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Let’s go back to November 15, 1956, when two very different events occurred in entertainment history. And yet, in one strange way, they were related. On this date, Elvis Presley’s recording of “Love Me Tender” was released. Meanwhile on Broadway, LI’L ABNER opened at the St. James Theatre. So, what could possibly be the commonality? […]

There aren’t all that many documentaries that bring back actual memories, but Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story was one that did for me. I first encountered Ms. Minnelli when I sat in my first-row orchestra seat (my favorite place in a theater) during the Boston tryout of FLORA THE RED MENACE. I could […]

Sometimes, scattering those postcards around town does pay off. That’s how I discovered a play called Thank You, Don Ameche. Lawrence A. Heman’s new comedy runs this week at The Sargent Theatre on West 54th Street. The title was enough to spur me to play the three cast albums on which Ameche can be heard: […]

“Maybe it was a compliment. I’ll never know.” So writes Thomas Z. Shepard in his most informative memoir, Recording Broadway: A Life in Cast Albums. He’s referring to the leading character in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. Franklin Shepard, the composer who turned out to have feet of the hardest clay, has a last name spelled […]

BEAU reminds us of an unshakable truth. When you were growing up – with as much love as you may have had from your parents – you probably received more from your grandparents. That’s what Ace experiences in BEAU. It’s the musical that received a world premiere recording on Masterworks Broadway six years ago, where […]