Week of December 29, 2020

Conversations with Lorraine Hansberry (Literary Conversations Series)
(Univ Press of Mississippi - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Mollie Godfrey, editor. The first volume to collect all of Lorraine Hansberry's substantive interviews in one place, including many radio and television interviews that have never before appeared in print. 240 pages.

Drama Menu at a Distance: 80 Socially Distanced or Online Theatre Games
(Nick Hern Books - Paperback Book)
By Glyn Trefor-Jones. Exercises to energize, excite and inspire your group, alongside some firm favorites, redesigned to be played within the necessary constraints. Kindle Edition released 9/10/20. 112 pages.

Rebecca Luker and Sally Wilfert: All The Girls
(PS Classics - new on mp3/at iTunes)
Rebecca Luker and Sally Wilfert's personal celebration of womanhood in all its complexities and varied expressions. Adapted from the show of the same name. Songs by Stephen Sondheim, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Fred Ebb & John Kander, a medley from musicals featuring iconic female duets, art songs, cabaret material, and settings of poems written expressly for them by the show's music director, Joseph Thalken (who expanded the orchestrations from four to ten pieces for this recording). "You Are My Best Friend," "Lovely Lies," "What Did You Do to Your Face," "Everybody Says Don't," "There Are Delicacies," "I Have Loved Hours at Sea," "Marilyn Miller," ""Shows we could have starred in together" medley - Rebecca & Sally," "A QUOI Bon Dire," "War Song," "Isn't This Better?," "Millwork," "Not Funny," "Be Careful." Released 12/25/20. CD format to be released 1/15/21.

Week of December 22, 2020

Disney Goes Classical
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
Songbook of songs from the album Disney Goes Classical. Classical versions of iconic Disney themes, arranged for solo piano, and piano/vocal/guitar where appropriate. "Almost There," "The Bare Necessities," "Beauty and the Beast," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?," "Colors of the Wind," "Go the Distance," "How Far I'll Go," "I See the Light," "Let It Go," "Overture from Mary Poppins," "Part of Your World," "Reflection," "When She Loved Me," "When You Wish Upon a Star," "A Whole New World." 72 pages.

Estella Scrooge
(Broadway Records - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original soundstage recording from world premiere streaming musical. Music and lyrics by Paul Gordon. Betsy Wolfe, Clifton Duncan, Lauren Patten, Patrick Page, Carolee Carmello, and Danny Burstein. "Bleak House," "Never Look Down," "Mail Call," "Almost a Family," "Not on My Watch," "Trickle Down," "Barbie Doll," "Do You Believe?," "Wall Street Baby Superstar," "Great Expectations," "Minor Character," "An Art to Christmas," "Gardens and Stars," "It’s Okay With Me," "Best and Worst of Times," "It’s a Beautiful Night," "Best and Worst of Times (Reprise)," "Great Expectations (Reprise)," "Life," "An Art to Christmas (Reprise)," "Never Look Down (Reprise)," "Almost a Family (Reprise)," "It’s a Far, Far Better Thing," "Harthouse."

The Littlest Revue
(Kritzerland - on CD)
Music and Lyrics mostly by Ogden Nash and Vernon Duke. Sketches and additional music and lyrics by John Latouche, Sheldon Harnick, Charles Strouse, Sammy Cahn, Nat Hiken and Billy Friedberg, George Baxt, Allan Manings and Bob Van Scoyk, Eudora Welty, Mike Stewart, Michael Brown, and Bud McCreery. Joel Grey, Tammy Grimes, Charlotte Rae, Larry Storch (not on the album), and George Marcy. To ship by the last week fo December. Limited to 500 copies. At Kritzerland.com.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: A Play
(Plume - Paperback Book)
Movie tie-in version of August Wilson's play, to be presented on Netflix beginning 12/4/20. 112 pages.

Marilyn Michaels: Let There Be Night
(new on 2 CDs)
Tracks range from the Great American Songbook to classical Mozart, re-imagined in a jazz vein, and topped off by the last cut: the Sergio Mendes hit "So Many Stars," featuring 32 of Michaels' iconic voice impressions including Joan Rivers, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, and the characters from The Wizard of Oz. Marilyn Michaels holiday package includes "Let There Be Night CD, bonus sample CD of upcoming musical comedy (while supplies last), personally autographed photo. Arrangements by Mark Berman and Barry Levitt, with liner notes by James Gavin. Available at MarilynMichaels.com.

Mister Roberts
(Warner Archive - on Blu-ray)
1955 film based on novel by by Thomas Heggen and 1948 play by Thomas Heggen and Joshua Logan. Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, and Jack Lemmon. Special Features: commentary by Jack Lemmon; original theatrical trailer (HD). 121 minutes.

Moulin Rouge! songbook
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Vocal selections from Moulin Rouge! the musical. Includes "Backstage Romance," "Chandelier," "Come What May," "Crazy Rolling," "Elephant Love Medley," "Firework," "Nature Boy," "Only Girl in a Material World," "Shut Up and Raise Your Glass," "The Sparkling Diamond," "Sympathy for the Duke," "El Tango de Roxanne," "Your Song." 120 pages.

Muse of Fire: Reflections on Theatre
(Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Raymond-Jean Frontain, editor. Collection of Terrence McNally's meditations on the need of the playwright to first change hearts in order to change minds and thereby foster a more compassionate community ... originally written to be delivered on both highly formal occasions (academic commencement exercises, award ceremonies, memorial services) and as off-the-cuff comments at highly informal gatherings. 200 pages.

Onstage with Martha Graham
(Univ Press of Florida - Paperback Book)
By Stuart Hodes. Memoir of a dancer who got his start with Martha Graham. A rare firsthand view of the dance world in the 1940s and through the end of the twentieth century. He danced as Graham's partner in Appalachian Spring, Deaths and Entrances, Every Soul Is a Circus, and Errand into the Maze. Hodes shares his delight in dance as both hard work and a fantastic adventure. 288 pages.

The Shop Around the Corner
(Warner Archive - on Blu-ray)
1940 romantic comedy film based on 1937 Hungarian play Parfumerie by Miklós László. Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan.

"We Begin Again"
( Broadway Records / National Theatre / The Guardian - new digital single/at iTunes)
Song by James Graham ( Ink, Finding Neverland) and Jim Fortune from a short musical film of the same name. Cast of hundreds includes stars of the West End and television Anita Dobson ("EastEnders"), Zubin Varla (Jesus Christ Superstar), Susan Wokoma ("Enola Holmes"), and Noah Thomas (Everybody's Talking About Jamie). Released 12/17/20.

Young Man With a Horn
(Warner Archive - new Blu-ray)
1950 musical drama directed by Michael Curtiz. Kirk Douglas, Doris Day, Lauren Bacall and Hoagy Carmichael. 112 minutes.

Week of December 15, 2020

Ben Bagley's Irving Berlin Revisited
(Kritzerland - new on CD)
Performers include Richard Chamberlain, Blossom Dearie, Dorothy Loudon, and Bobby Short. Limited to 500 copies. At Kritzerland.com.

Broadway for Georgia: "Georgia on My Mind"
(Broadway Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
All-star line-up of 60+ stage and screen stars who contributed from all over the country. Produced by Joseph Joubert, Audra McDonald, Michael McElroy, Seth Rudetsky, James Wesley and Schele Williams, with a new arrangement by Joseph Joubert and Michael McElroy. 100% of the profits from the sale of the song will benefit FAIR FIGHT, the voting rights organization rooted in Georgia.

Coming from Inside the House (A Virtual SubCulture Concert)
(Craft Recordings - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Jason Robert Brown's spring 2020 virtual April 27, 2020, SubCulture concert featuring Ariana Grande and Shoshana Bean. "Sanctuary" (Georgia Stitt, Molly Cate Brown, Susannah Brown), "Melinda," "The Hardest Hill" (Shoshana Bean), "I Love Betsy," "Still Hurting" (Ariana Grande), "All Things In Time," Bonus track "Nothing's Bigger Than Kong" (world premiere recording of song commissioned for but ultimately not included in the 2018 Broadway musical King Kong). Brown piano and keyboards, with Todd Reynolds, Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf, Gary Sieger, Randy Landau and Jamie Eblen. Recorded, edited and mixed by Jeffrey Lesser, and produced by Lesser and Jason Robert Brown. Mastered by Oscar Zambrano. Marc Kaplan, executive producer.

Corey Brunish: Just the Three of Us
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Singer, actor, director, writer and multiple Tony Award-winning producer Corey Brunish. "Let the River Run," "Falling Slowly," "Have I Told You Lately / You Are So Beautiful," "Bonnie," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," "Rhythm of the Rain," "After Midnight," "Blue Moon," "With You," "In This Life I Was Loved by You," "Tears in Heaven," "The Rose," "When Love Comes to Find You," "Just the Two of Us," "They Were You," "Lullaby."

Daniel and Patrick Lazour: "Flap My Wings"
(We Live in Cairo - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Brothers, songwriters, and collaborators Daniel and Patrick Lazour. Single from upcoming (2021) album Flap My Wings: Songs From We Live in Cairo, featuring songs from their Richard Rodgers Award-winning show We Live in Cairo, seen in 2019 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Virtually produced featuring artists from around the globe, including Ramy Essam, Emel Mathlouthi, Rotana, Hamed Sinno, and more.

Derrick Baskin: "What a Wonderful World"
(Redonky Tonk LLC - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Broadway performer Derrick Baskin (Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations). Produced and arranged by Michael Thurber.

"(Everybody's Waitin' for) The Man with a Plan"
(Masterworks - digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Laura Benanti. Lyrics by Randy Rainbow. Original song by Irving Taylor, Dudley Brooks, and Hal Stanley. Released 12/11/20.

Gabriel
(SimG - new on 2 CDs)
Studio cast recording of Andrew Fisher score. Daniel Boys, James Gillan, Joel Montague, Kit Orton, Stuart Matthew Price, Lauren Samuels, Ben Stock, Stephen Weller, and David Bedella. Recorded at Baker Street Studios. Includes full colour booklet, cast photographs, and synopsis. Available at SimGProductions.com and DressCircle.London.

The Harvey Girls
(Warner Archive - on Blu-ray)
1946 M-G-M musical film. Judy Garland, John Hodiak, Ray Bolger, Angela Lansbury, Preston Foster, Virginia O'Brien, Kenny Baker, Marjorie Main, Chill Wills, Cyd Charisse. Songs by Harry Warren (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics). 101 minutes.

Kenneth Gartman: We Need a Little Christmas
(new digital album on mp3)
"We Need a Little Christmas - What the World Needs Now Is Love," "Don't Let Christmas Pass You By," "A Miracle for Christmas," "I Wanna Be a Rockette," "The Christmas Song," "Just in Time for Christmas," "Lots of Love from Me to You," "My Simple Christmas Wish," "The Gift of Trouble - May I Suggest," "It's Love," "Chanukah Lights," "Go Light Your World," "The Truth About Christmas." CD format available at KennethGartman.com.

Legacy
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
Collection of two previously unheard song cycles, 1859: A Farmer’S Diary and A Boy With a Camera, by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, Sarah Uriarte Berry and Steven Pasquale. Demos, recorded 16 years ago, enhanced and remastered. Produced by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Michael J Moritz Jr. In gratitude to the theater community, the author’s proceeds will be donated equally to The Actor’s Fund Outreach to the BIPOC Community, the Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellows Program, and the Marineau-Mazzie Music Theatre Performance Scholarship at Western Michigan University. Also at BroadwayRecords.com. Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes

Lolita, My Love
(Kritzerland - new on 2 CDs)
Live (Boston) soundboard recording of the musical, score by John Barry (music) and Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics). Orchestrations by Eddie Sauter. Mastered by James Nelson. Thirty-six tracks. At Kritzerland.com. [We trust that rights issued have been addressed by Kritzerland; further information can be provided to soundadvice@talkinbroadway.com.]

Matilda the Musical vinyl
(Broadway Records - new double-LP)
2013 Broadway cast recording of Tim Minchin score on blue vinyl. First release of Matilda in any format to include all songs in show order, and first physical format to have the special bonus tracks "Perhaps a Child" and "Naughty" (sung by all four Tony Award-honored Matildas). Also at BroadwayRecords.com.

"Only You, Lonely You"
(Polydor Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Single from Andrew Lloyd Webber/David Zippel's Cinderella score. Sung by Ivano Turco. Released 12/11/20.

The Prom: Music from the Netflix Film
(Sony Music Masterworks - new on CD/on mp3/2-LP vinyl set/at iTunes)
Soundtrack for 2020 Netflix musical film based on the Broadway musical. Music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, Andrew Rannells, Keegan-Michael Key, Jo Ellen Pellman, Ariana DeBose. "Changing Lives," "Changing Lives (Reprise)," "Just Breathe," "It's Not About Me," "Dance with You," "The Acceptance Song," "You Happened," "We Look to You," "Tonight Belongs to You," "Tonight Belongs to You (Reprise)," "Zazz," "The Lady's Improving," "Alyssa Greene," "Love Thy Neighbor," "Barry is Going to Prom," "Unruly Heart," "It's Time to Dance," "Wear Your Crown," "Simply Love."

Week of December 8, 2020

Circle in the Square Theatre: A Comprehensive History
(McFarland and Co. - Paperback Book)
By Sheila Hickey Garvey. Records the seven-decade history of this distinguished theatre from its nightclub origins to its current status as a Tony Award-winning Broadway institution. Based on years of research as well as interviews conducted with Circle in the Square's major contributing artists. 412 pages.

Flowers for Mrs. Harris
(new 2-CD set)
Chichester Festival Theatre cast recording of score by Richard Taylor. Clare Burt (who won a UK Theatre Award for her performance), Joanna Ridintg and Gary Wilmot, alongside Claire Machin, Louis Maskell, Mark Meadows, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Nicola Sloane, Luke Latchman and Rhona McGregor. Orchestrations by Richard Taylor, conducted by Tom Brady and mixed by Mike Walker. Full color 16-page booklet, including production photographs and synopsis. Currently at DressCircle.London.

Jorrocks: London Studio Cast Recording
(Stage Door Records - new import CD)
CD debut of the Saga Records London studio cast recording. Music and lyrics by David Heneker. Barry Kent, Rita Williams, Pat Whitmore, Charles Young, Charles Granville, and Andy Cole, with the Rita Williams Singers and Brian Fahey Orchestra. The musical was based on the novels of R. S. Surtees and opened at London's New Theatre on September 22nd 1966. Digitally remastered from the original master tapes. Includes the very first recording of the overture, which was previously unreleased on the original LP album. Special bonus: the original demo recordings from the David Heneker Archive, including several songs later cut from the production. Limited edition release of 500 units only.

Legacy
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Collection of two previously unheard song cycles, 1859: A Farmer’S Diary and A Boy With a Camera, by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, Sarah Uriarte Berry and Steven Pasquale. Demos, recorded 16 years ago, enhanced and remastered. Produced by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Michael J Moritz Jr. In gratitude to the theater community, the author’s proceeds will be donated equally to The Actor’s Fund Outreach to the BIPOC Community, the Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellows Program, and the Marineau-Mazzie Music Theatre Performance Scholarship at Western Michigan University. Also at BroadwayRecords.com. Released 12/4/20. CD format to be released 12/18/20.

Marty Thomas and Marissa Rosen: The Award Winning Holiday Album
(Candy Cane Records - new on mp3/at iTunes)
Holiday duet album. "The World Holiday Music Awards" (with Christina Bianco), "There Is a Santa Claus," "Puppies Are Forever," "(Everybody’s Waitin’ For) the Man with the Bag," "Please Come Home For Christmas," "8 Days" (of Hanukkah)," "I Still Believe In Santa Claus," "Hard Candy Christmas" (with Alysha Umphress, Christina Bianco, Diana Degarmo, Jessica Vosk, Julie Danielson, Melinda Doolittle, Rachel Potter, Yasuhiko Fukuoka). CD format available at MartyThomas.com.

Maury Sings Yeston: The Demos
(PS Classics - new on CD)
Professionally recorded in studios over a forty-year period. "The Bells of St. Sebastian," "Unusual Way," "The Germans at the Spa," "Simple," "The Queen of Basin Street," "Salt 'n' pepper," "Mississippi Moon," "Bad News," "The Mardi Gras Ball," "Alive!," "More and More," "Life's a Joy," "Roberto's Eyes," "Something's Happened," "Viva España," "Picture It," "I Will Paint Sounds," "Bon Soir," "Doing the Latest Rag," "Barrett's Song," "Lady's Maid," "Sitting at the Captain's Table," "The Proposal/The Night Was Alive," "No Moon," "Kolya," "Soviet Union Blues," "Tell Me About Your Wife," "To the Future," "Baby at 110," "New Words," "One for a Rainy Day," "My Brother Abel," "The Nileside Cotillion," "No Man's as Wonderful," "Three Steps Forward," "Down on the Farm," "Nowhere to Go but Up," "Another Day in the Modern World," "Valentine," "December Time." The iTunes download will come with a full 29-page booklet, which includes an essay by Yeston, all the lyrics, and information about songs that were cut or revised, and why. It also "sets up" the songs that benefit from a little exposition. Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes

The Prom: Music from the Netflix Film digital
(Sony Music Masterworks - on mp3/at iTunes)
Soundtrack for 2020 Netflix musical film based on the Broadway musical. Music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, Andrew Rannells, Keegan-Michael Key, Jo Ellen Pellman, Ariana DeBose. "Changing Lives," "Changing Lives (Reprise)," "Just Breathe," "It's Not About Me," "Dance with You," "The Acceptance Song," "You Happened," "We Look to You," "Tonight Belongs to You," "Tonight Belongs to You (Reprise)," "Zazz," "The Lady's Improving," "Alyssa Greene," "Love Thy Neighbor," "Barry is Going to Prom," "Unruly Heart," "It's Time to Dance," "Wear Your Crown," "Simply Love." Released 12/4/20. To be released on CD 12/18/20.

You Can't Outgrow Christmas
(Broadway Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Performed by Jackie Burns. Song from Come Find Me: A Christmas Musical by Holly Reed and Kelvin Reed. Released 12/4/20.

Starry Deluxe Edition
(Broadway Records - new album on CD)
Re-release of original concept album with a score by Matt Dahan. Now includes never-before heard demos of songs not featured on the original album, performed by Dahan and Kelly Lynne D'Angelo (book). Jeff Blim, Jaime Lyn Beatty, Mariah Rose Faith, Natalie Llerena, Natalie Masini, Michael Minto, Joe Viba, Clayton Snyder, Dylan Saunders and Huck Walton. Released 11/24/20 on mp3 and at iTunes. Currently at BroadwayRecords.com.

Week of December 1, 2020

Anyone Can Whistle
(JAY Records - new on 2-CDs/at iTunes)
Studio cast recording of Stephen Sondheim score. Maria Friedman, John Barrowman, Arthur Laurents, Julia McKenzie. National Symphony orchestra conducted by John Owen Edwards. 38 tracks. Currently at JAYRecords.com.

The Boy in the Dress
(new album at iTunes)
Cast recording of musical based on the bestselling book by David Walliams, adapted by Mark Ravenhill. "Ordinary," "If I Don’t Cry," "We Are the Winners," "Three for the Price of Two," "A House Without a Mum," "I Hate Kids," "Is There Anything More Beautiful Than Lisa James?," "Disco Symphony," "A Girl Who’s Gonna Be," "Miss Windsor’s Belle Chanson," "A Boy in a Dress," "Beach Holiday Sunday," "When Things Fall Apart," "You Don’t Have A Prayer," "You Can’t Expel Us All," "If I Don’t Cry (Reprise)," "I Like to Put on a Dress," "Extraordinary," "Disco Finale," "If I Don’t Cry (Demo)," "A House Without a Mum" (demo). Music and lyrics by Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Chris Heath. Cast includes Musical supervision and arrangements by Bruce O'Neil. Musical direction and arrangements by Alan Williams. Orchestrations by Tom Deering and Guy Chambers.

"Come Up for Air"
(new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Josh Dela Cruz and Amanda Dela Cruz cover song from Ranked (book by Kyle Holmes and music and lyrics by David Taylor Gomes). A portion of the proceeds from the streaming of the song and video on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube will benefit Covenant House, which provides shelter, food, immediate crisis care, and an array of other services to homeless and runaway youth.

Dance Adventures: True Stories About Dancing Abroad
(Mtm Coaching and Consulting - new Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
Megan Tayler Morrison, editor. Foreword by Tanja "La Alemana" Kensinger. Stories from renowned performers, dance educators, and other avid dance adventurers ... about epic dance adventures across North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa highlight various dance traditions, as well as unique aspects of each country's geography, history, demographics and educational systems. 306 pages.

Henrik Ibsen: Nine Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations
(BBC - Audiobook on CD/Audible Audiobook)
Adaptations of Ibsen's The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, Brand, and John Gabriel Borkman, A Doll's House (relocated to 1879 India in Tanika Gupta's dramatisation), Ghosts (adapted by Richard Eyre with the Almeida Theatre cast), Hedda Gabler, The Lady from the Sea, and An Enemy of the People. Casts include David Threlfall, Nicholas Farrell, Helen Baxendale, Indira Varma, Lesley Manville and Harriet Walter. Released previously as Audible Audiobook.

Kaye Ballard: The Show Goes On
(Abramorama Selects - new on DVD)
The story of Kaye Ballard, the singer, actor, and comedian, spanning eight decades. Rare archival footage and recent interviews with Kaye's pals Ann-Margret, Carol Burnett, Harold Prince, Carol Channing, Michael Feinstein, and others, as well as with Kaye herself. 90 minutes.

Linda Eder: Retro Volume 2
(new on CD)
Eder's 19th album. Broadway songs and standards. Songs written by Frank Wildhorn, Jake Wildhorn, and others. "You’re All I Ever Wanted," "I will Never Be The One," "This World Will Remember Us," "Still Hurting," "Sweet Song of Life," "Out of The Blue," "Broken Vow," "Slowly," "Every Beat of My Heart," "The First Time I Saw Paris," "What Was Good Enough For You," "Time," "You Are My Home," "If This Were A Gershwin Tune," "My Song Was Just For You," "Someday," "Amazing Grace."At Linda Eder's website.

Liz Callaway: Comfort and Joy
(new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Liz Callaway in collaboration with Callaway's neighbor, guitarist and producer Peter Calo. "Merry Christmas Darling," "Hard Candy Christmas," "Walking in the Air (Theme from The Snowman) [featuring Jann Klose]," "God Bless My Family," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / Carol of the Bells," "Love is Christmas," "Christmas Eve (Could Not Ask for More)," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "O Holy Night," "Christmas Time is Here." Currently pre-ordering at LizCallaway.com.

Matilda the Musical vinyl
(Broadway Records - new double-LP)
2013 Broadway cast recording of Tim Minchin score on blue vinyl. First release of Matilda in any format to include all songs in show order, and first physical format to have the special bonus tracks "Perhaps a Child" and "Naughty" (sung by all four Tony Award-honored Matildas). At BroadwayRecords.com.

Michael Ball & Alfie Boe: Together at Christmas
(Universal UK - new on CD)
"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas," "Have Yourself A Merry Christmas," "Mistletoe and Wine," "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," "I Believe," "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" (with Gregory Porter), "White Christmas," "Silent Night," "The Spirit of Christmas," "O Holy Night," "I'll Be Home For Christmas," "My Christmas Will Be Better Than Yours," "Once Upon A December." Released 11/20/20 mp3 and at iTunes

The Oxford Book of Theatrical Anecdotes
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Gyles Brandreth. Ultimate anthology of theatrical anecdotes ... covering every kind of theatrical story and experience from the age of Shakespeare and Marlowe to the age of Stoppard and Mamet, from Richard Burbage to Richard Briers, from Nell Gwynn to Daniel Day-Lewis, from Sarah Bernhardt to Judi Dench. 832 pages. Released earlier in Kindle Edition.

Ryan Shaw: Imagining Marvin
(Broadway Records - new album on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Multi Grammy-nominated actor/singer (Motown, Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent's Park) tribute to Marvin Gaye. "Save The Children/Mercy Mercy Me," "Get Home" (with Robert Randolph), "I Want You," "Love In Pain" (with Rob Thomas and Derek Trucks), "Sexual Healing," "Sin," "Good Lovin' Ain't Easy To Come By" (with Shoshana Bean), "Strong Men Can ," "Choosin'," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "The Shadow Of Your Smile." Produced by Ryan Shaw and Shedrick Mitchel. Released 11/27/20.

Shellie Shelby Shares the Spotlight
(Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Scott Miller (New Line Theatre). Illustrated by Zachary Allen Farmer. Story of a young woman discovering for the first time the incredible magic and power of musical theatre, as she embarks on a wild adventure through the treacherous social jungle of her first high school musical. 44 pages.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Christmas Trilogy
(Atlantic - new on CD/DVD)
Deluxe three CD + DVD edition. Unclear how this differs from previous releases.

Week of November 24, 2020

Butoh: Cradling Empty Space
(Vangeline Theater/NY Butoh Institute - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Vangeline. Approaches the avant-garde Japanese performance art form of butoh from a cross-cultural, gender studies, and scientific perspective. From twenty years of research, interviews with some of the world’s top practitioners, historical documents, and rare photographs. 288 pages.

Josh Groban: Harmony
(Warner/Reprise - new on CD)
Josh Groban performing a collection of timeless songs and two originals. The World We Knew (Over and Over)," "Angels," "Celebrate Me Home," "Shape of My Heart" (with Leslie Odom Jr.), "Your Face," "Both Sides Now" (with Sara Bareilles), "She," "The Impossible Dream," "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "It's Now or Never," "I Can't Make You Love Me," "The Fullest" (with Kirk Franklin). Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes.

The Jewish Soul
(Kino Lorber - 5-disc Blu-ray set)
With new translations by Allen Lewis Rickman. Ten classics of Yiddish cinema plus bonus features. The Dybbuk, Tevya, American Matchmaker, Her Second Mother, Mir Kumen On, Overture to Glory, Eli Eli, Jewish King Lear, Motel, The Operator, and Three Daughters. Bonus features: audio commentaries; alternate versions; printed booklet including essays by Samuel Blumenfeld, film preservationist Serge Bromberg and Allen Lewis Rickman.

Judy Whitmore: Can't We Be Friends
(Arden House Music - new album on CD/on mp3/on iTunes)
Debut album. Recorded at Capitol Studios with collaborators John Sawoski and Michael Patterson. "Can't We Be Friends," "I Could Write a Book," "I Should Care," "It Had to Be You," "The Lies of Handsome Men," "How About You / Manhattan / Autumn in New York," "The Last Time I Saw Paris / the River Seine," "'S Wonderful," "My Favorite Year," "Love Is Here to Stay," "I Get Along without You Very Well," "Two for the Road."

Lea Salonga Live in Concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
(Broadway Records - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Recorded live at Sydney Opera House. "Overture," "Feelin' Good," "Out There," "Reflection," "The Human Heart," "Will He Like Me / Vanilla Ice Cream /Till There Was You," "Journey to the Past," "Why God Why?," "Meadowlark," "Children Will Listen," "Drops of Jupiter," "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?," "A Whole New World (featuring Mat Verevis)," "This Is Me," "On My Own," "Boy Band Medley." to be presented on PBS Great Performances on 11/27/20. Also at BroadwayRecords.com.

Marisha Wallace: Tomorrow digital
(Decca - new on mp3/at iTunes)
Singer/actress Marisha Wallace (Aladdin, The Book of Mormon) with covers as well as four new, original tracks. "Somewhere," "Alive," "Tomorrow," "The Show Must Go On," "Rainbow," "Before I Go," "My Declaration," "Faith," "You're The Voice," "Divine," "Purple Rain," "Reflection," "I'm Free," "Angel," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain." CD release 1/8/21.

The Mel Brooks Songbook
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Twenty-three songs written by Mel Brooks from movies and shows. Preface by Mel Brooks. Arranged for piano and voice with guitar chord frames. 152 pages.

The Pirate
(Warner Archives - on Blu-ray)
1948 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical film. Newly remastered from the original Technicolor negatives. Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Walter Slezak, Gladys Cooper, Reginald Owen, George Zucco, and the Nicholas Brothers. Directed by Vincente Minnelli. Cole Porter songs. Extras: commentary by John Fricke; making-of featurette The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest; vintage M-G-M short You Can't Win; vintage M-G-M cartoon Cat Fishin'; Mack the Black musical sequence in HD with stereo audio; audio-only outtakes; Roger Edens' guide/rehearsal recordings; Judy Garland and Gene Kelly radio promotional interviews; original theatrical trailer.

Starry Deluxe Edition digital
(Broadway Records - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Re-release of original concept album with a score by Matt Dahan. Now includes never-before heard demos of songs not featured on the original album, performed by Dahan and Kelly Lynne D'Angelo (book). Jeff Blim, Jaime Lyn Beatty, Mariah Rose Faith, Natalie Llerena, Natalie Masini, Michael Minto, Joe Viba, Clayton Snyder, Dylan Saunders and Huck Walton. CD to be released 12/11/20. Also at BroadwayRecords.com.

Thankful: A Benefit Album For Jerad Bortz
(Rock-It Science Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Twenty-two original songs written by Steven Skeels. Annaleigh Ashford, Shoshana Bean, Stephanie J. Block, Jerad Bortz, Alex Brightman, Breedlove, Lisa Brescia, Norbert Leo Butz, Liz Callaway, Gaelen Gilliland, Jin Ha, Megan Hilty, Cheyenne Jackson, Christopher Jackson, Andy Karl, Beth Leavel, Norm Lewis, Julia Murney, Q. Smith, Ali Stroker, Steven Skeels, Marty Thomas, Katie Thompson, Ryan Vasquez, Ann VanCleave and Ben Vereen with Jerad Bortz Jared Bradshaw, Kathy Coppolino, Michael Di Liberto, Olivia Donalson, Hannah Dowdy, Stacia Fernandez, David Gilleo, Gaelen Gilliland, Courtney Iventosch, Craig Jessup, Eddie Marco, Samuel Moffatt, Brian Munn, Lindsay Northen, Tori Palazola O'Rourke, Andy Redeker, Jonathan Ritter, Mesghan Sands, Steven Skeels, Ann Van Cleave, and Laura Woyasz. Arrangers and orchestrators include Martyn Axe, Simon Beck, Ben Cohn, Carmel Dean, Ray Fellman, Josh Harris, Alex Lacamoire, Daniel Lincoln, Bryan Perri, Will Reynolds, Richard Rockage, James Sampliner, Brian Usifer and Scott Wasserman. Produced by Lynn Pinto and Steven Skeels. Funds to benefit Jerad Bortz (Wicked), who was seriously injured in a 2018 car accident. Pre-ordering to begin 10/23/20.

Time to Act: An Intimate Photographic Portrait of Actors Backstage
(Lanoo Publishers - Hardcover Book)
By Simon Annand. Foreword by Cate Blanchett. Victoria Broackes, contributor. In meditative portraits, often shot in the intimate space of the dressing room, Annand captures the focus and tension of world-class actors right before they go on the stage. Including Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal and Judi Dench. 256 pages. Donation to The Theatre Artists Fund for every copy sold.

Week of November 17, 2020

Anne of Green Gables
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original concept recording of Matte O'Brien (lyrics) and Matt Vinson (music) score. The musical will have its world premiere at Goodspeed Musicals in 2021. Diana DeGarmo, George Salazar, Colin Donnell, Patti Murin, Aurelia Williams, Chris McCarrell, Emily Bautista, Michelle Veintimilla, and more. Produced by Matte O'Brien, Matt Vinson, Justin Goldner, Justin Nichols, Eric Cornell, and Jack Sennott.

Beacon: Holiday Improvisations
(Mirror Finger Music - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Composer/musician William TN Hall's debut album. Original instrumental piano improvisations based on traditional carols and two original, previously unrecorded holiday compositions. "Opening: I Saw Three Ships," "The First Noël," "Once in Royal David's City," "Transition: Away to a Manger," "Away in a Manger," "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," "Jingle Glass Bells," "God Rest Ye Merry Bootleggers," "In the Bleak Mid-Winter," "Oh N.Y.C. Christmas Tree," "Closing: Joy to the World," "My First Christmas with You," "Lullaoly," "Christmas Eve 2019," "Noel the Herald Angel Mashed It Up," "Oh Chanukah," "Gabriel's Message (Most Highly Flavoured Gravy Train)," "Auld Lang Syne," "Auld Lang Syne (Instrumental)."

Brickman for Broadway Christmas
(new on two CDs)
Includes duet performances with Megan Hilty, Santino Fontana, Kelli O'Hara, Norm Lewis, Adrienne Warren, Shoshana Bean, Max von Essen, Sierra Boggess and Matt Doyle. "You Will Be Found", "It's Quiet Uptown", "For Good", "True Love" and 12 more. Will benefit The Actors Fund. At JimBrickman.com.

Cast of Mentors
(new book)
By Ken Davenport. Pieces of advice from high-achievers—including Terrence McNally, Dominique Morisseau, David Henry Hwang, Daryl Roth, Kathleen Marshall, Stephen C. Byrd, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Mandy Gonzalez, Kenny Leon, Charlotte St. Martin, Sergio Trujillo and more. At CastofMentors.com.

Frankly Sharon
(Time-Life Music - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Canadian Soprano Sharon Azrieli sings songs by Frank Wildhorn, with Wildhorn at the piano. Features musical theatre songs in French, Italian and Hebrew, with translations all done by Azrieli. "Storybook," "Finding Wonderland," "Please Don't Make Me Love You," "If There is Love," "Living in The Shadows," "I'll Forget You," "Now When The Rain Falls," "How Do You Make It Stay," "The Girl I Used To Be," "Now," "Dream and Awaken," "We All Dance Alone," "You Must Have Loved Me," "Anything Can Happen."

If The Fates Allow: A Hadestown Holiday Album
(Broadway Records - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, and Kay Trinidad plus guest appearances by the entire cast of Hadestown. Holiday classics plus songs by Gonzalez-Nacer, Anaïs Mitchell, and Liam Robinson. "Thank God It's Christmas," "Sleigh Ride," "Come Healing" (with Patrick Page), "Song of the Magi" (with Jewelle Blackman), "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming," "Purple Snowflakes" (with Kay Trinidad), "Blue Christmas" (with André De Shields), "Winter Song" (with Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada), "Gift for an Angel" (with Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer), "Someday at Christmas," "The Longest Winter" (Amber Gray), "8 Days (of Hanukkah)," "'Twas The Night," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Produced by Grammy winner David Lai, Todd Sickafoose, Liam Robinson, and Gonzalez-Nacer. Executive-produced by Van Dean and Mara Isaacs. 14 tracks. Also at BroadwayRecords.com.

Josh Groban: Harmony - digital
(Warner/Reprise - on mp3/at iTunes)
Josh Groban performing a collection of timeless songs and two originals. The World We Knew (Over and Over)," "Angels," "Celebrate Me Home," "Shape of My Heart" (with Leslie Odom Jr.), "Your Face," "Both Sides Now" (with Sara Bareilles), "She," "The Impossible Dream," "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "It's Now or Never," "I Can't Make You Love Me," "The Fullest" (with Kirk Franklin). CD format to be released 11/26/20.

Les Misérables: The Staged Concert
(First Night Arts Music - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Live album featuring Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Matt Lucas. Recorded live at the Gielgud Theatre in London. 39 tracks.

Prince of Egypt OLC
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD)
Stephen Schwartz score for current West End musical. 43-member cast includes Luke Brady, Liam Tamne, Christine Allado, Alexia Khadime, Joe Dixon, Debbie Kurup, Gary Wilmot, Mercedesz Csampai, Adam Pearce, Tanisha Spring, Silas Wyatt-Barke, Simbi Akande, and Casey Al-Shaqsy. The score includes 10 new songs and five from the DreamWorks animated film. "Deliver Us," "Faster," "One Weak Link," "Footprints on the Sand," "Seti's Return," "Dance to the Day," "All I Ever Wanted," "Make it Right," "Moses in the Desert," "Through Heaven's Eyes," "Faster (Reprise)," "Never in a Million Years," "Act I Finale," "Return to Egypt," "Always on Your Side," "Simcha," "Deliver Us (Reprise)," "The Plagues," "For the Rest of My Life," "Heartless," "When You Believe," "Never in a Million Years (Reprise)," "Act II Finale." CD format will be released later this year. Produced by Dominick Amendum and Stephen Schwartz, with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer. [See our review of this album.] Previously released on mp3 and at at iTunes.

Rachel Bloom: I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are
(Grand Central Publishing - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audiobook on CD)
Collection of personal essays, poems and even amusement park maps on the subjects of insecurity, fame, anxiety, and much more. Told in her unique voice (sometimes singing voice). 256 pages.

Shirley Bassey: I Owe It All to You
(Decca - new album on CD)
"Grand finale" album includes new material written specifically for the world-renowned singer, plus tracks handpicked by Bassey to reflect her career. "Overture," "Who Wants To Live Forever," "I Owe It All To You," "Almost Like Being In Love," "Maybe This Time," "I Made It Through The Rain," "Adagio," "Look But Don't Touch," "Smile," "You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet," "I Don't Know What Love Is," "Always On My Mind," "I Was Here," "Music." Deluxe version, with expanded booklet featuring archived material and career highlights, also available. Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes.


So Many People: The Sondheim Sessions
(new EP on mp3/at iTunes)
Travis Moser with Drew Wutke. "Broadway Baby," "What Can You Lose?," "Good Thing Going," "So Many People," "I'm Still Here." Released 10/13/20. CD format to be released in 2021.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!
(Paramount/Nickelodeon Home Entertainment - new on DVD)
Filmed version of the show presented live on October 17, 2019, plus an exclusive sing-along edition only available on this DVD. Ethan Slater, Gavin Lee, Danny Skinner, Brian Ray Norris, Wesley Taylor, Christina Sajous, Tom Kenny. Conceived and directed by Tina Landau. Original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, the Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! at the Disco, Plain White T's, They Might Be Giants, T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny, and Andy Paley. Book by Kyle Jarrow. Music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tom Kitt, and choreography by Christopher Gattelli. Scenic and costume design by David Zinn. Lighting design by Kevin Adams. Projection design by Peter Nigrini. Sound design by Walter Trarbach.

Taylor Mac's Holiday Sauce
(Favorite Fruit - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Holiday album is dedicated to the memory of Taylor Mac's drag mother, Mother Flawless Sabrina. "The Black Angel's Death Song / Carol of the Bells," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "All Tomorrow's Parties / Little Drummer Boy," "Bargain Day," "Super Rich Kids," "Cathedral," "Christmas with Grandma," "Silent Night," "How Can I Keep from Singing."

The Theatre of Rupert Goold: Radical approaches to adaptation and new writing
(Methuen Drama - new Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Sarah Grochala. Surveys and analyzes the range of British stage director Rupert Goold's work to date. Based on extensive interviews with Goold and some of the playwrights, designers, actors and other creatives who have collaborated with him. 192 pages.

This Is Not My Memoir
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By André Gregory and Todd London. The audible audiobook version is narrated by André Gregory. Tells the life story of André Gregory, iconic theatre director, writer, and actor. Gregory shares memories from a life lived for art, including stories from the making of My Dinner with André. Includes fantastic and fantastical stories that take the reader from wartime Paris to golden-age Hollywood, from avant-garde theaters to monasteries in India. Along the way we meet Jerzy Grotowski, Helene Weigel, Gregory Peck, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, Wallace Shawn, and many other larger-than-life personalities. A collaboration between Gregory and Todd London. 224 pages.

Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony for Actors and Orchestra digital
(PS Classics - on mp3/at iTunes)

Digital released of 2011 album of new work for a symphony orchestra, commissioned by the Kennedy Center, adapted by Marsha Norman, music by Jason Robert Brown. From the novel by E.B. White. Premiered in the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater in 2008. Jason Robert Brown, conductor. Cast includes John Lithgow, Kathy Bates, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Mandy Moore, James Naughton and Martin Short. Released earlier on CD.

"Wear Your Crown"
(Sony - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Original song from upcoming Netflix production of The Prom. Score by Matthew Sklar (music) and Chad Beguelin. Meryl Streep, Kerry Washington, Nicole Kidman, Ariana Debose, Jo Ellen Pellman. The full soundtrack album for Netflix The Prom will be released 12/4/20 on mp3 and at iTunes, 12/18/20 on CD, and 2/12/21 on vinyl.

Week of November 10, 2020

American Theatre Ensembles Volume 1: Post-1970: Theatre X, Mabou Mines, Goat Island, Lookingglass Theatre, Elevator Repair Service, and SITI Company
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book)
By Mike Vanden Heuvel. First volume in series, covering the years 1970-1995. Overview of ensemble-based creation within the general historical and cultural contexts of the period, followed by a detailed study of the evolution of ensemble-based work. Contributors examine matters such as influence, funding, production and legacies, as well as the forms of collective devising and creation, while presenting close readings of the companies' most prominent works. 264 pages. American Theatre Ensembles Volume 2: Post-1995 to be released 2/11/21.

Christmas in Hollywood
(Stage Door Records - new import 2-CD set)
"Festive songs from the silver screen and yuletide favourites as sung by iconic Hollywood stars from the golden age of cinema and television." Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Danny Kaye, Doris Day, Deanna Durbin, Shirley Temple, Dick Powell, Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante, Red Buttons, Tab Hunter, Debbie Reynolds, Rosemary Clooney, Gordon MacRae, Nelson Eddy, Jeanette MacDonald and many more. Also spotlights recordings by Hollywood's "ghost singers," with featured songs performed by Marni Nixon, Norma Zimmer and Bill Lee. Plus the complete 1959 stereo album "We Wish You a Merry Christmas - 15 Great Christmas Favorites sung by Warner Bros. Stars," with songs by stars of popular television shows including Roger Moore, Connie Stevens, Dorothy Provine, Eddie Cole and others.

Jagged Little Pill: The Stories Behind the Iconic Album and Groundbreaking Musical
(Grand Central Publishing - new Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audiobook)
Chronicle of the Grammy-winning 1995 Alanis Morissette album and the new Broadway musical it inspired. Photos (Matthew Murphy) and interviews from Morissette, bookwriter Diablo Cody, creative team members, and cast members, as well as a full annotated libretto and an exploration of the album's cultural significance. 224 pages.

Maxine Linehan: This Time of Year
(Honeybun Records - new on mp3/at iTunes)
"Somewhere in My Memory / Believe," "This Time of Year," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Christmas the Way I Remember," "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," "Underneath the Tree," "Memories," "I Think of You (Holiday Edition)," "Moonlight in Vermont," "I'll Be Seeing You," "The Perfect Year," "Silent Night."

Over the Moon
(Sony Music Masterworks - new on CD)
Soundtrack for new Netflix animated film. Songs by s Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield and Helen Park. Original music score by Steven Price. Performing cast includes Phillipa Soo, Ruthie Ann Miles, Ken Jeong, Cathy Ang, and Robert G. Chiu. Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes

Pentatonix: We Need a Little Christmas
(RCA - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
The a cappella group's sixth holiday album. "12 Days of Christmas," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "My Favorite Things," "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)," "Thank You," "Santa Tell Me," "Jingle Bell Pop," "When You Wish Upon a Star," "Once Upon a December," "Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season," "We Need a Little Christmas," "Seasons of Love."

Petula Clark: Christmas in London
(Stage Door Records - new on CD)
All of Petula Clark's festive recordings from the 1950s - a selection of traditional carols alongside a sprinkling of original Christmas songs. Includes two previously unreleased radio performances, unheard since their original broadcast.

Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway
(Simon & Schuster - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audiobook on CD/Audible Edition)
By Michael Riedel. Account of recent Broadway history—spanning from the debut of Andrew Lloyd Weber's Sunset Boulevard to Disney's The Lion King. Drawing upon more than 150 insider interviews, Riedel walks us through the Broadway we know and love today: an industry awash in big hits and bigger money, while also being an industry split between its adherence to old art forms and the allure of popular culture. Audio versions narrated by Shaun Taylor-Corbett. 352 pages.

Sweeney Todd soundtrack
(Nonesuch - new vinyl LP)
2007 movie soundtrack on vinyl. Score by Stephen Sondheim. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter,Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jayne Wisener, Jamie Campbell Bower, Laura Michelle Kelly, Ed Sanders, Anthony Head, Peter Bowles.

Sweet Mystery: The Musical Works of Rida Johnson Young
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Ellen M. Peck. Part of Broadway Legacies series. Study of the musical theater works of Rida Johnson Young (ca. 1869-1926), one of the most prolific female playwrights of her time, as well as a lyricist and librettist in the musical theater. She wrote more than thirty full-length plays, operettas, and musical comedies, 500 songs, and four novels, including Naughty Marietta, Lady Luxury, The Red Petticoat, and When Love is Young. 192 pages. Using archival materials such as original typescripts, correspondence, and reviews, the book contextualizes her work in the early twentieth century professional theater and provides a window into the standard practices of writing and production of the era. Illustrated. 192 pages.

Vera Lynn: Keep Smiling Through
(Decca UK - on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Featuring never-before-heard and reorchestrated versions of classic songs performed by Dame Vera Lynn with various orchestras. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "We’ll Meet Again," "My Son, My Son," "White Cliffs Of Dover," "As Time Goes By," "Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye," "Close To You," "High Flight," "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square," "When You Wish Upon A Star," "From the Time You Say Goodbye," "White Christmas," Medley ("White Cliffs Of Dover" / "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" / "We’ll Meet Again").

Week of November 3, 2020

The ABC's of Broadway Musicals: A Civilian's Guide
(Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Scott Miller (New Line Theatre). Presents a basic understanding of this most American of art forms, the musical theatre, including a very brief history of musicals, a survey of important and well-known shows, examples of the wide and wild variety of musicals, a look at the amazing people who create musicals, and a sense of how Broadway musicals reflect and comment on our culture. 72 pages.

"Bad Cinderella"
(Polydor Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
First single from new musical adaptation of Cinderella, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Zippel. Sung by Carrie Hope Fletcher. Released 10/30/20. Full album expected in early 2021.

Beetlejuice: The Demos The Demos The Demos
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Beetlejuice musical composer and lyricist Eddie Perfect performs 24 tracks, including original pitch demos and 17 cut songs (including two cut opening numbers and a cut closing number). On Spotify and YouTube, the album is accompanied by track-by-track commentary from Perfect. Released 10/30/20.

Doktor Schiwago das Musical (original Gmunden cast)
(MFiG Live Records - new on 2 CDs/on mp3/at iTunes)
Austrian premiere of musical by Lucy Simon, Michael Korie, Amy Powers, and Michael Weller. In German. Cast includes Yngve Gasoy-Romdal and Elizabeth Sikora. Recorded live at the Gmunden City Theater. Released 10/30/20.

Harvey Schmidt: Merry Christmas 1975
(Musical Theater Project/Harbinger Records - new on CD/mp3/at iTunes)
An audio Christmas card, with Harvey Schmidt on piano. A variety of songs from the Golden Age of Hollywood and Broadway, originally released on LP as a gift to lucky friends of his. "I Feel a Song Comin' On," "Yesterdays," "Looking for a Boy," "You Are Beautiful," "My Favorite Things," "Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney Medley:," "Babes In Arms," "They All Laughed," "The Sweetest Sounds," "Lucky Day," "No More Waiting," "A Chorine Medley:," "Oh, Kay!," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Produced by Ken Bloom. Associate productions Bill Rudman. Remastering: Alan Silverman / ARF! Mastering.

I Put a Spell on You
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Expanded from the annual, sold-out concert-meets-party conceived by Jay Armstrong Johnson. Gavin Creel, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Drew Gehling, J. Harrison Ghee, Todrick Hall, 2020 Tony Nominee Robyn Hurder, Julia Mattison, Eva Noblezada, Will Swenson, Skizzo Arnedillo Arteaga, Allison Griffith, Sarah Kleist, Ilda Mason, Jennifer Reed, Alanna Saunders, Claire Saunders, Heath Saunders. "Massacre," "Witchcraft/I Put a Spell on You," "I Put a Spell on You," "The Sanderson Sisters," "Dinero," "Doggie Fever," "Evil Step Trio," "Make 'em Laugh," "Juice," "Roar/Eye of the Tiger," "Boss Bitch," "Attention," "Disco Inferno/Hot Stuff," "Bang Bang," "Oogie Boogie," "Bad Romance," "Toxic Love," "Witch Medley." Proceeds will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Produced by Will Van Dyke with Johnson, Con Limón Productions, and Emily Marshall. Released 10/29/20. Also at BroadwayRecords.com.

Leslie Odom Jr.: The Christmas Album
(S-Curve Records - new on CD/mp3/at iTunes)
"Snow," "Last Christmas," "Little Drummer Boy" (with Mzansi Youth Choir), "Winter Song" (with Cynthia Erivo), "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas," "O Holy Night," "Ma'oz Tzur" (with Nicolette Robinson), "Mele Kalikimaka" (with The Walls Group & Michea Walls), "Auld Lang Syne," "Heaven & Earth."

Lucy Prebble Plays 1: The Sugar Syndrome; Enron; The Effect; A Very Expensive Poison
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book)
Also at Amazon UK. 384 pages.

Mary Poppins 2020
(First Night Arts Music - new on CD/mp3/at iTunes)
2020 London cast recorded live at the Prince Edward Theatre, London. Score by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman with new songs and additional music by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Zizi Strallen, Charlie Stemp, Joseph Millson, Amy Griffiths, Petula Clark, Claire Moore, Claire Machin, Jack North, and Paul F Monaghan. "Prologue/Chim Chim Cher-ee," "Cherry Tree Lane/The Perfect Nanny," "Practically Perfect," "Jolly Holiday," "Let's Hope She Will Stay," "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Precision and Order," "Feed the Birds," "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "Playing the Game," "Chim Chim Cher-ee," "Entr'acte," "Brimstone and Treacle Pt. 1," "Let's Go Fly A Kite," "Good for Nothing," "Being Mrs. Banks," "Brimstone and Treacle Pt. 2," "Step in Time," "A Man Has Dreams/A Spoonful of Sugar," "Anything Can Happen," "The Task Is Done," "A Shooting Star," "Finale."

The Rocky Horror Skivvies Show
(Shellac Records - new digital album on mp3/new digital album on iTunes)
"Science Fiction Double Feature," "Dammit Janet," "Over at the Frankenstein Place," "Time Warp," "Sweet Transvestite," "Sword of Damocles," "I Can Make You a Man (Charles Atlas Song)," "Hot Patootie," "Touch-A Touch-A Touch Me," "Once in a While," "Eddie's Teddy," "Planet Schmanet," "Floor Show/Rose Tint My World," "Don't Dream It," "I'm Going Home," "Super Heroes," "Science Fiction Double Feature." Lauren Molina (vocals, cello, kazoo) and Nick Cearley (vocals, ukulele, banjolele, kazoo). The Band: Rob Morrison, Eric Shorey, Debbie Christine Tjong, Joshua Roberts, Andrew Gutauskas, Nate Hopkins. Engineering by Debbie Christine Tjong and Joshua Roberts. Sound Mixing by Debbie Christine Tjong. Mastering by Tom Rogers at Atomix Media. Also at Bandcamp.com.

Straight No Chaser: Social Christmasing
(Arts Music - new on CD/mp3/at iTunes)
"Silver Bells," "The First Noel," "I'm Your Snowman," "Frosty the Snowman," "A Holly Jolly Christmas," "The Cold Don't Bother Me," "Please Come Home for Christmas," "What Christmas Means," "A Long December," "Away in a Manger," "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?," "Office Party Blues," "Snow Globe," "Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season Medley," "Come O Come Emmanuel / O Come All Ye Faithful."

"Tonight Belongs to You"
(Sony - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Single track from upcoming Netflix production of The Prom. Score by Matthew Sklar (music) and Chad Beguelin. Ensemble performance with Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, Andrew Rannells, Keegan-Michael Key as well as newcomers Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose. Released 10/30/20.

West Side Story
(Orchid Classics - new on CD/mp3/at iTunes)
With unique arrangement for violin and saxophone quartet made by composer-conductor Henk Huizinga, performed by Gwendolyn Masin and the Melisma Saxophone Quartet. "Prologue," "Jet Song," "Blues," "Somewhere," "Procession & Nightmare," "Scherzo," "Mambo," "Cha-Cha," "I Feel Pretty," "Maria," "Cool," "America," "One Hand, One Heart," "Gee, Officer Krupke," "Tonight," "A Boy Like That," "I Have a Love," "The Rumble," "Finale."

Week of October 27, 2020

The 10-Minute Musical: An Anthology from the Sound Bites Festival
(Theatre Now - new book)
Twenty-five musicals chosen from the first six years of the Theatre Now festival. Foreword by Roma Torre. At TNNY.org.

American Utopia
(Bloomsbury - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Features the words and lyrics from David Byrne's recording and subsequent theatrical concert, with artwork by Maira Kalman (who designed the art for the Broadway show's curtain). Edited and designed by Alex Kalman/What Studio?. 160 pages.

B Is for Ballet: A Dance Alphabet (American Ballet Theatre)
(Doubleday Books for Young Readers - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By John Robert Allman with illustrations by Rachael Dean. "A is for arabesque, B is for Baryshnikov, and C is for Coppélia" in this illustrated, rhyming, alphabetic picture book, filled with ballet stars, dances, positions, and terminology. 48 pages. Released 9/22/20.

"Back in Time"
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new single on mp3/at iTunes)
New track from Back to the Future the Musical, score by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard. Sung by cast member Olly Dobson. The musical is scheduled to appear on the West End at the Adelphi Theatre beginning May 14, 2021. Full OLC album expected around the time of opening.

Billy's Place
(Club44 - new album on CD/mp3/at iTunes)
Inspired by Billy Stritch's online music program, featuring Stritch at the piano and mic performing some of his favorite songs as he has online. "Meet Me, Midnight," "Billy's Place Theme," "Skylark," "It Might Be You," "Falling in Love With Love," "Since You Left New York," "Ordinary Miracles," "Lazy Afternoon / Estate," "Planes," "My Love Went to London," "That Old Feeling / I Thought About You," "Blue Again." Released 10/23/20.

Broadway Baby
(new hardcover book)
By Russell Miller with Judith A. Proffer, illustrated by Yoko Matssuoka. Limited edition. 46 pages. Available at the Playbill Store.

Hans Christian Andersen
(Warner Archive - DVD-R)
1952 musical film starring Danny Kaye. Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. Directed by Charles Vidor. 112 minutes. Released in June on blu-ray.

Linda Vista
(TCG - Paperback Book)
Play by Tracy Letts, produced on Broadway by Second Stage in 2019. 190 pages.

That's Dancing!
(Warner Archive - on DVD-R)
1985 compilation film produced by M-G-M that looked back at the history of dancing in film with clips from MGM, United Artists, and the Associated Artists Productions films. Hosted by Gene Kelly (executive producer), Ray Bolger, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Mikhail Baryshnikov. 104 minutes.

The Opposite Sex
(Warner - new Blu-ray)
1956 musical comedy film starring June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan, Ann Miller, Joan Blondell, Leslie Nielsen, Agnes Moorehead, Charlotte Greenwood, Sam Levene, Carolyn Jones, Dick Shawn, Jim Backus. Based on Clare Booth Luce's play The Women. Songs include "The Opposite Sex," Nicholas Brodszky and Sammy Cahn, "Young Man With a Horn," by George Stoll and Ralph Freed, "A Perfect Love," by Nicholas Brodszky and Sammy Cahn, "Yellow Gold," by Nicholas Brodszky and Sammy Cahn, "Rock and Roll Tumbleweed," by Ralph Freed and George Stoll, "Now Baby Now," by Nicholas Brodszky and Sammy Cahn. 116 minutes.

A Tale of Transformation: Twenty-Five Years of Beauty and the Beast On Stage
(Disney Editions - Hardcover Book)
By Jeff Kurtti. Fully illustrated with concept art, costume designs, behind-the-scenes photography, and other rarities and never-before published visuals, along with text by renowned Disney author historian Jeff Kurtti. Also features a dozen guest essays by creative talents and performers who have been a part of, or been deeply influenced by this landmark cultural work. Disney Editions Deluxe series. 160 pages. [May have been postponed.]

Three Sisters
(Nick Hern Books - Paperback Book)
Cordelia Lynn's version, from a literal translation by Helen Rappaport, first performed at the Almeida Theatre, London, in April 2019, in a production directed by Rebecca Frecknall. Kindle Edition released earlier. 96 pages.

Week of October 20, 2020

The Best New Ten-Minute Plays, 2020
(Applause - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Lawrence Harbison. Part of Applause Acting Series. Thirty new ten-minute plays. 256 pages.

Disney Goes Classical
(Decca - on CD)
Performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. "Mary Poppins Overture," "How Far I'll Go," "A Whole New World," "Can You Feel The Love Tonight," "Almost There," "Go The Distance," "Colors Of The Wind," "When She Loved Me," "The Bare Necessities," "Part Of Your World," "Beauty and the Beast," "I See The Light," "Let It Go," "Reflection," "When You Wish Upon A Star." Expected vinyl on 12/4/20. Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes.

"The Enchanted Train"
(PS Classics - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Music by Jerome Kern; lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse. Performed by Rebecca Luker and Matthew Scott. orchestrated and music directed by Joseph Thalken, produced by Tommy Krasker, and mixed by Bart Migal. Released 10/16/20.

"If Donald Got Fired"
(Broadway Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Patti LuPone and Randy Rainbow political spoof song. Released 10/7/20.

Laura Benanti
(Sony Masterworks - new on CD/mp3/at iTunes)
Debut solo album with Sony Masterworks for Tony Award winning Laura Benanti. "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk," "Someone You Loved," "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?," "Sucker," "The Boy From...," "Go Slow," "Don't Worry 'Bout Me," "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," "Lose You to Love Me," "Wives and Lovers," "The Party's Over."

Luba Mason: Triangle
(new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
"Bach, Stevie Wonder and Janelle Monáe," "Haled's Song About Love," "Ticket to Ride," "Waters of March," "Ceresne," "In Walked Bud," "Inolvidable," "Toxicity," "Say It," "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." Recorded live at the legendary Power Station studios with Joe Locke on vibes and James Genus on acoustic and electric bass.

Maury Sings Yeston: The Demos - digital
(PS Classics - new on mp3/at iTunes)
Professionally recorded in studios over a forty-year period. "The Bells of St. Sebastian," "Unusual Way," "The Germans at the Spa," "Simple," "The Queen of Basin Street," "Salt ’n’ pepper," "Mississippi Moon," "Bad News," "The Mardi Gras Ball," "Alive!," "More and More," "Life’s a Joy," "Roberto’s Eyes," "Something’s Happened," "Viva España," "Picture It," "I Will Paint Sounds," "Bon Soir," "Doing the Latest Rag," "Barrett’s Song," "Lady’s Maid," "Sitting at the Captain’s Table," "The Proposal/The Night Was Alive," "No Moon," "Kolya," "Soviet Union Blues," "Tell Me About Your Wife," "To the Future," "Baby at 110," "New Words," "One for a Rainy Day," "My Brother Abel," "The Nileside Cotillion," "No Man’s as Wonderful," "Three Steps Forward," "Down on the Farm," "Nowhere to Go but Up," "Another Day in the Modern World," "Valentine," "December Time." The iTunes download will come with a full 29-page booklet, which includes an essay by Yeston, all the lyrics, and information about songs that were cut or revised, and why. It also "sets up" the songs that benefit from a little exposition. 2-CD set to be released 12/4/20.

Night of the Living Dead! The Musical!
(Broadway Records - new on mp3/at iTunes)
Original concept album. Score by Jordan Wolfe. The musical premiered in 2019 at Theatre Row. Album produced by Wolfe and James Morgan. Jaime Cepero, Meg Lanzarone, Michelle Dowdy, Michael Buchanan, Susan J. Jacks, Jordan Wolfe, Richard Binder, and Steven Amendola.

Nichols and May: Interviews
(Univ Press of Mississippi - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Robert E. Kapsis. Twenty-seven interviews and profiles ranging over more than five decades tell Mike Nichols and Elaine May stories in their own words. 328 pages.

Over the Moon digital
(Sony Music Masterworks - new on mp3/at iTunes)
Soundtrack for new Netflix animated film. Songs by s Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield and Helen Park. Original music score by Steven Price. Performing cast includes Phillipa Soo, Ruthie Ann Miles, Ken Jeong, Cathy Ang, and Robert G. Chiu. CD to be released 11/13/20.

Sistuhs in the Struggle: An Oral History of Black Arts Movement Theater and Performance
(Northwestern Univ Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By La Donna Forsgren. Documents how black women theater artists and activists—many of whom worked behind the scenes as directors, designers, producers, stage managers, and artistic directors—disseminated the black aesthetic and emboldened their communities. Draws on nearly thirty original interviews with well-known artists such as Ntozake Shange and Sonia Sanchez, as well as less-studied figures including distinguished lighting designer Shirley Prendergast, dancer and choreographer Halifu Osumare, and three-time Tony-nominated writer and composer Micki Grant. 296 pages.

The Song Is You: Musical Theatre and the Politics of Bursting into Song and Dance
(Univ of Iowa Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Bradley Rogers. Are the musical's progressive politics rooted in its embrace of regressive entertainments like burlesque and minstrelsy? Shows how musicals return again and again to this question, and grapple with a guilt that its joyous pleasures are based on exploiting the laboring bodies of its performers. Rogers argues that the discourse of "integration"—which claims that songs should advance the plot—has functioned to deny the radical work that the musical undertakes every time it transitions into song and dance. Looking at musicals from The Black Crook to Hamilton, Rogers confronts the gendered and racial dynamics that have always under-girded the genre, and asks how we move forward. 270 pages.

Whirlwind: Live at Sam First
(new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Pianist/composer Max Haymer. David Robaire on bass and Dan Schnelle on drums. "So in Love," "Whirlwind," "Proof of Evil," "Speak Low," "Gold Plated Dime," "Welcoming," "Killing Time," "Passed Time," "Love for Sale."

Week of October 13, 2020

The Dramatic Moment of Fate: The Life of Sherlock Holmes in the Theatre
(MX Publishing - Paperback Book)
Alexandra Kitty curates Sherlock Holmes' theatrical world throughout the decades: from unlikely Off-Broadway musicals to lauded slapstick comedies, to more traditional and gripping portrayals of his iconic stories and new incarnations. 172 pages. Released earlier in Kindle format.

The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda
(Archway Editions - Paperback Book)
Play by Ishmael Reed that " critiques the acclaimed historical musical Hamilton through a depiction of a fictionalized version of ... Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is visited by several historical figures missing from the musical in a style similar to Dickens' A Christmas Carol ... echoes many critiques made by historians, such as the whitewashing of Alexander Hamilton." Debuted in 2019 at Nuyorican Poets Cafe. 80 pages.

In the Green
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
2019 LCT3 cast recording of score by Grace McLean. 22 tracks. Produced by Dean Sharenow, Grace McLean, and Kris Kukul. CD expected later in the year. Also at GhostlightRecords.com.

Jagged Little Pill OBC vinyl
(Atlantic - new vinyl 2-LP vinyl set)
Jane Bruce, Anthony Cipriano, Kathryn Gallagher, Celia Rose Gooding, Logan Hart, Derek Klena, Max Kumangai, Sean Allan Krill, Ezra Menas, Lauren Patten, Nora Schell, Elizabeth Stanley. "Overture," "See Right Through You," "All I Really Want," "Hand in My Pocket," "Smiling," "Ironic," "So Unsexy," "Perfect," "Lancers Party (So Pure)," "That I Would Be Good," "Wake Up," "Forgiven," "Entr'Acte (Hand's Clean)," "Not The Doctor," "Head Over Feet," "Unprodigal Daughter," "Predator," "You Oughta Know," "Uninvited," "Mary Jane," "No," "Thank U," "You Learn." Released previously on CD, mp3 and at iTunes.

Pulling Harvey Out of Her Hat: The Amazing Story of Mary Coyle Chase
(Limelight Editions - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Mimi Pockross. 194 pages.

Vaudeville and the Making of Modern Entertainment, 1890–1925
(Univ of North Carolina Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By David Monod. Looks through the apparent carnival of vaudeville performance and asks: what made the theater so popular and transformative? Monod makes the case that vaudeville became so popular because it offered audiences a guide to a modern urban lifestyle. 288 pages.

"Warrior"
(Wake Your Words - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Syndee Winters (The Lion King, Hamilton). With Mikari Tarpley. Released 10/9/20.

We Won't Sleep: Songs from the Musical Jeannette
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Eight-song concept album of highlights from the pop musical Jeanette performed by songstress, advocate, actress and co-writer Ari Afsar with collaborators MILCK, MA/SA, Mermaid, and artist and activist Genesis Be.

Week of October 6, 2020

1969: The Second Man
(DK Records - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Concept album of score by Jacob Brandt (the musical played Next Door at NYTW in 2018). "Prologue," "Million Headed Witness," "Take Off," "Zero Gravity," "Moon Facts And Fictions," "Stuff Up Here," "When You Were Gone," "The Call," "Used Cadillacs," "Gonna Be First/Landing," "Communion," "It Should've Been Me," "Epilogue (Walking)." Brandt on vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, ukulele, synth; Paris Ellsworth on violin; Robin Buyer on bass; Seth Eliser on drums; Jonah Scott on lead electric guitar on "Zero Gravity" & "The Call;" and Mateus Falci on synth on "Moon Facts and Fictions." Produced by Jacob Brandt and Robin Buyer. Engineered and recorded by Robin Buyer at Virtue and Vice Studios and Pulse Music. Mixed by Robin Buyer and mastered by Ryan Schwabe, with additional engineering by Mateus Falci.

Ann Miller: Her Life and Career
(McFarland Publishing - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Peter Shelley. Presents Ann Miller's career in the context of her fascinating life, beginning with child acting and including three Hollywood studio contracts, two retirements for marriage, and appearances in film, stage, variety shows, sitcoms, her comeback in the stage musical Sugar Babies, and appointment as an international spokesperson for MGM in the ailing years of the studio. 185 pages.

The Black Emperor of Broadway (The Play That Changed History)
(Vision Films - new on DVD)
2019 film about Charles Gilpin, Eugene O'Neill, and The Emperor Jones. Shaun Parkes, John Carter Hensley, Nick Moran, Liza Weil, Lonnie Farmer. Directed by Arthur Egeli. Written by Ian Bowater, Adrienne Earle Pender.

A Charlie Brown Christmas
(Craft - vinyl LP)
Limited Edition LP with "dancing" lenticular cover. Soundtrack of animated show which premiered in 1965. Performed by Vince Guaraldi Trio. In celebration of the "Peanuts" 70th anniversary. "O Tannenbaum," "What Child Is This," "My Little Drum," "Linus and Lucy," "Christmas Time Is Here," "Christmas Time Is Here," "Skating," "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," "Christmas Is Coming," "Für Elise," "The Christmas Song," "Greensleeves."

Chicago
(Flicker Alley/Blackhawk Films - new on Blu-ray)
1927 black and white silent film based on the 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Written by Lenore J. Coffee. Produced by Cecil B. DeMille, directed by Frank Urson (uncredited, Cecil B. DeMille). Phyllis Haver (Roxie Hart), Julia Faye (Velma Kelly), Victor Varconi (Amos Hart), May Robson (Matron Mama Morton), Robert Edeson (Billy Flynn). This MOD disc features an HD transfer of the film Chicago and an HD transfer of the bonus feature that previously accompanied the DVD titled The Golden Twenties. Restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive in 2006.

Gene Kelly: The Making of a Creative Legend
(Univ Press of Kansas - Hardcover Book)
Biography by Earl Hess and Pratibha A. Dabholkar. Offers a full picture of Gene Kelly as the Renaissance man he actually was—dancer, choreographer, actor, clown, singer, director, teacher, and mentor. Photographs. 552 pages.

Genevieve: Songs From "Can-Can" and More
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
French singer who toured with Can-Can, Silk Stockings, Irma la Douce, and The Genevieve Show. Songs on CD for first time. "I Love Paris," "Hi Lili Hi Lo," "Pigalle," "Allez-Vous En," "Java," "Hearts of Paris," "C'est Magnifique," "Autumn Leaves," "Mademoiselle de Paris," "Let It Be Me," "I Like You Like That," "Domino," "Never Give Anything Away," "Live and Let Live," "Can-Can," "Coin de Rue," "Mon P'tit Voyou," "Un Coup de Printemps," "Un Jour Tu Verras," "On M'a Vole Tout Ca," "La Nuit Va Commencer," "L'ame Des Poetes," "Rien Ne Pourra Changer," "Complainte de La Butte," "Le Trottoir aux Chansons," "Chanson Pour L'auvergnat," "I'm Never Gonna Kiss You with Johnny Tillotson," "Cherie, Cherie." Also at SepiaRecords.com.

The King and I
(Mill Creek - new Blu-ray)
1999 animated feature film based on the musical with score by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Vocal cast includes Miranda Richardson, Martin Vidnovic, Ian Richardson, Darrell Hammond. I don't know why either.

Like Blue & Like Young
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
Andre Previn & David Rose and his Orchestra. Twofer album remastered in stereo sound with the addition of David Rose's "One Love" and "Holiday in Strings" as bonus tracks, also in stereo. Also at SepiaRecords.com.

London Theatres (new edition)
(Frances Lincoln - Hardcover Book)
Fully revised and updated version of 2017 book by drama critic Michael Coveney, with photographs by Peter Dazeley. Stories of the architecture, the people, and the productions which have defined each theatre, with photographs of the public areas, auditorium and backstage, Updated to include ten additional theatres, including the Victoria Palace Theatre, the Sondheim Theatre, the Bridge Theatre and the Noël Coward Theatre. Foreword by Mark Rylance. 288 pages.

My White Best Friend: (And Other Letters Left Unsaid)
(Oberon Books - Paperback Book)
By Jasmine Lee-Jones. Rachel De-Laha, editor. Originally commissioned by The Bunker Theatre as a festival that ran in 2019. 23 letters that engage with a range of topics, from racial tensions, microaggressions and emotional labour, to queer desire, prejudice and otherness. Includes work from Zia Ahmed, Travis Alabanza, Fatimah Asghar, Nathan Bryon, Matilda Ibini, Jammz, Iman Qureshi, Anya Reiss, Somalia Seaton, Nina Segal, Tolani Shoneye, Lena Dunham, Inua Ellams, Rabiah Hussain, Mika Johnson, Jasmine Lee-Jones, Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, Shireen Mula, Ash Sarkar, Jack Thorne and Joel Tan. 280 pages.

On The Level OLC
(Stage Door Records - new on CD)
Part of Stage Door Records' Cast Album Masters Series. CD debut of 1966 OLC recording of Ron Grainer and Ronald Millar '60s-contemporary score. The show ran at London's Saville Theatre for 118 performances. Cast includes Angela Richards, Barrie Ingham, Gary Bond, Phyllida Law and Sheila White. Licensed courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited and is strictly limited to 500 units only. Also at StageDoorRecords.com.

Pal Joey digital
(Capitol Records - on mp3/at iTunes)
1952 recording of score by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. (Partial Broadway) cast includes Dick Beavers, Jane Froman, Helen Gallagher, and Elaine Stritch. "Overture," "You Mustn't Kick It Around," "I Could Write A Book," "Chicago," "That Terrific Rainbow," "What Is A Man," "Happy Hunting Horn," "Bewitched," "Pal Joey," "The Flower Garden Of My Heart," "Zip," "Plant You Now, Dig You Later," "In Our Little Den," "Do It The Hard Way," "Take Him," "Bewitched (Reprise)," "Finale." Released 9/18/20.

Peggy: The Life of Margaret Ramsay, Play Agent
(Salamander Street Ltd. - Kindle Edition)
Kindle edition of 1998 book about Peggy Ramsay, the influential British play agent (Joe Orton, Eugene Ionesco, John Mortimer, Robert Bolt, Christopher Hampton, Edward Bond, Caryl Churchill, Howard Brenton, David Hare, Willy Russell and Alan Ayckbourn). The author was granted complete freedom of access to all the records and correspondence accumulated over the forty years of her agency's existence, including hundreds of impassioned letters between Peggy and her authors. Released in 1997 and 1998 in hardcover and paperback.

Seth MacFarlane: Great Songs from Stage and Screen
(Republic - new on CD)
"Once Upon A Dream," "I Loved You Once In Silence," "Let's Not Be Sensible," "Ten Minutes Ago," "Ain't Got A Dime To My Name (Ho Ho Ho Ho Hum)," "Love Is Only Love," "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?," "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are," "Two For The Road," "All Er Nothin'," "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," "Mind If I Make Love To You," "Time For Parting." Recorded at the Abbey Road studios. Chuck Berghofer (bass), Peter Erskine (drums), Larry Koonse (guitar), Dan Higgins (alto sax), and Tom Ranier (piano); John Wilson Orchestra. Digital version released 8/28/20.

Working on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown
(Plume - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
Book of lyrics and stories from Hadestown from its author, songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, with a foreword by Steve Earle. 272 pages.

Week of September 29, 2020

Broadway Sings Blood Rock: The Musical
(Lasky Records - new EP on mp3/at iTunes)
Songs by Michael Berns (music) and Ralph Pezzullo (lyrics). Andy Mientus, Damon Dauno, Jennifer Dinola, Robert Torti. Six tracks. Released 9/8/20.

Jaime Lozano & The Familia: Songs by an Immigrant
(Broadway Records - new on mp3/Apple Music)
Collaboration of musical theatre, jazz, Mexican folklore, Tex-Mex, and Latin musicians and performers, with songs and stories about the immigrant experience. Liner notes by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

John Cameron Mitchell and Friends: New American Dream, Pt.1
(new digital album on mp3)
A "a lockdown-inspired remotely-organized platonic musical orgy" of original songs. Collaboration with Mitchell and more than 40 people in the U.S. and Europe, including Stephen Trask, Justin Craig, Peppermint, Alynda Segarra, Ezra Furman, Julian Koster, Jamie Stewart, Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, Izae, Theo Hilton, Bitch, Lance Horne, Qya Cristál, Amber Martin, Peter Yanowitz, Billy Hough, and Cassie Watson. Proceeds benefit Burritos Not Bombs, Transgender Gender-Variant and Intersex Justice Project, and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Trust Fund.

Islander
(Helen Milne Productions - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original cast recordings of score by Finn Anderson. Performed by Kirsty Findlay and Bethany Tennick. Performed in the UK in 2018-2019. Released 9/25/20.

Jagged Little Pill: Our New Musical - vocal selections
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
23 songs are included in the matching folio to this 2019 Broadway musical inspired by Alanis Morissette's 1995 hit album of the same name. Vocal lines with piano accompaniment are presented for songs from the original album. 180 pages. Released 9/1/20.

The Liz Swados Project
(Ghostlight Records - on CD)
World premiere recordings of 14 songs. Tribute to five-time Tony Award nominee, Liz Swados. Starr Busby, Sophia Anne Caruso, Damon Daunno, Amber Gray, Stephanie Hsu, Jo Lampert, Alicia Olatuja, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Grace McLean, and Ali Stroker, in addition to songwriter/performers The Bengsons, Heather Christian, Michael R. Jackson, Taylor Mac, Dave Malloy, Shaina Taub, and the late Michael Friedman, among others. "We Are Not Strangers," "Every Now and Then," "Oh, King Daddy," "The Red Queen," "In This My Green World," "Take Me to Paris," "Souf," "You Gave Me Love," "You Do Not Have To Be Good," "Song of the Child Prostitute," "The Dance," "Salvador," "Isadora," "Lonesome of the Road," "War Gets Old," "A Change Shall Come," "Bird Lament," "Amen," "Things I Didn't Know I Loved." Produced by Lauren Fitzgerald, Kris Kukul and Matt Stine, with Kurt Deutsch and Rosalind Lichter serving as executive producers. Kris Kukul provides orchestrations and arrangements. Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes. Also at GhostlightRecords.com.

Love Me Tonight (Special Edition)
(Kino Lorber - new Blu-ray)
1932 musical comedy film. Songs by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Starring Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Charles Ruggles, Charles Butterworth, Myrna Loy. Directed and produced by Rouben Mamoulian. 88 minutes. Special Features: new 4k master; audio commentary by Miles Kreuger; Maurice chevalier sings "Louise"; Jeanette MacDonald sings "Love Me Tonight" (from the Paramount newsreel series Hollywood on Parade); screenplay excerpts of deleted scenes; production documents and censorship records; theatrical trailer; dual-layered bd50 disc.

The Prince of Egypt: Stage Musical - vocal selections
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Songs from the 2017 musical adaptation of the 1998 DreamWorks film of the same name. Score by Stephen Schwartz. "All I Ever Wanted (with Queen's Reprise)," "Always on My Side," "Dance to the Day," "Deliver Us," "Faster," "Footprints on the Sand," "For the Rest of My Life," "Heartless," "Make It Right," "Never in a Million Years," "Through Heaven's Eyes," "When You Believe." 88 pages.

Secondhand Lions
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTuneds)
World premiere recording of new score by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (First Date). Book by Rupert Holmes. The musical premiered at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. Cast includes Gregg Edelman, James Naughton, Jason Danieley, Kevin Earley, Jenny Powers, and more. Also features a song cut from the show, performed by Stephanie J. Block. Album produced by Zachary and Weiner, Michael Croiter and Dominick Amendum.

Sole Mates: The Musical
(new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original studio cast recording. Score by Kirk Coombs. "Laundryland," "Hung Out to Dry," "Get Out of My Pants," "Rolled Into You," "Sole Mates."

Willow
(Broadway Records/Yellow Sound Label - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Concept album with score by Morgan Smith, Abigail Greenwood, and Sushi Soucy. Rachael Chau, Emma Freeman, Janeen Garcia, Abigail Greenwood, Madelyn Paterna. Released 9/25/20.

Week of September 22, 2020

Chicago Diamond Edition
(Miramax - new Blu-ray)
Not clear what is new here. Still listed for 9/21/20, but "currently unavailable."

Diana Krall: This Dream of You
(Verve - new on CD/2-disc vinyl)
Performances from 2016-2017 sessions, mixed by Al Schmitt, on which she collaborated with late friend/longtime creative partner Tommy LiPuma. "But Beautiful," "That's All / Azure-Te," "Autumn In New York," "Almost Like Being In Love," "More Than You Know," "Just You, Just Me," "There's No You," "Don't Smoke In Bed," "This Dream Of You," "I Wished On The Moon," "How Deep Is The Ocean," "Singing In The Rain." Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes.

Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform Funny Girl the Ultimate Edition
(Second Disc/Real Gone Music - new on 2 CDs)
1968 album of The Supremes performing the score by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill. Featuring the original U.S. stereo mix; the rare U.K. mono mix (with an extended version of Diana Ross' "People"; "The Supreme Mixes," reinstating Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong's original vocals not heard in 1968; and bonus tracks including previously unreleased alternate versions of "Cornet Man," "His Love Makes Me Beautiful," and "Sadie, Sadie" as well as live performances of "I'm the Greatest Star" and the Fanny Brice standard "My Man." "Cornet Man" (alternate vocal version), "People" (alternate vocal version), "Don't Rain On My Parade," "Sadie, Sadie" (alternate vocal version), "Don't Rain On My Parade" (alternate vocal version), "I Am Woman," "I'm The Greatest Star" (Live From "TCB"/1968), "Sadie, Sadie," "People," "My Man (Mon Homme), "The Music That Makes Me Dance" (alternate vocal version), "I'm The Greatest Star," "His Love Makes Me Beautiful" (alternate vocal version), "Funny Girl," "If A Girl Isn't Pretty" (alternate vocal version), "If A Girl Isn't Pretty," "I Am Woman" (alternate vocal version), "Cornet Man," "The Music That Makes Me Dance," "I'm The Greatest Star" (alternate vocal version), "Funny Girl" (alternate vocal version), "His Love Makes Me Beautiful."

Finding Tulsa
(Palm Drive Publishing - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Novel by Jim Provenzano. "Stan Grozniak, the once-rising star of 1990s gay cinema, shares how he almost self-sabotaged a prestigious directing gig after casting his rediscovered teenage summer stock crush. While still haunted by the death of Rick Dacker, the sexy star of his cult favorite action trilogy, Stan attempts a romance with actor Lance Holtzer, his 'Tulsa' from a small town Ohio production of the musical Gypsy."

Gloria (TCG Edition)
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (An Octoroon). 96 pages. Released 8/18/20.

How to Defend Yourself
(Yale Univ Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
New play by writer, director, actor, and community builder Liliana Padilla. Thirteenth winner of the Yale Drama Series. Foreword by Ayad Akhtar. 160 pages.

Josie Falbo: You Must Believe In Spring
(Southport Records - new on CD)
Jazz singer Josie Falbo performs "You Must Believe in Spring," "A Night in Tunisia," "Joy Spring," "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing," "A Sleepin' Bee," "Manhattan," "Heaven," "Just You, Just Me," "Midnight at the Starlight Haunted Ballroom," "Estate," "Devil May Care," "'Tis Autumn," "Tristeza." Liner notes by Howard Mandel.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 3
(UMe - new on CD)
From the Amazon series. Performers: Darius de Haas (as Shy Baldwin), Blossom Dearie, Julie London & Gregory Porter, Sons Of The Pioneers, Louis Prima, Pedrito Martinez, Peggy Lee, Gene Kelly & Debbie Reynolds & Donald O'Connor, Helen Merrill, Kay Starr, The Silver Belles, Doris Day & Paul Weston & His Music from Hollywood, Nina Simone. "One Less Angel," "Manhattan," "Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)," "The Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma," "Pennies From Heaven (Remastered)," "Loco Amor," "Till There Was You (Remastered)," "Good Morning," "Anything Goes," "On a Slow Boat to China," "Bottle of Pop," "Dream a Little Dream of Me," "Feeling Good," "Love Is Here to Stay," "No One Has to Know." Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes

Never Steal Anything Small
(Kino Lorber - new Blu-ray/DVD)
1959 musical film. James Cagney, Shirley Jones. Music by Allie Wrubel. "Never Steal Anything Small," "I'm Sorry, I Want a Ferrari," "I Haven't Got a Thing to Wear," "It Takes Love to Make a Home," "Helping Our Friends." Lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. Directed by Charles Lederer. Special Features: new audio commentary by Daniel Kremer and audio commentary by Lee Bambin; theatrical trailer; dual-layered bd50 disc. 94 minutes.

Nick Cordero: Live Your Life
(Broadway Records - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Live at Feinstein's/54 Below in 2019. Nick Cordero's cabaret performance, directed and music directed by Michael J Moritz Jr. Guest performers include Kathryn Gallagher, Drew Gehling, Sara Chase, and Zach Braff. "All Night Long," "Higher Ground," "Oh my God, this crowd!," "Oye Como Va," "Get the Gringa!," "If I Ain't Got You," "What a Wonderful World," "Politik," I had to get to New York..., "Hot Toxic Love," This job changed my life..., "Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness If I Do," Then came Waitress..., "You Matter to Me," An opportunity of a lifetime..., "One of the Great Ones," They taught me about doing good by others...," "The Men That Drive Me Places," I am sure you are aware that my wife Amanda and I are expecting our first child..., "The Mother," I've lived a blessed life..., "Break It Down Again," I love you guys..., "Live Your Life." Also at BroadwayRecords.com. Released 9/17/20.

Until the Flood
(Audible - Audiobook on CD)
Play by Dael Orlandersmith (Yellowman). Commissioned by the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Produced by the Arcola Theatre, London, United Kingdom, in 2019. Winner of the Scotsman Fringe First Award and the Stage Edinburgh Award. Narrated by the playwright. Released earlier as an Audible Audiobook

Week of September 15, 2020

All the Sonnets of Shakespeare
(Cambridge Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Paul Edmondson and Stanley Wells, editors. Assembles all of Shakespeare's sonnets in their probable order of composition. The introduction debunks long-established biographical myths about Shakespeare's sonnets and proposes new insights about how and why he wrote them. Explanatory notes and modern English paraphrases of every poem and dramatic extract illuminate the meaning of these witnesses to Shakespeare's inner life and professional expertise. 208 pages.

Broadway Musical Christmas Carols
(Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Scott Miller (New Line Theatre). 25 well-loved Christmas carols refashioned for the hard-core fan of Broadway musicals, in new vocal arrangements with all-new lyrics related to musical theatre – funny, serious, smartass, cynical, reverent, poignant songs that will make you laugh, that will make you think, that will remind you why you love musicals so much. 62 pages.

But He Doesn't Know the Territory: The Story behind Meredith Willson's The Music Man - "Broadway edition"
(Univ of Minnesota Press - Paperback Book)
New reprint of Meredith Willson's 1959 memoir. Reflections on the ups and downs, surprises and disappointments, and finally successes of making one of America's most popular musicals. New foreword by foreword by Michael Feinstein. 208 pages. [Appears to be shipping ahead of 9/22/20 release date.]

The Complete Book of 2010s Broadway Musicals
(Rowman & Littlefield - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
New volume in Dan Dietz' series of books (which previously covered the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s). Includes detailed information about every musical that opened on Broadway from 2010 through the end of 2019. Discusses the decade's major successes, notorious failures, and musicals that closed during their pre-Broadway tryouts, and also highlights revivals and personal-appearance revues. Plot summaries; cast members; names of all important personnel, including writers, composers, directors, choreographers, producers, and musical directors; opening and closing dates; number of performances; critical commentary; musical numbers and the performers who introduced the songs; production data, including information about tryouts; source material; Tony awards and nominations; information about London and other foreign productions. 656 pages. Released 9/10/20.

Einstein's Dreams
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Joanne Sydney Lessner (book and lyrics) and Joshua Rosenblum (music and lyrics). Cast includes Zal Owen as Einstein, Alexandra Silber, Brennan Caldwell, Talia Cosentino, Stacia Fernandez, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Michael McCoy, Tess Primack, and Vishal Vaidya. Music director is Milton Granger, and the orchestra includes Bruce Doctor, Kiku Enomoto, Jonathan Levine, Eleanor Norton, and Saadi Zain. Released 9/10/20.

God, Sex, and Musical Theatre: Meditations for Unlocking the Powerful Self
(birch bench press - Paperback Book)
By Broadway director Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages). Poetry, thoughts, and musings on communing with the unseen, expressions of love, and the nuances of desire. 148 pages. [Appears to be shipping ahead of 9/29/20 release date.]

Homeland Elegies: A Novel
(Little, Brown and Company - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook/Audiobook on CD)
Novel by Ayad Akhtar (Disgraced). Audio versions narrated by the author. 368 pages.

Humana Festival 2019: The Complete Plays
(Limelight Editions - Kindle Edition)
All five scripts from the 43rd annual cycle of world premieres: Everybody Black by Dave Harris; The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath; The Corpse Washer, adapted for the stage by Ismail Khalidi and Naomi Wallace, from the novel of the same name by Sinan Antoon; How to Defend Yourself by Liliana Padilla; and We've Come to Believe, a collaboratively-written play by Kara Lee Corthron, Emily Feldman, and Matthew Paul Olmos. Paperback version released 5/15/20.

Paula Scher: Twenty-Five Years at the Public, A Love Story
(Princeton Architectural Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Illustrated book by graphic designer Paul Sher, who turned her first major project as a partner at Pentagram into a formative twenty-five-year relationship with the Public Theater in New York. Chronicles over two decades of brand and identity development and an evolving creative process in a unique "autobiography of graphic design."

She Is Risen Volume I
(Hedonist Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Songs from Jesus Christ Superstar, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Cynthia Erivo, Shoshana Bean, Morgan James, Debbie Gravitte, Bryonha Marie Parham, Ann Harada, Tamika Lawrence, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Bridget Everett, Eden Espinosa, Marva Hicks, youth choir from A Broader Way. "Everything's Alright," "This Jesus Must Die," "King Herod's Song," "Could We Start Again Please?," "Superstar."

Week of September 8, 2020

Flower Drum Song vinyl
(Craft Recordings - new double vinyl set)
Reissue of 1958 original Broadway cast recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein score. Barnes & Noble exclusive. Larry "Overture," "You Are Beautiful," "A Hundred Million Miracles," "I Enjoy Being a Girl," "I Am Going to Like It Here," "Like A God," "Chop Suey," "Don't Marry Me," "Grant Avenue," "Love, Look Away, ""At the Celestial Bar: Fan Tan Fannie / Gliding Through My Memoree / Grant Avenue," "Entr'acte," "The Other Generation," "Sunday," "The Other Generation," "Wedding Parade and Finale." Mastered from the original three-track tape and cut at 45-RPM by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound. Available at BarnesandNoble.com. Released 9/4/20.

In the Heights red/white/blue vinyl
(Ghostlight Records - new vinyl set)
Score by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Exclusive Barnes & Noble release. Features special red, white and blue-colored vinyl honoring the colors of the Puerto Rican flag. Features remastered audio, 90 minutes of music, and a 16-page booklet with full lyrics, original Broadway show photos, a synopsis, and liner notes from director Thomas Kail. Mp3 download card is also included. Lin-Manuel Miranda score. Andrea Burns, Janet Dacal, Robin DeJesus, Carlos Gomez, Mandy Gonzalez, Christopher Jackson, Priscilla Lopez, Olga Merediz, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Karen Olivo, Seth Stewart. Side A: "In the Heights," "Breathe," "Benny's Dispatch." Side B: "It Won't Be Long Now," "Inútil," "No Me Diga." Side C: "96,000," "Paciencia y Fe (Patience and Faith)," "When You're Home." Side D: "Piragua," "The Club," "Blackout." Side E: "Sunrise," "Hundreds of Stories," "Enough," "Carnaval del Barrio," "Atención," "Alabanza." Side F: "Everything I Know," "Piragua (Reprise)," "Champagne," "When the Sun Goes Down," "Finale." Album produced by Andrés Levin and Kurt Deutsch. Released 9/4/20. Available at BarnesandNoble.com. Previously released on CD, mp3, and at iTunes.

Ink
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book)
Play by James Graham, which appeared on Broadway in 2019. 144 pages.

Jardim Noturno-Canções e Obras para Piano de Claudio Santoro
(Sesc Digital - new double album on mp3/at iTunes)
Paulo Szot and pianist Nahim Marun perform classical pieces by Brazilian composer Claudio Santoro. Released 8/12/20.

Stars in Their Underwear: My unpredictable journey from Broadway dancer to costume designer for some of Hollywood's biggest stars
(Miranda Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition on 9/10/20)
Assistant to Bob Mackie, Diana Eden, dancer, actress, and costume designer, pulls back the curtain on stage and screen personalities such as Carol Burnett, Debra Messing, George Clooney, Betty White, Dixie Carter, Thomas Haden Church, Kaley Cuoco, and many more. Illustrated by Marisa Cooper. 272 pages. Released 6/13/20.

Tina - The Tina Turner Musical gold vinyl
(Ghostlight Records - new gold-colored vinyl LP)
First time on vinyl, exclusive at Barnes & Noble. Original London cast recording featuring Adrienne Warren and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Jenny Fitzpatrick, Madeline Appiah, Lorna Gayle, Tom Godwin, Francesca Jackson, Natey Jones, Ryan O'Connell, Jason Langley, and Claudia Elie. "Etherland," "Nutbush City Limits," "Don't Turn Around," "Shake a Tailfeather," "The Hunter," "Matchbox," "It's Gonna Work Out Fine," "A Fool in Love," "Let's Stay Together," "Better Be Good to Me," "I Want To Take You Higher," "River Deep - Mountain High," "Be Tender with Me," "Proud Mary," "I Don't Wanna Fight," "Private Dancer," "Disco Inferno," "Open Arms ," "I Can't Stand the Rain," "Tonight," "What's Love Got to Do with It," "We Don't Need Another Hero," "The Best," "Finale, Nutbush City Limits / Proud Mary." Recorded in London. The LP includes liner notes, synopsis, and production and studio photography. Available at BarnesandNoble.com. Released earlier new on CD, mp3 and at iTunes.

Understanding Tracy Letts
(Univ of South Carolina Press - Hardcover Book/Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Thomas Fahy. First book dedicated to the writing of Tracy Letts. An introduction to his plays and an invitation to engage more deeply with his work. Part of Understanding Contemporary American Literature series. 144 pages.

Week of September 1, 2020

Break an Egg!: The Broadway Cookbook
(Insight Editions - Hardcover Book)
By Tara Theoharis. 55 recipes inspired by favorite musicals from The Sound of Music to Hamilton, including Eggrolls for Mr. Goldstone served with a side of Too Darn Hot Sauce; Another Vodka Stinger, The Wizard and Ice, Schnitzel With Noodles, Mama's Well-Peppered Ragu, Angel (Food Cake) of Music. With illustrations and photographs. 128 pages.

Magic Time: A Memoir - Notes on Theater & Other Entertainments
(Smith & Krause - Hardcover Book/Paperback Book)
By Edwin Wilson (theatre critic for the Wall Street Journal 1972-1995). The memoir begins with Wilson's earliest foray into playwriting, then on to Yale where he was a student and a professor. He was assistant to producer Lewis Allen and had a hand in the production of Big Fish, Little Fish and the film version of Lord of the Flies, directed by Peter Brook. Wilson taught at Hunter College and later at the CUNY Graduate Center for more than forty years. He was theatre critic for the Wall Street Journal from April 21, 1972, through the next twenty-three years, and the author of numerous books about American theatre. 312 pages.

Night of the Living Show Tunes: 13 Tales of the Weird
(Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Scott Miller (New Line Theatre). Thirteen nightmarish tales, all inspired in one way or another by the musical theatre, mashing together the history of musicals with the conventions and mad variety of the horror genre. Theatre ghosts, vampires, monsters big and small, child killers, a homicidal maniac or two, a demon-possessed keyboard, and much more. 142 pages. Released 8/25/20.

Oklahoma!: The Making of an American Musical, Revised and Expanded Edition
(Oxford Univ Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Tim Carter. Revised edition of 2007 book which tells the full story of the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Now, Carter draws further on recently released sources, including the Rouben Mamoulian Papers at the Library of Congress, with additional correspondence, contracts, and even new versions of the working script used—and annotated—throughout the show's rehearsal process. Carter also focuses on the key players and concepts behind the musical, including Lynn Riggs's "Green Grow the Lilacs," and the Theatre Guild's Theresa Helburn and Lawrence Langner, who brought Rodgers and Hammerstein together for their first collaboration. Part of Oxford's "Legacy Series." 336 pages.

On Broadway 2021 Calendar
(Time Factory - wall calendar)
Yearly calendar. Includes Playbill cover artwork combined with monthly calendar grids and a bonus 4-month view of January - April of 2022. 12x12".

Week of August 25, 2020

Clifton Davis with the Beegie Adair Trio: Never Can Say Goodbye
(new album on mp3/at iTunes)
"I've Never Been in Love Before," "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Two for the Road," "Swept Away," "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," "Too Marvelous for Words," "So Many Stars," "Começar De Novo," "Somewhere in the Hills," "Teach Me Tonight," "Minha Alma," "Leaving It up to You." Released 8/13/20.

Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation
(BFD - new album)
Volume 13 of the longtime successful revue series, with lyrics by Gerard Alessandrini. "God, I Wanna See 2020," "Forbidden Hadestown," "Moulin Rude Sequence," "Dear Evan Has-Been," "It's Got to Be a Musical," "Fosse / Verdon," "The Five Popes: Jeremy Pope in Ain't Too Proud," "Judy Garland / Renee Zellweger," "Fiddler in Yiddish," "The Ferryman," "Lin-Manuel and Billy Porter," "Mary Poppins Returns: The Place Where the Lost Shows Go," "Harry Potter and His Cursed Child: Magic for Two," "There's Gotta Be Something Better," "Woke-Lahoma!," "The Prom: We're Forced to Dance," "Finale: It's Your Time / Harold Prince's Starkeeper Graduation Speech / You’ll Never Walk Alone," "Encore: Forbidden Broadway the Next Generation." Available for listening through Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify.

Kenny Washington: What's the Hurry
(Lower 9th Records - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Jazz vocalist debut album. "The Best is Yet to Come," "S'Wonderful," "Stars Fell on Alabama," "I've Got the World on a String," "I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "Invitation," "Here's to Life," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "No More Blues (Chega de Saudade)," "Smile." Released 7/2/20.

Kirsten Gustafson: Wait Until Dark
(new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Jazz treatments of songs from a variety of genres. "A Song For You," "The Rain Song," "For One Alone," "The Look Of Love," "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," "Hot Toddy," "Midnight Sun," "Compared To What," "A Horse With No Name," "From The Beginning," "Wait Until Dark." Released 6/30/20.

Lea Salonga: "Dream Again"
(new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Lea Salonga performs song with music by Daniel Edmonds and lyrics by Blair Bodine and Daniel Edmonds.

Robbie Rozelle: Songs from Inside My Locker
(Broadway Records - on CD)
Recorded February 23 and March 1, 2019 at Feinstein's/54 Below. Written by Robbie Rozelle. Musical direction and arrangements by Josh D. Smith. Six-piece band The Two Drink Minimum. Special guests include Bonnie Milligan (Head Over Heels) and Maya Days (Aida). "Let's Misbehave," Kim at the top of Miss Saigon..., "If I Only Had a Brain," A ballad k-hole..., "Little Girls / Captain Hook's Tango," My two dads..., "Charles Nelson Reilly / Paul Lynde Medley The Kid," My very first boyfriend ever..., "First Penis I Saw," They just decided it's Spring..., "In Hell's Kitchen," There are so many roles I never got to play..., "The Aged-Out Medley," Comedy comes in threes..., "A Step Too Far (with Bonnie Milligan and Maya Days)," Everyone has mantras..., "I Have Found Tomorrow / Here Comes the Sun," I'm an accidental performer..., "Change in Me," A Hefty bag covered in KY..., "Jam Tomorrow." Produced by Michael J Moritz Jr. Previously released on mp3 and at iTunes. [See our review.]

Seth MacFarlane: Great Songs from Stage and Screen digital
(Republic - new on mp3/at iTunes)
"Once Upon A Dream," "I Loved You Once In Silence," "Let's Not Be Sensible," "Ten Minutes Ago," "Ain't Got A Dime To My Name (Ho Ho Ho Ho Hum)," "Love Is Only Love," "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?," "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are," "Two For The Road," "All Er Nothin'," "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To," "Mind If I Make Love To You," "Time For Parting." Recorded at the Abbey Road studios. Chuck Berghofer (bass), Peter Erskine (drums), Larry Koonse (guitar), Dan Higgins (alto sax), and Tom Ranier (piano); John Wilson Orchestra. CD format to be released 10/9/20.

Week of August 18, 2020

Bleeding Love
(Ditto Music - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Songs from podcast musical by Arthur Lafrentz Bacon (music) and Harris Doran (lyrics). Annie Golden, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Marc Kudisch, Sarah Stiles, Taylor Trensch, Tony Vincent. "Prologue (And the Sun Didn't Rise Again)," "Twilight," "Bleeding Love (From Bleeding Love: Songs from the Podcast Musical)," "Plastic Rose," "Up There," "Up There (reprise)," "The Cello Lesson," "Maybe I Met a Girl," "It's Just a Street (From Bleeding Love: Songs from the Podcast Musical)," "Lolli Pops!," "Lolli's Popoff," "Is This Summer? (From Bleeding Love: Songs from the Podcast Musical)," "Intruders!," "Finale (One Rose Rose)." Released 8/7/20.

Jodie Steele: "Beautiful City"
(Broadway Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
West End star Jodie Steele sings this song from Godspell.

A Killer Party: A Murder Mystery Musical
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Songs from the remotely-recorded musical. Score by Jason Howland (music) and Nathan Tysen (lyrics). The cast includes Keenan Wynn, Michael James Scott, Krystina Alabado, Carolee Carmello, Drew Gehling, Jackie Burns, Laura Osnes, Jarrod Spector, Alex Newell, Miguel Cervantes, and Jeremy Jordan. "Sleuth In Duluth," "A Killer Party," "Today'S Detective," "Stuck," "Boom! Shout! The Lights Went Out," "Circus on the Sea," "Breathe," "Songus Interruptus," "Live Out Loud," "Boom! Shout! Reprise!," "Wait for My Cue," "Never Miss My Mark," "I Did It for You," "Big Cat," "Hands Out!," "Shipload of Fools," "Process of Elimination," "A Killer Party (Reprise)," "Sleuth In Duluth (Reprise)," "Requiem for An A-Hole (Bonus Track)." Produced by Howland and Billy Jay Stein.

Lena Hall: The Villa Satori, Growing Up Haight Ashbury
(new album on mp3/on iTunes)
Lena Hall (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Kinky Boots) "musical memoir." With guitarist Watt White, keyboardist John Deley, bassist Lee Nadel, and drummer Brian Fishler. "White Rabbit," "Piece of My Heart," "She's Leaving Home," "Somebody," "Anarchy in the U.K.," "Calling You," "Nothing Else Matters," "Violet," "Release," "Karma Police," "You Learn." Released 4/10/20.

The New Business of Acting: The Next Edition - COVID Update
(Ingenuity Press - Kindle Edition)
By Brad Lemack (Backstage). Pandemic-specific supplement to his popular book for actors, The New Business of Acting: How to Build a Career in a Changing Landscape - The Next Edition.

The Queen of Tuesday: A Lucille Ball Story
(Random House - new Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By Darin Strauss. "... a fresh view of a celebrity America loved more than any other." Mixes fact and fiction, memoir and novel, to imagine the provocative story of a woman we thought we knew. Darin Strauss and Tavia Gilbert narrators for the audio version. 336 pages.

Sarah Stiles: You Can Ukulele With Me
(Broadway Records - new EP)
Collaboration between Sarah Stiles (Tootsie, Hand to God) and songwriter Holly Gewandter. "Simple Song of Love (The La La Song)," "Dumb People," "Forever Dreaming," "You Can Ukulele With Me," "Waiting for the Light."

Small House No Secrets Composers Cut
(Disappear Records - new on CD)
From SONiA disappear fear new musical which debuted at the Kennedy Center in 2019 (Page to Stage series), then was produced in Baltimore and is in pre-production in Germany, Australia and Hawaii. Recorded by SONiA for the actors.

The Theatre and Films of Conor McPherson: Conspicuous Communities
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book)
By Eamonn Jordan. Patrick Lonergan and Kevin J. Wetmore Jr. Critical Companions series editors. Offers a detailed and engaging critical analysis of the plays and films of Conor McPherson, considering issues of gender and class disparity, violence and wealth in the cultural and political contexts in which the work is written and performed, as well as the inclusion of song, sound, the supernatural, religious and pagan festive sensibilities through which initial genre perceptions are nudged elsewhere, towards the unconscious and ineffable. Supplemented by a number of contributed critical and performance perspectives, including an interview with Conor McPherson. 248 pages. Released earlier in hardcover and Kindle versions.

Week of August 11, 2020

Adrian Lester and Lolita Chakrabarti: A Working Diary
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Adrian Lester and Lolita Chakrabarti. Chronicles 16 months of their fascinating working lives, including their experiences working on the stage adaptation of Life of Pi, an original series of monologues about the NHS, the film adaptation of Red Velvet and the TV series The Rook, among many other projects. 192 pages.

Brickman On Broadway
(Green Hill Productions - new EP on mp3/at iTunes)
"Jim Brickman plays the best of Broadway." "Memory," "True Love," "For Good," "You Will Be Found."

Dolores Gray: The Decca Singles 1953-1955
(Stage Door Records - new import CD)
Broadway and West End performer. Compilation of all Dolores Gray's single releases for the Decca label issued between 1953 and 1955. Most tracks making their debut on CD. The 24 tracks include: "Big Mamou" and "Kaw-Liga"; pop cover versions of songs from By the Beautiful Sea, The Girl in Pink Tights and Silk Stockings; "The Call of the Far-Away Hills" from the 1953 Western film Shane; songs she recorded for the Decca album of There's No Business Like Show Business. Limited edition release of 500 units. Also at StageDoorRecords.com.

Eubie Blake: Rags, Rhythm, and Race
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Richard Carlin and Ken Bloom. New biography of one of the key composers of 20th-century American popular song, Eubie Blake, who created Shuffle Along with Noble Sissle and went on to compose for films and other Broadway shows, eventually finding a second career as a ragtime raconteur in the 1960s. His skills as a pianist, gifts as a storyteller and entertainer, and appearances on major TV shows from Johnny Carson and David Frost to the Today Show led him to a new career as a concert artist. The authors also illustrate the wider history of post-minstrel black entertainment, from pianists working in bordellos and dance halls through ragtime, Broadway, and film, showing both the new opportunities available to contemporary black performers and the limitations that black musicians still struggled to overcome. Draws from a wealth of personal archives and interviews with Blake, his friends, and other scholars. 440 pages. Kindle version released 7/13/20.

(I Am) Nobody's Lunch
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Part of the second installment of The Michael Friedman Collection. World premiere recording of score by Michael Friedman. Featuring features Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Nick Blaemire, Adam Chanler-Berat, Brad Heberlee, Daoud Heidami, Osh Ghanimah, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Jennifer R. Morris, Sarah Beth Pfeifer, Brian Charles Rooney, and Mary Testa, with an ensemble including Ashley Pe´rez Flanagan, Sarah Beth Pfeifer, Stephen Schapero, and Jacob Keith Watson. Made possible by the generous donors to the Michael Friedman Legacy Fund and by the artistic contributions of his many collaborators. produced by Steve Cosson and Kurt Deutsch, co-produced by Ian Kagey, Wiley DeWeese, Dan Lipton, and Amy C. Ashton. Dan Lipton music director; orchestrations by Wiley DeWeese. Cover illustrations are by Josh Neufeld (joshcomix.com).

Liz Callaway: The Morning After
(Walking Girl Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Liz Callaway sings song written by David Shire.

Paris Commune
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Part of the second installment of The Michael Friedman Collection. World premiere recording. Written by Steve Cosson and Michael Friedman, with songs translated and adapted by Michael Friedman. Features Kate Buddeke, Aysan Celik, Charlotte Dobbs, Rebecca Hart, Nina Hellman, Daniel Jenkins, Brian Sgambati, and Sam Breslin Wright, with an ensemble including Randy Blair, Ally Bonino, Sarah Beth Pfeifer, and Jonathan Raviv. Made possible by the generous donors to the Michael Friedman Legacy Fund and by the artistic contributions of his many collaborators. produced by Steve Cosson and Kurt Deutsch, co-produced by Ian Kagey, Wiley DeWeese, Dan Lipton, and Amy C. Ashton. Dan Lipton music director; orchestrations by Wiley DeWeese. Cover illustrations are by Josh Neufeld (joshcomix.com).

Week of August 4, 2020

The Andrews Sisters in Hollywood
(Sepia Records - on 2 CDs)
Rare film studio recordings The Andrews Sisters made for filming and not released commercially. Most tracks have never been available till now. 50 tracks.

The Merry Widow
(Sepia Records - on CD)
Score by Franz Lehar. Remastered recording from 1962, translated into English by Merl "Ted" Puffer and Deena Cavalieri and first time on CD. Featuring Lisa Della Casa, John Reardon, Laurel Hurley, Charles K. L. Davis, Paul Franke, Howard Kahl, Paul Richards. The American Opera Society Orchestra and Chorus. Franz Allers, conductor. Margaret Hillis, choral conductor. "Opening Chorus," "We Are Alone," "Hanna's Entrance," "Maxim's," "Finale Act I," "Vilja," "Soldier Boy," "Women," "Love In My Heart," "Finale Act II," "Grisettes," "Merry Widow Waltz / Finale Act III." Bonus tracks: "Ave Maria" (Lisa Della Casa), "Ave Maria! Jungfrau Mild" (Lisa Della Casa). In stereo.

Shine (Instrument Of Hope)
(Broadway Records - digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Music and lyrics by Sawyer Garrity and Andrea Peña. The Instrument of Hope is a trumpet crafted from spent bullet casings to help keep the conversation about gun violence prevention on the main stage. Sawyer Garrity and Andrea Peña lead vocals, with Marjory Stoneman Douglas H.S. Drama Dept. Choir, Melody Herzfeld- program director. Album cover design by Manny Oliver, father of Joaquin Oliver, and founder of ChangeTheRef.org. Featuring 66 top trumpeters. Music produced, arranged and orchestrated by Kim Scharnberg. Executive Producers: Shine MSD. Released 7/31/20.

Sophia Anne Caruso: Toys
(Brookside - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Beetlejuice actress performs song by Nick Littlemore and Henry Hey. Released 5/22/20.

Stage Money: The Business of the Professional Theater 2nd edition
(Univ of South Carolina Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Revised and updated version of Tim Donahue and Jim Patterson's 2010 book. Guide to understanding professional theater finances today through the use of the tools and metaphors of the business world at large. Includes the latest financial information and illuminating examples of key concepts, and has been enhanced with a discussion of the stagehands' union plus a new chapter on marketing for the theater. Foreword by Ken Davenport.

Theresa Rebeck, Complete Plays, Volume 5 2011-2019, Volume 5
(Smith & Kraus - Paperback Book)
The Nest, Poor Behavior, The Way of the World, Seared, Bernhardt/Hamlet, Downstairs, and Fool. 643 pages.

Vietgone
(LATW - Audiobook on CD/Audible Edition/)
Play by Qui Nguyen. L.A. Theatre Works production recorded before a live audience at the UCLA James Bridges Theater in February 2020. Will Dao, Desiree Mee Jung, Greg Watanabe, Paul Yen, Jeena Yi. Directed by Tim Dang. Original music by Shane Rettig. Released 7/29/20.

Week of July 28, 2020

Free as Air
(JAY Records - new on CD-R/at iTunes)
2014 London cast recording of score by Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds. Gerald Harper, Gillian Lewis and Patricia Bredin. "Opening / I'm Up Early," "I'm Up Early [Reprise]," "Let the Grass Grow [And Reprise]," "Nothing But Sea and Sky," "The Boat's In," "Free to Sing," "A Man from the Mainland," "Free to Sing Act One [Reprise]," "Nothing But Sea and Sky [Reprise]," "Daily Echo," "Her Mummy Doesn't Like Me Anymore," "The Boat's In [Reprise]," "The Girl from London," "A Man from the Mainland [Reprise]," "I'd Like to Be Like You," "Testudo," "I've Got My Feet On the Ground," "Holiday Island," "Geraldine," "Free to Sing Act Two [Reprise]," "We'Re Holding Hands," "Terhou," "Finale," "Curtain Call," "I've Got My Feet On the Ground" (Alternative Version). Also at JayRecords.com.

Jeff Harnar: Dancing in the Dark
(PS Classics - new on mp3)
15th anniversary reissue of Jeff Harnar's American Songbook album. "I Say Hello," "Shall We Dance?," "Dancing in the Dark," "Love, Look Away," "Put 'em in a Box (Tie It With a Ribbon)," "How Little We Know," "On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)," "Lonely Town," "You Can Do No Wrong," "Taking a Chance on Love," "East Side of Heaven," "By Myself," "Blue Skies," "I Walk a Little Faster." Accompanied by full orchestra. Alex Rybeck, musical director, arranger and co-producer with Harnar. Also at iTunes, Spotify.

Mascherato: The Musical
(digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Studio cast album recording of score by Michael Elderkin. Book by James Willett. Rob Houchen, Katy Treharne, Jeremy Secomb, James Spilling, Nathaniel Parker, Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Mathew Healy, Emma Kershaw, Signora Da Monte, Colonel Emir, Ioanna Kimbook. Orchestra conductor, Jae Alexander. Chorus conductor, Michael Elderkin. Orchestra recorded on February 6-7, 2020 at Abbey Road Studios, London. Chorus and soloists recorded on March 19-20, 2020 at Masterchord Studios, London. Mixed at Masterchord Studios, London. Released 7/10/20.

Playing by Ear: Reflections on Sound and Music
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
In Peter Brook's collection of essays, the director reflects on the role of music in theatre and performance and revisits some of the best-known productions from his career, including Titus Andronicus, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, and The Prisoner. Topics range from how to evoke "true listening" to the relationship between words and music to the "living presence" of silence. 80 pages. Previously released in a Kindle Edition.

Reading Between the Lines: A Memoir (Janis Paige)
(Golden Age Press - Hardcover Book)
By Janis Paige. A memoir filled with stories of luminaries from the past. Chronicles such adventures as the author's journeys to the battlefields of Vietnam and Korea as well as one unforgettable trip to South Africa; her film career, vaudeville, Broadway, nightclubs, television and soaps; and her work to protect the legacy of her late husband, songwriter Ray Gilbert. 528 pages.

Week of July 21, 2020

Broadbend, Arkansas
(Broadway Records - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original cast recording of score by Ted Shen (music and lyrics), Ellen Fitzhugh (lyrics), Harrison David Rivers (lyrics), and Ted Shen (lyrics). Justin Cunningham and Danyel Fulton. With digital booklet. Released 7/17/20.

The Business of American Theatre
(Routledge - new Paperback Book)
By William Grange. Research guide to the history of producing theatre in the United States ... explores how traditions of investment, marketing, labor union contracts, advertising, leasing arrangements, ticket scalping, zoning ordinances, royalties, and numerous other financial transactions have influenced the art of theatre for the past three centuries ... Richard Rodgers and his keen eye for investment, Jacob Shubert and his construction of the "Bridge of Thighs" for his showgirls at the Winter Garden, the significance of the Disney souvenir shop near the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway, and the difference between losing millions of dollars on a Broadway show and making billions—all in one night. 336 pages. Kindle Edition released 6/2/20.

Ethan Slater: Life Is Weird
(Soundcat Records - new EP on mp3/at iTunes)
Second digital album from Tony-nominated (SpongeBob Squarepants) Ethan Slater. "Lisztomania," "Life Is Weird," and "Und."

Girl Crazy
(Warner Archive - new Blu-ray)
1943 musical film based on the stage musical. Music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin. Directed by Busby Berkeley and Norman Taurog. Starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. 99 minutes.

Michael Chekhov and Sanford Meisner: Collisions and Convergence in Actor Training
(Routledge - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Anjalee Deshpande Hutchinson, editor. Compilation of essays that offers a comprehensive analysis of the Sanford Meisner Acting Technique in comparison to the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique, revealing the connections as well as the contradictions between these two very different approaches. 274 pages.

Measure for Measure
(BBC/Opus Arte - new all-region DVD)
2019 RSC production directed by Gregory Doran. Antony Byrne, Sandy Grierson, Claire Price, James Cooney, Amy Trigg, Lucy Phelps. Bonus materials: "Measure for measure: A play for today?"; cast interviews; director's commentary; cast gallery. 148 minutes, plus 12 minutes of extras.

"National Anthem (Another One)"
(Lucid Life - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Song inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, performed by Broadway performer Chester Gregory (artistically known as C.H.E.S.S.); written with Terron Brooks. Produced by "Studio" Steve Wallace, written with Terron Brooks and features a rap by Jordyn. Released 7/15/20.

The Perfect Fit: The Musical
(Broadway Records - new EP on mp3/at iTunes)
Remote recording of new musical by 13-year-old Joshua Turchin (Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation). Featuring Laura Benanti, Nikki Renee Daniels, Joshua Turchin, Carly Gendell, Grace DeAmicis, Ellie Kim, Swayam Bhatia, Lily Brooks O'Briant, Luke Islam, Audrey Bennett, and Fabi Aguirre. Music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations, mixing and mastering by Dan Garmon and vocal direction by Joshua Turchin. Musicals Dan Garmon (keys 1/drums), Joshua Turchin (keys 2), Tomoko Akaboshi (violins, viola), Ansel Cohen (cello), David Kawamura (guitars), and Julia Adamy (upright/electric bass). Released 7/17/20.

The Sanest Guy in the Room: A Life in Lyrics
(Constable - Paperback Book)
By lyricist Don Black. "A rich and delightful paean to a life lived through song ... reveals the essence of Black's craft, looks at those who have inspired him and allows us to understand what made those icons tick ... with wit, warmth and great humour." Hardcover version available at Amazon UK. 320 pages.

Telly Leung: You Matter
(Soup J Productions - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
"You Matter" (Gary Adler and Phoebe Kreutz), "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Zoom with You" (Gary Adler and Phoebe Kreutz), "Go the Distance Hero," "Proud of Your Boy."

Victorians on Broadway: Literature, Adaptation, and the Modern American Musical
(Univ of Virginia Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Sharon Aronofsky Weltman. A wide-ranging interdisciplinary study of live stage musicals from the mid- to late twentieth century adapted from British literature written between 1837 and 1886. Investigates musical dramatizations of works by Charles Dickens, Charlotte Brontë, Christina Rossetti, Robert Louis Stevenson, and others ... reveals what these musicals teach us about the Victorian books from which they derive and considers their enduring popularity and impact on our modern culture. Explores themes of race, religion, gender, and class, focusing attention on how these theatrical adaptations fit into aesthetic and intellectual movements while demonstrating the complexity of their enduring legacy. 328 pages.

Week of July 14, 2020

Home Street Home, Volume 1
(D-COM - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Music by Fat Mike. Lyrics by Fat Mike; additional Lyrics by Soma Snakeoil and Jeff Marx. Performers include Darla Belle, Ty Deran, Lena Hall, Emma Hunton, Ryan O'Connor, Lindsay Pearce. "Urban Campers," "The First Time," "Floor Seasons," "High Achievers," "Vicious Affection," "Three Against Me," "Atom Momb," "It's Not Easy Being Gay," "Missing Child," "Monsters." Released 6/22/20.

Kim David Smith Live at Joe's Pub
(on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Live album from Australian singer and performer Kim David Smith. "Introduction" (Overture), "Pirate Jenny," "Barbara Song," "Jonny, wenn du Geburtstag hast?," Black Max Prelude" (monologue), "Song of Black Max," "You Keep Me Hangin' On," "Nature Boy," "Shooting Star," Vamp Prelude" (monologue), "Ich bin ein Vamp!," "Dracula's Tango," "I Should Be So Lucky," "A Little Yearning," "All the Lovers," "The Singer."

Melissa Errico: Two Spring Songs for Summer
(new EP on mp3/at iTunes)
Recorded in quarantine. "You Must Believe in Spring" (Michel Legrand, lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman) and "Blackberry Winter" (Alec Wilder). Tedd Firth, music director and accompaniment on piano. Engineered by Alejandro Venguer, mastered by Oscar Zambrano, and executive produced by Kurt Deutsch, with Adam Gopnik serving as creative consultant. Released 7/10/20.

Rags: The Musical
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD)
London cast recording of Stephen Schwartz / Charles Strouse score. Recently played a limited run at Park Theatre, London. Carolyn Maitland, Dave Willetts, Sam Attwater, Debbie Chazen, Alex Gibson-Giorgio, Rachel Izen, Samuel Jones and Jude Muir, Martha Kirby, Oisin Nolan-Power, and Jeremy Rose, Arthur Boan, Angela Caesar, Adam Crossley, Drew Dillon, Matthew Gent, and Natasha Karp. Executive-produced by Stephen Schwartz. Nick Barstow, music producer and orchestrator. "Opening," "If We Never Meet Again," "Greenhorns," "Brand New World," "Edge of A Knife," "The Fabric of America," "Penny a Tune," "Bella's Song (Part One)," "Meet an Italian," "Friday Night Prayers," "No More Nightmares," "Little Lady," "Cheer Up, Chaimlet," "Blame It on the Summer Night," "For My Mary," "Take Our City Back," "Rags," "On the Fourth Day of July," "Yankee Boy," "Uptown," "Wanting," "Three Sunny Rooms," "Kaddish," "Bella's Song (Part Two)," "If We Never Meet Again (Reprise)," "Bread and Freedom," "Children of the Wind," "Finale." Joe Bunker, musical director. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Joe and Nikki Davison at Auburn Jam Music. Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes.

Shaina Taub: Another Winter
(P2020 - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Written and performed by Shaina Taub. Proceeds from this recording will go to the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. Recorded with band remotely 6/26/20.

Week of July 7, 2020

Climbing Rejection Mountain: An Actor's Path to Success, Stability, and Self-Esteem
(Applause - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition )
By Nick Wyman (Network, Catch Me If You Can) and Michael X. Martin (My Fair Lady, The Front Page, Bridges of Madison County). Full of practical advice and guidelines for approaching not only acting but life. Highlighted by anecdotes from Mr. Wyman's long, illustrious career (sixteen Broadway shows) as well as dozens of clever, amusing cartoons by the noted Broadway actor (seventeen Broadway shows) Michael X. Martin. 224 pages.

Idiots, Heathers, and Squips: The New Golden Age of the Musical Theatre
(Paperback Book)
By Scott Miller (Founder and Artistic Director, New Line Theatre). Latest in series about musicals. Covers the first decade and a half of the new millennium, guided by deep dives into eleven of the musicals that represent the astonishing variety and fearlessness of this new Golden Age, including bare, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success, Jerry Springer the Opera, Passing Strange, Cry-Baby, Next to Normal, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, American Idiot, Heathers, and Be More Chill. 314 pages. Released 2/9/20. Others in this series, most recently published: "Literally Anything Goes: 14 Great Oddball Musicals And What Makes Them Tick" and "It's a Musical!: 400 Questions to Ponder, Discuss, and Fight About".

Lost Broadway & More Volume 8
(Original Cast Records - new on CD)
"Musical Theatre's Under-the-Radar Forget-Me-Nots." Includes songs/cut songs from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, All in Love, The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N, The Gay Life, Grand Terrace Revue, 5th Edition, I’m Solomon, Jackpot, Jennie, Laugh a Little, Cry a Little, Something’S Afoot, Three’s a Crowd, A Wonderful Life. Performers include Meg Bussert, Chuck Cooper, Sheldon Harnick, Tom Hewitt, Richard Kind, Anna Menken, Barbara Minkus, Brooke Moriber, Jill Paice, Michele Ragusa, Gary Stevens, Jack Urbont, Bill Weeden. 22 tracks. Lost Broadway and More 7 released 2/28/20.

Les Misérables and Its Afterlives
(Routledge - Paperback Book)
Paperback version of 2015 book by Kathryn M. Grossman and Bradley Stephens. Offers analysis of both the Victor Hugo novel itself and its adaptations: more than 60 international film and television variations, numerous radio dramatizations, animated versions, comics, stage plays, and the world's longest running musical, which itself has generated a wealth of fan-made and online content. Draws together essays from across a variety of fields, combining readings of Les Misérables with reflections on some of its multimedia afterlives, including musical theater and film from the silent period to today's digital platforms. The contributors offer new insights into the development and reception of Hugo's celebrated classic, deepening our understanding of the novel as a work that unites social commentary with artistic vision and raising important questions about the cultural practice of adaptation. 262 pages.

The Understudy
(Hansen Pub Group - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
New novel by stage actress Ellen Tovatt Leary about the life of a Broadway actress in the 1970s. 255 pages.

Week of June 30, 2020

The 24 Hour Plays Viral Monologues: New Monologues Created During the Coronavirus Pandemic
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Features original monologues by writers such as David Lindsay-Abaire, Clare Barron, Hilary Bettis, Hansol Jung, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Christopher Oscar Peña, Jesse Eisenberg and Monique Moses. A rich collection that can be enjoyed by actors, writers and those looking for creative responses to the global COVID-19 crisis. 144 pages.

Hair
(Olive Films - on Blu-ray)
New HD restoration of 1979 movie based on the Broadway musical. Score by Galt MacDermot, James Rado and Gerome Ragni. Screenplay by Michael Weller. Cast includes John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo, Annie Golden. Directed by Miloš Forman. Audio commentary by assistant director Michael Hausman and actor Treat Williams; The Tribe Remembers with Beverly D’Angelo, Don Dacus, Ellen Foley, Annie Golden, John Savage, and Dorsey Wright; Making Chance Work: Choreographing Hair with choreographer Twyla Tharp; Cutting Hair with editors Lynzee Klingman and Stanley Warnow; Hair Style with production designer Stuart Wurtzel; Artist, Teacher, Mentor: Remembering Milos Forman with director James Mangold; essay by critic Sheila O’Malley. This release will be manufactured in a limited pressing of 3,500 units.

Hamilton 2021 Day-to-Day Calendar
(Universe Publishing - daily calendar)
320 pages.

Hamilton 2021 Wall Calendar
(Universe Publishing - wall calendar)
24 pages.

"Next Year"
(Ghostlight Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
From "Saturday Night Seder." Written by Hannah Friedman, Benj Pasek, Mark Sonnenblick, and Shaina Taub. Features Shaina Taub and Skylar Astin. All profits will benefit Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ). Links to streaming services at GhostlightRecords.com.

Royalties soundtrack
(Republic Records - new album on mp3 / at iTunes)
Soundtrack from new Quibi series starring Darren Criss, which features original songs and ten music videos by Darren Criss, featuring performances by Jordan Fisher, Julianne Hough, Jackie Tohn, Bonnie McKee, Jennifer Coolidge, Lil Rel Howery, Mark Hamill, Rufus Wainwright, and Sabrina Carpenter, and Criss. "This is a Theme Song," "Just That Good," "Break It In," "Let Your Hair Down," "Kick Your Shoes Off," "Mighty As Kong," "I Am So Much Better Than You At Everything," "Make You Come True," "Prizefighter," "Also You," "I Hate That I Need You," "Perfect Song."

So You Want to Sing Cabaret: A Guide for Performers
(Rowman & Littlefield - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By David Sabella and Sue Matsuki. Foreword by Lorna Luft. Examines in detail the unique vocal and nonvocal requirements for professional performance within the genre of cabaret. Includes interviews from Michael Feinstein, Ann Hampton Callaway, Roy Sander, Sidney Myer, Jeff Harner and others. Produced in partnership with the National Association of Teachers of Singing and features online supplemental material, including style-specific exercises, audio and video files, on the NATS website.

West Side Story: The Jets, the Sharks, and the Making of a Classic (Turner Classic Movies)
(Running Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Richard Barrios. Richly illustrated full account of the making of the 1961 ground-breaking movie classic West Side Story. 232 pages.

When You Believe
(Ghostlight Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
From "Saturday Night Seder." Cynthia Erivo and Shoshana Bean, accompanied by composer Stephen Schwartz (The Prince of Egypt). All profits will benefit Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ). Links to streaming services at GhostlightRecords.com.

Selections From Zip Goes A Million & Happy Holiday
(Stage Door Records - new on CD)
An album of selections from two George Posford and Eric Maschwitz London musicals The 1951 Zip Goes a Million was based on the 1902 novel "Brewster's Millions" and written as a vehicle for variety entertainer George Formby, with co-stars Sara Gregory and Warde Donovan. Six songs from the London production were recorded with the original cast and issued across three 78rpm records on the HMV label. The 1954 Happy Holiday was an adaptation of the Arnold Ridley play The Ghost Train. Reg Dixon played the lead role of Charlie Purseglove in a cast that also included Janet Brown, Marie Burke and Austin Melford. Reg Dixon recorded four songs from the London production which were subsequently issued across two 78rpm records on the HMV label. This collection compiles the original London cast recordings, along with a number of pop covers and instrumentals from each score performed by such artists as Pearl Carr, Ronnie Harris, Leslie A. Hutchinson and the Frank Barber Orchestra. As a special bonus, the disc includes selections from a live radio broadcast of Zip Goes A Million on the the BBC radio programme "Henry Hall's Guest Night." Detailed liner notes by director and theatre historian Stewart Nicholls. 27 tracks, listed at Amazon. Also at StageDoorRecords.com.

Week of June 23, 2020

Hans Christian Andersen
(Warner Archive - new blu-ray)
1952 musical film starring Danny Kaye. Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. Directed by Charles Vidor.

Artists in Residence
(Broadway Records - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original songs, including new works by film and Broadway favorites Alan Menken, David Zippel, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, as well as multiple award-winning theatre writers Todd Almond, Sean Barry and Jenny Giering, Carmel Dean, Andrew Gerle, Adam Gwon, Peter Mills, Ryan Scott Oliver, Eric Price and Will Reynolds, Ben Wexler, Jake Wildhorn, and David and Joseph Zellnik. Victoria Clark, Santino Fontana, Rachel Bay Jones, Patina Miller, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Laura Osnes, Victoria Huston-Elem, Amber Gray, Christiane Noll, Lauren Ward, Harolyn Blackwell. All tracks are the products of collaborations and recordings done from the artists' homes. To benefit the Actors Fund and the Dramatists Guild.

Judy Garland: The Best of Lost Tracks 2: 1936-1967
(JSP Records - on CD)
Compilation. Along with material collated from the previous Lost Tracks box sets, there is the previously unknown 1938 "You Couldn't Be Cuter."

Our Table: A New Musical
(Broadway Records - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Score by David Shire and Adam Gopnik. Recorded live, with songs and dialogue, at Feinstein's/54 Below with Melissa Errico, Constantine Maroulis, Juliette McEnroe, Andy Taylor, Tyler Jones, Analise Scarpaci, and Mark Nelson (plus a recording of a song from the score, "Lucky," that was not included in the concert presentation, sung by Liz Callaway and Alice Ripley). Music director: Deniz Cordell. Concert based on original production at Long Wharf Theater. Released 6/19/20.

Robbie Rozelle: Songs from Inside My Locker
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Recorded February 23 and March 1, 2019 at Feinstein's/54 Below. Written by Robbie Rozelle. Musical direction and arrangements by Josh D. Smith. Six-piece band The Two Drink Minimum. Special guests include Bonnie Milligan (Head Over Heels) and Maya Days (Aida). "Let's Misbehave," Kim at the top of Miss Saigon..., "If I Only Had a Brain," A ballad k-hole..., "Little Girls / Captain Hook's Tango," My two dads..., "Charles Nelson Reilly / Paul Lynde Medley The Kid," My very first boyfriend ever..., "First Penis I Saw," They just decided it's Spring..., "In Hell's Kitchen," There are so many roles I never got to play..., "The Aged-Out Medley," Comedy comes in threes..., "A Step Too Far (with Bonnie Milligan and Maya Days)," Everyone has mantras..., "I Have Found Tomorrow / Here Comes the Sun," I'm an accidental performer..., "Change in Me," A Hefty bag covered in KY..., "Jam Tomorrow." Produced by Michael J Moritz Jr.

Strike Up the Band
(Warner Archives - new blu-ray)
1940 musical film from MGM starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. 100 minutes.

Week of June 16, 2020

American Morning
(new digital album)
Studio cast recording of score by Timothy Huang. Tells the story of two immigrant cab drivers taking opposite shifts off the same medallion. Josh Dela Cruz, Raymond J. Lee, and Arielle Jacobs, Andrew Cristi, Troy Iwata, Will Roland, Allie Trim, Thom Sesma, Jason Sweettooth Williams, and Isabel Santiago. Orchestrations by Alexander Sage Oyen. Released by Kate Hall & Gary Lynch and The Lisa Cleff Kurtz and Michael Kurtz Foundation, in association with Less Than Rent Theatre. Produced by Alexander Sage Oyen and Timothy Huang.

Lauren Turner: Play On
(Broadway Records - new EP on mp3)
New York cabaret singer album. "I Have Nothing," "I’ll Be There," "If It Makes You Happy," "Fire and Rain," "The Heart of the Matter." A portion of proceeds from the album will go to charities benefiting doctors fighting the pandemic. Produced by Mitchell Walker and features Michael Isaacs on piano, Daniel Muniz on guitar and background vocals by Tara Martinez.

Macbeth in Harlem: Black Theater in America from the Beginning to Raisin in the Sun
(Rutgers Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Clifford Mason. Tells the story of black actors and their fellow black theatrical artists, from the early nineteenth century to the dawn of the civil rights era. How they fought to carve out a space for authentic black voices onstage at a time when blockbuster plays like Uncle Tom's Cabin and The Octoroon trafficked in cheap stereotypes. A testament to black artistry thriving in the face of adversity, chronicling how even as the endemic racism in American society and its theatrical establishment forced black performers to abase themselves for white audiences’ amusement, African Americans overcame those obstacles to enrich the nation’s theater in countless ways. 246 pages.

The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad
(Grand Central Publishing - Hardcover/Kindle Edition/Audiobook on CD)
By Mike Birbiglia, with poems by J. Hope Stein. Basis for Mike Birbiglia's Drama Desk-winning 2018 Broadway show The New One. Sharing some of his darkest and funniest thoughts about the decision to have a child, his wife's pregnancy, and that first year with their child. 256 pages.

Romance on the High Seas
(Warner Archive - new blu-ray)
1948 musical film starring Doris Day, Jack Carson, Janis Paige, Don DeFore. Songs by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn.

Tarell Alvin McCraney: Theater, Performance, and Collaboration
(Northwestern Univ Press - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Edited by Sharrell Luckett, David Román, and Isaiah Wooden. first book to dedicate scholarly attention to the work of Tarell Alvin McCraney (Choir Boy, Head of Passes, The Brother/Sister Plays). Featuring essays, interviews, and commentaries by scholars and artists, who consider McCraney's innovations as a playwright, adapter, director, performer, teacher, and collaborator, bringing fresh and diverse perspectives to their observations and analyses. 264 pages.

Ultimate Peggy Lee
(Capitol - new on CD/vinyl)
Salute to music legend Peggy Lee, and celebrating her landmark 100th birthday. New, career-spanning collection featuring hits and signature songs. "I Love Being Here With You," "Fever," "Things Are Swingin'," "I Don't Know Enough About You," "I'm A Woman," "Just In Time," "Hallelujah, I Love Him So," "Sweet Happy Life," "Alright, Okay, You Win," "Too Close For Comfort," "Why Don't You Do Right (Get Me Some Money Too)," "It's A Good Day," "You Deserve," "Heart," "Big Spender," "He's A Tramp," "I Wanna Be Around," "Black Coffee," "I've Got The World On A String," "The Folks Who Live On The Hill," "Is That All There Is?," "Try A Little Tenderness" (previously unreleased). Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes.

Week of June 9, 2020

A Little More Alive: Nick Blaemire
(Unsigned Records - new on mp3/at iTunes)
Musical by Nick Blaemire. Damon Daunno, Gabriel Ebert, Molly Hager, Van Hughes, Brian D'arcy James, Daniel Jenkins, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Katie McManus, Annemarie Milazzo, Alexander Sage Oyen, Hunter Parrish, Nicolette Robinson, Michael Rupert, Michael Tacconi, Allie Trimm, Emily Walton. Released 5/26/20.

August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone (The Fourth Wall)
(Routledge - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Ladrica Menson-Furr. Gives readers an overview of the work from its inception through revisions and stagings in regional theatres and Broadway, exploring its use of African American vernacular genres - blues music, folk songs, folk tales, and dance - and 19th Century Southern post-Reconstruction history. Ladrica Menson-Furr presents Joe Turner's Come and Gone as a historical drama, blues drama, American drama, great migration drama, and the finest example of Wilson's gift for re-locating the African American experience in urban southern cities as the beginning and not the end of the African American experience. 160 pages.

Boca Bound
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original cast recording of score by Richard Peshkin. Gail Byer, Steve Carroll, Philip Chaffin, J.R. Coley, Justin Figueroa, Peter Librach, Missy McArdle, Janna Morrison, Colleen Pagano, Neva Rae Powers, Troy Stanley, and Ashley Wilcox. "It's Boca Baby," "A Little Tact," "All Alone," "Golf's a Bitch," "He Gets Me," "Nothing Prepared Me for Her," "A Better Me," "Balmy Boca Date Night," "Someone Else's Children," "Another Day in Paradise," "There's Something About Her," "I'm in a Pickle," "Chemistry," "You Never Let Go of a Dream," "Tough Love," "All Our Sons Are Gods," "There's a Place," "It's Boca Baby (Finale)." Produced by Michael J Moritz Jr. Released 6/5/20. Also at BroadwayRecords.com.

Deanna Durbin Collection I
(Kino Classics - new 3-disc Blu-ray set)
Three musical films starring Deanna Durbin: 100 Men and a Girl, Three Smart Girls Grow Up, It Started with Eve. Extras: audio commentary by film historian Stephen Vagg (100 Men and a Girl); audio commentary by film historian Samm Deighan (It Started with Eve); theatrical trailers.

Flop Musicals of the Twenty-First Century: How They Happened, When They Happened (And What We've Learned)
(Routledge - new paperback book/Kindle Edition)
By Stephen Purdy. A historical narrative of a group of musicals that cost millions, were created by world-renowned writers and directors, and that had spectacular potential... but bombed anyway. 118 pages.

Plays Worth Remembering - Volume 1 and Volume 2: A Veritable Feast of George Ade's Greatest Hits
(Ade Royalties and Publishing - Vol. 1 Kindle Edition/Vol. 2 Kindle Edition)
Two-volume set of 14 plays and two silent film screenplays by turn-of-the-20th century American playwright George Ade. Many of these works have never been published before and some do not exist in complete form anywhere else. Ade’s plays offer a valuable and funny commentary on politics, community and social norms in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Released 5/1/20. Also available: Hardcover boxed set with brief autobiography, a description of Ade's early years as a playwright, hand-drawn stage designs and choreography suggestions, photos, poster art, and much more.

Shakespeare for Squirrels: A Novel
(William Morrow - Hardcover Book/Paperback Book/Kindle Edition/Audiobook on CD/Audible Audiobook)
By Christopher Moore. Narrator: Euan Morton. "Shakespeare meets Dashiell Hammett." "A rollicking tale of love, magic, madness, and murder ... a Midsummer Night's noir." 288 pages.

The Summer Set: A Novel
(Graydon House - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition/Audiobook on CD/Audible Audiobook)
By Aimee Agresti. Novel set in the world of theater people. 384 pages. Released 5/12/20.

Victor and Victoria (Viktor und Viktoria)
(Kino Classics - new Blu-ray/DVD)
1933 musical film that was the basis for the 1982 American musical film and 1995 Broadway musical Victor/Victoria. Starring Renate Müller and Hermann Thimig. Produced in the final days of the Weimar Republic. Extra: audio commentary by film historian Gaylyn Studlar. 98 minutes.

June 16, 2020

Week of June 2, 2020

Amélie
(Craft Recordings - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
U.K. production of musical with score by Daniel Messé (music and lyrics) and Nathan Tysen (lyrics). Audrey Brisson, Sophie Crawford, Faoileann Cunningham, Rachel Dawson, Oliver Grant, Chris Jared, Caolan McCarthy, Kate Robson-Stuart, Josh Sneesby, Jez Unwin, Johnson Willis. "The Flight of the Blue Fly," "World's Best Papa," "Post Mortem," "The Sound of Going Round In Circles," "The Commute Home," "When the Booth Goes Bright," "The Bottle Drops," "Girl with the Glass," "How To Tell Time," "Tour De France," "Goodbye, Amélie," "Half Asleep," "Backyard," "Sister's Pickle," "Halfway," "Window Seat," "Thin Air," "There's No Place Like Gnome," "Times Are Hard for Dreamers," "Blue Arrow Suite," "The Late Nino Quincampoix," "A Better Haircut," "Stay," "Halfway (Reprise / Original London Cast Recording)," "Where Do We Go From Here?."

Broadway Tails: Heartfelt Stories of Rescued Dogs Who Became Showbiz Superstars (3rd edition)
(Lyons Press - Paperback Book)
Updated version of Bill Berloni's 2008 book about his work training animals for hundreds of films, commercials, and television shows as well as live theater, beginning with Annie. Tells the true stories of “throw-away” animals who came back to work with some of entertainment's biggest names, names like Bernadette Peters, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mike Nichols, the New York City Ballet, and many more. 312 pages.

Geraldine Fitzgerald in Streetsongs
(Harbinger Records - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes/onVinyl LP)
Original 1983 cast album. Geraldine Fitzgerald's cabaret show, which was presented in a PBS special, at Roundabout Theatre, at the the White House, and on a national tour. Described by the singer as "songs any of us might sing walking down the street." "Opening Theme: Underneath the Arches Forget-Me-Not Lane," "Danny Boy," "The Poor People of Paris," "She's Leaving Home; Swanee," "Kerry Dance," "Phil the Fluter's Ball," "Four Green Fields," "Lily of Laguna," "Carrick Fergus," "The Pig Song; Saturday Night at the Rose & Crown," "Underneath-the-Street Songs; Who's This Geezer, Hitler"; Smile; Pack Up Your Troubles; When You're Smiling; The White Cliffs of Dover; Closing Theatre: Fitzy's Rag." Taped before a live audience at Cleveland's Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival and released on LP. First time on CD. Cover by Al Hirschfeld. Extensive liner notes. Bonus track with excerpts from a radio interview.

The Lehman Trilogy: A Novel
(HarperVia - new hardcover book/Kindle Edition/audiobook on CD/Audible Audiobook)
The novel, in verse, that inspired the West End/Off-Broadway play by Stefano Massini. Spanning three generations and 150 years, a moving epic that tells the story of modern capitalism through the saga of the Lehman brothers and their descendants. A story of immigration, ambition, and success. 720 pages.

The Methuen Drama Anthology of American Women Playwrights: 1970 - 2020
(Methuen Drama - new paperback book/Kindle Edition)
Wesley Brown and Aimée K. Michel, editors. Includes Gun, Spell #7, The Jacksonian, The Baltimore Waltz, In the Blood, Intimate Apparel. 352 pages.

The Mikado to Matilda: British Musicals on the New York Stage
(Rowman & Littlefield - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Thomas S. Hischak. An overview of British musicals that made their way to Broadway, covering their entire history up to the present day. Covers 110 British musicals, ranging from 1750 to the present day. Each London musical is discussed first as a success in England and then how it fared in America. The plots, songs, songwriters, performers, and producers for both the West End and the Broadway (or Off-Broadway) production are identified and described. 360 pages.

Shakespeare in the Theatre: The National Theatre, 1963–1975: Olivier and Hall
(The Arden Shakespeare - Paperback Book)
Paperback version of 2018 book by Robert Shaughnessy about the National Theatre's most Shakespearean period in its history, 1963-1975, one which included Laurence Olivier's Othello and Shylock, a radical all-male As You Like It, the Berliner Ensemble's Coriolanus and Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Tells the interlinked stories of the National's relationship with Shakespeare through a series of production case studies. 264 pages.

Week of May 26, 2020

Frankie! The Musical
(Broadway Records - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Concept album for new musical by 16-year-old Elise Marra. Caitlin Kinnunen (The Prom), Jason Gotay (Evita, Between the Lines), Jason SweetTooth Williams (Be More Chill), Autumn Hurlbert (Legally Blonde), Allie Trimm (13), Delphi Borich (Cinderella), and percussionist Jacquelene Acevedo (American Utopia). Recorded at 2nd Story Sound. Producers Ashley Kate Adams and Mitchell Walker. Music direction by Benjamin Weiss. "Take a Deep Breath Prologue / Keep It All Together," "Take a Deep Breath," "Come to This Dance," "Isn't It Too Much," "Something We Can Do," "You're Home," "I'll Get Mad," "Learning," "Home Tonight," "Hey Now!," "Take a Deep Breath" (Instrumental).

Hansard
(Faber & Faber - Paperback Book)
Play by Simone Woods which premiered at the National Theatre in London in 2019. 96 pages. Kindle Edition released in 2019.

Petula Clark: On Air 1951-1961
(Stage Door Records - new import CD)
Landmark collection representing a unique archival discovery of recordings made by Petula Clark for various BBC Radio programmes between 1951 and 1961. Selections from the long running "Calling All Forces," where Petula appeared and broadcast on a weekly basis as the resident featured artist. Almost all of the performances featured on this collection have gone unheard since their original transmission. 23 tracks, 18 of which make their debut on CD. "Good Luck, Good Health, God Bless You," "Harbour Lights," "While the Angelus Was Ringing," "With a Song in My Heart," "Till Then," "Down in the Glen," "I'll Make Up for Everything," "My Choice," "Far Away Places," "My Happiness," "Someone Like You," "Autumn Leaves," "Always," "Made in Heaven," "We're a Couple of Swells (With Billy Ternent)," "Relax-Ay-Voo," "Suddenly There's a Valley," "Ooh Bang Jiggilly Jang," "It's Magic," "Sailor," "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes / Dancing in the Dark" Bonus tracks "Stardust," "Ordinary People" (With George Formby). Limited Edition of 500 units only. Also at StageDoorRecords.com.

Ute Lemper: Rendezvous with Marlene
(Jazzhaus Records - new on CD/mp3/at iTunes)
Based on a 3-hour phone call and exchange between Marlene Dietrich and Ute Lemper in 1988 in Paris. Ute tells Marlene's story, along with singing songs from all the chapters of her life, from the Berlin cabaret years to her fabulous Burt Bacharach collaborations. "One for My Baby," "Lili Marleen," "They Call Me Naughty Lola," "Blowing in the Wind," "Marie Marie," "Ruins of Berlin," "Und wenn er wiederkommt," "When the World Was Young," "Wenn ich mir was wünschen dürfte," "Want to Buy Some Illusions," "Que Reste-t-il De Nos Amour," "The Laziest Gal in Town," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," "Just a Gigolo," "Falling in Love Again," "Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin," "Allein in einer großen Stadt," "Dejeuner Du Matin," "Wenn der Sommer wieder einzieht," "Sch... Kleines Baby." Released 5/22/20

Week of May 19, 2020

Kathryn Gallagher: Demos, Vol. 1
(new EP on mp3/at iTunes)
Kathryn Gallagher (Jagged Little Pill). "Even My Dog," "How Do You Talk About Us Now," "Friends to Entertain," "It Was Good," "My Therapist Calls It Healing." Released 5/15/20.

The L.A. Theatre Works Audio Docudrama Series: Pivotal Moments in American History
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Foreword by Professor Michael Hackett. Play anthology featuring five docudramas originally commissioned by L.A. Theatre Works that each explore pivotal moments in 20th century U.S history: The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial by Peter Goodchild; The Real Dr. Strangelove by Peter Goodchild; RFK: The Journey to Justice by Murray Horwitz and Jonathan Estrin; The Chicago Conspiracy Trial by Peter Goodchild; Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers by Geoffrey Cowan and Leroy Aarons. 312 pages. Released 5/14/20.

The Liz Swados Project
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
World premiere recordings of 14 songs. Tribute to five-time Tony Award nominee, Liz Swados. Starr Busby, Sophia Anne Caruso, Damon Daunno, Amber Gray, Stephanie Hsu, Jo Lampert, Alicia Olatuja, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Grace McLean, and Ali Stroker, in addition to songwriter/performers The Bengsons, Heather Christian, Michael R. Jackson, Taylor Mac, Dave Malloy, Shaina Taub, and the late Michael Friedman, among others. "We Are Not Strangers," "Every Now and Then," "Oh, King Daddy," "The Red Queen," "In This My Green World," "Take Me to Paris," "Souf," "You Gave Me Love," "You Do Not Have To Be Good," "Song of the Child Prostitute," "The Dance," "Salvador," "Isadora," "Lonesome of the Road," "War Gets Old," "A Change Shall Come," "Bird Lament," "Amen," "Things I Didn't Know I Loved." Produced by Lauren Fitzgerald, Kris Kukul and Matt Stine, with Kurt Deutsch and Rosalind Lichter serving as executive producers. Kris Kukul provides orchestrations and arrangements. Currently at GhostlightRecords.com.

M is for MAMA (and also Merlot): A Modern Mom's ABCs
(Peter Pauper Press - Hardcover Book)
By Laura Benanti. Illustrated by Helene Weston. A board book for moms. This irreverent board book provides laughter, reassurance, confidence, honesty, and perhaps even a moment of relaxation for expectant, new, and not-so-new moms. 28 pages. Currently out of stock.

Pop Bart! (Pop Hits, Misses & Rarities written by Lionel Bart)
(Jasmine - on 2 CDs)
Features many of the Lionel Bart penned pop singles released between the start of his professional writing career in 1956 and 1962 as well as pop covers of songs from his hit shows including Oliver!, Things Ain't What They Used To Be and Blitz!. Tracks in their original single versions (in stereo where possible), alongside selected studio cast LP recordings and recordings by Bart himself, under his own name or hiding behind a pseudonyms such as Ocher Nebbish. Features many recordings that have never been released on CD before, including rare singles by Billy Dainty, Dickie Loader, and the Barry Sisters. 65 tracks. Released 1/17/20.

Repeat Attenders
(new video on demand)
Documentary film by Mark Dooley. Delves into the psychology of the most extreme Broadway superfans, revealing the complexities of their devotion. Filmed over a six-year period on Broadway, in London’s West End, and in Germany and Australia, Repeat Attenders introduces audiences to fans of Cats, Rent, Les Miserables, Starlight Express, and more. Available at Vimeo. To be available later at Amazon and on iTunes.

So Laugh a Little
(Kindle Edition)
By Molly Picon, with Eth Clifford Rosenberg. Molly Picon reminisces about her upbringing and career through the relationship with her fascinating grandmother. Originally published in 1962.

Still Waiting in the Wings
(JJ Spotlight Productions - new on DVD/streaming)
Directed By Q. Allan Brocka. Written By Jeffrey A. Johns And Arie Gonzalez. Jeffrey A. Johns, Joe Abraham, Rena Strober, Adam Huss, Blake Peyrot, Harrison White, and Rebekah Kochan, with special appearances By Nick Adams, Ed Asner, Carole Cook, Lee Meriwether, Patricia Richardson, Chita Rivera, Seth Rudetsky, Sally Struthers, Bruce Vilanch and Cindy Williams. "A light-hearted musical tale following the triumphs and trials of actors dreaming of the Great White Way, mixing sweet aspirations with bitter drama." Previously titled Waiting in the Wings the Musical. Released 5/15/20. At Amazon.com and JJSpotlightProductions.com. Soundtrack also available on CD.

Week of May 12, 2020

Ben Platt: So Will I
(Atlantic Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Ben Platt performs song he co-wrote with Michael Pollack and producer Finneas Baird O'Connell. Released 5/8/20.

Rags: The Musical
(Ghostlight Records - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
London cast recording of Stephen Schwartz / Charles Strouse score. Recently played a limited run at Park Theatre, London. Carolyn Maitland, Dave Willetts, Sam Attwater, Debbie Chazen, Alex Gibson-Giorgio, Rachel Izen, Samuel Jones and Jude Muir, Martha Kirby, Oisin Nolan-Power, and Jeremy Rose, Arthur Boan, Angela Caesar, Adam Crossley, Drew Dillon, Matthew Gent, and Natasha Karp. Executive-produced by Stephen Schwartz. Nick Barstow, music producer and orchestrator. "Opening," "If We Never Meet Again," "Greenhorns," "Brand New World," "Edge of A Knife," "The Fabric of America," "Penny a Tune," "Bella's Song (Part One)," "Meet an Italian," "Friday Night Prayers," "No More Nightmares," "Little Lady," "Cheer Up, Chaimlet," "Blame It on the Summer Night," "For My Mary," "Take Our City Back," "Rags," "On the Fourth Day of July," "Yankee Boy," "Uptown," "Wanting," "Three Sunny Rooms," "Kaddish," "Bella's Song (Part Two)," "If We Never Meet Again (Reprise)," "Bread and Freedom," "Children of the Wind," "Finale." Joe Bunker, musical director. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Joe and Nikki Davison at Auburn Jam Music. Also at GhostlightRecords.com.

Six vocal selections songbook
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
Songs from the 2020 Broadway show, with score by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. Includes "All You Wanna Do," "Don't Lose Ur Head," "Ex-Wives," "Get Down," "Haus of Holbein," "Heart of Stone," "I Don't Need Your Love," "No Way," "Six."

Tarrytown studio cast
(Contumacious Creatures Music - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Musical by Adam Wachter. Jeremy Jordan, Krysta Rodriguez, and Andy Mientus. Orchestrations by Brian Usifer. Musicians Paul Staroba (piano), Summer Boggess (cello), Jeff Roberts (drums), Hiroko Taguchi (violin), Lou Garrett (guitar), and Alex Eckhardt (bass). "Tarrytown," "Katrina's Welcome Song," "My New Gay Best Friend," "Four Downs To The Ten-Yard Line," "Dinner For Three (Part 1)," "Back Home," "Dinner For Three (Part 2)," "What Do You Do?," "History," "Goes Away," "Down The Stairs," "Apple-Picking Song," "The Man In The Middle," "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow," "When You're Near," "Ichabod," "Another Halloween." All proceeds to benefit The Actors Fund.

May 26, 2020

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
(Paramount - new blu-ray)
1970 film, based on 1965 Broadway musical, with score by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner. Cast includes Barbra Streisand, Yves Montand, Larry Blyden, Bob Newhart, Simon Oakland, John Richardson, Jack Nicholson, Roy Kinnear, Irene Handl, Pamela Brown.

Week of May 5, 2020

Broadway in the Box: Television's Lasting Love Affair with the Musical
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Kelly Kessler. Explores this rich, decades-long history by traversing musicals, stars, and sounds from film, Broadway, and Las Vegas to the small screen. From Rodgers and Hammerstein's appearance on the first Toast of the Town telecast and Mary Martin's iconic Peter Pan airings to Barbra Streisand's 1960s CBS specials, "The Carol Burnett Show," "Cop Rock," "Smash," "Galavant," "My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," Great Performances, and a string of one-off musical episodes of sitcoms, nighttime soaps, fantasy shows, and soap operas. 352 pages.

Cambodian Rock Band
(Yellow Sound Label - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Off-Broadway (Signature Theatre Company) cast recording. Songs by Dengue Fever. Cast includes Courtney Reed, Abraham Kim, Francis Jue, Moses Villarama, Jane Lui, and Joe Ngo. "Jeas Cyclo a," "Uku," "Old Pot Still Cooks Good Rice," "Family Business," "One Thousand Years of Tarantula," "Cement Slippers," "Champa Battambang," "Sni Bong," "Tooth and Nail," "I'm Sixteen," "Jeas Cyclo B," "Today I Learnt to Drink."

David Jenness: Forgotten Gems from Stage & Screen
(Harbinger Records - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
First public release of album by David Jenness (1937-2017), author of the 2005 book "Classic American Popular Song." Backed by pianist Bert Dalton and other musicians. "Dancing on a Dime," "Introduction," "Nothing but You," "Have You Got Any Castles, Baby?," "Lonely Feet," "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," "She Didn't Say Yes," "The Faraway Part of Town," "This Can't Be True," "Gus the Gopher," "Love Turned the Light Out," "Rap Tap on Wood," "Goodbye, Little Dream, Goodbye," "I've Been Alone Too Long," "It's Got to Be Love," "Low and Lazy," "Falling Out of Love Can Be Fun," "Here's What I'm Here For," "Happy as the Day Is Long," "Use Your Imagination," "Take Love Easy," "Tiny Room," "Have Feet, Will Dance," "Paris Is a Lonely Town," "Monday Morning Blues," "So Far, So Good," "Something Known." Digital booklet included with album purchase. Released 5/1/20.

Georgia Stitt: A Quiet Revolution
(Craft Recordings - new on CD)
Original songs theatre songwriter/composer Georgia Stitt features performances by Kate Baldwin, Laura Benanti, Andrea Burns, Brandon Victor Dixon, Sutton Foster, Joshua Henry, Jeremy Jordan, Norm Lewis, Emily Skinner, Jessica Vosk, Betsy Wolfe, and E.J. Zimmerman. "Maybe It's Me," "Mister Blue," "Casual," "The Great American Black And White," "Before I Lose My Mind," "The Water Is Wide," "Come Over," "Palimpsest," "Always Something More," "Prepared," "The Baby Song," "Onward, Beyond," "Stop." Previously released on mp3 and at iTunes. Released 5/1/20.

Sea Wall / A Life
(Audible audiobook)
By Simon Stephens and Nick Payne. Narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge, who starred in the 2019 Off-Broadway and Broadway productions. Available at Audible.com.

Squeamish
(streaming at Pandemic Playhouse)
Aaron Mark's 2017 play starring Alison Fraser. Streaming at Pandemic Playhouse. Also available on Spotify.

We Can Be Kind: Healing Our World One Kindness at a Time
(new audiobook)
David Friedman's 2017 book, now in audiobook format, with Nancy LaMott singing Friedman's "We Can Be Kind." Foreword by Lucie Arnaz. Through story, meditation and suggestions on how we can be kind not only to others, but to ourselves as well, Friedman encourages us to create new ways of building community. At LibraryTalesPublishing.com. Previously available in Paperback and Kindle formats.

Week of April 28, 2020

Cats
(Universal Pictures - new 2-disc blu-ray/DVD)
2019 film adaptation starring James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Robert Fairchild, Francesca Hayward, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson. Directed by Tom Hooper. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Also to be available for streaming on Amazon Prime. Blu-ray set includes DVD and digital copy. Extras: 9 Lives: The Cast of Cats; Singing Live; Making Macavity; A Director's Journey; Making Music; The Art of Dance; Scaling Up; A Little Magic; The Dancers; Cat School; Feature Commentary with Director Tom Hooper; The Art of Dance. Also streaming on Amazon Prime. Delayed.

Humana Festival 2018: The Complete Plays
(Limelight Editions - Paperback Book)
Amy Wegener and Jenni Page-White, editors. All six scripts from the 42nd annual cycle of world premieres at the Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville: Do You Feel Anger? by Mara Nelson-Greenberg, Evocation to Visible Appearance by Mark Schultz, we, the invisibles by Susan Soon He Stanton, Marginal Loss by Deborah Stein, God Said This by Leah Nanako Winkler, and You Across from Me, a collaboratively written play by four writers—Jaclyn Backhaus, Dipika Guha, Brian Otaño, and Jason Gray Platt.

Missing Sounds of New York
(New York Public Library/Mother New York)
Audio landscapes that evoke some of the sounds of New York City. A love letter to NYC, connecting New Yorkers around the familiar sounds of urban life that they love and miss during this unprecedented time of social separation. Each track uses a combination of sounds to create familiar, ambient canvases on which mini stories are placed: a glass breaking in a bar, a dance performance on the subway, an overly enthusiastic baseball fan. Missing Sounds of New York reminds us of what makes New York so special for so many people. "To See an Underground Show," "Romancing Rush Hour," "Serenity Is a Rowdy City Park," "Out in Left Field," "For the Love of Noisy Neighbors," "I'd Call a Cab to Anywhere," "Never Call It a Night Again," "The Not-Quite-Quiet Library." At SoundCloud.com/nypl/ and Spotify.

Pal Joey: The History of a Heel (Broadway Legacies)
(Oxford Univ Press - Kindle Edition)
By Julianne Lindberg. Through an archive-driven investigation of the musical Pal Joey and its music, author Lindberg offers insight into the historical moment during which Joey was born, and to the process of genre classification, canon formation, and the ensuing critical debates related to musical and theatrical maturity. More broadly, the book argues that the critique and commentary on class and gender conventions in Pal Joey reveals a uniquely American concern over status, class mobility, and progressive gender roles in the pre-war era. 288 pages. Kindle Edition is available. Hardcover version appears to be delayed.

Shakespeare & Company: When Action is Eloquence
(Routledge - new Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Co-written by Company Member Bella Merlin and Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer. Foreword by Artistic Director Allyn Burrows. Draws on previously unpublished material – including notebooks, lectures, interviews, and rehearsal diaries – and the company's newly collated historical archive, providing insight into the unique works of a theatre company, and shedding light on the role Shakespeare plays in our modern world. 342 pages. Released 4/7/20.

Week of April 21, 2020

Bobby Conte Thornton: Along the Way
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Debut album from Bobby Conte Thornton (A Bronx Tale, Company). "Nature Boy / Blame It on My Youth," "Along the Way," "Time Heals Everything," "Everybody Says Don't," "Me and Mrs. Jones," "How Deep Is the Ocean? / Maybe It's Because I Love You Too Much," "I'm All Over It," "Here, There and Everywhere," "She Loves Me," "Love to Me” "That's Life," "Vienna," "Alice" (bonus track). 10-piece band. Orchestrated by conductor/musician and producer James Sampliner.

Broadway Bounty Hunter digital
(Ghostlight Records - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original cast album of score by Joe Iconis. Cast includes Annie Golden, Alan H. Green, Brad Oscar, Emily Borromeo, Shiro Jin; Badia Farha, Jasmine Forsberg, Omar Garibay, Jared Joseph, Christina Sajous. "Woman of a Certain Age," "Spin Those Records ," "Shiro’s Proposition ," "Red ," "Mac Roundtree Theme Song ," "Shiro’s Proposition (Reprise) / Welcome to Ecuador ," "Feelings ," "The Song of Janessa ," "Ain’t No Thing," "Master Shiro’s Bounty Hunters ," "Shiro Vows Revenge," "Little Red Fox ," "Ain’t No Thing (Reprise) ," "The Return of Roundtree ," "Reporter Rap," "Main Theme from 'Young People: The Musical'," "Veins," "Woman of a Certain Age (Reprise)." Album Joe Iconis and Charlie Rosen, and co-produced by Geoffrey Ko and Ian Kagey, with Jennifer Ashley Tepper serving as executive producer. To be released later this season.

John Raitt: Original Album Series
(Stage Door Records - new import album on 2 CDs)
Four of John Raitt's (Carousel, The Pajama Game) original studio albums recorded between 1955-1960: "Highlights Of Broadway," originally released in 1955, which opens with "Soliloquy," recorded a decade after Raitt first originated the song on Broadway, plus a selection of the most popular Broadway standards from the 1940s and '50s, including songs from Finian's Rainbow, Kiss Me, Kate, Kismet and more; Raitt's 1956 Latin inspired offering "Mediterranean Magic" ; the folk-themed collection "Under Open Skies," which includes folk ballads like "Sail Ho!" and "El Bandido," and numbers from Carousel and Paint Your Wagon; and Raitt's 1960 studio album "Songs The Kids Brought Home from Camp," featuring popular and memorable "sing-a-long" camp song favourites. Bonus material includes selections from Raitt's 1969 studio album "Today" and a 1962 recording collaboration with jazz musician Lionel Hampton. Foreword by Bonnie Raitt. Also at StageDoorRecords.com .

Riverdale: Special Episode - Hedwig and the Angry Inch the Musical
(Watertower Music - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
TV soundtrack. Score by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask. Casey Cott, K.J. KJ Apa, Casey Cott, Charles Melton, Camila Mendes, Vanessa Morgan, Jordan Connor, Madelaine Petsch, Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, Drew Ray Tanner. "Wicked Little Town," "Random Number Generation," "Tear Me Down," "Wig in a Box," "Sugar Daddy," "Exquisite Corpse," "The Origin of Love," "Wicked Little Town (reprise)," "Midnight Radio." Released 4/15/20.

She is Risen: Volume One
(Hedonist Records - new EP on mp3/at iTunes)
Songs from Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice. Morgan James, Shoshana Bean, Cynthia Erivo, Orfeh, and Ledisi. 14-piece Broadway orchestra. "Heaven on Their Minds," "Pilate's Dream," "Simon Zealotes," "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Gethsemane." Released 4/17/20.

Simply: A Lifetime of Lyrics
(Kritzerland - Paperback Book)
Lyrics by Bruce Kimmel from his shows, films, TV shows, and standalone songs. Also at Kritzerland.com.

Sing Street OBC
(Masterworks Broadway - new digital album on mp3/at Itunes)
Score by Gary Clark and John Carney. Cast includes Max Bartos, Brendan C. Callahan, Billy Carter, Zara Devlin, Gus Halper, Jakeim Hart, Martin Moran, Anne L. Nathan, Johnny Newcomb, Brenock O'Connor, Gian Perez, Sam Poon, Skyler Volpe, Amy Warren, Anthony Genovesi. "Just Can't Get Enough," "Riddle of the Model," "Up," "A Beautiful Sea," "Girls," "Faith of Our Fathers," "Dream for You," "Drive It Like You Stole It," "Up (Down Version)," "Brown Shoes," "To Find You," "Go Now." Single tracks are being released. CD format to be released 8/7/20.

Will Chase and Ingrid Michaelson: Tigers and Young Men
(Cabin 24 Records - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
"Tiger King" parody written by Ingrid Michaelson. Released 4/14/20.

Within Earshot: Anthems For The In-Between digital
(Jackson Teeley - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Concept album for new musical with music and lyrics by Jackson Teeley and a book by Sarah Galante (previously titled Arrowhead. Ryan McCartan (Heathers), Andy Mientus (Spring Awakening), Bonnie Milligan (Head Over Heels), Krysta Rodriguez (Spring Awakening), and Peppermint (Head Over Heels), Amber Ardolino (Moulin Rouge!, Hamilton), Brittney Johnson (Wicked, Sunset Boulevard), and Liisi LaFontaine (Dreamgirls). "Anthem (For The In-Between)," "End Up Together," "Pulled Back Down," "When You Go," "Whoever You Might Be." Executive produced by Teeley, with Michael Pacifico serving as music director. All proceeds through April 27th will benefit The Actors Fund.

Week of April 14, 2020

The First Oscar Hammerstein and New York's Golden Age of Theater and Music
(McFarland - Paperback Book)
by Adolph S. Tomars. Biography, from an unfinished manuscript by the son of one of his stage managers, recounts the spirited heyday of Hammerstein's daring and masterful productions, his often tempestuous relationships with both rivals and associates, and the birth of Broadway. 277 pages.

Laura Benanti: Sucker
(Masterworks - digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Cover of song by Ryan Tedder, Frank Dukes, Louis Bell, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas II. 100% of the proceeds will go towards FoodCorps.

Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Fever Dream
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
Adapted and expanded from a 2018 concert conceived and created by Joshua Hinck and Scott Wasserman. Combines over 40 Stephen Sondheim songs. 13-piece orchestra. Liner notes by David Levy. Alison Luff, Blaine Krauss, Aneesa Folds, Charity Angél Dawson, Vishal Vaidya, Brittnie Price, Juwan Crawley, Deonté L. Warren, Joshua Hinck, Aili Venho, and Onyie Nwachukwu and Chip Zien. "Opening (Doors)," "There Are Giants Somewhere," "Hello Pretty Lady / Lovely Moments By the Sea," "Unworthy of Your Love," "Our Time," "No One Is Alone," "The Miller's Son," "Artists Are Bizarre," "Color and Light," "It's Hot Up Here in This City on Fire," "Losing My Mind," "Megamix: Take Me to the World." Also at BroadwayRecords.com. Released on mp3 and at iTunes on 3/20/20.

Soft Power digital
(Ghostlight Records - new album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original cast recording of Jeanine Tesori/David Henry Hwang score. Billy Bustamante, Jon Hoche, Kendyl Ito, Francis Jue, Austin Ku, Raymond J. Lee, Alyse Alan Louis, Jaygee Macapugay, Daniel May, Paul HeeSang Miller, Kristen Faith Oei, Geena Quintos, Conrad Ricamora, Trevor Salter, Kyra Smith, Emily Stillings, Emily Trumble, John Yi. "Overture," "Dutiful," "Welcome to America," "Fuxing Park," "I'm With Her," "It Just Takes Time," "Election Night," "I Am," "Entr'acte/Song of the Campaign," "Happy Enough," "Good Guy With A Gun," "The New Silk Road," "Democracy," "Democracy (Reprise)." Also at GhostlightRecords.com.

Song of Norway
(Kino Lorber - new Blu-Ray/DVD)
1970 musical film based on the operetta about Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Brand new 2K master. Directed by Andrew L. Stone. Toralv Maurstad, Florence Henderson, Christina Schollin, Edward G. Robinsonm, Robert Morley, and Oskar Homolka. Music by Edvard Grieg, Robert Wright, George Forrest. Blu-ray special features: Brand new 2K master; new audio commentary by film historian/author Lee Gambin and film historian/author John Harrison; 5.1 Surround and 2.0 Audio; optional English subtitles; dual-layered BD50 disc; trailers.

Dark Star: A Biography of Vivien Leigh
(Bloomsbury Academic - Paperback)
By Alan Strachan. A completely new full-life portrait of Leigh, covering both her professional and personal life. Using previously unseen sources from her archive, recently acquired by the V&A, the author sheds new light on her fractious relationship with Laurence Olivier, based on their letters and diaries, as well as on the bipolar disorder which so affected her later life and work. Hardcover and Kindle Edition released earlier. Had been delayed.

Drew Gasparini: We Aren't Kids Anymore
(Craft Recordings - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Theatrical song cycle written by Drew Gasparini. With Nicholas Christopher, Lilli Cooper, Raymond J. Lee, Bonnie Milligan, and Colton Ryan. Licensed worldwide for live performance by professional and amateur theatres. Released 4/10/20.

Soul & Jazz Covers of Broadway Classics
(Warner Music Group - new on mp3)
"On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," (Mary Wells), "People," (Esther Phillips), "A Taste of Honey," (Barbara Lewis), "Over the Rainbow," (Patti Labelle And The Bluebelles), "On the Street Where You Live," (The Drifters), "I Could Have Danced All Night," (Ben E. King), "Summertime," (Dionne Warwick), "I Loves You Porgy," (Nina Simone), "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," (Brook Benton), "That's for Me," (Lorraine Ellison), "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," (Ruth Brown), "Facinating Rhythm (Live, 1974)," (Spinners), "My Favorite Things (Live, 1993)," (Al Jarreau), "Love for Sale," (Ernestine Anderson), "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," (Little Anthony & The Imperials), "I'm Beginning to See the Light," (Ray Charles), "Try to Remember," (Patti Labelle And The Bluebelles), "Who Can I Turn To," (Dionne Warwick), "What Kind of Fool Am I?," (Dinah Washington), "Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most," (Carmen McRae), "Someone to Watch Over Me," (Jimmy Scott), "In a Sentimental Mood," (Sarah Vaughan), "You'll Never Walk Alone," (The Flamingos), "Somewhere," (Aretha Franklin). Released 4/10/20.

Sing and Shout: The Mighty Voice of Paul Robeson
(Calkins Creek - Hardcover Book)
By Susan Goldman Rubin. Comprehensive biography explores the tumultuous and passionate life of activist, singer, and actor Paul Robeson. Includes an author's note, resources, source notes, index, and a preface by author Harry Belafonte. 288 pages.

Week of April 7, 2020

Anthony Nunziata: The Love Album
(new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Singer/songwriter Anthony Nunziata. "Feeling Good," "The Very Thought of You," "Can't Help Falling in Love & Unchained Melody," "Love Me Anyway," "When I Fall in Love," "Can't Take My Eyes off You," "I Found a Home," "Will You Have Me Back?," "Somewhere," "Will You Be My Everyday?." Released 2/14/20.

Bathtubs Over Broadway vinyl
(Mondo - 2-LP vinyl set)
Vinyl release of soundtrack to Steve Young's Bathtubs Over Broadway documentary about industrial musicals. 57 tracks. Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes. Documentary is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

Ben Bagley's DeSylva, Brown & Henderson Revisited
(Kritzerland - new on CD)
Singers include Dorothy Loudon, Cab Calloway, Gloria DeHaven, Blossom Dearie, Margaret Whiting, Sandy Stewart and others. Musical direction and arrangements by Norman Paris. Remastered, plus bonus tracks. Cover artwork by Harvey Schmidt. Limited to 500 copies. To ship by the first week in April. At Kritzerland.com.

Bernstein: Songfest
(Naxos - new on CD)
An American in Paris and An Outdoor Overture. Wolf Trap Opera. National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic. James Judd, conductor.

Georgia Stitt: A Quiet Revolution digital
(Craft Recordings - new on mp3/at iTunes)
Original songs theatre songwriter/composer Georgia Stitt features performances by Kate Baldwin, Laura Benanti, Andrea Burns, Brandon Victor Dixon, Sutton Foster, Joshua Henry, Jeremy Jordan, Norm Lewis, Emily Skinner, Jessica Vosk, Betsy Wolfe, and E.J. Zimmerman. "Maybe It's Me," "Mister Blue," "Casual," "The Great American Black And White," "Before I Lose My Mind," "The Water Is Wide," "Come Over," "Palimpsest," "Always Something More," "Prepared," "The Baby Song," "Onward, Beyond," "Stop." CD version to be released May 1.

Hamilton: Portraits of the Revolution: Photographs from "The Room Where it Happened"
(Rizzoli - Hardcover Book)
By Josh Lehrer. Introduction by Thomas Kail. Foreword by Lin Manuel-Miranda. Photographer Josh Lehrer's up-close-and-personal document of the evolution, and revolution, that is Hamilton: An American Musical. More than 100 portraits of the original cast, along with personal commentary by the cast about Hamilton, their experiences, and the show's impact on them and the world. Contributions by creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and director Thomas Kail, as well as a curated collection of ephemera and original writings from the historical figures who served as the inspiration for their stage characters. 208 pages.

Kenneth Tynan Profiles (Kindle edition)
(Nick Hern Books - Kindle Edition)
Collection of English theatre critic and writer Kenneth Tynan's star-studded profiles, selected and edited by his widow and biographer, Kathleen Tynan, with a foreword by Simon Callow. First published in 1990.

Lillias White: Get Happy!
(Old Mill Road Recording - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Track from Lillias White's upcoming solo album. Released 3/16/20.

My Brilliant Career
(Bryant & Frank Productions - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original cast recording of score by Dean Bryant and Mathew Frank (Prodigal). Luisa Scrofani, Natalie O’Donnell, Anne Wood, James Millar, Andrew Coshan, Alister Kingsley, Jerome Javier and Melanie Bird. Based on the Miles Franklin novel, the musical was commissioned and developed in 2019 through the Jeanne Pratt Artists in Residence Program at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Orchestrations/musical supervision by James Simpson. 7-piece band. Released 4/3/20.

Pinter in the Theatre Kindle Edition
(Nick Hern Books - Kindle Edition)
Kindle version of 2006 book by Ian Smith. Focuses on Pinter's theatre work - through six interviews with Pinter, 1960 to 1996, and with eight actors and directors who have worked with him (Katie Mitchell, Sam Mendes, Barry Foster, Susan Engel, Roger Lloyd Pack, Roger Davidson, Douglas Hodge and Harry Burton). Also included is an interview with Peter Hall. Released earlier in hardcover and paperback format.

Rachel Potter and Marty Thomas: Lover, You Matter to Me
(Snack Entertainment - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
Rachel Potter (The Addams Family, Evita) and Marty Thomas (Xanadu, I Am Harvey Milk. Released 4/3/20.

Week of March 31, 2020

Allegiance Limited Edition Collector Box Set
(new DVD set)
Includes region-free DVD of the entire original Broadway production of Allegiance, with the original cast (score by Jay Kuo; book by Jay Kuo, Marc Acito, and Lorenzo Thione); Allegiance to Broadway region-free DVD of the feature-length documentary and opening selection of The American Documentary Film Festival; never before released creative commentary audio track featuring George Takei and the creative team discussing the film and the production; One Family, Indivisible: The Making of Allegiance limited edition hardcover souvenir book; commemorative enamel logo pin; limited edition certificate of authenticity; limited edition full-color Allegiance poster set (5 unique posters); childhood photos from George Takei’s personal collection; custom character portrait (one from a set of five) by Squiggs originally created for this DVD box set; actual costume fabric swatch and photo from the original Broadway costumes (by Alejo Vietti); replica of a Tanabata wish used during the original Broadway previews; replica of historical internee tag; map of Japanese American internment camps in the United States. A portion of the proceeds of each purchase will be donated to the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation Memory and Justice Endowment Fund. DVD box set with George Takei autographed book also available on 5/1/20. At allegiancemusical.com/.

Almost, Maine: A Novel
(Feiwel & Friends - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By John Cariani. Based on Cariani's play by the same name. 352 pages.

Anything Can Happen in the Theater: The Musical World of Maury Yeston
(PS Classics - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. Directed and conceived by Gerard Alessandrini. 2019 York Theatre cast: Benjamin Eakeley, Jovan E'Sean, Alex Getlin, Justin Keyes, and Mamie Parris. "Anything Can Happen in the Theater," "Shimmy Like They Do in Paree / I Want to Go to Hollywood," "Love Can't Happen," "Danglin'," "I Had a Dream About You," "Salt 'n Pepper," "New Words," "Call from the Vatican," "I Don't Want To Rock And Roll," "Halloween," "Guido's Song," "Cinema Italiano," "Mississippi Moon," "The Mardi Gras Ball," "You're There Too," "No Women in the Bible," "Only with You," "Strange," "Unusual Way," "Feet," "Home." Album produced by Bart Migal with musical direction by Greg Jarrett. Orchestrations for the album by Doug Besterman for an eight-piece band. Recorded December 23, 2019.

Celebration OBC
(Harbinger Records - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Deluxe remastered edition of the 1969 Broadway cast recording of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones' score. Ted Thurston, Susan Watson, Keith Charles, Michael Glenn-Smith. "Celebration," "Orphan In The Storm," "Survive," "Somebody," "Bored," "My Garden," "Where Did It Go?," "Love Song," "I'm Glad To See You've Got What You Want," "It's You Who Makes Me Young," "Not My Problem," "Fifty Million Years Ago," "Under The Tree," "Winter And Summer," "Celebration." Booklet includes new liner notes by Tom Jones, notes by Susan Watson and Michael Glenn-Smith, and never-before-seen photos from the production.

Days
(new EP mp3/at iTunes)
Solo album of original songs from Roman Banks (Dear Evan Hansen, "High School Musical: The Musical" series). "Too Specific," "Either Way," "Family," "Days," "I Want," "Scared to Love Again," "Runnin’." Released 3/27/20.

Little Did I Know
(Broadway Records - podcast soundtrack on mp3/at iTunes)
Original podcast soundtrack recording of score by Doug Besterman (music), Dean Pitchford (lyrics), and Marcy Heisler (lyrics). Book by Lou Aronica. Based on the novel by Mitchell Maxwell. Cast includes Kurt Hugo Schneider, Sam Tsui, Casey Breves, and Alex Blue, Laura Marano, Patrick Page, Lesli Margherita, E. Clayton Cornelious, and Alexander Chaplin. Produced by Mitchell Maxwell.

Lost Broadway 1960: Broadway's Forgotten & Obscure Musicals
(Stage Door Records - new on 2 import CDs)
Latest in this series. 53 tracks, including 25 on CD for the first time. One complete disc of OBC recordings and one disc of covers and rarities. Musicals represented are Greenwillow, Christine, Tenderloin, Wildcat, Do Re Mi, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and (play with music) Send Me No Flowers. Plus songs from the revue Vintage '60 (performed by original cast member Fay DeWitt) and the complete studio recording of Bud Freeman and Leon Pober's musical Beg, Borrow or Steal (originally titled Clara) starring Betty Garrett. Track list at Amazon. Also at StageDoorRecords.com.

Misty Copeland
(Rizzoli Universe - Hardcover Book)
The first authorized photographic tribute to American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland. Unique and evocative artful color photographs by photographer Gregg Delman. Foreword by Misty Copeland. 144 pages.

Prince of Egypt OLC digital
(Ghostlight Records - new on mp3/at iTunes)
Stephen Schwartz score for current West End musical. 43-member cast includes Luke Brady, Liam Tamne, Christine Allado, Alexia Khadime, Joe Dixon, Debbie Kurup, Gary Wilmot, Mercedesz Csampai, Adam Pearce, Tanisha Spring, Silas Wyatt-Barke, Simbi Akande, and Casey Al-Shaqsy. The score includes 10 new songs and five from the DreamWorks animated film. "Deliver Us," "Faster," "One Weak Link," "Footprints on the Sand," "Seti’s Return," "Dance to the Day," "All I Ever Wanted," "Make it Right," "Moses in the Desert," "Through Heaven’s Eyes," "Faster (Reprise)," "Never in a Million Years," "Act I Finale," "Return to Egypt," "Always on Your Side," "Simcha," "Deliver Us (Reprise)," "The Plagues," "For the Rest of My Life," "Heartless," "When You Believe," "Never in a Million Years (Reprise)," "Act II Finale." CD format will be released later this year. Produced by Dominick Amendum and Stephen Schwartz, with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer.

Show Boat
(Criterion Collection - new on Blu-ray/DVD)
1936 film based on the musical. Score by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Hammerstein. Directed by James Whale. New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the blu-ray. Audio commentary from 1989 featuring Miles Kreuger; new interview with James Whale biographer James Curtis; Recognizing Race in "Show Boat," a new interview program featuring professor and author Shana L. Redmond; Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (1979), an Academy Award–winning short documentary by Saul J. Turell, newly restored; two performances from the sound prologue of the 1929 film version of Show Boat, plus twenty minutes of silent excerpts from the film, with audio commentary by Kreuger; two radio adaptations of Show Boat, featuring stage and screen cast members Allan Jones, Helen Morgan, Charles Winninger, plus actor Orson Welles and novelist Edna Ferber; essay by critic Gary Giddins.

Something's Afoot
(JAY Records - new on CD/at iTunes)
World premiere studio cast recording of score by James Mcdonald David Vos and Robert Gerlach. Additional music by Ed Linderman. Susie Blake, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Sally Ann Triplett, Julie Atherton, Graham Bickley, Daniel Boys, Gordon Griffin, Scott Hunter, Keith Merrill, Stuart Pendred, and Jim Dale. Conducted by Craig Barna. Released 3/19/20.

Week of March 24, 2020

9 to 5 OLC
(ATG Productions Ltd - new import CD)
West End cast. Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. Cast includes Caroline Sheen, Amber Davies, Natalie McQueen, Bonnie Langford and Brian Conley. "9 to 5," "Around Here," "Here for You," "Backwoods Barbie," "I Just Might," "Heart to Hart," "Hey Boss," "Shine Like the Sun," "Entr'acte," "One of the Boys," "5 to 9," "Always a Woman," "Change It," "Let Love Grow," "Get Out and Stay Out," "Finale," "Bows." Recorded live at the Savoy Theatre. Released 2/11/20 on mp3 and at iTunes.

Godspell blu-ray
(Sony - new Blu-ray)
1973 film adaptation of Stephen Schwartz/John-Michael Tebelak musical. Victor Garber, Katie Hanley, David Haskell, Merrell Jackson, Joanne Jonas, Robin Lamont, Gilmer McCormick, Jeffrey Mylett, Jerry Sroka, Lynne Thigpen. New 4K remaster. Audio commentary by film historian Lee Gambin; Stephen Schwartz audio interview; Robin Lamont audio interview; Katie Hanley audio interview; Jerry Sroka audio interview; producer Edgar Lansbury audio interview; historian and Stephen Schwartz biographer Carol de Giere contribution.

Katy Keene Special Episode - Kiss of the Spider Woman the Musical
(Watertower Music - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
From The CW's musical comedy-drama television series developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Michael Grassi. Jonny Beauchamp, Julia Chan, Nathan Lee Graham, Lucy Hale, Candace Maxell, Ashleigh Murray, Daphne Rubin Vega. "Prologue," "Prologue (Reprise)," "A Visit," "You Could Never Shame Me," "Where You Are," "Gimme Love," "Kiss of the Spider Woman." Released 3/20/20.

Linda Lavin: Love Notes
(Club 44 Records - new on CD/mp3/at iTunes)
Linda Lavin with Billy Stritch. "I've Got My Eyes on You," "Not a Care in the World," "I Wish I Were in Love Again," "I Can't Tell You Why," "Chega de Saudade," "Stars Would Fall," "Just Squeeze Me," "Black Cow," "Ace in the Hole / Rap Tap on Wood," "It Don't Mean a Thing," "You Must Believe in Spring," "How High the Moon." Customers who pre-order the digital album will immediately receive a download of the first single, "Stars Would Fall" (Joel Lindsey and Wayne Haun). Liner notes by Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso.

Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future
(Broadway Records - new on CD/mp3/at iTunes)
Original cast recording of show created by Andrew R. Butler that premiered at Ars Nova in 2018. Rick Burkhardt, Andrew R. Butler, Tony Jarvis, Jessie Linden, Stacey Sargeant and Debbie Christine Tjong. Orchestrations, arrangements and additional music by Rick Burkhardt, Andrew R. Butler, Jessie Linden, Tony Jarvis, Maya Sharpe, Madeline Smith, and Debbie Christine Tjong. Produced by David Treatman and Tony Maimone. Also at BroadwayRecords.com.

The Untold Stories of Broadway Vol 1 - Kindle edition
(Dress Circle Publishing - Kindle Edition)
By Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Chronicle of the history of Broadway through firsthand accounts from actors, directors, producers, stagehands, designers, ushers and others. Each chapter represents one Broadway theater. Volume 1 covers The Al Hirschfeld, August Wilson, Lyceum, Mark Hellinger, Marquis, Neil Simon, Richard Rodgers and Winter Garden Theatres. Free through March 27. Originally published in 2013.

Week of March 17, 2020

Dark Star: A Biography of Vivien Leigh
(Bloomsbury Academic - Paperback)
By Alan Strachan. A completely new full-life portrait of Leigh, covering both her professional and personal life. Using previously unseen sources from her archive, recently acquired by the V&A, the author sheds new light on her fractious relationship with Laurence Olivier, based on their letters and diaries, as well as on the bipolar disorder which so affected her later life and work. Hardcover and Kindle Edition released earlier.

Death By Shakespeare: Snakebites, Stabbings and Broken Hearts
(Bloomsbury Sigma - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
Kathryn Harkup turns her discerning scientific eye to the Bard and the varied and creative ways his characters die. Investigates what actual events may have inspired Shakespeare, what the accepted scientific knowledge of the time was, and how Elizabethan audiences would have responded to these death scenes. A rollercoaster of Elizabethan carnage, poison, swordplay and bloodshed, with an occasional death by bear-mauling for good measure. Audiobook read by Nicky Diss. 368 pages. Released 3/5/20. Hardcover edition to be released 5/5/20.

Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Fever Dream digital
(Broadway Records - new on mp3/at iTunes)
Adapted and expanded from a 2018 concert conceived and created by Joshua Hinck and Scott Wasserman. Combines over 40 Stephen Sondheim songs. 13-piece orchestra. Liner notes by David Levy. Alison Luff, Blaine Krauss, Aneesa Folds, Charity Angél Dawson, Vishal Vaidya, Brittnie Price, Juwan Crawley, Deonté L. Warren, Joshua Hinck, Aili Venho, and Onyie Nwachukwu and Chip Zien. "Opening (Doors)," "There Are Giants Somewhere," "Hello Pretty Lady / Lovely Moments By the Sea," "Unworthy of Your Love," "Our Time," "No One Is Alone," "The Miller's Son," "Artists Are Bizarre," "Color and Light," "It's Hot Up Here in This City on Fire," "Losing My Mind," "Megamix: Take Me to the World." Also at BroadwayRecords.com. CD release date 4/17/20.

Mary Bridget Davies: Stay With Me - The Reimagined Songs of Jerry Ragovoy
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
Mary Bridget Davis (A Night With Janis Joplin) tribute to American songwriter Jordan "Jerry" Ragovoy. Some previously unreleased Jerry Ragovoy songs including "The Right of Way" and "Master of Disguise," and new arrangements of classics such as "Stay With Me," :As Long as I Have You" and "Move Me No Mountain." Produced by TJ Armand. Jointly released by Broadway Records, 1650 Records, and LOML Records. Also at BroadwayRecords.com.

Women Writing and Directing in the USA: A Stage of Our Own
(Routledge - Paperback Book)
By Kiara Pipino. Features interviews with some of the most successful theatre artists currently working on and off Broadway and beyond. The interviews explore a wide range of themes, including if and how the artists' female perspective influenced their art, the social and cultural significance of their work, and how theatre and women working in theatre can participate in awakening greater social awareness. Interview subjects include Young Jean Lee, Pam MacKinnon, Dominique Morisseau, Rachel Chavkin, and Martyna Majok. 15 black and white illustrations. 224 pages.

You Will Be Found
(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Illustrated edition of the "You Will Be Found" (Dear Evan Hansen) for anyone on the edge of a new chapter in life. 64 pages.

Week of March 10, 2020

Brian De Lorenzo: I Know More Now
(Cabaret Classics - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Album by cabaret singer/actor Brian De Lorenzo. "I'd Rather Be Sailing," "Every Morning (Mary)," "I Got a Dream to Sleep On," "I Could Not Ask for More," "Waving Through a Window," "Flight," "Second Hand White Baby Grand," "Entering Marion," "No More," "April in Fairbanks," "When October Goes," "Trick of Fate," "Some Enchanted Evening," "I Said No," "I Finally Let Go," "Listen to My Heart." Released 2/21/20.

Emojiland The Musical
(Broadway Records - new on CD)
Off-Broadway show score written by Keith Harrison and Laura Schein. Original cast includes Lesli Margherita, Josh Lamon, Lucas Steele, Ann Harada, George Abud, Laura Schein, Felicia Boswell, Natalie Weiss, Max Crumm, Jacob Dickey, Dwelvan David, Heather Makalani, Tanisha Moore, Jordan Fife Hunt. "Overture," "It's Just So Great to Be Alive," "Sad on the Inside," "Princess Is a Bitch," "The Progress Bar," "Zeros & Ones," "Cross My Bones," "New Crown in Town," "Work Together," "Stand for," "Thank Me Now," "Entr'acte," "Firewall Ball," "Pile of Poo," "Virus," "A Thousand More Words," "Anyway," "Start Again," "It's Just So Great to Be Alive (Reprise)." Also at BroadwayRecords.com. Released on mp3 and at iTunes 2/28/20.

Judgment Day
(Methuen Drama - Kindle Edition)
Christopher Shinn's adaptation of the classic play by Ödön von Horváth. Premiered at the Park Avenue Armory in New York in December 2019. 64 pages. Paperback version released 12/26/19.

Kurt Weill: An European in Broadway
(Da Vinci Classics - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Kurt Weill songs featuring piano music by Philipp Jarnach. Hamsa Irene Rinaldi, soprano. Michelangelo Carbonara, piano. "Youkali," "I'm a stranger Here Myself," "Wie Lange Noch?," "Who'll buy," "Nanna's Lied," "Berlin im Licht," "Das Amrumer Tagebuch, Op. 30: No. 1, Hymnus," "Das Amrumer Tagebuch, Op. 30: No. 2, Elegie," "Das Amrumer Tagebuch, Op. 30: No. 3, Sturmreigen," "Buddy on the Nightshift," "Klops Lied," "My Ship," "Die Muschel von Margate," "Schickelgruber," "Alabama Song."

Ranked: A Musical Concept Album
(new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Score by David Taylor Gomes. The show (tag line: "Pain is Temporary Grades Last Forever") is receiving a workshop production in New York this month. Released 2/28/20. Also available on Spotify.

Staging Sex: Best Practices, Tools, and Techniques for Theatrical Intimacy
(Routledge - Paperback Book)
By intimacy choreographer and movement specialist Chelsea Pace. Takes theatre practitioners step-by-step through the best practices, tools, and techniques for crafting effective theatrical intimacy.

Week of March 3, 2020

Disney Dreamin' with Matthew Morrison
(Walt Disney Records - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Singer-actor Matthew Morrison sings classic Disney songs. "Friend Like Me," "Go the Distance" (available now), "You've Got a Friend in Me," "A Whole New World," "When I See an Elephant Fly," "The Second Star to the Right," "A Dream Is a Wish a Heart Makes," "You'll Be in My Heart," "When You Wish Upon a Star," "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah / The Bare Necessities."

The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
(Metropolitan Opera - new on 3 CDs)
George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward. 2019 Metropolitan Opera cast. Eric Owens and Angel Blue in the title roles, with Latonia Moore, Golda Schultz, Alfred Walker, Frederick Ballentine, and Denyce Graves. Released digitally 1/17/20 at iTunes

The Inheritance
(Faber & Faber - Paperback Book)
Play by Matthew Lopez inspired by E. M. Forster's novel Howards End, and set in New York three decades after the height of the AIDS epidemic. Premiered in London in 2018. This edition includes revisions made for the 2019 Broadway production. 336 pages.

Playwrights on Television: Conversations with Dramatists
(Routledge - Paperback Book)
By Hillary Miller. Eighteen dramatists consider their professional paths and creative choices, from training and education to thoughts on craft and technique, and discuss a range of issues relevant to the development of dramatic writing today. Tanya Barfield, Jocelyn Bioh, Sheila Callaghan, Kristoffer Diaz, Bash Doran, Laura Eason, Madeleine George, Jason Grote, Jordan Harrison, David Henry Hwang, MJ Kaufman, Itamar Moses, Janine Nabers, Christopher Oscar Peña, Adam Rapp, Tanya Saracho, Diana Son, Tracey Scott Wilson. 18 black and white illustrations. 286 pages. Also available in Kindle Edition.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music (The Fourth Wall)
(Routledge - Paperback Book)
By Julian Woolford. In a series of short essays, the stage musical is re-examined from seven different perspectives, including how the musical heralded the end of an era on Broadway, its reinvention of history and biography, how the film version has influenced future stage productions and the ways in which it put child performers centre stage ... how, nearly 60 years after its stage debut, the musical has a direct impact on the modern world, through its recent iterations ... through Salzburg's recent embracing of the musical after years of ambivalence ... and The Sound of Music in the Middle East, where it has become a symbol of antifundamentalism. Also available in Kindle Edition.

Sondheim: Lyrics (Everyman's Library Pocket Poets Series)
(Everyman's Library - Hardcover Book)
Editors Peter Gethers and Russell Perreault. selection of the most memorable and beloved lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. Includes a selection of lyrics from across his career, drawn from shows including West Side Story, Gypsy, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and more. From the introduction by Peter Gethers: "Working with Stephen was a pleasure and an education. The process was largely my asking questions that he usually answered, my making comments that he usually told me were wrong, and my arguing that he was too hard on his own lyrics and that his self criticisms weren’t correct, arguments I won on a few occasions." 224 pages.

Week of February 25, 2020

Annie OLC
(Stage Door Records - new on CD)
CD debut of the 1978 original London cast recording of this score by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. Digitally remastered from the studio master tapes. Ann-Marie Gwatkin (who alternated on stage with Andrea McArdle), Sheila Hancock, Stratford Johns, Kenneth Nelson, Judith Paris, Matt Zimmerman. "Maybe," "The Hard-Knock Life," "Tomorrow," "We'd Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover," "Little Girls," "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here," "N.Y.C- Stratford Johns, Judith Paris, Ann-Marie Gwatkin, Chorus," "Easy Street," "You Won't Be An Orphan for Long," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile," "Tomorrow (Reprise)," "Something Was Missing," "I Don't Need Anything But You," "Annie," "A New Deal for Christmas." Part of Stage Door's Cast Album Masters Series. Also at StageDoorRecords.com.

"Drive It Like You Stole It"
(Masterworks Broadway - digital single)
Single from upcoming Sing Street cast recording.

Emojiland The Musical digital
(Broadway Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Off-Broadway show score written by Keith Harrison and Laura Schein. Original cast includes Lesli Margherita, Josh Lamon, Lucas Steele, Ann Harada, George Abud, Laura Schein, Felicia Boswell, Natalie Weiss, Max Crumm, Jacob Dickey, Dwelvan David, Heather Makalani, Tanisha Moore, Jordan Fife Hunt. "Overture," "It's Just So Great to Be Alive," "Sad on the Inside," "Princess Is a Bitch," "The Progress Bar," "Zeros & Ones," "Cross My Bones," "New Crown in Town," "Work Together," "Stand for," "Thank Me Now," "Entr'acte," "Firewall Ball," "Pile of Poo," "Virus," "A Thousand More Words," "Anyway," "Start Again," "It's Just So Great to Be Alive (Reprise)." CD format to be released 3/13/20.

Frozen II
(Disney - Blu-ray/DVD/4K)
Voices include Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff, Rachel Matthews, Sterling K. Brown. Songs by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Musical score by Christophe Beck. Directed by Chris Buck Jennifer Lee. 120 minutes.

James Taylor: American Standard
(Fantasy - new on CD/mp3/vinyl/at iTunes)
James Taylor album of songs he recalls listening to in his youth. With Jimmy Johnson, Steve Gadd, Luis Conte, Larry Goldings, Lou Marini, Walt Fowler, and Kate Markowitz, Caroline Taylor, Andrea Zonn, Dorian Holley and Arnold McCuller. "My Blue Heaven," "Moon River," "Teach Me Tonight," "As Easy As Rolling Off A Log," "Almost Like Being In Love," "Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat," "The Nearness Of You," "You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught," "God Bless The Child," "Pennies From Heaven," "My Heart Stood Still," "Ol' Man River," "It's Only A Paper Moon," "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top." Produced by Dave O’Donnell, John Pizzarelli and James Taylor.

Norma Jeane Baker of Troy
(New Directions - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Play by Anne Carson that reconsiders the stories of two iconic women—Marilyn Monroe and Helen of Troy—from their point of view. Premiered at The Shed in 2019. 64 pages.

Platinum Girls - The Musical
(Broadway Records - new on CD/on mp3/)
Original concept album for musical written by Andrew Beall, Russell Moss and Brad Zumwalt. Beth Leavel, Debbie Gravitte, and Brenda Braxton. "Overture," "If I Only Knew," "I've Been Here Before," "The Big Break," "Baby," "High Heel Tango," "Grapefruit Twist," "We've Been Here Before," "Finale." Also at BroadwayRecords.com.

A Very Expensive Poison
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Play by Lucy Prebble, based on the book by Luke Harding. Premiered in 2019 at The Old Vic. 128 pages.

Week of February 18, 2020

44 poems for you
(Copper Canyon Press - Paperback Book)
By playwright Sarah Ruhl. 80 pages.

Gone with the Wind 1972 OLC
(Kritzerland - new on CD)
Score by Harold Rome. June Ritchie as Scarlett O'Hara and Harve Presnell as Rhett Butler. mastered from the original album masters housed at EMI in the UK. Limited release of 300 copies. Will ship by the third week of February. At Kritzerland.com.

Promises, Promises 1969 OLC
(Kritzerland - new on CD)
Score by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Starring Anthony Roberts, Betty Buckley, and Jack Kruschen. Mastered from the two-track album masters, which were in pristine condition. Songs put back into show order. Limited release of 300 copies. Will ship by the third week of February. At Kritzerland.com.

"Up" from Sing Street OBC
(Masterworks Broadway - new single on mp3/at Itunes)
Single from upcoming original Broadway cast album. Score by Gary Clark and John Carney. Cast includes Max Bartos, Brendan C. Callahan, Billy Carter, Zara Devlin, Gus Halper, Jakeim Hart, Martin Moran, Anne L. Nathan, Johnny Newcomb, Brenock O’Connor, Gian Perez, Sam Poon, Skyler Volpe, Amy Warren, Anthony Genovesi. Released 2/14/20.Full album to be released digitally on March 26. CD format to be released April 17.

Week of February 11, 2020

9 to 5 OLC
(ATG Productions Ltd - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
West End cast. Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. Cast includes Caroline Sheen, Amber Davies, Natalie McQueen, Bonnie Langford and Brian Conley. "9 to 5," "Around Here," "Here for You," "Backwoods Barbie," "I Just Might," "Heart to Hart," "Hey Boss," "Shine Like the Sun," "Entr'acte," "One of the Boys," "5 to 9," "Always a Woman," "Change It," "Let Love Grow," "Get Out and Stay Out," "Finale," "Bows." Recorded live at the Savoy Theatre. Released 2/11/20.

Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographer's Journey
(Univ Press of Mississippi - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Bob Avian, with Tom Santopietro. Bob Avian's life story, a memoir in three acts. Act I reveals the origins of one of Broadway's legendary choreographers who appeared onstage with stars like Barbra Streisand and Mary Martin all before he was thirty. Act II includes teaching Katharine Hepburn how to sing and dance in Coco and working with Stephen Sondheim and Michael Bennett while helping to choreograph the original productions of Company and Follies. During this time, Avian won a Tony Award as the co-choreographer of A Chorus Line and produced Dreamgirls. In Act III, Avian choreographed Julie Andrews's return to the New York stage, devised all of the musical staging for Miss Saigon and Sunset Boulevard, and directed A Chorus Line on Broadway. He worked with the biggest names on Broadway, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Carol Burnett, Jennifer Holliday, Patti LuPone, Elaine Stritch, and Glenn Close. Candid, witty, sometimes shocking, and always entertaining, here is the ultimate up-close and personal insider's view from a front row seat ... of Broadway musicals of the past fifty years. 240 pages. [Appears to be available ahead of its official release date.]

The Great White Way: Race and the Broadway Musical second edition
(Rutgers Univ Press - Paperback Book)
Warren Hoffman's 2014, revised and updated. Revealing the racial politics, content, and subtexts that have haunted musicals for almost one hundred years from Show Boat to Hamilton. This revised edition includes a new introduction and conclusion, updated chapters, as well as a brand-new chapter that looks at the blockbuster musicals The Book of Mormon and Hamilton. [Appears to be available ahead of its official release date.]

Guys and Dolls
(Warner Archives - new blu-ray)
1955 MGM musical film featuring Frank Loesser's score. Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, Stubby Kaye.

Hundred Feet Tall
(Simon & Schuster for Young Readers - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Second children's book by Benjamin Scheuer (The Lion) with his wife Jemima Williams as illustrator. Scheuer says "Yes, there will be a song that goes with it." 40 pages.

I Love My Wife: Backers' Audition
(Harbinger Records - new on CD/mp3/iTunes )
Score by Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart. Part of Harbinger Records' Broadway Backers Auditions series. Coleman and Stewart play the score and narrate the story. Also performing are Laurie Beechman and Austin Pendleton. The recording was made to send out to potential backers to entice them to invest in the show to open at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on April 17, 1977, running for 857 performances. Bonus tracks from the demo recordings of two other Cy Coleman shows, Atlantic City, with lyrics by Christopher Gore, and Home Again, with lyrics by Barbara Fried. "Introduction," Introduction to "We're Still Friends," "We're Still Friends," Introduction to "Monica," "Monica," Introduction to "A Mover's Life," "A Mover's Life," Introduction to "By Threes," "By Threes," Introduction to "Love Revolution," "Love Revolution," Introduction to "Someone Wonderful I Missed," "Someone Wonderful I Missed," Introduction to "Sexually Free," "Sexually Free," "Hey There, Good Times," Introduction to "Lovers on Christmas Eve," "Lovers on Christmas Eve," Introduction to "The Blessing," "The Blessing," Introduction to "Everybody Today Is Turning On," "Everybody Today Is Turning On," Introduction to "Married Couple," "Married Couple," Introduction to Reprises, "By Threes (reprise) / Someone Wonderful I Missed (reprise) / A Mover's Life (reprise) / Sexually Free (reprise) / Married Couple (reprise)," Introduction to "I Love My Wife," "I Love My Wife." Bonus Tracks: "When Jill Is Gone, "I Really Love You," "All for Love," "Wedding Song," "When It Comes to Loving." The 12-page booklet includes liner notes by Coleman biographer Andy Propst and photos from the original Broadway production. If you purchase this CD on Amazon and send a copy of your purchase order with the subject line "Free ILMW Download" to hannah@musicaltheaterproject.org, you will receive a link to download the album ahead of the official release date.

Illyria
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Play by Richard Nelson about Joe Papp. Played the Public Theater in 2017. 96 pages.

Janet Dacal: My Standards
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD)
Debut album from actor/singer Janet Dacal (The Band's Visit tour, Prince of Broadway). "It Don't Mean A Thing," "Orange Colored Sky" (with Olivia C. Dacal), "Be True to Me," "My Funny Valentine," "L-O-V-E," "Fever," "Tenderly," "Moondance" (with Javier Muñoz), "Begin the Beguine," "I Got Rhythm," "Sabor a Mí." Digital album on mp3 and at iTunes released 2/7/20.

Judgment Day
(Methuen Drama - Paperback Book)
Christopher Shinn's adaptation of the classic play by Ödön von Horváth. Premiered at the Park Avenue Armory in New York in December 2019. 64 pages. Released 12/26/19. Kindle Edition to be released March 5, 2020.

Listen: Anya Turner & Robert Grusecki
(new EP on mp3/at iTunes)
The vocal-piano duo's new collection of pop-art songs, a musical mix of all things personal, social and political. "Anonymous," "#MeToo," "Soon This Will All Be Over," "My Chosen Family," "Listen."

Marvin: Based on The Way I Was by Marvin Hamlisch
(Schiffer Kids - Paperback Book)
Graphic novel adaptation of the biography of renowned musician, composer, and conductor Marvin Hamlisch. Deals with his childhood and adolescent years up to his first big successes; and includes his family's flight from Nazi-occupied Austria and their immigration to the United States. For readers ages 8 to 12 to fans of music and broadway musicals, American history, and fans of graphic novels. Features scenes with Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Christopher Walken and many other interesting characters that Marvin Hamlisch grew up, studied and worked with in his career. [Appears to be available ahead of its official release date.]

Morgan James: Memphis Magnetic
(Hedonist Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Actress-singer Morgan James (Motown The Musical, Godspell, Wonderland) newest album. "Give You Up," "All I Ever Gave You," "Better Me," "I Don't Mind Waking Up (To A Love This Good)," "You Won't Let Me," "No Love, No Life," "Love Ain't Worth Living," "You Know My Name," "Burden," "I Wish You Would," "The Lark," "Who's Gonna Listen To You (When You're Crying Now)." Released 2/7/20.

"Up" from Sing Street OBC
(Masterworks Broadway - new single on mp3/at Itunes)
Single from upcoming original Broadway cast album. Score by Gary Clark and John Carney. Cast includes Max Bartos, Brendan C. Callahan, Billy Carter, Zara Devlin, Gus Halper, Jakeim Hart, Martin Moran, Anne L. Nathan, Johnny Newcomb, Brenock O’Connor, Gian Perez, Sam Poon, Skyler Volpe, Amy Warren, Anthony Genovesi. Full album to be released digitally on March 26. CD format to be released April 17.

Week of February 4, 2020

9 to 5 OLC
(ATG Productions Ltd - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
West End cast. Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. Cast includes Caroline Sheen, Amber Davies, Natalie McQueen, Bonnie Langford and Brian Conley. "9 to 5," "Around Here," "Here for You," "Backwoods Barbie," "I Just Might," "Heart to Hart," "Hey Boss," "Shine Like the Sun," "Entr'acte," "One of the Boys," "5 to 9," "Always a Woman," "Change It," "Let Love Grow," "Get Out and Stay Out," "Finale," "Bows." Recorded live at the Savoy Theatre.

Irving Berlin: In Person
(Garret Mountain Records - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
From the biographical show which appeared at 13th Street Repertory Theater, starring Jon Peterson, with Richard Danley and Aaron Weinstein. "After You Get What You Want You Don't Want It," "Say It with Music," "Everything in America Is Ragtime," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Piano Man," "I Love a Piano," "The Dying Rag," "I Beg Your Pardon, Dear Old Broadway," "The Schoolhouse Blues," "Everybody's Doin' It Now," "Do Your Duty, Doctor," "My Wife's Gone to the Country," "Tell Me, Little Gypsy," "In a Cozy Kitchenette Apartment," "Smile and Show Your Dimple / Always Treat Her Like a Baby," "When I Lost You," "We're on Our Way to France," "Bring on the Pepper," "Smile and Show Your Dimple (Reprise)," "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody," "Someone Else May Be There While I'm Gone," "Always," "This Is the Life," "Mandy," "Wild Cherries," "When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam," "You'd Be Surprised," "The International Rag," "I'm Gonna Pin a Medal on the Girl I Left Behind," "Oh, How I Hate to Get up in the Morning," "Lady of the Evening," "Montmartre," "What'll I Do?," "Everybody Step," "Bows Music: Say It with Music / Play a Simple Melody (Encore) / Musical Demon," "Piano Man (Exit Music)." Produced by Chip Deffaa. Released 9/20/19.

Irving Berlin: New York Genius (Jewish Lives)
(Yale Univ Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By James Kaplan. Explores the interplay of Berlin's life with the life of New York City, offering a visceral narrative of Berlin as self-made man and witty, wily, tough Jewish immigrant. This fast-paced, musically opinionated biography uncovers Berlin's unique brilliance as a composer of music and lyrics ... underscores Berlin’s continued relevance in American popular culture. 424 pages.

Janet Dacal: My Standards
(Ghostlight Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Debut album from actor/singer Janet Dacal (The Band's Visit tour, Prince of Broadway). "It Don't Mean A Thing," "Orange Colored Sky" (with Olivia C. Dacal), "Be True to Me," "My Funny Valentine," "L-O-V-E," "Fever," "Tenderly," "Moondance" (with Javier Muñoz), "Begin the Beguine," "I Got Rhythm," "Sabor a Mí." Released 2/7/20. CD format to be released 2/14/20.

My Name Is Lucy Barton
(Random House Audio - new Audible audiobook)
Original audiobook performance of the stage production of My Name is Lucy Barton, starring Laura Linney. Elizabeth Strout book adapted by Rona Munro. 90 minutes.

Robbie Rozelle: "Wicked Little Town / Make Your Own Kind of Music"
(digital single mp3/)
Host of Tuesday at 54 at Feinstein's/54 Below. Proceeds go toward defeating Republicans in the 2020 election. Also on Spotify.

Week of January 28, 2020

¡Americano!
(new on CD/streaming)
Inspired by "Broadway-aimed immigration musical." More than 20 songs from the musical performed by composer/lyricist Carrie Rodriguez and the musical's arranger, Sergio Mendoza and his band Orkesta Mendoza. Other featured vocalists include Carlos Arzate and Brian Lopez. CD available at www.americanothemusical.com. Also available on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora iHeart Radio. World-premiere production at Arizona's The Phoenix Theatre Company.

Ben Bagley's Arthur Schwartz Revisited
(Kritzerland - on CD)
Music by Arthur Schwartz. Lyrics by Howard Dietz, Dorothy Fields, Ira Gershwin, Oscar Hammerstein, Frank Loesser, Al Stillman. Singers include Cab Calloway, Phyllis Diller, Gloria DeHaven, Blossom Dearie, and, on a bonus track, Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante. Musical direction by Norman Paris. Remastered. Cover artwork by Harvey Schmidt. Limited release of 500 copies. At Kritzerland.com.

Kwamina OBC
(Stage Door Records - new on 2 import CDs)
An expanded release of the 1961 OBC recording of Kwamina, recorded after the show closed. Music and lyrics by Richard Adler. The cast includes Sally Ann Howes, Terry Carter, Brock Peters and Robert Guillaume. Also included: alternate takes from the album sessions and a special bonus recording of "Another Time, Another Place" by Sally Ann Howes, recorded in July 1962 for the public information broadcast "Stars For Defense"; and a bonus disc of cover recordings from Kwamina, including a never before released on CD studio cast recording, a jazz interpretation by the Billy Taylor Orchestra, and pop covers by Al Martino, The Kingston Trio and Gordon MacRae. Extensive liner notes by George Dansker. Part of Stage Door Records' series of Deluxe Edition Broadway Cast Recordings. Strictly limited to 500 units only. Also at StageDoorRecords.com.

The Language Archive and Other Plays
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Plays by Julia Cho. The Language Archive, Aubergine, Office Hour, The Piano Teacher, and Durango. 360 pages.

Oklahoma! vinyl
(Decca Broadway/Verve - new 2-LP vinyl album)
2019 Broadway revival cast recording. Richard Rodgers / Oscar Hammerstein score. Rebecca Naomi Jones, Damon Daunno, Patrick Vaill, Mary Testa, Ali Stroker, James Davis, Will Brill, Mallory Portnoy, Mitch Tebo, Anthony Cason, and Will Mann. "Opening – Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’," "Laurey's Entrance," "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top," "Kansas City," "I Cain’t Say No," "Many A New Day," "It’s A Scandal! It’s A Outrage!," "People Will Say We're In Love," "Poor Jud Is Daid," "Lonely Room," "Out Of My Dreams," "Dream Ballet," "The Farmer And The Cowman," "All Er Nuthin'," "People Will Say We're In Love (Reprise)," "Oklahoma!." Produced by Dean Sharenow and Daniel Kluger. Released earlier on CD, on mp3 and at iTunes

Slave Play
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
2019 Broadway play by Jeremy O. Harris. 120 pages.

"Something That You Do": Kate Baldwin
(Craft Recordings - new digital single on mp3/at iTunes)
First song released from Kate Baldwin's upcoming solo album, How Did You Get This Number? Written, arranged, played, and co-produced by Georgia Stitt. Recorded, mixed, and co-produced by Jeffrey Lesser. Released 1/24/20.

Tootsie OBC vinyl
(Decca Broadway - new vinyl 2-LP album)
Score by David Yazbek. Santino Fontana, Lilli Cooper, Sarah Stiles, John Behlmann, Andy Grotelueschen, Julie Halston, Michael McGrath, and Reg Rogers. Andrea Grody and Dean Sharenow, musical supervisors. "Overture," "Opening Number," "Whaddaya Do," "What's Gonna Happen," "I Won't Let You Down," "I'm Alive," "There Was John," "I Like What She's Doing," "Who Are You," "What's Gonna Happen (Reprise)," "Unstoppable," "Entr'acte," "Jeff Sums It Up," "Gone, Gone, Gone," "Who Are You?," "This Thing," "Whaddaya Do (Reprise)," "The Most Important Night," "Talk To Me Dorothy," "Arrivederci!," "Michael's Reprise." Produced by Dean Sharenow and David Yazbek. Released earlier on CD, on mp3 and at iTunes earlier.

Week of January 21, 2020

Broadway: The American Musical (updated)
(Applause - Paperback Book)
By Laurence Mason and Michael Kantor. Third edition of the comprehensive 2004 companion the PBS documentary series, now revised and updated with brand-new material on all the Broadway musicals through the 2018–2019 season. Foreword by Julie Andrews. 512 pages.

Ingénue: Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland, and the Golden Age of Hollywood
(new digital album)
Original cast recording of the stage show featuring Canadian Melanie Gall on vocals, and Bennett Paster and Jim Whitney on piano and bass. "It's Foolish but It's Fun," "Something in the Wind," "I Love to Whistle," "Someone to Care for Me," "Spring Will Be a Little Late," "Can't Help Singing," "Say a Pray'r (For the Boys over There) (featuring Shelby Bond, Peter Fitzsimmonds & Carl Kennedy)," "The Turntable Song," "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart," "Over the Rainbow," "Always," "Molly Malone." At CDBaby.com.

Only Fools and Horses: The Musical
(Silva Screen Records - new on CD)
Score by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan; additional music by John Sullivan and Chas Hodges. Original West End cast (Theatre Royal Haymarket). "His Name is Derek Trotter," "Only Fools and Horses Hooky Street," "Not Now Grandad," "Not Now Grandad Reprise," "That’s What I Like," "Where Have All The Cockneys Gone," "The Girl," "Mange Tout," "Bit of a Sort," "Raining for Grandad," "Being A Villain," "Lovely Day," "Marriage & Love," "West End Wendy," "What Have I Let Myself In For," "Gaze Into My Ball," "Fool's Transition," "The Tadpole Song," "Holding Back The Years," "Margate This Time Next Year." Released digitally on mp3 and at iTunes on 12/13/19.

Week of January 14, 2020

The Blackface Minstrel Show in Mass Media: 20th Century Performances on Radio, Records, Film and Television
(McFarland - Paperback Book)

By Tim Brooks. Traces the history of the "modern" minstrel show through the advent of 20th century mass media, when stars like Al Jolson, Bing Crosby and Mickey Rooney continued a long tradition of affecting black music, dance and theatrical styles for mainly white audiences. A companion two-CD reissue of recordings discussed in the book to be available at archeophone.com. 290 pages. Released 11/15/19.

Octet original cast recording
(Nonesuch - new on CD)
Original cast recording of score by Dave Malloy and Annie Tippe. Adam Bashian, Kim Blanck, Starr Busby, Alex Gibson, Justin Gregory Lopez, J.D. Mollison, Margo Seibert, and Kuhoo Verma. Digital booklet. "The Forest," "Refresh," "Candy," "Glow," "Fugue State," "Monster," "Solo," "Actually," "Little God," "Tower Tea Ceremony," "Beautiful," "The Field." Digital Booklet. Previously released on mp3 and at iTunes

The Sound Inside
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
2019 Broadway play by Adam Rapp. 96 pages.Kindle Edition to be released later.

Week of January 7, 2020

The Australian Musical: From the Beginning
(Allen & Unwin - Hardcover Book)
By Peter Pinne and Peter Wyllie Johnston. "... a definitive account of the history of musical theatre in Australia." 432 pages. Kindle version released 11/5/19.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
(Disney - new on CD/on mp3/at iTunes)
Soundtrack from Disney+ series. Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bassett, Sofia Wylie, Matt Cornett, Julia Lester, Dara Renee, Frankie Rodriguez, Larry Saperstein, Kate Reinders, and Mark St. Cyr. To feature High School Musical classic songs plus new songs.

John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch
(Drag City Records - new digital album on mp3/at iTunes)
Original soundtrack from the Netflix special. John Mulaney with Annaleigh Ashford, Alexander Bello, Ally Bonino, David Byrne, André De Shields, Oriah Elgrabi, Jake Ryan Flynn, Orson Hong, Zell Steele Morrow, Chrissy Pardo, Lexi Perkel, Shereen Pimentel, Allison Posner. "It’s John Mulaney and The Sack Lunch Bunch!," "Grandma’s Boyfriend Paul," "Algebra Song!," "Googy’s Theme," "Plain Plate Of Noodles," "Do You Wanna Play Restaurant?," "Pay Attention!," "Do Flowers Exist At Night?," "I Saw A White Lady Standing On The Street Just Sobbing (And I Think About It Once A Week)," "Music, Music Everywhere!" Released 12/24/19.

Kiss Me, Kate
(Ghostlight Records - new on CD)
2019 Broadway revival cast recording of Cole Porter score. Kelli O'Hara, Will Chase, Corbin Bleu, Terence Archie, Mel Johnson Jr., James T. Lane, Stephanie Styles, Adrienne Walker, Lance Coadie Williams, John Pankow, Darius Barnes, Preston Truman Boyd, Will Burton, Derrick Cobey, Jesmille Darbouze, Rick Faugno, Haley Fish, Tanya Haglund, Erica Mansfield, Marissa McGowan, Sarah Meahl, Justin Prescott, Christine Cornish Smith, Sherisse Springer, Sam Strasfeld, and Travis Waldschmidt. Orchestrations by Larry Hochman. Music direction by Paul Gemignani. Album produced by Kurt Deutsch and Lawrence Manchester. "Another Op'nin', Another Show," "Why Can't You Behave," "Wunderbar," "So in Love," "We Open in Venice," "Tom, Dick, or Harry," "I've Come to Wive It Wealthily in Padua," "I Hate Men," "Were Thine That Special Face," "Kiss Me, Kate (Act 1 Finale)," "Too Darn Hot," "Where Is the Life That Late I Led," "Always True to You in My Fashion," "Bianca," "So in Love (Reprise)," "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," "I Am Ashamed That People Are So Simple," "Kiss Me, Kate (Reprise)." Recording date: Monday, April 22. Album produced by Kurt Deutsch and Lawrence Manchester. Released earlier on mp3 and at iTunes. Also at GhostlightRecords.com.

-- Sound Advice Staff