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The Broadway Musicals of 1935

(Various) (RNBW034)

Off-Broadway Cast with Gretha Boston, Chuck Cooper, Darius DeHaas, Todd Murray, Douglas Sills, Emily Skinner, Lumiri Tubo, Barbara Walsh, Laurie Williamson and Special Guest, Karen Akers. Created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel.

Recorded live at New York Town Hall Monday March 15, 2004.

Includes songs from PORGY AND BESS (Gershwin/Gershwin/Heyward), JUMBO (Rodgers/Hart), JUBILEE (Porter), AT HOME ABROAD (Schwartz/ Dietz), MAY WINE (Romberg/Hammerstein II), and first time recordings from PARADE (Peters/Sklar/Moross), GEORGE WHITE’S SCANDALS (Yellen/Henderson), and EARL CARROLL’S SKETCHBOOK (Tobias/Newman/Mencher).

1935, the height of the great depression, with only ten new musicals opening on Broadway and none of them turning a profit. But any season that boasts work by the Gershwin's, Rodgers and Hart, and Cole Porter can't be all that bad. Billy Rose's JUMBO was the year's biggest money-spinner with a scintillating score by Rodgers and Hart, ("Little Girl Blue"/"The Most Beautiful Girl In The World"), Cole Porter's JUBILEE introduced the immortal standards, "Begin The Beguine" and "Just One Of Those Things," and then there was PORGY AND BESS. Dismissed by the music critics of the day, George Gershwin's brilliant Folk Opera classic, has since been recognized for the masterpiece that it is. Bringing to life this glorious 1935 songbook are some of today's brightest and best Broadway talents, headed by Douglas Sills, Emily Skinner and Karen Akers. With the brilliant Ross Patterson leading the Ross Patterson Little Big Band, this latest album in the "Broadway by the Year" series is a cornucopia of show tune delights.

“Over And Over Again,” a duet by Barbara Walsh and Emily Skinner, boasted an airy grace of trapeze artists in flight. “Little Girl Blue” was wistfully performed by the always elegant Karen Akers, comfortably perched atop the grand. ”
Robert L. Daniels, Variety

“The penultimate number of the evening found Douglas Sills, in a rumpled tuxedo, sitting (and eventually standing) downstage center and infusing Cole Porter’s timeless “Begin The Beguine” with a raw longing and passion that truly communicated the number.”
Talkin’ Broadway

“Barbara Walsh did a sexy, body-language interpretation of “I’ve Got To Get Hot” from the ‘Scandals.’ Gretha Boston teamed with Cooper for the entertaining “Got A Bran’ New Suit” from ‘At Home Abroad,’ and she did justice to “Thief In The Night” from the same show and “Life Could be So Beautiful” (Off-mike) from ‘Parade.’ ”
William Wolf, Wolf Entertainment Guide

Buy

Tracks:
To hear a song sample, click on any song title below that is followed by

  1. I Got Plenty Of Nuttin’ PORGY AND BESS (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin/Dubose Heyward) Chuck Cooper
  2. I’ve Got To Get Hot GEORGE WHITE SCANDALS (Jack Yellen/Ray Henderson) Barbara Walsh
  3. Over And Over Again JUMBO (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) Emily Skinner, Barbara Walsh
  4. Little Girl Blue JUMBO (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) Karen Akers
  5. A Thief In The Night AT HOME ABROAD (Arthur Schwartz/ Howard Dietz) Gretha Boston
  6. Just One Of Those Things JUBILEE (Cole Porter) Todd Murray
  7. Cigarette GEORGE WHITE SCANDALS (Jack Yellen/Ray Henderson) Douglas Sills
  8. May I Have My Gloves?* GEORGE WHITE SCANDALS (Jack Yellen/Ray Henderson) Barbara Walsh
  9. Bess, You Is My Woman PORGY AND BESS (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin/Dubose Heyward) Chuck Cooper, Laurie Williamson
  10. Summertime PORGY AND BESS (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin/Dubose Heyward) Laurie Williamson
  11. Let’s Swing It* EARL CARROLL SKETCHBOOK (Charles Tobias/Charles Newman/Murray Mencher) Douglas Sills, Todd Murray
  12. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World JUMBO (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) Darius DeHaas
  13. Why Shouldn’t I? JUBILEE (Cole Porter) Emily Skinner
  14. The Hotentot Potentate AT HOME ABROAD (Arthur Schwartz/Howard Dietz) Lumiri Tubo
  15. Got A Bran’ New Suit AT HOME ABROAD (Arthur Schwartz/Howard Dietz) Gretha Boston, Chuck Cooper
  16. Just Once Around The Clock MAY WINE (Sigmund Romberg/Oscar Hammerstein II) Todd Murray
  17. Something New Is In My Heart MAY WINE (Sigmund Romberg/Oscar Hammerstein II) Emily Skinner
  18. Life Could Be So Beautiful* PARADE (Paul Peters/ George Sklar/Jerome Moross) Gretha Boston
  19. Begin the Beguine JUBILEE (Cole Porter) Douglas Sills

* Premiere Recording

Musical Director: Ross Patterson
Director: Melinda Buckley
Produced for CD: Peter Pinne

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