Thursday, June 26, 2008

Great American Songbook: Shameless self-promotion

If you didn't see the Great American Songbook at CenterStage last spring, there's one more chance to enjoy the music of Cole Porter and the Gershwins this Sunday evening, this time in Post Falls. We're moving the show to The Old Church at the corner of Fourth and William Street, off of I-90's Spokane St. Exit. Doors open at 6 (food served), show at 7p.

The show: a musical revue of familiar and unfamiliar songs such as Night and Day, S'Wonderful, Well Did You Evah, and But Not For Me. Includes some interesting anecdotes about the composers, written by Reed McColm (who also directed).

The cast: Tamara Schupman (currently performing at Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre), Kent Kimball (star of many shows in the region, most recently with Spokane Opera), Pamela Brownlee and Sam Mazola (both of the Rockin' B Ranch) and me, Janean Jorgensen (host of the Wednesday Matinee radio show on KPBX). We're accompanied by the fabulous Janet Robel (who just added a baby boy to the family - Congratulations!)

Tickets are $17, available at (208) 457-8950. Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

June 25: Villians

Bargain The Waltz Of Treachery - Les Mis, Les Miserables - Complete Symphonic Recording
Bad Companions - Gene Varrone/Margaret Hamilton/Nathaniel Frey/Richard Armbruster, Goldilocks (Sony)
Bring Me My Bride - Cris Grienendaal, Nathan Lane, Cast, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum [Angel]
Kismet/Was I Wazir? - George Forrest, Kismet [Original Broadway Cast] (Naxos Musicals)
A Powerful Thing - Gregory Harrison/Ronn Carroll, Steel Pier [Original Cast] (RCA)
Me and My Town - Angela Lansbury/Harvey Evans/Larry Roquemore/Sterling Clark/Tucker Smith, Anyone Can Whistle [Original Broadway Cast] [Bonus Tracks] (Sony Classical)
Those Were the Good Old Days - Ray Walston, Damn Yankees [Original Broadway Cast] (RCA)
I Want the Good Times Back - Sherie Rene Scott, The Little Mermaid [Original Broadway Cast] (Disney)
Fie on Goodness - The Knights, Camelot [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony)
The Seven Deadly Virtues - Roddy McDowall, Camelot [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony)
Hook's Tango - Cyril Ritchard, Peter Pan [Original Broadway Cast] (RCA)
Tarantella - Cyril Ritchard, Peter Pan [Original Broadway Cast] (RCA)
Alive - Bob Cuccioli, Jekyll & Hyde [Original Broadway Cast] (Atlantic)
Molasses to Rum - Clifford David, 1776 [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony Classical)
Lonely Room - Oklahoma, ()
No Good Deed - Idina Menzel, Wicked (Decca)
Everybody's Got the Right - Cast, Assassins [Original Broadway Cast] (P.S. Classics)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

June 18: Tony Award Wrap-Up

Playlist: I'll have to post this later due to technical difficulties. Thanks to the labels Ghostlight Records and PS Classics for providing some of the music heard today, and for taking a chance on new theater music!

I occasionally listen to other radio shows celebrating the music of musical theater, and frankly the ones heard on public radio most often are stuck in the 'golden age' of Broadway. If it's not Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe or the Gershwins, it's not really given much airtime; even their "new releases" episodes thrive on the re-releases of old original cast albums. The host of one of these shows did a Tony awards preview last week and, while he didn't overtly editorialize, he commented that "almost all of the new musicals have a mostly-rock-driven score." He wrapped up with a golden oldie from an old show glorifying Broadway, which had nothing to do with this year's season but was a 'tribute' to what used to be. I might be putting words in his mouth, but the impression was that musical theater has evolved for the worse and today's shows are just not as good. I am of the opposite viewpoint. I do think that some of these shows will have strong lives beyond Broadway and yes, we may have revivals of some of these shows in future decades. Musical theater is alive and creating something new and interesting, and I'm happy to be along for the ride.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Shows and Showtunes in the Region

The BEST place to find arts events is at spokanearts.org, but there are several events outside the county of Spokane that are still of interest to musical theater lovers. The region’s schools are also doing some incredible work. If you want to add a musical theater-related event, please email me.

Spokane Civic Theater presents Man of La Mancha from May 16 to Jun 15 at Main Stage. The tale of Don Quixote as directed by Troy Nickerson.

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre presents All Shook Up from Jun 7 to Jun 21 at NIC Schuler Performing Arts Center. The Northwest Premiere of the Elvis jukebox musical that gave local favorite Cheyenne Jackson his big break on Broadway,

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre presents La Cage aux Folles from Jun 27 to Jul 12 at NIC Schuler Performing Arts Center. Jerry Herman's groundbreaking celebration of family values and the real meaning of love.

Leavenworth Summer Theater presents The Sound of Music from Jul 4 to Aug 31 at Ski Hill Amphitheater, Leavenworth. Their ads call it the most popular production in Washington State history, it's certainly one of the most unique summer theater experiences. The sun goes down and Maria begins "The Hills are Alive" as the 'alps' of Leavenworth seem to spring to life.

Leavenworth Summer Theater presents Sugar from Jul 16 to Aug 29 at Hatchery Park, Leavenworth.

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre presents Once Upon A Mattress from Jul 19 to Aug 2 at NIC Schuler Performing Arts Center. The musical version of the Princess And The Pea gets at the heart of the story with great twists.

Leavenworth Summer Theater presents Kiss Me Kate from Jul 30 to Aug 28 at FestHalle, Leavenworth. Cole Porter and the HOT silly version of Shakespeare's classic Taming of the Shrew

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre presents Les Misérables from Aug 9 to Aug 23 at NIC Schuler Performing Arts Center. A coup for Cd'A Summer Theatre, one of the longest-running musicals in the world.

June 11: Party

Somebody's Going to Throw a Big Party - Chorus, Fifty Million Frenchmen (New World)
The Policemen's Ball - Mary McCarty, Miss Liberty (Sony Classical)
Oh, Come to the Ball - Alan Jay Lerner, American Songbook Series: Alan Jay Lerner (Smithsonian Collection)
Goin' to the Dance With You - Kristin Chenoweth, Let Yourself Go (Sony)
The Hostess With the Mostes' on the Ball - Tyne Daly, Call Me Madam (Encores Concert Cast) (DRG)
Welcome to My Party - Michael John LaChiusa, The Wild Party [LaChiusa] (Universal)
A Wild Wild Party - Cast, Wild Party [Lippa]
Raise The Roof - Cast, Wild Party [Lippa]
The Life of the Party - David Wayne, The Happy Time (RCA)
The Life Of The Party - Idina Menzel, Wild Party [Lippa]
Well Did You Evah? - Company, High Society [Original Broadway Cast]
Shall We Dance? - Constance Towers, Yul Brynner, The King and I (Soundtrack) (RCA)
It Only Happens When I Dance With You - Fred Astaire, Steppin' Out: Astaire at MGM (Sony)
I Could Have Danced All Night - Julie Andrews, A Little Bit of Broadway (Columbia)
The Ugly Bug Ball [From Summer Magic] - Burl Ives, Classic Disney, Vol. 1 (Walt Disney/EMI)
The Party's Over - Judy Holliday, Bells Are Ringing [Original Broadway Cast] [Bonus Tracks] (Sony)