There’s leaning on the innuendo in a largely innocent song, and then there’s what Tracy Lynn Olivera has done with “Brand New Key” — and what Tracy Lynn Olivera has done with “Brand New Key” is take a bouncy ‘70s novelty hit and paste a bodacious ‘70s pornstache on it. I’d have rolled my eyes […]
Brad Hathaway’s final Theatre Shelf
For over four years, this column has brought you reviews of theater-related CDs, DVDs and Books that you might want to have on your very own theater shelves. It has been a pleasure as well as an honor to be your source for information on both the obvious new releases and the more obscure items […]
One Touch of Venus is back! New CD and DVD released
So many of the great musicals of the 1940s, 50s and 60s have remained in the standard repertoire, being revived again and again and recorded over and over that you could be forgiven for thinking they constitute the greats of that great age. However, there were others, that for one reason or another, have not […]
Tony Award nominated musicals now on CD or coming soon
The 2013-14 Broadway season has produced a wide variety of scores from musicals that we are fortunate to have had recorded commercially. Indeed, the season has been marked by a notable raft of very well recorded cast albums, many marvelously packaged.
Sheldon Harnick: Hidden Treasures, 1949-2013
One storyline in the history of the evolution of what we now know as “a musical” has been the progression of lyric writing from light verse to less rigid but often more potent forms of poetry. Those of us who love the genre feel a great appreciation and respect for the works of W. S. […]
Show scores by Dianna Ross and other top pop and jazz artists
One vocal treatment of a Styne score that has been laying under the wraps of near obscurity for 45 years has just re-emerged in a digital re-release of note:”Diana Ross and the Supremes Sing & Perform Funny Girl.” In 1968, when Motown’s Berry Gordy was beginning to groom Ms. Ross for single stardom, he brought her into a studio in New York City for a two day recording session to lay down the lead vocals for a ten-track album of songs from the score that belongs so demonstrably to Barbra Streisand.
Fun Home, the musical from Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir
We’ll take a look at the recordings of the Tony nominated musicals before the June 8 award telecast but, right now, there’s an original cast album of an Off Broadway musical that deserves your attention.
Jarrod Spector Live at 54 Below
Some artists who put together a cabaret show just pick a bunch of songs that they like to sing or that show off their talents. Others pick a theme or turn their cabaret show into an autobiography. Either way, with enough talent and a sense of taste, these shows can be thrilling – as those […]
From Broadway With Love, A Benefit Concert for Sandy Hook
When show folk put their minds (and hearts) into it, they can raise any roof. On January 28th of last year, the roof that couldn’t contain their touching contributions to a benefit concert was that of the Palace Theatre in Waterbury, Connecticut. The theater is seventy-five miles from New York’s Palace Theater on Broadway, but […]
Live recordings from NY nightclub, 54 Below
Two years ago, when I was preparing the 2012 holiday gift guide, I received a press release from a new well-named label: Broadway Records. It announced the launch of a series of live recordings of cabaret-style performances at the then-brand-new supper-club downstairs from the Studio 54 Theater on 54th Street in New York – – […]
British online radio for musicals lovers to feature 9 complete musicals for the holidays.
Musical theatre lovers everywhere might enjoy this audio reach across the pond. UK online radio JemmThree, The staff of UK’s online radio site JemmThree, all avowed musicals fanatics, deliver 24 hours of show tunes, cheerily commenting about the songs and recent performances in the West End. So, not the standard automated playlists you may be […]
Holiday Gifts for Theatre Lovers
Suggestions from Brad Hathaway
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