David Clarke - Page 14

It is really no surprise to me that the first musical to open on Broadway in 2015 garnered impressive raves from New York critics. This smartly crafted piece of theatre candy is just sweet and sassy enough. One of the reasons why it is such a gem is because of its fantastically constructed score. Jason Robert Brown layers glitz and glamour on HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, but his trademark nuances and subtleties also add delightful zest and depth to this appealing score.

The closing cast of Broadway's ONCE assembled at the gorgeous Highline Ballroom for a night of music for Fare-Thee-Well ONCE. To kick the evening off, Ben Hope and his rollicking country band The Uptown Outfit performed music from their upcoming album. Ben Hope and The Uptown Outfit rocked the audience with their twang-coated spirit.

Currently wowing audiences eight times a week as the sassy and tenacious Cynthia Weil in BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, Anika Larsen recently released her debut solo album, SING YOU TO SLEEP. Sprinkling in subdued jazz, Anika Larsen invites us to loosen our ties, kick off our shoes, and cuddle up with her gentle crooning as we listen to the deliciously soothing SING ME TO SLEEP.

Canadian transplants and New York based theater artists AnimalParts, co-founded by Anthony Johnston and Nathan Schwartz, are bringing their latest play to life in New York. A QUIET SIP OF COFFEE: OR, THIS IS NOT THE PLAY WE'VE WRITTEN opens this weekend at New York City's Dixon Place. In anticipation of opening night, Anthony Johnston and I chatted about A QUIET SIP OF COFFEE.

In a market dominated largely by living legends, the young and up-and-coming composers musical theatre have a hard time breaking into the scene. However, that's not keeping Drew Gasparini from sharing his music wherever and whenever he can. Gasparini invited fans and newcomers to his ongoing party with KEEPIN' THE PARTY GOING at 54 BELOW on Monday, January 5, 2015.

Last August, the 12.14 Foundation premiered Michael Unger and Eric Svejcar's A ROCKIN' Midsummer Night's Dream. This week, the new musical comes to New York City at 54 BELOW. With a ton of energy and some serious vocal talent, the kids involved with the 12.14 Foundation and the Broadway vetted adults bring fabulous new life to William Shakespeare's classic tale of love and fairy mischief.

Alysha Umphress is giving audiences the world over a reason to rejoice in her talent. Seeing ON THE TOWN, I instantly fell in love with her plucky bravado and infectiously charismatic performance. That same energy and passion for performance is pristinely captured on Yellow Sound Label's I'VE BEEN PLAYED: ALYSHA UMPHRESS SWINGS JEFF BLUMENKRANTZ, making this album a sure-fire toe-tapping dazzler.

Last night, I attended the thrilling opening performance of Have Faith. Entering the quaint venue, I was fairly positive that a live performance of the album would be just as electrifying, if not more so, than the recorded tracks, and I'm ecstatic to report that Mary Testa, Michael Starobin, and cellist Alisa Horn absolutely exceeded my expectations and blew me away with their superb performances.

I was able to catch a performance of THE LAST SHIP during previews. By intermission I knew I was looking forward to a cast recording of the musical, but I was largely uninterested in seeing the second act. I stuck it out and left inspired by the music and the cast's performances but entirely unmoved by the clunky book by John Logan and Brian Yorkey.

To be perfectly candid, I found NBC's presentation of PETER PAN LIVE! to be completely unwatchable this past holiday season. However, my review copy of the soundtrack CD landed in my mailbox yesterday. The recording is making me rethink my abandoning the film in the middle of 'Hook's Tango.' Ultimately, Broadway Records' PETER PAN LIVE! (Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event) is nicely entertaining and quite charming.

Disney's hit musical adaptation of INTO THE WOODS has been drawing in large chunks of change at the box office and has captured the attention of the world. Luckily for score enthusiasts, Walt Disney Records released 1 hour and 38 minutes worth of musical material across 2 discs, which has been broken into 50 palatable tracks.

It's that time of year, and everyone is making their lists. For me, this task is always harder than it probably should be. I wrestle with myself and debate the merits of everything. I worry about who might get their feelings hurt, and whom I may accidentally overlook. So, for 2014, I promised myself to make a simple list of the 10 albums from 2014 that I simply couldn't get enough of. Naturally, that list is actually 15 items long. (Surprise!)

It seems like Christmas albums are truly a dime a dozen. Everyone has one, and most of them get relegated to the $4.99 bins at Target, Best Buy, and Wal-Mart the season after they come out. Fortunately for consumers, John Schneider and Tom Wopat have released HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, a Christmas album that is sure to become a staple in the holiday collection of any discerning music lover. With snazzy, jazzy arrangements, the electric duo is bringing back 'The Rat Pack' aura for our Holiday enjoyment.

The new musical VALLEY OF SONG opened to positive notices from critics. Left incomplete at Ivor Novello's death, Christopher Hassall finished the piece. The recording captures the spirit of classical musicals as the score abounds with the whimsy of Rodgers + Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe. Despite these merits, VALLEY OF SONG (Original Cast Recording) suffers some shortcomings.

Celebrated solo cabaret performer Stearns Matthews recently released his debut solo album SPARK. The record serves as a wonderful introduction to his earnest and soothing lyrical baritone instrument. Each of the 11 tracks on the album is a song most already know and love, piquing interest in SPARK. Yet, Stearns Matthews wins us over as he sings them in such a way that the numbers sound completely brand new again.

Two-time Tony nominee and Broadway sweetheart, Laura Osnes is charming patrons of 54 BELOW with her new cabaret show The Paths Not Taken. As she has done in the past at venues like Cafe Carlyle and even with pervious appearances at 54 BELOW, Osnes captivates audiences with her deft talent, bubbly charisma, and incandescent spirit as she takes us on a journey through the roles she didn't get or left behind.

This year, Ron Lytle released the original studio cast recording to his musical THE MAN WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS: A NEW OLD-FASHIONED MUSICAL. Like the made for TV CBS film, the World War I set musical is based on the true story of A.C. Gilbert. However, Ron Lytle tells the heartwarming holiday story with splashy old-fashioned Broadway tunes. The mirthful spirit of the production is captured on the recording, which left me curious to see the musical staged.

On December 8, 2014, Houston, Texas took 54 BELOW by storm during the inaugural Cuz We're F#cking Talented cabaret concert at the esteemed venue. Nestled in the basement of the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street in New York City, this packed to capacity 11:30 p.m. on a Monday night performance of the new series featured a mix of Broadway's and Houston's best talents belting and riffing for the sheer joy of killing it in live performance. Why? Well, why not?

Recently Ghostlight Records released the astounding original cast recording of VENICE. The Off-Broadway musical features a book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Sax and Rosen, and additional music by Curtis Moore. The cast album is quite possibly one of the most exciting recordings I have ever had the pleasure to listen to.

Having seen Mary Testa in a cabaret concert in Houston, I feel I had an idea of what to expect from her and Michael Starobin's album HAVE FAITH. While I expected it to be eccentrically eclectic and haunting, nothing could have prepared me for how it was beautifully hypnotizing and simultaneously so unlike anything I've ever heard before. The unique album utilizes well-known pop songs (hits from The Beach Boys to Alanis Morissette) and songs written by William Finn and Michael John LaChiusa to explore thoughts on faith and doubt in ways that are equally alluring and unexpected.