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BOOKS:
CD YOU OUGHTA BE ON BROADWAY MAKES YOU THE BROADWAY SENSATION!
Named PARENTING PICK of April 2004 by Parenting Magazine and 2004 PREFERRED CHOICE AWARD by Creative Child Magazine
New York, NY -- You hear one of those wonderful hit songs from a Broadway musical, and you start singing it or humming it or just tapping your foot to it. Somewhere deep inside all of us is the urge to sing, and the desire to sound as good as the singers who recorded the song. Now you can. A new CD called "You Oughta Be On Broadway! They Sing, You Sing! A Richard Rodgers Collection for Ladies of All Ages" is the answer to the aspiring singer's dream.
Producer Jackie Presti has recorded 12 hit songs from such top Richard Rodgers' Broadway productions as CAROUSEL, THE SOUND OF MUSIC and SOUTH PACIFIC with leading singers from Broadway and theater and full musical backup. Then she recorded the same 12 songs without the vocal, but with the same musical backup. That's where you come in. You sing the song with the same backup music/vocals the professional singer has, but this time it's YOU.
Here are the singers and the songs they perform on the CD:
The orchestrations feature real musicians and real instruments. The rhythm section includes Ethan Fein on guitar; John Serry on piano; Ricky Martinez on drums; and Jeff Ganz on bass. Andrea Andros plays viola; Rick Dolan and Sean Carney play violins; Eileen Folson is on cello; Gary Keller plays saxophone, clarinet and flute; and Greg Ruvolo (father of five-year old Samantha Lina Ruvolo, who sings "Edelweiss") plays flugelhorn.
This hotly-anticipated theatrical event is directed by Tony Award Winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out), features musical staging by Tony Award Winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who's Tommy, How To Succeed.), music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award Winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt), with book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething"). Wicked is based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire and is presented on Broadway by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
This untold story of the witches of Oz features two young and gifted girls in the land somewhere over the rainbow, long before Dorothy dropped in. One is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. The other is clever and passionate, though an outsider with emerald-green skin. Wicked chronicles their journey, telling how these unlikely friends ultimately become 'Glinda the Good' and the infamous 'Wicked Witch of the West.'
Wicked's stellar cast includes Tony Award Winner Kristin Chenoweth (You're A Good Man Charlie Brown) as Glinda, Idina Menzel (Rent) as Elphaba, Oscar & Tony Award Winner Joel Grey (Cabaret) as The Wizard, Carole Shelley (The Elephant Man) as Madame Morrible and Norbert Leo Butz (Thou Shall Not, The Last Five Years) as the love interest Fiyero.
Decca Broadway is committed to recording the best in contemporary Broadway musicals and to offering the finest reissues of classic performances and historic original cast albums. Decca Broadway currently holds the largest cast recording library available in North America, dating back to the first complete original cast recording, Oklahoma! in 1943. Past Decca Broadway releases include: Carousel (1945) starring John Raitt, Porgy and Bess original 1942 cast and Annie Get Your Gun (1946) starring Ethel Merman, Guys and Dolls (1950), Man of La Mancha (1965), to name a few. Recent Decca Broadway musical cast recordings consist of the Phil Ramone-produced, Flaherty and Ahrens' Seussical, Michael John LaChiusa's The Wild Party, the Grammy nominated chart-topping blockbuster Mamma Mia and, most recently, The Boy From Oz starring Hugh Jackman.
Decca Broadway is proud to release of the Original Cast Recording of The Boy From Oz, produced for record by Phil Ramone. The CD now available. This glittering new Broadway musical officially opened on October 16th 2003.
The production features stage and screen star Hugh Jackman as the incomparable Peter Allen. The Boy From Oz is directed by Phillip Wm. McKinley and choreographed by Joey McKneely, with book by Martin Sherman (Bent) and features the music and lyrics of international pop superstar Peter Allen and others. The musical is presented on Broadway by Ben Gannon and Robert Fox.
THE BOY FROM OZ tells the dazzling, funny and heart-breaking story of the great entertainer Peter Allen, from his humble beginnings growing up in the Australian outback through a meteoric rise to fame as an international star who would go on to sell out week-long engagements at Radio City Music Hall. Singing in country pubs from age 11, Peter Allen survived family tragedy to become a local TV star at age 16. Discovered by Judy Garland, he married her daughter Liza Minnelli and went on to become a beloved performer and an Oscar-winning songwriter.
Joining Jackman in The Boy From Oz as the colorful characters in Allen’s life are newcomer Stephanie J. Block as Liza Minnelli, Beth Fowler (Tony Nominee for Sweeney Todd) as his mother, Michael Mulheren (Tony Nominee for Kiss Me, Kate) will play his father, Dick Woolnough, and Peter Allen's manager/promoter Dee Anthony. Isabel Keating (Helen Hayes Award Winner for Indian Ink) as Allen’s mentor and mother-in-law Judy Garland, Tony Award Winner Jarrod Emick (Damn Yankees) as Allen’s companion and Mitchel David Federan (The Music Man) as the young Peter.
Decca Broadway is committed to recording the best in contemporary Broadway musicals and to offering the finest reissues of classic performances and historic original cast albums. Decca Broadway currently holds the largest cast recording library available in North America, dating back to the first complete original cast recording, Oklahoma! in 1943. Past Decca Broadway releases include: Carousel (1945) starring John Raitt, Porgy and Bess original 1942 cast and Annie Get Your Gun (1946) starring Ethel Merman, Guys and Dolls (1950), Man of La Mancha (1965), to name a few. Recent Decca Broadway musical cast recordings consist of the Phil Ramone-produced, Flaherty and Ahrens’ Seussical, Michael John LaChiusa’s The Wild Party, the Grammy nominated chart-topping blockbuster Mamma Mia, and the new Broadway production, Wicked.
"Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast)"
Marc Shaiman
More contemporary Broadway musicals
OTHER NEW AND NOTABLE CDS
For a crash course in Broadway's recent sounds, give the anthology
"Absolute Broadway II" a spin. And for another great example of a
contemporary musical from the Great White Way, check out "Thoroughly
Modern Millie," a favorite at the 2002 Tony Awards.
"Ultimate Broadway II: The Very Best of Broadway Now [CAST RECORDING]"
Various Artists
"Thoroughly Modern Millie: Original Broadway Cast Recording"
Jeanine Tesori
CLASSIC MUSICALS
Expand your Broadway collection with our selection of classic
musicals, such as "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Oklahoma!"
"Fiddler on the Roof: 30th Anniversary Edition (Original Motion
Picture Soundtrack) [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [EXTRA TRACKS]
[SOUNDTRACK]"
Jerry Bock
"Oklahoma! (1955 Film Soundtrack) [SOUNDTRACK]"
Richard Rodgers
More classic Broadway selections
MUSICAL REVIVALS
"Flower Drum Song (2002 Broadway Revival Cast)"
Richard Rodgers
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
"Tell Me on a Sunday (2003 London Revival Cast) [CAST RECORDING]"
Andrew Lloyd Webber
STEPHEN SONDHEIM
"Company - A Musical Comedy (1995 Broadway Revival Cast) [CAST
RECORDING] [CAST RECORDING]"
Stephen Sondheim
German chanteuse Ute Lemper is set to reveal her most challenging and alluring album to date, But One Day... A striking listening experience for new and old admirers, But One Day… is Lemper’s first-ever recording to feature four self-penned songs, plus cabaret classics by Kurt Weill, Hans Eisler and Jacques Brel that have long been highlights of her dynamic live performances. In addition to the new CD, fans will be treated to a DVD release --
Ute Lemper is a true renaissance woman who has proved her multi-faceted talent with her acclaimed recordings and live performances, theatrical star turns in such Broadway hits as Chicago, in film and even on canvas with her fearless painting. But One Day… is a return to Ute’s roots with interpretations of theatre songs, cabaret, Kurt Weill and French chanson fans have long clamored for her to record. Ute comments, "so many people have asked me, particularly after hearing them in concert, whether I have recorded this repertoire," says Lemper. "So, I have basically recorded some of these most gorgeous songs, treasures of the material I perform live, and brought them into more 'arranged' versions." Highlights include Weill’s “September Song,” Brel’s, “Ne me quitte pas,” and Piazzolla’s “Bueons Aires.”
Indeed, with But One Day... Lemper officially joins Tom Waits and Nick Cave among others on the list of current songwriters influenced by Weill and his contemporaries. In the simmering "Lena" (featuring violinist Laurie Anderson), the elegant "Little Face," and others, Lemper tells deeply personal stories and paints vivid character portraits. The influence of contemporary songwriting on 'But One Day...' follows in the spirit of Lemper's 2000 album Punishing Kiss, on which she performed songs written for her by Waits, Cave, Elvis Costello, Neil Hannon and Philip Glass. Rolling Stone called her a “raw-edged rock & roll cabaret diva,” while The Wall Street Journal called her singing “superb.”
Recording old favorites and new original songs in the studio reconciled traditional theatrical material and contemporary pop stylings, creating a uniquely cohesive whole. Throughout Lemper's originals and her interpretations of other composers, her passionate and sultry voice is accompanied by swelling strings and keyboards and hints of pop rhythms, electric guitar and synths. The edgy arrangements bridge the gap between early 20th century cabaret and contemporary sounds. Audiences can see Ute Lemper perform a variety of new and old repertoire when she tours in the spring of 2003.
MUSIClassical.com
This new CD marks a first in the recording industry. Rather than simply singing along to a singer on the radio, you hear a top singer interpret the song--then you get to do it yourself with the same musical arrangement in the background. It puts YOU on BROADWAY!
With multiple Tony nominations, the new musical "Hairspray" is one
of the year's favorite offerings. (Actual Tony winners will be
announced in the annual ritual at Radio City Music Hall on June 8.)
Check out the compilation "Broadway Today" and see more selections
from our list of contemporary Broadway musicals.
A NEW MUSICAL BY STEPHEN SCHWARTZ & WINNIE HOLZMAN
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY GREGORY MAGUIRE
DECCA BROADWAY RELEASES ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING
Decca Broadway is proud to release the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Wicked, produced for record by Stephen Schwartz, the show's composer and lyricist. The CD will be available in stores mid-December, date TBA. Wicked officially opened on Broadway October 30.
ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING “THE BOY FROM OZ”
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Some of the most exciting work on Broadway in recent years has been
revivals of musicals, such as "Flower Drum Song" by the legendary
team of Rodgers & Hammerstein. See our list of outstanding
Broadway musical revivals.
more, here
Love him or hate him, Andrew Lloyd Webber is a giant of
contemporary musical theater. The new release "Tell Me on a Sunday"
is an update of a song cycle by Webber and lyricist Don Black. It
was first produced in London in 1982 and is one of Sir Lloyd
Webber's most rocking scores.
more, here
There's no question Broadway wouldn't be where it is today without
the multifaceted genius of Stephen Sondheim. His creations bridge
the end of the golden age of Broadway with contemporary concerns.
Check out our selection of Sondheim titles, such as "Company" and
"Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim."
Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill and Michael Nyman -- combining two previous VHS releases never before
Ute Lemper Weill and Nyman available on DVD. Both CD and DVD will be released on March 11, 2003 from Decca Records/Universal Classics Group.
Web sites
DreamWorks Records released the Broadway cast recording of Baz Luhrmann's
theatrical production of
Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme Highlights
Puccini's beloved 1896 opera. With David Frost producing the
Original Broadway Cast Recording - La Boheme was recorded at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch as
Baz Luhrmann's stage production opened Dec. 8 at the Broadway Theatre in New York
The disc reflects the show in three unique arrangements, each featuring separate casts performing
the principal roles of the poet Rodolfo and his fragile lover Mimi. The trio of casts is required due to
the punishing vocal demands of a Broadway schedule. Similarly, two sets of performers will play Musetta
and Marcello. Selected from 3,000 hopefuls, the performers are an international collection of world-class
singer-actors. Interestingly, Luhrmann directed opera before turning to film, and first tackled Puccini's
tragic tale of Parisian bohemians at the Sydney Opera House in 1990, at the age of 28.
LibraryPreviews.com
Advancing Independent Music
Music Previewer, editor
