April 25 - May 1, 2001
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On Broadway
We give a listen to some recent original cast recordings, including the latest Broadway smash hit, The Producers.
PLAYLIST
| Selection |
Source |
Performer(s) |
Comments |
| Brush Up Your Shakespeare |
Kiss me, Kate (OC 1949) |
Harry Clark, Jack Diamond |
The Bard’s birthday is the day on which we recorded this episode. |
| Based on Mel Brooks’ legendary 1967 film of the same name (the screenplay of which netted Brooks an Oscar), The Producers opened on April 19th, 2001 on Broadway to rave reviews and packed houses (word is that the show is now sold out until October). The music and lyrics are by Mel Brooks, who says writing a Broadway show has always been his boyhood dream.
|
| We Can Do It |
The Producers (OC 2001) |
Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick |
Max (Nathan Lane) tries to seduce nebbishy accountant Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick) into his newest theatrical scheme. |
| We Can Do It |
The Producers (OC 2001) |
Eric Gunhus, Gary Beach, Cady Huffman & Ensemble |
The funniest and sickest musical number ever staged celebrates Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Max intends it to be the final blow to the guaranteed flop he's staging as part of a massive scam. The best laid plans..... |
| Where Did We Go Right? |
The Producers (OC 2001) |
Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick |
Max and Leo bemoan the success of the show and the failure of their scheme. |
Although Seussical is based on characters and stories by Dr. Seuss (Theodore Seuss Geisel), only 7 of its 28 numbers are actually use Seuss lyrics. The rest are by Lynn Ahrens (to music by her frequent collaborator Stephen Flaherty) and Monty Python alumnus Eric Idle in the style of the famous author of children’s books. Ahrens says, “It meant a lot to us when Mrs. Audrey Geisel, the widow of Ted Geisel told us she couldn’t tell where he left off and we began. High praise, indeed.”
Seussical opened on November 30, 2000 at the Richard Rogers Theatre, where it is still playing. Reviews have been mixed, with complaints generally criticizing the book (by Flaherty and Ahrens) for trying to cram too much Seuss into one show with a resulting lack of focus. The show went through several major overhauls during the pre-Broadway tour (including completely new costumes by a different designer)
Find out more at www.seussical.com, an appropriately fanciful web site.
|
| The Thinks You Can Think |
Seussical - The Musical (OC 2000) |
David Shiner, Company |
The Cat in the Hat on the virtues of imagination. Shiner (who got a very complimentary review from the New York Times) has since been replaced by several other performers, including Rosie O’Donnell and (currently) Cathy Rigby. |
| Horton Hears a Who |
Seussical - The Musical (OC 2000) |
Kevin Chamberlin |
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, adapted from the famous Seuss poem. |
| It’s Possible (McElligot’s Pool) |
Seussical - The Musical (OC 2000) |
Anthony Blair Hall, Company |
Down on Planet Who, the Mayor’s son JoJo, having been disciplined for believing in the existence of Horton, imagines that “anything’s possible”. This one is also an adaptation of a Seuss poem. |
| Havin’ A Hunch |
Seussical - The Musical (OC 2000) |
Kevin Chamberlin, Company |
Another one based on a Seuss poem |
| Green Eggs and Ham (Curtain Call) |
Seussical - The Musical (OC 2000) |
Company |
How could we leave this out? |
| Produced by the Disney organization (and loosely based on the libretto for Verdi's 1871 opera of the same name), Aida was first presented in Chicago from November 12, 1999 to January 9, 2000. The first Broadway performance was February 25, 2000. It officially opened March 23, 2000 at the Palace Theatre and is currently running. Aida has music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang. Aida copped four Tonys in 2000: John and Rice for Best Score, Heather Headley (Aida) for Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Bob Crowley for Best Scenic Design and Natasha Katz for Best Lighting Design. Find out more at disney.go.com/disneyonbroadway/aida/index.htm
|
| Every Story is a Love Story |
Aida (OC 2000) |
Sherie Rene Scott |
From the liner notes: “The Egyptian wing of a modern museum, where a man and a woman touring the exhibit catch each other’s eyes. Amneris, a female Pharaoh, comes to live and transports us to ancient Egypt.” |
| Fortune Favors the Brave |
Aida (OC 2000) |
Adam Pascal, Company |
“Radames, Captain of the Egyptian army, is returning from an expedition through the land of Nubia, Egypt’s long-time enemy.” |
| Another Pyramid |
Aida (OC 2000) |
John Hickock, Company |
The Prime Minister, Zoser, advised Radames that his father the Pharaoh is dying and so they have to build another pyramid. |
| Easy as Life |
Aida (OC 2000) |
Heather Headley |
Aida contemplates the fact that she must give up Radames in order to save her father’s life. |
| Who Will Love Me As I Am? |
John McDaniel at the Piano: Broadway (2001) |
John McDaniel |
The bandleader for Rosie O’Donnell, McDaniel also worked on recreating the music for the revivals of Grease and Annie Get Your Gun. He produced the OC recording of the latter, which won a Grammy. This song is the "big hit" from Harry Krieger's cult favorite, Side Show. |
Acronyms and other mysteries defined:
OC: Unless otherwise indicated, the Original Cast recording of a Broadway show,
along with the date.
OS: Unless otherwise indicated, the Original Soundtrack recording of a film,
TV show, etc.
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Previous Show—April 18, 2001 |
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