Mar 11: Gardens

Winter's on the Wing - The Secret Garden [Original Broadway Cast] (Original Cast Record)
The Springtime Cometh - Irwin Corey, Flahooley
Green-Up Time [From Love Life] - Lotte Lenya, Lotte Lenya Sings American & Berlin Theater Songs of Kurt Weill (Sony)
Hurry! It's Lovely up Here! [From On a Clear Day You Can See Forever] - Bryn Terfel, If Ever I Would Leave You: The Songs Alan Jay Lerner (Polygram)
The flowers that bloom in the spring, tra la - D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Mikado ()
Edelweiss - Theodore Bikel, The Sound of Music [Original Broadway Cast] [Bonus Tracks] (Sony BMG)
Spring Is Here - Julie Andrews, Broadway: The Music of Richard Rodgers
One More Walk Aroun the Garden - Julie Andrews, Here I'll Stay: The Words of Alan Jay Lerner (Philips)
Come to My Garden/Lift Me Up - The Secret Garden [Original Broadway Cast]
Wick - The Secret Garden [Original Broadway Cast]
Somewhere That's Green (Little Shop Of Horrors) - Ellen Greene, Hey Mr. Producer (404 Music Group/Phillips)
Make Our Garden Grow - New Broadway Cast Recording, Candide (RCA)
The Fantasticks/Plant a Radish - Harvey Schmidt, The Fantasticks [2006 Off Broadway Recording] (Ghostlight)
Mountain Greenery - Dawn Upshaw, Sings Rodgers & Hart
The Apple Tree (Forbidden Fruit) - Larry Byden, The Apple Tree [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony)
The Spring of Next Year - Joe Masiell, William Larsen, Clifford Fearl, Charles Karel, Zale Kessler, Charles Welch, Dear World [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony)

Mar 4: Vincent Youmans

Take a Little One Step - , Lollipop
Tea for Two - No No Nanette
Too Many Rings Around Rosie - No No Nanette
You Can Dance WIth Any Girl At All - Helen Gallagher, No No Nanette 1971 Revival
Telephone Girlie - Bobby Van, No No Nanette 1971 Revival
Hallelujah [From Hit the Deck] - Ann Miller; Clark Burroughs; Debbie Reynolds; Kay Armen; Tony Martin; Vic Damone, Somewhere Over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals Disc 1 (Rhino)
I Know That You Know (Hit the Deck) - Jane Powell; Vic Damone, Romantic Duets from MGM Classics (Turner/Rhino)
Sometimes I'm Happy - Charles King; Louise Groody, Star Spangled Rhythm [Smithsonian] Disc 1 (Smithsonian Collection)
The Carioca Song - Etta Moten, Flying Down to Rio
Flying Down to Rio Song - Fred Astaire, Flying Down to Rio
You're Everywhere - Brent Barrett, Through the Years
Through the Years - Heidi Grant Murphy, Through the Years
Kinda Like You - Hunter Foster, Jennifer Cody, Through the Years
Lucky Bird - Joan Morris, Carioca: Songs Of Vincent Youmans, Vol. 2
Without A Song - Robert White, Orchids in the Moonlight: Songs of Vincent Youmans
Soft Eyes - Vincent Youmans, Carioca: Songs Of Vincent Youmans, Vol. 2

Feb 25: Car Tunes

Henry Ford - Larry Daggett, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ragtime [Original Broadway Cast Disc 1]
Driving at Night - Cast, State Fair
Waiting for Life - La Chanze, Once on This Island [RCA]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Carrie Fletcher; Emma Williams; George Gillies; Michael Ball, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [Original London Cast]
Travel Hopefully - Don Stephenson; John Scherer; Martin Jarvis, By Jeeves [Original Broadway Cast]
Lovin' Al - Original Cast, Working [Original Cast Recording] (Varese Sarabande)
Brother Trucker - James Taylor, Working
Traffic Jam - James Taylor, Working
Road Kill - Cast, The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Come Up to My Place (Taxi Number) - Cris Alexander; Nancy Walker, On the Town [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony Classical)
On the Highway of Love - Danny Burstein, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Varese Sarabande)
Beep Beep - The Playmates
Greased Lightnin' - Original Broadway Cast, Grease
Alone at a Drive-In Movie - Jim Jacobs, Grease
Wheels - Barbara Walsh, A My Name Will Always Be Alice
Wheels of a Dream - Audra McDonald; Brian Mitchell, Ragtime [Original Cast Recording - RCA] (BMG)

Feb 18: Down With Love

Down with Love - Barbra Streisand, Live in Concert 2006 Disc 1 (Columbia)
You Can Always Count on Me - Randy Graff, City of Angels [Original Broadway Cast] (Columbia)
If - Adolph Green; Betty Comden, Perform Their Own Songs (DRG)
The Love of my Life - Judy Kaye, Brigadoon (Redline)
Making Love Alone - Bernadette Peters, Sondheim, Etc.: Live at Carnegie Hall (Angel)
Economics [From Love Life] - Brent Barrett, The Alan Jay Lerner Album (Fynsworth Alley)
In the Broken Promise Land of Fifteen [from Lolita, My Love] - Brent Barrett, The Alan Jay Lerner Album (Fynsworth Alley)
It Would Have Been Wonderful (from Annie Warbucks) - Jason Graae, You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile: The Songs of Charles Strouse
Where Is the Warmth? - Patti LuPone, The Baker's Wife [Original Cast Recording] (Take Home Tunes)
When She Loved Me [From Toy Story 2] - Kerry Butler, Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust (P.S. Classics)
Falling Out of Love Can Be Fun - Mary McCarty, Miss Liberty (Sony Classical)
One Hundred Easy Ways - Kim Criswell, Wonderful Town [1999 Studio Cast] (EMI Classics)Rocks in My Bed - De Shield, Andre; Larry Marshall, Play On [Original Broadway Cast] (Varese)

Feb 11: Broadway In Love

If Ever I Would Leave You (Camelot) - Robert Goulet, Golden Memories of Stage & Screen Disc 1 (RCA)
All the Things You Are - Bruce Hubbard, Great American Songwriters [Capitol] (Capitol)
I Got Lost in His Arms - Mary Martin, Annie Get Your Gun [TV Soundtrack] (Angel)
Unusual Way - Elaine Paige, Jonathan Price, Nine (Sony Classical)
A Quiet Thing - Jim Walton; Karen Ziémba, And the World Goes 'Round
Bill - Christine Andreas, Here's to the Ladies (Image)
What Makes Me Love Him? - Barbara Harris, The Apple Tree [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony)
I Have a Love [From West Side Story] - Andréa Burns, A Deeper Shade of Red (P.S. Classics)
My Funny Valentine - Kristin Chenoweth, Let Yourself Go (Sony)
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What More Can I Say - Michael Rupert, Falsettoland [Original Off-Broadway Cast] (DRG)
You Walk With Me - Jason Danieley; Ted Sperling; Romain Frugé, The Full Monty [Original Broadway Cast] (RCA)
I Love My Wife - Lenny Baker, I Love My Wife [Orig. Cast] (Disques Swing)
Shouldn't I Be Less in Love With You? - Robert Roznowski, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Varese Sarabande)
The Human Heart - Andrea Frierson, Broadway in Love (RCA)

Jan 28: Baby Songs

Me and My Baby - Ann Reinking, James Naughton, Chicago [RCA]
The Baby Song - Danny Burstein, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Varese Sarabande)
Fandango - Lynne Wintersteller; Richard Muenz, Closer Than Ever [Original Cast] Disc 2 (RCA)
Triplets - Fred Astaire; Jack Buchanan; Nanette Fabray, The Band Wagon (Columbia/Rhino)
It's a Fish - Alan Alda, The Apple Tree [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony)
Go to Sleep, Whatever You Are - Barbara Harris, The Apple Tree [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony)
Somebody Gonna Love You - LaChanze, The Color Purple [Original Broadway Cast] (Angel)
You'll Be In My Heart - Kala, Ensemble, Tarzan: The Musical (Disney Records)
Baby Mine [From Dumbo (1941)] - Betty Noyes, Classic Disney, Vol. 4 (Disney International)
Children Will Listen - Bernadette Peters, Sondheim, Etc., Etc.: Live at Carnegie Hall -- The Rest of It (Angel)
A Father Now - Jerry Colker, 3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down (Jay)
It's a Boy edit - John Cullum, Shenandoah
Soliloquy - John Raitt, Carousel [1965 Broadway Revival Cast] (RCA)
My Child - Blood Brothers [International Cast Recording]
The Story Goes On (Baby) - Liz Callaway, On and off Broadway: The Story Goes On (Varese)
I Won't Mind - Audra McDonald, How Glory Goes (Elektra/Asylum)
Stop, Time - Barbara Walsh, Big (Uptown/Universal)

Jan 21: 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 - Alan Menken, 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)

Whoops

I hate it when I push the wrong button, ya know? My apologies to Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, and Civic for playing "Turn Back O Man" from Godspell - in the studio this spring - after introducing songs from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - on the Main Stage this spring. The worst thing is that I'm at my day job, far from the KPBX studio, so I can't do a thing about it. ;-p Oh well, mea culpa. I'll try to post a list of songs played, but I'm heavily into rehearsal for Cowgirls at Interplayers. Wheeeeeeee....
Thanks for listening! You can always reach me at janean at kpbx.org.

Dec 10 '08: Carols for a Cure

Carols for a Cure is an eclectic mix of classical choral, novelty songs, alternative rock, and world music, created and performed by singers in New York's biggest shows. For today's show, I interviewed Lynn Pinto, an actress who 10 years ago began recording Christmas songs with the casts of Broadway shows and sold the CDs to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Today's show doesn't fit into any cubby hole of music genres. Some are beautiful chorals, some have fabulous sounds that bowled me over, some are silly fun, and one song I just didn't get until Linn explained it to me. It's as fabulously mixed as the musical theater scene today. And it's a perfect foil to the oh-too-familiar music piped through stores and certain radio stations all December long.

To be perfectly honest, I put this show together with the hope that you, the listener, will go to the BroadwayCares.org site and purchase any of the Carols for a Cure series for yourself. The "for a Cure" part means all proceeds benefit research to find a cure for AIDS and services for those with the condition. (I'm a dreamer - I want an end to all diseases and life-threatening conditions, AIDS included.)

I am thoroughly grateful to everyone involved - the music directors who had creative ideas, the songwriters who donated their talents, the singers and musicians who take the time out of their performing schedules every year to make it a reality. It gives me great pleasure to listen to these songs, and I hope that these songs have the same effect on you, too.

Here are the songs I played on this show, just a tiny handful of all the great songs from the whole Carols for a Cure series:
Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel - 2003 Cast of Hairspray
I Wonder as I Wander - 2008 Cast of Spring Awakening
Good King Wenceslas - 1998 Nuns Choir of Sound of Music
Los Peces en el Rio - Antonio Banderas and the 2003 Cast of Nine
Los Peces en el Rio - 2008 Cast of In the Heights
Carol of the Bells (with Djembe) - 2008 Cast of The Lion King
Cold Christmas (by Elton John) - 2008 Cast of Billy Elliott
Eight Lonliest Nights of the Year - 2008 Cast of Avenue Q
Holiday Lament (The Fruitcake Song) - 2004 Cast of The Lion King
Tannenbaum - 2001 Cast of The Producers
The Holly and the Ivy - 2008 Cast of Mary Poppins
White Christmas - Bernadette Peters and the 1999 Cast of Annie Get Your Gun

Dec 3 2008 - Howard Ashman

Okay, it's not pretty - my formatting self destructed. But here's a list of what the songs were for today's show. Thanks for listening!

Title Artist Album
Cheese Nips Howard Ashman Howard Sings Ashman
Sheridan Square (Too Many Hats) Howard Ashman Howard Sings Ashman
Skid Row (Downtown) Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene Little Shop of Horrors [Original Soundtrack]
A Little Dental Music [*][Demo Version] Alan Menken Little Shop of Horrors [2003 Cast]
I Found a Hobby [*][Demo Version] Howard Ashman Little Shop of Horrors [2003 Cast]
Suddenly, Seymour Alan Menken Little Shop of Horrors [OS]
Be Our Guest (Demo) Howard Ashman Beauty and the Beast
If I Can't Love Her Ron Raines So in Love With Broadway
Seize the Day [From Newsies] David Moscow; Newsies Classic Disney, Vol. 5
This Only Happens in the Movies Kerry Butler Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust
I Can't Believe My Heart Susan Egan Coffeehouse
Lights of Long Ago Lynn Ahrens A Christmas Carol [2004 TV Cast]
A Place Called Home (A Christmas Carol) Liz Callaway On and off Broadway: The Story Goes On
Abundance and Charity Michael Mandell A Christmas Carol [Original Cast]
God Bless Us, Everyone Company A Christmas Carol [Original Cast]

Shows and Showtunes in the Region

Tickets to shows make GREAT Christmas Gifts! 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 A Christmas Carol, The Musical from Nov 21 to Dec 20 at Main Stage. Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once On This Island) and Alan Menken (Beauty & The Beast, Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors) teamed up to give new voice to the Dickens' classic. Kelsey Grammar took this adaptation and made a TV movie of it.

Spokane Children's Theatre presents Madeline's Christmas from Nov 28 to Dec 13 at Spokane Civic Theatre Main Stage.

Lake City Playhouse presents Annie from Dec 4 to Dec 21 at Lake City Playhouse. America's favorite redhead girl gets another production, this time in Coeur d'Alene

Best of Broadway presents The Color Purple from Dec 10 to Dec 14 at INB Performing Arts Center.

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre expands into winter with a concert production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas. The stage production combines several classic Berlin songs with the plot of the movie by the same name, Dec 19-21 at the Schuler Performing Arts Center in Boswell Hall on the campus of North Idaho College.

Interplayers presents A Reduced Christmas Carol or Scrooge vs. The Stopwatch! The 50-minute special event puts Dickens through a blender, a zany treat for the holidays Dec. 17-21. (Okay, it's not a musical, but it's silly fun, and it stars my director ;-p )

Interplayers presents Cowgirls, the musical where classical butts into cowboy country. Your Wednesday Matinee hostess plays Jo, the owner of a bar that needs to blow the roof off on opening weekend and mistakenly hires a classical trio. Jan 29-Feb 14, 2009

Les Misbarack: Showtunes for Obama?

A friend passed along a YouTube video from the Ultimate Improv group, using "One Day More" from Les Miserables as a political parody. It's the night before the election, the scene is the Obama election headquarters. A couple of campaign workers realize their time together might be over, and in comes McCain and Palin singing Javier and Mrs. Thernardier. Yes, it's true that most theatre people I know are 'liberals' and Democratic liberals at that, so the Obama support shouldn't surprise people. Nonetheless it's a cute job of lip-syncing no matter the political position.


While at that political video I noticed another for "Do You Hear the People Sing." Made by someone else, this takes images of anti-war protests and from the economic difficulties that some still term a "downturn" and uses it to connect the Bush administration to McCain and boost Obama.


By the way, while I'm on the topic of YouTube videos, there are several videos of musical theater productions or homemade videos of famous movie or TV clips put to the tune of a musical, such as Avenue Q's "The Internet is for Porn" setting for images of Harry Potter movies.

So where are the playlists?

You know, I love computers and I also despise them. I wouldn't be able to do the Matinee without my MP3s of musical theater songs tucked away on a big portable hard disc, and my great flexible music database program. But every once in a while, the scripts that are supposed to make the technical aspects easy go berserk. A couple of functions now return errors that I haven't had time to fix ;-p So playlists are delayed. I have the info, just not easily portable to the rest of the listening audience. So thanks for listening, I'll work on getting my computer programs to cooperate better, and consider the playlister on vacation. (If Car Talk can send the Puzzler off...)

July 30: New Releases

South Pacific [2008 Broadway Cast] - Bali Ha'i (Reprise), Cast (Sony Classics)
South Pacific [2008 Broadway Cast] - Younger Than Springtime, Matthew Morrison (Sony Classics)
In the Heights Disc 1 - It Won't Be Long Now, Karen Olivo
In the Heights Disc 1 - Breathe, Mandy Gonzalez (Ghostlight)
Mamma Mia - Winner Takes It All, Meryl Streep
A Catered Affair [Broadway Cast] - I Stayed, Tom Wopat (P.S. Classics)
Adding Machine - Didn't We?, Joel Hatch/Cyrilla Baer
Adding Machine - I'd Rather Watch You (revised), Cast
Adrift in Macao - Adrift in Macao, Cast
Adrift in Macao - Rick's Song radio edit, Cast
Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening - The Be-Littled Mermaid (Part of Your World), Gerard Alessandrini (DRG)
The Little Mermaid [Original Broadway Cast] - She's in Love, Cast (Disney)
Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust - Disneyland [From Smile], Kerry Butler (P.S. Classics)
Wonder in the World - Make Someone Happy, Kelli O'Hara (Razor & Tie)

July 9: Jerry Herman

Open A New Window - Angela Lansbury, Mame - 1966 Broadway
I Put My Hand In - Pearl Bailey, Hello, Dolly! [1967 Cast Recording] (RCA)
Shalom - Jerry Herman, An Evening With Jerry Herman
It Only Takes a Moment - Emily Yancy/Jack Crowder, Hello, Dolly! [1967 Cast Recording] (RCA)
Before the Parade Passes By - Carol Channing, Star Spangled Rhythm (Smithsonian Collection)
It's Today - Angela Lansbury, Mame - 1966 Broadway
Gooch's Song - Jane Connell, Mame - 1966 Broadway
Each Tomorrow Morning - Angela Lansbury, Dear World [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony)
I Don't Want to Know - Angela Lansbury, Dear World [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony)
I Won't Send Roses - Howard McGillin, Mack & Mabel [1995 London Cast] (Capitol)
Whereever He Ain't - Caroline O'Connor, Mack & Mabel [1995 London Cast] (Capitol)
Look over There - Gene Barry, La Cage aux Folles [Original Cast] (RCA)
La Cage aux Folles - Jerry Herman, La Cage aux Folles [Original Cast] ()
I Wanna Live Each Night - Christine Baranski, Miss Spectacular (DRG)

July 2: Independence Day

I Want to Hear a Yankee Doodle Tune - George M. Cohan, Star Spangled Rhythm [Smithsonian] Disc 1 (Smithsonian Collection)
Yankee Doodle Dandy - Joel Grey, Company, George M! [Original Cast]
Yankee Doodle Rhythm - George Gershwin, Strike Up the Band
What a Country - Ray Bolger, All American [Original Cast] (Sony Classical)
God's Country - Judy Kaye, Americanegro Suite (PM)
The Country's in the Very Best of Hands - George Reeder/Peter Palmer, Li'l Abner [Original Broadway Cast] [Expanded] (Sony Classical/Legacy)
Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve - William Daniels/Virginia Vestoff, 1776 [Original Broadway Cast]
But, Mr. Adams - David Vosburgh/Ken Howard/Le Clair, Henry/Rex Everhart/William Daniels, 1776 [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony Classical)
Cool, Cool, Considerate Men - Cast, 1776 [New Broadway Cast] (TVT)
The Egg - Ken Howard/Rex Everhart/William Daniels, 1776 [Original Broadway Cast] (Sony Classical)
Is Anybody There? - Brent Spiner, 1776 [New Broadway Cast] (TVT)
God Bless America - Kate Smith, This Is the Army [Original Broadway Cast]
Freedom - Bing Crosby, Holiday Inn [Film] (MCA)
Strike up the Band - George Gershwin, Strike Up the Band (Nonesuch)

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!

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)

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.

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.