Get Out of My head Mr. Writer Guy!

Okay, so a Mr. Robert J. Elisberg (whose other work I haven't read but looks interesting and not Musical-Theater related--Rich, I think you will like him) at the Huffington Post online put up an article all about...Fiorello!, the musical. The musical I love by Bock and Harnick. He loves it too. And no one loves it. Or, rather, no one has heard of it (which is largely the part of the article). Anyway, it's a brief and pithy article that doesn't need much more from me than a hearty recommendation. Maybe sometime this weekend I'll figure out a way to post a song or two (or, segments of songs) so you all can enjoy it.

So I was right...

Cubby Bernstein IS an ingenious and subversive marketing campaign for Xanadu.

Honestly, it's working on me. Check out Episode 3...but first watch this bit of nonsense lip-synched to the previously posted "Suddenly" Who is this kid who plays Cubby? Does he even get the humor. I mean, he must. In either case, someone needs to get him on Ugly Betty when it starts filming in NYC in the fall

I Hope You're Sitting Down...

...there are wildly unsubstantianed rumors taken from little more than a passing comment from a cast member that there are plans for an UGLY BETTY MUSICAL!



If those adorable kids behind Xanadu get their mits on it, it could be the most fabulous thing in the history of mankind. If the Weisslers get their mits on it...it could be the most fabulous thing in the history of mankind...Starring Brooke Shields....or one of the anchors of Good Day New York. (That last detail is particularly upsetting, and reminds of that episode of Family Guy when Lois directs the community theater production of The King And I )

Blue Tooth!

Donald is going digital! And to prove it, I used magical Bluetooth technology to upload this video I took at Atlantic/Pacific Center. It is a little person dressed like Michael Jackson (when he was cool) dancing Billy Jean. It's short, but worth it.

A New Reidel Report!

FROM LEGIT HOUSE TO OUTHOUSE
'STRANGE' CRITIC DUMPS ON SHOW

And Speaking of Passing Strange, here's a tidbit from NYMag Online About Stew at the Obies.

Stew is so cool.

Happy Eliza Doolittle Day!

There is a line in "Just You Wait" from My Fair Lady when the imaginary King of England says "Next week, on the twentieth of May, I proclaim Eliza Doolittle Day". So here I am, celebrating. Naturally, the first choice is "Just You Wait", even though it really isn't my favorite song from the show (is it anyone's?). Click Here to see a full version of the song (which includes the line about Eliza Doolittle Day), but the clip below is far more interesting. It features Julie Andrews, in a rehearsal-type setting. For whatever reason they cut to the movie version for a bit, but at the end Rex Harrison comes in and has a brief chat with Julie.

Next is Julie Andrews (and friends) performing "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" on the Ed Sullivan show. By the way, she's like 21 here. I know, kinda makes you hate her.

And, of course, one of the most Wonderful songs in Musical Theaterdom, I Could Have Danced All Night. I actually thought there would be tons of wonderful High School/College clips of this one...but turns out, this delicate number is pretty easy to fuck up. It's easy to overplay, but hard to fill all that music. There are tons of clips of some joker namedJamie Cullum singing a weird jazz-ska-pop version. There's also an okay clip from a Brazilian production, but I'm going to have to defer to the movie version on this one. Audrey Hepburn really does a fine job...of acting. (But seriously, she does) And Marnie Nixon's hidden vocals are also pretty great. Enjoy.

Hodge-Podge

1) I still don't know who is behind the brilliant Cubby Bernstein (see previous post), but part of me thinks it's actually a brilliant, toungue-in-cheek, viral marketing campaign for Xanadu. Even if that isn't the case, there really is much to admire in Xanadu. Not so much the material itself--though it is a LOT of fun, and I've enjoyed listening to it on my brandspankingnew iPod Shuffle--or even the fabulous performances, but the fact that 4 young producers are thinking outside of the box about how to get a show on Broadway. They had an idea, a crazy idea even, but they also had equally crazy ideas about how to make it work, including finding the right writer, director, and cast. If the Best Musical Tony award were to be thought of solely as a Producer's award, I would give it to these kids.

2) I saw a preview of SAVED, the new musical based on that movie with Mandy Moore and a wheelchair bound Culkin. It's probably poor form to speak in too much depth on a show still in previews, especially a musical, but I REALLY liked it. I would even go so far as to say I LOVED it. I found it very funny and moving and generally satisfying, well showing some very different relationships than are typically scene on the Musical Stage.

3) Um...the President of Gambia wants to behead all homosexuals found in his country. No, literally. Wow. Just...wow.