Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music (The Fourth Wall) - by Julian Woolford
Often dismissed as kitsch sentimentalism, The Sound of Music (1959) has proven enduringly popular and surprisingly influential, both within the field of musical theatre and the wider world. The Broadway production won five Tony Awards, the London production became the longest-running West End musical, and the movie version became the highest-grossing film of all time. Over sixty years it has become a cultural icon, with wildly shifting significance in different cultures, but the stage musical has often been eclipsed and altered by the popularity of the film.
In this series of short essays, the stage musical is re-examined from seven different perspectives, revealing the ways in which it continues to impact the twenty first century. Julian Woolford examines how the musical heralded the end of an era on Broadway; its reinvention of history and biography; how the film version has influenced future stage productions and the ways in which it put child performers centre stage paving the way for modern musicals such as Billy Elliott and Matilda.
The final three chapters consider how, nearly 60 years after its stage debut, the musical has a direct impact on the modern world, through its recent iterations as event (television casting shows, ‘sing-a-long’ versions), through Salzburg’s recent embracing of the musical after years of ambivalence, and finally looks at The Sound of Music in the Middle East, where it has become a symbol of antifundamentalism.
Hadestown: Live from London – the original London cast album for Tony and Grammy Award-winning “Best Musical” Hadestown – has been released as a limited-edition deluxe gatefold “pop-up” vinyl. Learn more!
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BroadwayWorld is excited to debut the exclusive track 'Mama Ma' from the world premiere recording of the National Theatre production of Phaedra. Listen to it now.
A Kickstarter campaign has launched to raise money for the upcoming star-studded concept album of the new musical, The Fitzgeralds of St. Paul. Learn more about the album and see how to contribute!
Lending her voice to the audiobook is none other than Stephanie J. Block, who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Cher in The Cher Show. BroadwayWorld is very excited to bring you an exclusive excerpt from the book- Chapter 2, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. Listen here!
On Friday, February 28, 2025, New York-based German composer Reiko Füting will release his fifth portrait album, distantViolinSound, on New Focus Recordings.
The York Theatre Company will release an original cast recording for its World Premiere production of Welcome to the Big Dipper, a new musical comedy based on a true event. Learn more!
The Ucky Mucky Duck by Kayla Michiels, illustrated by Leesa Link, is now available to entertain and enchant children with a playful story of curiosity, mischief, and learning to listen.
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Milan Records has released QUEER (ORIGINAL SCORE) featuring music by two-time Academy Award® winners TRENT REZNOR and ATTICUS ROSS for director Luca Guadagnino’s new film. Listen to it now.
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PS CLASSICS will release a new album from award-winning musical storyteller Ari Axelrod. A Place for Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway will be available on CD and digital formats. Learn more!
The Wicked movie is not the only Ozian content that consumers are enjoying. As the popularity of the film surges to an all-time high, readers are also flocking to Gregory Maguire's original 1995 novel for which the musical and film are based.
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Grammy and Tony nominee and Emmy winner Liz Callaway will release her new holiday single “There’s Still My Joy,” on Friday, December 6, 2024, on all digital platforms, including iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music.
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Michael Ball and Alfie Boe latest joint venture, an album titled, 'Together At Home', has hit the #1 spot on the official UK Albums Chart, making it their fourth album to do so.