Or, we loooooooooooooooooooooove… (13 measures later) youuuuuuuu! Folks, you’ll be happy to hear your favorite lopsided Sondheim fan is branching out! Last weekend I got together with a group of strangers to sing through the (still unbelievably) now-late composer’s 1970 breakout hit Company. Let me tell you, spending seven hours tops on a difficult scoreContinue reading “Phone rings, door chimes, in comes COMPANY”
Tag Archives: #musicals
Just saw FUNNY GIRL for the first time…
Or, oy! …and it was weird, man. I’m gonna put all my thoughts in a list, because that’s the kind of time and energy I’ve got this week. Reminiscent of other musicals of the era in that the first act contained much more singing, and was much more lighthearted, than the second. But I thinkContinue reading “Just saw FUNNY GIRL for the first time…”
Is INTO THE WOODS the Great American Musical?
Or, an unexpected farewell Let the WordPress record show that I had planned this post long, long before the sudden death of Stephen Sondheim a week ago Friday. As I told my family when I called them thirty seconds after reading the news, there are those figures whose deaths you prepare for, and those figuresContinue reading “Is INTO THE WOODS the Great American Musical?”
The Gospel According to Alexander
In which I open a portal Hey all, It’s a busy couple weeks in my brain and body, so allow me to tide you over by dropping a link to a freshly published essay in the magazine of the Women Writing Berlin Lab, a local organization I’ve been privileged to work with since nearly theContinue reading “The Gospel According to Alexander”
In Defense of the Kids Who Had the Nerve to Audition
In which, for once, inclusivity supersedes quality We all—of a certain age, anyhow—remember the scene in High School Musical where a procession of hopefuls audition for the winter musicale. They sing an excerpt from “What I’ve Been Looking For” accompanied by its composer, accident-prone musical genius Kelsi Nielsen, who is to East High what ColeContinue reading “In Defense of the Kids Who Had the Nerve to Audition”
We’re in Urinetown
In which I’m filled with symbolism and things like that It’s the oldest story: Masses are oppressed Faces, clothes, and bladders all distressed Rich folks get the good life Poor folks get the woe In the end it’s nothing you don’t know : “Too Much Exposition” For nearly a week now—beginning, with eerie prescience, shortlyContinue reading “We’re in Urinetown”
Every Beatles Reference in “You’ll Be Back”
In which I send a fully armed battalion to remind you that all you need is love Hamilton’s George III, our favorite mad king, steps out in the middle of Act I to the most fanfare since, well, Hamilton stepped out. He proceeds to introduce himself with a tune I can only describe as Late-StageContinue reading “Every Beatles Reference in “You’ll Be Back””
Girl Next Door
In which I set something straight It came to my attention during a family phone conversation that I have misinterpreted the “girl next door” trope for most of my life. This stock character often appears in visual media as the primary love interest or counterpart (apparently) to the boy next door to her. The premiseContinue reading “Girl Next Door”
Singular Sensation
In which Broadway’s Broadwayest musical turns 45 There’s no shortage of subjects I could chase this week. The album Taylor Swift surprised us with that no one was emotionally ready for. The utter circus my expat life is becoming as I wait on important answers from oversaturated offices. The fact that I’m using my limitedContinue reading “Singular Sensation”
A Moment Alone in the Shade
In which I contemplate a pilgrim’s progress I would bet a ten-dollar-Founding-Father bill that you expected my title to refer in some way to the room where it happens. Well, kids, I’m full of surprises. Besides, there is no longer one ‘room’: everyone who has witnessed the production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton available on Disney+Continue reading “A Moment Alone in the Shade”