Monday, July 30, 2007

Wizard of Oz Street Fair at Garland District

"We're not in Kansas anymore Toto, we're on Garland."

I grew up reading L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz books, faithfully watched the movie with Judy Garland every year on television, and sing along to the cast album of Wicked. So when the Garland District announced that its 5th Annual Street Fair would have a Wizard of Oz theme, I began brushing off my black pointed hat and witch shoes. Well, it does make sense. The strip of shops and businesses roughly between Howard and Monroe Streets includes the Tin Man Art Gallery, The Ruby Slipper, and the Garland movie theater (for showings of Judy Garland's classic).

The big day is Saturday, August 11 from 10a-8p. Well, until past midnight if you count the midnight showing of The Wizard of Oz at the Garland Theater - the other showing is at 3 p.m. Some free tickets to the 3p showing are available, "ask how at the information booth And imitate either Dorothy or Toto and you or your pet could win one of two contests.

Judy Garland Impersonator Contest: How's your Somewhere Over the Rainbow? Music is provided; show up in costume and sing your heart out to win the prize. Contest is after the movie showing, outside the Garland Theater at 5p. To sign up in advance, please email Sean at Quinn Advertising, sean@quinngroup.com.

Toto Look-A-Like Contest: This is open to all four-legged critters. Your dog, your cat, your iguana... Sign up pets at 11:30a at the Garland Animal Clinic, 623 W Garland. Contest takes place at noon.

At 6p, the stage outside the Garland Theater is turned over to one of KPBX's favorite local bands, The Celtic Nots. No word if the trio has some L. Frank Baum-inspired music in their repertoire, but I wouldn't be surprised if Carlos Alden has something up his sleeve.

Crafts: Kids can make a Glinda Wand or a Lollipop Kids (Munchkins) lollipop, a Tin Can Man, their own lion tail, and tissue paper poppies. They can also have their face painted.
Teen and Older: Volunteers will help make a Munchkin pin or a Ruby Red Slipper magnet.

The Spokesman-Review wrote a story about the Garland District recently, including why street fairs like this are helpful to business communities. Full disclosure: I'm very partial to Garland for several reasons, including the amazing assistance KPBX gets from Dave Sams and Garland Printing.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

July 25: July Showcase

Gertrude Lawrence - Someone to Watch Over Me American Musical Theatre: Shows, Songs and Stars, Vol. 1
Gertrude Lawrence/Yul Brynner - Shall We Dance? American Musical Theatre: Shows, Songs and Stars, Vol. 3
Yul Brynner - A Puzzlement Golden Memories of Stage & Screen 2
Sally Ann Howes - Ev'ry Day (Comes Something Beautiful) [From I Remember Mama] I Won't Grow up: Broadway for Kids
Sally Ann Howes - Lovely Lonely Man Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [Rykodisc]
Betty Buckley - He Plays the Violin 1776 [Original Broadway Cast]
Betty Buckley - Children Will Listen Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall Disc 1
Michael Ball - Love Changes Everything Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber: Broadway
Michael Ball with Frances Ruffelle - A Little Fall of Rain Les Miserables [Red Ink Original London Cast] Disc 2
Terrence Mann - Stars Les Miserables [Original Broadway Cast] Disc 1
Terrence Mann - If I Can't Love Her Beauty and the Beast [Original Broadway Cast Recording] [Special Edition]
Kristin Chenoweth - Popular Wicked
Kristin Chenoweth - How Long Has This Been Going On? Let Yourself Go
Audra McDonald - A Little Bit of Love Leonard Bernstein's New York
Audra McDonald - How Glory Goes How Glory Goes

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Costume Shop Blowout Sale

If you've ever been in a show at Spokane Civic Theatre or just went there to check out Halloween ideas, you know that the costume shop is wonderful. Racks upon racks of dresses, shirts, gowns, capes, pants, unusual styles and all periods.
Sun Rentals recently sold their costume inventory to Civic, which means there's even more items there -- too many items, not enough space to hold it all. So several items will be available for sale for $20 or LESS on
Saturday, July 28 from 9a-3p. (By the way, cash is preferred)
The sale takes place in the Firth Chew Studio Theatre, off of Dean Street. (You might consider parking on the street - the parking lot owners seem to give out tickets every 10 minutes or so for unpaid parked cars.)
Civic provided costumes for at least two KPBX Kids' Concerts, several Children's Theatre shows, and many organizations around town. (Once I went to a show at another theater and saw that one of their characters was wearing one of MY dresses from another show!) I've been a costume nut for more than a decade, and frankly I plan on being one of the first in line. Hope to see you there!

Monday, July 16, 2007

July 18: Sondheim's Putting It Together

I'm not going to lie, I love Stephen Sondheim's songs. He is a master in the art of wordplay and unusual melodies. Unfortunately, the general public doesn't seem to share this opinion. For some reason several of his shows have flopped at the box office even though critics can rave and rave about them. The general guess is that these songs make you THINK. You have to pay attention, and as Forbidden Broadway put it, go "Into the Words." He doesn't repeat his lyrics usually, and if he does it's to make some kind of point. (It's very difficult to remember the next verse sometimes if he's started it with the same words then veers off down a new path. And all the more satisfactory when the song goes right!)

In any case, Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre opted to do the "review" (not "revue") of Sondheim's work called "Putting It Together." The lovely and talented Julia McKenzie (who starred as the witch in the London Into the Woods) put this collection of songs together as an update to Side By Side By Sondheim (which also starred Julia McKenzie). In 1992 Cameron Macintosh produced it in Oxford, England, then moved it to New York the following year with Julie Andrews. Five years later Carol Burnett and Bronson Pinchot ("the artist formerly known as Balke") starred in a Los Angeles production, and a year later took it to Broadway.

Unlike most Sondheim shows, there is no real 'story.' There is a situation - a cocktail party with an older married couple and a younger, well, very hot couple, and another male guest/narrator of sorts. It's an excuse to hear Stephen Sondheim songs slightly out of context, sometimes in new context. For example, "Everybody Oughta Have a Maid" is now sung by an older woman referring to, well, a house boy. It's a nice little switch.

Basically, this week's show explores the songs in Putting It Together, many times from the show's cast recording.

Invocation and Instructions to the Audience - Nathan Lane, Bryn Dowling The Frogs [Original Broadway Cast] P.S. Classics The Invocation isn't performed in the show, but it's fun anyway
Putting It Together - Company Putting It Together Image Entertainment A revised version written specifically for the show. The original song (from Sunday in the Park with George) is about the difficulties of the art world. Barbra Streisand sang another revised version about the recording industry. This version is about stage work and thus is my favorite.
Rich and Happy - Company Putting It Together Image Entertainment From Merrily We Roll Along, sets up the concept of the cocktail party.
Pretty Women - Michael Cerveris, Mark Jacoby Sweeney Todd [2005 Broadway Revival Cast] Disc 2 Nonesuch
Sooner or Later - Karen ZiƩmba Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall Disc 2 Varese Sarabande From Sondheim's score to the Dick Tracy film
Country House - Diana Rigg, Daniel Massey Follies [Original London Cast] First Night On stage for the "review," makes a lovely counterpoint to the passionate young couple who has supposedly found an empty room upstairs.
Could I Leave You? [Follies] - Alexis Smith Sondheim: A Musical Tribute Disc 2 RCA Victor Again, the older couple in a study in contrasts with the young couple.
There's Always a Women [From Anyone Can Whistle] - Kaye Ballard/Sally Mayes Unsung Sondheim Fynsworth Alley This song is a little out of place, I have to say, but it's nice to hear it. It was cut from Anyone Can Whistle, where the corrupt mayor (Angela Lansbury) and an upstanding citizen (Lee Remick) are acting polite towards each other but thinking the worst things about each other...
Marry Me a Little - Liz Callaway On and off Broadway: The Story Goes On Varese Originally meant for Company, but too worldly for Bobby. So many lovely versions of this song, which became the title tune for another Sondheim trunk show; Liz Callaway's is my favorite.
Getting Married Today - Heather Laws Company (Revival) Nonesuch "The wife remembers her wedding day" "FIRST wedding day..."
Like It Was - Dawn Upshaw I Wish It So Elektra/Asylum From Merrily We Roll Along, this is touchingly sung by the wife to the husband here, then blended into Old Friends.
Old Friends - Stephen Sondheim, Angela Lansbury, Company A Stephen Sondheim Evening RCA

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

New Releases

In a couple of weeks I'll play a sampler of new(ish) releases. In the meantime, here's a little list, not including the CDs mentioned in the Tony Award week.

Hairspray the film version of the musical... which was once a film. This is the John Travolta one.
Infertility the Musical. "Hard to Conceive" is right. This off-Broadway show recording sounds like a hoot.
Barbara Cook: No One is Alone. Barbara Cook still has a lovely voice, and I love her renditions of songs.
Face the Music, 2007 Encores! I love the Encores concert series, and this time they've unearthed an Irving Berlin diamond in the rough.
The Pirate Queen. You liked Riverdance? You liked Les Miserables? Critics didn't but audiences are still liking this Celtic tale based on a real-life Irish ship captain who defied Queen E.
Legally Blonde the new movical


And Andrew Lloyd Webber's company is remastering several CDs for release.
Beautiful Game, the 2000 Andrew Lloyd Webber soccer musical. I've heard good things about this score, set against the turmoil of Northern Ireland.
Starlight Express, the 1992 London Cast Recording (and to many people, the only recording worth hearing because it doesn't have De Barge on it)
Song and Dance, the 1984 London cast with Sarah Brightman

"Ultra-charming" Cheyenne

The stage version of Xanadu opened on Broadway last night starring Spokanite Cheyenne Jackson. He got the role as an artist in need of a muse only a month ago as the initial star had a severe accident (on the roller skates?) Photos from the opening night party on BroadwayWorld show Jackson hanging with Olivia Newton-John, star of the original flop film that glorified roller disco. Reviews are mixed, depending on how much camp the particular person was willing to embrace, but the acerbic Clive Barnes of the NY Post called Cheyenne "ultra-charming."

July 11: Dorothy Fields

A couple of years ago, there was a small to-do about the 100th anniversary of lyricist Dorothy Fields' birthday. So why not a 102 anniversary?

I Feel a Song Coming On - Dorothy Fields, An Evening with Dorothy Fields
I Can't Give You Anything but Love [Broadway 1928: Blackbirds of 1928]- Dorothy Fields, An Evening with Dorothy Fields
On the Sunny Side of the Street [Broadway 1930: International Revue] - Dorothy Fields , An Evening with Dorothy Fields
A Fine Romance - Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, Ginger & Fred at RKO (2 of 2)
Doin' the New Low Down - Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, American Musical Theatre: Shows, Songs and Stars, Vol. 1
I'd Rather Wake Up by Myself - Shirley Booth, By the Beautiful Sea
Love Is the Reason - Shirley Booth, Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Make the Man Love Me - Johnny Johnston, Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Right Finger of My Left Hand - Gwen Verdon, Redhead
I'll Try - Gwen Verdon, Richard Kiley, Redhead
Medley 1: If They Could See Me Now [Broadway 1966: Sweet Charity] - Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields, An Evening with Dorothy Fields
I'm the Bravest Individual - Gwen Verdon, Sweet Charity [Original Broadway Cast #1]
It's Not Where You Start - Company, See Saw (Original Cast)
Don't Blame Me - Barbara Cook, Lucky in the Rain
Happy Heart [From Junior Miss] - Lynnette Perry, Prime Time Musicals