AL HIRSCHFELD: IT’S IN THE CARDS By Peter Filichia
Zero Mostel as Peter Pan? Carol Channing as Lady Macbeth? Robert Preston and Sammy Davis, Jr. as the Dromio twins in THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE? Sounds crazy, no? But in 1964, Al Hirschfeld – arguably the world’s greatest caricaturist – decided to have some fun. He imagined how these lofty entertainers would look in roles […]
YOU’RE A GRAND NEW BOOK (AND GRAND OLD CAST ALBUM) By Peter Filichia
YOU’RE A GRAND NEW BOOK (AND GRAND OLD CAST ALBUM) By Peter Filichia He died 82 years ago this week, but here’s proof that he hasn’t been forgotten. Elizabeth T. Craft’s excellent new book YANKEE DOODLE DANDY may get you to play your GEORGE M! original cast album, either for some additional times or for […]
ROMEO AND JULIET AND MUSICALS By Peter Filichia
It was one of the biggest theatrical hits of the 16th century. And this week, we’ll have the opening of the 36th Broadway revival of a drama that first opened in New York 270 years ago. What’s more, with William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at Circle in the Square for the next four months, Broadway […]
SPEAK TO US, OH BEAUTIFUL CAST ALBUMS By Peter Filichia
“Listen, girls, the way to catch a man is to be a natural woman…” So said Lena Horne before she launched into “Pretty to Walk With,” her opening song in JAMAICA, which opened 67 years ago this week. Many moons ago, when Jonathan Schwartz was a radio commentator, he played the song on his program. […]
RAGTIME MADE US HEAR IT By Peter Filichia
Masterworks Broadway has two ways to whet your appetite for the upcoming presentation of RAGTIME at Encores! The last great musical of the 20th century will play October 20 through November 10 at City Center. That it’s the biggest house in the theater district is fitting for a musical that requires the largest of canvases. […]
