“I love it! I love it! I love this business. I wouldn’t do - look, I can’t I don’t, know how to do nothin’ else, but if I did, I wouldn’t change this for anything in the world. Whoo. I mean, you don’t know. You-you don’t know, but there is something that goes on between us, I must tell you. When you get home into the quiet of your wherever, think about what you are doing for me. You’re sending in - it’s a- it’s, it’s tangible, I can feel it. I can hear it, even when you’re quiet. It may just be pockets around here that don’t even like it, but what you sendin’ in is so positive that I’m workin’ with it, you know! I’m using it! Really, it’s fantastic. I not - I not only am - exist on you and really, when I’m out here, I don’t give a damn about anything that’s going on outside…”

- Lena Horne, ‘The Lady and Her Music’

I was at the show’s opening night in March, and it was an incredible experience. I was so stunned by Holland Taylor’s transformation; it actually felt like two hours with the late Governor of Texas.

Thinking a revisit is in order…

“An Ordinary Couple” is the one song from the original stage production of The Sound of Music that most people want to forget, and is often replaced by “Something Good” from the film.

I confess I’m not big on the number myself, but I enjoy this rendition. I think it’s because June Bronhill and Peter Graves (the other one) don’t treat the duet like a dirge; they pick up the tempo just a bit and treat the song more conversationally. It clocks in over 40 seconds shorter than the rendition on the original cast album.

On the whole, I enjoy the Australian cast album, particularly for Bronhill’s resplendent singing.

itsdlevy:

The new Encores! season features the musicals “Little Me,” “The Most Happy Fella” and “Irma La Douce.”

I WAS JUST SAYING IT’S TIME FOR A CY COLEMAN SHOW!

And I am DYING to see Irma La Douce!

And who doesn’t love Most Happy Fella? With a full orchestra! 

I know I make fun of everyone on the internet for abusing the words “perfect” and “flawless” but, well…

Cy Coleman at Encores! was the subject of the most recent conversation I had with David just last week.

Elated by the entire season. Heart is so full.

somethingbypuccini:

He Wanted a Girl | Katie Thompson & Brian D’Arcy James

Giant [Original Off Broadway Cast Recording]

Katie Thompson, y’all…

Dame Helen Mirren steps in to grant a dying boy’s wish to meet the Queen

Oliver Burton, ten, may have just weeks to live after being hit by cancer for a third time.

Visiting the Queen at Buckingham Palace topped his list of dream activities — but his family was told a meeting would not be possible.

So Dame Helen stepped in, bringing him in a limo to see her West End show The Audience — in which she plays the Queen — then taking him backstage to meet her corgis.

The actress, 67, even KNIGHTED the excited schoolboy “Sir Oliver” during his visit, telling The Sun: “It was a pleasure and a privilege to meet such a brave young man.

Ex-Coldstream Guard James, now a full-time carer for his son, said of the visit: “She stayed in character for the whole thing and had a butler. “She was really lovely.”

Oliver, from Leicester, was first diagnosed with leukaemia in 2006, aged three. He recovered but in 2010 the cancer returned — and once again he pulled through.
Then last Christmas he was diagnosed with cancer in his spine and bone marrow — and this time intensive treatment is not possible, so he returned home with his mum, dad, and brother Ethan, six.
The family have raised £10,000 for special trips for Oliver through the National Children’s Tumour Leukaemia Cancer Trust, which arranged the visit with Dame Helen. [x]

“They Should Have Stayed Another Week in Philadelphia” was the second act opening of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue during the show’s world premiere performance (which was, incidentally, in Philadelphia). Using theatrical metaphors, the actors of the show-within-the-show sang about how the Constitution could have used more work.

After the negative reviews came in, the song was one of the score’s first casualties. It was restored for the 1992 revision, but not A White House Cantata (which opens its second half with the equally obscure “Welcome Home, Miz Johnson”).

me2ism:

theatreaficionado:

Australian soprano June Bronhill starred as Elizabeth Barrett in Robert and Elizabeth, the hit 1964 West End musical adaptation of The Barretts of Wimpole Street. The show, which also starred Keith Michell as Robert Browning, ran 948 (or 957, depending on the source) performances in the West End, but legal issues halted plans for a Broadway transfer with its original stars. Music is by Ron Grainer, book and lyrics by Ronald Millar.

“Woman and Man” comes towards the end of the show when Elizabeth rebukes her father and his warped view of romantic love, then resolves to be with Robert. True story: the Barrett siblings were forbidden to marry by their imperious father. When Elizabeth rebelled and married Robert, she was effectively disinherited (as were the other siblings who disobeyed dear old Dad).

Cue vocal pyrotechnics.

after much pleading on Kevin’s part I have given this show a full listen and agree that it’s pretty great.  This song is an excellent intro.  Bronhill is BAMF

Yes!!!!

(You guys, my love for this score knows no bounds…)

My experience revisiting Once, this time in the West End.

While my feelings on the stage adaptation of Top Hat are decidedly mixed, I loved the Irving Berlin songs (orchestrated by Chris Walker) and Bill Deamer’s dazzling choreography.

The original London cast album of the score is a bit of a disappointment, as it features abridged versions of the numbers and includes a rather limpid aural recreation of the tap dancing used in the show.

Here is the show’s entire finale sequence, which included a Stroman-esque curtain call and curtain call encore, featuring brief solos by Kristen Beth Williams, understudy Alan Burkitt, Clive Hayward and the sublime Vivien Parry (whose performance can be best summed up as Bea Lillie meets Beth Leavel).