The Other Josh Cohen: A Musical With Songs
(Yellow Sound Label - new on CD)
Studio recording of Steve Rosen and David Rossmer score for show returning to Off-Broadway in fall 2018. Hank Azaria, Sutton Foster, James Monroe Iglehart, Brian d'Arcy James, Richard Kind, Jenn Colella, Caissie Levy, James Roday, Lindsay Mendez,, Celia Keenan-Bolger, John Ellison Conlee, Sarah Chase, Sarah Bishop, E. Clayton Cornelius, Jeremy Geller, Marissa Rosen, and Rashidra Scott. Currently pre-ordering at BroadwayRecords.com.
Session Girls (Original Concert Cast Recording) - Live at Feinstein's/54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
New musical by Mia Moravis. Recorded live at Feinstein's/54 Below. David Rossmer and Steve
Rosen, Lauren Worsham, Jill Abramovitz, Oyoyo Joi, Brian Charles Rooney, Robbie Rozelle, Ryan Andes, Megan McGinnis, Lisa OHare, Bart Shatto, Jeff Hiller, and Emily Padgett. "Introduction By Session Girls Creator, Mia Moravis," "Painfully Self-Aware," "Majoring in Minor Things," "Tighten My Grip on You," "I Got a Key," "The Empty Chair," "Nobody Understands Me," "Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "I Got a Key (Reprise)," "I'm a Producer (And You're Not)," "I Dreamt of You," "Since When Is Schmoozing a Crime?!," "Never a Shoo-In," "Nothing to Brag About," "We Should All Just Be Excellent," "If You Want to Make Dough on a Show," "At Least We've All Got Us." Produced by Michael J. Moritz Jr. Currently at BroadwayRecords.com. [Amazon link should start working soon.]
A Star Is Born
(Interscope - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes/vinyl LP)
Soundtrack for 2018 musical film starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Includes Songs by Lukas Nelson. "Intro," "Black Eyes," "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" (dialogue), "Fabulous French" (dialogue), "La Vie En Rose," "I'll Wait For You" (dialogue), "Maybe It's Time," "Parking Lot" (dialogue), "Out Of Time," "Alibi," "Trust Me" (dialogue), "Shallow," "First Stop, Arizona" (dialogue), "Music To My Eyes," "Diggin' My Grave," "I Love You" (dialogue), "Always Remember Us This Way," "Unbelievable" (dialogue), "How Do You Hear It?" (dialogue), "Look What I Found," "Memphis" (dialogue), "Heal Me," "I Don't Know What Love Is," "Vows" (dialogue), "Is That Alright?," "SNL" (dialogue), "Why Did You Do That?," "Hair Body Face," "Scene 98" (dialogue), "Before I Cry," "Too Far Gone," "Twelve Notes" (dialogue), "I'll Never Love Again" (Film Version)," "I'll Never Love Again" (Extended Version)."
Who's Your Baghdaddy, or How I Started the Iraq War
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
Original cast recording of score by Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo. Cast includes Ethan Slater, Brennan Caldwell, Jason Collins, Brandon Espinoza, Joe Joseph, Claire Neumann, Bob D'Haene and Larisa Oleynik. "The Pledge," "Marty's Dilemma," "We Deserve Better," "Stay Preprise," "Das Man," "Stay," "I Deserve a Reprise," "Berry and the Bad Boy," "Rules," "Berry's Dilemma," "Hydrangea Reports," "We Deserve Another Reprise," "Hydrangea Reports Reprise," "Music to Me," "Who's Your Baghdaddy," "Change of Tone," "Hydrangea Reports Reprise," "The Second in Command," "Martin's Speech," "Speak to Me Tomorrow," "The Pledge Reprise." Musical direction by Rona Siddiqui and orchestrations by Charlie Rosen. The cast recording is produced by Matthias Winter. Also at BroadwayRecords.com. [Amazon link should start working soon.]
Books RECENTLY MADE AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER:
Adapting The Wizard of Oz: Musical Versions from Baum to MGM and Beyond
(Oxford Univ Press - Paperback Book)
Danielle Birkett and Dominic McHugh, editors, bring together insights from eleven experts into the varied musical forms this great American myth has taken in the past century. Starting with the early adaptations of L. Frank Baum's story, the book also explores the writing, composition and reception of the MGM film, its importance in queer culture, stage adaptations of the movie, cult classic The Wiz, Stephen Schwartz's Broadway blockbuster Wicked, and the cultural afterlife of the iconic Arlen-Harburg songs. 272 pages.
Balanchine and Kirstein's American Enterprise
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By James Steichen. reveals their partnership of George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein to found a ballet company and school in the United States, New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet. This history involved artists including Richard Rodgers, Martha Graham, George Gershwin, Katherine Dunham, Vera Zorina, and Igor Stravinsky, as well as dozens of lesser known players whose contributions have yet to be fully acknowledged. 312 pages.
The Lost Letters of William Shakespeare: The Undiscovered Diary of His Strange Eventful Life and Loves
(Shakespeare House Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Edited and adapted Terry Tamminen. Selection of some 90 letters the editor received in 1989 covering the years 1586 to 1589, from the time Shakespeare leaves his hometown of Stratford until the time he establishes himself as a playwright in London. 546 pages.
Pipeline (TCG Edition)
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Play by Dominique Morisseau. 2017 Lincoln Center production to be shown in cinemas October 3, 5 & 7, 2018. 96 pages.
OTHER NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Amazon link now working:
The Beast in the Jungle
(Broadway Records/Yellow Sound Label - new on CD/digital)
Score from the recent Off-Broadway show. Music by John Kander. Produced by Michael Croiter and David Loud, and co-produced by Kumiko Yoshii, Una Jackman and Jay Alix. Also at BroadwayRecords.com.
Added to October 21:
Shuffle Along of 1950
(Harbinger Records/Musical Theater Project - new on CD)
Original demo to the proposed Broadway musical, Shuffle Along of 1950, songs played by Eubie Blake and narration and vocals by Noble Sissle. Several songs from the original Shuffle Along are included as are new songs written especially for this production by Sissle and Blake. Bonus tracks: remastering of the only surviving acetate of a historical "Salute to Ruth King." Ruth King was a famed Cleveland DJ who celebrated black musicians. Such notables as Sissle and Blake and the legendary W.C. Handy, composer of "St. Louis Blues," play for Ms. King. Extensive liner notes by Richard Carlin and Ken Bloom. 42 tracks.
Added to November 2:
Sidney Myer Live!
(Harbinger Records/Musical Theater Project - new on DVD)
Live recording of Sidney Myer at the Laura Beechman Theatre in New York, from his sold-out six one-man shows presented by The Mabel Mercer Foundation. Known for his witty musical comedy, Sidney delivers numbers that are understated and even heartbreaking. Myer has performed around the world making New York his base.
Added to November 15:
Steve Ross: It's Almost Christmas Eve
(Harbinger Records/Musical Theater Project - new on CD)
Steve Ross with SuEllen Estey, Ron Spivak, and Benjamin Weil. "Sing a Little Song of Christmas," "The Christmas Waltz," "Snow Flakes," "Snow," "Goin' on a Sleigh Ride," "It's Almost Christmas Eve," "Christmas Eve," "Lovers on Christmas Eve," "Christmas in New York," "Santa Claus: A Syncopated Christmas Song," "Who Says There Ain't No Santa Claus?," "Toyland," "We Need a Little Christmas," "A New Deal for Christmas," "I Saw Three Ships," "Three Ships," "Happy Christmas, Little Friend," "If I Had Three Wishes for Christmas," "Together This Christmas," "A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing," "I Don't Remember Christmas," "After the Holidays," "The Twelve Days After Christmas," "A Christmas Wish for You," "The Wassail Song." Arrangements by Steve Ross.