LOVE NEVER DIES Albums Released Today!

Posted on March 9, 2010 by David Fick

Today is the day when the Phantom returns. The premiere recording of Love Never Dies, the much anticipated sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, will be released today in two formats. The deluxe edition includes a bonus DVD, with interviews (with Andrew Lloyd Webber, set designer Bob Crowley and the stars of the show) and filmed footage exploring the recording sessions in London.

Incidentally, tonight is also opening night for the production, which has been in previews since 22 February. It’s finally time to see whether the show has been shaped into a piece as enduring as its forerunner. For that privilege, New York audiences will have to wait until 11 November.

Purchases from Amazon.com

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
1. Love Never Dies Concept Album Cast Recording.
2. Love Never Dies Concept Album Cast Recording – Deluxe Edition.

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

It’s Kander and Ebb Night at the Vineyard

Posted on March 8, 2010 by David Fick

Kander and Ebb TributeThe Vineyard Theatre, currently the home of the new Kander and Ebb musical The Scottsboro Boys, will host a gala paying tribute to that musical theatre team, the creators of shows such as Cabaret, Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman, tonight.

Along with John Kander, the show will musical theatre personalities like Liza Minnelli, Jason Danieley, Mario Cantone, Norm Lewis, Chita Rivera, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba, Julia Murney and Heidi Blickentsaff, along with the cast of The Scottsboro Boys, all offering performances in tribute to that special kind of Kander and Ebb musical theatre magic. David Hyde Pierce will host the evening – which also promises to include some special surprise guests…

Posted in Concerts, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“A Little Prayer” for Chenoweth in PROMISES, PROMISES

Posted on March 1, 2010 by David Fick

A brief bit of news about the upcoming Broadway revival of Promises, Promises: Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s hit song, “I Say a Little Prayer” will be added to the score of the musical, to be sung by Kristin Chenoweth in the first act of the show. Anyone want to hazard a guess about how it will be integrated into the plot? And can anyone think of a reason for incorporating the number into the show besides giving Chenoweth another hit song to sing?

Posted in Broadway, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Than Just A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC…

Posted on March 1, 2010 by David Fick

Details for the cast recording of the revival of A Little Night Music have been released by Nonesuch and PS Classics. The album will hit stores on 6 April, with pre-order dates for those ordering directly from the labels’ websites coming soon.

Produced by Tommy Krasker, the 2-disc set will not only include the classic Stephen Sondheim score but will also contextualise the numbers through the generous use of sections of Hugh Wheeler’s book for the show. The track list for the album is as follows:

Disc One

1. Overture / Night Waltz
2. Prologue: “The night smiles…”
3. Now
4. Later
5. Soon
6. The Glamorous Life
7. Remember?
8. You Must Meet My Wife
9. “A virgin”
10. Liaisons
11. In Praise of Women
12. Every Day a Little Death
13. “The tour’s over for a while…”
14. A Weekend in the Country

Disc Two

1. The Sun Won’t Set
2. Night Waltz II
3. It Would Have Been Wonderful
4. Perpetual Anticipation
5. Send in the Clowns
6. The Miller’s Son
7. Soon (reprise) / You Must Meet My Wife (reprise)
8. “A wooden ring”
9. A Weekend in the Country (reprise) / Every Day a Little Death (reprise)
10. Send in the Clowns (reprise)
11. Last Waltz

The cast album was recorded on 4 January, with – thank goodness – an expanded orchestration (from 8 to 12 pieces). Definitely one for the wish-list!

Posted in Broadway, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daniel Radcliffe Takes a Stand Against Homophobia

Posted on February 28, 2010 by David Fick

Daniel Radcliffe has been vocal about his distaste for homophobia in the past, but now the star of the “Harry Potter” film franchise is gearing up to make a PSA speaking out against the matter and promoting the cause of gay suicide prevention. The actor, who recently participated in a reading of the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really trying and is rumoured to be starring in a forthcoming Broadway revival of the show, said the following of his involvement in the PSA:

Well said, Mr Radcliffe! Here’s a transcription of his words in case this clip disappears, as is sometimes prone to happen on YouTube:

I grew up knowing a lot of gay men and it was just never something that I even thought twice about – that some men were gay and some weren’t…. I think it’s important for somebody from a big, commercial movie series like “Harry Potter” and particularly because I am not gay or bisexual or transgendered…. The fact that I am straight makes not a difference, but… it shows that straight people are incredibly interested and care about this as well… This is probably the thing I’m most passionate about.

The PSA that Radcliffe filmed is for The Trevor Project, a prominent organisation focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Find out how you can support them by visiting their site today.

Posted in Broadway, General News, Musicals, YouTube | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Casting for WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN Workshop

Posted on February 24, 2010 by David Fick

Women on the Verge of a Nervous BreakdownLincoln Center Theater has announced that a reading of the musical adaptation of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, with workshops toward that end starting on 4 March.

According to Variety, Patti LuPone, Tom Hewitt, Sherie Rene Scott, Jessica Biel and Oscar Isaac have been contracted for the reading. Previous participants in readings of the show have included Paulo Szot, Joanna Gleason, Salma Hayek, Mia Maestro and Matthew Morrison.

None of the actors mentioned above has been officially cast in the forthcoming Broadway production; indeed no names have been announced to that end as of yet. It’s anyone’s guess who’ll end up playing Pepa and the range of colourful characters that inhabit the world of un ataque de nervios.

The show, which is based on Pedro Almodóvar’s 1988 film, has book and lyrics by Jeffrey Lane and music by David Yazbek and will be directed by Bartlett Sher. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is aiming towards a November opening with previews starting on 2 October this year.

Purchases from Amazon.com

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
1. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown DVD.

Posted in Broadway, Musicals, Readings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NIGHTMARE ALLEY…

Posted on February 23, 2010 by David Fick

Nightmare AlleyNow here’s a musical that sounds really interesting…

Nightmare Alley, based on a 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham, tells the story of Stan, a con turned carnie, who falls in love with Molly, the dark darling of the traveling carnival. Filled with freaks, geeks, lovers and fools, the show considers fate, free-will and the consequences that await when you make the wrong choice.

Set in the dark, shadowy world of a second rate carnival, the novel was the inspiration for a 1947 film featuring Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell.

Now, Jonathan Brielle has adapted it for the musical theatre stage and the new musical will receive its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles in April this year. Of his creation, Brielle says:

When I first read the novel, I was so struck by the question of how someone sinks so low as to become part of a carnival freak show that I felt the need to put this story to music. After working closely with the Gresham estate and in recent years collaborating with Gil, I feel like we are truly ready to raise the big top and watch these fantastic characters come to life in all their revelry and tragedy on the Geffen stage.

Directed by Gilbert Cates, the cast features James Barbour, Mary Gordon Murray, Larry Cedar, Michael McCarty, Melody Butiu, Leslie Stevens, Anise E. Ritchiem and Alet Taylor. It sounds like one to watch….

Posted in Commentary, Musicals, Regional | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LOVE NEVER DIES Previews Begin

Posted on February 22, 2010 by David Fick

Love Never Dies, the much anticipated sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, begins previews in London tonight, ahead of a March 9th opening. Just 2½ weeks to shape up the show into something that everyone involved hopes will be as enduring as its forerunner.

By now, most people know that the action of Love Never Dies takes place 10 years after the mysterious disappearance of the Phantom from the Paris Opera House. Christine Daaé accepts an offer from anonymous impresario to come to America and perform at New York’s fabulous new playground of the world – Coney Island. Arriving in New York with her husband Raoul and their son, Gustave, Christine soon discovers why she has been lured from France to sing.

The cast recording will also be released on 9 March and can already be ordered from Amazon. A deluxe edition, which includes a bonus DVD, with interviews (with Andrew Lloyd Webber, set designer Bob Crowley and the stars of the show) and filmed footage exploring the recording sessions in London, is available.

Purchases from Amazon.com

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
1. Love Never Dies Concept Album Cast Recording.
2. Love Never Dies Concept Album Cast Recording – Deluxe Edition.

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

Longest Running Broadway Musicals

Posted on February 21, 2010 by David Fick

This is the list as it stands at present, with the shows that have moved up the list since last October in green.

1. The Phantom of the Opera – 9179 performances, still running
2. Cats – 7485 performances
3. Les Misérables – 6680 performances
4. A Chorus Line – 6137 performances
5. Oh! Calcutta! (Revival) – 5959 performances
6. Chicago (Revival) – 5508 performances, still running
7. Beauty and the Beast – 5461 performances
8. The Lion King – 5125 performances, still running
9. Rent 5124 performances
10. Miss Saigon – 4097 performances
11. 42nd Street – 3486 performances
12. Mamma Mia! – 3456 performances, still running
13. Grease – 3388 performances
14. Fiddler on the Roof – 3242 performances
15. Hello, Dolly! – 2844 performances
16. My Fair Lady – 2717 performances
17. Hairspray – 2641 performances
18. Wicked – 2614 performances, still running
19. Avenue Q – 2534 performances
20. The Producers – 2502 performances

You can find out more about many of the shows on this list by visiting the pages in the links bar above.

Posted in Broadway, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LOVE NEVER DIES Rehearsal Photographs

Posted on February 20, 2010 by David Fick

Playbill has published three photographs from the rehearsals of Love Never Dies. Here’s just one, featuring Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo with director, Jack O’Brien:

LOVE NEVER DIES Rehearsals

None is particularly enlightening. I wish there’d been a greater range of shots available.

Purchases from Amazon.com

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
1. Love Never Dies Concept Album Cast Recording.
2. Love Never Dies Concept Album Cast Recording – Deluxe Edition.

Posted in Broadway, Musicals, Photo Calls, West End | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment