A Joyful Noise-An Evening with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 2:13am

Just got in from the AMAZING benefit for the Brook Arts Center and all I can say is book it at The Palace!
Not only did you get the two men mentioned above, but the lovely and wonderfully talented Annie Golden and Christine Ebersole were guest performers, and like the Pimp Master he is, our Mr. Shaiman made his girls work it! Hearing their glorious voices fill up the Elks club was worth the trip alone!

The amount of musical history covered was a reminder of what happens when dreams come true through hard work and inspiration, selections from Dementos and Barbie the Musical should be audition staples for years to come if they aren't already!

Not forgetting the real meat and potato main course, our beloved fellow poster and Broadway and Hollywood big wig was a joy, from his intro from Scott to his "Big Blonde and Beautiful and his final "fake encore" Shaiman brought both the funny and the heartfelt....I mean most of the crowd was his friends and family and the evening had the feel of being in a big living room with a really powerful spotlight, but BOY, does our boy love him some spotlight!

He ran thru many of his Bette Midler numbers, but he framed it by explaining how he was a dedicated fan, going to see her at Madison Square Garden as a kid, to becoming her live-in maestro when he was STILL a kid! he ended that segment with the final Carson show as he played and she sang "One More For the Road", it still brings chills.

Speaking of chills we were treated to a sneak peak at something from Catch Me If You Can, a song titled "50 Checks", we'll it's a song of dreams and inspiration song by Frank's Dad in the upcoming musical and done Sinatra like justice by Marc, which sums up both him and the whole benefit, follow them gang they come true!

Then there was a montage of his many film scores and he played a medley of his touching song from Stuart Saves His Family and Sunrise Sunset which brought the very intimate night to a close, I'm leaving out stuff I'm sure ,the leading ladies of the evening brought down the house more than once and until you've heard Annie Golden sing Good Morning Baltimore live you haven't heard it!

After the performance we all said a quick hello and headed back to NYC, all of us, Right Said Rick included walking just a little higher off the ground! It was a fun night for a good cause as once that new arts center is built there hopefully will be many more "Marc's" coming out of Bound Brook and bringing musical inspiration as they follow their dreams too!

Updated On: 4/27/04 at 02:13 AM

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 2:30am

I met RightSaidRick...that's all I'm saying

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 3:23am

Well, if I had known Ricky had been let out for the night I'd have been there in a flash! I guess he's back in the big house now.

Anyway, congrats to all, and thanks to Eddie, whoever you are, for a great re-cap.



PS. Why isin't Annie Golden a household name?

Posted: 4/27/04 at 8:12am

Updated On: 10/27/05 at 08:12 AM

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 8:32am

RightSaid Rick had a moment of compassion and threw me a laptop...I guess he has an wireless modem down here in this pit...anyway, could someone please call the F.B.I.? Agent Clarice Starling? I think we're someone outside Trenton, I recognize the stench. I believe RSR went out for groceries (he mentioned something about craving Pop-Tarts), perhaps someone could rescue me from this hole in his basement?

[ckeaton]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 8:37am

It puts the lotion on its skin.

Trade the laptop for your keyboard, and use the time wisely... he put you down there to begin working on "Larch Tree in April: The Central Park Tree Tryst"

[Craig]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 8:59am

Excellent show. What Eddie and VA failed to mention was that we also got the full story and lyrics to Marc's most recent gig aboard the Queen Mary - where he got to work with the DONALD.

Kudos all around! A great job onstage and an AMAZINGLY enthusiastic crowd. Marc was definitely in his element...

[Right Said Rick]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:09am

That Shaiman feller got me feelin' all mixed up and funny inside. He was hootin' and hollerin' up a storm last night. His lady friends were real good too. I could barely contain myself from runnin' up on that stage and grabbin the little feller mid-song, tightly trussing him with an electrical cord and tossing him in my plastic-lined trunk. Ya'll can thank me for postponing his abduction until after his wonderful performance. I didn't want ya'll to feel cheated. Don't you worry, I dug a nice new pit for 'em. He's got his own crap bucket too! Don't tell my other pets, they'll get jealous.

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:11am

"Excellent show"

gee Craig, don't go overboard!

and Ladies & Gents, I actually believe now that Craig & Rob really are straight! They left as soon as the show was over without the proper amount of post show fawning...any respectable gay boy would have known better...just ask Eddie Varley and VoiceAnth!

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:14am

Oh, the humanity!

[Craig]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:20am

Marc-

Did I not bring you over a napkin during the reception because you were shfitzing? Did I not call you on the way there to tell you we "were all counting on you?"

Oy.. the guilt, oy the Tsuris.

Speaking of - we had a lovely rundown of Marc's childhood and the conversations he would have with his mother.

Updated On: 4/27/04 at 09:20 AM

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:22am

Updated On: 10/27/05 at 09:22 AM

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:29am

well VA, I will say that I very much enjoyed meeting Andrea McArdles brother Mike...hubba hubba!!

His sister may sing of "Tomorrow" but one look at his face and I wanted to sing "Tonight"!!

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:32am

Updated On: 10/27/05 at 09:32 AM

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 9:55am

What a fun nitey it was, and as Mike McArdle's "pim..um agent" he is currently available for out calls only...

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 10:30am

we better get this convo back to my show before we get banished by our Master and Commander!

I'll start with saying that singing SUNRISE SUNSET was outrageously fulfilling...when one forgets about the countless times we've heard muzaky versions over the years and gets the chance to sing that perfectly matched music and lyric, it is transporting...Good Lord, were Bock & Harnick touched by the hand of God or what?

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 11:08am

The SUNRISE SUNSET was wonderful to hear, the emotional pull of that song is powerful and watching you get lost in the music as you played was a thrill, it was wonderfully matched by the number from Stuart Saves His Family, please remind me what the title is again of that song.

There were many highlights that I am sure I'm forgetting to describe, but the one above might of been my favorite of the evening.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 11:23am

Marc,
I hope you plan on doing this in Los Angeles when the show hits town. That way I can come and whisper sweet hussies into your ear.

Dame

( who is waiting to see if outfest has a group outing to hairspray )

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 11:49am

DAME,

I did a version of last nights show a few years ago at The Gay & Lesbian Center
wish you had been there

and my ear is a hussy-free zone Updated On: 4/27/04 at 11:49 AM

[DAME]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 11:50am

Marc,
I was there with my other half. You had Bette Midler, Patti Lupone, and Jennifer Lewis perform. ( the 4 of you together was the begining of the hussy movement as I know it). I was second row center. You and me were sharing looks all night and you started it

Updated On: 4/27/04 at 11:50 AM

Posted: 4/27/04 at 1:18pm

Updated On: 10/27/05 at 01:18 PM

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 2:44pm

Dame!
I love that you were there! what a night that was!

I will never forget Jenifer blasting out a high D, turning to the Deaf Signer and saying "SIGN THAT NOTE, BITCH!!" Updated On: 4/27/04 at 02:44 PM

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 2:46pm

oh! I just remembered...then the Signer (without missing a beat) signed the word up over her head!

[DAME]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 3:08pm

Marc,
I had forgotteen about that. I was so blown away by the whole thing that it is hard to remeber details like that. No one knew who your guests were that day. It was pretty electrifying to be sitting there in that room and have the 4 of you in that room. I really hope you do it again. You are very entertaining up there. I also wanted to ask you.. I have been holding off on my hairspray tickets because I am hoping one of the performances is in conjunction with a outfest event. You know anythng but that? Anyway.. in any case.. keep up the great work!

[Elphie]

Posted: 4/27/04 at 4:50pm

I, as well, was also in attendence and was completely captivated with Shaiman's witty sense of humor and his love for music. The show LIVING DOLLS which is about the romance of Ken and Barbie, written by Shaiman and Whittman, needs to be produced as among other shows I heard last night, but due to copyright matters with Mattel, it will never get out there for the whole world to hear. I felt priviledged to be hearing these tunes. And the two women who performed the majority of the songs were amazing. "Good Morning Baltimore" brillantly performed by Miss Golden left me in chills- That woman is a powerhouse. And the gorgeous Miss Ebersole has such a crisp, but passionate jazzy voice filled with youth that tackled the songs she sang that night.
I also loved the sneak peak number from CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and I got the feel the composers were going for. I think what they are doing with this show is wonderful and I cant wait until it gets up and running. First I couldnt see this Speilberg movie take off as a musical, but after I heard "5o Checks," I saw how much potential there is oh and of course its under the eyes of a gifted composer.
Marc Shaiman has lived an incredible life and his show brought me into a dream world. He is a genius. (He wrote the South Park score, enough said.) From his excellent entrance with "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful" to his tearful closing with "Sunrise, Sunset," my evening was a delight. It was perfectly done because I felt right at home in their presence. It was a great evening and I would see the exact same show again any day.
Thank you Mr. Shaiman and Mr. Whittman!

Updated On: 4/27/04 at 04:50 PM