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New Musicals

The New Musicals category of the 2005 holiday gift list was overloaded with something for everyone, led by The Light in the Piazza and including items ranging from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to Jersey Boys. Last year saw the release of 10 original Broadway cast albums, up from only two in 2004; 2006 collapsed back to – well, it's hard to define the number.

Technically speaking, there is only one original cast album of a new Broadway musical on our list: The entertaining, endearing and extremely funny Drowsy Chaperone [Ghostlight 7915584411]. The score is a tad more functional than flavorful, but no matter. Not when you have Sutton Foster, Bob Martin, Beth Leavel, Ed Hibbert, Danny Burstein and the rest on hand.

Billy Elliott [Decca Broadway B000613072] is a London, rather than Broadway, cast album. Still, based on current practice it may well be the only English-language cast album we get, even after Billy Elliott becomes — presumably — a big Broadway hit. Parts of Elton John's score are impressive, especially in comparison with his other musicals.

The same question – will there be a new cast album? — might be asked of Grey Gardens [PS Classics PS-642]. Will they issue a new-and-expanded disc reflecting the significant changes that were made between Playwrights Horizons and the Walter Kerr? In any event, the Off-Broadway cast album of Scott Frankel and Michael Korie's Grey Gardens heads our 2006 list, being the most impressive new theatre CD since Light in the Piazza. Headed by Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson, this one makes for fascinating listening.

Off-Broadway

The year has seen an impressive selection of Off-Broadway cast albums, with the Messrs. LaChiusa, Gordon and Flaherty all bringing musicals of note. All three, let it be said, underwent problematic productions (if you define problematic as meeting qualified reviews and disappointing business). Yes, all three were difficult; but two or three spins on the old victrola — or, rather, plays on the new iPod — make a pretty convincing argument for the talent on display.

See What I Wanna See [Ghostlight 7915584408] is yet another arresting score from Michael John LaChiusa. Yes, the man seems to have a tendency to alienate some listeners, but he can certainly write musical theatre. Idina Menzel, Marc Kudisch, Mary Testa and Henry Stram lead the cast. Dream True [PS Classics PS 9641] is a studio cast amalgamation of several versions of this problematic show which — alas — never found its form. Even so, the score (by Ian Gordon and Tina Landau) is impressively rich. The cast includes Brian D'Arcy James (again), Jason Danieley, Jessica Molaskey, Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara, and Jeff McCarthy — how's that for a lineup! Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' Dessa Rose [Jay CDJAY2 1392] is engrossing and adventurous on CD, which was perhaps not the case in its New York premiere. This is serious musical theatre with moments of great beauty and some superb writing. On hand is another incredibly strong cast: LaChanze, Rachel York, Norm Lewis and Michael Hayden. Also of note is It's Only Life [PS Classics PS-639], an anthology revue featuring the songs of John Bucchino. Bucchino is an intelligent and original songwriter; he has had far less exposure than his peers, but is well worth the acquaintance. The cast, again, is superb: Jessica Molaskey (again), Gavin Creel, Billy Porter, Brooks Ashmanskas and Andrea Burns.

One real, full Broadway musical, yes, but 2006 gave us quite a few cast albums to add to our collection. Continued...