David Clarke - Page 12

A real curious thing is happening at Theater 80 St Marks. And, oddly, it may be the off-beat, quirky must-see Off-Broadway event of the winter. Not because the show is amazing, nor because it is so terrible that it has to be seen to be believed. Truthfully, Preston Max Allen's WE ARE THE TIGERS makes you forgive its missteps by being infectiously plucky and actually fun.

Broadway composer Andrew Lippa has written a poignant song cycle with UNBREAKABLE, which was premiered by The San Francisco's Gay Men's Chorus at Nourse Theater in San Francisco, CA on June 22-23, 2018. This week Ghostlight Records released UNBREAKABLE (Original Cast Recording), allowing listeners a chance to go inside the Nourse Theater to experience the powerfully moving cycle live and for themselves.

When it comes to RENT being on broadcast television, it was always going to be a dicey experience. Diehard fans were sure to be disappointed by lines altered to be in compliance with the FCC. Then, casting a handful of pop performers over trained actors was sure to lead to questionable character choices throughout the evening. Sony Masterworks Broadway's RENT (Original Soundtrack of the Fox Live Television Event) drives these points home with all the subtly of a sledgehammer bludgeoning a nail.

Jason Robert Brown's beloved and thrilling song cycle SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD was recently produced. Starring Shoshana Bean, Colin Donnell, Mykal Kilgore, and Solea Pfeiffer, there is no denying this presentation was a true event. Luckily for all, this cast - in all of its glory - was captured and preserved by Ghostlight Records on SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (New York City Center 2018 Encores! Off-Center Cast Recording).

Broadway veteran Brian Gallagher recently released the concept album for his new musical BROWNSTONE. The thrilling record is mostly sung by Gallagher himself, but it also features the vocals of Broadway star Megan Hilty. Utilizing his well-honed ability to write jazzy, ambient rock with a 70s garage band vibe, Gallagher has skillfully created, for BROWNSTONE, a moody and haunting piece of musical theatre that excites as easily as it sends shivers down the spine.

Once one of the costliest flops in Broadway history, FOLLIES is now highly regarded as a true classic in musical theater canon. The well-reviewed National Theatre revival, which ran through January 3, 2018, is scheduled to return to the West End this spring, and the sumptuously lush FOLLIES (2018 National Theatre Cast Recording) is now available digitally.

With moxie, sequins, and indefatigable whimsy, Sony Masterworks Broadway's THE PROM (Original Broadway Cast Recording) perfectly captures the mirth of the heartwarming Broadway production. Masterfully blending Matthew Sklar's toe-tapping score, Chad Beguelin's rib-tickling and heartfelt lyrics, and the stellar performances of the cast, this album is as charming as it is mesmerizing.

In celebration of its third year on Broadway, Warner Bros. Records released SCHOOL OF ROCK (Original Broadway Cast Recording) [Deluxe Edition]. This "Deluxe Edition" comes across more as a hackneyed marketing ploy since the only differences are changing the cover art to the current logo design and adding "School of Rock: The Musical (Medley).'

The justification for a rock star to desire or even need the glitz and glamor of being on Broadway simply doesn't translate to an audio only experience. And, the final product feels like an audio book recorded live.

Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken have reunited this Christmas season for a holiday themed Broadway show. Inspired by the sketch shows starring the likes of Dean Martin, Andy Williams, and Carol Burnett, this duo plans to amuse and delight with vocal performances and light-hearted comedy skits. To get the inside scoop on this show, we sat down with writer and performer Ken Arpino to chat about this first annual holiday spectacular.

Lena Hall's ambitious and successful year long EP project - Lena Hall OBSESSED - comes to end this month with her lovely tribute to Chris Cornell, the iconic front man of Soundgarden and Audioslave. The four-track OBSESSED: CHRIS CORNELL stands as a vivid and stirring conclusion to the series, offering listeners the entrancing angst of the grunge era and a delightful reprieve from effusively ebullient holiday music.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but WALLS - Barbra Streisand's thirty-sixth studio album - is the first I have ever listened to by the iconic songstress. But I'm not embarrassed to admit that I love it. Alternating between heartfelt ballads and stirring anthems, Streisand's WALLS proves that the luster hasn't worn off of her star; in fact, it's as vibrant and enchanting as ever.

Lincoln Center Theater's sumptuous Tony-award winning production of Rodger & Hammerstein's THE KING AND I transferred to The London Palladium theatre this past summer. Now, Trafalgar Releasing is screening a gorgeous film capture of the London mounting starring Kelli O'Hara, Ken Watanabe, and Ruthie Ann Miles in movie theaters across the globe on November 29 and December 4.

Almost a decade after John Logan's searing, two-person drama RED first held audiences transfixed, Trafalgar Releasing is bringing it to cinemas across the US and UK tonight. This past summer's limited revival at London's Wyndham's Theatre saw Michael Grandage (director) and Alfred Molina (Rothko) reprise their celebrated work while welcoming Alfred Enoch as Ken. This sold out run was filmed and is now being screened.

Lena Hall's second to last entry in her ambitious year-long EP series is OBSESSED: NIRVANA. When this project was first announced, I figured the novelty and gimmick of it all would wear thin a few months in; however, almost every title has been met with excitement and Hall has consistently delivered. This is true for November's bewitching treat of an EP, which is replete with soul shaking, gritty grunge vocals, mesmerizing guitars, and masterful artistry.

Today, Atlantic Records digitally dropped DEAR EVAN HANSEN (Original Broadway Cast Recording) [Deluxe Album]. This version of the lauded and critically acclaimed cast album offers four songs cut from the show, an acoustic version of 'Disappear,' and a Katy Perry cover of 'Waving Through A Window.'

HEAD OVER HEELS is a neon-hued, cotton candy confection served with infectious cheer. While the cast album has all the polish that a studio recording can offer, Sony Masterworks Broadway's HEAD OVER HEELS (Original Broadway Cast Recording) lacks the effervescence and pizzazz of the live performances. It's a fun listen, but the sense of giddiness that comes from seeing it live is notably missing from the album.

Broadway chanteuse Margo Seibert, star of ROCKY and IN TRANSIT, may be one of the most underappreciated talents treading the boards of the Great White Way. Across the years, I've never seen her in something where I didn't find her to be captivating and stellar. And, those same superlatives can be easily applied to her truly enchanting forthcoming debut solo album, 77TH STREET.

Nathan Lee Graham returns to the cabaret setting with his newest show ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL at The Green Room 42. This world premiere concert will feature many of the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer's most beloved compositions, including 'Loving You,' 'Bounce,' and 'Being Alive.' We sat down and chatted with Graham to get the inside scoop on the show.

With the October entry in her OBSESSED series, Lena Hall drinks deeply from the fountain of divinity. The coupling of her raw yet controlled vocals and Matt Bellamy's nuanced and complex music and lyrics for OBSESSED: MUSE is the kind of sacred marriage that cover artists can only dream of achieving. No one could top Bellamy at his own game, but if any one is capable of coming close, it's Hall.