Review Roundup: Josh Groban Takes 'Stages' Broadway Covers Album on Tour with Lena Hall

By: Sep. 20, 2015
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

Multi-platinum recording artist Josh Groban is bringing HEDWIG's Tony Award-winning actress Lena Hall on his Fall 2015 North American STAGES tour, which continues through early November.

Click here to check out a roundup of performances from some of the first stops, including "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Old Devil Moon," "Le Temps Des Cathdrales," "Unusual Way," "You'll Never Walk Alone," and "All I Ask of You."

Click here to watch Groban and Hall perform more together! Earlier today, BroadwayWorld reported an update on the ongoing story of Josh Groban's desire to be on Broadway. The artist revealed that he wants to work with a show from the ground up, rather than play a short stint in a revival (as stars are prone to do these days). Click here to see what his plans are for his Broadway debut!

Let's see what the critics have said of the tour so far!

Kellie M. Gormly, TribLive: Groban gave a powerful, theatrical performance with a setlist composed of songs from his recent album "Stages"... In one particularly memorable moment, Groban sang the romantic duet "All I Ask of You" from "The Phantom of the Opera" with Lena Hall, a Broadway actress and singer who brought more talent to the show. In the song, Groban sounded as good as the legendary Michael Crawford, who sang it for the original soundtrack.

Rosa Colucci, Pittsburgh Post Gazette: From the first note of "Pure Imagination," Josh Groban captivated a sold-out audience at the Benedum Center Thursday night. Tony Award-winning singer Lena Hall ("Hedwig and the Angry Inch") joined Mr. Groban for "All I Ask of You" in the first half and "If I Loved You" in the second. They were lovely presentations with cheers of approval. Both were followed by Ms. Hall presenting classic rock material from her upcoming release.

Josh Groban's STAGES is a collection of some of the greatest musical theater songs of all time, which Groban describes as "gorgeously arranged songs that have stood the test of time," and which he was drawn to because of their combination of "incredible melody with an incredible story." Recorded with producers Humberto Gatica and Bernie Herms in both Los Angeles and London's Abbey Road (with a 75-piece orchestra), Stages features songs from LES MISERABLES ("Bring Him Home"); Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel ("You'll Never Walk Alone"); Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George ("Finishing the Hat"), Sweeney Todd ("Not While I'm Around") and Into the Woods ("Children Will Listen"); The Fantasticks ("Try to Remember"); A Chorus Line ("What I Did For Love");Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera ("All I Ask of You"), The Wizard of Oz ("Over the Rainbow"), and others. Another highlight is "Pure Imagination," originally sung by Gene Wilder in the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.


To read more reviews and to share your own, click here!


Videos