Musical Song Challenge - Day 2

Day 2's musical song challenge is to post a clip or video of your latest musical obsession. At the minute, I haven't really got a musical obsession, but looking at clip recently of Broadway shows which have just opened introduced me to Wonderland - a contemporary new musical based on the stories of Alice and Wonderland. The tunes sound quite catchy, and the set looks really nice! I need to listen to the cast album (if and when it is released) before I decide whether it will become an obsession, but for now I'll post a clip of one of the songs x

Britney Spears the musical?

A few weeks ago I reviewed Thriller Live, which was a showcase of the music of Michael Jackson. Whilst not strictly a musical due to a lack of story, it has got me thinking about other artists who have had musicals made on the success of their back catalogue.

The biggest show, where this is the case, is of course Mamma Mia. It tells the story of a young girl who wants to find out the identity of her father so she can invite him to her wedding. Intermingled with the story is the music of Abba, from The Winner Takes it All to Super Trouper. According to an online encyclopedia, there are 24 of the Swedish groups hits laced throughout the show, which opened in London in June 1999. Since then it has opened on Broadway, been turned into a hit film starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, and toured the nations arenas, whilst still being one of the most popular shows in the West End. It is a ferocious beast of a show, still packing them in after more than a decade.

Another hit show, which has survived a number of extensions is We Will Rock You, which incorporates the music of Queen, and written by Ben Elton. This show is also bringing patrons into the Dominion in their droves, frequently selling out the 2000 seat theatre. There has recently been a UK tour, as well as the sit-down London show, and there is to be another which starts up later this year. There are also numerous productions running around the world.

Other shows which are based on the music of pop icons include Never Forget, the Take That musical, which had a short stint in The West End, prior to a UK tour. One feels that this show would have been much more succesful, were it not for the fact that Take That didn't endorse the show. Jersey Boys is another hit show, now enjoying its 3rd year in the West End and 6th year on Broadway, and The Buddy Holly story which seems to constantly be running somewhere around the country.

The new Spice Girls musical is currently being penned by Absolutely Fabulous writter Jennifer Saunders. If given the green light, this show is possibly going to generate an awful lot of interest, and could run and run.

My point is that these shows are popular - some more than others, but on the whole they put bums on seats. They provide the theatre going audience with something recognisable. Why would you go and shell out your £60 (+ in some cases), on a new musical you know nothing about when you can spend the same amount of money on a show that you can sing along to? These shows are "audience friendly", and herein lies the genius, and the danger. Musical theatre in this country is at a cross-roads. There are more duke-box musicals and musicals produced on the back of previously successful shows and films (The Lion King, Billy Elliott, Wicked et al), than brand new musicals, which means that there isn't really that much variety. This must be rectified in the future, if we are to enjoy the talents of our up and coming writers. If this does't happen, we will only see shows in the future that pander to the masses - shows which do not hve a heart and which don't have a brain.



In twenty five years time will you be the one who is queing up for Britney Spears the Musical, or We Will GAGA You? Because if the answer is no, then we all need to do something about the way that musicals are produced in this country. We all collectively need to support those excellent smaller shows to help them survive, rather than add to the thick pockets of the West Ends super producers. Shows like Spring Awakening and Love Story (which I recently went to see and enjoyed immensely) don't currently stand a chance, which is why they both closed so soon.

What do you think of the current state of musicals in this country and around the world? Would you be happy going to see Britney the musical in 20 yrs time?!

30 day song challenge

On facebook, everyone seems to be doing the 30 day song challenge, where they are given a title e.g. favourite song from a movie or most recent song you listened to, and ten you give your answer, along with a clip of that song from youtube.

Well I have decided to complete the alternative "musical theatre song challenge", which has the same premise, except that your answers must be songs from musicals! So without much further ado, I will start with Day 1 - Song from the first musical you saw.

I don't remember what the first musical I saw was - indeed I'd seen alot of Disney films. I remember going to see Annie at the Empire when I was about 12, but one Christmas before that I'd been given a copy of Andrew Lloyd Webbers Cats starring the late John Mills and Elaine Paige. I loved that film and watched it all the time, so here is a clip from possibly the most famous song from that show!






Why don't you start your 30 day musical theatre song challenge? Keep me updated with your choices in the comments area.

BOST presents BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

As you may or may not have read, I joined The Birkenhead Operatics Group last year and was then priviledged to be a part of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Floral Pavillion in New Brighton. This was then followed by a Christmas concert in Birkenhead.

Well now we are set to perform Disney's Beauty and the Beast at The Liverpool Empire Theatre from 11th May-14th May. Tickets are £22 for adults, £12 for kids and £50 for a family!

The story follows Belle, as she is kept prisoner by the demonic Beast in his castle. Over time, they learn to love one another, but not without the interference of Gaston, a brute of a man who tries to destroy the beast. Featuring classic songs such as Bell, Be Our Guest and Gaston, Beauty and the Beast really is a story for all ages!

Come and see! I'm only in the chorus, but the leads are outstanding, particularly the girl who plays Belle! Her voice is excellent! It's such a fun show to be a part of - I've really enjoyed the rehearsals!

Broadway Shows

Mark Shenton, the reviewer for the Stage, had recently returned from New York, where he has had a look at many of the new shows of the season which are all competing for Tony Award recognition, as well as the audiences cash. There are a record number of shows which have opened in the last few weeks, and so it is inevitable that there will be some which will close, as they lose in the battle of enticing the New York audience to come and see them.

It's been many year since I went to New York. Back then I wasn't really that interested in the theatre. The trip was an AS media studies trip to go and see a TV show being recorded, visit a few museums, take in the sights and to go and see a Broadway Show. Everyone wanted to watch the Lion King, but the only night we could go and watch the show was a Tuesday, and The Lion King didn't run on that day, so instead we opted for Chicago. Whilst the show was quite enjoyable, it didn't set the world alight for me as other shows since have done. Now I find myself envious of Mr Shenton, wishing that I could fly over to the Big Apple to watch some of the shows which have just opened.
One of these shows is Wonderland, which is a contemporary version of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, which is set in New York and focuses on a descedent of Alice. From what I have seen the show is visually stunning. The costumes also look very good, and the Mad Hatter looks, and sounds incredible. The score doesn't sound especially amazing, but there do seem to be a couple of memorable songs in there. The choreography doesn't seem to fit in with the music however - it seems to want to be all kinds of genre, and so much of it looks out of place. The reviews for the show haven't been especially kind, but then they weren't either to Wicked, which I loved. I doubt this production will transfer to the West End, and so I will have to just read lots about the show and then buy the cast album when it becomes available.

Anything Goes is another show which has recently opened. Of course, this show is a revival, originally opening on Broadway in 1939! Featuring instantly recognisable songs such as the title track, and It's Delovely, Anything Goes is one of the shows I desperately would like to see. This version stars Sutton Foster, who is argueably one of the current darlings of Broadway - this woman can currently do no wrong - everything she touches turns into a hit, and this is no exception! Looking at the clips on Youtube, this seems to be everything you could ask for of a classic Broadway show. It has exquisite costumes, show stopping numbers, and excellent tap dancing routines which are expertly choreographed! This is another show I would love to see!

Other shows which I would really like to see include Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and show for which he has secured excellent reviews. The clips for the show online look really good Daniel has obviously put in alot of work to ensure he is physically able to perform 8 shows a week. His dancing also looks very good!

The big musical hit of this season seems to be Trey Parker and Matt Stone's "The Book of Mormon". According to Broadwayworld, this show seems to be selling out every performance, and has queues around the block for returns. It seems to be the hottest ticket in town at the minute. There don't seem to be any clips of the show online yet, but when they appear I will try and post them, because this is one show I am excited about watching!

Mark Shentons favorite show of the new season is Catch Me if You Can, which is based on the film of the same name, starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo Dicaprio. The score is by Marc Shaiman, who also wrote the score for Hairspray. The show looks fun and enjoyable, and is another which I woul like to learn more about.

Some of the other shows which have opened have travelled across the pond. Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, and Sister Act, are both hugely successful shows from London which are gracing The Big White Way. They have both undergone extensive re-writing to suit the American audience, and it is thought that the re-writes will be included back into the London version of Priscilla, which is still running. I am not really that bothered about watching either of these shows, although I wouldn't say no to a ticket!

Broadway this year seems to be enjoying a creative revival, with a huge number of new plays and musicals opening. I'd like to go and see a number of shows, but I fear it will be a while before I get a chance to jump over the pond. Hopefully, by the time I do, some of these shows will still be running!

Summer Shows

This year I haven't been able to go and see as much theatre as I would have liked. Now with the scrapping of the A Night Less Ordinary scheme, I will see even less. For the past five summers, I have travelled down to Chichester to go and see as many of the summer season shows as possible, and have in recent years been able to watch such gems as Sir Patrick Stewart in Macbeth, Enron and last years Pygmalion, starring Rupert Everrett.

Although this year, I won't be able to see a many shows, I am desperate to get down to Chichester to see at least two shows -Singing in the Rain starring Scarlett Strallen, and Sweeney Todd starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton. Both of these shows, I am sure, will be wonderful! I would also like to see the Terrence Rattigan plays,but we will have to see how my finances are looking, especially because I have just (possibly) purchased Olympics tickets for next year!

This summer, I would also like to g and see Jekyll and Hyde starring Marti Pellow, which is touring the UK. Another show I would love to see if the UK tour of Legally Blonde. I didn't go down to London to see this show, purely because I have seen the Broadway version on MTV, and I would rather have spent my money on seeing another show, which I did when I was down theee last (I went and watched the Michael Ball produced Love Story, which was lovely - Michael Xavier and Emma Williams were both robbed at the Olivier awards recently!). I am also probably going to see We Will Rock You, although I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to that show much - I've heard mixed reviews!

I would also love to get down to London again to see some shows in the capital. I am absolutey gutted that I didn't get a chance to see The Little Dog Laughed, or Fela at the National. Maybe one day my finances will allow me to take unlimited trips to the theatre in the name of Art, or maybe someone will employ me to write lots of reviews for the Guardian or the Times! One can only dream!

I am also looking forward to taking part in BOST's production of Beauty and The Beast!

Thriller Live @ The Empire Theatre

It may be nearly two years since the superstar's tragic death, but going by the reaction of the audience at the Liverpool Empire last night, it seems that the music of Michael Jackson is as popular as ever.

Brought to the stage by Adrian Grant, Thriller Live celebrates the back catalogue of one of the most talented stars the world has ever seen.

The show begins with an X-Factor style montage, complete with images of the king of pop and facts about his career. The only thing missing is te voice-over by Peter Dickson.

The first half follows Jackson's music as he sings with his brothers in the Jackson Five. Too many of these songs are lost on the audience and so it takes a while to build any atmosphere. Die hard fans may be engaged during this segment, but too many people around me started to grow restless.

The audience interaction is a nice touch, but goes on too long. Altogether there is a distinct lack of substance in the first half.

The second half of the show is much better, with a barrage of instantly recognisable hits. "Beat it" is a real highlight, as well as the title song. This is where the show really becomes alive, the catchy melodies and lyrics tearing deep into your soul.

Hayley Evetts, who reached the final five in the inaugual series of Pop Idol, sand many of the hit songs. Her vocals were excellent and she has a realstage presence.

The standout performance though, came from Nathan James, whos unique voie gave a real edge to Jacksons lyrics. The live band also gives an added energy to the production.

At times the music drowns out the singng, and there were a few problem with the sound last night.

The dancin and the choreography are outstanding. The whole ensemble give their all, performing much of the late singers complex routines with ease throughout the two hour show.

The set includes a series of screens, onto which projections are added to change the mood and the atmosphere of each era,

Not suprisingly, the show doesn't mention anything about Jackson's offstage persona. This makes the show slightly less exciting, as many people found his real-life antics just as interesting as his music and dancing, particularly his more recent years.

Despite the lack of extra substance to the show, Thriller Live is undoubtably an enjoyable ight out, showcasing the music of one of the legends of pop music. Fans of Michael Jackson are in for a treat.

6/10