David Clarke - Page 5

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.

Musicals about young people embracing their truest selves are often delightfully engaging, and Broadway Records release of EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE (Original West End Cast Recording) is no exception to that rule. The altogether charming album presents listeners with catchy pop musical theatre music that entertains as much as it speaks to the heart.

La MaMa is opening its 57th season with a crowd-pleasing bang by presenting Gunnar Montana's totally rad and dizzying performance art and dance spectacle KINK HAÜS. The piece is just the kind of ebullient combination of high brow ballet principles and techniques mixed with low brow hedonism all played through a kaleidoscope of the futuristic punk trash aesthetic from 80s B movies that is sure to leave audiences spellbound and screaming for more.

Taped during the 2017 London engagement, the Christopher Wheeldon directed and choreographed Tony-winning musical AN AMERICAN IN PARIS comes to movie theaters in the United States on September 20 and 23. The live capture, distributed by Trafalgar Releasing, features the original Broadway stars in the critically acclaimed musical, which is inspired by the Oscar-winning 1951 MGM film of the same title. To get the scoop on the musical and the film, we chatted with Wheeldon about it.

Taped during the 2017 London engagement, the Tony-winning musical AN AMERICAN IN PARIS comes to movie theaters in the United States on September 20 and 23. The live capture, distributed by Trafalgar Releasing, features the original Broadway star Leanne Cope reprising her role in the critically acclaimed musical. To get the scoop on the musical and the film, we chatted with Cope about it.

Former Broadway dancer turned award-winning writer, Tim Federle is bringing his fabulously funny and wonderfully entertaining Nate series to an end with NATE EXPECTATIONS. This third and final installment in the middle-grade series was released today by Simon & Schuster. To get the inside scoop on the new novel and Federle as a writer, we sat down for a quick chat.

For the ninth entry in her awe-inspiring 12 EP series OBSESSED, Lena Hall pays homage to the person that the Hipster movement appropriated its fashion and peculiarities from singer-songwriter Beck. On OBSESSED: BECK, Hall offers up four songs from the quirky and much-admired musician. And while her vocals are brilliant - as always - this particular EP falls flat.

Around a decade after she originated the role of Regina/Candi in ROCK OF AGES, Lauren Molina returns to NEW WORLD STAGES for another fun and funny musical romp. Having been with DESPERATE MEASURES since it began, Molina has gotten to throughly develop the hilarious Bella Rose. As the life of the party in DESPERATE MEASURES, we sat down with Molina to talk about the new Off-Broadway musical.

Before BE MORE CHILL was an Off-Broadway sensation, actor and singer George Salazar and composer-lyricist-book writer Joe Iconis were close friends. Over the years, Salazar has gotten to sing and even premiere some of Iconis's best work. Recently, Ghostlight Records released TWO-PLAYER GAME, an album that took the pair's sold-out cabaret show at Feinstein's / 54 Below and put that concept on an a delightfully entertaining and intoxicatingly fun album.

Two-thirds of the way through her ambitious 12-EP OBSESSED project, Lena Hall's August release honors rock genius David Bowie. Across its five tracks, OBSESSED: DAVID BOWIE is a delightful surprise because it adequately represents Bowie's varied musical styles without resting on the obvious hit songs. Everyone knew Hall singing Bowie would be better than good, but we probably weren't expecting it to be so refreshing.

MACBETH seems to be one of the most abused pieces from Williams Shakespeare's canon; yet, when a production does the show justice, it is incredibly spellbinding. Luckily for fans of the play and art of theatre in general, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more robustly magnificent production of the classic than NINAGAWA MACBETH.

There's another post-apocalyptic jukebox coming to theaters across the United States. Jim Steinman's BAT OUT OF HELL - The Musical kicks off a US national tour in Detroit this November. But, you don't have to wait for the show to tour to your neck of the woods to hear its score. Recently, Ghostlight Records released the rollicking BAT OUT OF HELL - The Musical Original Cast Recording, giving audiences the world over unprecedented access to the potentially epic musical.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to his smash hit THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, entitled LOVE NEVER DIES is currently touring across the United States. The staging of the production is inspired by the reworked 2011 Australian premiere of the musical. To give Houston audiences an inside look into the show sure to leave them spellbound, we sat down with Sean Thompson who plays hero turned flawed husband and father, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny.

Lena Hall kicks the seventh month into overdrive with her OBSESSED: JACK WHITE. This four-track gem contains songs from the singer and songwriter that many remember as the lead singer and guitarist for The White Stripes. This solid collection of tunes is delightfully guitar heavy and features Hall beautifully alternating between her signature raucous vocalizations and softer, almost-country stylings.

FRUIT TRILOGY is a new trio of plays by Tony Award winning playwright Eve Ensler. The New York debut features Kiersey Clemons and Liz Mikel in three short plays that give a voice to women. To get the inside scoop, we sat down with Clemons and Mikel to discuss the show.