Category Archives: Musicals

Pop Idol’s Darius in CHICAGO

Posted on November 21, 2005 by David Fick

Tonight is Pop Idol contestant Darius Danesh’s first official night as Billy Flynn in the West End production of Chicago. No one I’ve spoken to this that the casting is a brilliant idea, although more seem to say it might … Continue reading →

Posted in Musicals, West End | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CHICAGO in London and Ute Lemper as Velma

Posted on November 6, 2005 by David Fick

Thought for the day: This is probably a rather unpopular opinion but I really do not like the London Revival Cast Recording of Chicago much at all. For me, there is just something missing. I don’t find it particularly entertaining. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cast Recording Reviews, Commentary, Musicals, West End | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Posted on October 30, 2005 by David Fick

Beauty and the Beast is a show that is a hot property for community theatres around the United States right now. One of the most frequent questions asked by aspiring Belles seems to be this: is it more important for … Continue reading →

Posted in Disney, Musicals, Theatremaking | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

STARLIGHT EXPRESS: Perfect for Animation?

Posted on October 5, 2005 by David Fick

Don’t you think that Starlight Express would work brilliantly as a CGI film? I think it’s possibly the only way to imagine an effective film adaptation of the show, especially if it was produced by a company like PIXAR who … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Broadway, Movies, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Michael John LaChiusa and the “Faux Musical”

Posted on August 2, 2005 by David Fick

Opera News published a super article by Michael John Lachiusa about the state of musical theatre. Entitled “The Great Grey Way”, the article is essential reading for anyone interested in musicals and how they are developing in this new century. … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Commentary, Dance, Musicals, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 90 Comments

SWEENEY TODD on DVD: the Show or the Concert?

Posted on January 30, 2005 by David Fick

The question is simple: which of the two DVD versions of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd do you like better: the fully staged version with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury or the concert version with Hearn and Patti LuPone? For me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Concerts, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

CHESS Question: a Definitive Recording?

Posted on January 22, 2004 by David Fick

There are many recordings of Chess: the 1984 Concept Album, the 1988 Original Broadway Cast Recording, the 1994 Swedish Concert Cast, the released then withdrawn 2001 Danish Tour Cast Recording and the the 2002 Swedish Cast Recording (which is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Cast Recording Reviews, Concept Albums, International, Musicals, West End | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

The Most Frequent LION KING FAQ

Posted on December 21, 2003 by David Fick

Probably the most frequently asked question I see about Disney’s The Lion King on the Internet (along with whether it should have won the Tony Award or not – but that’s another debate for another blog) is whether or not … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Broadway, Movies, Musicals | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

THE STEPHEN SONDHEIM COLLECTION

Posted on September 23, 2003 by David Fick

Image Entertainment has released The Stephen Sondheim Collection, a beautiful DVD collection of six Sondheim DVDS: Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, Follies in Concert, Passion, Sweeney Todd in Concert and A Celebration at Carnegie Hall. Presented … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, General News, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Opinions on Liza as Norma in SUNSET BOULEVARD?

Posted on August 15, 2003 by David Fick

Thought for the day: I’d love to see Liza Minnelli as Norma in a film version of Sunset Boulevard, however unlikely a casting that might be. If she was able to sing the role with whatever help the studio could … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Musicals | Tagged , , | 20 Comments