Passing Strange Cast Recording Makes In-Store Debut July 15

By Adam Hetrick
July 15, 2008

The live original Broadway cast recording of Passing Strange officially hits record stores nationwide July 15.

While digital music fans have been able to download Passing Strange's original cast recording exclusively on iTunes since May 27, hardcore theatre fans — who anticipate production photos, artwork, complete lyrics and liner notes — now have the opportunity to look inside the Ghostlight Records cast recording.

The original Broadway cast album was recorded on April 14 in a live session held on the stage of the Belasco Theatre. The recording captures 24 songs from the musical as well as the applause and reactions from the live audience of friends and fans in attendance.

Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records president Kurt Deutsch and Bill Rosenfield serve as executive producers for the original cast recording, with Passing Strange songwriters Stew and Rodewald as the CD's producers.

The track list for Passing Strange follows:

"Prologue (We Might Play All Night)"
"Baptist Fashion Show"
"Church Blues Revelation/Freight Train"
"Arlington Hill"
"Sole Brother"
"Must Have Been High"
"Mom Song"
"Merci Beacoup, M. Godard"
"Amsterdam"
"Keys (Marianna)"
"Keys (It's Alright)"
"We Just Had Sex"
"Stoned"
"Berlin: A Bloke Hole With Taxis"
"May Day (There's A Riot Goin' Down)"
"What's Inside Is Just A Lie/And Now I'm Ready to Explode"
"Identity"
"The Black One"
"Come Down Now"
"Youth's Unfinished Song"
"Work the Wound"
"Passing Phase"
"Cue Music"
"Love Like That"

Producers of the Tony-nominated musical announced that the rock tuner will close on July 20. However, Passing Strange will live on: Academy Award-nominated director Spike Lee will film the musical before a live audience at the Belasco Theatre on July 19.

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Passing Strange features a Tony Award-winning book and lyrics by Stew and music by Stew and his longtime musical partner Heidi Rodewald of The Negro Problem.

The musical – which opened on Broadway Feb. 28 following a critically lauded run at the Public Theater last summer – features the original Public cast, including Stew, de'Adre Aziza, Daniel Breaker, Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo, Chad Goodridge and Rebecca Naomi Jones.

Passing Strange co-author Rodewald heads an onstage band that features Stew as well as Jon Spurney, Christian Cassan and Christian Gibbs.

The semi-autobiographical musical incorporates elements of Stew's life to tell the story of a young black bohemian who leaves behind his middle-class, church-ruled upbringing in Los Angeles to travel abroad in search of his artistic and personal identity.

Passing Strange features choreography by Karole Armitage, scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy and lighting design by Kevin Adams.

Passing Strange's Broadway venture is produced by the Shubert Organization, Inc., Elizabeth Ireland McCann, the Public Theater and Berkeley Rep.

Tickets are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.TeleCharge.com. The Belasco Theatre is located at 111 West 44th Street in Manhattan.