DIVA TALK: Chatting with Spelling Bee's Lisa Howard, Hair on Disc and Billy on Broadway
By Andrew Gans
24 Jun 2005
FOR THE RECORD: Hair
Any recording that begins with Lillias White and ends with Norm Lewis who possess two of the richest, most powerful and versatile singing voices in the musical theatre today would be impossible not to love. So, it's no surprise that I wholeheartedly recommend the new Hair cast recording, featuring most of the performers who took part in last fall's Actors' Fund of America benefit concert. Recently released on the Ghostlight Records label, the 31-track disc will benefit the Actors' Fund and boasts a mix of established musical theatre stars Liz Callaway, Harvey Fierstein, Sherie Rene Scott and Adam Pascal as well as some of the most exciting up-n comers: Eden Espinosa, Euan Morton, John Tartaglia and Shoshana Bean.
Beginning with White's thrilling, riff-filled "Aquarius," the disc moves from one showstopper to the next. Among the many highlights: Ana Gasteyer, now starring in the Chicago mounting of Wicked, displays a great belt in "Dead End"; Laura Benanti once again delights with her beautiful, lilting soprano in "Initials"; Adam Pascal is simply electric in the upbeat, toe-tapping "I Got Life"; Gavin Creel impresses with "Going Down"; Raϊl Esparza brings fire to the show's title number; "American Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson, better than any of this past season's "Idols," wraps her powerful, rangy belt around "Easy to Be Hard"; Annie Golden charms with "Frank Mills"; Julia Murney scores with a beautifully built "Where Do I Go?," which may be the disc's most exciting track; Eden Espinosa lets her belt loose on "Hippie Life"; two consecutive tracks feature a wonderful belt-off between the gals of "Black Boys" (Kathy Brier, Orfeh and Ann Harada) and "White Boys" (Brandi Chavonne Massey, Ledisi and Shayna Steele); Sherie Rene Scott lends her hypnotic voice to "Walking in Space"; Liz Callaway brings her golden, rounded tones to a wonderful version of "Good Morning Starshine"; Darius de Haas and Paul Castree's dueling tenors do well with "What a Piece of Work Is Man"; and the aforementioned Norm Lewis pours out his vibrato-filled voice on "Let the Sunshine In."
Featuring musical direction and additional arrangements by Seth Rudetsky, who co-conceived the concert with the Actors' Fund, the "Hair" CD with a playing time of over 70 minutes is a must for musical theatre and diva lovers.
DIVA TIDBITS
I have to admit that Billy Elliot, which recently opened at London's Victoria Palace Theatre, is the first West End musical in years that has me anxiously awaiting a Broadway arrival. I've heard and read nothing but raves about the new musical, which is based on Stephen Daldry's film of the same name and features music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall and direction by Daldry. Among the many accolades Billy has received: "The greatest British musical I've ever seen" (Daily Telegraph), "Brit Musical of the decade has arrived" (Daily Express), "The best British musical since Oliver" (Daily Mirror) and "Billy's a whiz. He'll lift your spirits, make you cry and send you home high with hope" (Daily Mail). There has been some discussion that Billy may be too British for American audiences, but hopefully this week's review in the New York Times will dispel that notion and hasten a New York transfer. In his write-up the Times' Ben Brantley said, "[Billy is] a sentimental slam dunk, the first musical since the New York production of Rent to exert such a complete emotional hold on its audience . . . . You have to go back a long time to find a musical as thoroughly integrated, perhaps all the way to the first production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, a musical as chilling as Billy Elliot is warming." Three different young actors (James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower) rotate in the title role of the young dancer, whose show-stopper, "Electricity," will be released on a four-track CD single (performed by composer Elton John) July 11: "I can't really explain it/ I haven't got the words/ It's a feeling that you can't control/ I suppose it's like forgetting/ losing who you are/ And at the same time/ something makes you whole/ And then I feel a change/ Like a fire deep inside/ Something bursting me wide open/ Impossible to hide/ And suddenly I'm flying/ Flying like a bird/ Like electricity/ Electricity/ And I'm free/ I'm free." While the role of Billy may be the most demanding, the part of most interest to readers of this column would seem to be Mrs. Wilkinson, the dance teacher who spots Billy's talents. Created by Haydn Gwynne on the London stage, it sounds like the perfect role to bring Betty Buckley back to Broadway. Buckley, of course, triumphed in two London-to-Broadway transfers, Cats and Sunset Boulevard. (By the way, to listen to a preview of two songs from the musical "Electricity" and "The Letter" visit Click Here.)
The 2nd annual Broadway Unplugged concert will be held Sept. 19 at Town Hall. Conceived, produced, written and hosted by cabaret critic Scott Siegel, the 8 PM concert at Town Hall will feature a host of Broadway favorites performing without amplification. Among those scheduled to take part in the microphone-free evening are Christine Andreas, Ron Bohmer, Chuck Cooper, George Dvorsky, Sutton Foster, Debbie Gravitte, Marc Kudisch, Norm Lewis, Rebecca Luker, Julia Murney, Christiane Noll, Brad Oscar, Emily Skinner and Mary Testa. Additional performers are expected to join the star-studded line-up. Town Hall is located in Manhattan at 123 West 43rd Street. Tickets, ranging from $25 $60, are available by calling (212) 307-4100.
More stars have been added to the upcoming tribute to composer Stephen Sondheim celebrating his recent 75th birthday at the Hollywood Bowl. Recently added to the star-studded roster of performers taking part in the July 8 evening are James Barbour, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Alexander Gemignani, Josh Groban, Anne Hathaway, Eric McCormack, Jubilant Sykes and Adam Wylie. These performers join the previously announced Jason Alexander, Carol Burnett, Len Cariou, Barbara Cook, Jason Danieley, Angela Lansbury, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Bernadette Peters and Vanessa Williams. The Hollywood Bowl is located at 2301 Highland Avenue in Hollywood, CA. For tickets to Stephen Sondheim's 75th: The Concert, visit www.hollywoodbowl.org.
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.
