Brittany is currently a journalism student at Ryerson. She spends her time reading, writing, and watching BBC. She strives to expand her knowledge of theater, literature, and television production. Brittany writes about a variety of subjects not limited to fashio, theatre, and entertainment. She may live in Toronto, but her heart is in NYC. Her work can also be seen at Andpop.com, Popwrapped.tumblr.com, and Fashionotes.com
Lana Pennino-Smith of Long Island, New York and her 'clamily' bring you HAPPY AS CLAMS, a family friendly album that preaches kid-friendly messages in a fun, and silly way.
With music by Galt MacDermot and book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, HAIR has been around for years. It's been around long enough to earn a Tony win for best revival, and take that revival on a tour. Wavestage's production of HAIR channeled everything audiences have come to know and love of the iconic show.
In his career, Levi Kreis has released a total of six albums. Not only does Kreis have four studio albums, a live album, and an album of demos under his belt, but he also has a shiny Tony Award somewhere at home. Of course, Kreis is too humble to let it all go to his head. In fact, Kreis needs to be reminded to look back some times to recognize his major successes. Kreis just released his newest studio album IMAGINE PARADISE, and to positive reception. The album founded by Kickstarter allowed Kreis to channel fan support to make music after a four-year hiatus.
Our favourite childhood vampire rabbit is back, and ready to sing. BUNNICULA opened Off-Broadway, with Music and Lyrics by Sam Davis and Mark Waldrop and a book by Charles Busch. This creative team brought the childhood book by Deoborah and James Howe, Bunnicula, and it's accompanied family fun to the stage to mostly positive reviews. The original cast recording, produced by Yellow Sound Label, is just as quirky and hysterical as one would expect of the adaption of the beloved children's novel.
Lindsay Mendez has taken New York by storm over the past two years. She has received critical acclaim for her role as Rose in DOGFIGHT, and is currently starring in WICKED at the Gershwin Theater. That's just her day job, as Mendez recently released the album THIS TIME with her music partner Marco Paguia.
Audra McDdonald dropped GO BACK HOME, her first solo album in seven years, on May 21. The album produced by Nonesuch records brings McDonald to her roots as it features classic songs by iconic songwriters like LaChiusa, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and Stephen Sondheim. McDonald has a personal connection to the tracks she chose. She told Nonsesuch of the songs featured on her album 'If there were a Broadway show written about my life, especially the last seven years, this would be the soundtrack.'
AVENUE Q is quite honestly Sesame Street for adults. The Tony Award winning show is without a doubt worthy of it's award winning satus with it's quirky puppet characters, hysterically explicit music, and heart warming plot line. The Lower Ossington Theatre's production of the show encapsulates the mood and feel of the show astoundingly well, and with phenomenal casting.
With book and lyrics by Bill Russel, music by Peter Menick, and direction by Andy Sandberg, Off-Broadway's THE LAST SMOKER IN AMERICA is full of laughs and wit. The show's recording is representative of it's crude, witty, and laugh out loud nature. It features tracks one after the other that will have you chuckling but also tapping your toes.
Levi Kreis is a rock star with an electric sound and vibe. With his most recent studio album IMAGINE PARADISE, he channels a pop/techno/soul sound that resembles that of Robin Thicke, George Michael, and Jamiroquai. IMAGINE PARADISE is Kreis' fourth album, but his first in four years. After a brief hiatus, Kreis has made it clear with this Kickstarter founded record that he is back and stronger than ever.
I'M BLUE, SKIES is actor, singer, and songwriter Cheyenne Jackson's (Behind The Candelabra, 30 Rock, Glee) first full-length album of original music. Released today, the record is produced by Thomas 'Tawgs' Salter and The ELEV3N. Jackson co-wrote the tracks on the record, collaborating with the likes of pop songwriter SIA, Chris Braide, Stevie Aiello, and Charlotte Sometimes.
Harry Connick Jr. is a singer, actor, performer, musician, and writer. Over the course of his extensive career, he has been performed on Broadway both in solo concerts and iconic musicals. Connick proved that he can do more than sing when he wrote for the stage, having written the Broadway show Thou Shalt Not. The musician who starred in Broadway's The Pajama Game alongside Kelli O'Hara has sold over 28 million albums. He recently released his newest album, Every Man Should Know, adding to his already extensive discography.
Glee's Matthew Morrison's voice is so smooth - it's like butter. His debut album was full of iconic songs by seasoned musicians like Elton John and Sting, but his spanking new sophomore album is packed with covers of classic Broadway show tunes. Morrison has appeared in Broadway shows like South Pacific and light at the Piazza, so the title of his new album Where It All Began is very approrpiate - because Broadway really is where he began.
With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), and a book by Roger O. Hirson, Pippin is the classic story, loosely based on historical figures, about a prince (Pippin) and his journey to find meaning and his self-identity. Pippin is the 31st longest running show on Broadway, and after 40 years of not being on the stage it has been revived to critical acclaim. The revival directed by Diana Paulus (Hair) has nabbed 10 Tony nominations.
Conceived by Jonathan Larson, Murder Ballad is the story of a twisted love triangle. With a book by Blackburn Prize Winner Susan Smith and music and lyrics by rock singer Julia Nash, Murder Ballad is an electrifying story that captivates audiences through perfectly executed songs.
Kinky Boots is a dynamic musical based on the 2005 British movie of the same name. The show, with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein, has 13 Tony nominations under it's belt, and has come out to stellar audience reception.
Kerrigan-Lowdermilk LIVE brings us the innovative tracks composed and written by the duo Kerrigan and Lowdermilk. The album is a live recording of a concert that features music written by Kait Kerrigan and composed by Brian Lowdermilk, and performed by recognizable Broadway performers.
Chris Colfer has written a childrens novel as well as a young adult novel, and Jane Lynch has written a memoir. Now, Jenna Ushkowitz is following suit as another Glee cast member dabbling in writing. The Glee star released her debut novel 'Choosing Glee: 10 Rules to Finding Happiness and the Real You,' on May 14 through St. Martin's press. For her writing debut, Ushkowitz took a road different from Lynch and Colfer. Instead of a memoir or novel, she opted to write more of a self-help type book that encourages readers to reach their full potential and most importantly, find happiness.
Rent is Jonathan Larson's musical about a group of friends struggling to make ends meet. In his critically acclaimed show, he tells the story of love, loss, and struggle. Larson tells the story through the experiences and relationships of his colorful and complex characters whom audiences have grown to know and love. In the Lower Ossington Theatre's production of this award winning show, these iconic characters are portrayed to a tee. The production manages to stay true to the legendary show while also taking artistic license. While elements of the show, especially characterization, mirrors the original, the main place where artistic license is taken is with the character of Roger.
The show is the winner of two Drama Desk Awards, a Grammy Award, and four Tony awards including Best Original Score and Best Musical. Conceived by Miranda, In The Heights is groundbreaking in the way that it brings together two cultures, and how it represents Latin American culture in New York.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, which recently nabbed nine Tony nominations, has released its original Broadway cast recording. The musical follows the classic story of Cinderella, a maid to her stepfamily who spends a romantic night out with the Prince that is cut short when the clock strikes midnight. Cinderella leaves the Prince with nothing but a glass slipper, leading him to conduct an extensive search for his mystery lady.
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