OBCRs and otherwise

[ceebeegee]

I've been listening to a lot of music lately on my new iPod, including a lot of new (to me) music that I had but had never really played on my computer. Man, the score to Hairspray is terrific! Why didn't I know about this earlier? I love "Good Morning, Baltimore," "You Can't Stop the Beat," "Without Love," "I Can Hear the Bells"...all great songs. I would love to choreograph "You Can't Stop the Beat"--I want to take over the stage just listening to it!

I love the original Hairspray movie--and Susan Mitchell and I've actually worked with LA Powers (Penny Pingleton). When we did Shenandoah back in Virginia, LA was my understudy for Jenny for about three weeks, until she wised about about how crappy that theater was and quit!

I looked up Hairspray's Wikipedia entry and followed the link to the website for Legally Blonde, the Musical. (Laura Bell Bundy played was the original stage Amber and she's Elle in LB.) The website has a couple of songs from the show and one of them is adorable--it's called "Omigod, You Guys."

I also listened to Rex, a musical about Henry VIII, which Michael burned for me (thank you, Michael!). It concentrates (as far as I can tell) on Anne Boleyn and onwards, with a few appearances by Henry's 3 children. Richard Rodgers wrote the music and Sheldon Harmick the lyrics--it's okay, there are some good songs, but it certainly does sentimentalize Henry! He was basically a monster toward the end of his life (most likely due to the progress of syphilis) and doesn't really deserve this kind of musical :/

Comments

[dry-2olives.livejournal.com]

Here is the plot synopsis that came with the cast album. I'm sure it's filled with historical innacuracies. http://www.nodanw.com/shows_r/rex.htm

I believe the first Te Deum was simply a choral introduction that blended the overture into the opening scene.

Yes, it's very odd that the show is about Henry's obsession with having a son, but once he gets one the moment isn't musicalized.