David Clarke - Page 13

Following its successful Off-Broadway run at New York City's Theatre 80 in the Fall of 2014, LIBERTY: A MONUMENTAL NEW MUSICAL kicked off a crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo for their cast recording. Early in 2015 the cast of LIBERTY and its writers went into the studio at John Kilgore Sound & Recording to make a cast album. BroadwayWorld was invited in for a sneak peek and to hear some of the recording as it happened.

Playing her debut NYC solo show I Came From Jersey For This to a sold out house at 54 Below, Jessica Vosk took the intimate venue by storm. Dazzling audiences with her talent, energy, sincerity, and humor, she put up a perfectly crafted cabaret tribute to her journey from singing with her dad in the living room of their New Jersey home to landing roles on Broadway.

The funk soul of Motown is being modernized and reshaped by big name acts like Bruno Mars and Fitz and The Tantrums; however, no one is doing it quite like Amy Lynn & The Gunshow. Strip away the frills of a large record label, throw in a ton of sass, mix with wit and charisma, and garnish with an explosive horn section. That is the recipe for Amy Lynn & The Gunshow's style, and it leaves a whole lotta shakin' goin' on!

Celebrating the centennial of Frank Sinatra, Paulo Szot returns to 54 BELOW with a brand new show inspired by Antonio Carlos Jobim, the founding father of bossa nova. Unfortunately, the end product is not the enchanted evening we'd expect from the Tony Award winner.

For me, Anthony Newley is Matthew Mugg. It wouldn't be until 2015 that I discovered that Anthony Newley is responsible for some of my favorite music, and that he wrote a ton of material with Leslie Bricusse. This piqued my curiosity in Stage Door Records' release of ANTHONY NEWLEY SINGS " THE GOOD OLD BAD OLD DAYS!," which is an altogether fun and somewhat important album for historical reasons.

With the tagline "It Will Never Leave You," the much anticipated Broadway revival of SIDE SHOW closed at the St. James Theatre faster than most expected it to. Spanning 26 tracks and totaling 1 hour and 19 minutes worth of music, SIDE SHOW (Original 2014 Broadway Cast Recording) is an album that is sure to be stuck with you!

54 BELOW has a successful series of one-offs where a talented cast sings the music of a certain show or group. Last Saturday the popular venue hosted 54 BELOW Sings Heart. Channeling the cherished goddesses of rock with might and candor, the cast left the audience pumped and euphoric.

54 BELOW always books the best of the best talent. Therefore, it was no great surprise to see Jessica Vosk's name appear on their calendar. She gave a thrilling performance as Anita in San Francisco Symphony's production of WEST SIDE STORY, she was the only female swing in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, and now she's creating a role in FINDING NEVERLAND. Recently, I chatted with her about her debut NYC solo show and her growing star.

I adore well written scores and gorgeous orchestral pieces, so I was thrilled when THE ROOSEVELTS: AN INTIMATE HISTORY (Original Score) landed in my mailbox. This music was chosen and written to accompany the film by the same title by Ken Burns, and it also serves as a gorgeous slice of Americana.

Stearns Matthews, a 2015 Bistro Award winner for Outstanding Recording, celebrated the late 2014 release of his debut album Spark last night at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Giving an encore performance of his critically lauded Spark CD Release Show, the accomplished performer and three-time MAC Award nominee entertained audiences with his whimsical set and his dazzling and bright lyric baritone instrument.

It's mid-February and all the stores are filled with red hearts and chocolates in an effort to bamboozle us into thinking love is in the air. Frankly, it may still be too chilly for love to survive in the air. Despite this, Alysha Umphress and Joshua Henry heated up 54 BELOW earlier this week with their sizzling, jazzy cabaret Romantic Duets.

Since THE LAST FIVE YEARS' New York debut, this intimate musical about failed romance has been an evergreen favorite. Just in time for Valentine's Day audiences are being given the opportunity to fall in love with the material all over again. Today, Sh-K-Boom and Razor & Tie released the hotly anticipated THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), and the record is anything but disappointing.

The ensemble of the smash-hit musical Les Miserables has got to be one of the hardest working ensembles on Broadway. Last night this talented group impressed audiences by casting the wigs, dirt, and grime aside and singing the music that makes them tick at 54 BELOW.

In her current cabaret show at 54 BELOW, Marin Mazzie is taking audiences on a whirlwind ride through her formative years in Rockford, Illinois. She deftly interprets the hit music from the 1970s, making each of the iconic songs her own. With her brand of majestic power, dazzling belt, and her supple alto instrument, Mazzie enchants with her song selections and stories alike.

Original Cast Records is continuing to shed light on forgotten Broadway tunes with their Lost Broadway and More series. Most recently, they highlighted the overlooked tunes of the legendary Jerome Kern by releasing LOST BROADWAY AND MORE, VOLUME 6: JEROME KERN. The disc is a treasure trove of hit ditties from the early 20th century, and each gem is delightfully sung.

For Canfield and Kelly's From Broadway to Survivor cabaret, the charming couple shared with audiences their New York experiences, love story, and their vibrant talents. This made for a fun night of Broadway showmanship that amused the collected audience.

Kimberly Faye Greenberg, again playing the legendary Fanny Brice, released FABULOUS FANNY: THE SONGS & STORIES OF FANNY BRICE last summer. With deft skill, she brings Fanny Brice back to life on the recording, allowing modern audiences a chance to enjoy a taste of the woman who inspired the hit musical FUNNY GIRL.

While many are looking forward to the upcoming Broadway revival of THE KING AND I starting rehearsals, a controversial decision to cast a Caucasian actor as King Mongkut in Dallas Summer Musicals' forthcoming production is generating the opposite response. The Asian American Performers Action Coalition wrote an open letter to DSM expressing their disgust with the organization's choice to use the practice of yellowface.

Musical theater and pop music composer Scott Alan kicked off this week with incredible gusto, retuning to New York City stages after a year and a half. Monday's Simply Scott Alan concert marked the prolific and beloved artist's 54 BELOW debut, and served as a fantastic evening of wondrous music and dazzling performances. The concert was a celebration of some his most cherished tunes and his musical Home.

With Max von Essen returning to Broadway in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS at The Palace Theatre, it's the perfect time to dig up the concept cast albums for Jonathan David Sloate's THE NEW PICASSO. Spanning two discs, the music to this romantic fantasy piece is equal parts stirring and familiar.