Good lord... I am FAILING at this... lol

Well, at least my intentions were good. Heck, I was even listening to the soundtrack for this blog while I was writing my last one. I just didn't make this blog a priority. I NEED to work on that. How will I ever get through my list of over 200 shows if I don't buckle down and write about them. Oh well. At least I have some really good things to say about this show. It is a musical that I hold VERY near and dear to my heart.

 Where do I start with this show... I know a lot of people who groan at the mere mention of this show. They immediately think of "Tomorrow" and how annoying that song can be. I am NOT one of those people. I had the extreme pleasure of playing Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks about 7 years ago (2005). It wasn't even on my radar of shows I was planning on doing at the time. I thought it was a little weird for a 26 year old guy to play SUCH an iconic part, which was WAY out of my age range. However, I got a phone call asking me to come to the last night of auditions. All I was told was that they had me in mind for a part, but they wouldn't tell me what it was. When I showed up, and they told me what I was reading for I was flabbergasted. I pretty much knew that I would EVENTUALLY play the part, but not this early in my acting career. Fast forward 8 weeks or so, and I was performing the part that would become one of my absolute favorite roles to play... And it still remains one of the VERY few parts I would play at a moments notice. I loved every second of this show.

Now, for my ACTUAL review... I'm pretty much going to do this in three parts... Original soundtrack, the movie (1982), and the TV movie (1999)...

Soundtrack - I LOVE this soundtrack, except for one HUGE thing... I am not a fan of Andrea McArdle (Annie) at such a young age. She was WAY too much of a belter for such a vulnerable part. It worked for her when she got older, but not for this part. I KNOW how much controversy this could cause, and I am ok with that. I stand by my opinion. Other than her belting, this soundtrack is great. I especially love "N.Y.C." (what can I say... I'm selfish... lol), and I will ALWAYS wish I could be an orphan just so I could sing "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile". I can't even listen to that song without getting a HUGE grin on my face.

The Movie (1982) - Now... even more controversy... First, the good.  Carol Burnett is a GENIUS in the role of Miss Hannigan.  She is perfect EVERY SECOND she is on the screen.  Now... for my problems with this one...  My biggest problem with this movie is that the producers/director made a HUGE mistake by deciding not to stick to the original show.  They wanted a bigger, more adventurous ending, so they changed it.  In doing that, they created two pretty major characters that aren't even in the musical... Punjab and Asp (yes, it was pretty racist... but I guess they figured nobody cared).  I didn't care for the new stuff AT ALL, which is why this is probably my least favorite version of the show... which leads me to...

The TV movie (1999) - This is probably the most unknown of all the versions out there (at least the ones I'm reviewing), however, it is probably my favorite of the three.  It pretty much sticks to the plot and songs of the stage show.  The girl who played Annie (Alicia Morton) did a really good job, and doesn't get the credit she deserves for this performance.  She doesn't belt it (when it doesn't need to be belted), and she just seems to "get" the character.  I loved Victor Garbor as Daddy Warbucks, and Alan Cumming and Kristen Chenoweth are pretty much spot on.  I wasn't as much of a fan of Kathy Bates as Miss Hannigan, but she does an ok job (nobody can beat Carol Burnett). 
 ***Fun Fact***  The youngest orphan (Molly) was played by Sarah Hyland... who grew up to play Haley Dunphy on "Modern Family"...

All in all, there are good things about all of these versions of the show, but no matter the flaws in the recordings/movies... this is a REALLY fantastic show.  I would give it a 9.5 out of 10... 

Next show I review will be...  Annie Get Your Gun!  Hopefully, it won't take as long this time... lol

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to comment and discuss!  

Another day, "Another Pyramid", another show... lol

Hey everyone... The latest show I am reviewing is one that I have listened to only a couple times over the last 12 years or so (basically since it first came out). In listening to it again this week for the blog, I remembered WHY I only listened to it a couple times... I'll get into the reasons later though... For now, here you go.

This is what MTI (Music Theatre International) says about the show. "Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA is a contemporary musical take on a grand classic tale of the timeless bond between an enslaved Nubian princess and an Egyptian soldier. As forbidden love blossoms between them, the young lovers are forced to face death or part forever. Together, they set a shining example of true devotion that ultimately transcends the vast cultural differences between their warring nations, heralding a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity." Here's what I say about it... MOST of the show is a snooze-fest. I'm just not a fan of this show. HOWEVER, there are a couple really good songs that are GREAT for auditions, or small performances... Most notable are "My Strongest Suit" and "Easy As Life". On the soundtrack, they are performed by the always brilliant Sheri Rene Scott, and TOTALLY under utilized Heather Headley. This show just has too many flaws for me to totally enjoy it. For a show that takes place in ancient Egypt, I don't like the rock opera style of the music. All in all, I would give this show a 6 out of 10... I didn't like the show as a whole, but with a couple standout performances, and a couple pretty good songs, they earned that 6... lol. Next show on my list is one I REALLY am excited to put in my two cents worth... because I have been IN the show, and it still stands as one of my favorite shows I have ever been a part of... ANNIE!!!

Sorry for the delay... lol

Hey everyone. Sorry for the delay in blogs. Honestly just got carried away in doing other things. Next one won't take as long. For this installment of my Broadway musical blog, I am going with a show I have been avoiding for a long time... "A Chorus Line". But just because I hadn't given it a chance before doesn't mean I didn't do my research this time around.

This is what Wikipedia said about the show... "A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. With nineteen main characters, it is set on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre during an audition for a musical. The show provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers." Now for this show, because I KNOW how a LOT of people consider it to be one of their favorites, I wanted to give it the best chance I could... which meant using as many resources as I could get my hands on. I ended up listening to both the 1975 original cast recording AND the 2006 revival cast recording. I also broke down and watched the 1985 movie version... My verdict without explaining why (yet) is that the show is just alright. Now, before people jump down my throat for this assessment, let me explain why. Not surprisingly, I had heard most of the songs before actually LISTENING to the soundtrack. I have been to enough auditions, recitals, and musical revues that it would be hard NOT to have heard them. Having said that, it really didn't sway my opinion of the show, if anything, listening to the whole show made me appreciate the songs more. I think my main problem with the show is a pretty simple one, and it TOTALLY explains why so many people adore this show. I just didn't connect with ANY of the characters in the show. I'm willing to bet that the people who love this show as much as they do have at least one character that they COMPLETELY identify with. Whether it is the aging dancer who just wants her one last chance, the young person just trying to figure out their sexuality, or any of the other characters in the show... I just didn't have that connection. That being said... the show itself is pretty good. I MUST take this opportunity to give props to composer Marvin Hamlisch, who recently passed away. He wrote some pretty memorable music, and he will be missed. In each recording there were some songs that I liked better than in the other one... The best example is the song "Sing". In the original, the girl (Kristine... who isn't supposed to have a good voice) belts out the incorrect notes with such gusto, that you totally understand why she has relied so heavily on her dancing ability. They even have the line "What I lack in pitch, I sure make up in power". In the revival, there is NO belting. She doesn't accentuate the lack of singing ability as much as she SHOULD have... It just didn't work in the recording. And they COMPLETELY missed the ball by not having that song in the movie. The part was played by Nicole Fosse... the daughter of the legendary Bob Fosse and his equally talented wife Gwen Verdon. With his dance ability, and his wife's comedic timing, the song could have been a home run with such a great genetic line. Sadly, it wasn't meant to be. All things considered about this show, I would give it a 7 out of 10... I will listen to it again, but I don't see it becoming a part of my normal rotation. Next show on my list... Aida.

Show #3... And it's an OBSCURE show!!!

Hey everyone. Sorry for the delay in getting these blogs done every day. This last week has been pretty crazy. That being said, I still listened to another Broadway soundtrack, and today's show is one that I doubt ANY of you have heard of. It is called "70, Girls, 70".

This is what Wikipedia says about the show... "The musical is based on the 1958 play Breath of Spring by Peter Coke. The plot concerns a group of larcenous old folks who steal furs from various New York City stores with the intent of using the proceeds from their resale to buy their Upper West Side retirement hotel, the New Sussex Arms, which is slated to be sold to developers." Basically... old people want to save their retirement home from being destroyed, so they resort to crime to try and raise the money to save it. To say this is an obscure show is an understatement. I had never heard of the show before I got a hold of the soundtrack, but I LOVED it. As much as "13 The Musical" had some questionable material for the age of its actors, this show had just as many risque jokes, and this time I thought it was adorably cute. There is just something about people of the elderly persuasion singing about how people are always asking if they still "do the deed". As much as it would seem gross to hear them singing about it, they never actually describe anything (the song is called "Do We")... and I thought it was adorable. And as for the singing on this album... you understand from the first verse of the first song that these people are "old". This recording was done in 1971, and it sounds better to me than last weeks recording of "42nd Street". I would LOVE to see this show actually performed locally, but I don't think it will ever happen. It is too obscure a show for theaters to take a chance with... PLUS, it could be tough to find a bunch of 70+ year olds with LOTS of energy to do this show. I'm not saying its impossible, but it would be tough. All in all I loved this recording. The songs were catchy, the story sounds fun, and I couldn't stop smiling as I was listening to it. If you are able to find a recording of this gem of a show, give it a chance. You will love it. I'd give "70, Girls, 70" an 8 out of 10... Next show is another one that I have just been putting off listening to... "A Chorus Line"... And since I have two different recordings of it (original 1975 cast, and 2006 cast), I have to listen to both... Oh goody (this "oh goody" is oozing with sarcasm if you couldn't tell... lol). See ya next time.

Day 2 of "A Musical a Day"... "42nd Street"

Look everyone... Day two, and I have listened to another show. Today's show is "42nd Street".

For those interested, here is the synopsis according to Tams-Witmark (performance license holders for this show). "This is the story of hard work, being in the right place at the right time, talent and love. FORTY-SECOND STREET is a celebration of Broadway and the people involved in shows. It focuses on aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer, and takes us along her journey." OK... what did I think of it. Well, I wasn't all that impressed. I totally understand that this is a "tap" show. And that when watching it, you get to see some awesome tapping. That being said, I couldn't appreciate the amount of "tapping" that you had to hear on the recording. I would have much preferred to hear JUST the music in the background, and not the tapping of feet. My other problem with this recording is the performers themselves... I just didn't enjoy their voices... They seemed to ALL be singing WAY TOO LOUD. Maybe that was the style they were going for, but I didn't like it. Although a couple of the tunes were kinda catchy ("We're in the Money", "Lullaby of Broadway", and "Shuffle Off to Buffallo") nothing else was very memorable for me... Then again, I had already known those songs. I totally get that most (if not all) of the music in this was written in the late 1920's and early 1930's, there are some great songs and shows that came out of that era. This one just doesn't do it for me. All in all... I'm not a fan. I'd give "42nd Street" a 6 out of 10. Next time... a REALLY obscure show... "70, Girls, 70"...

A Musical a Day... Day #1... "13 The Musical"

Day #1!!! First one out of the gate COULD stir up some interesting discussion...

First off... here is the description of the musical according to MTI (Music Theater International)... "A grown-up story about growing up! When his parents get divorced and he's forced to move from New York to a small town in Indiana, Evan Goldman just wants to make friends and survive the school year. Easier said than done. The star quarterback is threatening to ruin his life and his only friend, Patrice, won't talk to him. The school freak sees an opportunity for blackmail and someone is spreading the nastiest rumors." OK... Here's MY thoughts on the show. Let me start by saying that I had heard about this show for a few years now, but hadn't actually taken the time to listen to it. Even though I really like the music of the composer (Jason Robert Brown... he wrote "Parade" and "The Last Five Years"), I just wasn't impressed with this one. And I think I know why. This musical was written to be performed by young teenagers (hence the title... 13). And I'm sure that for younger listeners this show would be great for them. My problem with it is the subject matter. I don't want to sound like a prude, but having young, 13 year old kids singing about "tongue kissing" (in several songs) is just uncomfortable to me. Not that it doesn't happen in real life (I know it does), I just don't want to see it, and I don't want to hear about it... Call me old if you like, but that's just what I think. As for the music. Some of the songs were pretty catchy... I especially liked "What it Means to Be a Friend", and "A Little More Homework"... The kids on the album were all really good. And for what its worth, some of the songs would make GREAT audition songs for younger singers... All in all, I would give "13 The Musical" a 7 out of 10. Next time... "42nd Street" - Original Broadway Cast Recording (1980)

Finally focusing my thoughts!!!

Hey everyone! After a few attempts at trying to write a blog, I realized that I REALLY needed to get some focus to my blog. As much as I TRY and be interesting in what I write, I know that it is pretty scatterbrained and random. And I have figured out something to do! Here's a little back story... For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed the music of Broadway... Now, I KNOW what your first thought is... "gay"... Um... NO! Musical Theatre is NOT just for "gay" people. Straight people (like me) can enjoy showtunes too... I understand that not everybody enjoys it, and that is fine. If you are one of the people who doesn't like musicals, this blog might not be for you. A couple days ago, I had to drive down to my dad's house for a funeral. I knew it was going to be a long car ride, so I put a couple shows on my phone to listen to on the trip. On my way home I put on a show that I hadn't listened to, but kinda wanted to check out (the show was "Aspects of Love"... more on that show later)... While listening to it, a crazy thought just sort of hit me... As much as I THOUGHT I knew about musical theatre, there are a LOT of shows that I just don't know about. It isn't for the lack of access to them (I have over 200 Broadway soundtracks on my computer), it was just the simple fact that I never took the time to listen to them. So I decided to change that. Starting tomorrow (I think), I am going to listen to a different Broadway show every day (sort of in alphabetical order). Some of them will be new (to me), some will be so familiar that I will sing every word of the show along with the recording... No matter what though, I will have to give an honest opinion of what I think of the show. Some of the reviews might be glowing, some might criticize the performers, but I have to be honest. Now, there are some shows that I just simply don't have yet... That COULD change over the course of the next several months, and if I need to, I can just patch the reviews in where needed. Maybe after I get comfortable with the schedule, I might try and experiment with other types of reviews. Maybe a podcast, or a vlog (video blog). All in all, I am looking forward to this new adventure. Wish me luck, and if you have any special requests, I would be HAPPY to do my best to make it work. So starting tomorrow... 13 - The Musical