MetaFilter posts tagged with broadway

An unfunny thing happened

dances_with_sneetches — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:00:31 -0800

Larry Gelbart, one of the great stage, screen and television writers has died.

They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway...

2bucksplus — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:18:32 -0800

On Sunday New York City closed two of the busiest sections of perhaps the most famous street in the U.S. to traffic and created pedestrian plazas in the "Crossroads of the World" (and also in Herald Square) [brief plan / NYCDOT detailed plan]. Spearheaded by Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan (featured in an excellent New York Magazine article) and the Bloomberg Administration as part of the "Green Light for Midtown" program, the pedestrian malls are ostensibly a pilot program to determine the feasibility of permanent conversion later this year, with the stated goal of increasing traffic flow through midtown (warning PDF). Criticism from motorists, especially taxi drivers (New York Post), and for the quality of the chairs and planters used in the conversion aside (New York Times Architecture Review), the urban plazas have received generally favorable reviews (New York Times YouTube channel, NYDailyNews.com, AMNY) and national attention.

Now have you found what you're looking for?

Joe Beese — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:04:34 -0800

Only 325 days until Broadway's Hilton Theater hosts the first preview of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, a $40 million musical directed by Juliet Taymor with music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge of U2. Investors hope it will fare better than another big-budget pulp adaptation.

Who do you think you are?!

greekphilosophy — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:01:49 -0800

Patti Lupone freaks out - mid-song - at someone taking pictures during a performance of "Gypsy." Audio clip on YouTube. Dished about at Gawker and The Village Voice . And now let's all say a quick little prayer that Patti never finds the poor sap who recorded that and then posted it to the web.

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:56:25 -0800

Songs that clearly and directly address or reference economic hardships and injustice in America, not to mention that do so in a bitter, regretful tone, don't often become enormous hits. Matter of fact, it's such a rare phenomenon that you could count such songs on... um, one finger? Yes, Yip Harburg and Jay Gorney's iconic Brother Can You Spare a Dime is that song. Covered by a surprisingly wide range of singers through the years, the song still resonates. You can hear a partial clip of the Rudy Valee version at a link from this page from the "GCSE page" link. Once again this clip, like most of the YouTube clips linked in the FPP, is comprised of Depression-era images. There's a partial clip of the Bing Crosby version at this PBS page, just scroll down below the feature on "Strange Fruit" (another song with unlikely subject matter, that is lynching) for the link. Here's the chords, although they've left the entire intro out...

"The Worst"

ornate insect — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:17:45 -0800

The Worst Flop in Broadway History? First staged in 1983 for only one night, Moose Murders (wiki) is legendary as the flop-of-flops in Broadway history--and is now being revived for its kitsch value. From the NYT piece: ...Critics described “Moose Murders” as “titanically bad” and “indescribably bad,” a play that “would insult the intelligence of an audience consisting entirely of amoebas” (Brendan Gill, The New Yorker), that looked as it were staged by “a blind director repeatedly kicked in the groin” (John Simon, New York magazine).... Years later, Frank Rich, who was then the theater critic for The New York Times, would call it “the worst play I’ve ever seen on a Broadway stage.” (Mr. Rich’s writings about “Moose Murders” have become such a part of its lore that a recent production of the play in Manila credited Mr. Rich with having written the play.)... Lately, the play has been revived in unlikely places. What makes the play so bad? Perhaps this.... The mysterious moose character was a woman dressed in black holding an inflatable deer head emblazoned with the Miller High Life logo. Sidney Holloway, the mummified quadriplegic, was played by a mannequin, whose head rolled off during the first act. ...is some indication?

Can I Get A Napkin Here?

Del Far — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:58:45 -0800

Can I Get a Napkin Here? A food court musical brought to us by the fine folks of Improv Everywhere . For more musicals in public places, check out "Reach! A Lecture Musical!" and "Reading on a Dream: A Library Musical" both from Prangstgrup.

New York, New York - It's a hell of a town!

crossoverman — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:48:12 -0800

The Battery's Down is a new musical web series about an aspiring New York actor, Jake Wilson - ostensibly playing himself. Written and directed by Wilson, it also contains cameos by Broadway actors - and feature songs composed by up-and-coming musical theatre composers (each song is also available for download). There is also outtakes and merchandise. Episode One: The Big Apple (part one, part two) Episode Two: The Unsinkable Molly Black (part one, part two)

Who Can I Turn To?

post punk — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:10:34 -0800

Who Can I Turn To? - Anthony Newley, 1965 "Rare early footage of singer/actor/songwriter Anthony Newley. "Who Can I Turn To?" from his musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint - the Smell of the Crowd." Performance begins at 0:48 - from the Ed Sullivan show in 1965. If you're an American under 50, Anthony is probably the most famous actor/songwriter you've never heard of - but you know his work. One of his first roles was "The Artful Dodger" in Oliver Twist" - followed by roles in an additional 68 movies (such as Doctor Doolittle) and TV shows. Anthony was a prolific writer of songs such as "Goldfinger," "What Kind of Fool Am I?" and the other hit song from "The Roar of the Greasepaint", "Feeling Good" (see versions on YouTube by Micheal Bublé, John Barrowman and Alex Kip.) He co-authored several musicals including "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Anthony and his second wife, Joan Collins, had two children. "

No Day But June 1st

crossoverman — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:29:58 -0800

Nearly 12 Years Old, ‘Rent’ Is to Close. The 1996 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical will close its doors at New York's Nederlander Theatre on June 1st. The 7th longest-running musical in Broadway history, it is based on Puccini's La Boheme and is credited with bringing young people to musical theatre and the invention of Broadway Rush ticketing - it sold its first two rows for $20: first in , first served on the day of the performance. Creator Jonathon Larson didn't live to see the phenomenal success of the show, dying from an aortic anuerysm on the morning of the show's off-Broadway premiere. A feature film version was released in 2005 (trailer) starring most of the Original Broadway Cast - who also reunited for a 10th Anniversary show in 2006, raising two million dollars for the Jonathon Larson Performing Arts Foundation and the New York Theatre Workshop where the show was first performed.

Broadway Deconstructed

adrober — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:13:41 -0800

Musical fans, meet Seth Rudetsky. Watch him (YT links) deconstruct "Turkey Lurkey" and Barbra Streisand or accompany Raul Esparza on "Defying Gravity." Learn from his Broadway 101 parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6a and 6b.

Understanding the WGA Writer's Strike

GoodAaron — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:10:15 -0800

As the Writer's Guild of America strike wears on into its second week, it seems appropriate to remember why they're striking in the first place. If you ask me, the terms seem almost too reasonable. But in the defense of the studios, I'm sure the businessmen involved have gotten used to spending those millions of dollars, and wouldn't want to see them go. Now that Broadway has shut down in allegiance to their Hollywood compatriots, things are looking grim for anything to be resolved without more financial bloodshed.

She's not going.

miss lynnster — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:00:33 -0800

Broadway's original Effie White, Jennifer Holliday, has been very open about how haunted and snubbed she felt during the production of the Dreamgirls movie. In particular she was hurt when, without permission, her own singing voice was used in a theatrical trailer to promote the production that had completely shut her out. Yesterday at the BET Awards she was finally given some overdue recognition and invited to join Jennifer Hudson onstage for a duet of the song she made famous. You may have heard the song a hundred times, but try to make it 101. 'Cuz seriously, the girls can sing. Previously.

"Someone in a Tree" from 1976 Broadway Show, "Pacific Overtures"

grumblebee — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 13:33:30 -0800

"Someone in a Tree" -- an incedibly rare video from the original, 1976 production of "Pacific Overtures." I grew up listening to an L.P. of these same people perform this same song, but I've never before seen them perform it. I grew up in Southern Indiana, so actually seeing a Broadway show was out of the question. But I loved this song, and -- years later -- I read that it was Stephen Sondheim's favorite of all the songs he ever wrote. Today, I found this video on YouTube and it was like finally seeing someone after being blind for years. I still have chills running up and down my spine. Also: Sondheim forum, online journal, and various gems (and bombs) on youtube -- including the man himself teaching a master class and this 12-year-old's spirited performance!

Legally Blonde on Broadway

ThePinkSuperhero — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:05:07 -0800

Broadway.com has been doing a video diary of Legally Blonde: the Musical as it moves toward Broadway. See the first rehearsal with director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell, visit a costume fitting, or catch a sneek peek of the show's pre-Broadway tryout in San Francisco. Legally Blonde starts performance in New York City on April 3rd.

The New Alternative to Being Discovered at the Soda Fountain

stagewhisper — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 12:55:08 -0800

"Spotlight Live ... puts guests in the limelight in a way that will surpass their wildest dreams. Guests can walk in the door for dinner and walk out the door a star" In the age of American Idol, why go to see a show on Broadway, when it's your birthright to be a show on Broadway, complete with your own professional back-up singers and dancers?

Give My Regards to Yiddishe Broadway

jonp72 — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:39:33 -0800

I'm a Jewish Yankee Doodle Dandy and other Yiddish sheet music on topics ranging from the Dreyfus affair to interreligious romance. How Broadway evolved from Yiddish theater.

Barbara Cook's Master Class

adrober — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 23:54:54 -0800

You can keep your Simon, Randy and Paula, I'll take Barbara Cook any day. Here is the Broadway legend's two hour master class (it's a REALTIME video from The New York Public Library) and it'll teach you more about singing, phrasing and music than every moment of American Idol combined. At least watch the first 20 minutes, you'll be amazed.

I'm Movin' Out.... to a courtroom

ThePinkSuperhero — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 18:29:05 -0800

Dancer Sues Movin' Out for breach of contract and sexual harassment she claims to have suffered during her run in the National Touring company of the Broadway hit. In an interesting move, the dancer, Alice Alyse, has created a lawsuit website to explain her side of the story. Perhaps she'll win, but will she ever work again?

Tim Gracyk's amazing American Popular Music site

mediareport — Tue, 17 May 2005 21:55:41 -0800

Buying Rare Race Records in the South. Music That Americans Loved 100 Years Ago. The Cheney Talking Machine. Just three among dozens of amazing articles about early recording machines and American popular music at the astonishingly detailed site of Tim Gracyk, author of Popular American Recording Pioneers: 1895-1925. Scroll down for bios of forgotten stars, including Nora Bayes - who performed in the Follies of 1907, before Flo Ziegfeld's name became part of the title, George W. Johnson - "the most important African-American recording artist of the 1890s," and piano player Zez Confrey, whose sheet music for the 1921 hit "Kitten on the Keys" sold over a million copies and became "the third most-frequently recorded rag in history."

Robocoprock!

mathowie — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 14:44:10 -0800

A couple years ago, they did SILENCE! the musical version of Silence of the lambs, now they're working on "RoboCop The Musical" with this track uploaded as a preview entitled "Murphy, It's You" performed by RoboCop and Anne Lewis.

sometimes there's good news

dances_with_sneetches — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 21:41:47 -0800

Doris Eaton Travis. Doris Eaton returned to Broadway 87 years after her premiere. Her film debut was only 84 years ago. She wrote her award-winning autobiography when she was only 99.

Just Plane Crazy

jscott — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 21:56:01 -0800

"When stewardesses were sexy and the world was sexist" is the tagline of this years-in-making musical by Suzy Conn, who also runs the blogway baby musicals log (which talks about this musical quite a bit). It's meant to be based around the early 1960's, when airlines were truly a luxury, not unlike a sea cruise or a first-class train ride pre-Amtrak. (The website spends some time going on about Braniff International, and it's worth it to check out the history of that airline. This is also laid out on top of the era of Women's Liberation, although it does so using the aesthetic of 1960's music and phraseology, which was, basically, designed by male-dominated hollywood. For everyone who sits in the cheap seats, if you let the flash animation at the beginning of the site load, it plays the entire opening title song for you. Hey, free show!

We eat ham and jam and spam a lot

terrapin — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 08:52:40 -0800

We're Knights of the Round Table
We dance whene'er we're able.
We do routines and chorus scenes
With footwork impeccable.
We dine well here in Camelot.
We eat ham and jam and Spam a lot.
We're Knights of the Round Table.
Our shows are formidable,
But many times we're given rhymes
That are quite unsingable.
We're opera mad in Camelot.
We sing from the diaphragm a lot.
In war we're tough and able,
Quite indefatigable.
Between our quests we sequin vests and impersonate Clark Gable.
It's a busy life in Camelot.

The Music Factory

rocket88 — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 00:10:23 -0800

The Brill Building , located at 1619 Broadway in the heart of New York's music district, is a name synonymous with an approach to songwriting that changed the course of music. Housing legendary songwriters like Carole King, Jerry Leiber, Neil Sedaka, and Burt Bacharach, the Brill Building created some of the greatest hits of the rock'n'roll era. [more inside]