Category Archives: Musicals

The Legacy of Alan Jay Lerner

Posted on December 24, 2005 by David Fick

Where does Alan Jay Lerner fit into the history of musicals? A prolific librettist and lyricist, Lerner had moments of genius (most of My Fair Lady and the film version of Gigi and parts of Camelot, On a Clear Day … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Commentary, Movies, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tony Award Caged Death Match: SUNDAY vs. LA CAGE

Posted on December 20, 2005 by David Fick

Picture it. It’s 3 June 3 1984 and you’re watching the Tony Awards. You’ve watched the performances of each of the nominated musicals: “I Want It All” (performed by Liz Callaway, Catherine Cox, Beth Fowler) from the charming, but uneven … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Commentary, Musicals, Tony Awards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The RNT Production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

Posted on December 20, 2005 by David Fick

Thought for the day: I wish I could have seen the RNT production of A Little Night Music. I adore my cast recording of the show and, by all accounts, it seems that it was an amazing production. Another thought: … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Musicals, Regional, West End | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Your favourite version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL?

Posted on December 15, 2005 by David Fick

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a perennial holiday favourite. I once played a street urchin in a stage adaptation of the novel – one of the first shows I ever did – and I have only good memories … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun Stuff, Movies, Musicals, Plays, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Mixed Race Musical Theatre Casts

Posted on December 9, 2005 by David Fick

One of the hot topics in musical theatre at the moment seems to be the validity of mixed race casting. The trend seems to have been pushed into the spotlight by the television remakes of Cinderella (which featured a completely … Continue reading →

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RENT Rant: Anachronistic much?

Posted on December 3, 2005 by David Fick

Does anyone know the precise year in which RENT is set? It seems that Christopher Columbus and Stephen Chbosky do – 1989. But wait! Wasn’t Thelma and Louise , a film reference in RENT only released in 1991? How did … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“Perfect” Movie Musicals?

Posted on December 3, 2005 by David Fick

The release of RENT seems to have stirred up once more the debate around what makes a film adaptation of a stage musical “perfect”. Is it one that remains as faithful as possible to the material? Is it one that … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Musicals, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Amra Faye Wright in Broadway’s CHICAGO

Posted on December 2, 2005 by David Fick

2006 will see Amra Faye Wright take over as Velma in Chicago for a stint of three months, starting 16 January 2007. Wright, who has performed the role in the South African production of the show, has also starred in … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, General News, International, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

RENT Rant: Living and Dying Hollywood-style

Posted on December 2, 2005 by David Fick

The film adaptation of RENT certainly has its flaws, none more offensive than that which it inherited from its source material: the death of homosexual transvestite Angel and the miraculous survival of Mimi because of the endurance of “straight” love. … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Commentary, Movies, Musicals, Theatremaking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

RENT Rant: Cut Numbers and Spoken Lyrics

Posted on December 2, 2005 by David Fick

On stage, RENT was a rock opera. It’s unquestionable that it is one: the story is told primarily through a series of episodic and eclectic musical numbers that are grounded in the idiom of popular music. On film, RENT looks … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Musicals, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments