This Fine-Pretty World 1923

For those of us for whom she represents more than kitsch, this album is an essential.

BRIGHT STAR at Ahmanson Theatre plays through November 19. This original musical tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and '40s. Propelled by an ensemble of onstage musicians and dancers, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion, beautiful melodies and powerfully moving performances.

Known for both her contemporary and Shakespearean work, Taichman will go straight from one off-Bway show to another this year.