Chicago releases "Mama's Memories!"

Original Broadway Cast Recording 1975

The long-running Chicago has announced the release of a video series called Mama's Memories! The series is to celebrate all things Chicago and will be clips of full songs, available for a limited period of time and accompanied by Facebook Pictures as well!

So, here is the first in series: Ruthie Henshall singing Roxie in full. Dreamy, I love me a little bit of Ruthie in her glory days! Enjoy.

Penned by Pitch xx 

Perfect's Thoughts On The Tony Award Nominations

Best Musical

The Book of Mormon
Catch Me If You Can
The Scottsboro Boys
Sister Act

Interesting nominees. The Book Of Mormon was a dead-cert for a nomination, but everything else was playing against each other. Really pleased that The Scottsboro Boys has been recognised (here, and with another 11 nominations) - I didn't see the show, but the score is brilliant, and I think it was a very brave piece of theatre. Hopefully with these nominations the show has a chance of re-appearing. Delighted for Sister Act - I think it's a hugely entertaining piece of musical theatre, and is a huge crowd-pleaser. The fourth nomination goes to Catch Me If You Can. Hmmmm - it didn't get great reviews, did it? Many were saying that that slot should go to Priscilla (which I wasn't overly thrilled by...) Can't really judge, as I haven't seen Catch Me either, but it was a surprise.

Best Book of a Musical

Alex Timbers,Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson 

Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, The Book of Mormon

David Thompson, The Scottsboro Boys

 Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane, Sister Act

Again, I haven't seen 2 of the nominated shows, but I don't think these nominees ruffled anyone's feathers.

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Music & Lyrics: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, The Book of Mormon
Music & Lyrics: John Kander and Fred Ebb, The Scottsboro Boys
Music: Alan Menken, Lyrics: Glenn Slater, Sister Act
Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Really good nominees this year! The Book Of Mormon's lyrics are better than the music, in my opinion. The Scottsboro Boys is a terrific score, but not a commercial one. Sister Act is THE commercial score of the season - I love it. Alan Menken rocks my world. AND I am so happy that David Yazbek has been nominated for Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown. Having listened to the recently released cast recording, I was hugely impressed by the music, and I think it's great that, even though it closed in January, the nominating committee remembered it (should also be said for The Scottsboro Boys, which closed in December).

Best Revival of a Musical

Anything Goes

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Only two revivals this year. Standard.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

 
Norbert Leo Butz, Catch Me If You Can
Josh Gad, The Book of Mormon
Joshua Henry, The Scottsboro Boys
Andrew Rannells, The Book of MormonTony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert

CON.TROV.ER.SIAL!!! Where the HELL is Daniel Radcliffe on this list??? Shame on the nominating committee. Shame shame shame! Anyway, really pleased to see both boys from The Book Of Mormon in here. I personally didn't think that highly of Tony Sheldon, so I'm a bit surprised, maybe even annoyed, that he's on the list. And according to many, he's the early favourite! No no no. Joshua Henry sounds great on the recording, but I have no idea what he was like on stage. Norbert Leo Butz - again, didn't see it. Love me a bit of Norbert. But sad for Aaron Tveit...

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

 
Sutton Foster, Anything Goes
Beth Leavel, Baby It's You!
Patina Miller, Sister Act
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture

No surprises here - would have been nice to see Sherie Renee Scott (just cause I really like her), but not a major upset.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

 
Colman Domingo, The Scottsboro Boys
Adam Godley, Anything Goes
John Larroquette, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Forrest McClendon, The Scottsboro Boys
Rory O'Malley, The Book of Mormon

John Larroquette gets a nomination and Daniel Radcliffe doesn't??? Makes no sense to me.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Laura Benanti, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Tammy Blanchard, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Victoria Clark, Sister Act
Nikki M. James, The Book of Mormon
Patti LuPone, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

I believe I wrote in my How To Succeed review that I'd give Tammy Blanchard a nomination on the spot. And there she is on the list. GOOD! But this is actually a really great category this year. Patti and Laura both won in 2008 for Gypsy. Victoria Clark won in 2005 for The Light In The Piazza (INCREDIBLE performance) and Nikki M. James is giving a really endearing performance over at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

 
Beowulf Boritt, The Scottsboro Boys
Derek McLane, Anything Goes
Scott Pask, The Book of Mormon
Donyale Werle, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Two things: 1. Where is Sister Act? 2. The Book Of Mormon must not win this award.

Best Costume Design of a Musical

 
Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Martin Pakledinaz, Anything Goes
Ann Roth, The Book of Mormon
Catherine Zuber, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Two things: 1. Catherine Zuber is a genius. 2. Priscilla can have this one.

Best Direction of a Musical

 
Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon
Susan Stroman, The Scottsboro Boys

Surprising that Rob Ashford got nominated when the critics seemed to seriously dislike his production. And he got nominated but Daniel didn't?! Sorry, broken record.

Best Choreography

 
Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw, The Book of Mormon
Susan Stroman, The Scottsboro Boys

I liked Rob Ashford's choreography - I know a lot of people didn't. But you can't beat a good tap dance, Miss Marshall.

Best Orchestrations

 
Doug Besterman, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Larry Hochman, The Scottsboro Boys
Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus, The Book of Mormon
Marc Shaiman & Larry Blank, Catch Me If You Can

Good nominees. I want to listen to the cast recordings again before I make any predictions on the orchestrations.

I'm hoping that The Book Of Mormon doesn't do a "The Producers Sweep" at the ceremony. There's a lot of good stuff out there that I hope gets recognised with awards come Tony night. And it might be nice for some newcomers to walk away with that trophy...Roll on The Tony Awards!

Penned by Perfect x

Pitch's Top 5 Musical Theatre Wedding Songs - Number 1!

"(Not) Getting Married Today"- Company

Broadway Cast Recording 2006

This song makes me laugh and laugh and laugh. To call it witty would be an understatement. The lyrics are brilliantly clever, the comedic timing is fabulous and the interaction between the characters is spot on.  But it is not only the sentiment and the words of the song that plonk it firmly at Number 1, but the music is a bit yummy too. 

The lyrics like "do you want to see a crazy lady fall apart in front of you" are some of Sondheim's best work. The moment when the shoes are thrown or she screams and runs under the piano are fantastic. The overlapping melodies between the frantic Amy and blissfully happy Paul are genius. And the fact that this is a patter song makes that nervous panic even more intense which is contrasted by the flowing soprano. The entire song is just dreamy.

Notoriously difficult to sing, it is hard enough to even make the words coherent let alone add emotion and comedic timing. So when this is done well, it is fantabulous! (Yes I used the word "fantabulous", deal with it!) 

(Also, I imagine Kate doing this on the morning of her wedding and throwing shoes at Prince Will and it makes me giggle.)

I FREAK for this song. So, here it is folks...Number 1 in Pitch's Top 5 Musical Theatre Wedding Songs: (Not) Getting Married Today.

"A Wedding? What's A Wedding? It's a prehistoric ritual!"

Penned by Pitch xx

Pitch's Top 5 Musical Theatre Wedding Songs - Number 2!

" Wedding Chorale / Beggars At The Feast" -Les Miserables

London Concert Cast Recording 1995

 

Yay! It's Les Miserables! Oh come on, you all knew it would be in my top 5 but perhaps what is surprising is that it's not at Number 1!

Well, it's not number one because it is just a snippet of the show, barely even a song, that I love the most and that is the Wedding Chorale. The huge choir, the soprano voices, the insanely large sound, the yummy harmonies: For all these reasons, this is what I want to hear blaring around the country on the morning of the wedding. It sounds so joyous! So triumphant! So, well, happy! (Strange for Les Mis, I know). 

And then when it flows into Beggars At The Feast, it is rather naughty of me but I do envisage some of the, not so Royal friendly Middletons, behaving like the Thernardiers and having cutlery falling out of their smalls. 

That thought is enough to keep one amused for the entire day!

"Ring Out The Bells Upon This Day of Days"

Penned by Pitch xx

Pitch's Top 5 Musical Theatre Wedding Songs- Number 3!

"The Next Ten Minutes"- The Last Five Years

Original Off Broadway Cast Recording 2002

So, it is time for a little bit of Jason Robert Brown. The Next Ten Minutes is a beautiful song both within and outwith the context of the show. Within the musical, it is the only time the couple ever duet, or even interact with each other, making their wedding not only a musically stunning moment, but incredibly touching as well. 

The harmonies are just gorgeous. Kathy's melody is also my favourite of the entire musical. The use of strings for the first dance is inspired. And the lyrics are conversational and honest making them believable- heart-warming without ever being overdone or generic. 

However, some of the lyrics do jar slightly for me: "I want to bear your child" is the best example. It is supposed to offer the same honesty as the other utterings in the song, and yet it lacks any elegance. And this can be heard at various points.

Also, I have had so many dreadful experiences of this show, the worst being at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where two 16 year olds attempted it (had I known this I would have steered clear). Forever I shall have ingrained in my memory what happens when a performer doesn't know their harmonies. Trust me, it is hideous. 

And the final reason for it sitting firmly in the middle is the sadness of the story. There are no happy endings in The Last Five Years. From the beginning the audience know that the marriage ends, and so the duet is always tinged with sadness. 

"I will never be complete, until I do"

Penned by Pitch xx

Pitch's Top 5 Musical Theatre Wedding Songs - Number 4!

"Sadie, Sadie"- Funny Girl

Original Broadway Cast Recording 1964

I love this song. It has this lazy, blissfully happy feel to it. No girlish over-excitement, screaming or gushing about the man (well, only a little bit of that) but instead pure contentment about her new role as wife and mother. 

It's interesting, this song isn't a love song in the traditional sense: It's not a song about falling in love, or even really about the man she loves. Instead it's about being one half of a partnership and creating a family. It's about what getting married means and becoming a "wife". It is a very mature song, even though she sings about playing records and which juice to chose. It is a rarity as it is one of the few songs about marriage, and not love (even though they are in love). This is what makes it unique.

And that is why it's ranked at number 4, but also why it is not ranked higher. I absolutely love the mature way she sings about marriage, but I do miss the proclamations of love at the same time. Such a contradiction I know. But, that's how I feel.

"There's nothing quite as touching as a simple wedding band"

Penned by Pitch xx

Pitch's Top 5 Musical Theatre Wedding Songs - Number 5!

" Get Me To The Church On Time" - My Fair Lady

Film Soundtrack 1964

This is perhaps the most obvious choice as it is likely to be the most well known of all the musical theatre wedding songs. However, it is ranked because it is humorous; horrifically catchy (you'll be singing it for hours); and it really amuses me to think of Prince Will singing this on Thursday night. 

Musically, the melody is freakishly memorable and the harmonies are lovely. The lyrics offer the  amusement and the staging is slightly brilliant. However, it is ranked at number 5 because it is so repetitive that by the end of it I kind of want to throw my laptop across the room just to make it stop.

So for the first 30seconds, bravo Lerner and Loewe! But it goes on at least 10 times longer than it should. 

If anyone catches Prince Will doing the little tap dance on Thursday, make sure you show me because it would probably make my year. 

"I'm getting married in the morning, ding dong the bells are gonna chime!"

Penned by Pitch xx

Pitch is getting excited about...The Royal Wedding!

This one surprised me a little bit. Being Scottish, I have never really had any particular feelings towards the Royal Family and didn't think I would be all that fussed about a wedding. But the excitement is contagious! And as The Big Day approaches, I find myself caring more and more about the wedding (well, her dress, if I am completely honest!)

So, what better way to celebrate than by looking at weddings in musical theatre? You're right. There isn't a better way to celebrate. 

So allow me to introduce: "Pitch's Top 5 Musical Theatre Wedding Songs!"

Catchy title, right? Everyday to the wedding I will be explaining why I love a particular musical wedding song, counting them down until I reveal my most favourite on The Big Day itself!

So, dear reader, can you guess what they will be? Or do you have your own top 5 that you would like to share? Either way, leave me a little comment.

5 days to go!

Penned by Pitch xx

Happy Easter!

Being unreligious Easter to me is more about chocolate eggs and the Easter Bunny than Jesus Christ. However, around this time of year I do find myself listening to Jesus Christ Superstar, as it is all rather fitting. 

Rather recently, a very good friend and I had a chat about the song Gethsemene, and interpreted it in two entirely different ways. But, that is what I love about musical theatre- it is entirely subjective. One song can make so many people react in entirely different ways; it can provoke different emotions; and stay with people for very different reasons.

Whatever you're feelings towards religion or the musical or Easter, one thing that can't be denied is this, is an incredible performance from Steve Balsamo:

This to me is the perfect version of a beautiful song. From the lighting, to his subtle acting, to the build and my goodness those high notes are breath-taking. Also, when he falls to his knees sustaining that high note- well let's just say I was more than a little impressed. And the tears! The performance is incredibly moving.

Hope you enjoy it everyone, and Happy Easter.

Penned by Pitch xx

Win Tickets! Dream.

To celebrate the Royal Wedding, Magic FM are offering the chance to win a pair of tickets to 1 of 9 shows.

Find one of the nine West End Theatre couples including The Phantom and Christine, Elvis and Dyanne, or Cosette and Marius, and you could win a pair of tickets to one of nine top West End shows.

There are 135 pairs of tickets to be won in total, so play now for your chance to win!

http://www.magic.co.uk/win/west-end-pairs/

I've been playing all morning...

Break legs guys and let us know if you win any!

Penned by Pitch xx