Since I couldn’t really create a podcast around the introductory show, I made the decision early in the semester to have a bonus podcast. The bonus podcast is focused on film based musicals and jukebox based musicals. Enjoy!
The Mega Musical was something truly introduced during the 1980’s. Generally a Mega Musical is a production that has large ensembles, lavish sets and expensive special effects. The three longest running musicals of all time are examples of Mega musicals. They are also all British Imports.
Cats
I first saw Cats on home video when my little sister convinced my parents to purchase it on DVD, so she could finish watching the production (they had watched some during one of her classes). I ended up watching the film with her and at first was indifferent about it. Days later though, the songs remained in my head and I found myself re watching the DVD. This continued and I got to the point where I was watching the DVD nearly every day, for several weeks. This isn’t unfamiliar for me. But I began to talk about nothing but Cats. At the time I fell in love with the production, it was still the longest running musical on Broadway, though not for long. Only a few years later was it trumped by Phantom of the Opera. My entry about Phantom of the Opera can be found here.
I was so enthralled by Cats that I was able to convince my parents, with the help of my sister, to take us to see the production live in Washington DC. Right before the play began, I was so overcome by my excitement that I began to cry just from the first few notes of the opening theme. I was ecstatic. My favorite song and pair of cats within the show had always been Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, so I kept my eyes upon them for the majority of the show. I had been quite pleased with the experience, even though I knew by the intermission I was the only one who was really excited out of my family.
I had such a reputation for my love of Cats that one of my friends, Alicia, even made me my very own Mr. Mistoffolees arm warmers for Christmas that year.
In the background you may notice on the wall a framed vinyl of the original cast album for Cats. Also, I began to collect figurines that were released over the years that were based off the musical. As you can see, I was thoroughly obsessed. I saw it one additional time as a University production and I have potential plans in the near future to see it for a third time in Hershey Park. The plot of the musical may be minimal but I still adore it.
Les Miserables
The Day I saw Les Miserables, it rained all day. It felt appropriate.
Les Miserables may no longer be on Broadway, but it still is playing on West End. Due it still playing in London, it has now become the longest running musical in history. And for good reason.
The friend I mentioned earlier, Alicia, was one of my true confidants in the world of musical obsession; along with the girl I mentioned in the Phantom of the Opera post, Mary. Les Miserables was one of my first cast albums and during my freshman year of college, I caught a commercial for the tour. Realizing it was going to be stopping in Washington DC, I pleaded with my father for him to get me tickets. Alicia was the girl who I ended up going with for that show.
I am very picky when it comes to Les Miserables. Even though I have three different cast albums, my favorite is the Complete Symphonic Recording. I feel as if the other cast albums will never hold a candle to the Symphonic recording and I rarely listen to the other versions, even though I own them.
“On My Own” was my gateway into the world of Les Miserables. I had heard the song in an episode of “Dawson’s Creek“, way back in the 5th grade, when Katie Holmes was my idol. In other words, along time ago.
I then proceeded to have a friend in the seventh grade who was already obsessed with this musical. She introduced me to “Master of the House” and the recordings were often in the background when we spent time together. Soon enough I got the cast recording myself and not long after that, we had an entire Broadway based marching band show in my high school. I was one of the few who understood that “I Dreamed a Dream” was not a cheery song, without being told by my band director.
Being able to see it on tour solidified the show as my favorite musical of all time. Only recently has this position been rivaled and that has been due to my experience seeing Hair, which now shares the spot of favorite with Les Miserables.
Miss Saigon
I only own a Best of recording for Miss Saigon, a fact that I am very upset over. Eventually I plan to get my hands on the entire cast album, but it doesn’t seem likely any time soon. I hope that one day Miss Saigon will be revived on Broadway, only out of my own yearning to see it.
Favorite Clips
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer from the Cats film. It is my favorite song from the musical and I hate the fact that it is impossible to find this version of the song on CD. Originally this song was much slower and had a jazz feel to the tune. Then there was another version that was sang by Mr. Mistoffelees and the two characters were puppets he conjured up. I believe this peppy duet is the best version of the three choices and the best song from the entire production. Who cares about Memory? Cats has so many rich and lively songs. Memory is just a worn out ballad that really needs to be put to rest.
My favorite song from Miss Saigon by one of my favorite performers. It is a horrible camera video but it really should be viewed for the 30 or so seconds of Patrick Wilson rocking out the tune.
Lea Salonga is also one of my favorite performers. She played the character of Éponine in Les Miserables for a time and is the singer for the part on the Complete Symphonic Recording (as well as the 10th anniversary concert). My love for her vocals is what lead me to Miss Saigon, as I was trying to find more of her work. She plays Kim in the original production and this is a video of her supposed audition for the musical.
Earlier I posted the clip from “Dawson’s Creek” that got me interested in Les Miserables. Here is a video of Lea Salonga performing the song at the 10th Anniversary Concert. She will always be my favorite Éponine and this is a chilling performance. The entire DVD is superb and really worth checking out if you are a fan of the musical.
Let me explain. Rodgers and Hammerstein was important. I wouldn’t ever dream of cutting them from the lineup. But, believe you me, I am so glad to move on from them. We had a week hiatus due to Shepherd University’s Spring Break (my posting about my viewing of Hair has been added and I’ll put my posting about Phantom of the Opera up after next week’s show, The British Invasion). But our return week went quite well.
The music issue is still relevant, but luckily, I had a bit more material in actual physical format. Into the Woods is always at my apartment as well as about three versions of Sweeney Todd. What we missed out on were selections from his works Company, Follies, Assassins and sadly, A Little Night Music.
Gypsy
Perhaps the saddest exclusion due to my computer issues was that of Gypsy. Gypsy was the first Sondheim work I got to see. Of course it was the film version with Natalie Wood but it was still my first introduction.
Into the Woods
We played a great deal from Into the Woods, West Side Story and Sweeney Todd. In preparation for this show specifically, I actually convinced the library at Shepherd University to purchase the stage version of Into the Woods on DVD. I had originally inter library loaned the DVD but because of my interest in it (and the fact I used to work for the library), I was able to convince them that it was worthy to be in our collection. I am always glad when I can get a musical added into circulation.
I have to say, rather quickly, that I ADORE Bernadette Peters. I think that is perhaps the best part of doing the Stephen Sondheim show. I get to listen to so many different recordings with Bernadette, who I’ve not really seen since her cameo bits on Ugly Betty. After viewing the staged version (which was a real treat) I went on a hunt for more Bernadette Peters recordings. I had played the song ‘No One is Alone,’ which is my favorite song from Into the Woods, during our very first broadcast, so I had chosen to omit it from the actual Sondheim focused show. But during my hunt for Bernadette Peters, I stumbled across her singing it at one of her concerts. It is AMAZING! You must watch it.
West Side Story
On another matter, West Side Story is the kind of musical I think that everyone has seen from Sondheim’s collective. After all, it is an essential film classic. Natalie Wood, featured earlier in this entry, plays the part of Maria in top form. Natalie Wood, may she rest in peace, was a true movie star and is easily one of my favorite actresses. I can’t really fathom the concept of picking a favorite song from the collective of West Side Story, though it’d probably have to be America. I like big ensemble numbers.
West Side Story is currently back on Broadway in a new revival. I am really interested in this revival as the rumors has it that they’ve changed some of the lyrics, making some of the songs actually song in Spanish. I think that this is an acceptable and welcoming change. I am very eager to see it on stage and I do hope I have the chance to see it before it closes. Unlike Sweeney Todd.
Sweeney Todd
I first became aware of Sweeney Todd during a book signing for Anthony Rapp. I was waiting to get to meet him and was positioned rather close to the music listening station. One of the CD’s you could choose to listen to was the revival cast of Sweeney Todd with Michael Cerveris and Patti Lupone.
I listened to it for a good twenty minutes before I grabbed the CD and headed straight for the checkout counter. I didn’t get a chance to listen to the full CD until I was home but I spent a good portion of the drive home looking over the case and the CD’s. I listened to the CD on my way to work the next day and was so entranced by it that I had to go out to my car during my lunch break just so I could hear the rest. It was of course during my listening moments in the car that I reached the song ‘A Little Priest,’ and quickly jumped for the libretto so I could fully grasp what I thought I was hearing. In shock, I laughed along with the song and felt my stomach churn just slightly from the imagery, but it didn’t matter. For I had fallen in love by that point with the entire album.
I never did get a chance to see the revival and I so wish that I had. Unfortunately, plans fell through as they so often do. But I still cherish that recording the most in the Sweeney Todd archieve. Angela Lansbury and Helena Bonham Carter are very good at playing Mrs. Lovett in their incarnations, as are many others, but Patti LuPone will always be my Mrs. Lovett. Below is another great video of her in the role of Mrs. Lovett.
Though this version isn’t from the revival, I really do love it. Neil Patrick Harris has a wonderful voice and we don’t get to see it in action as often as I’d like. However, at least we always have Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog to turn to when we want to hear Neil Patrick Harris sing for more then one single song. He pairs wonderfully with Patti LuPone.
The Sweeney Todd Film
Sweeney Todd is the most recent film to be added to the Sondheim collective and I’ve barely said much about it. I think it was a good adaptation of the musical but I am still a bit sore from the omission of ‘The Ballad of Sweeney Todd,’ easily one of my favorite songs. However, I love Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd, which was something I had been rather skeptical about when the film was first announced. Perhaps the best scene, in my opinion, is that of ‘Epiphany,’ which I sadly could not play during the broadcast of the Sondheim show. But the song is below and really worth checking out if you’ve not had a chance to see the film yet.
Check out next week for our post about British Musicals!
The Stage and Musical Show 