AN OPERATION YOU’LL BE GLAD TO UNDERGO By Peter Filichia
What’s the best way to celebrate the 80th anniversary of World War II’s “Operation Mincemeat”? No, don’t go into your kitchen to mix currants, raisins, sugar, apples, candied citrus peel and spices to create the delicious foodstuff. There are, after all, 70 calories in a mere teaspoon. Forego the treat and instead treat yourself to the […]
BARITONES AND BASSES By Peter Filichia
My recent experience with Jason Alexander has had me repeatedly playing the cast album of JEROME ROBBINS’ BROADWAY. I’ve particularly savored Alexander and company in one of Broadway’s greatest opening numbers: “Comedy Tonight.” Its lyric – “Baritones and basses” – started me thinking about Broadway’s best in those categories. There are plenty who could come […]
REMEMBERING SHELDON HARNICK By Peter Filichia
Whenever a great musical theater luminary dies, I listen to every cast album that represents this songwriter’s work in chronological order. This past week has been especially moving, thanks to the lyrics of Sheldon Harnick, who, we must be grateful, made it to 99. I started with NEW FACES OF ’52, to which Harnick contributed both music and lyrics to “Boston […]
JEROME ROBBINS’ BROADWAY REDUX By Peter Filichia
Jason Alexander gave me a brilliant pre-emptive strike. That was late ’88, I recall. He was about to open as the leading man of JEROME ROBBINS’ BROADWAY. In addition to performing, he’d write the continuity which he’d deliver as narrator. Robbins was both creating and recreating his previous successes. With an unprecedented 22 weeks of […]
LA CAGE AUX BOSTON By Peter Filichia
“Thank you, Boston!” So read the small round sticker that adorned the cover of some LA CAGE AUX FOLLES original cast albums. Given that hundreds of musicals had met with rapturous success in New England’s best theater town – SOUTH PACIFIC, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, MAME, CABARET and PROMISES, PROMISES among dozens of others – […]
