May 28: May Birthday Showcase

Again we go through the list of actor/singers born in the month of May, just an excuse to pause and get to know some stage and screen performers of the past and present.

Ezio Pinza - Some Enchanted Evening, South Pacific (Golden Memories of Stage & Screen)
Theodore Bikel - Edelweiss, The Sound of Music [Original Broadway Cast]
Bea Arthur - Barbara Song, Threepenny Opera
with Angela Lansbury - Bosom Buddies - Mame
Peggy Lee - The Siamese Cat Song and He's A Tramp, Lady and the Tramp
Nancy Walker - I Can Cook Too, On the Town (Star Spangled Rhythm [Smithsonian] Disc 2)
Milkman Keep Them Bottles Quiet, Broadway Rhythm
Fred Astaire - Steppin' Out With My Baby, (Fred Astaire at MGM Disc 1)
Let's Face the Music and Dance, (Star Spangled Rhythm [Smithsonian] Disc 2)
Bing Crosby - Evelina, Bloomer Girl (publicity 'pop' version)
Alice Faye - Never Say No to a Man, State Fair
Don Ameche with Hildegarde Neff - Paris Loves Lovers and All of You, Silk Stockings
Tonya Pinkins - Mood Indigo, Play On

May 23: Once Upon a Time - A Cinderella Story

Cinderella is one of the most-told tales in song. There's the wonderful Rodgers & Hammerstein television classic, the stage version of the R&H special developed for London, the Disney film, and Into the Woods. In honor of the Spokane Children's Theatre's production (check out Michael Breckenridge's review and photos), we visit the story of Cinderella and other songs of make-believe.

Satin Gown and Silver Shoe (Lullaby) - Celeste Holm, Bloomer Girl
A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes - Ilene Woods/Mice Chorus, Disney's Cinderella
In My Own Little Corner - Julie Andrews, A Little Bit of Broadway (R&H Cinderella)
I'm in the Middle of a Muddle - Demo Recording, Disney's Cinderella
Your Majesties, A List of Bare Necessities - Enid Lowe/Jimmy Edwards, Cinderella OLC
Cinderella Prologue - Janean's custom edit of Cinderella-related parts of the Prologue, featuring the OBC of Into the Woods
Impossible - Betty Marsden and Yana, Cinderella OLC
Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo (The Magic Song) - Verna Felton, Disney's Cinderella on Disney's Greatest, Vol. 1
So This Is Love (The Cinderella Waltz) - Ilene Woods/Mike Douglas, Disney's Cinderella
Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful? - Bruce Trent and Yana, Cinderella OLC
On the Steps of the Palace - Kim Crosby, Into the Woods OBC
Agony - Clive Carter/Mark Tinkler, Into the Woods OLC
Stepsisters' Lament - Lynne Wintersteller and Victoria Clark, A Grand Night for Singing
A Lovely Night - Julie Andrews, A Little Bit of Broadway (R&H Cinderella)
I Could Have Danced All Night - Julie Andrews, My Fair Lady
Happily Ever After - Carol Burnette, Once Upon a Mattress
Where in the World Is My Prince? - Faith Prince, Miss Spectacular
Thumbelina - Danny Kaye, Hans Christian Andersen
Little Lady Make Believe - Eddie Cantor, Cocktail Hour
The Age of Not Believing - Bedknobs & Broomsticks (CD: The Sherman Brothers)

May 9: Rodgers and Hammerstein

Okay, how do you explore the incredible work of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II in only 52 minutes? You really don't ;-) You mix some of their big hits with songs hardly anyone has heard of. Hope you enjoyed a trip back to the '40s and '50s.

Oklahoma: Oh, What a Beautiful Morning from Alfred Drake
State Fair (film): It Might as Well Be Spring from Louanne Hogan
State Fair OBC: The Next Time It Happens from Andrea McArdle
State Fair OBC: You Never Had It So Good from Donna McKechnie
A Grand Night for Singing: That's the Way It Happens/All at Once You Love Her/Some Enchanted Evening
A Hundred Million Miracles/When the Children Are Asleep/I Know It
When You're Driving Through the Moonlight/A Lovely Night
The King and I: A Puzzlement from Yul Brynner
A Grand Night for Singing: So Far from Alyson Reed
Carousel: You'll Never Walk Alone from Eileen Farrell
The Sound of Music: title song from Mary Martin
The Sound of Music: Do Re Mi from Julie Andrews

Does Janean have "Hostiness?"

The "Public Radio Talent Quest" is the nationwide search for new public radio hosts. Like the "This isn't your father's Cadillac" campaign, public radio needs a little new blood injected (as long as it retains the core values of public radio. Curiosity with personality).

Like most of the 'reality' game shows on TV, the talent quest starts out with an open call for submissions. By early June, judges (and the voting public) will narrow it down to TEN contestants for the second round. Those in each of the four rounds receive cash prizes. Hey, $500 will buy a lot of CDs for Matinee.

I have finally put in an entry. The first round is essentially looking for a contestant's "Hostiness." As they said on the site, "We want to hear who you are. Show the judges and the public the elements of your personality that make people look forward to spending time with you. It's what we're calling "hostiness," and it includes people who are: Engaging, smart, curious, surprising, honest, intriguing, have sense of humor, clever, authentic, human, real, trustworthy, knowledgeable, maybe even someone you'd have dinner with. In short - it's a lot like dating. You gotta make a great first impression to get past Round 1."

In short, I'd love it if you would register, and then find my entry ("Janean") and vote. Or you can just listen to my entry, which one person called "Busting with Hostiness" (or was that "Hosting with Bustiness?")