FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Razzle Dazzle Ruthie

Ruthie Does Roxie

Following in the fierce and fabulous footsteps of Ruthie Henshall's candid InDepth InterView with me this week, we are taking a look at some of her best work that has been preserved on DVD and YouTube. From LES MISERABLES and "I Dreamed A Dream" to some Sondheim ala "Unworthy of Your Love" in a duet with John Barrowman from ASSASSINS via PUTTING IT TOGETHER, to some razzle dazzle from CHICAGO, to performing alongside Bernadette Peters at HEY! MR. PRODUCER in a song from GYPSY; Ruthie Henshall is in a class of her own and can light up any stage or screen, big or small. Watch and see - and watch her steps!

Ruthie Henshall has taken part in two of the most famous and best musical theatre concerts ever captured on video: LES MISERABLES 10th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT and HEY! MR. PRODUCER and in each is a highlight of an evening of highlights. As she herself stated in our InDepth InterView earlier this week, she can credit Susan Boyle for a couple extra million hits on her far superior and far stronger felt rendition of the classic LES MIZ anthem "I Dreamed A Dream" which was originally introduced in the originAl West End production by Patti LuPone. As part of the Dream Cast, Henshall is just that and her embittered and scornful - yet impassioned - take on the song reveals shades and layers in it that no one else's ever has. Hear here if you don't agree.

Bernadette Peters, Julia McKenzie and Ruthie Henshall perform "You Gotta Get A Gimmick" from GYPSY from the spectacular concert celebrating the life and career of theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh. Best version ever?

PUTTING IT TOGETHER was also produced by Cameron Mackintosh, was directed by Eric Shaeffer and had musical staging by Bob Avian. It starred - in addition to Ms. Henshall - Carol Burnett, George Hearn, Bronson Pinchot and John Barrowman. This Sondheim musical "review" is available on DVD. What more must be said? Henshall had shared the stage and recording booth with John Barrowman a few times before in their work together on MISS SAIGON, GODSPELL, HAIR and other shows, but their chemistry and tailor-made roles in PUTTING IT TOGETHER is some of their best work to date. Their voices blend magically and while neither would ever be appropriate for ASSASSINS onstage - both are far too beautiful to be confused with either of those admittedly less appealing historical assassins John Hinckley and Squeaky Fromme - their harmonizing on this Carpenters-esque 70s lite-rock pastiche is just about perfect. Had this DVD come with an accompanying soundtrack CD, this would undoubtedly be one of my favorite recorded duets of the last ten years. See why!

She's played Roxie in the West End opposite Ute Lemper and she did Velma opposite Sandy Duncan on Broadway, but now Ruthie is back on Broadway and playing Roxie and everything is where it should be again. Rarely has there been a better match of performer and material than Ruthie Henshall and Kander & Ebb's score for CHICAGO and, if you haven't seen and heard why for yourself and seen her live on stage just quite yet, now you can glean a glimpse of the greatness, then and now.

A taste of her Velma, ten years ago on The Today Show.

A taste of her Roxie from a West End UK TV special.

And one of her many absolutely thrilling performances on the UK TV THE SOUND OF MUSICALS television special, doing herself one-better on her own iconic anthem from LES MIZ! Don't miss it!

That's all for this week. Please remember that if you have discovered a particularly thrilling, unique, bizarre or hilarious Broadway-related clip to please send us a line at the link below. Until next week…