Beware the Ides of March with 15 Shakespeare Showtunes

By: Mar. 15, 2015
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"If music be the food of love, play on." Even before the invention of the musical comedy (more on that later), William Shakespeare knew the importance of music in telling stories on stage. For our March feature, my colleague Jeff Walker and I thought that instead of marking the Ides of March with songs about murder, betrayal, and fate, we would focus on the synergy between showtunes and Shakespeare.

So check out our list of 15 (Ides, get it) showtunes inspired by the Bard of Stratford-Upon-Avon.

1) "Tonight" from WEST SIDE STORY | 1957
by: Jeff Walker | @jeffwalker66

Two musical masters, Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, take on Shakespeare for their adaptation of ROMEO AND JULIET. This song is doubly appropriate since- spoiler alert! - fate and circumstances doom young lovers Tony and Maria just like the counterparts from Verona. There are many versions of "Tonight" out there, but I fell in love with this one from the uniquely British form of entertainment, the BBC Proms. Broadway (and London's) lovely and talented Sierra Boggess is joined by British tenor Julien Ovenden for a concert performance with a magnificent orchestra.

Video: Sierra Boggess and Julien Ovenden at "The Broadway Sound BBC Proms 2012"

2) "Night Letter" from TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA | 1972
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

Quick, what won the Tony for Best Musical in 1972, GREASE or FOLLIES? Give up? It's a trick question, it was TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, Galt MacDermont's follow-up to HAIR (more on that below). The show interrupted what would have been a Sondheim three-peat, had FOLLIES won; The Master took home the trophy in '71 for COMPANY and '73 for A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.

The original Broadway cast starred Raul Julia and Clifton Davis as the titular two gentlemen, and featured two nobodies in the ensemble named Stockard Channing and Jeff Goldblum. In 2005, the Public Theatre remounted the show in its original home at Central Park's Delacourt Theatre with a cast including Norm Lewis, Oscar Isaac, Rosario Dawson, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and more. Though it is rarely performed, other than as an oddity today, some of the songs by MacDermont and John Guare (who wrote the lyrics) hold up fairly well over 40 years later.

Video: Renée Elise Goldsberry and Norm Lewis in the Public Theatre's 2005 Shakespeare in the Park production

3) "Fear No More" from THE FROGS | 1974
by: Jeff Walker | @jeffwalker66

Sondheim meets Shakespeare. How good is that? In this song from THE FROGS, pretty good. Sondheim set to music a song from Shakespeare's CYMBELINE for the 1974 musical adaptation of the Greek comedy THE FROGS. Ever since I heard this song sung by George Hearn for a Sondheim tribute concert back in the 1980s, it has remained one of my favorite musical theatre songs, period. I know the singer in the video is not George Hearn, but Raleigh-based performer Ian Finley does a lovely version of this song.

Video: Ian Finley

4) "Love Me Tender" and "Burnin' Love" from ALL SHOOK UP | 2004
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

I struggled a little bit with whether or not to include a song from this show or not. Obviously, other than the fact that they both often deal with the varying emotions that love inspires, there doesn't seem to be much connection between old-time Rock 'n' Roll and Elizabethan drama. However, this ultimate jukebox musical, with a book by Tony-winner Joe DiPietro, weaves The King's music with The Bard's story. In ALL SHOOK UP, Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT is transported to 1950's small-town America and interpolates many of Elvis Pressley's biggest hits.

While that might seem like an odd fit, the show is surprisingly entertaining, and the original Broadway cast featured some powerhouse performers; Cheyenne Jackson, Jenn Gambatese, Nikki M. James, Curtis Holbrook, and more.

Video: Cheyenne Jackson, Jenn Gambatese, and the Original Broadway Cast from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

5) "Sing for Your Supper" from THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE | 1938
by: Jeff Walker | @jeffwalker66

Witty, breezy, and fun is one way to describe the 1938 Rodgers and Hart musical comedy THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, based on THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, one of Shakespeare's zaniest plots. Even though the musical was still set in ancient times, the music takes on the sound and harmonies that were the hallmark of Broadway and popular song of the late-1930s - swing. At the time a close harmony female trio, the Boswell Sisters, were all the rage, so Rodgers and Hart gave the world this Boswellian gem. The video is from a Rodgers and Hart retrospective from a few years back. Fans of Broadway performers will certainly recognize this trio of ladies, I hope.

Video: Rebecca Luker, Debbie Shapiro Gravitte and Christine Ebersole, from "The Rodgers & Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty"

6) "Patience" from ILLYRIA | 2003
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

Like ALL SHOOK UP, this show by Peter Mills musicalizes TWELFTH NIGHT, though with original songs. I first saw the show at the now defunct Georgia Shakespeare in 2012. Mills' script and songs wonderfully maintain the heart and humor that have made this one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies. What's almost surprising, in this day and age of reimagined adaptation, is that Mills, and co-adaptor Cara Reichel, maintained the Elizabethan setting, and crafted music that seems to not only fit that setting, but still sounds modern.

Though the show has never been on Broadway, it has become increasingly popular in educational and regional theatres since its 2002 premiere.

Video: Kate Baldwin at a Kennedy Center performance with Peter Mills on piano

7) "They Live in You" from THE LION KING | 1998
by: Jeff Walker | @jeffwalker66

THE LION KING? Well, sure, since it is loosely based on HAMLET. Plus it's a phenomenal musical. Early in the show, King Mufasa shares with young Simba thoughts of his heritage and ancestry in the beautiful song "They Live in You." Later, the young adult Simba is reminded of his family once again. Fate - and evil brother Scar - was not kind to Mufasa, but Simba learns to accept his legacy and take his place on Pride Rock. The original cast of THE LION KING shared a medley of "They Live in You" on THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW back when it first opened.

Video: Samuel L. Wright, Scott Irby-Ranniar, Jason Raize, and Tsidii Le Loka from the Original Broadway Company on THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW

8) LOVE LABOUR'S LOST | 2013
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

This one is in heavy rotation on my iPhone, and not just because one of the show's stars is BroadwayWorld's THE BACHELOR recapper Patti Murin. This show, which played the Delacorte in 2013 was the first Shakespeare musical adaptation to grace the Central Park stage since TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. Based on the Bard's play of the same name, the story modernizes the efforts of the King of Navarre and his friends to swear-off women in an effort to dedicate themselves to their education. Obviously, that plan doesn't go very well.

Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers collaborated on the new musical, which featured a who's who of young musical theatre stars, including Murin, Daniel Breaker, Colin Donnell, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Bryce Pinkham, Kimiko Glenn, and more.

The Public didn't release any videos of any full songs, so enjoy highlights from a bunch of the show's tunes.

9) "The Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Boogie" from ROCKABYE HAMLET | 1976
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

Ok, I admit. This is one that I am not very familiar with, but if Jennifer Tepper deems it worthy of a spot in her "If It Only Even Runs a Minute" series, then it has to be good. The show, directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, was a Broadway flop in 1976, posting a closing notice immediately after opening night. The production starred Tony-nominee Larry Marshall as the Prince Hamlet and Beverly D'Angelo as Ophelia (in her only Broadway role). The cast also featured a young musical theatre actor named Meatloaf as the Priest.While I am quite partial to the movie HAMLET 2, I am willing to give this one a try!

Video: Daniel Everidge and Cale Krise with narration by Jennifer Ashley Tepper and Kevin Michael Murphy at "If It Only Even Runs a Minute"

10) "Where is the Life That Late I Lead" from KISS ME, KATE | 1948
by: Jeff Walker | @jeffwalker66

Cole Porter took his inspiration for the smash success KISS ME, KATE Shakespeare's TAMING OF THE SHREW. The finished product is a hilarious and tune-filled backstage musical about a company putting on SHREW as a musical. The suave leading man, Fred Graham, doubles as Petruchio who works to tame the shrew (who happens to be his ex-wife and costar). With a title borrowed from Shakespeare, Porter came up with a doozy of a character song for Petruchio, here sung by the original star Alfred Drake on the 1971 Tony Awards.

Video: Alfred Drake at the 1971 Tony Awards

11) SOMETHING ROTTEN | 2015

This new show begins its Broadway previews a week from tomorrow, but the musical comedy has been over 400 years in the making. In SOMETHING ROTTEN, Tony-winner Christian Borle plays a rock-star version of William Shakespeare, and Tony-nominee Brain D'Arcy James plays playwright, Nick Bottom (that name sounds familiar, doesn't it?). In the musical, Nick Bottom is attempting to battle the Bard's popularity, by creating a new form of theatre, the musical comedy!

In this special edition of BACKSTAGE WITH RICHARD RIDGE, check out exclusive interviews with the cast and rehearsal videos, including a song appropriately titled "God I Hate Shakespeare," which of course made me think of "I Hate Men" from KISS ME KATE.

12) "What a Piece of Work is Man" from HAIR | 1968
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

While most of the songs on this list are from shows based on Shakespeare plays, this one is nearly lifted verbatim from Act II scene ii of HAMLET. As we saw above, Galt MacDermot has a history with turning to the Bard's words for musical inspiration, but this seems a rather odd show in which to quote the Danish prince. Though HAIR is a show rooted in the 1960's counter-culture movement, it contains numerous references to both HAMLET and ROMEO AND JULIET, and draws parallels between those plays' teenage male protagonists and the ones singing about them. This one is especially moving as Shakespeare's words blend beautifully with MacDermot's music.

Video: Tribe Duo and Hunter Parrish from the 2014 Hollywood Bowl production

I do have to admit, that I was not initially drawn to this song not because of the power of its lyrics, or a deep and abiding love of HAIR, but instead because of a profound appreciation of The Reduced Shakespeare Company.

13) "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from KISS ME, KATE | 1948
by: Jeff Walker | @jeffwalker66

Another killer-diller number from KISS ME, KATE. Why would two gangster-types be singing about the value of Shakespeare's verse and characters? Who cares! It's one of Broadway's best, two-man vaudevillian "in-one" numbers ever. Once again, I found a rendition from the BBC Proms brought to you by two expert comics from the UK.

Video: Michael Jibson & James Doherty at BBC Proms 2014

14) "Something's Coming" from WEST SIDE STORY | 1957
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

I know that Jeff opened up the list with a WEST SIDE STORY song, but I couldn't miss the chance to highlight what I think just might be the best song ever written for the musical stage. Bernstein's sweeping music perfectly captures the excitement of the moment, and Sondheim's lyrics clearly communicates Tony's unbridled optimism for what might be just around the corner. If I was on a deserted and could only listen to one showtune for the rest of time, this one just might be it.

Video: Matthew Cavenaugh from 2012 Broadway Revival

15) "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" from 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU | 1999
by: Matt Tamanini | @BWWMatt

Ok, fine, this isn't technically a showtune, but it is a song from a movie based on a Shakespeare play, TAMING OF THE SHREW. There are many other musicals that are based on the Bard's plays, but if you are in my general generation, this movie is the ultimate Shakespearean adaptation, and it features a long-haired Heath Ledger pre-Joker, so that's kind of cool.

What other Shakesperean showtunes do you love? Would "Something's Coming" be your desert island showtune? Check back next month for our April feature.

If you enjoyed this list, check out our January feature on the Most Hummable Sondheim Songs, and February's Valentine's Dat list of Broadway's best Anti-Love Songs.


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