A Delicious Chocolate Soldier
By Peter Filichia — Long before one play by George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion) became a musical (My Fair Lady in 1956), there was another: GBS’s 1894 play Arms and the Man which became the Oscar Straus operetta The Chocolate Solider opened in his hometown of Vienna in 1908, on Broadway in 1909, and in London […]
The Overture Is about to Start
By Peter Filichia — Everyone I know who got the recently released Arkiv CD of What Makes Sammy Run? has said the same thing to me: “What an overture!” Yes, it is, and for three good reasons. 1) There is no shortage of good songs. 2) There are dozens of musicians in the pit, with […]
Of These We Sing
By Peter Filichia — As we go to the polls this week, let’s talk about two musicals that deal with elections: Of Thee I Sing and its sequel Let ‘Em Eat Cake. Both had books by George S. Kaufman and Morris Ryskind, music by George Gershwin and lyrics by his brother Ira. Each musical had […]
Remembering Bock and Harnick
By Peter Filichia — As October ends, let’s stop to remember a stellar Broadway songwriting team whose last two shows celebrated anniversaries this month. Forty-four years ago on Oct. 18, 1966, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick’s The Apple Tree opened. Forty years ago, on Oct. 19, 1970, their musical version of The Rothschilds debuted. Sad […]
Sammy’s Back and Running
By Peter Filichia — Sept. 21, 1998. The pilot episode of Will & Grace airs on NBC. Will Truman and his friends – including Jack McFarland – are playing poker. Jack is stalling, wondering if he should hold or discard. And while he wonders, he starts singing to himself. “A room without windows,” he drones. […]
