What is Cyndi Lauper doing to follow up her brilliant, well-received (and award winning) 2010 album
Memphis Blues? Why, she's writing a musical! A stage adaptation of the charming UK film
Kinky Boots which will be opening in Chicago later this year, with an anticipated move to Broadway in 2013. Eager for a preview? EW is hosting
a sneak peek of the track The Sex Is In The Heel (scroll down for player), and the track will be available for free download at
the musical's website starting tomorrow. Lauper will also be performing the track live at the NYC Pride Parade this weekend, where she will be Grand Marshall.
posted by hippybear
on Jun 21, 2012 -
31 comments
As he sings, the walls of the apartment begin to move off, and
the city walls surrounding them begin to close in on them. Then
the apartment it self goes, and the two lovers begin to run,
battering against the walls of the city, beginning to break
through as chaotic figures of the gangs, of violence, fail around
them. But they do break through, and suddenly-they are in a world
of space and air and sun. They stop, looking at it, pleased,
startled, as boys and girls both sides come on. And they, too,
stop and stare, happy, pleased. Their clothes are soft and pastel
versions of what they have worn before. They begin to dance, to
play: no sides, no hostility now; join, making a world that Tony
and Maria want to be in, belong to, share their love with. As
they go into the steps of a gentle love dance, a voice is heard
singing. [more inside]
posted by silby
on Oct 9, 2011 -
11 comments
From Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of
South Park, and Robert Lopez, of
Avenue Q, comes the new Broadway show
"The Book of Mormon." The
show "tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent off to spread the word in a dangerous part of Uganda" while gently (and no so gently) lampooning organized religion and traditional musical theatre.
The entire show is now streaming on NPR. Songs are extremely Not Safe For Work.
posted by ColdChef
on May 9, 2011 -
84 comments
On March 14th,
the 26th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will add 5 new performers to the growing list of well-known musicians. As
previously discussed, the 2011 inductees are Alice Cooper, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Tom Waits and
Darlene Love. Though the last name may not be as famous as the four fellows, the chances are you know her voice, from
Monster Mash,
Rockin' Robbin, or
Da Doo Ron Ron. Except
her name wasn't credited first on any of those recordings, if it was mentioned at all.
[more inside]
posted by filthy light thief
on Feb 18, 2011 -
23 comments
This week, the world will finally get its first look at Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
. But the most expensive musical in Broadway history has already had an epic run—battling bankruptcy, broken wrists, unruly technology, and one comic villain disguised as a Post columnist. And at the center of it all, perched over her “God mike,” is the relentless and inventive Julie Taymor. (previously)
posted by Joe Beese
on Nov 23, 2010 -
49 comments
Dude. Articles on the failed musical
Dude by
Hair cocreator
Gerome Ragni. Where to start? Well, there is
this summary of the disaster by the New York Times, which is just mind-boggling: "He also made demands, phoning Adela Holzer at 2 A.M. to say he wanted a hundred butterflies let loose into the audience before each performance. No? Well then what about having a couple of oinking pigs and chickens run down the aisle at intermission?"
[more inside]
posted by Astro Zombie
on Jun 20, 2010 -
27 comments
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.
posted by Joe Beese
on Feb 25, 2009 -
35 comments
"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!
posted by grumblebee
on Apr 28, 2007 -
14 comments
"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!
posted by jscott
on Apr 12, 2005 -
27 comments
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.
posted by terrapin
on Mar 11, 2005 -
43 comments
