December 31, 2013

Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: 20th Anniversary Edition
(TCG - Hardcover/Paperback Book)
B&N
By Tony Kushner. Millennium Approaches and Perestroika in the revised versions presented at the Signature Theatre Company, as well as a new author's foreword.

Audrey Wood and the Playwrights (Palgrave Studies in Theatre and Performance History)
(Palgrave Macmillan - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Paperback release of 2012 book by Milly S. Barrange. The story of Audrey Wood, literary agent for many legendary playwrights.

Gettin' the Band Back Together
(Sh-K-Boom - new on mp3 and at iTunes)
Cast album for new regionally produced musical. George Street cast Heather Brave, Evan Daves, Michelle Duffy, Ryan Duncan, Deidre Goodwin, Christopher Gurr, Mitchell Jarvis, Jay Klaitz, Garth Kravits, Adam Monley, Emily McNamara, Manu Narayan, Tad Wilson and Brandon Williams. "Jersey," "One of Those Guys," "Gettin' the Band Back Together," "Kenny's Hymn," "Hava Nagila," "Life Without Parole," "Bart's Confession," "Do Over." Music and lyrics by Mark Allen. Book by Ken Davenport and The Grundleshotz, with additional material by Sarah Saltzberg. Album produced by Sh-K-Boom Records, Dean Sharenow and Doug Katsaros.

Lost Broadway and More, Volume 5: Comden/Green/Styne
(Original Cast Records - new on CD)
Songs of Betty Comden & Adolph Green and Jule Styne, as a team and various projects (shows and films) with other collaborators. Marc Kudisch, Leslie Kritzer, Tom Hewitt, Christine Pedi, Brooke Moriber, Michael Lavine, and 17 others. Musical direction, piano accompaniment by Michael Lavine. Produced by Bruce Yeko. Rare/cut songs from Fade Out, Fade In, Funny Girl, Hallelujah, Baby!, Say, Darling, A Doll's Life, It's Always Fair Weather, Step Lively, The Kid from Brooklyn and more. Tracks: Instrumental opening based on "He Tried to Make a Dollar," "Why Must There Be an Op'ning Song?," "Notice Me," "Hey! What's Your Name?," "You Interest Me," "A Girl to Remember," "My Little Yellow Dress," "Jaded Lady," "Love Is Nothing But a Racket," "I Did It on Roller Skates," "Temporary Arrangement," "Little Lost Dream," "Misunderstood," "Funny Girl," "When the Weather's Better," "Alone in the World," "So Far So Good," "I'm Laying Away a Buck," ""Fill 'er Up," "What a Way to Go" plus five audition sequences from Say, Darling. Also available directly from CD Baby and at Footlight.

Stephen Ward Original Cast recording
(Decca - new on CD)
New musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Christopher Hampton and lyricist Don Black (West End performances begin December 3). Cast features Alexander Hanson, Charlotte Spencer, Charlotte Blackledge, Anthony Calf, Daniel Flynn and Joanna Riding. Tracks "Human Sacrifice" and "Hopeless When It Comes To You" now available for free download. UK release available at Amazon UK. U.S. import still listed as coming March 11, 2014.

Two for the Road: Shaynee Rainbolt & Donn Trenner
(Bug Out Music - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
"Lucky to Be Me," "Midnight Sun," "In the Glow of You," "This Years Kisses," "Yesterday / Yesterdays," "Down in the Depths (On the 90th Floor)," "I Will Wait for You / Watch What Happens," "Memory of the Rain / Come in from the Rain," "There's No You," "Two for the Road," "Thanks for the Memory." Samples, tracks and album available at CD Baby. Currently out of stock at Amazon.

Wishing You a Happy New Year: Leslie Uggams
(Curtis McKonly Music - new digital single mp3/iTunes)
Leslie Uggams with 41-piece Curtis Mckonly Orchestra. Written by Curtis McKonly.

Wynn Place Show: A Biased History of the Rollicking Life & Extreme Times of Wynn Handman and the American Place Theatre
(Smith & Kraus - Hardcover/Paperback Book)
By Jeremy Gerard. 400 pages. Has been listed as out of stock.

December 17, 2013

Audrey Wood and the Playwrights (Palgrave Studies in Theatre and Performance History)
(Palgrave Macmillan - Paperback Book)
Paperback release of 2012 book by Milly S. Barrange. The story of Audrey Wood, literary agent for many legendary playwrights.

Confessions of a Casting Director: Help Actors Land Any Role with Secrets from Inside the Audition Room
(It Books - new Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Jen Rudin. Foreword by Janeane Garofalo. 240 pages.

Fame Forever: Talent Springs Eternal
(new demo recording)
Sequel to the international hit Fame. Score by Steve Margoshes (music) and Ben H. Winters (lyrics). Conceived and developed by David De Silva. Justin Keyes, Emily Vasquez, Annie Golden, Sara Schmidt, Jared Joseph, Caesar Samayoa, Regina Le Vert, David Perlman, Amy Decker, Gabrielle Ruiz, Britney Coleman, Nicholas Rodriguez and Marshal Carolan. orchestrations by Danny Troob and Steve Margoshes. Recorded at Kilgore Sound in New York City under the direction of Rick Hip-Flores. The show is licensed worldwide by MTI. Listen to the recording at www.FameNetwork.com.

Omnibus: Gene Kelly - Dancing: A Man's Game
(Entertainment One Music - new on DVD)
1958 Omnibus TV show with Fred Astaire.

Psych: The Musical
(Universal - new DVD & CD set)
21013 musical episode of U.S. TV series. Steve Franks and Adam Cohen score. Barry Bostwick, and Dule Hill, Brooke Lyons, Anthony Rapp, James Roday, Ally Sheedy. CD soundtrack features selected songs from the musical. A murder mystery about the troubled Jack the Ripper musical. 88 minutes.

The Sound of Music - Live!
(Universal Studios - new on DVD)
NBC production, to be presented live on December 5, with Carrie Underwood, Stephen Moyer, Audra McDonald, Laura Benanti, Christian Borle, Christiane Noll.

Suzan-Lori Parks in Person: Interviews, Addresses, Commentaries
(Routledge - Hardcover/Paperback Book)
Philip C Kolin and Harvey Young, editors. 256 pages.

You Are Home: The Songs of Anderson & Petty
(Great White Wax - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Debut songbook album for writing team Barry Anderson and Mark Petty. Matthew Barrow, Gina Beck, Kieran Brown, Jen Burleigh-Bentz, Brent Michael DiRoma, Cynthia Erivo, Josh Franklin, Natalie Gallo, Autumn Hurlbert, Jason Kappus, Debbie Kurup, Sophia Ragavelas, Jonathan Rayson, Coleen Sexton, Lucia Spina, and Frances Ruffelle. "Beautiful Day," "Suddenly," "Only Me - You Are Home," "The Rain It Falls," "Forever Child," "This Time I Know," "Tell Me," "Superman," "Christmas Eve," "We Stand Together," "Take Me Away," "Love Will Find Its Way," "A New Star Tonight," "River, Slow Down," "Stand Up."

December 10, 2013

Allegiance Original Cast Mini-Album
(new EP at at iTunes)
Music and lyrics by Jay Kuo. George Takei, Lea Salonga, Telly Leung, Allie Trimm, Aaron Serotsky, Michael K. Lee and the Allegiance Orchestra. "Higher," "With You," "Paradise," "Gaman," "Allegiance." 6 tracks.

Annie: Broadway Singer's Edition
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book/CD)
Vocal line and lyrics; songs in their original keys with piano accompaniments crafted for playability. The CD includes performances of these piano accompaniments. 10 selections include "Easy Street," "I Don't Need Anything but You," "It's the Hard-Knock Life," "Little Girls," "Maybe," "A New Deal for Christmas," "N.Y.C.," "Something Was Missing," "Tomorrow," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile."

Donna Vivino: Beautiful Dreamer
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD/mp3 w/ digital booklet/iTunes)
Theatre actress (Wicked, Les Misérables original cast Young Cosette) debut solo album. "When Day Is Done," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "Over the Rainbow," "When She Loved Me," "Castle on a Cloud," "Rainy Days and Mondays," "How Insensitive," "Never Never Land," "My Romance," "I Wish You Love," "Once You Lose Your Heart," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "Beautiful Dreamer."

Grey Gardens
(Criterion Collection - new Blu-ray)
Albert Maysles and David Maysles 1975 documentary.

Jack Topping: Wonderful World [Import]
(Decca - new import CD)
11-year-old UK choirboy. "Let It Be," "What A Wonderful World," "The Lord Is My Shepherd," "Tomorrow - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra," "Ave Maria," "You'll Never Walk Alone," "Pie Jesu (based on The Swan by Saint - Saens)," "Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring," "Count On Me," "Sweetest Love," "Kyrie," "The Leaving Of Liverpool," "Papa Noel," "Allegri Miserere Mei." UK released pre-ordering at Amazon UK.

Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary Edition
(Disney - new Blu-Ray set)
All new digital restoration. Songs by Robert and Richard Sherman and music by Irwin Kostal. Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy of 1963 musical film. Based on the books by P.L. Travers. Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber. Extras to include: Mary-OKEs; Becoming Mr. Sherman with Jason Schwartzman and Richard Sherman; and more.

Minding the Score: The Music of Harry L. Alford
(New World Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Composer of American popular song and vaudeville shows; songs written between 1905-1925. Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. Rick Benjamin, musical director. "The Hustler," "Jazorient," "Some of These Days & My Ever Lovin' Southern Gal," "Roll 'Em Up," "Just A-Wearyin' for Yo," "The Smiler" (Piano Solo), "The Smiler Rag," "Fiancée: The Bride to Be," "Jazette," "The Memphis Blues," "Independent Moving Picture March "Imp"," "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," "The Peacemaker," "Jazz Elite," "Spooks: A Midnight Chase," "A Perfect Day," "Memories" (Piano Solo), "Memories," "Shapiro's Song Successes No4," "Call of the Elk: The Official B.P.O.E March."

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Original Cast
(Ghostlight Records - new on 2 CDs)
Dave Malloy score. David Abeles, Brittain Ashford, Gelsey Bell, Catherine Brookman, Nick Choksi, Ken Clark, Ashkon Davaran, Blake DeLong, Amber Gray, Luke Holloway, Dave Malloy, Grace McLean, Azudi Onyejekwe, Paul Pinto, Phillipa Soo, Lucas Steele, Shaina Taub, Mariand Torres and Lauren Zakrin. Musical director Or Matias. Recorded August 26, 2013, at MSR Studios. Produced by Dean Sharenow, Howard and Janet Kagan and Kurt Deutsch. Disc 1: "Prologue," "Pierre," "Moscow," "The Private and Intimate Life of the House," "Natasha & Bolkonskys," "No One Else," "The Opera," "Natasha & Anatole," "Natasha Lost," "The Duel," "Sunday Morning," "Charming," "The Ball. Disc 2: "Letters," "Sonya & Natasha," "Sonya Alone," "Preparations," "Balaga," "The Abduction," "In My House," "A Call to Pierre," "Find Anatole," "Pierre & Anatole," "Natasha Very Ill," "Pierre & Andrey," "Pierre & Natasha," "The Great Comet of 1812." Deluxe package includes 48 page booklet with full lyrics, show photos/synopsis and an essay by Steven Suskin. Digital highlights version and deluxe version with digital booklet released on October 29.

Ren Woods: From Out of the Woods
(Razor & Tie - extra tracks CD)
Expanded edition of Ren Woods (The Wiz, Hair film) 1979 album Out of the Woods. "Hooked On A Love Groove," "I Love The Way You Do It," "I Need Someone To Touch Me," "Sticks And Stones," "Everybody Get Up," "Sweeter As The Day Goes By," "I'm In Love With You," "Straight To Love," and Bonus Tracks: "Everybody Get Up" (12" Version ), "Straight To Love" (Single Version), "Everybody Get Up" (Long Instrumental Version).

Saving Mr. Banks Deluxe Soundtrack
(Disney - new on 2 CDs/mp3/iTunes)
Thomas Newman score plus songs sung by Colin Farrell and Jason Schwartzman. Second CD includes Richard M. Sherman demos and selections from Mary Poppins soundtrack. Second disc tracks: "The Pearly Song ("Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" pre-demo) - Richard M. Sherman, "Chim Chim Cher-ee" (pre-demo) - Richard M. Sherman, "Tuppence a Bag" ("Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)" pre-demo) - Richard M. Sherman, "Let's Go Fly a Kite" (pre-demo) - Richard M. Sherman, "A Spoonful of Sugar" - Julie Andrews, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" - Julie Andrews, "Chim Chim Cher-ee" - Julie Andrews, "Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)" - Julie Andrews, "Let's Go Fly a Kite."

Sierra Boggess: Awakening: Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
"I Have Confidence," "Welcome: Awakening," "Lovely," "Inspiration: Opera," "Quando M'en Vo," "Donde Lieta," "Inspiration: My father," "Wildflowers," "Inspiration: Nature," "How Come," "Just Around the Riverbend," "Can You Imagine," "Part of Your World," "Inspiration: You are Enough!," "I Don't Care," "Inspiration: Gillian Lynne, Hal Prince, Andrew Lloyd Webber," "The Ultimate Medley with apologies to ALW," "Inspiration: Barbra Streisand," "Before the Parade Passes By," "A Quiet Thing," "Inspiration: Grandparents," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "You'll Never Know," "Closing Remarks," "Live Out Loud," "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes." Produced by Michael Moritz and executive-produced by Van Dean and Kenny Howard. Liner notes by Hal Prince and Andrew Lloyd Webber. To be released digitally December 6.

Swinging Birdland Christmas
(Birdland Records - new on CD)
Annual holiday show recorded live at Birdland. Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch, with special guest jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein. "It's The Holiday Season," "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," "Santa Claus Is Near," "The Christmas Waltz," "The Man With The Bag," "Walking In A Winter Wonderland —Let It Snow," "A Child Is Born," "Sleigh Ride," "What Are You Doing New Years Eve?," "Jingle Bells Mashup." Billy Stritch on piano, John Hart on guitar, Paul Gill on bass, Carmen Intorre on drums. Arrangements are by Billy Stritch and Aaron Weinstein. Executive Producer is Gianni Valenti. Available at Birdland and Birdland's website.

December 3, 2013

Carmen Jones Blu-ray
(Fox - new Blu-Ray)
1954 film version of Bizet/Hammerstein musical version of the opera. Directed by Otto Preminger. Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, Olga James, Joe Adams, Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll.

Laurence Owen: Kith & Kin (A Christmas Song)
(new digital single/at iTunes)
British singer and performer. Sample and track available at CD Baby.

Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty: A Gothic Romance
(Deutsche Grammophon - new on DVD)
Ballet directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, "with Beauty pricking herself on the poisoned rose in 1911 and awakening 100 years later in the contemporary world." Music by Peter Tchaikovsky. Released in U.S. 9/30/13. Blu-ray to be released in U.K. 12/23/13.

Nashville
(Criterion Collection - new Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
1975 film directed by Robert Altman. Keith Carradine, Karen Black, Michael Murphy, Lily Tomlin, Geraldine Chaplin, Ned Beatty, Ronee Blakley, Henry Gibson. Bonuses: Audio commentary with director Robert Altman; new documentary on the making of the film, interviews with Keith Carradine, Michael Murphy, Allan Nicholls, Lily Tomlin, Alan Rudolph and Joan Tewkesbury; archival interviews with Altman; behind-the-scenes footage; demos of Carradine singing his songs from the film; trailer; booklet featuring Molly Haskell essay.

Natalie Toro: Just in Time for Christmas
(new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Musical theatre performer sings "Just in Time for Christmas," "The Christmas Song," "Baby It's Cold Outside" (with Ryan Kelly), "Ave Maria / O' Holy Night," "Once Upon a Christmas Song" (by Peter Kay), "Our First Christmas Together" (by Phil Coulter), "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (with Jon Secada). Samples, CD and digital album at CD Baby. Released 11/12/13.

The Sound of Music TV soundtrack
(Sony Masterworks - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Studio recording for NBC production (to be presented live on December 5) with Carrie Underwood, Stephen Moyer, Audra McDonald, Laura Benanti, Christian Borle, Christiane Noll. Rodgers & Hammerstein score. "Preludium," "The Sound of Music," "Maria," "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Sixteen Going On Seventeen," "The Lonely Goatherd," "How Can Love Survive?," "Reprise: The Sound of Music," "The Grand Waltz," "Landler," "So Long, Farewell," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "No Way To Stop It," "Something Good," "Processional & Maria" (The Wedding), "Reprise: Sixteen Going On Seventeen," "Reprise: Do-Re-Mi" (The Concert), "Edelweiss" (The Concert), "Reprise: So Long, Farewell" (The Concert), "Finale Ultimo: Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "End Credits."

Teddy Ferrara by Christopher Shinn
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Play by Obie Award winner Christopher Shinn (Where Do We Live, Four, Other People, What Didn't Happen, On the Mountain, The Coming World).

Twelfth Night and Richard III Limited Edition Set: Shakespeare on Broadway
(Bloomsbury Arden Shakespeare - Book set)
Limited-edition set of the Arden King Richard III and Twelfth Night, enhanced with full-color images from the two Shakespeare's Globe productions. Includes detailed on-page notes and expert introductions to the plays' historical, critical and theatrical contexts.

November 26, 2013

Christine Ebersole: Strings Attached
(Motéma Music - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Christine Ebersole with violinist Aaron Weinstein. Produced by Birdland owner Gianni Valenti. "lush, orchestral, classic songs from the 20's through the 40's." "Shall We Dance," "The Things We Did Last Summer," "This Time the Dream's on Me," "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye," "Am I Blue," "Moon Dreams," "I Wish I Were in Love Again," "After You've Gone/Too Gone Too Long," "Our Love Is Here to Stay," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Jitterbug Waltz," "Something There," "La La Lu." Liner notes by Ann Hampton Callaway.

Frozen (Deluxe)
(Disney - new on 2 CDs/mp3/iTunes)
2013 animated film soundtrack. Songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and original score by Christophe Beck (Paperman). Performances by Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff and more; end-credit recording of "Let It Go" by Demi Lovato. 2nd CD includes outtakes, demos and karaoke versions. CD set features 55 tracks; 59 tracks on the digital version.

Gangway
(VCI - new on DVD)
1937 musical film featuring Jessie Matthews, Barry MacKay, Nat Pendleton, Alastair Sim. Songs by Samuel Lerner (as Sammy Lerner), Al Goodhart and Al Hoffman, Harry Revel & Mack Gordon; Harry M. Woods. Director Sonnie Hale.

The Girl I Left Behind Me: by Jessica Walker
(Original Cast Records - new digital album)
Jessica Walker and Neil Bartlett tribute to the artistry and glamour of the often outrageous cross-dressing women of the British music hall and American variety stages. A contemporary look at what it means when a woman wears the trousers - on stage. Featured at 59E59 Theatres 'Brits Off Broadway' in May 2013. Samples, individual tracks and digital album available at CD Baby. CD can be purchased through Original Cast Records at Amazon (choose the 3rd-party seller) or at Footlight Records.

Head Over Heels
(VCI - new on DVD)
1937 musical film. Jessie Matthews, Louis Borel, Robert Flemyng, Romney Brent. Director Sonnie Hale. Songs by Harry Revel & Mack Gordon.

Home for the Holidays: by Kevin Dozier & Alex Rybeck
(Brannock Productions - new EP mpe)
"Silent Night," "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," "O Holy Night," "I'll Be Home for Christmas / Goodbye for Now," "Together This Christmas," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Bless Your Heart." Samples, single tracks and digital album at CD Baby.

Liz Callaway: Merry and Bright
(new EP on mp3/iTunes)
Liz Callaway (Baby, Merrily We Roll Along) sings "Joy to the World," "Grown-Up Christmas List," Silent Night / Mary, Did You Know? (with Ann Hampton Callaway), "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (arranged by and sung with Nicholas Callaway Foster), "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Meet John Doe Studio Cast
(Broadway Records - new on CD/mp3)
Andrew Gerle and Eddie Sugarman musical based on the 1941 Capra film. Heidi Blickenstaff, James Moye, Joel Blum, Robert Cuccioli, John Jellison and Andrew Keenan-Bolger. "Yesterday's News," "I'm Your Man," "Page Eight, At the Top / Fast Talking," "I Hope You Can See This," "I Feel Like a Man Again," "Get the Picture," "Be More," "Money Talks," "He Threw Me," "He Speaks to Me," "Entr'acte / Meet John Doe Jingle," "Thank You," "Bigger Than Baseball," "Who the Hell," "Lighthouses," "New American Times," "Finale (Between Manhattan and Brooklyn)."

Three War Stories: Novellas
(Argo-Navis - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By David Mamet: The Redwing, Notes on Plain Warfare and The Handle and the Hold.

Wicked Deluxe 10th Anniversary
(VerveUMe - on 2 CDs)
With bonus tracks; "Popular Song" by MIKA (featuring Ariana Grande); deluxe packaging featuring "greenified" anniversary artwork, and booklet with new essays by Stephen Schwartz and Gregory Maguire. October 29 digital release; CDs released November 19. Vinyl version to be available online and at the Gershwin Theatre. Mp3 and iTunes versions previously released.

November 19, 2013

Actors' Yearbook 2014
(Bloomsbury Methuen Drama - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Editor Simon Dunmore and Hilary Lissenden . Annual directory provides detailed information and specific advice on listings from agents and casting directors to producing theatres, showreel companies and photographers. Insight into the profession: auditions, interviews, casting calendar and advice on contracts and finance. Listings in this edition have been thoroughly updated.

Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn Deluxe Edition
(Columbia - new on CD/mp3/iTunes )
Live recording of recent Barclays Center concert. "I Remember Barbra #1," "As If We Never Said Goodbye," "Nice 'n' Easy / That Face," "The Way He Makes Me Feel," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "Didn't We," "Marvin Hamlisch intro," "The Way We Were / Through The Eyes Of Love," " Jule Styne intro," "Being Good Isn't Good Enough," "Rose's Turn / Some People / Don't Rain On My Parade," "I Remember Barbra #2," "You're The Top," "What'll I Do / My Funny Valentine (w/ Chris Botti)," "Lost Inside Of You (w/ Chris Botti)," "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born) (w/ Chris Botti)," "Jason Gould intro," "How Deep Is The Ocean (Duet w/ Jason Gould)," "People," "Here's To Life intro," "Here's To Life," "Make Our Garden Grow," "Some Other Time intro," "Some Other Time." Accompanied by 60-piece orchestra, Chris Botti, Jason Gould and Roslyn Kind. Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander. The DVD includes biographical video and still photo images of the artist's childhood and early career; Jason Gould's solo performance of "This Masquerade"; and a documentary entitled "I Remember Barbra." Airs on PBS November 29.

Bebe Neuwirth: Stories... in NYC - Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Bebe Neuwirth's show recorded live at 54 Below. "I Love A Piano," "Intro: Welcome to Stories with Piano #4," "Ring Them Bells," "Susan's Dream," "Intro: Dance Songs," "The Bilbao Song," "Simply A Waltz / It Only Happens When I Dance With You," "MrBojangles," "Intro: Are those Cookies?," "Surabaya Johnny," "Intro: Here's a story...," "On A Slow Boat To China," "Intro: What I listen to," "Invitation to the Blues," "But the World Goes 'Round," "Intro: One more song," "Shiver Me Timbers," "Intro: Thank you; here's our encore," "I'll Be Seeing You."

The Bells Of St. Mary's
(Olive Films - new Blu-ray)
1945 film with Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman, Henry Travers. Features Oscar winning "Aren't You Glad You're on Your Way?" by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. Directed by Leo McCarey. Black & white, 126 minutes.

Brief Encounter / The Tamarind Seed
(Shout! Factory - new DVD set)
1974 film written by Noel Coward with Richard Burton and Sophia Loren; and Blake Edwards' 1974 film with Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif.

Fred Astaire: Early Years at RKO
(Masterworks - new on 2 CDs/mp3 w/ digital booklet/iTunes)
More than 30 Astaire vocal performances from the RKO films of the 1930s; as well as a rare alternate takes; and two performances by Ginger Rogers. Disc 1: "Music Makes Me," "Flying Down to Rio," "Night and Day" "No Strings," "Isn't This a Lovely Day," "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails," "Cheek to Cheek," "The Piccolino," "We Saw the Sea," "Let Yourself Go," "I'd Rather Lead a Band," "I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," "Pick Yourself Up," "The Way You Look Tonight," "A Fine Romance," "Bojangles of Harlem," "Never Gonna Dance," "A Fine Romance" (Alternate Take), "Waltz in Swing Time" (Alternate Take); Disc 2: "(I've Got) Beginner's Luck," "Slap That Bass," "They All Laughed," "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "Shall We Dance," "I Can't Be Bothered Now," "Things Are Looking Up," "A Foggy Day," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "I Used to Be Color Blind," "The Yam," "Change Partners," "They Can't Take That Away from Me" (Alternate Take), "The Yam Steps" (As explained by Fred Astaire), "The Yam," "I Used to Be Color Blind." Studio recordings with backing from the orchestras led by Leo Reisman, Ray Noble, and Johnny Green. Liner notes by Michael Feinstein.

Henry VIII and His Six Wives (A Contemporary Soundtrack)
(new digital on mp3)
The story of the famous Tudor King and his six wives in an eclectic mix of musical genres including jazz, blues, rock, opera, pop and musical theatre. Matt Kane, Hannah Timson, Lucy Goddard and Baker Mukasa. Produced by David Evans, John Merriman and Bill Sherrington at Crown Lane Studio, Morden, Surrey. Samples, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Here's Edie: The Edie Adams Television Collection
(MVD and Ediad Productions - 4 DVD set)
First ever release from the 1962-63 TV series "Here's Edie" and "The Edie Adams Show." 21 complete episodes filmed in studio and on location. New digital transfer. Guests include Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Getz, Sammy Davis, Jr., Spike Jones, Bob Hope, Peter Falk, Bobby Darin, Johnny Mathis, Nancy Wilson, Buddy Hackett, Dick Shawn, Terry Thomas, Rowan & Martin, Sir Michael Redgrave, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Andre Previn, Lauritz Melchoir, Laurindo Almeida. Additional guests include Allan Sherman. Bonus footage includes Adams' rarely seen musical performances on Ernie Kovacs shows; commercial promos by Adams and Sid Caesar; Muriel Cigars promotional film and more. 720 minutes. 16-page booklet with rare photos, an essay from Edie's son Joshua Mills, and a show-by-show rundown from curator and co-Producer Ben Model.

Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts Volume 2
(Kultur - on 9 DVDs)
Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. Second volume of 27 programs. Series of concerts televised from Lincoln Center in 1962. 1620 minutes. With Volume 1, released in 2004, completes the series. Currently on sale at ArkivMusic for $99.99, and Volume 1 is on sale for $74.99

The Manifestos and Essays
(TCG - Paperback Book)
By Richard Foreman.

Marry Me A Little Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD)
Stephen Sondheim score. Keen Company cast of Lauren Molina and Jason Tam. Includes first recording of "Rainbow" and songs added to the score in this production: "Ah But Underneath" and "If You Can Find Me, I'm Here" in addition to "Saturday Night," "So Many People," "A Moment With You," "Bang!," "Silly People," "Can That Boy Foxtrot!," "All Things Bright and Beautiful," "It Wasn't Meant to Happen," "Little White House," "Who Could Be Blue?," "The Girls of Summer," "Your Eyes Are Blue," "Marry Me A Little," "Happily Ever After" and "There Won't Be Trumpets." Recorded April 26. Released on mp3 and iTunes 9/24.

Matthew Morrison: A Classic Christmas
(222 Records - new 6-track EP mp3/iTunes)
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "This Christmas," "O Holy Night," "Jingle Bell Rock," "Let It Snow," "I'll Be Home for Christmas / Mele Kalikimaka."

Michael Cerveris & Loose Cattle: North of Houston - Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Michael Cerveris and band Loose Cattle recorded live at 54 Below. "intro," "Get Downtown," "Gasoline And Matches," "mandolin instruction," "Backwater," "Electricity," "Jolene, F**k You," "dedication," "Dog Eared," "Lost In New Amsterdam," "Raise Hell," "Ghost Of Virginia," "longfellows and shortcomings," "Evangeline," "Get Down River," "Run That By Me One More Time," "band intros," "Walking Down The Line," "Hard Luck Story," "Wagon Wheel," "Pinball Wizard."

Les Miserables 1978
(Shout! Factory - on DVD)
1978 TV movie featuring Anthony Perkins, Richard Jordan, John Gielgud, Ian Holm, Angela Pleasence, Christopher Guard, Caroline Langrishe. 123 minutes. Released 10/15/13.

MONOPOLY: The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Collector's Edition
(new board game)
New version celebrating anniversary of The Wizard of Oz film. Features a 3-D pop-up center illustrated and built by Otto Struck and Mike Brutus; offers two ways to play, all new directives that new element of strategy or traditional Monopoly style. Legend cards with directives for pop-up game play with 22 locations from the film, in sepia and transforming into color. Collectible Tokens: Toto, Scarecrow Diploma, Cowardly Lion Medal, Tin Man Heart, Ruby Slippers, Witch's Hat Custom. Money issued by the Bank of Emerald City. The houses and hotels are now custom "Farmhouses" and "Emerald Cities." Red dice that glitter.

Othello
(Kultur - on DVD)
John Dexter's 1965 production at the National Theatre of Great Britain. Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Frank Finlay, Joyce Redman, Derek Jacobi. Directed by Stuart Burge. 159 minutes.

Pull Up a Chair: Stephen Cramer, Broadway Tenor
(new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Solo album by Helen Hayes award winning tenor Stephen Cramer (Les Miserables tour and Broadway). "Being Alive," "Music of the Night," "Maria," "If I Loved You," "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "Bring Him Home," "Something's Coming," "Tell My Father," "We Kiss in a Shadow," "Lonely House," "Virginia," "Danny Boy." With Tony Nalker on piano. Samples, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

René Marie: I Wanna Be Evil * with love to Eartha Kitt
(Motéma Music - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Jazz singer's tribute to Eartha Kitt. "I'd Rather Be Burned as a Witch," "C'est Si Bon," "Oh, John," "Let's Do It," "Peel Me a Grape," "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," "I Wanna Be Evil," "Come On-A My House," "Santa Baby," "Weekend."

Sinatra: Duets 20th Anniversary Deluxe
(Capitol/Universal - new on 2 CDs/mp3s with digital booklet/iTunes/2 LP vinyl)
Newly remastered Sinatra duet set: the original Duets; Duets II; two never-before-released bonus tracks "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)" featuring Tom Scott and 'Embraceable You' with Tanya Tucker; and the rare "Fly Me to the Moon" with George Strait and two versions of "My Way" one recorded with Luciano Pavarotti and the other with Willie Nelson. Duets includes standards partnerings with Anita Baker, Tony Bennett, Bono, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin, Kenny G, Julio Iglesias, Liza Minnelli, Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand and Luther Vandross. Duets II features duets with Jimmy Buffett, Neil Diamond, Lena Horne, Chrissie Hynde, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Patti LaBelle, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Luis Miguel, Lorrie Morgan, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Jon Secada, Frank Sinatra Jr., and Stevie Wonder & Gladys Knight. 32 tracks total. Single remastered Best of Duets anniversary CD with 14 tracks also being released.

The Slipper and the Rose
(Inception Media Group - new Blu-Ray)
1976 British musical film version of the Cinderella story with songs by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Gemma Craven, Richard Chamberlain, Michael Hordern, Edith Evans. Written by Robert B. Sherman & Richard M. Sherman and Bryan Forbes. Directed by Bryan Forbes. Produced by David Frost and Stuart Lyons.

Stacey Kent: The Changing Lights
(Blue Note/EMI France - new on import CD/iTunes)
Original compositions and classic songs from the biggest names in Brazilian music, including Tôm Jobim, Dori Caymmi, Marcos Valle and Roberto Menescal, who performs on two of the album's tracks. Produced and arranged by Jim Tomlinson.

Through the Looking Glass (Original Cast Recording)
(new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Maltz Jupiter Theatre Cast recording of John Mercurio musical. "Modern-day retelling of Lewis Carroll's classic ... high-energy pop musical." Samples, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Total Family Massage: The Musical!
(Little Speckles - new digital on mp3)
Original cast recording of "wacky, queer holiday musical for the whole family!" Premieres Justin Johns, Jennifer Klouse, John Paul Sharp, Hisam Goueli, Mary Nelson-Brown, Todd Hull, Joshua Moore, Jason Dooley, Saya Jean Burchfield, Eloisa Cardona. December 2013 at The Eclectic Theatre in Seattle. Words and music by John Paul Sharp. Samples, tracks and mp3 album at CD Baby.

Centerstage Broadway: Trace Barfield
(Digable Digital - new on CD/mp3)
Trumpet instrumental versions of "Cabaret," "All That Jazz," "Summertime," "They Say It's Wonderful," "Yesterday," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," "I Dreamed a Dream," "Music of the Night," "Send in the Clowns." Samples, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

November 12, 2013

Alfie Boe - Trust
(Decca - new on CD)
Newest album from English tenor/musical theatre performer (Les Miserables, La Boheme). "Keep Me In Your Heart," "Many Rivers To Cross," "You've Got A Friend," "If You Go Away," "Trust," "God Give Me Strength," "Glory Glory Hallelujah," "Georgia On My Mind," "Forever Young," "Rosie," "The Dimming Of The Day" (with Shawn Colvin), "Danny Boy." Available at Amazon UK, Dress Circle
and Amazon U.S. (as an import).

B. H. Barry Fights for Everyone: The Performer's Guide
(Hardcover Book)
Tony, Drama Desk and Obie Award winning fight choreographer. Essential guide for performers, directors and choreographers ... on how create fights for the theater, television, film, opera and ballet. Published 6/3/13. Available at Drama Book Shop.

Both Sides Now: Michael Ball Live in London 2013
(Anchor Bay - Region 2 DVD/CD)
Recorded at the Hammersmith Apollo with 17-piece backing band. The touring production features the biggest hits from Michael's recording and stage career and a new track written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Includes Bonus 8-track CD. Available at Amazon UK and Dress Circle

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory OLC
(Watertower Music - new U.S. CD/mp3/iTunes (10/8/13))
U.S. release of original cast recording. Score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Cast includes Douglas Hodge, Jack Costello, Nigel Planer, Roni Page, Billy Boyle, Myra Sands, Ross Dawes, Kate Graham, Jasna Ivir, Jenson Steele, Joe Allen, Clive Carter, Tia Noakes, Jade Johnson, Paul Medford, Jack Shalloo, Alex Clatworthy. "Opening," "Almost Nearly Perfect," "The Amazing Fantastical History of Mr. Willy Wonka," "A Letter From Charlie Bucket," "News of Augustus," "More of Him to Love," "News of Veruca," "When Veruca Says," "News of Violet," "The Double Bubble Duchess," "News of Mike," "It's Teavee Time!," "If Your Mother Were Here," "Don'cha Pinch Me Charlie," "It Must Be Believed to Be Seen," "Strike That, Reverse It," "The Chocolate Room," "Simply Second Nature," "Augustus' Downfall," "Auf Wiedersehen Augustus Gloop," "Gum!," "Juicy!," "Veruca's Nutcracker Sweet," "Vidiots," "Pure Imagination," "A Little Me," "It Must Be Believed to Be Seen (Reprise)." Lower price than previously available import.

Far From Heaven
(PS Classics - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
2013 original cast recording. Scott Frankel and lyricist Michael Korie score. Cast includes Kelli O'Hara, Steven Pasquale, Isaiah Johnson. "Prologue," "Autumn in Connecticut," "Once Upon a Time," "If It Hadn't Been," "Table Talk I," "Mrs Magnatech," "Mrs Magnatech (Reprise)," "Office Talk," "Evening Stroll," "Marital Bliss," "Sun and Shade," "Table Talk II," "Secrets," "If It Hadn't Been (Reprise)," "Interesting," "Miro," "Once a Year," "Secrets (Reprise)," "Cathy, I'm Your Friend," "The Only One," "Entr'acte," "Phone Talk," "If It Hadn't Been (Reprise)," "Table Talk III," "Wandering Eyes," "Secrets (Reprise)," "I Never Knew," "Cathy, I'm Your Friend (Reprise)," "Tuesdays, Thursdays," "Table Talk IV," "A Picture in Your Mind," "Heaven Knows / Act II Finale." Recorded July 12.

The Good Companions
(Network - new Region 2 DVD)
1957 musical-comedy film treatment of J.B. Priestley novel. Janette Scott, John Fraser, Rachel Roberts, Joyce Grenfell, Celia Johnson, Eric Portman, Anthony Newley and Thora Hird. Songs by Paddy Roberts, Albero Rossi and Geoffrey Parsons. Color. 100 minutes. At Amazon UK.

Home for the Holidays: Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Featuring Alfie Boe
(Mormon Tabernacle - new on CD/iTunes)
Live recording of The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 2012 Christmas concert. "Jingle Bells," "Sing Noel! A Christmas Processional," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "I Wonder as I Wander," "From Heaven on High," "God Bless the Master of This House," "Christmas at Home: There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays, I'll Be Home for Christmas, Somewhere in My Memory," "Bring Him Home," "A Christmas Waltz Fantasy: The Christmas Waltz; Silver Bells; Sleep Well, Little Children," "Sleigh Ride," "What Shall We Give?," "Angels, from the Realms of Glory." Released 10/15/13.

Inside Llewyn Davis Original Soundtrack Recording
(Nonesuch - new on CD/mp3/previously released on iTunes/vinyl
12 new recordings made especially for the 2013 Coen brothers film and soundtrack plus an existing recording by Dave Van Ronk. "Hang Me, Oh Hang Me" (Oscar Isaac), "Fare Thee Well (Dink's Song)" (Marcus Mumford & Oscar Isaac), "The Last Thing on My Mind" (Stark Sands With Punch Brothers), "Five Hundred Miles" (Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan & Stark Sands), "Please Mr. Kennedy" (Justin Timberlake, Oscar Isaac & Adam Driver), "Green, Green Rocky Road" (Oscar Isaac), "The Death of Queen Jane" (Oscar Isaac), "The Roving Gambler (With The Down Hill Strugglers)" (John Cohen), "The Shoals of Herring (With Punch Brothers)" (Oscar Isaac), "The Auld Triangle" (Chris Thile, Chris Eldridge, Marcus Mumford, Justin Timberlake & Gabe Witcher), "The Storms Are on the Ocean" (Nancy Blake), "Fare Thee Well (Dink's Song)" (Oscar Isaac), "Farewell (unreleased studio version)" (Bob Dylan), "Green, Green Rocky Road" (Dave Van Ronk). Music produced by T. Bone Burnett, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen.

A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True 1907-1940
(Simon & Schuster - Hardcover book/Kindle Edition)
By Victoria Wilson. The early years of Stanwyck's life and career, including her years in New York as a dancer and Broadway star. 1056 pages.

Oliver! Blu-Ray
(Twilight Time - new Blu-Ray)
1968 film featuring Oliver Reed, Hugh Griffith, Ron Moody, Jack Wild, Shani Wallis, Harry Secombe. Directed by Carol Reed. Songs by Lionel Bart. Extras: isolated score track from the restored 4.0 MAG M&E; behind-the-scenes featurette; Meeting Oliver!; Meeting Fagin!; sing-alongs; dance instructions; dance & Sing-alongs; theatrical trailer. Limited release of 3,000 units. Available at Screen Archives.

Perry Como: That's Where I Came In - Standards And Rarities
(Sepia Records - new on 2 CDs/mp3/iTunes)
Como's uncharted singles and "B" sides from the 1940s and '50s, many appearing on CD for the first time. Includes "She's a Lady" with Betty Hutton. 26 tracks

Russell Watson - Only One Man
(new on CD)
UK tenor's new solo album. "Without You," "Seventeen," "Tell Me," "Here Comes the Morning," "I Miss You My Dear," "To Break The Ice," "My Love and I," "Live with Somebody You Love "(with Regine Velasquez), "Too Much For One Heart," "The Sea of Life," "I am Only One Man," "Bring Him Home" (with Claude-Michel Schönberg). Ballads, written and produced by Claude-Michel Schoenberg. At Amazon UK, Dress Circle
and at Amazon U.S. (as an import).

Somethin' Real Special: The Songs of Dorothy Fields
(PS Classics - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Philip Chaffin album. Standards and little-known songs that Dorothy Fields wrote between 1928 and 1973 with Jimmy McHugh, Jerome Kern, Sigmund Romberg, Harold Arlen, Morton Gould, Arthur Schwartz and Cy Coleman. "Remind Me," "Carousel in the Park," "A Cow and a Plow and a Frau," "I'm in the Mood for Love / Don't Blame Me," "You're a Lovable Lunatic," "Somethin' Real Special," "Alone Too Long," "Sweet Charity," "April Snow," "Then You Went and Changed Your Mind," "Let Me Look at You / The Way You Look Tonight," "Where Am I Going?," "I'll Buy You a Star," "Exactly Like You." Todd Ellison conducts. Arrangements by Jonathan Tunick, Doug Besterman, Jason Carr, Glen Daum, David Loud, Joseph Thalken, Sam Davis, David Wolfson and John Baxindine. Liner notes by Maury Yeston.

The Sound of Music: Broadway Singer's Edition
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book/CD)
Vocal line and lyrics; songs in their original keys with piano accompaniments crafted for playability. The CD includes performances of these piano accompaniments. A dozen songs including "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "Do-Re-Mi," "Edelweiss," "I Have Confidence," "The Lonely Goatherd," "Maria," "My Favorite Things," "An Ordinary Couple," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," "So Long, Farewell," "Something Good," "The Sound of Music."

The Sweetest Sounds: Janice Anderson
(new mp3 album/iTunes)
LA jazz singer. "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," "Falling in Love With Love," "The Sweetest Sounds," "The Surrey With the Fringe On Top," "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," "The Sounds Around The House," "I Hear Music," "Emily," "When I Fall In Love," "Ev'rything I Love," "Where Is Love," "Whistle While You Work," "Old Devil Moon," "A Time For Love." With Daniel May on piano, Benjamin May on bass, Gary Gibbons on drums. Recorded at Band Aid Studio, Long Beach, CA. Samples, tracks and digital album at CD Baby.

The Untold Stories of Broadway Vol 1
(Dress Circle Publishing - new Paperback book/Kindle Edition Pt 1 Kindle Edition Pt 2)
By Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Chronicle of the history of Broadway through firsthand accounts from actors, directors, producers, stagehands, designers, ushers and others. Each chapter represents one Broadway theater. Volume 1 covers The Al Hirschfeld, August Wilson, Lyceum, Mark Hellinger, Marquis, Neil Simon, Richard Rodgers and Winter Garden Theatres.

The Wonderful World of Oz: An Illustrated History of the American Classic
(Down East Books - Hardcover Book)
By John Fricke. Documents the magical journey through photographs of the world's largest collection of Oz memorabilia, tracing the history of the 1939 musical and its impact on culture through to Wicked.

November 5, 2013

Aida: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
(new Region 2 DVD)
Verdi opera performed in 2012. Joseph Wolverton, Liuba Sokolova, Ashley Holland, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Orchestra is conducted by Andrew Greenwood. Order at Dress Circle

Belt Your Face Off! A How-To Starter Guide For Broadway Belt Singing
(Five-Trick-Pony LLC - Kindle Edition)
By Felicia Ricci (Unnaturally Green). 22 pages.

Carols For A Cure 2013: Volume 15
(Rock-It Science Records - new on 2 CDs)
15th annual recording for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway and Off-Broadway cast members sing holiday classics with new original material. Perez Hilton (NEWSical the Musical) sings "Perez's 2013 Holiday Dishlist" with music by Jason Michael Webb and lyrics by Lynn Pinto and George Howe; Reeve Carney "A Savior is Born; Faith Prince and cast of Annie "Children Go Where I Send Thee"; Billy Porter and Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots), "Carol of the Boots"; Laura Osnes, Rebecca Luker, Santino Fontana and Ann Harada (Cinderella) "Happy Christmas, Little Friend." Also represented: First Date, Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Matilda, Motown, Newsies, Once, Rock of Ages, Soul Doctor, Wicked, Pippin, Motown The Musical and many more. Plus Broadway Boys and the all-stars of The John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, NY. Purchase supports Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Pre-order at Broadway Cares or by calling (212) 840-0770 x238 Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST. CDs are available in theatres beginning 11/1.

Il Divo: A Musical Affair
(Columbia - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
David Miller, Carlos Marin, Sébastien Izambard, Urs Buhler. Compilation of Broadway songs featuring duets with Barbra Streisand, Kristin Chenoweth, Nicole Scherzinger, Heather Headley And Michael Ball. "Memory" (with Nicole Scherzinger), "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" (with Heather Headley), "Bring Him Home," Tonight," All I Ask Of You" (with Kristen Chenoweth), "Some Enchanted Evening," Who Can I Turn To?," You'll Never Walk Alone," If Ever I Would Leave You," Love Changes Everything" (with Michael Ball), "The Music Of The Night" (with Barbra Streisand). Limited run begins November 7th at the Marquis Theatre with special guest star Heather Headley.

Dixie Carter: The Heart of Dixie
(new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Dixie Carter's 1985 album, now on CD and digital. "If You're Going, Go," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Come a Little Closer," "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)," "When the World Was Young / Young and Foolish," "Warm," "Beans Taste Fine," "I'm On Fire," "Sweet Blindness," "Just Like a Woman," "Hold Out for the Real Thing," "I've Always Been Crazy," "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go." Produced by Michele Brourman; Executive Producer: Hal Holbrook. Accompanied by Scott Colley on acoustic bass, Danny Jacob on guitar, Novi Novog on viola. Samples, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Fosse
(Eamon Dolan/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audiobook CD read by Jim Meskimen)
Biography of Bob Fosse by author and professor Sam Wasson. Through extensive interviews with collaborators and lovers, and Fosse's archives. 592 pages.

Hollow: The Musical
(new on mp3)
Original musical by Michael Sgouros and Brenda Bell. Original cast from September 2012 premiere at Players Theatre. Samples, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Jean Danton: A Change in Me
(Albany Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Internationally known soprano soloist Jean Danton sings "A Change In Me," "Being Alive," "Not While I'm Around," "Come To My Garden," "So In Love," "Anyone Can Whistle," "If I Loved You," "Move On," "No One Is Alone," "Moonfall," "I'm Not That Girl," "How Could I Even Know," "This Nearly Was Mine," "Love for Sale," "Just One Of Those Things," "Bring Him Home," "Into The West."

Kiss Me While We Have the Chance - Steve Marzullo
(Yellow Sound Label - new on iTunes)
Music by Steve Marzullo with lyrics and poems by David Arthur, Todd Boss, Mark Campbell, Annie Golden, Langston Hughes, Manny Kussack, Katherine Lench Meyering, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Edward Thomas, Michael Ward and Amanda Yesnowitz. "Under the Water Under the Sky," (performed by Alysha Umphress), "My Soul Rejoices," (Kenita Miller), "Impossible Spring," (Annie Golden), "Hard Daddy," (Judy Blazer), "No One so Much as You," (Aaron Lazar), "Too Close to the Sun," (Elizabeth Stanley), "There Is a Love," (Darius De Haas), "Hey, That's Fine by Me," (Randy Graff), "The Hush of the Very Good," (Sally Wilfert), "Constellations/Nocturne," (Michael Winther), "Burning the Sauce," (Terri Klausner), "I Know I Am but a Summer to Your Heart," (Rachel Ulanet), "My Central Park," (Ric Ryder). Produced by Michael Croiter and Marzullo.

Music From the Motion Picture Black Nativity
(RCA - new on CD/mp3 with digital booklet/iTunes)
Songs from new musical film adaptation of Langston Hughes play. "Be Grateful," (Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Jacob Latimore & Luke James), "Coldest Town," (Latimore, Jacob), "Test Of Faith," (Hudson, Jennifer), "Motherless Child," (Latimore, Jacob), "Hush Child (Get You Through This Silent Night)," (Jennifer Hudson, Jacob Latimore, Luke James and Grace Gibson), "He Loves Me Still," (Angela Bassett and Jennifer Hudson), "Can't Stop Praising His Name," (Forest Whitaker and Gospeldelic Choir), "Sweet Little Jesus Boy," (Gibson, Tyrese), "Rise Up Shepherd And Follow," (Mary j Blige and Nas), "Fix Me Jesus," (Hudson, Jennifer), "Jesus On The Mainline," (Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker), "As," (Jacob Latimore, Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson).

Pennies From Heaven [Limited Collector's Edition, Soundtrack]
(Perseverance Records - new on CD/iTunes)
Remastered reissue of 1981 soundtrack LP. The musical film starred Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Christopher Walken and Jessica Harper. Directed by Herbert Ross. Performances by Elsie Carlisle with Ambrose & His Orchestra, Sam Browne & The Carlyle Cousins, Connie Boswell, The Boswell Sisters, Fred Latham with Jack Johnson & His Orchestra, Bing Crosby, Arthur Tracy, Bobby Bruce, Ida Sue McCune, Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees, Dolly Dawn with George Hall & His Orchestra, Helen Kane, Walt Harrah, Gene Merlino, Vern Rowe, & Robert Tebow, Irving Aaronson & His Commanders, Ronnie Hill & Primo Scala's Accordion Band, Jack Buchanan & Elsie Randolph, Fred Astaire, Steve Martin, Lew Stone & His Band. "The Clouds Will Soon Roll By," "Yes, Yes!," "I'll Never Have To Dream Again," "Roll Along Prairie Moon," "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?," "Pennies From Heaven," "It's the Girl," "Love Is Good for Anything That Ails You," "Let's Put Out the Lights and Go To Sleep," "It's a Sin To Tell a Lie," "I Want To Be Bad," "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries," "Let's Misbehave," "Serenade In the Night," "Fancy Our Meeting," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," "Pennies From Heaven," "The Glory of Love." Some music arranged and conducted by Marvin Hamlisch. 12-page booklet, designed by James Wingrove, containing liner notes by Daniel Schweiger.

Sex and the Village: A New Comedy Musical
(Perfect Pitch Musicals Ltd - new on mp3)
By Rebecca Applin and Susannah Pearse. "It's Vicar of Dibley meets Jam & Jerusalem." Charlotte Wakefield (Spring Awakening, Sound of Music), Haydn Oakley (Book of Mormon, Spamalot), Luke Kempner (Les Miserables), Kelly-anne Gower (We Will Rock You, Les Miserables). World premiere at Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds, in November 2013. Samples, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Song of Spider-Man: The Inside Story of the Most Controversial Musical in Broadway History
(Simon & Schuster - new Hardcover/Kindle book/at eBooks)
By Glen Berger, Bono and the Edge of U2 collaborator on Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. 416 pages.

Shakespeare: Twelfth Night (Globe on Screen)
(Opus Arte - new on All Region DVD)
Filmed at London's Globe Theatre, directed by Tim Carroll. All-male cast includes Mark Rylance as Olivia and Roger Lloyd-Pack as Sir Anthony Aguecheek, Stephen Fry as Malvolio. Available at Amazon UK. Released July 2013.

Unsinkable: A Memoir
(Harper Collins - Paperback Book)
By Debbie Reynolds and Dorian Hannaway. "The definitive memoir by film legend and Hollywood icon Debbie Reynolds." Illustrated with previously unpublished photos from Reynolds's personal collection. Publishing date for paperback version. Hardcover and Kindle Edition released 4/2/2103. 320 pages.

Van Winkle - A Folk Musical
(new on CD)
Score by Caroline Wigmore. Daniel Greco and Rachel Kurtz, Noel Harron, Jennifer Hepburn, Joel Hutchings, Adam Leonard-Burns, David Mckechnie, Claire Sharpe. Arrangements by Jen Green. 12-track "limited edition" with booklet. "This New World," "The Harvest Song," "Watching The Door," "A Life Out There," "These Old Bones," "Take A Drink, Van Winkle," "Rest In Peace," "Mighty Fine House," "Old Man Winter," "Susanna," "I'm Home," "The Dinner Blessing." Available at Dress Circle

Wicked Deluxe 10th Anniversary
(VerveUMe - new on mp3/iTunes)
With bonus tracks; "Popular Song" by MIKA (featuring Ariana Grande); deluxe packaging featuring "greenified" anniversary artwork, and booklet with new essays by Stephen Schwartz and Gregory Maguire. October 29 digital release; CDs released November 19. Vinyl version to be available online and at the Gershwin Theatre.

October 29, 2013

Ballads for the Age of Science Box Set
(Harbinger Records - new on 6 CDs)
1961 set of educational recordings that introduce scientific concepts and terms using catchy, easily learned words and music. Performers include Tom Glazer, Dottie Evans, Dorothy Collins, Marais and Miranda. The Tony Mottola Orchestra, directed by Hecky Krasnow. Famed illustrator Leo Leonni designed original covers for each album. Hy Ruchlis was the science advisor. Available now on iTunes by individual album: Space Songs, Energy & Motion Songs, Weather Songs, More Nature Songs, Experiment Songs, Nature Songs .

Bring It On - The Musical Vocal Selections
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
Tom Kitt, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Amanda Green musical score. 12 songs from the show, in vocal line with piano accompaniment arrangements: "Cross the Line," "Enjoy the Trip," "I Got You," "It Ain't No Thing," "It's All Happening," "Killer Instinct," "Legendary," "One Perfect Moment," "Something Isn't Right Here," "Tryouts," "We Ain't No Cheerleaders," "We're Not Done."

Christmas with Patti Page
(Real Gone Music - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Mercury album released in different formations between 1951 and 1995. "Jingle Bells," "Silent Night," "Christmas Choir," "The First Noel," "Christmas Bells," "White Christmas," "Santa Claus is Coming To Town," "The Christmas Song," "Pretty Snowflakes," "I Wanna Go Skating With Willie," "Where Did My Snowman Go?," "The Mama Doll Song," "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus," "Little Donkey," "Home For The Holidays," "Christmas Greetings From Patti (radio spot), "The Christmas Song," "Silent Night." Includes three tracks from The Patti Page Show TV series and one radio spot. Liner notes are by Page nephew Tim Akers. Mastered by Mike Milchner of SonicVision.

A Christmas Story: Behind the Scenes of a Holiday Classic
(ECW Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Caseen Gaines. Foreword by Wil Wheaton and Eugene B. Bergmann. Definitive guide to A Christmas Story, from Jean Shepherd's original radio broadcasts to Bob Clarks 1983 hit film to the stage musical version.Includes rare and previously unreleased photographs.

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
New cast album featuring cast members from the original Broadway cast (Patrick Page, John Cullum, Rusty Ross). Songs include "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome Christmas" from the original animated series, plus a bonus recording of "Where Are You Christmas" from the live action Grinch movie and cut songs. Original score by Mel Marvin; lyrics by Dr. Seuss. Additional music and lyrics by Albert Hague and Timothy Mason. Orchestrations by Michael Starobin. Dance arrangements by David Krane. Musical direction and vocal arrangements by Joshua Rosenblum. Produced by Robert Sher.

Everything's Coming Up Profits: The Golden Age of Industrial Musicals
(Blas Books - Hardcover Book)
By Steve Young and Sport Murphy. All about the musicals American corporation produced in the 1950s to the 1980s for employees. Companion website features clips and more. Released 10/15/13.

Film Scripts One: Henry V, The Big Sleep, A Streetcar Named Desire
(Applause Books - Paperback Book)
Reissue of four volumes originally edited by George P. Garrett. Each contains three classic shooting scripts, runs close to 500 pages, and contains an introduction, glossary of technical terms, extensive bibliography, and credits for each film. All scripts are printed in standard screenplay format. Film Scrips One features: 1946's Henry V, script by Laurence Olivier and Reginald Beck, 1946's The Big Sleep, 1951's A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams. 480 pages.

Film Scripts Four: Darling, A Hard Day's Night, The Best Man
(Applause Books - Paperback Book)
Reissue of four volumes originally edited by George P. Garrett. Each contains three classic shooting scripts, runs close to 500 pages, and contains an introduction, glossary of technical terms, extensive bibliography, and credits for each film. All scripts are printed in standard screenplay format. Film Scripts Four features: 1965's Darling, 1964's A Hard Day's Night, 1964's The Best Man, by Gore Vidal. 380 pages

Film Scripts Two: High Noon, 12 Angry Men, A Streetcar Named Desire
(Applause Books - Paperback Book)
Reissue of four volumes originally edited by George P. Garrett. Each contains three classic shooting scripts, runs close to 500 pages, and contains an introduction, glossary of technical terms, extensive bibliography, and credits for each film. All scripts are printed in standard screenplay format. Film Scripts Two features: 1952's High Noon, 1957's 12 Angry Men, by Reginald Rose, 1958's Defiant Ones. 480 pages

Film Scripts Three: Charade, The Apartment, The Misfits
(Applause Books - Paperback Book)
Reissue of four volumes originally edited by George P. Garrett. Each contains three classic shooting scripts, runs close to 500 pages, and contains an introduction, glossary of technical terms, extensive bibliography, and credits for each film. All scripts are printed in standard screenplay format. Film Scripts Three features: 1964's Charade, script by Peter Stone, 1960's The Apartment, 1961's The Misfits, script by Arthur Miller. 480 pages.

I Am Harvey Milk Original Cast Recording
(new on CD/iTunes)
By Andrew Lippa. San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, Andrew Lippa, Noah Marlowe, Laura Benanti. Recorded live at the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus 35th anniversary concert in June 2013. Bay Area Rainbow Symphony orchestra. "An Operatic Masterpiece," "I Am the Bullet," "You Are Here," "Friday Night in the Castro," "Was I Wrong?," "A Decent Society," "Sticks and Stones," "Lavender Pen," "Thank you, Mrs. Rosenblat," "San Francisco," "Leap," "Tired of the Silence." CD available at www.sfgmc.org; digital at iTunes

Journey's End: A Biography of a Classic War Play
(Oberon Books - Paperback Books)
By Robert Gore-Langton. Kindle Edition released in June.

Karrin Allyson: Yuletide Hideaway
(new on CD/iTunes)
The Grammy nominee sings and plays keyboards on original and classic holiday songs. "Yuletide Hideaway," "Winter Oasis," "Christmas Bells are Ringing," "Winter Wonderland," "Let it Snow!," "This Time of Year," "Snowbound," "Christmas Time is Here," "It's Love, it's Christmas," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "You're All I Need for Christmas," "I Like Snow," "Christmas Song." Recorded at: Dave's Room in North Hollywood. With Chris Caswell, Rod Fleeman, Leland Sklar, Todd Strait, Rod Fleeman, Gerald Spaits.

Mama Rose's Turn: The True Story of America's Most Notorious Stage Mother
(Univ Press of Mississippi - Hardcover Book/ at eBooks)
By Carolyn Quinn. "The full story behind the "Stage Mother from Hell" and every scandal too shocking for Gypsy: A Musical Fable." 368 pages.

The Most of Nora Ephron
(Knopf - Hardcover Book)
Collection of writings by Nora Ephron, edited and introduced by Robert Gottlieb. Includes the novel "Heartburn," the screenplay for When Harry Met Sally; almost 50 pieces from "Crazy Salad," "Scribble Scribble," "I Feel Bad About My Neck," "I Remember Nothing," and "A Wallflower at the Orgy"; selection of her blog posts; several essays from The New Yorker; commencement address to Wellesley Class of 1996; her play Lucky Guy. 576 pages.

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Original Cast
(Ghostlight Records - new mp3/iTunes)
Dave Malloy score. David Abeles, Brittain Ashford, Gelsey Bell, Catherine Brookman, Nick Choksi, Ken Clark, Ashkon Davaran, Blake DeLong, Amber Gray, Luke Holloway, Dave Malloy, Grace McLean, Azudi Onyejekwe, Paul Pinto, Phillipa Soo, Lucas Steele, Shaina Taub, Mariand Torres and Lauren Zakrin. Musical director Or Matias. Disc 1: "Prologue," "Pierre," "Moscow," "The Private and Intimate Life of the House," "Natasha & Bolkonskys," "No One Else," "The Opera," "Natasha & Anatole," "Natasha Lost," "The Duel," "Sunday Morning," "Charming," "The Ball. Disc 2: "Letters," "Sonya & Natasha," "Sonya Alone," "Preparations," "Balaga," "The Abduction," "In My House," "A Call to Pierre," "Find Anatole," "Pierre & Anatole," "Natasha Very Ill," "Pierre & Andrey," "Pierre & Natasha," "The Great Comet of 1812." Includes digital booklet. Recorded August 26, 2013, at MSR Studios. Produced by Dean Sharenow, Howard and Janet Kagan and Kurt Deutsch. 27 songs. Deluxe, 2-CD package expected in November. CD version is also available at Kazino.

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Original Cast Highlights
(Ghostlight Records - new mp3/iTunes)
Dave Malloy score. David Abeles, Brittain Ashford, Gelsey Bell, Catherine Brookman, Nick Choksi, Ken Clark, Ashkon Davaran, Blake DeLong, Amber Gray, Luke Holloway, Dave Malloy, Grace McLean, Azudi Onyejekwe, Paul Pinto, Phillipa Soo, Lucas Steele, Shaina Taub, Mariand Torres and Lauren Zakrin. "Prologue," "Pierre," "The Private and Intimate Life of the House," "No One Else," "Natasha & Anatole," "Natasha Lost," "The Duel," "Charming," "Letters," "Sonya Alone," "Balaga," "The Abduction," "In My House," "The Great Comet of 1812." Musical director Or Matias. Recorded August 26, 2013, at MSR Studios. Produced by Dean Sharenow, Howard and Janet Kagan and Kurt Deutsch. 14-song. Full 27-song version also available in digital, with deluxe, 2-CD package expected in November. CD version is also available at Kazino.

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion
(Harper Design - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
William Stillman and Jay Scarfone. Collectible edition with unpublished artwork, behind-the-scenes stories from the stars, and removable special features. 176 pages.

October 22, 2013

August: Osage County (movie tie-in)
(TCG - Paperback Book)
Tracy Letts Pulitzer Prize winning play, and 2013 film.

Brian Cheney Tenor
(new CD/mp3 album/iTunes)
Jerry Hadley protegé debut solo album. Will be featured as tenor soloist in the televised Salute to Vienna New Year's concert at Lincoln Center on January 1, 2014. Opera selections, and "I'm Falling in Love With Someone" from Naughty Marietta. CD and mp3 album plus samples available at CD Baby; CD, mp3 album and individual tracks also available at Amazon.

A Christmas Story: Behind the Scenes of a Holiday Classic
(ECW Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Caseen Gaines. Foreword by Wil Wheaton and Eugene B. Bergmann. Definitive guide to A Christmas Story, from Jean Shepherd's original radio broadcasts to Bob Clarks 1983 hit film to the stage musical version.Includes rare and previously unreleased photographs.

David Edelfelt: Love Is Born At Christmas
(new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Cabaret singer solo album Joined by Tom Michael and Amy Matheny on Ann Hampton Callaway's "God Bless My Family." "Winter Wonderland," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Some Children See Him/A Child is Born," "Sleigh Ride," "Mary, Did You Know?," "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," "In The Bleak Midwinter," "God Bless My Family," "Childhood Medley (Jingle Bells/Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town/Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)," "Go, Tell It On The Mountain," "O Holy Night," "White Christmas," "Silent Night." Samples, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

David Edwards: Giving Voice
(new mp3)
First-time recordings of songs by Elliot Weiss. Vocals by baritone David Edwards (The Producers tour, By Jeeves, The Fantasticks). Includes two duets with Alix Korey.

I Like It Here!: Adventures in the Wild and Wonderful World of Theatre
(Pisgah Press - Paperback book)
Autobiography by playwright, regional director, teacher, composer, and avid theatergoer C. Robert Jones. 276 pages.

Johnny Mercer: Southern Songwriter for the World
( Wormsloe Foundation Publication - Hardcover Book)
New biography by Glenn T. Eskew.

Lyrical Satirical Harold Rome: A Biography of the Broadway Composer-Lyricist
(McFarland & Co - Paperback Book)
Tighe E. Zimmers biography about Harold Rome (Pins and Needles, Call Me Mister, Wish You Were Here, Fanny, Destry Rides Again, and I Can Get It for You Wholesale), his life, his work, his friends and his politics.

Matilda OBC
(Broadway Records/Yellow Sound Label - new on CD)
2013 Broadway cast recording of Tim Minchin score. Bertie Carvel, Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro, Lesli Margherita, Lauren Ward, Karen Aldridge. Produced by Michael Croiter and Christopher Nightingale. "Overture," "Miracle: Part 1," "Miracle: Part 2," "Miracle: Part 3," "Naughty," "School Song," "Pathetic," "The Hammer," "The Chokey Chant," "Loud," "This Little Girl," "Bruce," "Telly," "When I Grow Up," "I'm Here (Story 4)," "The Smell of Rebellion," "Quiet," "My House," "Chalk Writing," "Revolting Children," "When I Grow Up/Naughty (Reprise); Bonus Tracks: "Once Upon A Time… (Story 1)," "The Great Day Arrived... (Story 2)," "The Trick Started Well... (Story 3). Deluxe Edition also includes "Perhaps A Child," "Naughty" (sung by all 4 Broadway Matildas). Released on mp3 at Amazon/at iTunes/iTunes Deluxe Edition with bonus tracks on September 26.

Musical Gifts from Joshua Bell and Friends
(Sony - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Joshua Bell with special guests Gloria Estefan, Alison Krauss, Kristin Chenoweth, trumpeter Chris Botti, Chick Corea, Branford Marsalis, Plácido Domingo and Renée Fleming. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Let it Snow," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Greensleeves," "Nutcracker Medley," "Amazing Grace," "O Holy Night," "Ave Maria," "I Want an Old-Fashioned Christmas," "White Christmas," "O Tannenbaum," "Baal Shem: Simchat Torah (Rejoicing)," "The Secret of Christmas," "Christmas Auld Lang Syne," "Christmas Confusion," "Silent Night."

The Pleasure of His Company Soundtrack
(Kritzerland Records - new on CD)
Alfred Newman score for film based on Samuel Taylor and Cornelia Otis Skinner play. First time on CD. The complete score, source music, and some demo cues, mostly in stereo from the original session masters housed in the Paramount vaults. Limited release of 1,000 copies. Available at Kritzerland Records.

Sleeping Arrangements Original cast
(new on CD)
Musical adaptation of Sophie Kinsella. Book, music and lyrics by Chris Burgess. Original (London) cast Sabrina Aloueche, Jenny Gayner, Grant Neal, Adam Pettigrew, Liza Pulman and Steven Serlin. Six-piece band led by MD and arranger Colin Billing. Full synopsis, cast and creative biographies and production photographs. Available at simgproductions.com.

Stages: A Life in the Theatre
(Hyphenates Limited - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Joe Stockdale. University dean, professor artistic director and writer. 682 pages, including photo section, complete list of plays, casts, and crews.

That's the Way of the World
(Wea-Des Moines Video - new Blu-Ray)
1976 musical film featuring songs by Maurice White (Earth, Wind and Fire). Written by Robert Lipsyte. Produced and directed by Sig Shore. Harvey Keitel, Ed Nelson, Earth, Wind and Fire. 97 minutes.

The Theater of Terrence McNally: A Critical Study
(McFarland and Co - Paperback Book)
By Peter Wolfe.

Wonder of Wonders: A Cultural History of Fiddler on the Roof
(Metropolitan Books - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
History of the musical by drama critic Alisa Solomon. 448 pages.

October 15, 2013

Cowardy Custard
(MasterWorks Broadway/ArkivMusic - new on 2 CD-Rs/mp3/iTunes)
1972 Original London cast. Olivia Breeze, Geoffrey Burridge, Jonathan Cecil, Tudor Davies, Elaine Delmar, Laurel Ford, Peter Gale, John Moffatt, Patricia Routledge, Anna Sharkey, Una Stubbs, Derek Waring. The story of Noël Coward's life told through song and biographical snippets. Original track list: "If Love Were All," "I'll See You Again," "Time and Again," "Has Anybody Seen Our Ship?," "Try To Learn To Love," "Kiss Me," "Go Slow, Johnny," "Tokay," "Dearest Love," "Could You Please Oblige Us With a Bren Gun?," "Come the Wild, Wild Weather," "Spinning Song," "Parisian Pierrot," "Play, Orchestra, Play," "Any Little Fish," "A Room With a View," "When You Want Me," "Specially For You," "Beatnik Love Affair," "I'm Mad About You," "Poor Little Rich Girl," "Louisa," "Mad About the Boy," "The Stately Homes Of England," "Twentieth Century Blues," "I Went To a Marvellous Party," "Mrs. Worthington," "Why Must the Show Go On?," "London Is a Little Bit Of All Right," "What Ho, Mrs. Brisket," "Don't Take Our Charlie For the Army," "Saturday Night At the Rose and Crown," "London At Night," "There Are Bad Times Just Around the Corner," "Alice Is At It Again," "The Passenger's Always Right," "Useful Phrases," "Why Do the Wrong People Travel?," "St. Peter's," "Mad Dogs and Englishmen," "Nina," "I Like America," "Bronxville Darby and Joan," "Darjeeling," "I Wonder What Happened To Him?," "Miss Mouse," "Let's Do It," "Last Words," "Touring Days," "Nothing Can Last For Ever," "Would You Like To Stick a Pin In My Balloon?," "Mary Make-Believe," "Dance, Little Lady," "Men About Town," "Forbidden Fruit," "Sigh No More," "Younger Generation," "I'll Follow My Secret Heart." Delayed from original release date

First Date OBC recording
(Yellow Sound Label - new on CD)
Music and Lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner. Zachary Levi, Krysta Rodriguez, Sara Chase, Kristoffer Cusick, Blake Hammond, Kate Loprest, Bryce Ryness. Executive-produced by Altar Identity Studios. Produced by Michael Croiter and Dominick Amendum. Previously released on mp3 and iTunes

It's Love Again
(VCI Entertainment - new on DVD)
1936 musical film. Robert Young, Jessie Matthews. Directed by Victor Saville. Music by Sam Coslow and Harry Woods.

The Leonard Bernstein Letters
(Yale University - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Nigel Simeone, editor. Wide-ranging selection of letters; correspondents include Aaron Copland, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins, Thornton Wilder, Boris Pasternak, Bette Davis, Adolph Green, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and family members. Most being published for the first time. 624 pages.

Linda Eder: Christmas Where You Are
(new on CD)
"Christmas Waltz/It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (Medley)," "The Silence Of Snow," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Grown-Up Christmas List," "Angels We Have Heard On High/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Medley)," "Baby, It's Cold Outside (Duet With Jake Wildhorn)," "Christmas Where You Are," "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree/Holly Jolly Christmas (Medley)," "The First Noel," "Merry Christmas Darling," "Mary, Did You Know?," "Coventry Carol." Available exclusively at LindaEder.com

Love Quirks Studio Cast Recording
(new on mp3/iTunes)
Score by Seth Bisen-Hersh. Crystal Davidson, Nathan Freeman, Rori Nogee & Brian Shaw. Clips, tracks and mp3 album available at CD Baby and iTunes.

Penny Black, The Musical
(new on mp3/iTunes)
Composed, performed and produced by multi-instrumentalist, Ed Weston. Lyrics by John Collings. Vocals by Lisa Coleman and Stewart McGhee. Clips, tracks and digital album available at CD Baby and iTunes.

Sailing Along
(VCI Entertainment - new on DVD)
1938 musical film Jessie Matthews, Barry MacKay, Jack Whiting, Roland Young. Directed by Sonnie Hale.

Sandy Bainum: Simply
(Kritzerland Records - new on CD)
Songs from the Great American Songbook and more. "Dancing All the Time," "Simply," "A Cockeyed Optimist," "Goodnight, My Someone," "On the Other Side of the Tracks," "Make the Man Love Me," "Bluesette," "Why Can't I Forget?," "Where or When," "You and Me Against the World," "Don't Quit While You're Ahead," "Isn't This Better?," "Something to Sing About," "On My Way to You," "The Beautiful Land/Pure Imagination." Available at Kritzerland.com

Shrek the Musical
(Fox - Multi-format/DVD)
Filmed Broadway show with score by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire. Brian d'Arcy James, Daniel Breaker, Sutton Foster, Christopher Sieber. Extras include From Swamp To Stage: The Making of Shrek the Musical; Shrek The Musical Songbook of seven songs; Shrek The Musical Songbook. Released on Amazon streaming video September 17.

Tommy Cecil and Bill Mays: Our Time/Sondheim Duos, Volume 2
(new on CD/iTunes)
Second volume of acoustic jazz interpretations of Sondheim songs from Cecil (bass) and Mays (piano). "Everybody Says Don't," "Johanna," "Our Time," "Moments in the Woods," "Finishing the Hat," "The Miller's Son," "Losing My Mind," "The Best Thing That Has Ever Happened," "Agony," "Being Alive," "Rich and Happy." Clips and album available at CD Baby. Volume 1: Side by Side was released in 2012.

October 8, 2013

Barbra Streisand: Classic Christmas Album
(Sony Legacy - new on CD/mp3iTunes)
Selections from "A Christmas Album" and "Christmas Memories." "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting an an Open Fire)," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "A Christmas Love Song," "The Best Gift," "It Must Have Been the Mistletoe," "I Remember," "I Wonder as I Wander," "Sleep in Heavenly Peace (Silent Night)," "Snowbound," "Jingle Bells?," "My Favorite Things," "Christmas Lullaby," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Christmas Mem'ries," "White Christmas."

Billy Rose's Jumbo
(Warner Archive - new on Blu-Ray)
New transfer of 1962 musical film. Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante, Martha Raye, Dean Jagger. Musical short Yours Sincerely; Tom and Jerry cartoon Jerry and Jumbo; original overture rejoined to the film; theatrical trailer.

Collaborations - The Songs of Elliot Davis
(new on CD)
Co-writer of the Olivier-nominated Loserville with writers Elliot Davis, Adam Bard, James Bourne, Stephen Clark, Anthony Drewe, Graham Gouldman, Sam Kenyon, Andy Stocks. Performed by Julie Atherton, Paul Baker, James Bourne, Kirsty Hoiles, Caroline Sheen, Scarlet Strallen, Carley Stenson, Michael Xavier. Available at Dress Circle

Dancing on the Edge: The Louis Lester Band
(Decca - new U.S. release CD/mp3/iTunes)
Original score soundtrack for five-part BBC original mini-series, which follows a 1930s black jazz band. Now running on Starz. Score by Adrian Johnston (The Lost Prince, Kinky Boots, The Accused films). Chiwetel Ejiofor, Wunmi Moskau, Angel Coulby and John Goodman. Previously released in the U.K. at Amazon UK.

Dearest Enemy
(New World Records - new on 2 CDs/mp3/iTunes)
Complete recording of Rodgers & Hart score. Aine Mulvey, Christina Whyte, Sarah Busfield, Kim Criswell, Rachel Kelly, Hal Cazalet, Philip O'Reilly, John Molloy, Joe Corbett, James Cleverton, Annalene Beechey, Joe Corbett, Glenn Murphy, Karl Harpur, Stephen Rea. With the Orchestra of Ireland, Fionnuala Hunt, concertmistress. Disc One: "Overture," "Heigh-ho! LackaDay!," "War Is War," "I Beg Your Pardon," "Cheerio!," "Full-Blown Roses," "The Hermits," "Here in My Arms," "Finale Act One"; Disc: 2: "Entr'acte," "Gavotte," "I d Like to Hide It," "Where the Hudson River Flows," "Bye and Bye (Runaround)," "Bye and Bye (Underscore)," "Bye and Bye," "Old Enough to Love," "Sweet Peter," "Yankee Doodle," "Here's a Kiss (Underscore)," "Here's a Kiss," "Act Two Finale," "Intermezzo," "Opening Chorus-Epilogue," "Bye and Bye (Reprise)," "Finale Ultimo," "Bows," "Exit Music." Original orchestrations by Emil Gerstenberger. Reconstruction and additional orchestrations by Larry Moore. Produced by Judith Sherman. Extensive liner notes, plot, dialogue, history, photos.

Edith Piaf: Chansons
(Sepia Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
24 songs recorded in the early 1960s in stereo. "Ouragan," "C'est l'amour qui fait qu'on s'aime," "Je suis à toi," "Cri du coeur," "Non, je ne regrette rien," "La vie l'amour," "Les mots d'amour," "Milord," "Boulevard du crime," "La ville inconnue," "Je m'imagine," "La belle histoire d'amour," "Les flons-flons du bal," "T'es l'homme qu'il me faut," "Mon vieux lucien," "Marie trottoir," "C'est peut-être ça," "Le billard électrique," "Faut pas qu'il se figure," "Qu'il était triste cet anglais," "Toi, tu l'entends pas," "Ça fait drôle," "Fallait-il ...," "quatorze juillet," "La vie en rose."

Grease Australian Cast
(Universal Music - new on CD)
Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey score. 2013 Australian cast recording of Rob Mills, Gretel Scarlett, Bert Newton, Todd McKenney, Anthony Callea, Val Lehman, Lucy Maunder and Stephen Mahy. "Overture," "Sandy," "Grease is the Word," "Summer Nights," "Those Magic Changes," "Freddy My Love," "Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee," "Greased Lightnin'," "Mooning," "We Go Together," "Shakin' at the High School Hop," "Born to Handjive," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Beauty School Dropout," "Rock'n'Roll Party Queen," "There Are Worse Things I Could Do," "You're The One That I Want." Pre-ordering at Middle8 Music.

Hopelessly in Love: The Lyrics of Tom Toce
(LML Music - new on CD)
Carole J. Bufford, Jack Donahue, Jennifer Sheehan, Jane Monheit. Toce lyrics with the music of composers Lew Spence, Zina Goldrich and others. Matthew Martin Ward on piano and Boots Maleson on bass. "Listen/Hopelessly in Love Say You'll Remember," "Bye-Bye, Aloha, Yo!," "Michael's Song," "You're in Love Again," "That's What I Like About the Rain," "You Make Me Laugh," "The Sweetness in the Air," "Out of Fashion," "Got to Learn to Emote," "The Wrong Man," "Shalom, Santa," "Glad We Got Away," "The Night I Fell in Love with Paris," "Rid of You," "You Believe in Me," "After All," "Ask for the World."

The Last Ship [Amazon Exclusive Super Deluxe Edition]
(Cherrytree/Interscope/A&M Records - new on 2 CDs/mp3/iTunes)
"Inspired by" Sting's upcoming Broadway musical based on his growing up in Swan Hunters Shipyard in Wallsend. Produced by Rob Mathes and engineered and mixed by Donal Hodgson. This 2-disc, 20-song version with special packaging is an Amazon exclusive. Also a 12-song version on CD, iTunes and vinyl. Released 9/24/13.

Lee Daniels' The Butler
(Verve - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
14 songs include "In The Middle Of The Night" performed by Fantasia.

Lizzie
(Broadway Records - on 2 CDs/iTunes)
Rock concept album based on Lizzie Borden story. Score by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt (music) and Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner (lyrics). To be expanded into live concerts and theatrical events across the country. Carrie Manolakos and Storm Large, Carrie Cimma, Ryah Nixon. "Forty Whacks" (Prologue), "The House of Borden," "This Is Not Love," "Gotta Get Out of Here," "If You Knew," "The Soul of the White Bird," "Maybe Someday," "The Will" (Underscore), "Sweet Little Sister," "Shattercane & Velvet Grass," "The Milk" (Underscore), "Will You Stay?," "Why Are All These Heads Off?," "Mercury Rising," "Somebody Will Do Something," "Forty Whacks" (Entr'acte), "The Fall of the House of Borden," "What the F**k Now, Lizzie?!," "The Dress" (Underscore), "Burn the Old Thing Up," "Questions Questions," "Will You Lie?," "Watchmen for the Morning," "Maybe Someday" (Reprise 1), "Thirteen Days In Taunton," "Maybe Someday" (Reprise 2), "Into Your Wildest Dreams," "Forty Whacks" (Curtain). Engineered by Anthony "Rocky" Gallo. Book by Tim Maner; additional music by Tim Maner; additional lyrics by Alan Stevens Hewitt; based on an original concept by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner; orchestrations by Alan Stevens Hewitt. Newly revised and orchestrated from previous version. Executive Produced by The Broadway Consortium (Van Dean and Kenny Howard) and Brunish Trinchero LLC.

Oh You Kid!: Dorothy Provine with Joe "Fingers" Carr in Tandem
(Sepia Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Twofer of albums re-mastered and in stereo: Dorothy Provine LP, Oh You Kid! with songs from the turn of last century with Joe "Fingers" Carr ("The World's Greatest Ragtime Piano Player") coupled with Joe "Fingers" Carr and his Swingin' String Band of happy songs. 28 tracks total.

On the Riviera
(Fox - new Blu-Ray)
1951 musical comedy film featuring Danny Kaye, Gene Tierney, Corinne Calvet. Choreography by Jack Cole. Score by Alfred Newman and Sylvia Fine. Directed by Walter Lang. Produced by Sol C. Siegel from a screenplay by Valentine Davies and Phoebe & Henry Ephron, based on the play The Red Cat by Rudolph Lothar and Hans Adler. Extras: widescreen feature; The Rivera Story: A Remarkable Impersonation; A Portrait of Danny Kaye; The Jack of Clubs: Choreographer Jack Cole; restoration comparison; theatrical trailer; still galleries: interactive pressbook; advertising; On the Set; Glamour Shots; On with the Show.

One Touch of Venus Studio Cast Recording
(JAY Records - new at iTunes)
Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash score for 1943 musical. Melissa Errico, Brent Barrett, Ron Raines, Victoria Clark, Judy Kaye, Lauren Worsham, Michael "Tuba" McKinsey. Complete score plus two cut songs: "Vive La Difference" and "Who Am I?." Original orchestrations by Kurt Weill. 2 CD set expected in the future.

Picture Perfect
(new on CD)
Musical based on the life of Norman Rockwell. Music and lyrics by Bluestone Sisters. Beth Leavel, Karen Ziemba, Lillias White, Ron Holgate, Debbie Gravitte, Judy Kaye and Tony® nominees Mark Jacoby, Andrea Mcardle, Emily Skinner, Randy Skinner Bob Stillman and Tom Wopat. Arrangements and accompaniment by Sam Willmott. Musical director Aaron Jodoin. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this album will go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Available at Broadway Cares Store.

Saying It With Songs: Popular Music and the Coming of Sound to Hollywood Cinema
(Oxford Univ Press - Paperback Book)
By Katherine Spring. Looks at the interdependence of Hollywood studios and Tin Pan Alley in the first half of the 20th century ... popular song in non-musical genres of film. 256 Pages, 28 illustrations.

Sex Plays by Eric Bogosian
(TCG - Paperback Book)
Bogosian's two newest plays: Skunkweed details the culture clash between a Los Angeles screenwriter and a working-class girl and her rural Florida clan in a hotel room; 1+1 explores desire, greed, and responsibility to others through the lives of an aspiring actress, assistant restaurant manager, and a photographer.

Starry-Eyed: 16 Stories that Steal the Spotlight
(Running Press Kids - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Ted Michael and Josh Pultz. Forewoard by Clay Aiken. Collection of short stories about the struggles, hopes, failures, and triumphs of young aspiring singers, dancers, actors, actresses, and performers. Plus personal anecdotes from current performers of stage, screen, and television, including Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Greta Gerwig, Ian Harding, Lea Salonga, Alice Ripley, Andrea McArdle, Montego Glover. Whether hilarious or romantic or devastating or suspenseful, these diverse coming-of-age stories are perfect for anyone who is reaching for the stars. 402 pages.

Tom Wopat: I've Got Your Number
(LML Music - new on vinyl)
"Orchestra/big band hybrid of the '60s and '70s," with a thirty-piece orchestra. Tracks include "I've Got Your Number," "The Good Life," "The Secret O' Life," "The Afterlife," "Since You Asked," "Meeting Across the River," "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," "Call Me," "Born to Be Blue," "I Won't Dance."

October 1, 2013

Bigger, Brighter, Louder: 150 Years of Chicago Theater as Seen by "Chicago Tribune" Critics
(Univ of Chicago Press - Hardcover Book)
By Chris Jones. 150+ years of Tribune reviews in a narrative, pairing reviews with commentary and history. 328 pages; 16 photos.

By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
(TCG - Hardcover/Paperback Book)
Play by Lynn Nottage (Second Stage).

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory OLC
(Sony Music Classical - new import CD)
UK release of original cast recording. Score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Cast includes Douglas Hodge. To be released in September from the UK at Amazon UK and Dress Circle
.

The Complete Columbia Singles 1963-1969: Patti Page
(Real Gone Music - new on 2 CDs)
All 51 single sides Patti Page released on the Columbia label. Bonus "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" (German version). Booklet with photos, including some from the family's private archive. Remastered at Sony's Battery Studios. Also being released on CD: remastered From Nashville to L.A. - Lost Columbia Masters 1962-1969 .

The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery: A Guide to Her Magical Performances
(Taylor Trade Publishing - new Paperback Book)
Herbie J. Pilato traces Montgomery's career, chronicling just how much her real life spilled into her historic roles on stage and screen. Based on exclusive interviews with the actress and commentary provided by entertainment professionals, journalists, and historians. Including plot summaries, air dates, release dates, and behind-the-scenes notes and anecdotes of select performances.

The Hollow Crown: The Complete Series
(Universal Studios - on 4 DVDs)
Sam Mendes adaptation of four of Shakespeare's most celebrated history plays: Richard II, Henry IV (Part 1 and Part 2), and Henry V. Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston, Ben Whishaw, Patrick Stewart, Clemence Poésy, David Suchet and Rory Kinnear. Shown on PBS. 528 minutes. Released 9/17/13.

An Ideal Theatre: The Visions that Founded America's Theatres
(TCG - Paperback Book)
By Todd London. A documentary history of the American theater movement. Over forty essays, manifestos, letters, and speeches that are introduced and placed in historical context. Represented theaters include Arena Stage (Washington, DC), El Teatro Campesino (California), Barter Theatre (Virginia), Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Roadside Theater (Kentucky), Second City (Illinois), Theatre 47 (Dallas), Bread and Puppet (Vermont), The Actor's Workshop (California), Public Theater (New York), Minnesota Theatre Company, The Group Theatre (New York), and dozens more. 700 pages.

Matilda OBC Digital
(Broadway Records/Yellow Sound Label - new mp3 at Amazon/at iTunes/iTunes Deluxe Edition)
2013 Broadway cast recording of Tim Minchin score. Bertie Carvel, Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro, Lesli Margherita, Lauren Ward, Karen Aldridge. Produced by Michael Croiter and Christopher Nightingale. "Overture," "Miracle: Part 1," "Miracle: Part 2," "Miracle: Part 3," "Naughty," "School Song," "Pathetic," "The Hammer," "The Chokey Chant," "Loud," "This Little Girl," "Bruce," "Telly," "When I Grow Up," "I'm Here (Story 4)," "The Smell of Rebellion," "Quiet," "My House," "Chalk Writing," "Revolting Children," "When I Grow Up/Naughty (Reprise); Bonus Tracks: "Once Upon A Time… (Story 1)," "The Great Day Arrived... (Story 2)," "The Trick Started Well... (Story 3). Deluxe Edition also includes "Perhaps A Child," "Naughty" (sung by all 4 Broadway Matildas). Deluxe Edition only available on iTunes. CD to be released October 22.

The Miracle Worker Soundtrack
(Kritzerland Records - new on CD)
Laurence Rosenthal's soundtrack for 1962 film adaptation of William Gibson play, which starred Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke. Remastered plus two bonus tracks. Limited edition of 1,000 copies. Available at Kritzerland.com.

Modern American Drama on Screen
(Cambridge Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Recently released Kindle Edition)
By William Robert Bray. R. Barton Palmer, editor. Comprehensive account of Hollywood and dramatic plays. Fifteen chapters: Realism, censorship, and the social promise of Dead End (Amanda Ann Klein); Filming Our Town (1940) or the problem of "looking at everything hard enough" (David Eldridge); Screening Death of a Salesman: Arthur Miller's cinema and its discontents (R. Barton Palmer); Elia Kazan's A Streetcar Named Desire (William Robert Bray); Come back, little scopophile: William Inge, Daniel Mann, and cinematic voyeurism (John S. Bak); The Big Knife: Hollywood's "fable about moral value and success," a move about the movies (Christopher Ames); Adapting Lorraine Hansberry's sociological imagination: race, housing, and health in A Raisin in the Sun (Martin Halliwell); Double vision: the film adaptations of The Children's Hour (Neil Sinyard); Sidney Lumet's family epic: re-imagining Long Days Journey into Night (Mary F. Brewer); Hollywood's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: breaking the code (David Lavery and Nancy McGuire Roche); Sex, lies, and independent film: realism and reality in Sam Shepard's Fool for Love (Annette J. Saddik); Actor, image, action: Anthony Drazan's Hurlyburly (1998) (Laurence Raw); David Mamet brings film to Oleanna (Brenda Murphy); To what end a cinematic Wit? (John D. Sykes, Jr.); Theatrical, cinematic, and domestic epic in Tony Kushner's Angels in America (Tison Pugh). 313 pages, 46 black & white illustrations.

Murder on the Orient Express Audiobook
(HarperAudio - Audiobook CD/Audible Audio Edition)
Agatha Christie mystery read by Dan Stevens (The Heiress, Downton Abbey).

Sondheim Film and Television Songs - Revised edition
(Rilting Music - Paperback Book)
"Back in Business" (Dick Tracy), "Dawn" (Singing Out Loud), "The Glamorous Life" (A Little Night Music, film version), "Goodbye for Now" (Theme from Reds), "I Never Do Anything Twice" (The Seven Percent Solution), "I Remember" (Evening Primrose), "If You Can Find Me, I'm Here" (Evening Primrose), "Little Dream" (The Birdcage), "Live Alone and Like It" (Dick Tracy), "More" (Dick Tracy), "No, Mary Ann" (The Thing Of It Is), "Rainbows" (Into the Woods, film version), "Sand" (Singing Out Loud), "Sooner or Later" (Dick Tracy), "Theme from Stavisky," "Take Me to the World" (Evening Primrose), "They Ask Me Why I Believe in You" (I Believe in You), "The Two of You" (Kukla, Fran and Ollie), "Water Under the Bridge" (Singing Out Loud), "What Can You Lose?" (Dick Tracy), "When" (Evening Primrose). 180 pages.

Tony deSare: Piano
(AJD Entertainment - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Singer Tony deSare and the Yamaha acoustic piano. Every sound, besides vocals, on this album originated from somewhere in, on or under the piano. "Many songs utilize more than 60 tracks of individually recorded piano parts sonically sculpted to sound like anything from a bass drum to a banjo." "A Lot to Say," "Just One of Those Things," "New Orleans Tango," "Faithfully," "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Chemistry," "Where Love Lives," "Autumn Leaves," "Christmas for You and Me," "Nothing Left to Say," "I Love a Piano" (Bonus).

The Wizard of Oz: 75th Anniversary Collector's Edition (Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / UltraViolet + Amazon-Exclusive Flash Drive)
(Warner Home Video - new box set)
3D Blu-Ray with hours of extra content: Sing-a-long feature with the film; Complete Magic Cloak of Oz silent shorts (60 min); all-new making-of documentary; The Dreamer of Oz TV Special (101 min); Munchkins at the Hollywood Walk of Fame Featurette (20 min); Patchwork Girl of Oz (60 min); 6 hour MGM documentary When the Lion Roars (exclusive to Blu-Ray); and more. Also included, promotional items: 48 pg hardcover photo book; ruby slippers sparkle globe; collectible award pin set by The Noble Collection; Journal; frameable map of Oz; and Amazon exclusive promotional item 4 GB Wicked Witch of the East flash drive. Also available in single Blu-Ray and a 2-disc setwith document, but not the extra items.

September 24, 2013

50 Shades! The Musical
(Koch Entertainment - new on CD)
Al Samuels, Amanda Blake Davis, Jody Shelton, Ashley Ward, Dan Wessels touring parody musical. Amber Petty, Chris Grace, Emily Eden, Jessica Kemock, Spencer Rose, Nick Semar, Matthew Nolan, Caroline Reade, Victor Show. Released on mp3 and iTunes 8/13/13.

Arthur Miller: 1962-2005
(Univ of Michigan Press - Paperback Book)
Paperback version of Christopher Bigsby's 2-volume biography. 662 pages.

Elaine Stritch at Liberty
(Kultur Video - on DVD)
Back in print. Emmy Award winning D.A. Pennebaker film/documentary for HBO: the Tony Award winning show filmed at London's Old Vic Theatre. 89 minutes.

First Date OBC recording Digital
(Yellow Sound Label - mp3/iTunes)
Music and Lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner. Zachary Levi, Krysta Rodriguez, Sara Chase, Kristoffer Cusick, Blake Hammond, Kate Loprest, Bryce Ryness. Executive-produced by Altar Identity Studios. Produced by Michael Croiter and Dominick Amendum. CD release set for October 22.

Igniting Wonder: Plays for Preschoolers
(Univ of Minnesota Press - Hardcover/Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Minnesota's Children's Theatre Company. Peter Brosius and Elissa Adams, editors. Preface by Amy Susman-Stillman. Four newly commissioned plays: Bert and Ernie, Goodnight!, a musical about Bert and Ernie's unlikely but true friendship, written by Barry Kornhauser and based on the original songs and scripts from "Sesame Street"; The Biggest Little House in the Forest, a toy-theatre play about a group of diverse animals trying to share a very tiny home, adapted by Rosanna Staffa from the book by Djemma Bider; The Cat's Journey, a shadow-puppet play with a little girl who rides on a friendly cat, written by Fabrizio Montecchi; and Victoria Stewart's Mercy Watson to the Rescue!, adapted from the Kate DiCamillo Mercy Watson series.

Lashes Off: Songs of Sex Secrets and Stripping
(new on CD/mp3)
Score by Lynn Lupold. Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

The Last Five Years Revival cast
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
2013 Second Stage cast: Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe. Produced by Jason Robert Brown with Kurt Deutsch and Stacey Mindich executive producers. "Still Hurting," "Shiksa Goddess," "See I'm Smiling," "Moving Too Fast," "A Part Of That," "The Schmuel Song," "A Summer In Ohio," "The Next Ten Minutes," "A Miracle Would Happen / When You Come Home To Me," "Climbing Uphill," "If I Didn't Believe In You," "I Can Do Better Than That," "Nobody Needs To Know," "Goodbye Until Tomorrow / I Could Never Rescue You."

Maria Callas: Living & Dying for Art & Love
(Kultur Video - new on DVD)
2004 documentary, focusing on the 1964 Covent Garden Tosca, the last role Callas performed on stage. Appearances by Zeffirelli, Tito Gobbi, Maria Callas, Judi Dench, Plácido Domingo. Directed by Steve Cole. 56 minutes.

Marry Me A Little Off-Broadway Cast Digital
(Ghostlight Records - new mp3/iTunes)
Stephen Sondheim score. Keen Company cast of Lauren Molina and Jason Tam. Includes first recording of "Rainbow" and songs added to the score in this production: "Ah But Underneath" and "If You Can Find Me, I'm Here" in addition to "Saturday Night," "So Many People," "A Moment With You," "Bang!," "Silly People," "Can That Boy Foxtrot!," "All Things Bright and Beautiful," "It Wasn't Meant to Happen," "Little White House," "Who Could Be Blue?," "The Girls of Summer," "Your Eyes Are Blue," "Marry Me A Little," "Happily Ever After" and "There Won't Be Trumpets." Recorded April 26. Amazon mp3 includes digital booklet.

Trapped the Musical
(new digital)
Score by Josh Warren. "Follows a detective's journey through Nova Vita Psychiatric Hospital, where he must use the testimonies of the mentally ill to discover what caused one patient to murder his doctor of eight years." Clips and tracks available at CD Baby.

September 17, 2013

Cats - Ultimate Edition (All Regions) Blu-ray
(Universal UK - Blu-Ray)
1998 production with Veerle Casteleyn, Michael Gruber, John Mills, Ken Page, Elaine Paige, John Partridge. Extras: Character Make-up with Karen Dawson Harding; Making of Cats Featurette; interviews with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cameron Mackintosh, Trevor Nunn, Gillian Lynne, John Napier, Gerry Schoenfield. Available at Dress Circle and Amazon UK.

Cowardy Custard
(MasterWorks Broadway/ArkivMusic - new at MasterworksBroadway.com)
1972 Original London cast. Olivia Breeze, Geoffrey Burridge, Jonathan Cecil, Tudor Davies, Elaine Delmar, Laurel Ford, Peter Gale, John Moffatt, Patricia Routledge, Anna Sharkey, Una Stubbs, Derek Waring. The story of Noël Coward's life told through song and biographical snippets. Original track list: "If Love Were All," "I'll See You Again," "Time and Again," "Has Anybody Seen Our Ship?," "Try To Learn To Love," "Kiss Me," "Go Slow, Johnny," "Tokay," "Dearest Love," "Could You Please Oblige Us With a Bren Gun?," "Come the Wild, Wild Weather," "Spinning Song," "Parisian Pierrot," "Play, Orchestra, Play," "Any Little Fish," "A Room With a View," "When You Want Me," "Specially For You," "Beatnik Love Affair," "I'm Mad About You," "Poor Little Rich Girl," "Louisa," "Mad About the Boy," "The Stately Homes Of England," "Twentieth Century Blues," "I Went To a Marvellous Party," "Mrs. Worthington," "Why Must the Show Go On?," "London Is a Little Bit Of All Right," "What Ho, Mrs. Brisket," "Don't Take Our Charlie For the Army," "Saturday Night At the Rose and Crown," "London At Night," "There Are Bad Times Just Around the Corner," "Alice Is At It Again," "The Passenger's Always Right," "Useful Phrases," "Why Do the Wrong People Travel?," "St. Peter's," "Mad Dogs and Englishmen," "Nina," "I Like America," "Bronxville Darby and Joan," "Darjeeling," "I Wonder What Happened To Him?," "Miss Mouse," "Let's Do It," "Last Words," "Touring Days," "Nothing Can Last For Ever," "Would You Like To Stick a Pin In My Balloon?," "Mary Make-Believe," "Dance, Little Lady," "Men About Town," "Forbidden Fruit," "Sigh No More," "Younger Generation," "I'll Follow My Secret Heart." Released this week at MasterworksBroadway.com; on October 1 at ArkivMusic and online digital.

Mr. B.: The Music and Life of Billy Eckstine (Hal Leonard Jazz Biography Series)
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
By Cary Ginell. Life story of legendary singer.

The Playbill Broadway Yearbook: June 2012 to May 2013: Ninth Annual Edition
(Applause Books - Hardcover Book)
More than 4,000 photos, plus other memorabilia from the entire 2012-2013 Broadway season. Including new and long-running shows, other theatre events (like Gypsy of the Year, Broadway Bares), and reports from each production on the Gypsy Robe, daily rituals, celebrity visits, favorite health tips and regimens, memorable ad-libs, etc. 400 pages. Robert Viagas, editor.

Decca Opera: Gershwin: Porgy & Bess
(Decca - on 3 CDs/mp3)
Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel. Willard White and Leona Mitchell in the title roles. Released in 1976, was the first complete recording of the opera based on Gershwin's original score.

NewMusicalTheatre new songbooks
Best of NMT: Female Audition Songs, Volume 2 ("Accident Prone" by Kirsten Guenther and Laurence O'Keefe, "Broadway, Here I Come!" by Joe Iconis, "Dear Daddy" by Bobby Cronin, "Don't Wanna Be Here" by Adam Gwon, "Hand in Hand" by Kerrigan-Lowdermilk, "I Won't Mind" by Jeff Blumenkrantz, Annie Kessler, and Libby Saines, "I'll Be Here" by Adam Gwon, "Pretty Funny" by Pasek & Paul); Best of NMT: Male Audition Songs, Volume 2 ("And I Breathe" by Salzman & Cunningham, "Broadway, Here I Come!" by Joe Iconis, "Come Back" by Pasek & Paul, "Disaster" by Drew Gasparini, "Lisa" by Joe Iconis, "Rock City" by Brad Alexander and Adam Mathias, "The Bad Years" by Kerrigan-Lowdermilk, "When She Smiles" by Lewis Flinn); Best of NMT: Duets ("Fine" by Adam Gwon, "First Date / Last Night" by Pasek & Paul, "Freedom" by Kerrigan-Lowdermilk, "Halfway" by Ryan Scott Oliver, "Little Mysteries" by Adam Gwon, "Next Thing You Know" by Salzman & Cunningham, "Vegas" by Kerrigan-Lowdermilk, "You Are My..." by Brad Alexander and Adam Mathias).

Shrek the Musical
(Fox - Streaming Video)
Filmed live on Broadway with 10 cameras. Score by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire. Brian d'Arcy James, Daniel Breaker, Sutton Foster, Christopher Sieber. Expected formats: iTunes, HD for playback on Kindle Fire HD, Xbox 360, PS3, Roku or other HD compatible devices. Blu-Ray extras: From Swamp To Stage: The Making of Shrek the Musical; songbook.Blu-ray/DVD also to be released October 15.

Stage Blood: Five tempetuous years in the early life of the National Theatre
(Faber and Faber Plays - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
by Michael Blakemore. "The candid and at times painfully funny story of the events that led to his dramatic exit in 1976. He recalls the theatrical triumphs and flops, his volatile relationship with Olivier including directing him in Long Day's Journey into Night, the extravagant dinners in Hall's Barbican flat with Harold Pinter, Jonathan Miller and the other associates, the opening of the new building, and Blakemore's brave and misrepresented decision to speak out."

Theatre and Animals
(Palgrave Macmillan - Paperback Book)
By Lourdes Orozco. Animals in performance. Chapters: 1. Theatre and Performance: the 'Odd Fish' within Animal Studies, 2. Animals in Art, Spectacle and Text: A Brief History, 3. Animals, Philosophy and Ecology, 4. Companion Performers and Bio Art: Humans and Animals Share the Stage, 5. Towards an Ethics of Animals in Performance , 6. Does the Animal Want to be There?: Agency and Responsibility, 7. Risks, Accidents and Economics in Animal Performance, 8. Animals and their Representations in Performance.

West Side Story as Cinema: The Making and Impact of an American Masterpiece (Cultureamerica)
(Univ Press of Kansas - Hardcover Book)
By Ernesto R. Acevedo-Munoz. "Bursting with facts, insights, and inside stories, this book boasts a wealth of material that has never been explored before in print. Both history and homage, it is a must for scholar and buff alike." 232 pages.

Wilford Brimley with the Jeff Hamilton Trio
(Capri - new on CD)
Actor Wilford Brimley and the Jeff Hamilton Trio, with Tamir Hendleman on piano and Christoph Luty on bass. Songs include "I Wish You Love," "Pick Yourself Up," "Walkin' My Baby Back Home," "Waltz For Debby," "I Have Dreamed," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "Love Letters," "Yours Is My Heart Alone," "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," "Ain't She Sweet." 15 tracks.

September 10, 2013

Aaron Tveit: The Radio In My Head: Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Live recording of Aaron Tveit's (Next to Normal, Catch Me if You Can)cabaret debut, the sold-out show at 54 Below. "I'm Alive," "Intro: On A Friday Night," "Something's Coming," "If I Loved You / To Make You Feel My Love," "Intro: Little Bit Country," "When I Was Your Man," "Intro: Welcome, Freshmen," "What You'd Call A Dream," "Intro: Where Am I?," "One Song Glory," "Intro: Not Your Average Lullaby," "There's A World / Hero and Leander," "Intro: The Future Is Closer Than You Think," "I Could Be In Love With Someone Like You," "Intro: You Tube Generation," "Run Away With Me," "Intro: Thanks, Guys!," "She's Always A Woman / A Case Of You," "Intro: No Judgement," "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "Intro: The (Not) Last Song," "Goodbye," "My Romance / I Remember You."

Boardwalk Empire Volume 2: Music From The HBO Original Series
(Abkco - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Features 1920s "big-band classics, Broadway dance tunes, sultry ballads and torch songs" performed by Matt Berninger ("I'll See You In My Dreams"), Margot Bingham ("I'm Going South" and "Somebody Loves Me"), Kathy Brier ("There'll Be Some Changes Made"), Neko Case ("Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out"), Elvis Costello ("It Had To Be You"), Stephen DeRosa ("Old King Tut " and "You'd Be Surprised"), Karen Elson ("Who's Sorry Now"), David Johansen ("Strut Miss Lizzie"), Pokey LaFarge ("Lovesick Blues"), Liza Minnelli ("You've Got To See Mama Ev'ry Night (Or You Can't See Mama At All)"), Leon Redbone (" Baby Won't You Please Come Home"), Patti Smith ("I Ain't Got Nobody"), Chaim Tannenbaum ("All Alone"), St. Vincent ("Make Believe"), Rufus Wainwright ("Jimbo Jambo"), Loudon Wainwright III ("The Prisoner's Song"), featuring Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks.

La Cage aux Folles Special Edition
(Criterion Collection - new on Blu-Ray)
1979 French film starring Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault. New 2K digital film restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition; new interview with director Edouard Molinaro; archival footage featuring actor Michel Serrault and Jean Poiret, writer and star of the original stage production; new interview with Laurence Senelick; French and U.S. trailers; new English subtitle translation; booklet featuring an essay by critic David Ehrenstein; and more.

Feeling Pain Is Normal, 2nd Edition: an analysis of grief in the musical Next to Normal
(CreateSpace - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Rebecca Cecilia Kidwell. "... shares how the parents in [the musical] Next to Normal dealt with grief, how they learned to move forward, and what we can learn from them." 46 pages.

Gloria Estefan: The Standards
(Sony Masterworks - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Songs from the American Songbook sung in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French, some with new lyrics written by Estefan. With Laura Pausini, Joshua Bell and Dave Koz. "Good Morning Heartache," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "What A Difference A Day Makes," "I've Grown Accustomed To His Face," "Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar," "The Day You Say You Love Me," "Embraceable You," "What A Wonderful World," "How Long Has This Been Going On," "Sonríe (Smile)," "The Way You Look Tonight," "You Made Me Love You," "Young At Heart."

The Hammersteins: First Family of American Theater Digital
(Black Dog & Leventhal - Kindle Edition)
By Oscar Andrew Hammerstein. The story of one of Broadway's most creative and productive families. ... a multi-layered portrait of the Hammerstein legacy, complete with personal and professional highlights, as well as the scandals and tragedies. The book also draws heavily upon the family archives, presenting a rich collection of photographs, theatre blueprints, letters, programs, patents, and more, much of which has never been seen before. Hardcover version released in 2010.

Jesus Christ Superstar Live Arena Tour
(new on Blu-Ray)
UK arena tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Tim Rice musical, shown in theaters. Ben Forster, Tim Minchin and Melanie Chisholm. U.S. release.

Laura Benanti: In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention: Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Live album recorded at 54 Below in New York. Laura Benanti (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Gypsy, The Wedding Singer, Nine. "I'm Old Fashioned," My Time of Day," Welcome, "On The Street Where I Lived," 54 facts!, "Starry Eyed/Video Games," Why I am the way that I am, "He Comes for Conversation," We are being recorded, "Tilly's Aria/Frank and Tilly Make Love," Todd Almond explains it all, "Spring Is Coming," My favorite thing that ever happened to me, "The Ukulele Song," Canceled!, "New Mexico," Last fact, "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore," Harry Chapin, "Mr. Tanner," 1-2-3 released!, "Unusual Way," Good luck everyone, "Model Behavior."

A Little Night Music Soundtrack
(Masterworks Broadway/ArkivMusic - new on CD-R/mp3/iTunes)
1978 film soundtrack, first time on CD. Stephen Sondheim score. Newly remastered, transferred from the original stereo masters. Includes a previously unreleased instrumental cue, along with two other instrumental cues taken from the mono soundtrack of the film and the complete version of "Every Day a Little Death" from the mono soundtrack. Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Rigg, Lesley-Ann Down, Len Cariou and Hermione Gingold. "Overture" / "Night Waltz" (Love Takes Time), "The Glamorous Life," "Now" / "Soon" / "Later," "You Must Meet My Wife," "Every Day a Little Death," "Night Waltz 1:06," "A Weekend in the Country," "It Would Have Been Wonderful," "Send in the Clowns," "Poor Old Frederick" (previously unreleased), "Send in the Clowns" (Reprise)" / "Finale"; "Bonus Tracks: "Every Day a Little Death" (film version, previously unreleased), "Night Waltz" (film version, previously unreleased), "End Credits" (film version). Liner notes by Peter E. Jones. Also available at MasterworksBroadway.com and Amazon.

Ramin Karimloo: Why Am I Falling
(Dischromedia - new single mp3 and at at iTunes)
West End performer (Les Miserables, Love Never Dies and The Phantom of the Opera). music by Dan & Laura Curtis with lyrics by Karimloo with Dan & Laura Curtis. Written for the BBC Children in Need 2013 appeal.

Rent: Broadway Singer's Edition (Book/CD)
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book & CD)
Songbook with CD. 80 pages

Rosemary Clooney: On Broadway
(Sepia Records - new on CD/at iTunes)
Compilation album. "Clap Hands! Here Comes Rosie! / Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "Hello, Young Lovers," "Get Me to the Church On Time," "Hey, Madame with José Ferrer," "We're Not Children with José Ferrer," "Keep It Simple," "Morning Music Of Montmartre," "Hey, Look Me Over," "What Takes My Fancy," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face ," "Flattery with José Ferrer," "Love Eyes," "Sorry For Myself," "What I Mean to Say," "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'," "Bali Ha'i," "Love, Look Away," "Shine On, Harvest Moon," "Love Is a Feeling," "It's Alright with Me," "Hey There," "This Can't Be Love," "Mack the Knife," "By Myself," "Without Love," "Cabin in the Sky," "Tonight," "Lullaby Of Broadway."

Still the Beast is Feeding: 40 Years of Rocky Horror
(Telos Publishing - Kindle Edition)
By Rob Bagnall and Phil Barden. "The Unofficial and Unauthorized History of the Show, the Film, and the Phenomenon."

The Testament of Mary
(Simon & Schuster Audio - Audiobook)
By Colm Tóibín's novel, read by Meryl Streep. The basis of the Broadway play starring Fiona Shaw. Unabridged. The novel was published in hardcover, Kindle format, and eBooks format in November 2012.

September 3, 2013

1814! The War of 1812 Rock Opera
(Morphius - new on CD/mp3/iTunes previously released)
Conceived by David Dudley and Dave Israel. "[T]urns a forgotten war into an unforgettable rock spectacle of 19th century war history insanely re-imagined, as a hilarious & sexy 1970s rock spectacle a la Judas Priest, KISS, AC/DC." Presented in June at the Capital Fringe Festival.

Aaron Tveit: The Radio In My Head: Live at 54 BELOW
(Broadway Records - new mp3/new digital)
Live recording of Aaron Tveit's (Next to Normal, Catch Me if You Can)cabaret debut, the sold-out show at 54 Below. "I'm Alive," "Intro: On A Friday Night," "Something's Coming," "If I Loved You / To Make You Feel My Love," "Intro: Little Bit Country," "When I Was Your Man," "Intro: Welcome, Freshmen," "What You'd Call A Dream," "Intro: Where Am I?," "One Song Glory," "Intro: Not Your Average Lullaby," "There's A World / Hero and Leander," "Intro: The Future Is Closer Than You Think," "I Could Be In Love With Someone Like You," "Intro: You Tube Generation," "Run Away With Me," "Intro: Thanks, Guys!," "She's Always A Woman / A Case Of You," "Intro: No Judgement," "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "Intro: The (Not) Last Song," "Goodbye," "My Romance / I Remember You." CD version to be released 9/10/13.

Adultolescence, Vol. 1
(new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
By Stephen Matthew Barnett. "character-driven, chamber-pop, art-song cycle that traverses the many aspects of the human condition during that period between adolescence and adulthood: life, love, relationships, identity, politics, celebrity, success, failure, spirituality & truth." Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.


Backstage Pass to Broadway: True Tales from a Theatre Press Agent
(Heliotrope Books - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Susan L. Schulman. Unpublished photographs from the author's private collection. Cover art by Fraver. Released 8/13/13.

Constance Howard: Broadway Baby Grand
(IMI - new on CD/iTunes)
Connie Howard plays solo piano arrangements. "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Send in the Clowns," "Tomorrow," "Phantom of the Opera Medley," "My Favorite Things," "Memory," "Love Song Medley: As Long as He Needs Me, Where Is Love?, 'til There Was You, All I Ask for You," "Cabaret," "What I Did for Love," "Edelweiss." Available at CD Baby.

The Good Companions
(Gaiam Vivendi - new on DVD)
1933 film musical version of J. B. Priestley's novel and Edward Knoblock play. John Gielgud, Jessie Matthews and Edmund Gwenn as Jess Oakroyd. Music by George Posford, lyrics by Douglas Furber. Directed by Victor Saville. Black & white. 93 minutes.

Janis Siegel: Night Songs: A Late Night Interlude
(Palmetto Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
New album from jazz singer (The Manhattan Transfer) Janis Siegel. "Love Saves (Salva Pantallas)," "Slow," "Love and Paris Rain," "If You Never Come to Me," "Marie," "You're Mine, You," "Sweet September Rain," "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing," "Midnight Sun," "Lover," "Say You'll Go," "Clair De Lune."

Laura Benanti: In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention: Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new mp3/iTunes)
Live album recorded at 54 Below in New York. Laura Benanti (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Gypsy, The Wedding Singer, Nine. "I'm Old Fashioned," My Time of Day," Welcome, "On The Street Where I Lived," 54 facts!, "Starry Eyed/Video Games," Why I am the way that I am, "He Comes for Conversation," We are being recorded, "Tilly's Aria/Frank and Tilly Make Love," Todd Almond explains it all, "Spring Is Coming," My favorite thing that ever happened to me, "The Ukulele Song," Canceled!, "New Mexico," Last fact, "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore," Harry Chapin, "Mr. Tanner," 1-2-3 released!, "Unusual Way," Good luck everyone, "Model Behavior." CD version to be released 9/10/13.

Rachel Tucker: The Reason
(Big Hand Recordings - new mp3/iTunes)
Digital U.S. release of debut album from West End Elphaba. "Small Bump," "The Reason," "I'll Cover You," "Stone Cold Sober," "No One But You," "One Night Only," "My Immortal," "Gone Too Soon," "Defying Gravity," "Jolson Medley." CD available at Amazon UK. Released 8/12/13

Shaw Festival: Behind the Curtain
(PBS - new on DVD)
Follows every aspect of "getting the play from the page to the stage" in the 51-year-old annual Niagara-on-the-Lake theatre festival. Debuted on PBS July 19, 2013. 60 minutes.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
(Grove Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Christopher Durang play, 2013 Tony Award Best Play. 120 pages. Released 8/13/13.

August 27, 2013

Anton Chekhov - Uncle Vanya
(Kultur Video - on DVD)
1963 UK film (shown in the U.S. on television). Laurence Olivier production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya performed by the Chichester Festival Theatre. With Michael Redgrave as Vanya, Joan Plowright, Rosemary Harris, Max Adrian, Lewis Casson, Dame Sybil Thorndike. Directed by Stuart Burge. Constance Garnett translation. 106 minutes. Black & white.

Creating Musical Theatre: Conversations with Broadway Directors and Choreographers
(Bloomsbury Methuen Drama - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition/eBook)
By Lyn Cramer. Featuring Rob Ashford, Andy Blankenbuehler, Jeff Calhoun, Warren Carlyle, Christopher Gattelli, Kathleen Marshall, Jerry Mitchell, Casey Nicholaw, Randy Skinner, Susan Stroman, Sergio Trujillo, Anthony Van Laast. Foreword by Kelli O'Hara. 320 pages.

Diana Sheehan: Nobody's Hart
(Quiver & Bow Records - new CD-R)
"Manhattan," "Dancing On the Ceiling," "Why Can't I?," "This Can't Be Love/It's Got to Be Love/I Wish I Were in Love Again," "Where or When?," "Wait 'til You See Him/He Was Too Good to Me/Nobody's Heart," "Everything I've Got," "Small Hotel," "Maybe It's Me," "Mountain Greenery," "You're Nearer," "Where's That Rainbow?/Tree in the Park," "Thou Swell/I Could Write a Book," "With a Song in My Heart." Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Finding Wonderland: by Amanda Poulson
(new CD/mp3/iTunes)
Songs that "hat weave together stories of hoping, dreaming and believing in love." "Every Story Is a Love Story," "Once Upon a Time," "Storybook," "Taylor the Latte Boy," "Stars and the Moon," "Never Neverland (Fly Away)," "Over the Rainbow," "Beyond the Sea," "Meadowlark," "Finding Wonderland," "Nature Boy." Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Hands on a Hardbody OBC Recording
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Original cast recording of Trey Anastasio/Amanda Green score. Keith Carradine, Allison Case, Hunter Foster, Jay Armstrong Johnson, David Larsen, Jacob Ming-Trent, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Mary Gordon Murray, Jim Newman, Connie Ray, Jon Rua, Keala Settle, Dale Soules, Scott Wakefield and William Youmans. "Human Drama Kind of Thing," "If I Had This Truck," "If She Don't Sleep," "My Problem Right There," "Alone With Me," "Burn That Bridge," "I'm Gone," ""Uncontrollable Laughter"," "Joy of the Lord," "Stronger," "Hunt with the Big Dogs," "Hands on a Hardbody," "Born in Laredo," "Alone with Me" (Reprise), "It's a Fix," "Used to Be," "It's a Fix" (Reprise), "God Answered My Prayers," "Joy of the Lord" (Reprise), "Keep Your Hands On It"; Bonus Track cut song: "The Tryers."

Mario Lanza: The Toast of Hollywood
(Sony Masterworks/TCM - on 2 CDs/iTunes)
Disc One: "A Tenor at the Movies, covers the Hollywood years; and Disc Two: "A Tenor in Love," songs recorded for "The Mario Lanza Show" radio broadcasts in 1951 and 1952. 30 tracks in all, including the previously unreleased "Lolita," "Day in, Day Out," "'A vucchella," "I'll Never Love You," "I Love Thee."

Moose Murdered: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Broadway Bomb
(CreateSpace - Paperback Book)
By Arthur Bicknell. "A blow-by-blow, front-row-center account of the one night on Broadway and ongoing legacy of Moose Murders." Released 1/18/13.

Richard III; Martyr or Monster? The Shocking Truth behind Shakespeare's Bloody Tyrant
(Kultur Video - new on DVD)
Filmed in Great Britain. Written and presented by Bob Carruthers with interviews with leading historians and authorities on Shakespeare, specially filmed sequences from the play and historical reconstructions. 60 minutes.

Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale
(Kultur Video - on DVD)
1964 film. A soldier sells his beloved violin (which contains his soul) to the devil in exchange for riches. Sir Robert Helpmann plays the eight different roles of the Devil's disguises, with Royal Ballet ballerina Svetlana Beriosova and Brian Phelan. Music by Igor Stravinsky. Libretto by C.F. Ramuz. Directed by Michael Birkett. 49 minutes.

Tom Sawyer —A Ballet in Three Acts
(P.S. Classics - new on 2 CDs/mp3/iTunes)
Score by Maury Yeston. Premiere recording. Martin West conducts the seventy-piece San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
(Grove Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Christopher Durang play, 2013 Tony Award Best Play. 120 pages. Released 8/13/13.

August 20, 2013

Anything Goes: A History of American Musical Theatre
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Ethan Mordden takes an entirely fresh look at the musical ... emphasizing the writing of musicals and the performing of them. Includes detailed discographical essay. 400 page; 25 photographs.

There Goes the Bride
(VCI Entertainment - new on DVD)
1932 musical film. Jessie Matthews, Owen Nares. Directed by Albert de Courville.

August 13, 2013

50 Shades! The Musical
(eOne - iTunes)
Al Samuels, Amanda Blake Davis, Jody Shelton, Ashley Ward, Dan Wessels touring parody musical. Amber Petty, Chris Grace, Emily Eden, Jessica Kemock, Spencer Rose, Nick Semar, Matthew Nolan, Caroline Reade, Victor Show. CD in theaters and to be released 9/24/13.

Don't Worry 'bout Me & Broadway Bongos & Mr B
(Sepia Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Two LPs by Mr. "B" Billy Eckstine: Broadway showstoppers set to a Latin beat and standards. 26 tracks in total first time on CD and re-mastered in stereo. "From This Moment On," "I Could Write a Book," "If Ever I Would Leave You," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "Tonight," "Stranger in Paradise," "Get Out of Town," "Old Devil Moon," "On The Street Where You Live," "There's a Small Hotel," "Something I Dreamed Last Night," "Till There Was You," "What Kind of Fool Am I," "It Isn't Fair," "(Love Is) The Tender Trap," "Beauty of True Love," "The Exodus Song," "Guilty," "Don't Worry 'Bout Me," "Tender Is The Night," "Jeannie," "Stranger in Town," "I Want To Talk About You," "I Apologize," "My Foolish Heart."

Dramatic Critic: Selected Reviews (1922-1939) by Charles Morgan
(Oberon Books - Paperback Book/previously released Kindle Edition)
Roger Morgan, editor. Historical record of drama critic (England's The Times from 1922 to 1939), also a novelist and playwright.

Elaine Paige Digital Recordings
(new digital)
Available by download on iTunes in the U.K., mainland Europe and Australasia: Stages, Cinema, Love Hurts Christmas, Encore, Centre Stage and The King and I (2000 London cast). U.S. and Canadian releases to be announced.

Flashdance Blu-Ray
Paramount - new Blu-Ray + CD)
1983 film starring Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala, Sunny Johnson, Kyle Heffner. Directed by Adrian Lyne. Bonuses (same as 2007 DVD release): The History of Flashdance, The Look of Flashdance, Flashdance Music and Songs, Flashdance Choreography, Releasing the Flashdance Phenomenon, teaser and theatrical trailers, and exclusive 6-Track music CD.

A Little Night Music Soundtrack
(Masterworks Broadway/ArkivMusic - new on CD-R/digital)
1978 film soundtrack, first time on CD. Stephen Sondheim score. Newly remastered, transferred from the original stereo masters. Includes a previously unreleased instrumental cue, along with two other instrumental cues taken from the mono soundtrack of the film and the complete version of "Every Day a Little Death" from the mono soundtrack. Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Rigg, Lesley-Ann Down, Len Cariou and Hermione Gingold. "Overture" / "Night Waltz" (Love Takes Time), "The Glamorous Life," "Now" / "Soon" / "Later," "You Must Meet My Wife," "Every Day a Little Death," "Night Waltz 1:06," "A Weekend in the Country," "It Would Have Been Wonderful," "Send in the Clowns," "Poor Old Frederick" (previously unreleased), "Send in the Clowns" (Reprise)" / "Finale"; "Bonus Tracks: "Every Day a Little Death" (film version, previously unreleased), "Night Waltz" (film version, previously unreleased), "End Credits" (film version). Liner notes by Peter E. Jones. At MasterworksBroadway.com now; ArkivMusic and download September 10.

The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition
(Disney - new Blu-Ray + Digital Copy)
1979 musical film. Songs by Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher include "Rainbow Connection." 95 minutes.

Making Love in a Canoe
(new on CD/mp3)
Kyle Golemba & Adam White feature songs from Canadian musical theatre, including Anne of Green Gables, Variations on a Nervous Breakdown, and the music of Nancy White. "This Is Home," "Gee, I'm Glad I'm No One Else but Me," "All You Can Do Is Wait," "Mr. Wilson's Class," "Part of Me," "Who I Am," "Another Heart," "A Day With Julia," "1003," "River Mend My Heart," "Kyle's Satisfactory Trajectory." Clips, tracks and album available at CDBaby.

Old Folks At Home
(new on CD-R/mp3)
Original songs from Jill Detroit and Scott Phillips musical. Clips, tracks and album available at CDBaby.

Seven Come Eleven - A Gaming Gambol
(Masterworks Broadway/ArkivMusic - new on CD-R/download)
1961 Julius Monk Upstairs at the Downstairs revue. Philip Bruns, Ceil Cabot, Rex Robbins, Steve Roland, Donna Sanders, Mary Louise Wilson. "Seven Come Eleven" (William Roy), "This Is New York" (Jack Holmes), "The Jackie Look" (Lesley Davison), "Suddenly, Last Tuesday" (William FBrown), "I Found Him" (Jack Urbont), "School Daze" (Michael Brown), "Forbidden Tropics" (GWood), "Captain of the Pinafores" (Rod Warren), "Alma Whatsa Mater" (Lesley Davison), "Sick" (William Roy), "Don't You Feel Naked Not Drinking?" (Robert Elliott), "I Flew to Havana Last Wednesday" (Michael Brown), "Umbilicus Undulatus" (William Roy), "Christmas Long Ago" (Ralph Strain), "John Birch Society" (Michael Brown), "Seven Come Eleven" (William Roy). Previously available at MasterworksBroadway.com, now at ArkivMusic.

Shades of Blue: Harold Sanditen Live at the Pheasantry
(LML Music - new on CD)
Cabaret singer's second album, recorded live at the Pheasantry in London. Steve Bentley-Klein (violin, trumpet, flugelhorn); Bob Sydor (flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone); Michael Roulston (piano, background vocals); Dave Olney (double bass); Paul Merser (drums, percussion). "Shakin' The Blues Away," "Birth of the Blues," "Waters Of March," "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me," "No More Blues," "Way You Look Tonight," "I'm Hip," "I Saw the Light," "Landslide," "Moondance," "Love For Sale/Me and Mrs Jones," "He's Got a Way," "Night in Tunisia/You and the Night and the Music," "Bluebird," "Boy Named Sue," "Fly Me to the Moon," "Stately Homes of England," "Blues Skies."

August 6, 2013

Alfie Boe: Storyteller
(Decca - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
U.S. release of 2012 U.K. album by singer/stage performer (Les Miserables) - with a bonus track. "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore," "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You," "It's Over," "If I Can Dream," "Angie," "Shine A Light," "Everybody's Talking," "It's Now Or Never," "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "Angel From Montgomery," "Wayfaring Stranger," "Rank Strangers To Me." Bonus Track: "Angel." Produced by Mike Hedges.

Cavalcade
(20th Century Fox - new on Blu-Ray; 2 discs)
1933 Oscar-winning film based on Noël Coward play.

Future Wife: We're Gonna Die
(Virtual Label - new on CD/iTunes)
Debut album based on Young Jean Lee's live show (at at the Claire Tow Theater at Lincoln Center through August 17) featuring songs and personal stories. Joining in on the album are David Byrne, Laurie Anderson, Kathleen Hanna, Adam Horovitz (aka Ad-Rock), Drew Daniel and Martin Schmidt (Matmos), Sarah Neufeld (Arcade Fire) and Colin Stetson, some of whom also contributed music. Mike Hanf, Andrew Hoepfner, Nick Jenkins, Ben Kupstas and Young Jean Lee. "Uncle John" (Read By Adam Horovitz), "Emily & Jenny" (Read By Kathleen Hanna), "Lullaby For The Miserable," Family Reunion" (Read By Sarah Neufeld), "I Still Have You," Henry" (Read By Martin Schmidt), "No Comfort For The Lonely," White Hair" (Read By Drew Daniel), "When You Get Old," Father" (Read By David Byrne), "Beth" (Read By Laurie Anderson), "Horrible Things," Conclusion" (Read By Colin Stetson), "I'm Gonna Die." Produced by Shannon Fields.

Icon: Andrew Lloyd Webber
(Verve - new on CD)
"Superstar" (Murray Head With The Trinidad Singers), "As If We Never Said Goodbye" (Glenn Close), "Memory" (Betty Buckley), "Any Dream Will Do" (Donny Osmond), "All I Ask Of You" (Sarah Brightman & Steve Barton), "I Don't Know How To Love Him" (Yvonne Elliman), "Love Never Dies" (Sierra Boggess), "Buenos Aires" (Elena Roger), "Love Changes Everything" (Michael Ball), "Tell Me On A Sunday" (Marti Webb), "Starlight Express" (Ray Shell).

Music of the Night by Fred Mickey Finn
(new digital single)
Fred "Mickey" Finn (San Diego singer; host of 1966 NBC summer replacement variety series) and Cathey Reilly Finn (first woman inducted into the American Banjo Hall of Fame). Clip and track available at CD Baby. Also available: "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You."

Revolutionary: Jason Forbach
(new digital at iTunes/CD Baby)
New single by the touring Les Misérables Enjolras. The song was written by Forbach and writing partner Wesley King. Relates to his experience "on the barricades." Accompanied by a folk rendition of "Bring Him Home" and instrumental version of "Revolutionary." A portion of the proceeds from the song will benefit music education charity Ear Candy charity, which helps to provide musical instruments to struggling music programs in schools.

Smash: Season Two DVD
(Universal Studios - on 4 DVDs)
Megan Hilty, Katharine McPhee, Debra Messing, Christian Borle, Jack Davenport, Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Mientus. Guest stars include Jennifer Hudson, Liza Minnelli, Sean Hayes, Bernadette Peters. 17 episodes plus never-before-seen bonus content including deleted scenes and more.

Terri White: Upon Request
(new on CD)
"Home," "Music that Makes Me Dance," "Who Can I Turn To?," "I am Changing," "Here's That Rainy Day," "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," "Killing Me Softly," "Mustang Sally," "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "You Are So Beautiful/More Than You Know," "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Available at her official website. Digital release expected in early 2014.

July 30, 2013

The Designs of Tony Walton
(United States Institute for Theatre Technology - Paperback Book)
Delbert Unruh, David Rodger (Editor), Tony Walton. 128 pages, profusely illustrated. Published 3/20/12. Others in this series: The Designs of Ming Cho Lee, The Designs of Jules Fisher, The Designs of Tharon Musser.

Eydie Gorme: Blame It on the Bossa Nova
(Real Gone Music - on CD/mp3)
1963 album plus two bonus tracks recorded with Luis Bonfa. "One Note Samba," "Melodie D'Amour," "The Gift," "The Sweetest Sounds," "Dansero," "Blame It on the Bossa Nova," "Desafinado," "The Message," "Almost Like Being in Love," "Moon River," "The Coffee Song," "I Remember You," "Sweet Talk," "Oba Oba."

Bus Stop
(20th Century Fox - new Blu-Ray)
1956 film based on William Inge plays. Marilyn Monroe (sings : "That Old Black Magic" by Arlen and Mercer), Don Murray, Arthur O'Connell, Betty Field, Eileen Heckart, Robert Bray and Hope Lange. Directed by Joshua Logan. Previously available in box set.

Gay Drama Now
(Cambria Press - Hardcover Book)
Edited by John M. Clum. "Seven contemporary American plays (six of them by gay playwrights) that depict the lives of gay men in the years before gay liberation and in our own time," each presented with a critical introduction and some with statements by the playwright. 616 pages. Released March 2013.

Giant (Perennial Classics)
(HarperCollins - Kindle Edition/ at eBooks)
Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Edna Ferber, the basis for new Michael John LaChiusa/Sybille Pearson musical.

Hamlet - The Film starring Will Houston
(Kultur Video - new on DVD)
2003 UK film. William Houston, Christopher Timothy, Iain Cuthbertson and Gareth Thomas.

Love Me Tender
(20th Century Fox - new Blu-Ray)
1956 musical film set at the end of the Civil War. Richard Egan, Debra Paget, and Elvis Presley. Directed by Robert D. Webb. Music by Lionel Newman. Songs by Ken Darby. "Love Me Tender," "Let Me," "Poor Boy," "We're Gonna Move." Black & white. 90 minutes.

Niagara 60th Anniversary
(20th Century Fox - new Blu-Ray)
1953 film. Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, Casey Adams (Max Showalter), and Marilyn Monroe. Directed by Henry Hathaway. Music by Sol Kaplan. Previously available in box set.

Steve Lawrence Sings Of Love and Sad Young Men / Portrait Of Steve
(Real Gone Music - on CD)
1967 albums Sings of Love and Sad Young Men plus 1972s Portrait of Steve. "I'm a Fool to Want You," "Tender Is the Night," "Baby Won't You Please Come Home," "The Thrill Is Gone," "Good Times," "Just Say I Love Her," "The Gal That Got Away," "I Want to Be with You," "When Your Lover Has Gone," "With So Little to Be Sure Of," "The Ballad of the Sad Young Men," "Traces," "Who's Sorry Now," "Make It Easy on Yourself," "The Good Life," "In the Still of the Night," "More," "Oh My Love," "Easy Come, Easy Go," "The Rest of the World," "Our Love Is Here to Stay." Possibly relabeling of 2010 CD release.

Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme: Cozy/A Man and A Woman
(Real Gone Music - on CD)
Two duet albums. Cozy recorded with Don Costa for United Artists in 1961, and A Man and a Woman released by RCA in 1970.From the original tapes. "Cozy," "Wouldn't It Be Lovely," "Like in Love," "It's So Nice to Have a Man Around the House," "Would You Like to Take a Walk," "A Fine Romance," "I Like the Likes of You," "Without You I'm Nothing," "She Didn't Say Yes," "Blue Room," "Personality," "Two Sleepy People," "A Man and a Woman," "Wave," "Suddenly You," "Made for Love," "Love for Love," "Love Is Blue/Autumn Leaves," "Think Happy," "Watch What Happens," "Turn Down Day," "Bossa Nova Roma," "Boys & Girls."

When I Grow Up: Broadway's Next Generation - Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD/iTunes)
From one-night show featuring young Broadway talent (under the age of 17) from A Christmas Story, Mary Poppins, Bonnie & Clyde and Evita and others singing songs from other shows, like Avenue Q, Once On This Island, Next to Normal, [title of show], Company, Into The Woods. Rozi Baker, Grace Capeless, Zoe Considine, Kelsey Fowler, Matthew Gumley, Ethan Haberfield, Neil McCaffrey, Caleb McLaughlin, Isabela Moner, Emily Rosenfeld, Matthew Schechter.

July 23, 2013

Broadway's "Voiceless"
(new mp3 single/iTunes)
Ann Crumb and Olga Merediz perform new song by June Rachelson-Ospa and Daniel Neiden, to benefit the protection of animals. Produced by Charles Czarnecki and Daniel Neiden. Proceeds will be donated to Charles Henderson Animal Rescue and The Rescue Express.

I Dreamed A Dream: Hit Songs From Broadway
(new on CD)
Australian theatre performers Amanda Harrison, Trisha Crowe, Lucy Maunder, Jacqueline Dark, Andy Conaghan, Michael Falzon, David Parkin and Toni Lamond. "I Dreamed A Dream," "Stars," "The Music Of The Night," "All I Ask Of You," "Empty Chairs At Empty Tables," "Memory," "Some Enchanted Evening," "Send In The Clowns," "Over The Rainbow," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "My Favourite Things," "Edelweiss," "Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious," "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," "Bring Him Home," "On My Own," "Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'!," "Tonight." Available at Middle Eight Music.

Marina Prior - Encore
(new on CD)
Australian musical theatre performer sings "Meadowlark," "I'll Never Fall In Love Again," "When He Loved Me," "So In Love," Dream Medley: "Climb Every Mountain" / "Out Of My Dreams" / "I Have Dreamed," "Memory," "Tomorrow," "Edelweiss," "Before I Gaze At You Again," "I Dreamed A Dream," "The Winner Takes It All," "Music Of The Night." Available at Middle Eight Music.

On My Way: The Untold Story of Rouben Mamoulian, George Gershwin, and Porgy and Bess
(W.W. Norton - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/)
By Joseph Horowitz (NY Times music critic). About Rouben Mamoulian, original director of Porgy and Bess. Sources include newly released information from the Mamoulian Archives at the Library of Congress. Re-creates Mamoulian's unique directorial style, his collaboration with George Gershwin, and the opera that changed the face of American musical life. 10 illustrations. 256 pages.

Suave & the Boner
(new digital)
Liz Rubino and John Paul Boukis act as performed at the Duplex. New songs and new arrangements of music hall and vaudeville songs. Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Tyran Parke - Compositions: A Musical Closeup
(new on CD)
Trent Parke photos paired with original songs, sung by Ryan Parke, written by Broadway and Australian composers. "I Remember" (Scott Alan), "Kites And Children" (Georgia Stitt), "Effect Of A Sky" (John Bucchino), "Wonder Why?" (Matthew Robinson), "PDA" (Stephen Schwartz), "Colour My Life" (Anthon Costanzo) "The Sea" (Eddie Perfect), "Street Song" (Amanda McBroom and Michelle Brourman), "This Is My House" (Christopher Harley), "The Man You Are" (Robert Bertram), "End Of The Future" ( orne), "Simplicity" (David Shire), "The Long Road Ahead" (Jeff Marx), "Choose Happy" (Jeff Blumenkrantz). 48-page booklet. Available at Middle Eight Music.

July 16, 2013

Andy Hardy Film Collection: Volume Two (1937-1958)
(Warner Archive - 5 DVD-Rs)
Remaining films in the Mickey Rooney series. A Family Affair (1937), with Lionel Barrymore (later replaced by Lewis Stone; Judge Hardy's Children (1938), Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), with Judy Garland and Lana Turner; The Hardys Ride High (1939); Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939); The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942), with Donna Reed; Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942), with Esther Williams (film debut) and Susan Peters; Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944), with Bonita Granville; Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946), with Bonita Granville and Lina Romay; and Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958). Volume 1 was released in 2012.

Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Musical Mystery Off-Broadway cast
(Yellow Sound Label - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Sam Davis and Mark Waldrop score (for the musical with book by Charles Busch, based on the children's book series by Deborah & James Howe). Abe Goldfarb, Erin Maguire, Ashley Campana, John Garry, Prescott Seymour and Robert Anthony Jones. Produced by Michael Croiter. The award-winning musical played DR2 Theater in 2012.

Closer Than Ever
(Jay Records - new on CD/Closer Than Ever (Original 2012 Off Broadway Cast) - Various Artists)
2012 York Theatre cast. Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire score. Jenn Colella, George Dvorsky, Christiane Noll, Sal Viviano. Music direction by Andrew Gerle. "Doors," "She Loves Me Not," "You Wanna Be My Friend," "What Am I Doing?," "The Bear, The Tiger, The Hamster," "And the Mole," "I ll Get Up Tomorrow Morning," "Miss Byrd," "Dating Again," "One of the Good Guys," "There s Nothing Like It," "Life Story," "Next Time/I Wouldn t Go Back," "Three Friends," "Fandango," "There," "Transition 2," "Patterns," "There Is Something in a Wedding," "Another Wedding Song," "If I Sing," "Back On Base," "The March of Time," "Fathers of Fathers," "It s Never That Easy/I ve Been Here Before," "Closer Than Ever."

How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare
(Crown - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/ at eBooks
By Ken Ludwig. Introduction by John Lithgow.

Let Me Be Your Star
(Amazon Digital - Kindle Book)
By Rachel Shukert, writer, playwright and "Smash" blogger. "An inventive blend of memoir, cultural criticism, and wildly absurdist fan fiction (and including never-before-published material, suitable for sing-alongs!)" Eligible to borrow for free as an Amazon Prime member (free trial available now).

Lips Together, Teeth Apart Audio Book
(LA Theatre Works - new on CD)
Terrence McNally play performed by Kristen Johnston, Steven Weber, Missy Yager and Hugo Armstrong

Marlene Ver Planck: Ballads Mostly
(Audiophile - new on CD)
"I Wish I Knew," "Witchcraft," "My Dream Is Yours," "Love Dance," "I Only Have Eyes For You," "It Amazes Me," "Baby Dream Your Dream," "There Will Never Be Another You," "The Rules Of The Road," "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life," "I Walk A Little Faster," "Listen To The Piano Man," "Why Try To Change Me Now," "You Fascinate Me So," "Why Was I Thinking Of Springtime."

July 9, 2013

Edwin Booth: A Biography and Performance History
(McFarland and Co - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/ at eBooks)
By Arthur W. Bloom.

Journey's End: A Biography of a Classic War Play
(Oberon Books - Kindle Edition)
By Robert Gore-Langton. Paperback version to be released October 15.

The Handle and the Hold
(Amazon Digital Services - Kindle Single)
By David Mamet. Eligible for free borrowing for Amazon Prime members (free trial available now ).

Mamma Mia! The Movie - Blu-ray
(Universal Studios - new Blu-Ray)
2008 film version of stage musical. Music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski.

Pippin New Broadway Cast recording
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD)
Score from Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz musical. Recorded April 29. Matthew James Thomas, Patina Miller, Andrea Martin, Terrence Mann, Charlotte d'Amboise, Erik Altemus, Andrew Cekala, Rachel Bay Jones. New orchestrations by Larry Hochman. Charlie Alterman musical director. "Magic To Do," "Corner Of The Sky," "War Is A Science," "Glory," "Simple Joys," "No Time At All," "With You," "Spread A Little Sunshine," "Morning Glow," "Entr'acte," "On The Right Track," "Kind Of Woman," "Extraordinary," "Love Song," "I Guess I'll Miss The Man," "Finale," "Corner Of The Sky" (Sing-A-Long), "Simple Joys" (Sing-A-Long), "Kind Of Woman" (Sing-A-Long), "Extraordinary" (Sing-A-Long). To include previously unrecorded material. Album produced by Stephen Schwartz and Kurt Deutsch. Released digitally June 4.

July 2, 2013

Andrew Perry: Unexpressed
(new on CD/mp3)
Australian singer/actor (Dusty —The Original Pop Diva original cast). "If," "Kiss the Air," "Burn for You," "The Boat Song," "Unexpressed," "Smile / Tomorrow," "How Did You Know," "Sailing," "At This Moment," "King of the World." Clips, tracks and album available at CDBaby.

The Best American Short Plays: 2011--2012
(Applause Books - Hardcover/Paperback Book)
William W. Demastes, editor. Slated to include works by John Guare, Neil Labute, and A. R. Gurney, and others. 384 pages.

King Lear
(Kultur Video - on DVD)
1999 film starring Brian Blessed, with Hildegard Neil, Jason Riddington. Blessed co-directed, with Tony Rotherham.

The Last Smoker in America Original Cast
(Yellow Sound Label - new CD/mp3/iTunes)
Peter Melnick and Bill Russell score. John Bolton, Farah Alvin, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Jake Boyd.

Late Life Jazz: The Life and Career of Rosemary Clooney
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Ken Crossland and Malcom Macfarlane. The unsung story of the legendary singer/actress, from interviews with family members, managers, promoters, and the musicians who worked with her, as well as newspaper articles and reviews.

Music You Will Love Vol. 1 - Music to Drive By
(new on CD/mp3)
Arranged and performed by Stan West on piano. "All the Things You Are," "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," "You Were Meant for Me/Singing in the Rain," "My One and Only Love," "Where or When/East of the Sun," "Love Look Away," "Lovely Way to Spend an Evening/You're Sensational," "What a Wonderful World," "Use Your Imagination," "I'll Buy You a Star," "Moon River/When You Wish Upon a Star/Someday My Prince Will Come," "The Way You Look Tonight," "I Know Why and so Do You (Sun Valley Serenade)," "Night and Day," "Over the Rainbow," "Till There Was You," "New York, New York/One/It Had to Be You." Clips, tracks and album at CDBaby.

Noël Coward's Brief Encounter Adapted for the stage by Emma Rice (Modern Plays)
(Bloomsbury Methuen Drama - Paperback Book)
Emma Rice (Artistic Director of Kneehigh Theatre Company) adaptation. Presented on Broadway in 2010. 60 pages.

The Nunsense Collection
(Standing Room Only - 4 DVDs)
Nunsense, Nunsense 2: The Sequel, Nunsense 3: The Jamboree, NuncrackersRue McClanahan, Vicki Lawrence, John Ritter. Also available separately: Nunsense & Nunsense 2: The Sequel starring Rue McClanahan, Nunsense 3: The Jamboree with Vicki Lawrence

Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson OBC Recording
(Shout Factory - new on CD)
Recorded February 1. Cast includes Carolee Carmello, Candy Buckley, Edward Watts, Roz Ryan, Andrew Samonsky, Nick Cartell, Joseph Dellger, Erica Dorfler, Carlos L. Encinias, Hannah Florence, Corey Greenan, Benjamin Howes, Karen Hyland, Elizabeth Ward Land, Alison Luff, Jess Nager, Sam Strasfeld, Betsy Struxness, Billie Wildrick, Dan'yelle Williamson, Matt Wolfe and George Hearn. 22 tracks listed at iTunes

Passion New Off Broadway cast
(PS Classics - iTunes)
2013 Classic Stage Company cast recording of Stephen Sondheim score. Melissa Errico, Judy Kuhn, Ryan Silverman, Stephen Bogardus, Jeffry Denman. Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Produced by Tommy Krasker.

The Producers (Collector's Edition)
(Shout! Factory - new Blu-Ray/DVD)
1968 Mel Brooks film featuring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder.

June 18, 2013

Annie Revival Cast recording
(Shout Factory! - new on CD)
Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin score. Recorded March 3, 4 at the historic Kaufman Astoria Studios. Katie Finneran, Anthony Warlow, Lilla Crawford, Brynn O'Malley, Clarke Thorell, J. Elaine Marcos (plus Jane Lynch on bonus tracks). "Overture," "Maybe," "It's the Hard Knock Life," "It's the Hard Knock Life (reprise)," "Tomorrow," "We'd Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover," "Little Girls," "Little Girls (reprise)," "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here," "N.Y.C.," "Easy Street," "You Won't Be an Orphan For Long / Act One Finale," "Entr'acte / Maybe (reprise)," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," "Easy Street (reprise)," "Tomorrow (reprise)," "Something Was Missing," "Annie / We Got Annie," "I Don't Need Anything But You," "Maybe (reprise)," "A New Deal for Christmas," "Bows." Bonus tracks with Jane Lynch: "Little Girls," "Little Girls (reprise)," "Easy Street." mp3 and iTunes were released May 28.

The Folks Who Live on the Hill with Bill Charlap and Sherie Rene Scott
(Ghostlight Records - new digital singles CD/iTunes)
"The Folks Who Live On The Hill" and "Nothing Is Too Wonderful To Be True" in digital format.

Jack Be Nimble: The Accidental Education of an Unintentional Director
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Jack O'Brien. "tell-all and history of American regional theater." 368 pages.

The Jerome Kern Encyclopedia
(Scarecrow Press - Hardcover Book)
By Thomas S. Hischak. All of Kerns stage and screen projects (from 1904 to 1946) are covered, and there are entries on all the major librettists and lyricists with whom he worked, as well as producers, directors, actors, and other individuals who figured prominently in his career. Approximately 100 of his most important songs are discussed, his awards, collaborations, working methods, song styles, and other related subjects are addressed. Also includes a brief biography, chronology of his life and work, and appendices on recordings, interpolations, revivals, and remakes. 272 pages.

One Touch of Venus Blu-ray
(Olive Films - new Blu-Ray/DVD)
1948 musical comedy film featuring Ava Gardner, Robert Walker, Dick Haymes, Olga San Juan, Tom Conway. Music by Ann Ronell and Kurt Weill. Lyrics by Ogden Nash. Directed by William A. Seiter. Black & white. 82 minutes.

Patty Duke: Don't Just Stand There/ Patty
(Real Gone Music - new on CD)
1965 and 1966 albums by Patty Duke plus bonus track. "Don't Just Stand There," "Why Don't They Understand," "Downtown," "Danke Schoen," "Everything But Love," "A World Without Love," "Say Something Funny," "Too Young," "What The World Needs Now Is Love," "Save Your Heart For Me," "Ribbons & Roses," "The End Of The World," "Funny Little Butterflies," "Lonely Little In Between," "The World Is Watching Us," "Yesterday," "All Through The Day," "Whenever She Holds You," "Little Things Mean A Lot," "One Kiss Away," "I Love How You Love Me," "Sure Gonna Miss Him," "All I Have To Do Is Dream," "Nothing But You." Liner notes with photos and quotes.

Patty Duke: Sings Songs from Valley of the Dolls/ Sings Folk Songs
(Real Gone Music - new on CD)
1967 album plus never released 1968 album of folk songs. Remastered from original tapes. Liner notes include photos and quotes from Duke. "It's Impossible," "Come Live With Me," "Give A Little More," "I'll Plant My Own Tree," "Theme From Valley Of The Dolls," "My Own Little Place," "Half-Hearted Kisses," "Roses Are Red," "A Million Things To Do," "Forever Yours," "Learn To Live With Your Heartbreak," "I Want Your Love," "Colors," "The Cruel War," "The Best Is Yet To Come," "And We Were Strangers," "Puff The Magic Dragon," "The Bells Of Rhymney," "Time To Move On," "Donna, Donna," "Shine For Me," "The Housewife's Lament," "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye," "Blowin' In The Wind."

TCM Greatest: Legends - Gene Kelly
(Turner Classic Movie - 4 DVD set)
Anchors Aweigh (1945), On The Town (1949), An American In Paris (1951) and Brigadoon (1954).

June 11, 2013

The Applause Acting Series: Scenes and Monologues from the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award
(Applause Books - Paperback Book)
By Bruce Burgun. 320 page.

Harry Connick, Jr.: Every Man Should Know
(Columbia - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Harry Connick, Jr. sings twelve songs he wrote and arranged.

The Magic Flute
(Revolver Entertainment - new on DVD)
Mozart opera in a 2006 film directed by Kenneth Branagh with a newly adapted libretto by Stephen Fry. Joseph Kaiser, Amy Carson, Rene Pape, Lyubov Petrova, Benjamin Jay Davis.

Steubenville Rape Case: A Musical of Madness
(new CD/mp3)
Written by David Watkins, a Steubenville resident: "Some of it is based in fact, some of it based in rumor, and none of it intended to offend. It's a compilation of what I felt as the shock, sadness, and bemusement overtook our little town." Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

La Voix De La Mer
(new CD-R/mp3)
French pop musical by teacher/musician Yvette d'Entremont, a singer-songwriter from Nova Scotia, Canada. 13-year-old Emily Adams as "The Voice," Corey Wilson as Simon, Jessica LeBlanc as Louise and a 30-member cast of students and staff. 19 original songs. Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby. MP3 also available at Amazon.

June 4, 2013

10: Original Soundtrack
(Real Gone Music - new on CD)
Henry Mancini score, with some vocals by Julie Andrews and Dudley Moore. "Don't Call It Love" (Instrumental), "He Pleases Me" (vocals Julie Andrews), "Keyboard Harmony," "It's Easy to Say" (with chorus), "Something for Jenny," "Don't Call It Love" (with chorus), "Get It On" (with chorus), "It's Easy to Say" (vocals Julie Andrews and Dudley Moore), "The Hot Sand Mexican Band," "I Have an Ear for Love" (vocals Max Showalter), "It's Easy to Say" (Instrumental, piano solo Dudley Moore), "Ravel's Bolero,"

Anne Ellithorpe: In Buddy's Eyes
(Late Bloomer Records - new mp3 single/iTunes)
Cabaret singer performs the song from Follies, arrangement by Rick Jensen. Single available at CD Baby.

Arts & Numbers: A Financial Guide for Artists, Writers, Performers, and Other Members of the Creative Class
(Agate - Paperback Book)
By Elaine Grogan Luttrull . Covers budgeting, cash management, visual charting, taxes, employment, and business etiquette - in helping creative professionals plan their present financial situations and secure their futures. 200 pages.

At Long Last Love
(Twilight Time - new on Blu-Ray)
1975 flop musical film. Cole Porter songs sung live by Cybil Shepard, Burt Reynolds, Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennan, and others. Director's "preferred cut." 128 minutes. Includes isolated score track and the theatrical trailer. 1.66:1 widescreen.

Cinderella OBC
(Ghostlight - new on 2 CDs)
2013 Original Broadway cast recording. Cast includes Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Peter Bartlett, Ann Harada, Greg Hildreth, Marla Mindelle, Phumzile Sojola, Harriet Harris and Victoria Clark. Act One: "Overture," "Prologue," "Me,Who Am I?," "In My Own Little Corner," "The Prince Is Giving a Ball"/"Now Is The Time," "In My Own Little Corner" (Reprise), "Impossible," "Transformations," "It's Possible," "Ten Minutes Ago," "Cinderella Waltz," "Ten Minutes Ago" (Reprise); Act Two: "Stepsister's Lament," "The Pursuit," "He Was Tall," "When You're Driving Through the Moonlight," "A Lovely Night," "A Lovely Night" (Reprise), "Loneliness of Evening," "Announcing The Banquet," "There's Music in You," "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?," "The Shoe Fits," "The Proposal," The Wedding: "There's Music In You," Exit music: "Cinderella March." Recorded March 18-19. Produced by David Lai, David Caddick, David Chase, Bruce Pomahac with Executive producer Kurt Deutsch. Released digitally May 7.

Clownaround Original Cast
(new on CD-R/digital)
Moose Charlap/Alvin Cooperman score. First time on CD; first time available in over 40 years. Ruth Buzzi. Release date for ArkivMusic and at digital outlets. Waiting for digital links.

Dogfight Original Cast
(Ghostlight - new on CD)
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul score. Annaleigh Ashford, Becca Ayers, Nick Blaemire, Steven Booth, Dierdre Friel, Adam Halpin, F. Michael Haynie, Derek Klena, Lindsay Mendez, James Moye and Josh Segarra. Produced by Kurt Deutsch and Lawrence Manchester. Premiered at Second Stage in July 2012. "Prelude: Take Me Back," "Some Kinda Time," "Hey, Good-Lookin'," "Come to a Party," "Nothing Short of Wonderful," "Come to a Party (Reprise)," "That Face," "Dogfight," "Pretty Funny," "Hometown Hero's Ticker Tape Parade," "First Date/Last Night," "Before It's Over," "Give Way," "Some Kinda Time (Reprise)," "Come Back," "Finale: Take Me Back." Released digitally May 30.

Elephant Steps: A Fearful Radio Show
(new on CD-R/iTunes)
Score by Stanley Silverman and Richard Foreman. Rose Taylor, Albertine Robinson, June Magruder, Jane Gunter. Conductor, Michael Tilson Thomas. In stereo. "Elephant Drone; Elephants," "Elephant Heartbeats," "Don't You Believe?; My Ears," "All Shook Up," "Read My Palms; My Hands Are Inside the Wall; Gavotte," "Read My Palm; Watch Me Move; I'm No Closer; Look At My Hands," "Stop Seeing Reinhardt," "Entr'Acte; Watch Me Put My Right Foot," "I Am No Longer Beautiful; Beautiful As Is," "We Sit in the Window," "Gypsy Tango; Shoot Them," "You're on the Radio; Radio Waves," "Dreaming of Reinhardt," "Midnight Sun," "Photograph Song," "Madrigals," "Vaudeville Chase; Stirring Soup; A Strange Thing," "Finale." CD-R available at ArkivMusic.

Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County Studio Album
(Hear Music - single CD/iTunes)
"Southern gothic supernatural musical" score by Stephen King-John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett. Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Rosanne Cash, Neko Case, Kris Kristofferson, Dave & Phil Alvin, Taj Mahal, Ryan Bingham, Matthew McConaughey, Samantha Mathis and Meg Ryan. Songs, digital excerpts and digital libretto. (Hear Music is a joint venture between Concord Music Group and Starbucks.)

Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County Studio Album Deluxe Edition
(Hear Music - new on 2 CDs + DVD)
Album for "southern gothic supernatural musical" by Stephen King-John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett. Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Rosanne Cash, Neko Case, Kris Kristofferson, Dave & Phil Alvin, Taj Mahal, Ryan Bingham, Matthew McConaughey, Samantha Mathis and Meg Ryan. Complete "soundtrack" with and without dialog, deluxe art work, handwritten lyrics, specially printed libretto and the "Making of Ghost Brothers" mini-documentary DVD featuring in-depth interviews with King, Mellencamp and Burnett along with other bonus material. Also expected: digital editions for tablets, smartphones and e-readers which will allow users to interact with the complete "soundtrack" and digital libretto, as well as exclusive video and graphic materials. (Hear Music is a joint venture between Concord Music Group and Starbucks.)

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County
(Concord Music Group - Hardcover Book/2 CDs/DVD)
Musical by Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett. Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, Ryan Bingham and Kris Kristofferson, along with actors Matthew McConaughey, Samantha Mathis, and Meg Ryan. 11x11 book with leather-tine flexible cover, housed in a hardcover slipcase, plus two CDs and a DVD. Includes the full script of the play plus handwritten lyrics and other notes from the production. CDs include music and dialog excerpts. DVD features interview footage with Stephen, John and T Bone plus footage of John recording the show-closing song "Truth."

Giant Cast Recording
(Ghostlight Records - new on 2 CDs)
Michael John LaChiusa score. Cast from Public Theater production. Kate Baldwin, Brian d'Arcy James, Michelle Pawk, P.J. Griffith, MacKenzie Mauzy, Bobby Steggert, Jon Fletcher, Raul Aranas, Mary Bacon, Miguel Cervantes, Natalie Cortez, Rocio Del Mar Valles, John Dossett, Michael Halling, Doreen Montalvo, Allison Rogers, Martin Sola, Matthew Stocke, Katie Thompson, William Youmans, Enrique Acevedo, Isabel Santiago. "Aurelia Dolores," "Did Spring Come to Texas?," "Your Texas," "No Time for Surprises," "Private Property," "Outside Your Window," "He Wanted a Girl," "Heartbreak Country," "Ruega por Nosotros," "Look Back/Look Ahead," "Topsy Turvy," "When to Bluff," "One Day," "My Texas," "A Stranger," "Act One Finale." 17-member orchestra. Released digitally 5/21/13.

Judy Kuhn: All This Happiness
(PS Classics - new on CD/iTunes)
The Tony-nominated actress sings songs by songwriters who have had a profound influence on her: Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Stephen Sondheim and Cole Porter, among others. Based on recent concerts. Drawn from Kuhn's 2012 Feinstein's at Loews Regency show. Music director Dan Lipton on piano, Damien Bassman playing African and South American percussion, and Peter Sachon on acoustic and electric cello. "Help Me," "I Love the Way You're Breaking My Heart," "Happiness/In Buddy's Eyes," "Temptation," "Something Cool," "The Best Is yet to Come," "Losing You," "Dance Me to the End of Love," "Forbidden Fruit," "Goodbye Joe," "Life Is but a Dream," "Night Ride Home." Music Director/pianist Dan Lipton, cellist Peter Sachon, percussionist Damien Bassman. Produced by Scott Lehrer and Lipton. Also available at PS Classics.

Laura Osnes: If I Tell You (Songs of Maury Yeston)
(PS Classics - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
From November 2012 54 Below show. Music director and pianist Fred Lassen. Eric Davis on guitar, Peter Donovan on bass, Harry Hassell on winds, Peter Sachon on cello. "If I Tell You," "Shimmy Like They Do in Paree/I Want to Go to Hollywood," "Danglin'," "New Words," "December Snow," "Where Are You Now?," "Please Let's Not Even Say Hello," "When Your Love Is New," "Bookseller in the Rain," "My Grandmother's Love Letters," "I Am Longing," "I Had a Dream About You," "By the River," "What a Relief," "Only With You," "I Still Hear the Music," "Bon Soir." Produced by Tommy Krasker. Also available at PSClassics.com.

Matthew Morrison: Where It All Began
(222 Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Broadway classics. Produced by Phil Ramone. "Singin' In The Rain," "Come Rain or Come Shine/Basin Street Blues ," "Ease on Down the Road," "Younger Than Springtime," "It Don't Mean a Thing," "The Lady Is a Tramp," "As Long as She Needs Me," "On the Street Where You Live," "Hey There," "Luck Be a Lady," "Send in the Clowns," "West Side Story Medley."

Murder at the School Musical - An Adriana Hofstetter Mystery
(Author House - Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle Book)
By Bruce Kimmel. Also available at Kritzerland.com.

Motown: The Musical OBC
(UMe - new on CD/iTunes)
Original Broadway cast recording. Cast includes Brandon Victor Dixon, Valisia LeKae, Charl Brown, Bryan Terrell Clark, Raymond Luke Jr. "Battle Of The Stars" Medley, "Hey Joe (Black Like Me)," "Get Ready / Dancing In The Street," "The Motortown Revue: Please Mr Postman / You've Really Got A Hold On Me / Do You Love Me," "Where Did Our Love Go / Stop! In The Name Of Love," "My Girl," "You're All I Need To Get By," "War / What's Going On," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "I Want You Back / ABC / The Love," "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)," "Happy Birthday / Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," "Can I Close The Door (On Love)," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Booklet includes essays by Barry Gordy and director Charles Randolph-Wright.

Newsies: Music from the Broadway Musical (Easy Piano)
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
Score by Jack Feldman and Alan Menken. Easy piano arrangements of 13 tunes from the acclaimed Broadway musical, based on the Disney movie: The Bottom Line," "Brooklyn's Here," "Carrying the Banner," "I Never Planned on You/Don't Come A-Knocking," "King of New York," "Once and for All," "Prologue (Santa Fe)," "Santa Fe," "Seize the Day," "Something to Believe In," "That's Rich," "Watch What Happens," "The World Will Know." 104 pages.

The Odd Couple Blu-Ray
(Paramount - new Blu-ray)
1968 film version of Neil Simon play. Walter Matthau, Jack Lemon, John Fiedler, Herb Edelman, Monica Evans, Carole Shelley.

Pippin New Broadway Cast recording Digital
(Ghostlight Records - new mp3/iTunes)
Score from Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz musical. Recorded April 29. Matthew James Thomas, Patina Miller, Andrea Martin, Terrence Mann, Charlotte d'Amboise, Erik Altemus, Andrew Cekala, Rachel Bay Jones. "Magic To Do," "Corner Of The Sky," "War Is A Science," "Glory," "Simple Joys," "No Time At All," "With You," "Spread A Little Sunshine," "Morning Glow," "Entr'acte," "On The Right Track," "Kind Of Woman," "Extraordinary," "Love Song," "I Guess I'll Miss The Man," "Finale," "Corner Of The Sky" (Sing-A-Long), "Simple Joys" (Sing-A-Long), "Kind Of Woman" (Sing-A-Long), "Extraordinary" (Sing-A-Long). New orchestrations by Larry Hochman. Charlie Alterman musical director. Includes previously unrecorded material. Album produced by Stephen Schwartz and Kurt Deutsch. CD to be released July 9.

Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson OBC Recording Digital
(Shout Factory - new at iTunes)
Recorded February 1. Cast includes Carolee Carmello, Candy Buckley, Edward Watts, Roz Ryan, Andrew Samonsky, Nick Cartell, Joseph Dellger, Erica Dorfler, Carlos L. Encinias, Hannah Florence, Corey Greenan, Benjamin Howes, Karen Hyland, Elizabeth Ward Land, Alison Luff, Jess Nager, Sam Strasfeld, Betsy Struxness, Billie Wildrick, Dan'yelle Williamson, Matt Wolfe and George Hearn. "Stand Up!," "Minnie's Prayer," "Why Can't I?," "He Will Be My Home," "Come Whatever May," "He Will Be My Home (Reprise), "That Sweet Lassie from Cork," "Come Whatever May (Reprise), "How Could You?," "You Have a Fire," "Follow Me (Part One), "A Girls Gotta Do What a Girl's Gotta Do," "Follow Me (Part Two), "For Such a Time as This," "Hollywood Aimee," "Adam and Eve," "Samson and Delilah," "Moses and Pharaoh," "It's Just You," "Lost or Found?," "What Does It Profit?," "I Have a Fire" CD format to be released June 15.

Sistas: The Musical
(Image Entertainment - new on DVD)
Musical filmed live. Jennifer Fouche, Tracey Conyer Lee, April Nixon, Amy Goldberger, Lexi Rhaodes

Souvenirs: by Bill Daugherty
(new on CD/mp3)
New York singers's new album, which includes duets with Rebecca Luker, Connie Pachl, Ben Seidman and the late Margaret Whiting. Aren't You Glad You're You?," "Somewhere in the Night," "Impossible," "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," "The Summer Knows," "Whistling Away the Dark," "Friendly Star," "Danny Boy," "Lonely Town," "Tenement Symphony," "Lily's Eyes," "It's Never That Easy/I've Been Here Before," "Let's Take an Old Fashioned Walk/Let's Take a Walk Around the Block," "Broadway Duets Medley," "Now That We're Sure It's Over," "Fifty Percent," "The Lies of Handsome Men," "Where Do I Go from Here?," "I Wish I Didn't Love You So." Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

May 28, 2013

After the Revolution and 4,000 Miles: Two Plays by Amy Herzog
(TCG - Paperback Book)
Amy Herzog plays After the Revolution (Williamstown Theatre Festival, Playwrights Horizons; John Gassner Award nomination, Lilly Award) and 4,000 Miles (Lincoln Center Theater's LCT3, upcoming at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center).

The Applause Acting Series: One on One: Playing with a Purpose - Monologues for Kids 7-14
(Applause Books - Paperback Book)
By Stephen Fife. 256 pages.

Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962
(Sony Legacy - on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Tony Bennett and Dave Brubeck. The complete performance, released for the first time. White House Seminar American Jazz Concert, held on August 28, 1962, thrown by John F. Kennedy for White House interns. At the Sylvan Theater. "Introduction," "Take Five," "Band Introduction," "Nomad," "Thank You (Dziekuje)," "Castilian Blues," "Introduction," "Just In Time," "Small World," "Make Someone Happy," "Rags To Riches," "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)," "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," "Lullaby Of Broadway," "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)," "That Old Black Magic," "There Will Never Be Another You."

Annie Revival Cast recording Digital
(Shout Factory! - new mp3/iTunes)
Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin score. Recorded March 3, 4 at the historic Kaufman Astoria Studios. Katie Finneran, Anthony Warlow, Lilla Crawford, Brynn O'Malley, Clarke Thorell, J. Elaine Marcos (plus Jane Lynch on bonus tracks). "Overture," "Maybe," "It's the Hard Knock Life," "It's the Hard Knock Life (reprise)," "Tomorrow," "We'd Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover," "Little Girls," "Little Girls (reprise)," "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here," "N.Y.C.," "Easy Street," "You Won't Be an Orphan For Long / Act One Finale," "Entr'acte / Maybe (reprise)," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," "Easy Street (reprise)," "Tomorrow (reprise)," "Something Was Missing," "Annie / We Got Annie," "I Don't Need Anything But You," "Maybe (reprise)," "A New Deal for Christmas," "Bows." Bonus tracks with Jane Lynch: "Little Girls," "Little Girls (reprise)," "Easy Street." CD version to be released June 18.

Jeanette MacDonald in Performance: Princess of Opera & Operetta-—The Voice of Firestone
(Kultur - new on DVD)
Voice of Firestone telecast of November 13, 1950 with Jeanette MacDonald (her television debut). 30 minutes.

Kinky Boots OBC
(Masterworks Broadway - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
OBC recording of 2013 show with Cyndi Lauper score. Billy Porter, Stark Sands, Annaleigh Ashford, Celina Carvajal, Marcus Neville, Daniel Stewart Sherman. "Price & Son Theme / The Most Beautiful Thing in the World," "Take What You Got," "The Land of Lola," "Charlie's Soliloquy," "Step One," "Sex Is In The Heel," "The History of Wrong Guys," "I'm Not My Father's Son," "Everybody Say Yeah," "What A Woman Wants," "In This Corner," "Charlie's Soliloquy Reprise," "The Soul of a Man," "Hold Me in Your Heart," "Raise You Up / Just Be."

Mark Nadler: I'm a Stranger Here Myself
(new on CD/mp3)
York Theatre production of Mark Nadler's Off-Broadway show featuring music by composers of the Weimar Republic and music inspired by those songwriters. "I May Never Go Home Anymore / Come a-Wandering With Me," "Oh, How We Wish That We Were Kids Again," "Bilbao Song," "La Bohème," "Je Ne T'aime Pas/I'm a Stranger Here Myself," "Schickelgruber," "J'attends Un Navire," "Oh, Just Suppose," "The Lavender Song," "Eine Kleine Sehnsucht," "Ich Weib Nicht Zu Wem Ich Gehöre/By Myself," "My Ship." Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Mary Wickes: I Know I've Seen That Face Before
(Univ of Mississippi Press - Hardcover Book)
By Steve Taravella. Broadway and Hollywood star. Through "interviews with almost three hundred people, and by private correspondence from Ball, Davis, Day, and others ... includes scores of never-before-shared anecdotes about Hollywood and Broadway." 432 pages.

Murder Ballad
(Yellow Sound - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
World premiere cast recording. Julia Jordan score. Played Manhattan Theatre Club in 2012 and opens May 2013 at Union Square Theatre. Original cast members John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Karen Olivo and Will Swenson. Produced by Michael Croiter. 39 tracks (listed at Amazon).

Natürlich Blond - Gesamtaufnahme Live
(Hitsquad Records - new on 2 CDs)
Legally Blonde. MP3 to be released June 7.

Strippers, Showgirls, and Sharks: A Very Opinionated History of the Broadway Musicals That Did Not Win the Tony Award
(St. Martin's Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Peter Filichia "chronicles the history of the American musical by looking at those shows that did not win the Tony Award for Best Musical." 288 pages.

Teach Yourself Accents - The British Isles: A Handbook for Young Actors and Speakers
(Limelight Editions - Paperback Book & CD)
By Robert Blumenfeld. Easy-to-use manual of clear, cogent advice and information. Contemporary monologues and scenes for two are included, plus a CD with extensive practice exercises. 112 pages.

Theatre World 68: 2011-2012
(Applause Books - Hardcover Book)
Ben Hodges, Scott Denny editors. Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and regional theater seasons complete with cast listings, replacements, producers, directors, authors, composers, opening and closing dates, song titles, plot synopses, plus obituaries, longest-running listings, awards, and photos.

This Time: Lindsay Mendez and Marco Paguia Digital
(new mp3/iTunes)
Lindsay Mendez (Dogfight) vocals, Marco Paguia (Peter and the Starcatcher) on piano. Reimagined pop songs accompanied by a jazz piano trio. Pete Donovan on bass, Tommy crane on drums. "Them Changes," "Us," "No One," "Washing of the Water," "Fast As You Can," "Money," "Eleanor Rigby," "Lilac Wine," "A Case of You," "Freedom of the Road," "Sittin' in the Middle." CD version sold at the Gershwin Theatre.

May 21, 2013

Audra McDonald: Go Back Home
(Nonesuch - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
"Go Back Home," "The Glamorous Life," "Baltimore," "First You Dream," "Tavern," "Migratory V," "Virtue," "Married Love," "I'll Be Here," "Some Days," "Edelweiss," "Make Someone Happy." Produced by Doug Petty. Musical direction by Andy Einhorn, also conductor. Recorded in February 2013. Also, a limited edition autograph print currently pre-ordering at Nonesuch.

Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar
(Bloomsbury Methuen Drama - Paperback Book)
Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize winning play. 112 pages.

Giant Cast Recording
(Ghostlight Records - new mp3/iTunes)
Michael John LaChiusa score. Cast from Public Theater production. Kate Baldwin, Brian d'Arcy James, Michelle Pawk, P.J. Griffith, MacKenzie Mauzy, Bobby Steggert, Jon Fletcher, Raul Aranas, Mary Bacon, Miguel Cervantes, Natalie Cortez, Rocio Del Mar Valles, John Dossett, Michael Halling, Doreen Montalvo, Allison Rogers, Martin Sola, Matthew Stocke, Katie Thompson, William Youmans, Enrique Acevedo, Isabel Santiago. "Aurelia Dolores," "Did Spring Come to Texas?," "Your Texas," "No Time for Surprises," "Private Property," "Outside Your Window," "He Wanted a Girl," "Heartbreak Country," "Ruega por Nosotros," "Look Back/Look Ahead," "Topsy Turvy," "When to Bluff," "One Day," "My Texas," "A Stranger," "Act One Finale." 17-member orchestra. 2-CD album to be released 6/4/13.

Judy Garland: Creations 1929-1962 - Songs She Introduced: Vol 1 and Vol 2
(JSP Records - mp3 Vol 1/iTunes and mp3 Vol 2/iTunes)
Remastered set of Judy Garland compilation albums. Mp3 albums in two volumes, 66 tracks total. Remastered recordings of songs Garland was the first to perform. 4-CD box set available from the U.K. at Amazon UK.

Kerrigan-Lowdermilk Live
(Yellow Sound Label - iTunes)
"Hand in Hand" (Lindsay Mendez), "The Bad Years" (Jesse Ruben), "The Fathers Ran Away" (Rebecca Naomi Jones), "I'm Sorry" (Nadia Quinn), "I Look Around for You" (Morgan Karr), "Run Away With Me" (Carrie Manolakos), "Berkeley" (the Spring Standards), "My Party Dress" (Jenni Barber), "I Drove You Home" (Alysha Umphress), "Sadie" (Matt Doyle), "The Proposal" (Sara Chase), "Shut up and Listen" (Andy Mientus), "In Between" (Carrie Manolakos & Nathan Tysen), "The Girl Who Drove Away" (Laura Osnes), "How to Return Home" (Mandy Gonzalez), "Vegas" (Steven Booth & Andy Mientus), "Avalanche" (Katrina Rose Dideriksen), "Intro to Holding On," "Holding On" (Dee Roscioli).

Mel Brooks: Make A Noise (American Masters)
(Shout! Factory - new on DVD)
Recent PBS airing. Features never-before-heard stories and new interviews with Brooks, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Cloris Leachman, Carl Reiner, Joan Rivers, Tracey Ullman and others. Career-spanning documentary. 90 minutes.

May 14, 2013

Beating Broadway: How to Create Stories for Musicals That Get Standing Ovations
(CreateSpace - Paperback Book)
By Steve Cuden (Jekyll & Hyde). Complete, two-part manual detailing the ins and outs of storytelling required for today's commercial musical theater.

Bing Crosby: In The Hall
(Sepia Records - new on CD/mp3)
Thirty songs, digitally remastered, originally broadcast "live" 1937 - 1946 on NBC radio show "The Kraft Music Hall." Full versions of songs Crosby never recorded commercially. "Josephine," "Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon," "One Song," "The Umbrella Man," "Penny Serenade," "I Get Along Without You Very Well," "Honolulu ," "You're the Only Star In My Blue Heaven," "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now ," "Scatter-Brain," "Looking at The World Through Rose-Coloured Glasses," "(Back Home Again In) Indiana," "I Thought About You," "Ma! (She's Making Eyes at Me)," "Angel in Disguise," "Let's Be Buddies," "Because of You," "Everything Happens to Me," "I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time," "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," "Hit the Road to Dreamland," "I've Got Sixpence," "How Sweet You Are," "The Surrey With The Fringe on Top," "Saturday Night (Is The Loneliest Night In The Week)," "Magic Is The Moonlight," "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time," "It Might as Well Be Spring," "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief," "G'bye Now."

Chekhov's Three Sisters and Woolf's Orlando: Two Renderings for the Stage
(TCG - Paperback Book)
Sarah Ruhl translations of Three Sisters and Orlando.

David Friedman: Let Me Fly
(Midder Music - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
"Let Me Fly," "Listen to My Heart," "Live It Up," "My Simple Wish," "Open Your Eyes to Love," "The Gifts of Trouble," "There Is Life," "The Truth About Christmas," "Trick of Fate," "Trust the Wind," "We Can Be Kind," "We Live on Borrowed Time," "What I Was Dreamin' Of," "You're Already There," "You're There," "Your Love."

It's Magic the Songs of Sammy Cahn
(Concord Records - new on CD/mp3/It's Magic - The Songs of Sammy Cahn - Steve Tyrell)
Steve Tyrell. "Come Fly With Me," "It's Magic," "The Tender Trap," "All The Way," "Teach Me Tonight," "The Second Time Around," "It's Crazy," "Call Me Irresponsible," "Ain't That A Kick In The Head," "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry," "Saturday Night (Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week)," "I Fall In Love Too Easily."

Marvin Gaye: Hello Broadway
(Uni/Motown - mp3/iTunes)
1964 album in digital form. "Hello Broadway," "People," "The Party's Over," "On The Street Where You LIve," "What Kind Of Fool Am I," "My Kind Of Town," "The Days Of Wine And Roses," "This Is The Life," "My Way," "Hello Dolly," "Walk On The Wild Side."

Shelly Markham: Things I've Learned Along the Way
(LML Music - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Debut solo recording from composer/conductor/arranger Shelly Markham. Lyricists include Judith Viorst, Lee Adams, Tom Toce, and Barry Kleinbort. Original songs plus "The Way We Were" with a second bridge seldom recorded. Markham vocals/piano with guest vocalists Karen Mason and Andrea Marcovicci; Geoff Stradling on piano; Jered Egan and Tim Emmons on bass; Jack Cavari and Kenton Youngstrom on guitar; Rex Benincasa and M.B. Gordy on percussion. "The Sweetest of Nights and the Finest of Days," "Things I Learned Along The Way," "Come Looking For Me," "You Make Me Laugh," "Late In Life," "Amour," "The Way We Were," "Where Would I Be," "Wish On The Moon," "It's About Time," "If We Stopped Trying," "Hanukkah."

This Fling Called Love: Eileen Farrell with Percy Faith & His Orchestra
(Sepia - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
On CD for the first time. Album of standards. Also included: nine bonus track from the album Together With Love with Farrell accompanied by Andre Previn on the piano. "Hello, Young Lovers ," "My Romance," "In the Still of the Night," "Stormy Weather," "Out of This World," "I Never Has Seen Snow," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Where or When," "The April Age," "The Party's Over," "The Faraway Part of Town," "Can't Help Lovin' That Man," "But Not for Me," "Spring Is Here," "Everywhere I Look," "By Myself," "Just For Now," "Where I Wonder ," "The Morning After," "Be My All," "Love Is Here To Stay."

May 7, 2013

13 More by Shanley
(Opus Books - Paperback Book)
New collection of plays by John Patrick Shanley: Doubt, Four Dogs and a Bone, Defiance, Storefront Church, Where's My Money?, Sailor's Song, Tennessee, Last Night in The Garden I Saw You, plus five one-act plays. 354 pages.

Barrymore [Blu-ray]
(Image Entertainment - new Blu-Ray/DVD)
2011 film adapted from 2011 Elgin Theatre, Toronto, production. Christopher Plummer as John Barrymore, John Plumpis. Based on William Luce play.

Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy
(Acorn Media - new on DVD)
2013 PBS Great Performances show. Examines the phenomenon that "the songs of the Broadway musical were created almost exclusively by Jewish Americans." Narrated by Joel Grey. Interviews with Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Andrew Lippa, Stephen Schwartz, Phyllis Newman, Charles Strouse, Harold Prince, Maury Yeston, Mary Rodgers Guettel, Ernie Harburg, Marc Shaiman, David Shire, Stephen Sondheim, Mel Brooks, Stephen Schwartz and many others. Footage includes performances by David Hyde Pierce, Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara, Zero Mostel, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Nathan Lane, Al Jolson, Fanny Brice, Barbra Streisand, Joel Grey, Dick Van Dyke, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. Unclear whether or not this will include the bonus disc that PBS is including: additional interview clips and performances (3 hours); 16-page viewer's guide featuring reflections on Jewish Broadway, with an introduction by Executive Producer Barbara Brilliant; and a biography of narrator Joel Grey.

Cinderella OBC
(Ghostlight - new mp3/iTunes)
2013 Original Broadway cast recording. Cast includes Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Peter Bartlett, Ann Harada, Greg Hildreth, Marla Mindelle, Phumzile Sojola, Harriet Harris and Victoria Clark. Act One: "Overture," "Prologue," "Me,Who Am I?," "In My Own Little Corner," "The Prince Is Giving a Ball"/"Now Is The Time," "In My Own Little Corner" (Reprise), "Impossible," "Transformations," "It's Possible," "Ten Minutes Ago," "Cinderella Waltz," "Ten Minutes Ago" (Reprise); Act Two: "Stepsister's Lament," "The Pursuit," "He Was Tall," "When You're Driving Through the Moonlight," "A Lovely Night," "A Lovely Night" (Reprise), "Loneliness of Evening," "Announcing The Banquet," "There's Music in You," "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?," "The Shoe Fits," "The Proposal," The Wedding: "There's Music In You," Exit music: "Cinderella March." Recorded March 18-19. Produced by David Lai, David Caddick, David Chase, Bruce Pomahac with Executive producer Kurt Deutsch. CD release June 4. CD pre-ordering at Amazon and at Ghostlight for May shipment.

Elephant Steps: A Fearful Radio Show
(new on CD/digital)
Score by Stanley Silverman and Richard Foreman. Rose Taylor, Albertine Robinson, June Magruder, Jane Gunter. Conductor, Michael Tilson Thomas. In stereo. Available exclusively on MasterworksBroadway.com, then on demand at ArkivMusic and iTunes beginning June 4.

A Fine Romance Complete Collection
(Acorn Media - DVD set)
19802 British comedy starring real-life couple Dame Judi Dench and Michael Williams. Production notes from writer Bob Larbey.

I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers
(Oberon Books - Paperback/Kindle)
New play by Josh Logan about talent agent Sue Mengers.. Currently on Broadway starring Bette Midler.

Jesus Christ Superstar
(Universal Studios - new Blu-Ray)
1973 film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical. Directed by Norman Jewison. Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen, Bob Bingham.

Nunsense: 30th Anniversary Cast
(new on CD/mp3)
New official cast recording. Dan Goggin. Mary Stout, Bambi Jones, Jeanne Tinker, Christine Mild and Stephanie Wahl. Conductor Leo P. Carusone with orchestrations by Michael Rice and David Nyberg. Recorded at Kaliedoscope Sound in Union City, New Jersey Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Show Boat
(Varese Sarabande - new on CD)
Reissue of 1959 studio recording of featuring Shirley Bassey, Dora Bryan, Isabelle Lucas, Don McKay, Inia Te Wiata, Marlys Watters, Geoffrey Webb, The Williams Singers. Michael Collins and his Orchestra. Overture," "Make Believe," "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Life Upon the Wicked Stage," "You are Love," "I Might Fall Back on You," "Why Do I Love You," "I Still Suits Me," "Bill," "Finale."

April 30, 2013

Alan Cumming: Head That Wears a Crown: Speeches for Royal Men
(GPR Records - new on CD)
Album of Shakespeare's speeches from As You Like It, Coriolanus, Hamlet, Henry V, Henry VIII, King Lear, Macbeth, Richard II, The Tempest, Titus Andronicus and Twelfth Night performed by Alan Cumming. Released digitally April 2.

Alex Ko: From Iowa to Broadway, My Billy Elliot Story
(Harper Collins - Hardcover/Kindle Book)
By Alex Ko. Includes black-and-white photos from both Billy Elliot productions.

Cinderella Northwest Children's Theater and School
(new digital album)
Book, Music & Lyrics by Ezra Weiss. Performed by Northwest Children's Theater and School (NWCT). Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Dogfight Original Cast
(Ghostlight - new mp3/iTunes)
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul score. Annaleigh Ashford, Becca Ayers, Nick Blaemire, Steven Booth, Dierdre Friel, Adam Halpin, F. Michael Haynie, Derek Klena, Lindsay Mendez, James Moye and Josh Segarra. Produced by Kurt Deutsch and Lawrence Manchester. Premiered at Second Stage in July 2012. "Prelude: Take Me Back," "Some Kinda Time," "Hey, Good-Lookin'," "Come to a Party," "Nothing Short of Wonderful," "Come to a Party (Reprise)," "That Face," "Dogfight," "Pretty Funny," "Hometown Hero's Ticker Tape Parade," "First Date/Last Night," "Before It's Over," "Give Way," "Some Kinda Time (Reprise)," "Come Back," "Finale: Take Me Back." CD version to be released May 21. Also pre-ordering at Ghostlight.

Funny Girl Blu-Ray
(Sony - new Blu-Ray)
1968 musical film version of Styne/Merrill/Lennart musical. Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, Kay Medford, Anne Francis, Walter Pidgeon, Mae Questel. Directed by William Wyler. Bonuses include Barbra in Movieland and This is Streisand featurettes.

Here For You - Ballads for Broadway Impact
(new on CD/iTunes)
Album of Jonathan Reid Gealt songs. Proceeds from the album benefit Broadway Impact, the organization of theatre artists and fans mobilized in support of marriage equality. "My Baby" (Jason Gotay), "Movin' On" (Loren Allred), "Home Away From Home" (Adrienne Warren), "All I Need" (Caissie Levy), "Here For You" (Jeremy Jordan and Jonathan Reid Gealt), "We'll Find It In You" (Natalie Weiss), "I Had a Dream Last Night" (Rachel Potter), "No Reason At All" (Katie Thompson), "Breathe" (Kelli O'Hara); Bonus Instrumental Tracks: "My Baby," "Movin' On," "Home Away From Home," "All I Need," "Here For You," "We'll Find It In You," "I Had a Dream Last Night," "No Reason At All." Produced by Gealt, James Bilodeau, Matt Hinkley and Brian Parker. Available at CD Baby and Amazon on CD and mp3 and iTunes.

Strictly Ballroom
(Miramax Lionsgate - new Blu-Ray)
1992 Australian film directdd by Baz Luhrmann. Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Gia Carides, Sonia Kruger.

The Tao and the Bard: A Conversation
(Arcade Publishing - Hardcover Book)
By Edgar Award-winning playwright Philip DePoy. A conversation between Lao Tzu and William Shakespeare, who "take part in a free exchange of views."

Ultimate Doubles: Judy Garland and Fred Astaire
(Aao Music - new on CD)
Details to come.

April 23, 2013

Fancy Nancy: The Musical (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording)
(Ghostlight - new on CD)
Musical based on Jane O'Connor/Robin Preiss Glasser books. Book & Lyrics by Susan DiLallo; Music & Lyrics by Danny Abosch. Alyson Bloom as Nancy, with Darilyn Castillo, Jes Dugger, Kyle Motsinger, Amanda Savan. Released digitally on 3/12/13.

I Could Use a Drink: The Songs of Drew Gasparini
(Broadway Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Mix of 18 semi-autobiographical numbers and progressive contemporary music theater songs by Drew Gasparini ("Smash," Above My Pay Grade, Inappropriate Stories Told At a Bar and Crazy, and Just Like Me). Performed by Gasparini, Kacie Sheik (Hair), Eric Michael Krop (Godspell), Jennifer Damiano (Next To Normal), Justin Guarini (American Idiot), F. Michael Haynie (Wicked), Rachel Potter (Evita), Nick Blaemire (Godspell), Lindsay Mendez (Dogfight), Ben Crawford (Shrek), Blake Daniel (Spring Awakening), Alex Wyse (Lysistrata Jones), Gabe Violett (Spring Awakening), Alex Brightman (Wicked), Andrew Kober (Hair), Tim Ehrlich (Off-Broadway's Rent), Caissie Levy (Ghost), Jordan (Newsies), Mykal Kilgore (The Book of Mormon), Kasie Gasparini, Chloe Gasparini and Kele Gasparini. Produced by Charlie Rosen and co-funded on Kickstarter.

Julie Andrews: One Step Into Spring
(Legend Group Media - new on DVD)
1978 musical variety television special. Musical "salute to Spring." First time on DVD. Host Julie Andrews with Leslie Uggams, Leo Sayer and Jim Henson's Muppets. 60 minutes.

Michael Bublé: To Be Loved
(Reprise - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
"You Make Me Feel So Young," "It's A Beautiful Day," "To Love Somebody," "Who's Lovin You," "Something Stupid" (featuring Reese Witherspoon), "Come Dance With Me," "Close Your Eyes," "After All" (featuring Bryan Adams), "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" (with Naturally 7), "To Be Loved," "You've Got A Friend In Me," "Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)" (featuring The Puppini Sisters), "I Got It Easy," "Young At Heart."

More Like Myself: Blake Whyte
(new mp3)
Singer/actor (Wicked, Mamma Mia!) debut album. "You Don't Know Me... Sorry Bout It," "Win or Lose," "Why," "Love," "Summer Love Soul," "More Like Myself," "Letting You Go," "Common Ground," "What I Want," "Daddy's Son," "I'll Be Back," "Sadie's Song," "In the Ring," "Whirled." Released 4/7/13.

April 16, 2013

Bravo Giovanni OBC
(Masterworks Broadway - new mp3/iTunes)
1962 OBC recording of Milton Schafer/Ronny Graham score. Musical based on the Howard Shaw novel "The Crime of Giovanni Venturi." Cesare Siepi, Michelle Lee, George S. Irving, Lainie Kazan (Broadway debut). Bonus track: Michelle Lee singing "Steady, Steady" from her 1966 solo album A Taste of the Fantastic.

How Green Was My Valley
(Kritzerland Records - new on CD)
Alfred Newman soundtrack for 1941 film, which was the basis for the musical A Time for Singing (also a Kritzerland release). Available at Kritzerland.com.

Jane Monheit: The Heart of the Matter
(Emarcy/Decca Records - new on CD/iTunes)
"Until It's Time for You to Go," "Dependes De Nós," "Little Man You've Had a Busy Day," "Two Lonely People," "A Gente Merece Ser Feliz ," "Golden Slumbers/ Long and Winding Road," "When She Loved Me," "Born to Be Blue," "Close," "Night Night Stars," "I Get Along Without You Very Well," "Sing."

Joe Iconis Rock and Roll Jamboree
(Ghostlight Records - new mp3/iTunes)
Performed by songwriter Joe Iconis and his "merry band of musical theatre misfits." Featured artists include Katrina Rose Dideriksen, Molly Hager, Matt Hinkley, Ian Kagey, Eric William Morris, Krysta Rodriguez, Lance Rubin, Jason SweetTooth Williams and the Kissin' Kazoo Sisters. "The Guide To Success," "Headshot," "Rosalie," "The Vagabond," "Lonely Woman," "Honey," "Lisa," "Anymore," "If You Like It," "Everybody's At The Bar (Without Me)," "Hatchet Job," "Broadway, Here I Come!," "The Goodbye Song," "The Bar Song," "Penny Dreadfuls." Produced by Brent Stranathan with additional production by Ian Kagey.

Lady in the Dark 1963 Studio Cast
(Masterworks Broadway - new mp3/iTunes)
Risë Stevens, John Reardon, Adolph Green, Kendall Nesbitt and Charley Johnson. Musical direction by Lehman Engel. Bonus selections conducted by Maurice Abravanel, music director for the original Broadway production, include Danny Kaye's version of "Tschaikowsky and Other Russians." "Oh, Fabulous One," "Huxley," "One Life to Live," "Girl of the Moment," "Liza, Liza," "Mapleton High Chorale," "This is New," "The Princess of Pure Delight," "The Greatest Show on Earth," "The Best Years of His Life," "Tschaikowsky," "The Saga of Jenny," "My Ship," "One Life to Live," "The Princess of Pure Delight," "It's Never Too Late to Mendelssohn," "Tschaikowsky and Other Russians," "Jenny," "My Ship."

Mamma Mia! The Movie: Exploring a Cultural Phenomenon
(I. B. Taurus - Paperback Book)
Edited by Louise FitzGerald and Melanie Williams. Explores the diverse responses to the film, and issues such as the film's representation of female friendship, maternal and paternal identities, and the older female protagonist, as well as its status as 'jukebox' musical, queer text and product of female authorship.

Merrily We Roll Along: Vocal Score, Revised Edition
(Rilting Music, Inc. - Paperback Book)
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. 304 pages.

Total Faith: Live From the Royal Room at the Colony
(Broadway Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Faith Prince. "Opening Medley," "Take Me Back To The Eighties," "Band Intros / Shy," "Duck Story," "Ev'rything I've Got," "Little Shop Story," "Medley: Somewhere That's Green / Suddenly Seymour," "Tattooed Boy In Memphis," "Crossword Puzzle," "Henry Story / No While I'm Around," "If He Walked Into My Life," "Lydia, The Tattooed Lady," "The Ladies Who Lunch," "Coney Island," "But The World Goes 'Round," "Medley: Take Me Back To Manhattan / Before The Parade Passes By," "Bless Your Heart."

Michael Feinstein: Change of Heart: Songs of Andre Previn
(Xenon - new on CD/mp3/)
Michael Feinstein album of selections from André Previn. Lyricists include Dory Langdon, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Alan Jay Lerner, and Johnny Mercer. Includes selections: cut from Valley of the Dolls, written for unproduced Goodbye, Mr. Chips musical, from The Good Companions musical. "(You've Had a) Change of Heart," "The Easy Way," "Empty Is My Room," "Yes," "Give a Little More," "It's Good to Have You Near Again," "Just for Now," "Little Lost Dream," "Medley: A Second Chance / Why Are We Afraid?," "Quiet Music," "You're Gonna Hear From Me," "Goodbye."

Rufus, Cole & Steve: Love Songs Gay and Sad
(new on CD/mp3)
Baritone Lance Callahan. "Foolish Love," "Down in the Depths (On the 90th Floor)," "Losing My Mind," "The Art Teacher (featJohn Walz)," "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Johanna," "Vibrate," "Night and Day," "Take Me to the World," "The Tower of Learning," "What Is This Thing Called Love?," "Being Alive," "Dinner At Eight," "Every Time We Say Goodbye," "Send in the Clowns," "Sad With What I Have," "From This Moment On," "Anyone Can Whistle." Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Sarah Brightman: Dreamchaser
(Alternative Distribution Alliance - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
New solo recording. "Angel," "One Day Like This," "Glósóli," "Lento E Largo," "B612," "Breathe Me," "Ave Maria," "Éperdu," "A Song of India," "Venus and Mars." Producers Mike Hedges and Sally Herbert. Also available: Amazon Exclusive Deluxe Edition with bonus DVD including music videos and photos.

Shakespeare: The King's Man
(Acorn Media - new on DVD)
BBC series with host James Shapiro.

The Stage Manager's Toolkit: Templates and Communication Techniques to Guide Your Theatre Production from First Meeting to Final Performance
(Focal Press - Paperback Book)
By Laurie Kincman. How to be a stage manager, including day-to-day details: objectives, paperwork, and the questions to ask in order to ensure a smooth production. 240 pages.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star: Lullaby Versions of Broadway V.1
(Roma Music Group - new mp3/iTunes)
Instrumental versions of songs from Broadway musicals to "Soothe your baby, do yoga or just chill." "Popular," "Defying Gravity," "For Good," "The Circle of Life," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," "Hakuna Matata," "Mamma Mia!," "I Have a Dream," "Take a Chance on Me," "Seasons of Love."

Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star: Lullaby Versions of Broadway V.2
(Roma Music Group - new mp3/iTunes)
Instrumental versions of songs from Broadway musicals to "Soothe your baby, do yoga or just chill." "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "I Dreamed a Dream," "Master of the House," "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Music of the Night," "All I Ask of You," "Home," "Be Our Guest," "Beauty and the Beast," "Memory."

April 9, 2013

70s and Sunny: Andrea McArdle Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD/iTunes)
Recorded live at New York nightclub 54 Below. Produced by Aaron Ankrum Executive Produced by Van Dean and Kenny Howard, of The Broadway Consortium, and Ken Mahoney.

Alan Cumming: Head That Wears a Crown: Speeches for Royal Men
(GPR Records - mp3/iTunes)
Album of Shakespeare's speeches from As You Like It, Coriolanus, Hamlet, Henry V, Henry VIII, King Lear, Macbeth, Richard II, The Tempest, Titus Andronicus and Twelfth Night performed by Alan Cumming. CD version expected April 30.

Gay's the Word 2012 London Studio Cast
(JAY Records - new on CD/mp3 )
Ivor Novello/Alan Melville score. Sophie-Louise Dann, Helena Blackman, Josh Little, Doreen Hermitage, Eileen Page, Jonny Purchase, Myra Sands, Elizabeth Seal. "Ruritania," "Everything Reminds Me of You," "Guards on Parade," "It's Bound To Be Right on the Night," "Father Thames," "Finder, Please Return," "An Englishman In Love," "If Only He'd Looked My Way," "Vitality!," "Teaching," "Vitality! Reprise," "Sweet Thames," "Gaiety Glad," "If Only He'd Looked My Way Reprise," "A Matter of Minutes," "A Matter of Minutes Reprise," "On Such a Night as This," "Bees Are Buzzin'," "Bees Are Buzzin' Reprise," "Finale." Previously released iTunes.

The House of Redgrave: The Lives of a Theatrical Dynasty
(Aurum Press - Hardcover Book)
By Tim Adler. "From the landmark films of Tony Richardson to the untimely death of Natasha Richardson —this is the saga of one of the greatest dynasties in British film and theatre." U.S. release.

In the Heights: Complete Book and Lyrics
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
Lin-Manuel Miranda / Quiara Alegria Hudes Broadway musical. 160 pages.

Linda Purl: Midnight Caravan: Celebrating the Great Ladies of the Glamorous Nightclub Era
(LML Music - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
From Purl's concert show, saluting the women singing stars of the 1940s and '50s. Sultry ballads to hot Latin jazz arrangements of Broadway tunes, the show features classic standards like "My Romance," "Shall We Dance" and "Caravan," and conjures a nighttime world where the surroundings are posh, the drinks keep flowing, and nobody goes to bed before three.

Molly Ringwald: Except ... Sometimes
(Concord Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Jazz album. Clayton Cameron on drums, Allen Mezquida on alto saxophone, Peter Smith on piano and Trevor Ware on bass. "Sooner Or Later," "I Get Along Without You Very Well," "I Believe In You," "I'll Take Romance," "The Very Thought Of You," "Exactly Like You," "Where Is Love," "Pick Yourself Up," "Ballad Of The Sad Young Men," "Don't You (Forget About Me)."

Rodgers & Hammerstein at the Movies: The John Wilson Orchestra
(EMI - new on CD)
Wilson Orchestra performs Rodgers & Hammerstein film songs, with film-version arrangements. "Oklahoma! Main Title / Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'!," "People Will Say We're In Love," "Carousel Waltz," "If I Loved You," "June is Bustin' Out All Over," "You'll Never Walk Alone," "Soliloquy," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," "Bali Ha'i," "Twin Soliloquies / Some Enchanted Evening," "The King and I Overture," "The Sound Of Music - Main Title / Rex Admirabilis," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "I Have Confidence." U.S. release. Was released in the UK in October 2012.

A Time for Singing
(Kritzerland Records - new on CD)
First ever CD release of original Broadway cast recording of John Morris/Gerald Freedman score for the musical based on Richard Llewellyn novel "How Green Was My Valley." Shani Wallis, Laurence Naismith, Tessie O'Shea, and Ivor Emmanuel. Remastered from original masters. Limited edition of 1500 copies. Available at Kritzerland.com. They are also releasing Alfred Newman How Green Was My Valley film soundtrack.

April 2, 2013

David Hare (Writers and their Work)
(Northcote House Publishers - Hardcover/Paperback Book)
Jeremy Ridgeman's study of David Hare's work for theatre, film and television.

The Diary Of Anne Frank: Original Soundtrack
(Real Gone Music - new on CD)
Alfred Newman 1959 soundtrack. First time on CD. Original album artwork and new liner notes.

Eydie Gorme: Amor/ More Amor
(Real Gone Music - new on CD)
Gorme's 1960s Spanish-language albums. "Piel Canela," "Y," "Nosotros," "Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado," "Di Que No Es Verdad," "Historia De Un Amor," "Sabor A Mi," "Amor," "Noche De Ronda," "Caminito," "Media Vuelta," "La Ultima Noche," "Vereda Tropical," "Cuatro Vidas," "No Te Vayas Sin Mi," "Mas Amor," "Desperademente," "Guitarra Romana," "Oracion Caribe," "Flores Negras," "Mala Noche," "Fuego Bajo Tu Piel," "Luna Lunera," "Nochecita."

Hello, Dolly!
(Fox - new Blu-Ray)
1969 film featuring Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford, Danny Lockin, Tommy Tune, Fritz Feld, Marianne McAndrew, E.J. Peaker, Louis Armstrong. Directed by Gene Kelly. New transfer and 5.1 soundtrack. Extras will include mini-documentary Directing Dolly: Remembering Gene Kelly, and a 1969 "behind the scenes" featurette.

Judy Garland: Creations 1929-1962 - Songs She Introduced
(JSP Records - on 4 CDs)
Remastered set of Judy Garland compilation albums. 92 songs and over five hours of music. To include rare Garland photos and remastered recordings of songs Garland was the first to perform, including "Over The Rainbow," "Good Morning," "Paris Is a Lonely Town," "It's A Great Day For The Irish," "Be A Clown," "Sweet Danger," "The Man That Got Away" and more. Disc titles: "It's Love I'm After" 1929-1940; "When I Look At You 1941-1943; "Better Luck Next Time 1943-1948; D: It's A New World 1948-1962. Compiled, annotated & discography by Lawrence Schulman. With essays by Christopher Finch, Will Friedwald and John Meyer. Available at Amazon UK.

Margaret Whiting: Maggie Isn't Margaret Anymore/ Pop Country
(Real Gone Music - new on CD)
1967-1968 album twofer. Remastered from original stereo master tapes, plus three bonus tracks. Maggie Isn't Margaret Anymore: "Only Love Can Break A Heart," "There's A Kind Of Hush," "My Cup Runneth Over," "Just Like a Man," "By Now," "I Remember You," "This Is My Song," "Somethin' Stupid," "Here to Stay," "Because," "If This Is Goodbye"; Pop Country: "I Hate to See Me Go," "Release Me," "I Love You So Much It Hurts," "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "I Almost Called Your Name," "You Don't Know Me," "Gentle on My Mind," "It Keeps Right on a Hurtin'," "Am I Losing You"; Bonus Tracks, all previously unreleased: "I'm Losing My Mind," "Boys Fall in Love," "The Heart of a Sailor."

Margaret Whiting: The Wheel Of Hurt (Deluxe Edition)
(Real Gone Music - new on CD/mp3)
Twofer of Whiting's first London album, from 1966, plus 13 rare single sides, all first time on CD. Remastered from the original stereo master tapes. "The Wheel of Hurt," "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me," "The World Inside Your Arms," "Winchester Cathedral," "Somewhere There's Love," "Where Do I Stand," "It Hurts To Say Goodbye," "Time After Time," "Show Me A Man," "You Won't Be Sorry, Baby," "Nothing Lasts Forever," "But Why," "Let's Pretend," "Faithfully," "Can't Get You Out Of My Mind," "Maybe Just One More," "Where Was I," "Love's The Only Answer," "At The Edge Of The Ocean," "Love Has A Way," "("Z" Theme) Life Goes On," "Until It's Time For You To Go," "I'll Tell Him Today," "The Wheel of Hurt" (German version), "Nothing Lasts Forever" (German Version). Included are notes by Will Friedwald and photos from the Whiting family private archive.

Petula Clark: Lost In You
(The End Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
U.S. release. "Cut Copy Me," "Lost In You," "Crazy," "Never Enough," "Downtown (New Version)," "Next To You," "Reflections," "He loves And She Loves," "Every Word You Say," "Imagine," "Love Me Tender," "I Won't Care." Released in the U.K. 2/25/13.

The Singing Accountant Vol.2 - Beyond the Sea
(Silva Screen Records - new mp3/iTunes)
Keith Ferreira. "The Love Boat," "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," "The Impossible Dream," "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat," "The Bare Necessities," "Maybe Tomorrow," "Avenues and Alleyways," "Born Free," "From Russia with Love," "Beyond the Sea."

Steve Lawrence: Winners!/On A Clear Day
(Real Gone Music - new on CD)
1963 "On a Clear Day" Columbia album (Don Costa, Al Cohn and Torrie Zito) paired with 1970 "Winners" RCA album of songs from Broadway's greatest musicals (arrangements by Marion Evans). "Cotton Fields," "Misty," "Around the World," "Who's Sorry Now," "It's Not for Me to Say," "Kansas City," "Go Away Little Girl," "All the Way," "Moon River," "Teach Me Tonight," "Lollipops and Roses," "Volare," "On a Clear Day," "Who Can I Turn To," "You'd Better Love Me," "Try to Remember," "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?," "Mama, a Rainbow," "She Loves Me," "If I Ruled the World," "What Kind of Fool Am I," "On a Wonderful Day Like Today," "People."

Tales of the City: Tales of the City, Book 1
(Harper Collins - new Audible Audio Audiobook)
Armistead Maupin series, read by Alan Cumming, Frances McDormand and Cynthia Nixon. 7 hours, 39 minutes.

Unsinkable: A Memoir
(Harper Collins - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Debbie Reynolds and Dorian Hannaway. "The definitive memoir by film legend and Hollywood icon Debbie Reynolds." Illustrated with previously unpublished photos from Reynolds's personal collection. Paperback version to be released November 5.

March 26, 2013

Doctor Faustus (Shakespeare's Globe Theatre)
(Kultur Video - new on 2 DVDs)
Featuring Paul Hilton as Faustus and Arthur Darvill as Mephistopheles.

Greasepaint and Cordite: How ENSA Entertained the Troops During World War II
(Aurum Press - Hardcover Book)
By Andy Merriman. Story of the Entertainment National Services Association, or ENSA, in World War II. Singers, dancers, musicians and comedians sent to entertain the British troops, including Noel Coward, Gracie Fields, Tommy Cooper, Frankie Howerd, George Formby, Laurence Olivier, Vera Lynn, Dame Beryl Grey. The author has talked with surviving members.

How to Act Like a Kid: Backstage Secrets of a Young Performer
(Disney Editions - Paperback Book)
By Henry Hodges ( Beauty and the Beast, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins) and Margaret Engel. Gives young readers advice on open calls, auditions, rehearsals, dance and voice classes, child wranglers, studio teachers, how to do homework in green rooms - and how to live a normal life while devoting your time to performing on stage and screen. Ages 12 and up. 256 pages.

Jazz on Broadway: Jazz Guitar Tribute to Broadway
(Green Hill Productions - new on CD/mp3)
Grammy-nominated Jack Jezzro with the Beegie Adair Trio. "Hello Dolly!," "On The Street Where You Live," "Some Enchanted Evening," "Anything Goes," "They Say It's Wonderful," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "Summertime," "If Ever I Would Leave You," "I Got Rhythm," "If I Loved You," "Hello, Young Lovers," "Somewhere."

Mark Sanders: This Moment
(new on CD)
Musical theatre singer/actor. "Come Rain or Come Shine," "All the Things You Are," "Slow Boat to China," "Grateful," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "Hello Again," "This Is the Moment," "The Way You Look Tonight," "Before You (featJanet Dunn)," "My Funny Valentine," "The Life of the Party," "Where or When," "Imagination Medley," "Take Me to the World," "So Close," "Bring Him Home."

Les Misérables
(Universal - Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet/DVD)
2012 musical film. Score by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Samantha Barks, Aaron Tveit. Directed by Tom Hooper. Extras: The Stars of Les Miserables; Creating the Perfect Paris; The Original Masterwork mini-documentary; commentary with Director Tom Hooper. Extras exclusive to Blu-ray: Les Miserables Singing Live; Battle at the Barricade; The West End Connection with Cameron Mackintosh and theatrical stars; Les Miserables on . Released 3/22/13.

The Rose of Stambul
(Naxos Opera/Chicago Folks Operetta - new on 2 CDs/mp3/iTunes)
Operetta by Leo Fall. First ever recording of the show in English. Kimberly McCord, Alison Kelly, Erich Buchholz, Gerald Frantzen, Robert Morrissey. Conducted by John Frantzen.

Shakespeare Uncovered Complete Set
(PBS - new on 2 DVDs)
Six episodes of the PBS series. Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Irons, Derek Jacobi, Trevor Nunn, Joely Richardson and David Tennant tell the story behind the stories of Shakespeare's greatest plays. 360 minutes.

Somewhere in the Audience
(AIS - import CD/mp3/iTunes)
Songs from four of Eric Woolfson's musicals: Gaudi, Gambler, POE and Dancing Shadows. Brighton Festival Chorus, Pia Douwes, Oliver Tompsett, Jon Lee, Louise Dearman, Tim Howar, Ben Forster, Sharon D. Clark, Jacqui Dankworth, James Fox, Steve Balsamo, Anna-Jane Casey, Gareth Gates. 16 page full colour booklet included with the lyrics to the songs.

March 19, 2013

A Different Light: David Friedman Sings His Own Songs
(Midder Music - new on CD)
"A Different Light," "As Long As I Can Sing," "Catch Me," "Choices," "Coming Home," "Help Is On the Way," "I Can Hold You," "If," "I Finally Let Go," "I'll Be Here with You," "In Your Eyes," "Just in Time for Christmas," "Just When You Think," "Let Me Be the Music."

Michael Ball: Both Sides Now
(Union Square Music - import CD)
From Michael Ball's UK concert tour. "Both Sides Now," "The Perfect Song," "I Won't Let You Go," "Closest Thing To Crazy," "Love and Affection," "Suddenly," "I Will Always Love You," "I Won't Send Roses," "Run," "Love Don't Live Here Anymore," "Songbird," "When She Loved Me," "Fight The Fight" (from Tim Rice/Stuart Brayson From Here to Eternity), "Make You Feel My Love," "Love Changes Everything" (with Il Divo). Released in the U.K. on February 25.

Les Misérables Deluxe Soundtrack
(Republic Records - new on 2 CDs/mp3/iTunes)
42 tracks, 22 of them previously unreleased. Previously unseen photos from the film set as well as additional explanatory notes.

Ruthie Sings Gershwin - Love Is Here to Stay
(Enda Markey Presents - new mp3/iTunes)
"Love Is Here to Stay," "Somebody Loves Me," "Someone to Watch over Me," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "Lady Be Good," "'S Wonderful," "But Not for Me," "Summertime," "The Man I Love," "Embraceable You," "Boy! What Love Has Done to Me," "They All Laughed," "Swanee," "Love Walked In."

See Rock City and Other Destinations Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording
(Yellow Sound Records - new mp3)
2010 Transport Group cast recording of Brad Alexander & Adam Mathias score. Stanley Bahorek, Donna Lynne Champlin, Jonathan Hammond, Ryan Hilliard, Mamie Parris, Bryce Ryness, Sally Wilfert.

Writing the 10-Minute Play
(Limelight Editions - Paperback Book)
By Glenn Alterman. For the beginning or seasoned playwright, as well as for actors and others wishing to attempt their first ten-minute play. From the idea, to starting the play, to developing, to rewriting, to completing and marketing. Includes an extensive listing of ten-minute play contests. In-depth interviews with playwrights who have had success with their ten-minute plays, and publishers of ten-minute plays and producers of ten-minute play festivals. Also included are several award-winning ten-minute plays, and a discussion by the respective playwrights on start to finish. 180 pages.

March 12, 2013

Collaborators
(Grove Press - Paperback Book)
Play by John Hodge about a friendship between Mikhail Bulgakov and Josef Stalin. Produced by the National Theatre

The Concrete Jungle
(new iTunes)
Music and lyrics by Bobby Cronin. "A contemporary take on the Cyrano de Bergerac story with a female twist." Music and lyrics by Bobby Cronin. International studio cast includes Rebecca Trehearn, Dean Chisnall, Kate Shindle, Ross Hunter Olivia Philip, Nick Adams, Jos Slovick and members of the original Arts Educational School of London cast. Originally commissioned by Chris Hocking, Director of Musical Theatre at the Arts Educational School of London for the graduating students of 2012. Recorded in London and New York. Musical direction and arrangements by Michael Haslam.

Fancy Nancy: The Musical (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording)
(Ghostlight - new mp3/iTunes)
Musical based on Jane O'Connor/Robin Preiss Glasser books. Book & Lyrics by Susan DiLallo; Music & Lyrics by Danny Abosch. Alyson Bloom as Nancy, with Darilyn Castillo, Jes Dugger, Kyle Motsinger, Amanda Savan. Soon to be a motion picture. CD format expected 4/23/13.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Blu-ray]
(Disney - new Blu-ray set, 3 Discs)
1996 animated musical film with Alan Menken score.

Juliana Hansen - Live at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal
(Kritzerland Records - new on CD)
Juliana Hansen (Thoroughly Modern Millie tour; "Grease: You're The One That I Want") live recording. "A Cockeyed Optimist/Much More," "Princess Medley: Belle/A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes/Happy Working Song," "Moon River," "Breakfast at Tiffany's/I've Got a Penny," "I Cain't Say No," "There's a Fine, Fine Line," "Wouldn't it Be Nice?," "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "My Simple Christmas Wish," "Smile," "Sherman Brothers Medley: Tall Paul/Let's Get Together/On the Front Porch With You/Ten Feet Off the Ground," "Feed the Birds," "Disneyland," "Gimme Gimme," "Over The Rainbow." Musical Director A.J. Robb. Produced by Bruce Kimmel. Clips and pre-ordering at Kritzerland.com.

Megan Hilty: It Happens All the Time
(Masterworks - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Musical theatre (Wicked, 9 to 5, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) and TV ("Smash") star debut solo album. "It Happens All The Time," "Be A Man," "No Cure," "Walk Away," "Safe And Sound," "Blower's Daughter," "Hopin," "Wise Up," "Dare You To Move," "It Will Rain," "The Heart Of The Matter," "Gravity"

Merman ... Her Greatest
(Sepia Records - on CD/mp3/iTunes)
First time on CD. Digitally remastered 1961 album, plus bonus tracks. Billy May orchestrations. "I Got Rhythm," "This Is It / Do I Love You," "I Get A Kick Out Of You," "Sam And Delilah," "Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries," "Blow, Gabriel, Blow," "You're An Old Smoothie," "Down In The Depths On The Ninetieth Floor," "But Not For Me," "Friendship," "You're The Top," "I Got Rhythm " (Live), "Eadie Was A Lady " (Live), "The Girl That I Marry" (Live, Fess Parker) / You Can't Get A Man With A Gun" (Live, Ethel Merman) "Blow, Gabriel, Blow " (Live), "I Get A Kick Out Of You " (Live), "That Old Feeling " (Live), "Over The Rainbow " (Live), "I Got Rhythm (1937 Live Version)," "They Can't Take That Away From Me" (1937 Live Version).

Motown Originals: The Classic Songs That Inspired The Broadway Show! Special Edition
(Motown - new on 2 CDs/iTunes)
40 tracks include "Get Ready" (The Temptations), "Dancing In The Street" (Martha & The Vandellas), "Shop Around" (The Miracles), "Please Mr. Postman" (The Marvelettes), "My Guy" (Mary Wells), "Where Did Our Love Go" (The Supremes), "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (Marvin Gaye), "What's Going On" (Marvin Gaye), "For Once In My Life" (Stevie Wonder), "I Want You Back" (Jackson 5), "My Girl" (The Temptations), "You're All I Need To Get By" (Marvin Gaye), "All Night Long (All Night)" (Lionel Richie), "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Diana Ross).

Mulan / Mula II Blu-ray
(Disney - new on 3 Blu-ray discs/2 DVD set)
1998 and 2005 animated musical films. Voices include B.D. Wong, Harvey Fierstein, George Takei, Beth Fowler. Music by Jerry Goldsmith and songs by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel (Mulan) and Joel McNeely (Mulan II).

The Postman and the Poet: A New Musical
(Jay Records - new on 2 CDs)
Musical based on the novel "Ardiente Paciencia" by Antonio Skarmeta. Michael Jeffrey and Eden Phillips score; book by Trevor Bentham and Eden Phillips. Ethan Freeman, Jennifer Hepburn, Simon Thomas, Stuart Pendred, Joanna Ampil, Siobhan McCarthy, Hal Fowler, Graham Bickley, Arvid Larsen. National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Craig Barna. Orchestrations by Craig Barna. Previously released on iTunes.

Rita Moreno: A Memoir
(Celebra/Penguin - new Hardcover Book/Audiobook)
Rita Moreno's autobiography. The audiobook version is read by Ms. Moreno. 304 pages.

Saturday Night Fever/Grease Blu-ray
(Paramount - 2 Blu-ray discs)
Set of two musical John Travolta films in Blu-Ray.

Shakespeare for American Actors and Directors
(Limelight Editions - Paperback Book)
By Aaron Frankel. 144 pages.

South Pacific & Gypsy - Musical Mini-Series Double Feature
(Mill Creek Entertainment - new on 2 DVDs)
Twofer of TV versions of South Pacific (Glenn Close) and Gypsy (Bette Midler).

Spencer Day: The Mystery of You
(Concord Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Third album from singer Spencer Day. "Intro," "The Mystery Of You," "Here I Go," "Love And War," "Soul On Fire," "Something Wicked," "I Don't Want To Know featuring Gaby Moreno," "The Answer," "Shadow Man," "Somewhere On The Other Side," "A Long Way (Black Rock City)," "Nevermind," "I'm Going Home."

Staged
(Dress Circle Publishing - Kindle book)
Ruby Preston novel, a sequel to "Showbiz, a Novel" featuring new players in the stories of "glamorous Broadway galas, back-room business deals and show-stopping romance set against the twinkling backdrop of 42nd Street." The second in a planned trilogy.

March 5, 2013

Gifts: Christiane Noll Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD/mp3/)
Recorded at 54 Below. Produced by Aaron Ankrum. Executive Produced by Van Dean and Kenny Howard, of The Broadway Consortium.

Motown Originals: The Classic Songs That Inspired The Broadway Show!
(Motown - new mp3/iTunes)
"Get Ready" (The Temptations), "Dancing In The Street" (Martha & The Vandellas), "Shop Around" (The Miracles), "Please Mr. Postman" (The Marvelettes), "My Guy" (Mary Wells), "Where Did Our Love Go" (The Supremes), "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (Marvin Gaye), "What's Going On" (Marvin Gaye), "For Once In My Life" (Stevie Wonder), "I Want You Back" (Jackson 5), "My Girl" (The Temptations), "You're All I Need To Get By" (Marvin Gaye), "All Night Long (All Night)" (Lionel Richie), "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Diana Ross). 2-CD version with 40 tracks expected 3/12/13.

Noël Coward Off the Record: Steve Ross and Friends
(Original Cast Records - new on CD)
22 unknown songs by Noël Coward recorded here for the first time. Steve Ross with Jeanne Lehman, Edward Hibbert and Lisa Riegel. Songs include "Baseball Rag" (Music by Doris Doris, 1917-18), "Sentiment" (Philip Braham, London Calling, 1923), "Spanish Grandee" (London Calling, 1923), "When We Were Girls Together" (London Calling, 1923), "Morganatic Love" (Tamaran, unproduced), "Meme les Anges" (Fallen Angels, 1923), "I'm So in Love" (On With The Dance, 1925), "One Fine Day" (for Nora Bayes,1924), "What's to Become of the Children?" (White Birds, 1927), "It Doesn't Matter How Old You Are" (This Year of Grace, 1928), "We Are Living in a Changing World" (1941), "Why Do You Pass Me By" (Charles Trenet, 1940s), "Heavenly Moment" (Samoan Operette, unproduced), "We've Got the Country at the Corner of the Street" (Hoi Polloi, unproduced), "When the Journey's Over" (Later Than Spring, unproduced), "Let's Be Sincere" (Later Than Spring, unproduced), "Always Be Kind to the Gentlemen" (1940s), "Just People" (The Girl Who Came To Supper, 1963), "What has Happened to Charles" (High Spirits, 1964), "I Gave My Heart" (Oscar Straus, 1930s), "Je T'aime" (Oscar Straus, 1930s), "There Will Always Be" (1940s) plus comments by Ross. Co-produced with Bruce Yeko. Relisted, due to previously unavailable information. At Footlight.

Rita Moreno: A Memoir
(Celebra/Penguin - new Hardcover Book/Audiobook)
Rita Moreno's autobiography. The audiobook version is read by Ms. Moreno. 304 pages.

Ruthie Henshall: I've Loved These Days
(3PP - new mp3/iTunes)
UK release from Broadway and West End performer. "A Hard Day's Night," "Don't Rain On My Parade," "Both Sides Now," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "Adelaide's Lament," "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)," "Electricity," "Blizzard Of Lies," "Send In The Clowns," "When You're Good To Mama," "Vincent," "I've Loved These Days." Includes a 12-page booklet featuring rare photographs and Ruthie's intimate reflections. Ruthie Henshall (vocal), Paul Schofield (piano), Lewis Andrews (bass/guitar), Steve MacLachlan (drums). Arrangements by Paul Schofield and Lewis Andrews. Produced by Chris Ingham. CD version made available previously at Amazon UK.

Sacred Cows A New Beginning (The Story of Adame and Yves)
(new iTunes)
Demo recording from 1992 musical by Bob Golden, Paul Scott Goodman, Jonathan Larson, Rusty Magee and Jeremy Roberts. "an irreverent look at the Creation Myth." Performed by the composers.

Stories from Jonestown
(Univ of Minnesota Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Leigh Fondakowski. Interviews with people involved with the People's Temple movement, some of which appeared in her 2005 play The People's Temple.

A Theory of Justice: The Musical! Original Oxford Cast
(new mp3)
"An all-singing, all-dancing romp through 2,500 years of political philosophy." Recorded live in the original Oxford production in February 2013. Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

The Yellow Brick Road and Beyond
(Entertainment One - new on DVD)
2008 documentary of the complete history of The Wizard of Oz, the story, the stage and film productions, up to Wicked. Clips and interviews from Tommy Tune, Joan Leslie, Mickey Rooney, Dom DeLuise, Joel Grey, film cast members, Mervyn LeRoy and others. Directed by Rob Marshall.

February 26, 2013

11 Edinburgh Fringe Cast
(new mp3 album)
2001 Edinburgh Fringe cast recording of Ian Hammond Brown score. David Mutch, Maggie Brown, Steven Hogan, Katrina Graham, Darren Niven, Vicky Robertson. Musical Direction and Piano: Alan Gibson. Keyboards: Ian Hammond Brown. Book, Additional Lyrics and Direction by: Suzanne Lofthus. Clips, individual tracks and digital album available at CD Baby.

Bombshell: The New Marilyn Musical from Smash (Deluxe Edition)
(Sony - new on 2 CDs)
Appears to be Target "exclusive" sold by third parties: includes an extra disc with interview with Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman; "Smash!" sung by Jane Krakowski; "Never Give all the Heart" sung by Megan Hilty; "Second Hand Baby Grand" sung by Christine Ebersole. Recording of the fictional musical "written" on the TV show "Smash." Score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Katherine McPhee, Megan Hilty, and others. Songs are from seasons one and two. "Follow in Their Footsteps" (Bernadette Peters & and Ensemble), "Let Me Be Your Star (Extended Intro)" (Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty), "Smash!" (Hilty, McPhee & Ensemble), "Never Give All the Heart" (McPhee), "20th Century Mambo" (McPhee & Ensemble), "The National Pastime" (Hilty & Ensemble), "History Is Made at Night" (Hilty, Will Chase & Ensemble), "I Never Met a Wolf Who Didn't Love To Howl" (Hilty), "Mr & Mrs Smith" (Hilty & Chase), "Don't Say Yes Until I Finish Talking" (Hilty & Chase), "On Lexington & 52nd St" (Chase), "Cut, Print...Moving On" (McPhee & Ensemble), "Public Relations" (McPhee, Christian Borle & Ensemble), "Dig Deep" (Uma Thurman), "Second Hand White Baby Grand" (Hilty), "They Just Keep Moving The Line" (Hilty), "Let's Be Bad" (Hilty & Ensemble), "The Right Regrets" (Debra Messing & Borle), "(Let's Start) Tomorrow Tonight" ( Leslie Odom, Jr.), "Our Little Secret" (McPhee), "Hang The Moon" (Bernadette Peters & Hilty), "Don't Forget Me" (McPhee).

Chita Rivera: Chita & And Now I Sing!
(Stage Door Records - new on import CD/mp3)
Twofer CD debut of albums with showtunes, standards and more. Digitally remastered. Chita tracks: "Ten Cents a Dance," "The Lady's In Love With You," "Love, Look Away," "An Occasional Man," "Moanin' Low," "Get Me To the Church On Time," "The Surrey With the Fringe On Top," "Fly Me To the Moon," "Small Fry," "Old Devil Moon," "Something I Dreamed Last Night ," "Let's Put Out the Lights and Go To Sleep.". And Now I Sing! tracks: "I Hear Music," "You're Mine You," "Hit The Road to Dreamland," "The Nearness of You," "Easy to Remember," "Goodbye My Love," "Moon River," "Isn't It Romantic," "Falling In Love Again," "It's Always You," "Lonesome Road." 8-page color booklet. Also available directly from the UK at Stage Door Records.

Dancing on the Edge: The Louis Lester Band
(Decca - new UK CD)
Original score soundtrack for five-part BBC original mini-series, which follows a 1930s black jazz band. Score by Adrian Johnston (The Lost Prince, Kinky Boots, The Accused films). Chiwetel Ejiofor, Wunmi Moskau, Angel Coulby and John Goodman. Available at Amazon UK.

Great Moments in the Theatre
(Oberon Books - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Benedict Nightingale outlines what he believes to be the greatest moments in theatre, from the first performance of Aeschylus' The Oresteia in 458 BC, to the premiere of Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem in London of 2009 AD.

Michael Ball: Both Sides Now
(Union Square Music - new in the U.K. on CD/mp3)
From Michael Ball's UK concert tour. "Both Sides Now," "The Perfect Song," "I Won't Let You Go," "Closest Thing To Crazy," "Love and Affection," "Suddenly," "I Will Always Love You," "I Won't Send Roses," "Run," "Love Don't Live Here Anymore," "Songbird," "When She Loved Me," "Fight The Fight" (from Tim Rice/Stuart Brayson From Here to Eternity), "Make You Feel My Love," "Love Changes Everything" (with Il Divo). Available in the U.S. as an import on March 19.

Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare's Globe Theatre)
(Kultur - new on DVD)
Part of the 2012 "The Globe on Screen" series. Eve Best and Charles Edwards.

Noël and Cole
(PS Classics - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Arranged and music-directed by David Loud, an earlier version of which played in the 2011 Broadway Close Up series at Merkin Concert Hall. Sara Jean Ford, Elizabeth Stanley, Barbara Walsh, Philip Chaffin, Euan Morton and Matthew Scott. "Another Openin', Another Show/ Why Must the Show Go On?," "I Concentrate on You," "Mad About the Boy," "In the Still of the Night," "I Went to a Marvelous Party," "I'm a Gigolo," "I Went to a Marvelous Party 2," "Make It Another Old Fashioned, Please," "I Went to a Marvelous Party 3," "A Bar on the Piccolo Marina," "I Went to a Marvelous Party 4," "Well, Did You Evah?," "Someday I'll Find You," "Begin the Beguine," "London Pride," "I Happen to Like New York," "If Love Were All," "Just One of Those Things," "So in Love," "It's All Right With Me," "Trio," "Sail Away," "Let's Do It." Orchestrations by Jason Carr. Produced by Tommy Krasker.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
(Acorn - new on 3 DVDs)
1978 PBS television series based on the novel, starring Geraldine McEwan. Bonus: author Muriel Spark on Jean Brodie (2 minutes).

Sutton Foster: Broadway Sweetheart, TV Buneads (Stage Stars) (Volume 1)
(Creative Media Publishing - Paperback Book)
By Christine Dzidrums. A children's biography. 138 pages.

Tennessee Williams: A Literary Life (Literary Lives)
(Palgrave Macmillan - new hardcover book)
By John Bak. From correspondences, notebooks, and archival papers.

Tim Di Pasqua: An Evening in San Francisco
(new CD/mp3 at CD Baby/iTunes)
First in a series of solo piano albums. "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "Change Partners," "The More I See," "We Kiss in a Shadow," "Don't Blame Me," "You Are Too Beautiful," "I've Got the World on a String," "Laura," "The Very Thought Of You," "Time After Time," "Where or When," "The More I See You," "But Not For Me," "Younger Than Springtime," "Call Me Irresponsible."

Vera Lynn: Hits From the Blitz
(Stage Door Records - on mp3/iTunes)
"This is the Army, Mister Jones / I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen / It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow," "The White Cliffs of Dover," "Don't Fence Me In / If I Had My Way / Deep In the Heart of Texas," "Lilli Marlene," "That Lovely Weekend," "Who's Taking You Home Tonight? / Wishing / Wish Me Luck," "When the Lights Go on Again / I'll Pray for You," "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," "Bless 'Em All / The Washing on the Siegfried Line / Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major," "You'll Never Know," "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire / Maybe / Coming Home," "There'll Always Be an England."

February 19, 2013

Easter Parade Blu-ray
(Warner Home Video - new on Blu-Ray)
New digital transfer of 1948 musical film from restored picture and audio elements. Johnny Green and Roger Edens score; songs and music by Irving Berlin. Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Ann Miller. Extras: new making-of documentary Easter Parade: Beyond the Avenue; American Masters documentary profile Judy Garland: By Myself; outtake musical number "Mr. Monotony"; audio-only bonuses: radio production, radio promo; Garland trailer gallery. Early reports are that the "Judy Garland: By Myself" is not included, though it is listed on the back cover.

Legends of American Music, Vol 1
(Meloday Thread - new on CD/iTunes)
The Johnny Rodgers Band, Music Ambassadors for the U.S. Department of State. "Cheek To Cheek," "Georgia On My Mind," "It Should've Been Me," "Too Marvelous For Words," "What A Wonderful World," "Let's Get Lost," "Bring It On Home To Me," "Take Another Chance On Love," "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke!," "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/Jailhouse Rock," "Ain't No Sunshine/American Jam." Guest artist Randy Brecker on trumpet and flugelhorn. Originally released 7/24/12.

Opus LA Theatre Works Cast
(L.A. Theatre Works - new Play on CD)
Michael Hollinger's play, as performed at L.A. Theatre Works before a live audience. Jonathan Adams, Jere Burns, Kevin Chamberlin, Steven Culp, Jon Matthews, Liza Weil. Also included, an interview with the playwright and with arts consultant Drew McManus.

Ruthie Henshall: I've Loved These Days
(3PP - new on CD)
UK release from Broadway and West End performer. "A Hard Day's Night," "Don't Rain On My Parade," "Both Sides Now," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "Adelaide's Lament," "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)," "Electricity," "Blizzard Of Lies," "Send In The Clowns," "When You're Good To Mama," "Vincent," "I've Loved These Days." Includes a 12-page booklet featuring rare photographs and Ruthie's intimate reflections. Ruthie Henshall (vocal), Paul Schofield (piano), Lewis Andrews (bass/guitar), Steve MacLachlan (drums). Arrangements by Paul Schofield and Lewis Andrews. Produced by Chris Ingham. Available at Amazon UK. U.S. release unknown.

"Smash" singles
(Columbia - new digital)
Drew Gasparini's "Good for You" sung by Katharine McPhee on mp3/iTunes; Joe Iconis' "Broadway, Here I Come!" sung by Jeremy Jordan on mp3/iTunes; Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's "Mama Makes Three" sung by Jennifer Hudson on mp3/iTunes; Benj Pasek and Justin Paul's "Caught In the Storm" sung by Katharine McPhee on mp3/iTunes; "On Broadway" sung by Jennifer Hudson and Katharine McPhee on mp3/iTunes.

February 12, 2013

Bombshell: The New Marilyn Musical from Smash
(Sony - new on CD/mp3/iTunesRecording of the fictional musical "written" on the TV show "Smash." Score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Katherine McPhee, Megan Hilty, and others. Songs are from seasons one and two. "Follow in Their Footsteps" (Bernadette Peters & and Ensemble), "Let Me Be Your Star (Extended Intro)" (Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty), "Smash!" (Hilty, McPhee & Ensemble), "Never Give All the Heart" (McPhee), "20th Century Mambo" (McPhee & Ensemble), "The National Pastime" (Hilty & Ensemble), "History Is Made at Night" (Hilty, Will Chase & Ensemble), "I Never Met a Wolf Who Didn't Love To Howl" (Hilty), "Mr & Mrs Smith" (Hilty & Chase), "Don't Say Yes Until I Finish Talking" (Hilty & Chase), "On Lexington & 52nd St" (Chase), "Cut, Print...Moving On" (McPhee & Ensemble), "Public Relations" (McPhee, Christian Borle & Ensemble), "Dig Deep" (Uma Thurman), "Second Hand White Baby Grand" (Hilty), "They Just Keep Moving The Line" (Hilty), "Let's Be Bad" (Hilty & Ensemble), "The Right Regrets" (Debra Messing & Borle), "(Let's Start) Tomorrow Tonight" ( Leslie Odom, Jr.), "Our Little Secret" (McPhee), "Hang The Moon" (Bernadette Peters & Hilty), "Don't Forget Me" (McPhee). The Target store version also includes a mini-CD with these bonuses: interview with Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman; "Smash!" sung by Jane Krakowski; "Never Give all the Heart" sung by Megan Hilty; "Second Hand Baby Grand" sung by Christine Ebersole.

Gay's the Word 2012 London Studio Cast
(JAY Records - new mp3/iTunes)
Ivor Novello/Alan Melville score. Sophie-Louise Dann, Helena Blackman, Josh Little, Doreen Hermitage, Eileen Page, Jonny Purchase, Myra Sands, Elizabeth Seal. "Ruritania," "Everything Reminds Me of You," "Guards on Parade," "It's Bound To Be Right on the Night," "Father Thames," "Finder, Please Return," "An Englishman In Love," "If Only He'd Looked My Way," "Vitality!," "Teaching," "Vitality! Reprise," "Sweet Thames," "Gaiety Glad," "If Only He'd Looked My Way Reprise," "A Matter of Minutes," "A Matter of Minutes Reprise," "On Such a Night as This," "Bees Are Buzzin'," "Bees Are Buzzin' Reprise," "Finale." CD to be released in April, but available now at The Jermyn Street Theatre and directly from www.Jayrecords.com

Gielgoodies!: The Wit and Wisdom of John Gielgud
(Oberon Books - Hardcover/Kindle Book)
By Jonathan Croall, with a foreward by Simon Callow. Gielgud biographer on the wit, love of scandal and gossip, wicked put-downs, and bawdy humor of John Gielgud. Compiled from extensive interviews and unpublished letters

In His Grace (a Musical Comedy)
(new on CD)
Studio cast recording of the musical comedy score by Jane Martin Billeaudeaux. The show premiered at Cité Des Arts in Lafayette, Louisianan, in 2010. Original cast members Larry Blount, Jessica LeBlanc Berry, Caroline Helm, Chelsea Ellison, Lisa Shannon and Kara Boudreaux, plus Dana Duhon and Scott Alan Stagg.

Jane Morgan What Now My Love & Jane Morgan at Cocoanut Grove
(Sepia Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Jane Morgan album twofer. Live album from Cocoanut Grove appearance includes "Fascination," "The Day The Rains Came" and a tribute medley to Lillian Russell. What Now My Love, produced by Burt Bacharach, includes the title song, the debut of "What Now My Love," "I'm A Fool To Want You," "Here's That Rainy Day," "Black Coffee" and "Fly Me To The Moon." 18 tracks total.

Janene Lovullo: Broadway, Intimate
(new on CD/mp3)
Tour and Broadway performer Janene Lovullo. "Anything Goes," "Beauty Secrets," "Memory," "Cool," "Bring Him Home," "I Wish It So," "Somebody Somewhere," "Night Song," "Learn to Be Lonely," "I Cain't Say No," "Anyone Can Whistle," "If I Loved You." Arrangements by Christopher Marlowe. Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Kevin Dozier: Love's Never Lost
(Brannock Productions - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Second solo album from MAC and Backstage Bistro Award singer. "If Ever I Would Leave You," "Take Me to the World," "Wonderful! Wonderful!," "Falling Out of Love," "Almost," "Always/Time Heals Everything," "Sail Away," "Love's Never Lost," "Perfect," "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," "Hold to My Hand," "What a Funny Boy He Is," "I'll Tell the Man in the Street," "I Hear Bells," "The Journey." Produced by Paul Rolnick, arrangements and musical direction by Alex Rybeck. CD is less expensive at CD Baby.

Look Around: by Eden Espinosa
(new on CD/mp3iTunes)
Stage singer/actress debut solo album. "I'm Not That Girl," "Stone Cold Sober," "Petrified," "I Know the Truth," "I Miss the Mountains," "With You," "Once Upon a Time," "One Song Glory," "Look Around." Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby. Also available from CD Baby through Amazon. Released 12/18/12.

Paul Motian: On Broadway 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5
(Winter & Winter - 5 CD set)
"Limited Deluxe Hardcover Edition." Paul Motian and Trio's (Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano and Charlie Haden) five On Broadway albums. The 50 tracks include songs by the Gershwins, Sammy Kahn, Arlen & Harburg, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Erven Drake, Van Heusen & Burke, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Harburg & Lane, Irving Berlin, Harry Warren, Vincent Youmans, Livingston & Evans, Al Dubin, Frank Loesser and more.

Road to Hong Kong & Say One for Me
(Sepia Records - new on CD/iTunes)
Two Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen soundtracks from Bing Crosby films. Road To Hong Kong songs performed by Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Joan Collins, with music performed by Robert Farnon and his orchestra. Say One For Me songs performed by Bing Crosby, Debbie Reynolds, Robert Wagner. Digitally remastered and in stereo. 28 tracks total.

Shoshana Bean: O'Farrell Street
(Shotime Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Shoshana Bean's (Wickedtake on soul music sound of the late '60s. "Cold Turkey," "Smoke and Mirrors," "5 Minutes," "Broken Even," "Gin and Cigarettes," "Blood From a Stone," "Runnin' Out of Days," "I am Not Unchanged," "Quittin' Time," "Water."

Tom Wopat: I've Got Your Number
(LML Music - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
"Orchestra/big band hybrid of the '60s and '70s," with a thirty-piece orchestra. Tracks include "I've Got Your Number," "The Good Life," "The Secret O' Life," "The Afterlife," "Since You Asked," "Meeting Across the River," "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," "Call Me," "Born to Be Blue," "I Won't Dance."

February 5, 2013

All's Well That Ends Well: Shakespeare Globe Theatre
(Kultur Video - new on 2 DVDs)
Sam Crane, Janie Dee, Ellie Piercy. Released 1/29/13.

Benjamin Grosvenor: Rhapsody in Blue: Saint-Saëns, Ravel, Gershwin
(Decca - new on CD/mp3)
Nineteen year old British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and James Judd. Includes "Rhapsody In Blue," "Love Walked In." Released at iTunes in August 2012.

Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collection Musicals
(Warner Home Video - 21 disc set)
Broken out into 3 chapters: 1927-1951 (You Ain?t Heard Nothin' Yet); The Jazz Singer (1927), The Broadway Melody of 1929 (1929), 42nd Street (1933), The Great Ziegfeld (1936), The Wizard of Oz (1939), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), An American in Paris (1951); 1951-1964 (The Music Makers) Show Boat (1951), Singin' in the Rain (1952), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), A Star Is Born (1954), The Music Man (1962), Viva Las Vegas (1964); 1967-1988 (Now, That's Entertainment) Camelot (1967), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), Cabaret (1972), That's Entertainment! (1974), Victor/Victoria (1982), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Hairspray (1988). Also includes a 24-Page Booklet.

Better Nate Than Ever
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - new Hardcover/Kindle Book)
Broadway dancer Tim Federle's first book, about a small-town eighth grader who concocts a plan to run away to New York and audition for the role of Elliott in the musical version of E.T..

Cabaret 40th Anniversary Blu-Ray Book & DVD
(Warner Home Video - new Blu-Ray Set/DVD)
Film with Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey. Blu-ray Book version includes 40 pages of photos and text; new documentary Cabaret: The Musical That Changed Musicals; vintage documentaries Cabaret: A Legend in the Making, The Recreation of an Era; multi-part memory gallery and more.

Chekhov on Theatre
(Opus Books - new Paperback book)
Stephen Mulrine's translations of Chekhov's newspaper articles and letters about the way theatre works and his concerns about how best to realize his own intentions as a playwright.

Classical Barbra
(Sony - new on CD/iTunes)
1976 Streisand album, digitally remastered with two bonus tracks (first ever release of "An Sylvia" and "Auf dem Wasser zu singen" recorded during the original sessions).

Harry Connick, Jr.: Smokey Mary
(Sony - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Homage to the Mardi Gras Krewe of Orpheus, which Connick co-founded in 1993, and their Mardi Gras parade float, Smokey Mary. "Smokey Mary," "Hurricane," "Cuddina Done It," "Wish I Were Him," "S'pposed To Be," "The Preacher," "Dang You Pretty," "Angola (At The Farm)," "Nola Girl," "Mind On The Matter," "City Beneath The Sea."

Josh Groban: All That Echoes
(Reprise - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Seven songs written by Groban and five covers. "Brave," "False Alarms," "Falling Slowly," "She Moved Through The Fair," "Below The Line," "E Ti Prometterò (w/ Laura Pausini)," "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress," "Un Alma Mas (w/ Arturo Sandoval)," "Happy In My Heartache," "Hollow Talk," "Sincera," "I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)."

Loving the Silent Tears
(new on CD/mp3)
One-time only performance world premiere at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Based on verses in Supreme Master Ching Hai's "Silent Tears." Composers include Jorge Calandrelli, Al Kasha, Doug Katsaros, Henry Krieger, Don Pippin, Nan Schwartz and David Shire. Singing by Camellia Abou-Odah (Arab), Flo Ankah (French), Black Uhuru (Jamaican), Liz Callaway (Australian), Debbie Gravitte (American), Hò Quýnh Huong (Vietnamese), Mark Janicello (Italian), Brian Joo (Korean), Liel Kolet (Israeli), Kiril Kulish (Russian), Katie McMahon (Irish), Heather Park (Korean), Fabiana Passoni (Brazilian), Siavash Shams (Persian), Jon Secada (Cuban), Kay Tse (Chinese) and Jody Watley (African). Directed by Vincent Paterson. 29 tracks. Sample clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Les Misérables: From Stage to Screen
(Applause - new Hardcover book)
By Benedict Nightingale and Martyn Palmer. How the musical came to life, the trials and tribulations from the initial concept to the new film version. At least 15 facsimiles that highlight key moments in the creation of Les Miserables, on stage and on the screen, including: Original costume sketches; annotated scripts; original music scores and librettos; film screenplay extracts and anniversary mementos.

The North Pool
(Soft Skull Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Book)
Play by Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo).

The Oxford Handbook of The American Musical (Oxford Handbooks in Music)
(Oxford Univ Press - Paperback Book)
Paperback version of 2011 book. Raymond Knapp , Mitchell Morris, Stacy Wolf, editors. Cross-section of essays written by leading experts in the field, organized within broad conceptual groups... on issues and topics in the field of musical-theater and film-musical studies.

South Pacific: Paradise Rewritten (Broadway Legacies Series)
(Oxford Univ Press - Paperback Edition)
Paperback version of 2010 book by Jim Lovensheimer. Drawing on extensive research in the Rodgers and the Hammerstein papers, including Hammerstein's personal notes on James A. Michener's Tales of the South Pacific, Lovensheimer offers a reading of South Pacific that explores the show's complex messages and demonstrates how the presentation of those messages changed throughout the creative process ... how Rodgers and Hammerstein refined and softened the theme of racial intolerance until it was more acceptable to Broadway audiences. Likewise, the treatment of gender and colonialism in the musical, how it both reflected and challenged early Cold War Era American norms. Photographs and music examples.

A Star Is Born [Blu-ray]
(WHV - new on Blu-Ray)
1976 film featuring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. 40-page digibook. Extras to include: audio commentary by Barbra Streisand, additional scenes, wardrobe tests, and trailer gallery.

Tony Bennett: As Time Goes By: Great American Songbook Classics
(Concord - new on CD/mp3)
From recordings made during the '70s. Digital remastering by Joe Tarantino. New liner notes by Will Friedwald. 12 tracks.

January 29, 2013

The Anarchist
(TCG - Paperback Book)
New play by David Mamet.

Emmy Rossum: Sentimental Journey
(Warner Bros - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Singer/actress (Phantom of the Opera film) solo album. "Sentimental Journey," "The Object Of My Affection," "I m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover," "These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)," "I ll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time," "Summer Wind," "Many Tears Ago," "All I Do Is Dream Of You," "Nobody Knows You When You re Down And Out," "Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)," "Things," "Pretty Paper," "Keep Young And Beautiful."

From Up Here Original Cast Recording
(new on CD/mp3)
Musical by Aaron Lee Lambert had world premiere at South Hill Park in Bracknell, June 2012 and was streamed live on the Internet. Clips, tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Lincoln: The Screenplay
(TCG - Paperback Book)
By Tony Kushner. Foreword by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood
(DRG Records - new on 2 CDs/mp3/iTunes)
Broadway revival cast. Rupert Holmes score. Includes revised material and songs ("Jasper's Vision/Smoke Ballet" and eight separate tracks of confessions of the potential murderers) not on the 1985 original cast recording. Stephanie J. Block, Chita Rivera, Jim Norton, Gregg Edelman, Jessie Mueller, Betsy Wolfe, Andy Karl, Nicholas Barasch, Peter Benson, Robert Creighton, Alison Cimmet, Jim Walton, Nick Corley, Justin Greer, Shannon Lewis, Kiira Schmidt, Eric Sciotto, Janine DiVita, Jenifer Foote and Spencer Plachy. Recorded December 10, 2012. Produced by Hugh Fordin and engineered by Cynthia Daniels.

Patricia Racette: Diva on Detour
(GPR Records - new on CD)
Metropolitan Opera star crossover album. Live recording. "I Got Rhythm - Get Happy," "Carnival in Flanders: Here's that Rainy Day," "Not a care in the world," "Angel Eyes," "I'm Calm," "Milord," "Padam-Padam," "La Vie en rose," "A Star Is Born: The Man That Got Away," "To Keep My Love Alive," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Where or When," "You've Changed," "Guess Who I Saw Today," "Where Do You Start?," "Kiss Me, Kate: So In Love," "Mon Dieu (My God)," "Not a Day Goes By." Recorded at GPR/Sound Associate Studios. Previously released digitally on mp3 and iTunes.

Rebecca Luker: I Got Love (Songs of Jerome Kern)
(PS Classics - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
From her 54 Below show, Luker covers three decades of Kern songs. "Can't Help Singing," "Not You," "Saturday Night," "Bill / Can't Help Lovin' That Man," "My Husband's First Wife," "And I Am All Alone," "The Song Is You," "I Got Love," "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," "The Enchanted Train," "Once in a Blue Moon," "I'm Old Fashioned," "I'll Be Hard to Handle," "April Fooled Me," "Why Was I Born?."Arrangements by music director and orchestrator Joseph Thalken.

Sweeney Todd
(BR Klassik - new on CD)
CD release of first recording of the score by a German opera company. May 2012 concert production with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester (Bavarian Radio Orchestra) at the Prinzregententheater in Munich. Mark Stone (Baritone), Jane Henschel, and Diana DiMarzio (of the Broadway revival) as the Beggar Woman. Conductor: Ulf Schirmer. Released digitally earlier, on mp3 at ArkivMusic/Amazon

Wodehouse Playhouse: Complete Collection
(Acorn Media - new on 6 DVDs)
1974-78 BBC series full set of 20 comic P.G. Wodehouse stories. Pauline Collins and John Alderton. Introductions by Wodehouse for the first seven stories.

January 22, 2013

Caissie Levy: With You
(new on CD/With You - Caissie Levy
"Without You," "Walking in Space," "Out of the Blue," "I'm Not That Girl," "Little Ocean," "Here Right Now (Live)" [feat. Richard Fleeshman], "With You" (Dream Mix).

Dances for Broadway: The Redux Project
(new on mp3)
Reimaginings of classic and non-classic Broadway show tunes designed for dance interpretations. "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," "I Dreamed a Dream," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Cabaret," "One," "Moments in the Woods," "Buenos Aires," "I Waltz Alone," "Barrett's Song," "Soon It's Gonna Rain." Clips and tracks available at CD Baby.

P. G. Wodehouse: A Life in Letters
(W.W. Norton & Co - Hardcover Book)
Sophie Ratcliffe, editor. 624 pages.

The Seven Per-Cent Solution
(Shout Factory - new on Blu-Ray/DVD set)
1976 film with Nicol Williamson, Robert Duvall, Alan Arkin, Laurence Olivier, and Vanessa Redgrave, for which Stephen Sondheim song, "I Never Do Anything Twice."

Travis Moser: This Can't Be Love: The Songs of Rodgers and Hart
(new on mp3)
Recorded live at the Metropolitan Room. "This Can't Be Love / Thou Swell," "Opening Remarks," "My Romance," "Have You Met Miss Jones?," "You're Nearer," "Manhattan/It Never Entered My Mind," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "I Wish I Were in Love Again / The Lady Is a Tramp," "Nobody's Heart (Belongs to Me) / Where or When," "My Funny Valentine." Steven Silverstein on piano and Daniel Stein on bass and guitar. Clips and tracks available at CD Baby.

January 15, 2013

Backbeat: The Musical
(Rhino Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes)
Original cast album for new musical based on the 1994 Universal film. To play L.A. in January 2013, directed by David Leveaux. Co-written by Iain Softley and Stephen Jeffreys. Rock classic score. 23 tracks. New CD release; released digitally in 2012.

Dave Willetts: Once in a Lifetime, the 25th Anniversary Collection
(Stage Door Records - new on iTunes)
Digital release of UK theatre performer album of brand new songs, live concert recordings and 16 previously unreleased tracks. CD available at Stage Door Records.

Far Away Places: Patti LuPone Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
Recorded live at New York nightclub 54 Below. Backed by a five piece orchestra. "Gypsy In My Soul," "Nightlife," "Bilbao," "Far Away Places," "Black Market," "Come to the Supermarket in Old Peking," "I Wanna Be Around," "Ah, the Sea is Blue," "I Cover the Waterfront," "Pirate Jenny," "By the Sea," "I Regret Everything," "Hymn to Love," "Travelin' Light," "Nights on Broadway," "September Song." Produced by Robert Sher. Executive Produced by Van Dean and Kenny Howard, of The Broadway Consortium, and Ken Mahoney.

How Green Was My Valley
(Fox - new Blu-Ray)
1941 film (adapted as A Time for Singing musical). Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Roddy McDowall.

I, Rhoda
(Gallery Books - Hardcover/Kindle Book)
Valerie Harper autobiography.

Lillie
(Acorn Media - on 4 DVDs)
13-part Masterpiece Theatre presentation with Francesca Annis as Lillie Langtry. Originally released in 2008.

Memory and Mayhem: Norbert Leo Butz Live at 54 Below
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
Recorded live at New York nightclub 54 Below. "Intro," "Home," "The Way Young Lovers Do," "The Waking," "I Could Be In Love With Someone Like You," "Killing The Blues," "Can't Let Go," "If These Walls Could Speak," "Poison and Wine," "Georgia On My Mind," "No One," "16 Tons"/"Great Big Stuff," "Broken Bicycles," "Be Mine," "Shadow of Doubt." Produced by Aaron Ankrum and Michael Moritz. Executive Produced by Van Dean and Kenny Howard, of The Broadway Consortium, and Ken Mahoney.

Patricia Racette: Diva on Detour
(GPR Records - new on mp3/iTunes)
Metropolitan Opera star crossover album. Live recording. "I Got Rhythm - Get Happy," "Carnival in Flanders: Here's that Rainy Day," "Not a care in the world," "Angel Eyes," "I'm Calm," "Milord," "Padam-Padam," "La Vie en rose," "A Star Is Born: The Man That Got Away," "To Keep My Love Alive," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Where or When," "You've Changed," "Guess Who I Saw Today," "Where Do You Start?," "Kiss Me, Kate: So In Love," "Mon Dieu (My God)," "Not a Day Goes By." Recorded at GPR/Sound Associate Studios. CD version available at GPR Records and to be released wide 1/27/13.

Sweeney Todd
(BR Klassik - new on mp3)
Digital release of first recording of the score by a German opera company. May 2012 concert production with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester (Bavarian Radio Orchestra) at the Prinzregententheater in Munich. Mark Stone (Baritone), Jane Henschel, and Diana DiMarzio (of the Broadway revival) as the Beggar Woman. Conductor: Ulf Schirmer. CD to be released by ArkivMusic on 1/29/13.

January 8, 2013

13 The Musical
(new on CD)
U.K. National Youth Music Theatre cast of Jason Robert Brown score. "13/Becoming A Man," "The Lamest Place In The World," "Hey Kendra," "One Day In October," "Get Me What I Need," "Opportunity," "What It Means To Be A Friend," "All Hail The Brain," "Terminal Illness," "Getting Ready," "Any Minute," "Good Enough," "Being A Geek," "Bad Bad News," "Tell Her," "It Can't Be True," "If That's What It Is," "A Little More Homework," "Brand New You." CD available at Sh-K-Boom. Previously released digitally on mp3 and iTunes

Audrey Wood and the Playwrights (Palgrave Studies in Theatre and Performance History)
(Palgrave Macmillan - Hardcover Book)
By Milly S. Barrange. The story of Audrey Wood, literary agent for many legendary playwrights.

Bye Bye Birdie Soundtrack
(Masterworks Broadway - on CD/mp3)
Newly remastered with three bonus tracks. "Bye Bye Birdie," "Opening Credits," "The Telephone Hour," "How Lovely To Be Woman," "We Love You Conrad," "Honestly Sincere," "Hymn For A Sunday Evening," "One Boy," "Put On A Happy Face," "Kids," "One Last Kiss" (Gym Rehearsal Outtake)," "A Lot Of Livin' To Do," "The Sultans' Ballet," "One Last Kiss," "Rosie," "Bye Bye Birdie" (Reprise)," Bonus Tracks: "One Last Kiss" (Jesse Pearson)" "How Lovely To Be A Woman" (Ann-Margret), "Bye Bye Birdie" (Ann-Margret).

The Chalk Circle by Marc Forde
(new on CD/mp3)
Third educational musical from this UK company. Inspired by the Brecht play. Includes audio tracks, a licence to perform the work, curriculum approaches for teachers, lyrics and full production script, instrumental scores, photos of cast members and musicians, backing tracks, notes for a teachers by Marc Forde; Story of The Chalk Circle, songbook for piano and voice. Clips, CD, digital tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Chaplin: The Musical OBC
(Masterworks Broadway - new on CD)
Recorded November 5. Score by Christopher Curtis. Cast includes Rob McClure, Jim Borstelmann, Jenn Colella, Ethan Khusidman, Erin Mackey, Michael McCormick, Christiane Noll, Zachary Unger and Wayne Alan Wilcox. "Overture/Prologue," "Look at All the People," "Whatcha Gonna Do?," "If I Left London," "Sennett Song," "Look at All the People," "Tramp Shuffle - Part 1," "Tramp Shuffle - Part 2," "Life Can Be Like the Movies," "The Look-A-Like Contest," "Just Another Day in Hollywood," "The Life That You Wished For," "All Falls Down," "Man of All Countries," "What Only Love Can See," "The Exile," "Where Are All the People?," "What Only Love Can See (Reprise)," "This Man," "Finale/Tramp Reprise." Released on mp3 and iTunes 12/4/12.

Driving Miss Daisy Blu-ray
(Warner Home Video - new Blu-Ray Digibook)
1989 Oscar winning film based on Alfred Uhry play. Jessica Tandy, and Morgan Freeman.

Eydie Gorme & Steve Lawrence: Cozy / Two on the Aisle
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
Twofer of Great American Songbook album and a Broadway album plus bonus tracks. "Cozy," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "Like In Love," "It's So Nice to Have a Man Around the House," "Would You Like to Take a Walk," "A Fine Romance," "I Like the Likes of You," "Without You I'm Nothing," "She Didn't Say Yes," "Blue Room," "Personality," "Two Sleepy People," "Two on the Aisle," "Till There Was You," "Make Someone Happy," "The Party's Over," "If Ever I Would Leave You," "Namely You," "A Lot of Livin' to Do," "Our Language Of Love," "It's Love," "Til Tomorrow," "Just My Luck," "Put on a Happy Face," "The Facts of Life," "I'm a Girl —You're A Boy," "My Claire de Lune," "Go Away Little Girl," "Blame It on the Bossa Nova."

Grand Hotel Blu-Ray
(Warner Home Video - new Blu-Ray)
Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore.

Hansel and Gretel by Marc Forde
(new on CD/mp3)
Fourth educational musical from this UK company. Adaptation by Humperdinck takes the story and gives it a few unexpected turns along the way. Includes audio tracks, a licence to perform the work, curriculum approaches for teachers, lyrics and full production script, instrumental scores, photos of cast members and musicians, backing tracks, notes for a teacher on how to put on the musical by Marc Forde, Story of Hansel and Gretel, songbook for piano and voice. Clips, CD, digital tracks and album available at CD Baby.

Jack Jones: I've Got a Lot of Livin' to Do / Gift of Love
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
Digitally remastered - first time on CD, two 1962 Jack Jones albums, plus four bonus tracks. "I've Got a Lot of Livin To Do," "It's a Lonesome Old Town," "You Make Me Feel So Young," "Swinging Thru the Park," "Bye Bye Baby," "Donkey Serenade," "I Love Paris," "When I Take My Sugar To Tea," "Big Time," "Me And My Big Ideas," "When a Man Cries," "I Like the Likes of You," "I See Your Face Before Me," "Like Someone In Love," "Gift of Love," "Time After Time," "Then I'll Be Tired of You," "I Wish You Love," "Somewhere Along the Way," "Fly Me to the Moon," "Poetry," "Nina Never Knew," "Too Late Now," "Pick Up the Pieces," "Dreamin' All the Time," "She's My Darling, She's My Heart," "That's Her Little Way," "I've Got My Pride."

The Jazz Singer Blu-ray
(Warner Home Video - Blu-Ray book set/3 DVD set)
1927 classic Al Jolson film. All-new feature digital transfer and refurbished soundtrack from restored picture elements and original Vitaphone-Sound-on-Disc recordings. Extras, Disc 1: Commentary by Ron Hutchinson and Vince Giordano; cartoons and shorts; 1947 Lux Radio Theater broadcast starring Al Jolson (audio only); Al Jolson Trailer Gallery; Disc 2: new feature-length documentary The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk; rarely-seen Technicolor excerpts from Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929 WB film, most of which is considered lost); studio shorts Finding His Voice (1929 Western Electric animated promotional short, produced by Max Fleischer), The Voice That Thrilled The World (Warner Bros. short about sound), Okay for Sound (1946 WB short celebrating the 20th anniversary of Vitaphone), When Talkies Were Young (1955 WB short looking back at the early talkies), The Voice from the Screen (1926 WB 'demonstration' film about Vitaphone technology; Disc 3: Over 3 1/2 hours worth of rare, historic Vitaphone comedy and music shorts. Collection Edition Bonuses: rarely seen behind-the-scenes photo cards; original release lobby card reproductions; original release souvenir program book reproduction; booklet with vintage document reproductions and DVD features guide; reproduction of post-premiere telegram from Al Jolson to Jack L. Warner.

Petula Clark: In Other Words
(Stage Door Records - new mp3)
1962 album plus bonuses. 35 tracks.

Sandy Stewart & Bill Charlap: Something to Remember
(Ghostlight - new on CD)
"Where or When," "I Thought About You," "Why Did I Choose You," "Somebody Loves Me," "A Ghost Of A Chance," "Isn't This A Lovely Day?," "Something To Remember You By," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "I Was Telling Him About You," "Stars," "Where Do You Start?," "The Best Thing for You," "Solitude," "When You Wish Upon A Star," "Two for the Road." Released on mp3 and iTunes 12/4/12.

Showgirl: by Christine Deaver
(new on CD/mp3)
Christine Deaver (Teatro ZinZanni Seattle) album. "Everybody's Girl," "Frim Fram Sauce," "Temptation," "Long John Blues," "Baby, You've Got What It Takes," "Lies of Handsome Men," "Falso Romance," "You Can Leave Your Hat On," "Sunday Morning After," "Bacharach Medley," "Tell Me On a Sunday/You Can Have the T.V.," "There Is Always One More Time." Clips, album and digital tracks available at CD Baby.

Smash: Season One
(NBC Universal - new on 4 DVDs)
Complete first season of series about making a musical. Written by Theresa Rebeck. Music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Megan Hilty, Katharine McPhee, Angelica Huston, Christian Borle, Debra Messing, Brian d'Arcy James, Jack Davenport. Extras to include gag reel, behind-the-scenes feature with Shaiman and Wittman, deleted and extended scenes.

Starting Here, Starting Now Original Off Broadway Cast
(Sony - on CD-R/mp3/iTunes)
Maltby & Shire musical revue. Loni Ackerman, George Lee Andrews, Margery Cohen. "The Word Is Love/Starting Here, Starting Now/A Little Bit Off," "I Think I May Want to Remember Today," "We Can Talk To Each Other," "Just Across the River," "Crossword Puzzle," "Autumn," "I Don't Remember Christmas," "I Don't Believe It," "Barbara," "Pleased With Myself," "Flair," "Travel," "Watching the Big Parade Go By," "I Hear Bells," "What About Today?," "One Step," "Song of Me/Today Is the First Day of the Rest of My Life/A New Life Coming," "Finale: Reprise of Flair." Re-issue of 1992 recording on ArkivMusic CD-R and digital. Released in 2012.

January 1, 2013

The Lyons
(TCG - Paperback Book)
Nicky Silver's Broadway play.

Les Miserables: Movie Selections (Easy Piano)
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
Songbook for film score, by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. Piano/vocal selections of 16 songs, 88 pages.

Les Miserables: Selections from the Movie
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
Songbook for film score, by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. Piano/vocal selections of 16 songs, including the new song written for the film, "Suddenly."

Once
(TCG - Paperback Book)
Adaptation by Enda Walsh; songwriters Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová.

-- Sound Advice Staff

Additional information provided by
Max O. Preeo