Showtunes

QUOTE (psammead @ February 21, 2008 11:28 am)

QUOTE (harvey the penguin @ February 20, 2008 11:54 pm)

Sondheim Sings volumes 1 and 2 are the two best CD's I own, no joke. I always end up preferring his performances to the cast recordings.

I like the first one, especially Everybody Ought to Have a Maid, but you have to admit that it's not a complete mystery why most of the songs on the second cd didn't end up in proper shows.

True, but those songs he wrote for Oscar Hammerstein when he was little were pretty much the most adorable things ever.

I REALLY liked Doyle's version of Company. That being said, I really wish the supporting cast had gotten some awards notice. Particularly Elizabeth Stanley. I thought she was a great April. She nailed that kinda off kilter but intriguing thing.

I don't have a link to this post, as my dad c/p it into an email, but it was posted in the forum at Harlan Ellison's website.

QUOTE

Scott S.
Russellville, AR - Thursday, February 21 2008 21:16:10 Cancellation of Sondheim's Assassins at Arkansas Tech University
Dear Mr. Ellison and everyone on the forum.

I am writing to all writers and other individuals to let you know about a major situation that has developed at Arkansas Tech University. Even though it is a small rural college of about 7,000 students, we feel that we have the right to express ourselves through art just like the rest of the country. Yet, our college administrators will not allow us to do so.

Tonight, Thursday Feb. 21st, the first performace of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins was to be performed. This was to be many students final project so that it could be filmed for admission into graduate schools. Many familes were flying in to see the student's performances, and there have been many countless hours spent by students building the sets, rehearsing the music, and working their hearts out. On Monday evening, three days before the opening, the president of the university, Dr. Robert Brown, cancelled the performance out of "respect for the Northern Illinois shootings." He believes that the play will inspire violence upon those who see it.

The full link to the story is here: http://www.couriernews.com/story.php?ID=17730

We do not feel this is the casef, nor would most individuals. If the administration and the president believes that the play will inspire violence, then why is American Gangster still being shown on campus the same evening? It is a movie that contains much more violence than Sondheim's work. This is hypocrisy.

Students are afraid to express their disappointment to the university because they feel that the play will never be allowed to run in the future. Faculty live in fear of losing their jobs if they openly question or criticize the actions of the administration. A group of us are calling local news stations to have them report on this story. So far, one has aired the story with hopefully more tomorrow. In addition, I also want to turn to other outside sources for help.

If you could post this story, send it to colleagues, or discuss this situation, it would be greatly appreciated. We live in an atmosphere where creative expression has been stifled, and any discussion will be reprimanded. Please help us if you can.

If you wish to contact the adminstrations office directly, the number is 1-479-967-0237. President Dr. Robert Brown's e-mail address is rcbrown@atu.edu. Please write or call to voice your opinion to add to our own.

Thank you for any help that you can give us.

Scott S.

You probably should take the poster's email address out because... well, you know.

According to the article linked, Assasssins has 'graphically violent scenes'. Really? Not in any version I've seen.

I can see where Assassins would be shocking to most people, but it's just too small-town-small-mind to cancel a performance because it might show some violence.

Actually, I was listening to the Roundabout Revival Cast album on Monday when I realized that it was Presidents Day and it made me chuckle.

I am going to hell.

A rather sweet retrospective on Rent by the original team.

Thanks for that!

QUOTE

I have to be honest — I barely remember that speech. I wasn't hanging on every word going, ''This guy's gonna die, and the show's gonna become huge.'' You know? He was talking. And I was like, ''Where's the wine?''

Oh, Adam. I love how freaking honest he is about like, not having profound thoughts at all, lol.

QUOTE

Martin: They were pretty quiet about it at first. I wasn't even aware until they were well into it. But there was a lot of hooking up. They weren't the only story going there.

oh man. Gossip-whore that I am, I want to know sooooooooo much.

And I admit, a tiny tin-hat part of me thinks Adam and Daphne hooked up once. I don't think they were in looooove or anything. But I guess if they HAD hooked up, they would have admitted it by now.

I also love the love to the overalls.

Saw South Pacific today. It was a lovely and entertaining production, but it could've used a wee bit more energy. Matthew Morrison taking his shirt off gets its own spotlight, which was nice, but he was a little cardboard. Paulo Szot (Emile de Becque) was excellent. I would definitely get the any cast recording that may result for his performance of "This Nearly Was Mine" alone.

And, damn, if that isn't one of the most beautiful and moving overtures in history, I don't know what is. Rodgers and Hammerstein were geniuses.

Aw, I have a sad, sad love for Matthew Morrison. Its so sad. It all comes down to his abs I think. That being said I wanted to see the production for the rapturous reviews its getting. The best revival of a musical tony is gonna be a battle what with this, and "Sunday in the Park with George" and "Gypsy".

My best friend from dance found out that Hinton Battle is the Co-Director/Choreographer for "Evil Dead: The Musical" and had a fangirl freak out. It was awesome. I was all, CALM YOURSELF.

OK, this is hilarious: on the broadway.com blog, yesterday there was a picture of Ted Danson and George Wendt, Danson smiling, both holding up empty beer glasses, but Wendt looked kinda grouchy. Not necessarily pissed off, just not smiling.

Today Glasses full and a huge smile on Wendt's face. Heh.

Hee!

That Gone with the Wind promo pic looks less like the poster, than the cover of a romance novel. I blame the chest hair.

I do cut them some slack for that poster - after all, the original would probably look cheesy to me if Gable and Leigh weren't so good looking and I didn't already like the movie.

The reviews for the musical seemed pretty lukewarm, but it can't be worse than this version of "Gone With the Wind."

Oh awesome. On May 8th, PBS is broadcasting the Lincoln Center limited engagement production of Camelot with Gabriel Byrne. Squee!

So, The Tony Award Nominations were announced. I'm sad that Matthew Morrison wasnt nominated if only because I'd have liked to see him in a tux, but he already has one nom and hes young. To me there were a few surprises though. Like Grease in best revival. Was it like the only other available option because, seriously? Its badness (especially in comparison to the other three nominees) is great. And I'm surprised Cry-Baby got in instead of Young Frankenstein, if only because the latter made a lot of money, supposedly. And I'm surprised Norbert Leo Butz didnt get in for "Is He Dead" because every review I read raved about him.