Many of the shows I've reviewed over the past few months have cast recordings coming out in the next few weeks. Here is a list of those recordings:
Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, even though it hasn't officially even opened yet, just announced their cast recording is coming out right when they open on June 14th, and Amazon currently has it for pre-order for only $9.99. Not sure how long that price will last, so order it now if you want it.
The Book of Mormon will most likely sweep the Tony's this year and the cast recording is currently available as an MP3 download with the cd being released on June 7th -
Stephen Sondheim is the greatest living theatre composer alive. Maybe even the greatest of the past 30 years. He writes music and lyrics, not just music like Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is the combination of music and lyrics that have kept him at the top of the list and made his songs the go to ones for auditions, concerts and recordings. His shows of course are ones that have broken new ground as well. Musicals of demon barbers, aging showgirls, a bachelor afraid to grow old alone or the stories behind fairly tales aren't exactly ones that would get produced today in the current world of turning movies into musicals, so we should all realize just how fortunate we are that thinking was different back in the 70's and 80's and that we have so many amazing Sondheim shows because of it.
Sondheim recently published a book of his lyrics, "Finishing The Hat". This is actually the first of two books, the second volume will be released this coming Fall. "Finishing the Hat" covers Sondheim's show from his first, "Saturday Night" through to "Merrily We Roll Along". The book is an unbelievably rich endeavor filled with not only the lyrics to his shows, but also lyrics for cut songs and alternate versions as well. Sondheim also has plenty to say about the shows and lyrics as well as the many individuals he worked with. The actual name of the book is "Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes." Sondheim's comments give much insight into how his shows developed, giving the reader a bird's eye view into the creation of some of the greatest musicals ever. I can't recommend this book more highly.
First up, Patti LuPone singing "The Ladies Who Lunch" from COMPANY, from the recent 80th Birthday Concert.
More from COMPANY- Raúl Esparza singing "Marry Me A Little" from the recent Broadway revival... I think this is my favorite Sondheim song.
My second most favorite Sondheim song - also from COMPANY - "Being Alive" from the Broadway cast recording session and the documentary of the making of that album ...
"Epiphany" from SWEENEY TODD - sung by George Hearn - from the film made of the National tour that also starred Angela Lansbury....
more "Sweeney" - this time the Tony Award performance of the Revival cast starring Michael Cerveris and Patti LuPone
one last one- my third most favorite Sondheim song, "Finishing the Hat" from SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE sung by Daniel Evans who starred in the recent Broadway revival of the show...
Airing on PBS stations this month is the 25th anniversary concert of LES MISERABLES. What I've seen so far is excellent. I had heard complaints about Nick Jonas (of the Jonas brothers) as "Marius" but his singing is good and I just think he's trying so hard not to screw it up that he comes off a little stiff - but no where near the train wreck I'd heard he was. The sound on this is amazing - huge orchestra and chorus. And, don't forget that "to love another person is to see the face of God" - my favorite lyric from this show.
Definitely check this out- either on PBS - or buy the blu-ray - link below takes you to Amazon.
Here is the cool finale with members of the Origingal London Cast from the concert shot by someone in the audience- this isn't a clip from the broadcast/dvd...
and here is my favorite song from the show- you can't go wrong with "The Confrontation" -sung by Alfie Boa and Norm Lewis at the 25th Anniversary concert...
and you have to love Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel performing this...
and while we're at it, I'll throw in Jason Segel and Paul Rudd singing the song...
Catch Me If You Can / O.B.C.R.
