Monthly Archives: June 2012

Closer Than Ever: Review Roundup

Last week, York Theatre Company opened its Off-Broadway revival of the 1989 revue Closer Than Ever to very positive reviews. The creative team includes Richard Maltby Jr. (concept, lyrics, direction), David Shire (music), Scott Smith (concept), Andrew Gerle (music direction), … Continue reading

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Queen of the Mist: Album Reviews

This week, Ghostlight Records released the original cast recording of this past season’s Off-Broadway musical Queen of the Mist to generally positive reviews. The creative team includes Michael John LaChiusa (book, lyrics, music), Chris Fenwick (music direction), Michael Starobin (orchestration), … Continue reading

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In Memoriam: Richard Adler

Composer Richard Adler, co-creator of the classic musicals The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, died last night at his home in Southampton, N.Y. He was 90 and among the last of Broadway’s Golden Age writers. When I created The Dramatist … Continue reading

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Rock of Ages: Review Roundup

Rock of Ages, the $75 million film adaptation of the 2009 Tony-nominated Broadway musical, took in an underwhelming $15.1 million in its first weekend, though it has received generally positive reviews. The creative team includes Adam Shankman (direction), Justin Theroux, … Continue reading

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Wheelhouse: Review Roundup

The world premiere of the GrooveLily musical Wheelhouse, presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley at the Mt. View PAC, opened this week to tepid reviews. For the record, the creative team is GrooveLily (book, lyrics and music), Lisa Peterson (direction), Kate … Continue reading

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Rock of Ages: Album Reviews

The soundtrack for the recent film Rock of Ages, based on the 2009 Tony-nominated Broadway musical, has received unenthusiastic reviews. The recording features Malin Akerman, Alec Baldwin, Mary J. Blige, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand, Tom Cruise, Paul Giamatti, Julianne Hough, … Continue reading

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Tulipomania: Review Roundup

The world premiere of Arden Theater’s commissioned musical Tulipomania has opened to primarily negative reviews. The creative team includes Michael Ogborn (book, lyrics and music), Terrence J. Nolen (direction), James Kronzer (sets), John Stephen Hoey (lights), Rosemarie E. McKelvey (costumes), … Continue reading

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Songwriters Hall of Fame

Last night, Bette Midler received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award at the 43rd Songwriters Hall of Fame gala at New York’s Marriott Marquis Hotel. Also honored were musical collaborators Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones (The Fantasticks) and songwriter Jim … Continue reading

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Playlist: iPod Favorites

Every year after the Tony Awards, I review and update my MP3 list of favorites. The following are the show tunes that have earned the highest play counts on my iPod over the past year. Each of these songs hits … Continue reading

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Los Otros: Review Roundup

The world premiere musical Los Otros opened last week at Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles to unenthusiastic reviews. The creative team is Ellen Fitzhugh (book and lyrics), Michael John LaChiusa (music), Graciela Daniele (direction), Christopher Barreca (sets), Ann Hould-Ward … Continue reading

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