"Broadway in a Box: The Essential Broadway Musicals Collection" Features 25 Cast Recordings; Extras, Too

By Andrew Gans
September 14, 2012

Masterworks Broadway has released "Broadway in a Box: The Essential Broadway Musicals Collection," featuring classic cast recordings of 25 Broadway musicals.

Each of the 25 discs is packaged in its own full-color mini-sleeve featuring the original album cover art. A 64-page companion booklet contains liner notes by theatre critic Peter Filichia and historical photos of many of the original productions. An introduction, cast list, list of musical numbers and awards are offered for each musical.

Among the stars represented on these recordings are Patti LuPone, John Raitt, Joel Grey, Lotte Lenya, John Cullum, Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, Roddy McDowall, Jerry Orbach, Chita Rivera, Elaine Stritch, Zero Mostel, Nathan Lane, Jack Klugman, Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Rudy Vallee, Darren McGavin, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Rex Harrison, Mary Martin, Theodore Bikel, Ezio Pinza, Victor Garber, Angela Lansbury and more.

"Broadway in a Box" also includes many extra features: Kander & Ebb's demo recordings for Cabaret; Ethel Merman singing alternate lyrics to "Some People" from Gypsy; recordings from German and Swedish productions of The Sound of Music; numbers cut from shows during tryouts; conversations and interviews with Jule Styne, Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews; and Martin Charnin and Charles Strouse giving the first public performance of "Tomorrow."

"Broadway in a Box: The Essential Broadway Musicals Collection" includes:

1. Annie (Original Broadway Cast)
2. Anything Goes (1987 Lincoln Center Theater Cast)
3. Cabaret (Original Broadway Cast)
4. Camelot (Original Broadway Cast)
5. Carousel (1965 Music Theater of Lincoln Center Cast)
6. Chicago (Original Broadway Cast)
7. A Chorus Line (Original Broadway Cast)
8. Company (Original Broadway Cast)
9. Fiddler on the Roof (Original Broadway Cast)
10. Guys and Dolls (1992 Broadway Cast)
11. Gypsy (Original Broadway Cast)
12. Hair (Original Broadway Cast)
13. Hello, Dolly! (Original Broadway Cast)
14. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Original Broadway Cast)
15. Into the Woods (Original Broadway Cast)
16. The King & I (1964 Music Theater of Lincoln Center Cast)
17. Man of La Mancha (2002 Broadway Cast)
18. My Fair Lady (Original Broadway Cast)
19. Oklahoma! (1979 Broadway Cast)
20. Oliver! (Original Broadway Cast)
21. Show Boat (1966 Music Theater of Lincoln Center Cast)
22. The Sound of Music (Original Broadway Cast)
23. South Pacific (Original Broadway Cast)
24. Sweeney Todd (Highlights) (Original Broadway Cast)
25. West Side Story (Original Broadway Cast)

For more information visit www.masterworksbroadway.com.

Visit PlaybillStore.com to view theatre-related recordings for sale.