BWW CD Reviews: Masterworks Broadway's ED AMES ON BROADWAY is Simply NostalgiaAugust 1, 2014As the saying goes, "what's old is new again," and it seems that we cannot get enough of the 1960s these days. Recently, Masterworks Broadway ushered us back to the glory days of the American Camelot with their release of ED AMES ON BROADWAY, which is a one-disc album featuring Ed Ames' 1963 album OPENING NIGHT and 1966 album I CANNOT WISH YOU in their entirety.
BWW Reviews: Courtney Act's BOYS LIKE ME Exudes Heart and SuggestionJuly 31, 2014Before Courtney Act was an absolute sensation on LOGO's RuPaul's Drag Race's sixth season, she was shaking things up in her native Australia. With decadent vocal talent, mesmerizing stage presence, charisma, charm, and looks for days, Courtney Act is touring her torrid, one-woman tell-all BOYS LIKE ME, which packs as much heart as it does ribald suggestion.
BWW CD Reviews: Broadway Records' WHERE THE SKY ENDS: THE MUSIC OF MICHAEL MOTT Awakens DreamersJuly 30, 2014To be utterly candid, I had never heard of Michael Mott until the review copy of Broadway Records WHERE THE SKY ENDS: THE SONGS OF MICHAEL MOTT landed in my mailbox. I read over the press release, glanced over the track listing, and placed the album into my stereo. The tuneful melodies that breezed out of the speakers instantly enchanted me, and the seasoned musical theatre vocals that accompanied them left me in awe.
BWW CD Reviews: Jinkx Monsoon's THE INEVITABLE ALBUM is IrresistibleJuly 29, 2014Inspired by Bette Midler's THE DIVINE MISS M, the torch song albums of Marlene Dietrich and Peggy Lee, and a handful of contemporary female performers like Amanda Palmer, Regina Spektor, and Lady Rizo, Jinkx Monsoon's THE INEVITABLE ALBUM is a triumphant celebration of Jinkx Monsoon's gratifying personality and the delectable cabaret-inspired flavors that make this sensational performer tick.
BWW Reviews: NYMF's ZOMBIE STRIPPERS Needs Reworking Before ReanimationJuly 28, 2014The annual New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is a fertile ground for quirky, offbeat musicals, giving invaluable exposure to new projects. When I first heard that ZOMBIE STRIPPERS would be performing at NYMF this year, I couldn't help but get excited. The title alone offers enough titillating connotations to tantalize the brain, filling it with voluminous curiosity as to how a creative team makes a musical about strippers who happen to also be zombies. Unfortunately, the current end product leaves something to be desired.
BWW Single Review: Saycon Sengbloh's 'Everything' Keeps Your Summer HotJuly 28, 2014Broadway veteran Saycon Sengbloh isn't letting the early closing of HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME get her down. Ever since she caught the attention of theatergoers in AIDA and WICKED, her fans have followed her career with rapt attention. Like many of her peers, she has also been sharing her vocal talents with the pop music industry. Her latest single, "Everything," dropped earlier this week, and is a catchy dance hit that is sure to heat up your summer.
BWW Reviews: NYMF's BAYONETS OF ANGST is Raucous RevelryJuly 17, 2014Set in the present day on the porch of a swamp house in Mississippi, BAYONETS OF ANGST introduces audiences to a handful of old codgers who are partaking in their annual reunion. In fact, this is their 149th gathering, and each year the shrinking group gets together to relive their experiences during the American Civil War. As an audience, we are told to forget what we learned in history because these men were there. Over the next two hours, we are treated to a dizzying array of madcap, behind-the-scenes hilarity that turns history on its head.
BWW CD Reviews: Ghostlight Records' LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST (Original Cast Recording) is Addictive and CleverJuly 11, 2014Last summer, The Public Theater, Michael Friedman, and Alex Timbers reunited to gift New York City with a free production of LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Like their BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, the team used brilliant and inspired anachronisms to make the Shakespearean comedy relevant for modern audiences. They also did it as a musical. Now Ghostlight Records has released the audaciously quirky LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST (Original Cast Recording) for us all to enjoy.
BWW CD Reviews: Yellow Sound Label's HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL (World Premiere Cast Recording) Has Some DamageJuly 3, 2014Daniel Waters' quirky and deliciously dark 1989 film Heathers is a beloved cult classic known for catchy one-liners and its wonderfully subversive humor. Naturally, HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL garnered a lot of interest because of the film's reputation. However, once the World Premiere Cast Album was released, we all got a peek inside the peculiar musical. Sadly, the glimpses offered on the disc are largely disappointing and entirely underwhelming.
BWW CD Reviews: Jay Records' HIMSELF AND NORA (Original Off-Broadway Cast) is CaptivatingJune 24, 2014Based on the rocky romance shared by quintessential Irish wordsmith James Joyce and his muse, chambermaid Nora Barnacle, HIMSELF AND NORA enjoyed a successful run as part of NYMTF at the Theatre at St. Clement's in the summer of 2012. With a sparse cast of five, tautly constructed economical harmonies, and a small five member band, Jay Records' release of HIMSELF AND NORA (Original Off-Broadway Cast) excellently captures the heart and soul of this biographic musical.
BWW CD Review: San Francisco Symphony's WEST SIDE STORY is a TriumphJune 23, 2014When it comes to contemporary classics in American musical theatre, just the sheer mention of Leonard Bernstein's WEST SIDE STORY is enough to get any fan of the medium listening. His clever orchestrations, drive and ambition, and unique construction made the show a hallmark of the genre that is still adored and studied today.
BWW CD Reviews: A Second Take on GENTLEMAN'S GUIDEJune 22, 2014Back in April, I had the pleasure of reviewing A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER (Original Broadway Cast Recording). My initial thoughts were that the recording was witty and intriguing, but without the context of the show I couldn't really connect with it. Conversely, I got to see a recent performance of the Tony Award winning comedic musical. Upon revisiting the album, I can't shake most of the deliciously clever songs.
BWW Interviews: Donald C. Shorter Talks GENDEROSITYJune 14, 2014Have you ever wondered what it takes to transform? Are you curious what it is like when one becomes a drag queen? Are you curious about gender? If you answered yes or no to any of these questions, Donald C. Shorter's original one-man show GENDEROSITY is sure to entertain and enlighten you. Recently, I chatted with Shorter about his invigorating and fresh project and what audiences can expect from it.