In the spring Broadway will see a new production of Damn Yankees, the first one in over 30 years, and not only that but the book will be revised to move the 1950s musical into the beginning of the 21st century. I guess that’s to make it more relevant? Whatever. As long as they don’t … Continue reading Those Were the Good Old Days
Theatre
My Fair Ladies
There are several complete performances of the musical My Fair Lady available on YouTube. I’ve sampled the ones that I could find (YouTube’s search function is awful so I can’t promise that I found them all), and I picked three that I think might be worth your attention, assuming you enjoy the musical art form that … Continue reading My Fair Ladies
My Fair Philly – Part 2
Back in the 1950s musicals played a much larger part in popular culture. When My Fair Lady finally opened in New York and the original cast album was released (in monophonic only, as stereo was only beginning to gain traction; a stereo recording was made and released a year or so later), it was the … Continue reading My Fair Philly – Part 2
My Fair Philly – Part 1
Before the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady opened in New York City in 1956, it had a tryout period, first in New Haven and then a four week run in Philadelphia’s Erlanger Theatre. The Erlanger Theatre was located on the northwest corner of 21st and Market Streets where it opened in 1927 as … Continue reading My Fair Philly – Part 1
Alan, Angie, and Clarke
There are a couple of recent Fresh Air episodes that I want to highlight. First, there’s a retrospective episode of interviews from several years ago with Alan Cumming and Angela Lansbury. Cumming talks about his appearance in Caberet among other things, and the Lansbury interview is from 1980, so she’s talking about her role in Sondheim’s … Continue reading Alan, Angie, and Clarke
How the Story Grew Redux
I’ve previously written about seeing a senior class play in Richland in March 1958, where three one act plays were performed, although I only recall the first one entitled How the Story Grew. Briefly it involved a series of women spreading a simple story about a new neighbor moving into town, with the story becoming more … Continue reading How the Story Grew Redux
January 2, 1920
Isaac Asimov didn’t know exactly when he was born. As he wrote in his autobiography: The date of my birth, as I celebrate it, was January 2, 1920. It could not have been later than that. It might, however, have been earlier. Allowing for the uncertainties of the times, of the lack of records, of … Continue reading January 2, 1920
Janus Redux
Quote of the day: Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.—Jack Benny Not long ago I recalled that when I was writing about my community theater acting appearance in the play Janus, I had stumbled upon the information that Betty White and her new husband Allen … Continue reading Janus Redux
Elsa and Max
Quote of the day: Middle age is when you go to bed at night and hope you feel better in the morning. Old age is when you go to bed at night and hope you wake up in the morning.—Groucho Marx Having used some excerpts from The Sound of Music in my little Sondheim video, I … Continue reading Elsa and Max
Sondheim’s “Our Time” Vamp
Quote of the day: When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half.—Gracie Allen Last summer—and by “last summer” I mean the summer of 2024, not this past summer, but you know, the summer of last year, but that’s a rather ambiguous phrase and different folks ascribe … Continue reading Sondheim’s “Our Time” Vamp