Thursday, January 27, 2011

Spring Awakening comments

Over dinner, my darling hubby asked me if I'd read the letters section of the newspaper. He pointed out to me a letter written by one of the patrons last week Wednesday. He encouraged me to write a response, so I did.

Here's the full text of the Forbidden Broadway skit, with apologies and kudos to author Gerard Alessandrini.

(A couple gets to the theater right before showtime to discover they're sitting on stage - on opposite sides of the stage to be precise. They agree to kibbutz via cell phone.)

WOMAN
Spring Awakening - sounds like a nice Easter pageant.

WENDELA (to the tune of Mama Who Bore Me)
Mama who bore me
Mama my booby
I need a training bra and a maxi pad
Mama please give me sex education
No sleep for this horny undregrad

WOMAN
Hold it!
(sung to the tune of D'Lovely by Cole Porter)
Her hair's a mess, her dress is sheer

MAN (they continue either solo or together)
The lighting's dim and it's so unclear
It's depressing, it's demented, it's disgusting!
I understand that art should hurt,
But can't they launder her undershirt?
It's depressing, it's demented, it's disgusting!
You can tell at first sight it's a hell ride we're in for tonight
You can hear queries behind you murmuring low
Get up and go!
Please be kind my dainty dish and let's vamoose at the intermish,
It's depressing, it's demented, it's degenerate, it's delerium, it's deluded, it's degrading, it's de worst, it's disgusting!

WENDELA
Wait a minute!
I feel the sudden urge to say
You folks don't understand the arts today
So control your desire to curse,
I fear other shows are worse
The show you fogies want to see
Is Rodgers-Hammersteiny history
So get hip and train your brain,
I'll repeat the refrain and drive you insane

Mama who bore me
Mama my booby
Mama you're totally F(BEEP)'d - take it away!

If you were hip you'd get a grip
We're past the era of censorship
We're da big hit, we're da cash cow, we're da Tony
We search the soul of tortured teens and do a couple of rock routines
We're pretentious, we're contentious, YOU'RE disgusting!

COUPLE
shall we calmly resign to pay big bucks at Young Frankenstein?
But at $450 a seat, we'd rather eat!

WENDELA
The problem's you

COUPLE
No it's you too

WENDELA
You mean the band?

COUPLE
No we mean your crew
You're depressing! You're demented!

WENDELA
You're d'outta date

COUPLE
You're the one we hate!
Well she's gone now and we're on now finally it's d'lovely


The only thing I don't like about that skit is that Wendela goes off stage. Okay, this was the very first part of the Forbidden Broadway Rude Awakening show, and the couple then went on to do the Forbidden Broadway theme etc, that's why "we're on now." But I do wish Wendela had a better exit than storming off in anger.

To be honest, my tastes run more toward Into The Woods, but there are days when Spring Awakening is what I want to hear on my little music drive. I was happy to plop down money to see it - again. (Heck, hubby almost drove over to Seattle last season to see it again.) The cast was GREAT, musical direction outstanding (love ya, Kasey! ;-) and the story well told.

There was definitely a lack of energy though - from the AUDIENCE. I believe the cast gave us their all, but I feel we absorbed it stoically instead of the real give-and-take of a normal live performance. Like, it was so out of our collective comfort zone that we couldn't process it. Or maybe it's because the INB is so huge, the intimacies of a show like Spring Awakening and even Avenue Q get lost there. (On second thought, that letter showed that the visuals of the "intimacy" didn't get lost at all. ;-)

Our first time at Spring Awakening can never be matched, because it was the final performance of Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff. Their families were in the audience, and any fan who could get their hands on tickets was there. We stumbled into it, having gotten our restricted-view seats at TKTS hours before. Wendela stood on the chair to begin, and the house went WILD. Then after the song Totally F*d, the stage manager let the applause go on... and on... and on... and on... It must have been five minutes of insane ovation from the house, with the actors stuck in their poses. I think I saw tears drip from Lea Michele, trying to hide her face with her hair, and Otto would sneak a peak out to the audience like, "You're STILL cheering?!?!" So needless to say, it was an appreciative crowd.

I hope that Spokane is growing a little from this. Best of Broadway has thrown a little risk into their lineup. Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre is also getting a little more off-the-beaten-path with at least one choice per season. And that's the way a season should be - the crowd pleasers mixed with some new energy.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Calendar of Musical Theatre Events

Spokane Civic Theatre presents The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee from Jan 28 through Feb 20 at Firth Chew Theatre - http://www.spokanecivictheatre.com/
Spokane Symphony Orchestra presents Rodgers and Hammerstein Celebration from Feb 5 only at The Fox, Martin Woldson Theater - http://www.spokanesymphony.org
Best of Broadway presents Legally Blonde from Feb 10 through Feb 13 at INB Performing Arts Center - http://bestofbroadwayspokane.com
Spokane Civic Theatre presents Nunsense from Feb 18 through Mar 6 at Main Stage - http://www.spokanecivictheatre.com/
Washington State Community Theater Association presents Kaleidoscope Festival from Mar 11 through Mar 13 at Spokane Civic Theatre Main Stage - http://www.spokanecivictheatre.com/
Lake City Playhouse presents And The World Goes Round from Mar 11 through Mar 12 at Lake City Playhouse - http://lakecityplayhouse.org
Best of Broadway presents Mark Twain Tonight! from Mar 12 only at INB Performing Arts Center - http://bestofbroadwayspokane.com
Best of Broadway presents 9 to 5 from Mar 24 through Mar 27 at INB Performing Arts Center - http://bestofbroadwayspokane.com
Best of Broadway presents Cats from Apr 23 through Apr 24 at INB Performing Arts Center - http://bestofbroadwayspokane.com
Best of Broadway presents Wicked from May 18 through May 29 at INB Performing Arts Center - http://bestofbroadwayspokane.com
Spokane Civic Theatre presents The Full Monty from May 20 through Jun 29 at Main Stage - http://www.spokanecivictheatre.com/
Lake City Playhouse presents Urinetown from May 27 through Jun 19 at Lake City Playhouse - http://lakecityplayhouse.org
Spokane Children's Theatre presents Willy Wonka from Feb 5 through Jan 20 at SCC Lair Auditorium - http://www.spokanechildrenstheatre.org

Jan 26: Winter/Spring Preview

Listen to this episode online any time here on PRX - requires a free account on PRX due to music rights

The Candyman - Stephen F. Schmidt, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka
I Want It Now - Cast, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka
Pandemonium - Company; Jose Llana, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Sh-K-Boom)
The I Love You Song - Baskin, Derrick; Celia Keenan-Bolger; Howard, Lisa, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Sh-K-Boom)
Coffee in a Cardboard Cup - Cast, And the World Goes 'Round (RCA)
Run, Freedom, Run! - Hunter Foster; Ken Jennings; Lawrence Street; Megan Lawrence; Rachel Coloff; Rick Crom; Spencer Lemon Kayden; Victor W. Hawks, Urinetown (RCA)
Blood In The Water - Legally Blonde (Original Broadway Cast), Legally Blonde (Original Broadway Cast)
Shine Like The Sun - Megan Hilty, Stephanie J. Block, Allison Janney and Ensemble, 9 To 5 - The Musical (Original Cast Recording)
Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats - Company, Cats [Original Broadway Cast] Disc 1
Nunsense is Habit FormingNunsense
Man - John Conlee; Kimberly Grigsby; Patrick Wilson; Ted Sperling, The Full Monty [Original Broadway Cast] (RCA)
What Is This Feeling? - Idina Menzel; Kristin Chenoweth, Wicked (Decca)
One Short Day - Idina Menzel; Kristin Chenoweth, Wicked (Decca)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Jan 19: Nerds & Misfits



We're A Couple Of Misfits - Billie Mae Richards, Paul Soles, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (MCA Special Products)
I'm Not That Smart - Jesse Tyler Ferguson, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight)
A Stud and a Babe - Jennifer Simard/Robert Roznowski, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Varese Sarabande)
Belle - Susan Egan, Cast, Beauty and the Beast [Original Broadway Cast Recording] [Special Edition] (Universal)
Part of Your World - Jodi Benson, The Little Mermaid [Original Soundtrack] (Disney)
Waiting for Life - La Chanze; The Storytellers, Once on This Island [RCA] (RCA)
Grizabella the Glamour Cat - Elaine Paige, Original London Cast, Cats [Original London Cast] (Polydor Import)
Anyone Can Whistle - Lee Remick, Anyone Can Whistle [Original Broadway Cast] [Bonus Tracks] (Sony Classical)
Maria - Elizabeth Howell; Karen Shepard; Muriel O'Malley; Patricia Neway, The Sound of Music [Original Broadway Cast] [Bonus Tracks] (Sony BMG)
All That's Known - Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening (Decca)
A Quiet Night At Home - Keili Lefkovitz, Bare the Album - Act 1 (Bare)
Superboy and the Invisible Girl - Aaron Tveit; Alice Ripley; Jennifer Damiano, Next To Normal [Original Broadway Cast Recording] Disc 1 (Ghostlight)
Why We Like Spelling - Spellers, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight)
Becoming a Man - Soundtrack, 13 [Original Cast] (Ghostlight)
The Wizard and I - Idina Menzel, Wicked (Decca)

Jan 12: For King & Mandela

Listen to this piece here on PRX
The Slice - Alan Weeks; Clifford Allen; Garrett Morris; Ken Scott; Leslie Uggams; Robert Hooks, Hallelujah, Baby! (Sony Classical)
That's Not The Way We Do Things - Original Off-Broadway Cast, The Scottsboro Boys (Jay Records)
The Lynching Blues - Ann Duquesnay/Baakari Wilder/Jeffrey Wright, Bring in 'da Noise Bring in 'da Funk (RCA Victor Broadway)
Nelson Mandela and Water Dance (Omm Ohh Ho la la (Reprise) - GumBoots, Gum Boots (RCA)
Stand and Fight - Mbongeni Ngema, Sarafina! [Original Cast Recording] (RCA)
One by One - Cast, The Lion King [Original Broadway Cast] (Disney)
African Homeland - Renee Elise Goldberry, LaChanze, Cast, The Color Purple [Original Broadway Cast] (Angel)
Som'thin' from Nuthin'/Circle Stomp - Ann Duquesnay/Jeffrey Wright, Bring in 'da Noise Bring in 'da Funk (RCA Victor Broadway)
till We Reach That Day - Mary Bond Davis; Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ragtime [Original Cast Recording - RCA] (BMG)
I Know Where I've Been - Queen Latifah, Hairspray [2007 Soundtrack] (Universal Classics)
Mr. Stopnick and Emmie - Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins, Caroline, or Change (Original Broadway Cast) Disc 2 (Hollywood Records)
Kitchen Fight - Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins, Caroline, or Change (Original Broadway Cast) Disc 2 (Hollywood Records)
Down Home - Cleavon Little; Joyce Brown; Novella Nelson, Purlie (RCA Victor Broadway)
Prelude - Riot At Edmund Pettus Bridge - Ensemble, King A Musical Testimony (Universal International)
How Long, Not Long - Simon Estes, Edmund Hockridge, Ensemble, King A Musical Testimony (Universal International)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Jan. 13: For King & Mandela



The Slice - Alan Weeks; Clifford Allen; Garrett Morris; Ken Scott; Leslie Uggams; Robert Hooks, Hallelujah, Baby! (Sony Classical)
That's Not The Way We Do Things - Original Off-Broadway Cast, The Scottsboro Boys (Jay Records)
The Lynching Blues - Ann Duquesnay/Baakari Wilder/Jeffrey Wright, Bring in 'da Noise Bring in 'da Funk (RCA Victor Broadway)
Nelson Mandela and Water Dance (Omm Ohh Ho la la (Reprise) - GumBoots, Gum Boots (RCA)
Stand and Fight - Mbongeni Ngema, Sarafina! [Original Cast Recording] (RCA)
One by One - Cast, The Lion King [Original Broadway Cast] (Disney)
African Homeland - Renee Elise Goldberry, LaChanze, Cast, The Color Purple [Original Broadway Cast] (Angel)
Som'thin' from Nuthin'/Circle Stomp - Ann Duquesnay/Jeffrey Wright, Bring in 'da Noise Bring in 'da Funk (RCA Victor Broadway)
till We Reach That Day - Mary Bond Davis; Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ragtime [Original Cast Recording - RCA] (BMG)
I Know Where I've Been - Queen Latifah, Hairspray [2007 Soundtrack] (Universal Classics)
Mr. Stopnick and Emmie - Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins, Caroline, or Change (Original Broadway Cast) Disc 2 (Hollywood Records)
Kitchen Fight - Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins, Caroline, or Change (Original Broadway Cast) Disc 2 (Hollywood Records)
Down Home - Cleavon Little; Joyce Brown; Novella Nelson, Purlie (RCA Victor Broadway)
Prelude - Riot At Edmund Pettus Bridge - Ensemble, King (Polygram Records)
How Long, Not Long - Simon Estes, Edmund Hockridge, Ensemble, King (Universal International)

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Jan. 5: Rock Musicals

Listen to this episode online at PRX

Hair - Gavin Creel, Will Swenson, Hair [2009 Broadway Revival Cast] (Razor & Tie)
Summer, Summer - Various Artists, Two Gentlemen Of Verona (Universal Classics Group)
The Now Generation - Leland Palmer; Danny Apolinar; Michael Valenti; John Kuhner; Charles Schneider, Your Own Thing (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording) (BMG)
Go to the Mirror / Listening to You - Cast, The Who's Tommy [Original Cast Recording] Disc 2 (RCA Victor)
Everything's Alright - Yvonne Elliman, Murray Head, Ian Gillan, Jesus Christ Superstar [MCA Original Cast Recording] Disc 1 (Decca)
Hot Patootie - Meat Loaf, Rocky Horror Picture Show (Rhino / Wea)
Tear Me Down - Cheater/John Cameron Mitchell, Hedwig & the Angry Inch [Origi (Atlantic)
Bright Lights, Big City - (Tad, Jamie, Coke Girl, Chorus), Bright Lights, Big City [Original Cast] (Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight)
Rent - Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rent [Original Broadway Cast] Disc 1 ()
Fortune Favors the Brave - Adam Pascal, Aida (Disney)
Bring The Future Faster - Original Cast Recording, Rooms: A Rock Romance [Original Off Broadway Cast Recording] (Time/Life Music)
The Bitch of Living - Spring Awakening, Spring Awakening (Decca)
Epiphany - Cast Recording, Bare the Album - Act 1 (Bare)
Prologue (We Might Play All Night) - Passing Strange Original Broadway Cast, Passing Strange (Ghostlight)
Wish I Were Here - Alice Ripley, Next To Normal [Original Broadway Cast Recording] Disc 2 (Ghostlight)
21 Guns - Green Day, American Idiot [OBC] (Reprise Records)