The New Version of “21 Guns” featuring Matt Caplan, Michael Esper and John Gallagher, Jr.

This is the new version of “21 Guns” from Berkeley Rep’s production of American Idiot. It features Matt Caplan, Michael Esper and John Gallagher, Jr. (the three male leads) on the second verse. It’s not much different than the version that was released a few weeks ago, but for any musical theatre fan, it’s a must have. (I posted the original version here.) I wish they would have just sat down and recorded the whole show after it closed in November. I know that’s pretty unusual for a pre-Broadway try0ut but I’m dying to hear a cast recording from this show.

You can also check out my American Idiot playlist on iTunes. It’s not perfect, but it gives you a general idea of what the song order was.

Check out The Broadway Critic’s review of American Idiot.

Buy the new version on iTunes.

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Listen to the new version of “21 Guns”

Theatre Review: “Riverdance” @ Broadway San Jose, 12/29/09

Broadway San Jose has done it again! They’ve successfully brought three fantastic productions – Spamalot, Spring Awakening and now Riverdance - to San Jose and they are slowing but surely starting to fill the huge void that AMTSJ left after filing for bankruptcy over a year ago. I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw Spamalot and I thought Spring Awakening was beautiful, poignant and truly moving. Now we have Riverdance, which has been a huge sensation since 1994, and it is currently playing its farewell tour, returning to UK, Europe and the Far East before finishing in 2010, fifteen years after it opened at The Point Theatre in Dublin. What a fantastic run!

The show was packed with mind-boggling dancing, incredible singing by Laura Yanez and an energy that filled the entire house. Yanez’s crystal clear voice was stunning, especially in the The Riverdance Singer’s opening number, “The Heart’s Cry.” She killed it! It was way better than what was recorded on the cast album (see below). It was what Emmy Rossum’s voice should have sounded like in The Phantom of the Opera movie. Yanez needs to be on Broadway, stat. The chorus sound was beautiful – very ethereal – like an Eric Whitacre song. I actually would love to sit through just a concert by The Riverdance Singers.

You obviously can’t walk away from this show without thinking, “How do they move their feet that fast?” The dancing was top-notch! It’s seriously some of the best footwork I’ve ever seen. The dancers were so precise with their movements. Every sound, each head turn and the various body movements were in perfect sync with each other. Their best footwork as a group was in the Act 1 closer, “Riverdance”. What a tour de force! “The Russian Dervish”, danced by The Moscow Folk Ballet, was a beautiful change from the rigidity and harshness of the Irish Step dancing. My favorite part of the whole night was the exchange between three of the best male Irish Step dancers and The Riverdance Tappers, Kelly Issac and Sean Scott. The mash-up between tap and Irish Step was spectacular. I only wish they did the same kind of mash-up with their closer cousin, clogging. They could have brought on the clogging group, All That! and had some more fantastic “dance-offs”. Seriously though, the tapping was unreal.

It wasn’t all perfect. At some point, in the last 15 years, they could have updated the projections. When it opened on Broadway in 2000, those projections were probably top-notch, but it was a bit distracting when each antiquated graphic was displayed. I would have preferred a blank cyc that changed colors throughout. It also became humorous – especially during the sultry “Firedance” danced by the Flamenco soloist, Rocio Montoya – when the fire was being projected behind Montoya in a very “Powerpoint 97” kind of way. (I actually didn’t really care for the flamenco part of the performance at all. It didn’t flow with the rest of the production.) The other random part of this production that stood out was The Riverdance Baritone Soloist, Michael Samuels. His song, “Heal Their Hearts” made no sense to the overall flow, sound and energy of the production. Though Samuels is a talented and well-trained singer, the awkward key changes in this song along with his vocal stylization didn’t belong in Riverdance. Even with these few complaints, I still think that Riverdance is well worth the ticket price and would highly recommend it.

At some point, we’ve all seen that PBS special, “The Best of Riverdance” but now you can actually feel like you are a part of that PBS special when you check out Broadway San Jose’s Riverdance at the Center of the Performing Arts in San Jose. It’s taken me 15 years to finally see Riverdance and now I finally understand what the buzz has been all about. There’s a reason why, after 15 years, they are still playing to packed houses and getting standing ovations: it’s just too spectacular to miss!

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Riverdance at Center of the Performing Arts in San Jose

December 29th – January 3rd, 2010

Individual tickets: $88.00 – $20.00

SCHEDULE:
Tuesday – Thursday – 7:30 p.m.
Friday – 8 p.m.
Saturday – 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday – 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

BUY TICKETS

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Listen to: “The Heart’s Cry”

Listen to: “Riverdance”

Foothill Musical Theatre Unveils Photos & Cast of “Spelling Bee”

Foothill Musical Theatre presents
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

February 19 – March 7, 2010
Lohman Theatre at Foothill College
12345 El Monte Rd (El Monte exit West, off Hwy 280), Los Altos Hills

For tickets and more information, please visit www.foothillmusicals.com. Tickets also available by phone at: (650) 949-7360.

All photos are credited to: David Allen

The cast includes:

• David Cates (Theatre on San Pedro Square, Foothill Music Theatre, Mirrorball Theater) as Leaf Coneybear
• Kristin Walter (Bay Players, California Theatre Center, Foothill Music Theatre) as Rona Lisa Perretti
• Alicia Teeter (Hillbarn Theatre, Foothill Music Theatre, California Musical Theatre) as Olive Ostrovsky
• Kateri McRae (Foothill Music Theatre, Palo Alto Players, Broadway by the Bay) as Logainne “Schwartzy” Schwartzandgrubennier
• David Patrick Mister (South Bay Musical Theatre, Palo Alto Players, Hillbarn Theatre) as William Barfee
• Katie Chaidez (Theatre Q, Palo Alto Players, City Lights Theatre Co.) as Marcy Park
• Scott White (Symphony Silicon Valley, Lyric Theatre, Palo Alto Players) as Vice Principal Douglas Panch
• Ryan Millena as Chip Tolentino
• Jordan Sangalang as Comfort Counselor Mitch Mahoney.

The Coneybear Family and Other Spellers:

• Amanda Andrews
• Samantha Bruce
• Hayley Lovgren
• Walter Mayes
• Brian Miller
• Nick Patton
• Crystle-Day Villanueva
• Gregg Zigler

Will you be going?

Top 15 Broadway Posters of the 2000’s

As 2009 is winding down, it’s time to celebrate what a great decade the 2000’s have been for theatre. At the end of the 90’s, it seemed that everyone thought that the Broadway musical was doomed. Then in 2001, The Producers, rolled into town and won 12 Tony Awards and became a smash hit, turning a huge profit and boosting ticket prices to astronomical prices. (I still hate them for that!) Instead of debating what shows were the best or worst of 2000, this list focuses on: The Top 15 Broadway Posters of the 2000’s.

15. Ragtime Revival – I haven’t seen this production yet, but I just absolutely love how everything is bursting from the piano/Statue of Liberty. I don’t think it could describe the show any better. It’s a fresh adaptation – especially from the original clunky poster which I never really understood.

14. The Light in the Piazza - I find this poster so beautiful, much like Adam Guettel’s score. It’s whimsical yet full of mystery. I think I might like the simplicity of the poster from the vocal selections book better though. Either way, a beautiful show and artwork.

13. Mary Poppins – I think Disney did a fantastic job of reimagining a classic and iconic poster. In my mind, that is one of the hardest things to do because everyone already “sees” something when you think of Mary Poppins. It’s simple, colorful and the accented red on the title really pops out.

12. 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – It’s unique, catchy and fun. It represents the show so well by using caricatures of the spellers on the front cover. You instantly know it’s not a serious night of theatre. It’s a perfect set-up for such a larger-than-life show.

11. South Pacific – James McMullan’s artwork is so impressive. McMullan has created a whole line of beautiful posters for The Lincoln Center that you can see on McMullan’s website. It’s stunning, just like the production is.

10. Xanadu – Seriously. I just love this poster because you see it and think, “Oh, what a hot 80’s mess.” But then you read “Seriously.” and you realize that it’s hot 80’s mess on purpose and you can’t resist the luscious locks of Clio – I mean Kira. Have you seen the rainbow-fabulous version?

9. The Drowsy Chaperone - “The Funniest Musical on Broadway.” True, true, true. I absolutely adored this show and I loved how they took a risk with this poster. They were banking on just the musical alone and not hoping that a big name would sell this show. The risk paid off!

8. In the Heights – This poster is bursting at the seams with energy, just like the production. It seriously makes me want to dance just looking at it.

7. Hair - I have this poster in my office and everyday I “let the sun shine in”. I love how the peace sign is the center of the poster, but not so big that it becomes cliche and boring. This poster is so much better than the original!!

6. 110 in the Shade – What an incredible picture of the star, Audra McDonald. If I was her, I would get an original and frame that in my house. It’s gorgeous. The color, rain and pure joy that is on McDonald’s face becomes irresistible.

5. Avenue Q - What’s not to like when the tag lines are “What the FUZZ are you looking at?” and “Warning: Full Puppet Nudity”? It’s genius. A perfect way to sell an adult show with Jim Henson-like puppets. Hysterical marketing for a hysterical show.

4. Next to Normal – I might be a little biased since it’s one of my favorite musicals ever, but I think the poster is such a risk. In everyone of the posters above this one, there are depictions of the character(s) from the show on it but Next to Normal’s poster there is a suburban-looking house, two eyes, some music notes and a quote. There’s mystery behind th0se eyes that keeps you intrigued and the quote by Ben Brantley says it all, “…a feel-everything musical”.

3. Urinetown – What can I say? When I first saw this poster, I thought, “What the hell is this?” Your in Town? I absolutely loved it when Little Sally said, “Or a bad title, even? That could kill a show pretty good.” Yes, it’s a bad title, but that’s why I love the poster so much. Even in the poster it’s making fun of itself.

2. Finian’s Rainbow – What a remarkable poster. Even though there are some people that were comparing it to the Urban Outfitter’s logo, I just love it. What a great way to re-introduce this musical into everyone’s vernacular.

1. Wicked – I’m choosing Wicked as the best Broadway poster of the decade for a couple of reasons. I remember when I was in New York the summer of 2003, there were big signs going up for Wicked and I knew I had to see this show. (This was before I knew anything about the production.) It’s also one of the most iconic Broadway posters of this decade. It’s become the new Phantom or Les Miserables.

Did we miss any that you think should be on this list?

“21 Guns” featuring Green Day and the cast of “American Idiot”

Listen to the American Idiot cast recording of “21 Guns” featuring Green Day.

Buy “21 Guns” on iTunes.

For my review of American Idiot at Berkeley Rep, go here.

Listening to “Nine – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”

Listen to: Nine – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

1. Overture Delle Donne

2. Guido’s Song

3. A Call From the Vatican

4. Folies Bergère

5. Be Italian

6. My Husband Makes Movies

7. Cinema Italiano

8. Guarda La Luna

9. Unusual Way

10. Take it All

11. I Can’t Make This Movie

12. Finale

13. Quando, Quando, Quando

14. Io Bacio … Tu Baci

15. Cinema Italiano (The Ron Fair Remix)

16. Unusual Way

Buy album on Amazon or iTunes.

Broadway News Round Up #6

Each week, The Broadway Critic will be featuring the news that you don’t want to miss! A lot has happened since we posted about Fela’s cancellation, Corbin Bleu, Sondheim on Sondheim and The Addams Family opening.

• More information has been reported about the first ever revival of Promises, Promises: Brooks Ashmanskas, Katie Finneran and Tony Goldwyn are joining Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes as a part of the cast. The workplace musical, set in and around a Manhattan office in the 1960s, is based on Billy Wilder’s film “The Apartment.” The 1968 musical has book by Neil Simon, music by Burt Bacharach and lyrics by Hal David. You can follow Promises, Promises on twitter now!
• Riedel reported that Elf (the musical) is fantastic and should come to Broadway next year (of course, only during the winter months so move over White Christmas). He says, “But Thomas Meehan, who co-wrote “The Producers” and “Hairspray,” and Bob Martin, who created the wonderful “The Drowsy Chaperone,” have come up with a witty script laced with enough cynicism to keep sentimentality in check.” I don’t want this movie to become a musical. Sorry; sounds like a disaster to me.
• Playbill.com has announced cast recordings for A Little Night Music, Finian’s Rainbow and Memphis (it was actually released this last week, but you can only buy it at the theatre and online for a ridiculous price – $25.00). It took quite a while to get a cast recording announced for all of these shows; for awhile, no one thought they would record A Finian’s Rainbow or Memphis. But, Andrew Lloyd Weber decides he’s going to release Love Never Dies (Phantom’s sequel) in March 2010, months before Broadway opening (though around the same time it opens on the West End). I guess when you are as rich as Lloyd Weber, you can do stuff like that. By the way, Love Never Dies has announced their Broadway opening: November 11th, 2010 (even though there is no theatre listed).
• If you saw Vanities at Theatreworks in 2006, you can finally get the cast recording (though it’s the Off-Broadway Cast Recording from this past summer). It’s only a digital release and you can buy it on iTunes.
• Pure Country is bound for Broadway in the 2010-11 season. Really? That’s all we can come up with? The only reason I might see this is because Warren Carlyle (A Finian’s Rainbow’s director) will be the director/choreographer.
• Did you see all of the reviews for A Little Night Music? It seems everyone is sitting on the fence on this one.

Cirque du Soleil’s “Ovo” Coming to San Jose, 2/4-3/7

Cirque du Soleil’s newest show Ovo will be coming to San Jose (Market & Taylor – right off 87) on February 4th, 2010. Due to unprecedented demand for tickets, Cirque du Soleil has added 3 additional weeks of performances to the San Jose engagement of Ovo. Tickets to the general public will be available Monday, December 21 at 9am at www.cirquedusoleil.com/ovo or at 1-800-450-1480.

Will you be buying tickets to see this? I’m pretty excited about this for a number of reasons: I think it’s awesome that Cirque du Soleil is only a few blocks from my house and that I don’t have to fly to Las Vegas to see their new show. Instead, they are coming right to me! I’ve only seen Mystere at Treasure Island Hotel in Las Vegas so I’ll be checking out Ovo on opening night! It looks pretty extraordinary. Make sure you get your tickets soon, as it sounds like it’s going to be a hot ticket!

Here’s some information about the show from the press release:

The Name
The name OVO means “egg” in Portuguese. This timeless symbol of the life cycle and birth of numerous insects represents the underlying thread of the show. Graphically, OVO hides an insect in its name: The two letter “Os” represent the eyes while the letter “V” forms the nose.

About OVO
OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives.

It’s love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual. OVO is overflowing with contrasts. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew.

Concert Review: Linda Eder @ The Marine’s Memorial Theatre, SF, 12/11

Judging by the audience members who attended Linda Eder’s concert at the Marine’s Memorial Theatre, I can probably say, I was one of the youngest people in the audience by a few decades. It was mostly forty-somethings and older couples. Now, that’s not meant to say there is anything wrong with that, I just felt I was a little bit out of my element. I had never seen Eder live before, so I was looking forward to seeing this Broadway diva in concert. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about her and I have a few friends who absolutely adore her. Overall, I felt she had some incredible vocals – some of the best I’ve ever heard – but it didn’t do very much for me because of the outdated arrangements that accompanied her.

This particular concert featured songs off her latest album, Soundtrack. (Obviously, all the songs on this CD are songs from movie soundtracks.) My favorite of the evening was “Accidentally in Love” originally sung by Counting Crows, off the soundtrack, Shrek (her son’s favorite movie). Another stand-out song of the evening was “Help” – The Beatles’ classic. It’s very rare that anyone can cover The Beatles well and Eder surpassed my expectations and blew me out of the water.  Of course, she sang a few holiday classics and a few jazz standards during the evening – “Blue Skies” was definitely my favorite. Eder’s banter with the audience was charming – telling small anecdotes, here and there, about her song choices, touring and her son, Jake.

The band – keyboards, bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar and drums – was excellent. They were tight, well-trained (probably some of the best musicians in the business), great soloists and had fantastic musicality. I just didn’t necessarily care for the arrangements; they seemed outdated and a little out of place. I came to realize how important the musical arrangements are after seeing “From Eden, With Love” – the Eden Espinosa concert at The Rrazz Room – earlier this week. Espinosa’s song arrangements were fresh, unique and kept everything very exciting. I didn’t feel like Eder’s arrangements were fresh or exciting but you might want to blame this on my age because the audience was absolutely loving it. They quickly jumped to their feet at the end of her set. While I sat there, stunned by Eder’s vocals, I just never really got into the music because of the arrangements.

Overall, Eder is one of the best vocalists that is touring the country right now. If you have the opportunity of checking her out, then do so. You need to hear this talented vocalist at least one time in your life.

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Listen to: “Accidentally in Love” – Soundtrack

Listen to: “Help” – Soundtrack

More Videos of Eden Espinosa at The Rrazz Room, 12/7

Here’s more videos, that I promised you, of Eden Espinosa at The Rrazz Room. Here’s the original review.

Eden Espinosa covering Dusty Springfield’s “I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten”

Eden Espinosa covering Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”

Eden Espinosa covering Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You”