'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for February 3rd, 2010
By: Paul W. Thompson Feb. 03, 2010
THE LATEST IN UNAUTHORIZED GOSSIP AND BUZZ
FROM THE HEART OF CHICAGO'S SHOWTUNE VIDEO BARS,
AND MUSICAL THEATER NEWS FROM CHICAGO TO BROADWAY
by Paul W. Thompson
Overheard last weekend under the showtune
video screens at Sidetrack and the Call:
There was awards show action on two fronts in the last couple of days! At Sunday night's Grammy Awards ceremony, we were blown away by the performance stylings of Lady Gaga, Pink, Beyonce and Green Day (the latter performing with the cast of the upcoming Broadway musical, "American Idiot"). But, while Liza Minnelli lost out to Michael Buble in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category, Tony winner and Northwestern University product Heather Headley won the Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album prize for her "Audience Of One." And of course, in the category most watched by residents of the Mosh Pit, the recording of the current Broadway revival of "West Side Story" took the honor for Best Musical Show Album.
Though something of a safe choice, the album, produced by David Caddick and David Lai for Masterworks Broadway, has gotten good word of mouth from Showtune aficionados. And while the much-loved original Broadway cast recording of the Bernstein/Sondheim show predates the competitive Grammys, we note that a studio recording of the score conducted by Bernstein himself, and starring Jose Carreras and Kiri Te Kanawa, won the show album award in 1985, and the soundtrack to the show's film version won a Grammy in 1961. Heck, a track called "West Side Story Medley" won Bill Cunliffe this year's Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement, played by the Resonance Big Band! So, as I said, the revival recording was something of a safe choice for NARAS this year. Who doesn't love the score for West Side Story? Too bad that "Next To Normal" wasn't nominated.
And in Oscar news, our two holiday musical films didn't come up totally empty-handed, though they (and we) were hoping for more. "Nine" is now up for four Academy Awards, but in none of the very biggest categories. Penelope Cruz is nominated for Best Actress In A Supporting Role for her turn as Carla, and composer/lyricist Maury Yeston is up for Best Music (Original Song) for "Take It All." The film was also recognized through nominations for art direction and costumes. And the Walt Disney film, "The Princess And The Frog" is up for three Oscars, for Best Animated Feature Film and for two of Randy Newman's songs, "Down In New Orleans" and "Almost There." Hmm. We want to see Marion Cotillard and Anika Noni Rose out-diva each other on the March 7th telecast!
In theater happenings here, we are somewhat scandalized by this week's announcement that Rachel York has left the tour of "The 101 Dalmatians Musical" (score by Dennis De Young of Styx and directed by Jerry Zaks) to head to Los Angeles and TV pilot season. Not that that's a bad thing (certainly not for her). But she was still featured in print ads for the show after the announcement was made, and, well, we LOVE Rachel York! Broadway's Sara Gettelfinger will have her inaugural run as Cruella De Vil here in Chicago, when the family-friendly tour sets down at the Cadillac Palace Theatre February 16-28. Rumor is that the tour has not been doing well financially. But still, you have to check out the tour's website--there are pictures and short biographical sketches of 15 of the Dalmatians who appear in the show alongside human actors. That is just adorable!
Also coming to town soon, and also under the auspices of Broadway In Chicago, is a non-Equity tour of "Beauty And The Beast," based on the Walt Disney film which my friend Michael reminded me is the only animated feature in history to be Oscar-nominated for Best Picture prior to the nomination of "Up" this year. Original Broadway director Rob Roth and choreographer Matt West reunited to mount this tour, which will also be at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (from March 23rd to April 4th). The cast of appealing young performers surely wants us to greet us with cries of "Be Our Guest," right? And the show is one of the longest-running American musicals in the history of Broadway. "Tale as old as time," indeed!
Click here for the Beauty and the Beast Tour
The next big-time local mounting of a long-running Broadway title that will open in these here parts will probably be "Fiddler On The Roof" at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, coming up February 17th-April 25th. Actor Ross Lehman is following in the career path of Harvey Fierstein by taking on the role of dairyman Tevye, immediately after portraying Edna Turnblad in "Hairspray." David H. Bell directs the Bock and Harnick masterpiece. "To Life!"
We got word this week that Jill Santoriello's short-lived 2008 Broadway musical "A Tale Of Two Cities" is being produced in our western suburb of Cicero, courtesy of the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center. Auditions were held over the weekend for the non-Equity local premiere of the musical, written firmly in the "Les Miserables" mode and set for a run from April 23rd through May 8th. How many curious folks will make the trek to see it? Former Chicagoan Anne Tolpegin was in the original Broadway cast, by the way.
Beginning February 18th and running through March 13th will be the world premiere of "a science fiction spectacle dance party play" by Joe Tracz, called "Song For A Future Generation." Produced by Lights Out Theare Company, the show will be performed at the EP Theater on South Halsted Street. The show is described this way, and I quote:
"In the future, on a space ship orbiting a star set to explode at any minute, three clones named Marika are throwing a theme party. At the party there's an angst-y psychic, a fighter pilot & his party animal best friend, a time traveler in search of the girl of his dreams, a shape-shifter, a bounty hunter, an escaped convict, and the galaxy's last living rock lobster. In the style of 1980s teen movies (and set to the tune of new-wave dance hits), these characters are all trying to find their match, their identity, and real human connections in a world of technology... all before the star explodes."
Got all that? And all with a cast of twelve!
A little further into the future (June 20-23, 2010, to be more exact) will be a world premiere workshop of a musical entitled "Escape From The Vienna Boys Choir." Now, you know I don't make this stuff up! With book by playwright Aaron Dean and music and lyrics by multi-faceted composer Jason Rico, the workshop is being produced by the Ruckus Theater, and will take place The Side Project Theatre on Jarvis Avenue in Rogers Park. It's a tale of adolescent sexual awakening and includes "a sadistic groundskeeper, a hallucinogenic mountain-dwelling invertebrate, shape-shifters, kidnappers, and more testicular humor than you can shake a stick at," according to a recent press release. Um, doesn't that make two new musicals with shape-shifters? Do I detect a trend? Okay, then!
escape from the vienna boys choir
And moving even further into the future, it was announced late last week that Gary Griffin will again direct an operetta for the December/January slot in the season at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Following in the footsteps of 2009's "The Merry Widow," the 2010 production will be Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado," starring (wait for it, wait for it!) international Wagnerian superstar James Morris in the smallish title role and the amazing mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe as everyone's favorite dragon lady, Katisha. Now, THAT'S something to go the Civic Opera House to see and hear! There will be ten performances between December 6, 2010 and January 21, 2011.
The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan - Lyric Opera of Chicago
There's another trend afoot in Chicago--weekly cabarets. On Sunday nights in February at Mary's Attic in Andersonville, Bailiwick Chicago is presenting a musical revue called "Show Us Your Love," as a benefit and season promotional tool for the reconstituted company.
Monday nights in February at Davenport's Piano Bar, one will find "The Distance You Have Come: The Music Of Scott Alan," a show introducing the songs of this New York-based theatrical songwriter to Chicago audiences.
And, starting this coming Saturday afternoon (and continuing into the future, I believe) is a "live weekly magazine" show called "The Paper Machete," hosted by former "Time Out Chicago" Theatre Editor, Christopher Piatt. Featuring various writers and performers, musical and non-, the show is at Ricochets, a bar in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.
Ricochets Tavern - Lincoln Square
So, who says that Showtunes in Chicago are only in the Loop and Lakeview? And that the Mosh Pit only talks about the most obvious titles of traditional musical theater? (Yes, "Billy Elliot" is coming!) I know that you, gentle reader, never thought such a thing! I believe we have proven otherwise this week, have we not?
And with that, my brain is still trying to wrap around the concept of a musical with live Dalmatians, followed by two musicals with shape shifters! Not to mention a Beast and a dairyman, Karen Olivo's recording of "A Boy Like That," and James Morris preparing to sing "A More Humane Mikado," with its refrain of letting the "punishment fit the crime." That song will be ringing through my head in anticipation for the next ten months! And during that time, I'll see you under the video screens, napkins in hand,.....won't I?.....--PWT
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