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Note: The next recap will be published the week of September 26
Digital Music Now Available:
Band Geeks: A New Musical
(Yellow Sound Label / Brainstorm Records - new digital album)
Studio album of complete score by Gaby Alter, Tommy Newman, and Mark Allen (book of the music is by Newman and Gordon Greenberg). All 19 songs from the musical, plus two bonus tracks. Cast includes Lindsay Mendez, Jared Gertner, Ruthie Ann Miles, Douglas Lyons, Patti Murin, Alex Gemignani. Produced by Michael Croiter and Gaby Alter. Released 9/8/23.
The Big Time
(Concord Theatricals - new digital album)
Studio recording of score Douglas J. Cohen (book of the musical is by Douglas Carter Beane). Santino Fontana, Debbie Gravitte, Raymond Bokhour, Jackie Hoffman, Michael McCormick, Diane Phelan, and Will Swenson. Accompanied by Tony Kadleck, Manuel Ruiz, Scott Wendholt, Brian Pareschi, Jason DeBord, Dave Phillips, Sean McDaniel, Sara Jacovino, Jason Jackson, Jen Hinkle, Jack Schatz, Steve Kenyon, Bryan Cook, Scott Kreitzer, Alden Banta and Mark Thrasher. Orchestrations by August Eriksmoen. Additional arrangements by Noah Landis, music direction by Eric Stern, music coordination by Bryan Cook and music preparation by Michael Pacifico and Jonathan Bauerfeld. Produced by August Eriksmoen and Douglas J. Cohen. Released 9/8/23.
The Father and the Assassin
(Broadway Records - new digital album)
Score for the National Theatre production, original music by Siddhartha Khosla. Additional music by David Shrubsole. Released 9/8/23.
How to Dance in Ohio
(new EP)
OBC recording of score by Jacob Yandura and Rebekah Greer Melocik. Cast includes Desmond Edwards, Amelia Fei, Madison Kopec, Liam Pearce, Imani Russell, Conor Tague, and Ashley Wool. "Under Control," "Getting Ready for the Dance," "So Much in Common," "Building Momentum." Recorded at Flux Studios. Previews begin 11/15/23 at the Belasco Theatre. Orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin. Released 9/6/23.
The Sondheim Project: Sara Shiloh Rae & Bluebird Junction
(digital album)
Vocalist Sara Shiloh Rae with Alex Hargreaves on fiddle, Mike Robinson on guitar, Jacob Jolliff on mandolin, Molly Aronson on cello, Myles Sloniker on bass, and Max Hoetzel on banjo. "Send in the Clowns," "Broadway Baby," "Sooner or Later," "The Miller's Son," "Ladies Who Lunch." Arrangements by Myles Sloniker Released 3/13/23.
Stories: Songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein
(new EP)
"Climb Ev'ry Mountain" (India Carney), "Impossible" (Hunter), "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Mario Jose), "My Favorite Things" (Maeve Touhey). Released 8/25/23.
Books Now Available:
Adrienne Kennedy: Collected Plays & Other Writings
(Library of America - Hardcover Book)
Marc Robinson, editor. Collected edition of Adrienne Kennedy's wide-ranging writings, spanning six decades and including ten unpublished works: the early surrealistic one-acts A Lesson in Dead Language and A Rat's Mass; works like A Movie Star Has to Star in Black and White and Film Festival: The Day Jean Seberg Died that reveal Kennedy's longstanding fascination with Hollywood and film culture; Ohio State Murders, one of several plays featuring her protagonist Suzanne Alexander and the first of her plays to be staged - in 2022 - on Broadway; Sleep Deprivation Chamber, a searing indictment of racially motivated police violence based on real-life incidents involving her son, who co-wrote the play; and her adaptations of works by Euripides, Flaubert, and John Lennon, reimagined. 995 pages.
Alfie Boe - Face the Music: My Story
(new Kindle Edition/Audiobook)
English stage actor/singer Alfie Boe (La bohème, Les Misérables) memoir. Hardcover edition currently has a UK release on the same date.
Back to the Future: The Musical Piano/Vocal Selections
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book/Digital)
Songs from the film plus 14 more from the cast recording arranged in standard piano/vocal format with the melody in the piano part. Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard. 144 pages. Released 6/1/23.
Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy
(Smart Pop - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Charles Busch. Anecdotal account of the artist's journey in the worlds of Off-Broadway, Broadway, and Hollywood as a playwright, LGBT icon, drag actor, director, and cabaret performer. Features rare photos. 288 pages.
The Music for Victory at Sea: Richard Rodgers, Robert Russell Bennett, and the Making of a TV Masterpiece
(Univ of Rochester - new hardcover book)
By George J. Ferencz. Explores the creation of NBC-TV's landmark 1952-53 WWII documentary series, with particular attention to its evocative Rodgers-Bennett score. Chronicles "Victory"'s gestation and production at NBC, its reception, the series' afterlife in syndication and home video, and the score's "Gold Record" sales success on RCA records; plus examining each episode in turn, focusing on how the Bennett-scored music pairs with screen action. Every transformation of the much-used Rodgers themes is cited, along with the episodes' musical inter-relationships. The hundreds of musical examples generously sample the score's 11½ hours of music. 386 pages.
Music to Be Released This Friday, September 15:
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
(Chandos - new on 2 CDs/digital/2-LP vinyl)
First complete recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein score in the original Robert Russell Bennett orchestration, restored by Bruce Pomahac, Overture to Exit Music. Cast includes Nathaniel Hackmann, Laurey Sierra Boggess, Jud Fry Rodney Earl Clarke, Jamie Parker, Louise Dearman, Sandra Marvin, Nadim Naaman, Leo Roberts, Juan Jackson, Will Richardson, Sejal Keshwala. Sinfonia of London with John Wilson conducting. Media details: double hybrid SACD CHSA 5322; limited edition double vinyl ABRD 5322 (1,000 numbered copies). Recorded in Dolby ATMOS and available in spatial audio.sinfoniaoflondon.com
New York, New York OBC
(Wine & Peaches - new on CD)
Cast recording of 2023 Broadway musical. Score by John Kander, Fred Ebb, Lin-Manuel Miranda. To feature the show's complete score, comprising 90 minutes of music, including orchestral interludes. Cast includes Colton Ryan, Anna Uzele, Clyde Alves, John Clay III, Janet Dacal, Ben Davis, Oliver Prose as Alex Mann, Angel Sigala, Emily Skinner. "Morning in New York," "Cheering for Me Now," "A Major Chord," "New York in Summer," "Better Than Before," "One of the Smart Ones," "Gold," "Wine and Peaches," "I Love Music," "My Own Music," "I'm What's Happening Now," "New York in the Rain," "A Simple Thing Like That," "Can You Hear Me?," "Happy Endings /Let's Hear It for Me," "New York in the Snow," "Marry Me / Act 1 Finale," "Along Comes Love," "San Juan Supper Club," "A Quiet Thing," "New York at Night," "A Quell' Amor," "Sorry I Asked," "But the World Goes Round," "New York Concerto," "Music, Money, Love," "Light," "New York, New York," "Bonus tracks: "Can You Hear Me?: (original demo performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda & John Kander), "Along Comes Love (original demo performed by John Kander & Fred Ebb), "Wine and Peaches" (original demo performed by John Kander & Fred Ebb), "New York, New York" (original demo performed by John Kander & Fred Ebb), "New York, New York" (cast album version, instrumental). Album produced by Michael Croiter, Sam Davis, Lin-Manuel Miranda; co-produced by Sonia Friedman, Tom Kirdahy, Craig Balsam. Digital version released 6/30/23.
Veronica Swift
(Mack Avenue - on CD/digital/vinyl)
Co-produced by Swift, Brian Viglione, and Mariano Aponte. "I Am What I Am" (digital and CD only, "Closer," "Do Nothing till You Hear from Me," "The Show Must Go On," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," "In the Moonlight," "Severed Heads," "Je Veux Vivre," "Chega de Saudade," "Keep Yourself Alive," "Don't Rain On My Parade." Accompanists include Adam Klipple, Randy Waldman, Chris Whiteman, Samson Schmitt, Luisito Quintero, Austin Patterson, Antoine Silverman, Pierre Blanchard, Philip Norris, Alex Claffy, Antonio Licusati, Felix Maldonado, Troy Roberts, David Leon, Benny Benack III, James Sarno, Javier Nero, Ludovic Bier, Carolynne Framil, and David Mann.
Newly Listed Recordings:
October 20:
Back to the Future: The Musical Deluxe Edition
(Masterworks Broadway - new on 2 CDs)
OLC recording of the score that includes new songs by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard alongside hit songs from the movie, plus bonus disc of 13 demos and early versions: "It's Only a Matter of Time," "Wherever We're Going" (Showcase Version), "Hello, Is Anybody Home?," "It Works," "Cake (And Eat It Too)," "It's What I Do," "Good at Being Bad," "Future Boy," "One Way Street," "Time Travel Is a Dangerous Thing," "Connections," "When You're Really Cool," "For the Dreamers." Cast includes Roger Bart and Olly Dobson, Hugh Coles, Rosanna Hyland, Cedric Neal, Aidan Cutler, and Courtney-Mae Briggs. Expanded booklet.
Chris Botti: Vol. 1
(Blue Note - new on CD/digital)
New renditions of "Danny Boy," "Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered," "Two for the Road," "Paris" (with John Splithof), "Blue in Green," "Someday My Prince Will Come," "Time On My Hands," "My Funny Valentine," "Fix You," "Old Folks." Features performances by violinist Joshua Bell, pianist Taylor Eigsti, guitarist Gilad Hekselman, and others. Produced by David Foster.
Keep Walkin': Singles, Demos & Rarities 1965-1978
(Light in the Attic - new on CD/Vinyl/digital/8-track Tape)
Exploring the lesser-known gems from Nancy Sinatra's catalog through B-sides, rare singles, covers, demos, and previously-unreleased recordings. "The City Never Sleeps at Night," "The Last of the Secret Agents," "My Baby Cried All Night Long," "Shades, in Our Time," "Love Eyes," "Rockin' Rock and Roll," "This Town," "Tony Rome," "100 Years," "See the Little Children," "Something Pretty" *, "Do I Hear a Waltz" *, "Drummer Man, Zodiac Blues," "Highway Song," "Are You Growing Tired of My Love," "Flowers in the Rain," "Glory Road," "Ain't No Sunshine," "Easy Evil," "Sugar Me," "Kinky Love," "Dolly and Hawkeye," "I Just Can't Help Believing" *. * = previously unreleased. Remastered by John Baldwin
October 27:
Evergreens : Celebrating Six Decades on Columbia Records
(Legacy Recordings - new on 2 CDs/Vinyl)
Celebrates Barbra Streisand's 60th anniversary as a Columbia Records artist. Features 22 songs hand selected by Barbra as some of her favorite pieces throughout her career (many are deep tracks). None have appeared on previous Streisand compilation albums before. Disc 1: "I'll Tell the Man in the Street," "Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered)," "Absent Minded Me," "The Shadow of Your Smile," "Where or When," "Ma Première Chanson," "I Don't Know Where I Stand," "I Never Meant to Hurt You," "Letters That Cross in the Mail," "Answer Me," "Tomorrow," "Can't Help Lovin' That Man," "Two People," "Some Enchanted Evening," "I Believe," "Isn't It a Pity?," "Moon River," "Here's to Life," "The Windmills of Your Mind," "Who Can I Turn to (When Nobody Needs Me) - Barbra Streisand with Anthony Newley," "Lady Liberty," "Evergreen (Love Theme from "A Star Is Born")." Disc: 2: "Two People," "Some Enchanted Evening," "I Believe (Previously Unreleased)," "Isn't It a Pity?," "Moon River," "Here's to Life (Orchestra Version)," "The Windmills of Your Mind," "Who Can I Turn to (When Nobody Needs Me) with Anthony Newley," "Lady Liberty," "Evergreen (Love Theme from a Star Is Born)" (2023).
Yentl: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
(Legacy Recordings - new on CD/digital)
Soundtrack songs by Michel Legrand (music) and Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman (lyrics). Disc 1 features the original Yentl soundtrack; and Disc 2 features 15 additional tracks: demos Barbra recorded in her living room on a stereo cassette deck to get the movie made, while also providing her narration. Demo recordings feature Barbra accompanied only by Michel Legrand on piano.
October:
Audrey Silver: Oklahoma
(Messy House Records - new album)
New from jazz vocalist/flautist Audrey Silver. Songs by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Arrangements by Bruce Barth. Liner notes by WIll Friedwald. "Oklahoma," "Many a New Day," "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "I Cain't Say No,""The Surrey with the Fringe on Top," "Out of My Dreams," "People Will Say We're in Love," "Kansas City," "Boys and Girls Like You and Me."
Newly Listed Books:
November 16:
Conversations in Color: Exploring North American Musical Theatre
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition
By Sean Mayes. Unveils the untold stories and perspectives of artists of color shaping the stage today, through interviews drawn from Broadway and regional productions, including André De Shields, Alex Lacamoire, Baayork Lee, and many more. 168 pages.
November 25:
Fifty Key Theatre Designers
(Routledge - Hardcover Book/Paperback)
By Arnold Aronson. Looks at the history of theatrical scenography by examining the work and contributions of fifty set, costume, lighting, and projection designers since the Renaissance ... including opera, dance, Broadway and West End commercial theatre, avant-garde performance, and even Olympic spectacles. Each chapter features one designer, with basic biographical information and a discussion of that artist's style, aesthetics, and contributions. 330 pages.
December 5:
Everywhere an Oink Oink: An Embittered, Dyspeptic, and Accurate Report of Forty Years in Hollywood
(Simon & Schuster - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook/Audiobook on CD)
By David Mamet, with illustrations by David Mamet. The author " shares scandalous and laugh-out-loud tales from his four decades in Hollywood where he worked with some of the biggest names in movies." Audiobook narrated by Jim Frangione. 256 pages.
