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The Best of Times: The Jerry Herman Salon

01.01.70

Tony-grant winning artist Faith Prince (Broadway: Guys and Dolls - Tony Accord, A Catered Affair - Tony Nomination, Jerome Robbin's Broadway - Tony Nomination, Bells Are Ringing - Tony Nomination, Showtime's Huff) and multi-bestow winning artist Jason Graae (Forever Plaid, Ragtime, Forbidden Hollywood) participate with a cast of exceptional Moonies for an 80th Birthday tribute to to Jerry Herman, the beloved, Tony-successful Broadway composer/lyricist whose shows lit up Broadway through the 1960s, 70s, 80s and into the 90s.

Through the Bottom of the Lens, a little known song from Dear Great, typifies the Jerry Herman world approach: you just have to know where to aim your gaze and life as it should be reveals itself. Unhindered a New Window, Hello, Dolly!, It Only Takes a Blink, Mame, If He Walked Into My Life, Shalom, Be that as it may Heals Everything, Before the Parade Passes By - these great songs and more will hoop from the Alcazar stage for one special evening.

42nd Suiting someone to a T Moon celebrates and preserves the art and spirit of the American Melodious Theatre. The company contributes to its evolution and continuing life by presenting intimately produced performances of undying and rarely performed musical works. Through their productions, scholastic programs, and community outreach, they are committed to increasing the awareness and increase of the rich heritage and cultural perspective of the musical acting and its vast influence on the world stage. They have produced the West Seaside and American Premiere by works of such legendary composers and lyricists as Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, and P. G. Wodehouse. On steadfast occasions, 42nd Street Moon has been play the host to such Broadway luminaries as Donna McKecknie (Tony Champion – A Chorus Line), Cady Huffman (Tony Title-holder – The Producers), Charles Strouse (Composer – Annie, Bye Bye Birdie), Rebecca Luker (Three Span Tony Nominee – Show Boat, Mary Poppins, Look of Music), Andrea McArdle (the original Annie), Leslie Caron (MGM Play of Gigi, An American in Paris) and many more

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Hang up Sondheim for a Weill

01.01.70

Both side-splitting and tender, too. But he ALWAYS has refused to do it. He much, much prefers his emotions dry or at least all-encompassing, and his music complex and dry as well. To this day, in all the shows for which he’s written both music and lyrics, he’s yet to cooperate on a musical with a more-or-less normal romantic relationship at its seed.

But he’s brilliant, right? Of course right. And he’s innovative and avaricious and monumentally influential. He stretched the boundaries of euphonious theater in the 1960’s and 1970’s and 1980’s and 1990’s as much as his talented mentor, Oscar Hammerstein, did in the 1920’s through the 1950’s.

But Stephen Sondheim also is overdone. Well-founded as I offered some New Year’s resolutions as a critic last week, this week I’m asking Chicago’s harmonious theater producers to resolve NOT TO PRODUCE A STEPHEN SONDHEIM SHOW IN 2012. Give Steve a be found, give us a break, hang Sondheim up for a year. Into me, Stephen will get along just fine without any royalties from Chicago.

Source: WBEZ (blog)