New Ghostlight Records Release: John & Jen

[sephyr]

Just in case anyone is interested in this Lippa score. It seems like it's good. You can buy it on Itunes. Here's the write-up from the site:

"A truly original musical that takes a look at the complexities of relationships between brothers and sisters and parents and children, set against the background of a changing America between 1950 and 1990, JOHN & JEN is a gem of a show brimming with intelligence, wit and beautiful melodies.

This is the story of Jen and her relationships with the two Johns of her life: her younger brother, who was killed in Vietnam, and his namesake, her son who is trying to find his way in a confusing world. With a cast of only two people, JOHN & JEN is a tour-de-force for two actors who take them from childhood, through adolescence and beyond. JOHN & JEN is a musical about connections, commitments and the healing of the human heart.

For information on licensing John & Jen at your theater or school visit mtishows.com.

This album is not available on physical CD. Please download from your favorite digital outlet"

http://sh-k-boom.com/johnandjen.shtml

[AC126748]

Not really a new release, technically; it's a 20-year-old, out-of-print cast recording that Sh-K-Boom is re-releasing. Also, it's digital-download only.

The show has a few good tunes ("It Took Me A While" and "Just Like You" come to mind immediately), and more than a few duds. The cast (Carolee Carmello and James Ludwig) sell the material well, though.

[sephyr]

I just got the email and used their heading. I've seen this cast recording online before. The plot sounds interesting. Oh and Carolee Carmello is great anyway! I wonder if anybody got to see this live and what they thought of it?

[sephyr]

I just got the email and used their heading. I've seen this cast recording online before. The plot sounds interesting. Oh and Carolee Carmello is great anyway! I wonder if anybody got to see this live and what they thought of it?

[sephyr]

repost!

[themysteriousgrowl]

Huh. Very curious! I've been interested in this show since stumbling upon the recording 10 years ago. I'm not a big Lippa fan in general, but this score really shines in spots, and its unabashed sentimentality hits me hard from time to time. Maybe it's because I have an older sister myself.

But as AC says, it's more than worth it for the performances, especially Carolee Carmello.

[AC126748]

sephyr, I saw the original production back in 1995 (hard to believe it's been almost twenty years). It played at the now-defunct Lamb's Theatre in midtown. I was still pretty young at the time, but I remember it being quite moving and effective, while also dipping into moments of heavy sentimentality as growl suggests. As I said earlier, the score has some really wonderful musical, and some songs that make me cringe. I have the cast recording, though, and do still listen to it from time to time.

It was the first time I saw Carolee Carmello, too, and I've pretty much been obsessed with her ever since. She was pretty noticeably pregnant when I saw the show and left shortly thereafter--Michele Pawk replaced her, and then it closed.