Broadway Musical Musings: The New Cast Recording of She Love Me

Broadway Musical Musings: The New Cast Recording of She Love Me

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

The definitive cast recording of any Broadway musical is always a matter of personal preference, so it is really hard to state that one particular recording supersedes all others. One person might make an argument for a particular performer, others might prefer a certain sound quality, while still others are attracted to the perfect packaging. Since I will not assert that personal preferences are wrong (what's that? It's okay to have differing opinions?), I won't call the new cast recording of the 2016 revival of She Loves Me “definitive”. I will, however, call it “MY definitive” and I am certain that it will be my go-to recording of the show for decades to come. 

Saying “Goodbye” to Trip of Love

Saying “Goodbye” to Trip of Love

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

“It’s a Sign of the Times”, but alas the Off-Broadway musical revue Trip of Love is closing at the end of this week. I know that there are so many of you out there who wonder why I care, but I assure you that Trip of Love has given me a great deal of joy the seven times I have seen it. That’s right, I said “seven times”. No, it is not the perfect musical. No it isn’t Sondheim. It’s something else entirely: It is not only a great deal of fun, but it is one of the finest examples of an ensemble working their asses off for eight-shows a week. If you’ve seen the show, you know what I mean, even if the show itself is not exactly your cup of tea

Broadway Musical Time Machine: Looking Back at Assassins

Broadway Musical Time Machine: Looking Back at Assassins

Mark Robinson
Theatre Time Machine

A new musical by Stephen Sondheim is usually met with rabid curiosity and excitement leading up to its opening, so in 1990 when the musical Assassins readied itself at Off-Broadway's Playwrights Horizons, theatre fans couldn't wait to see the result. We were all more than ready to see how Mr. Sondheim would create songs for the disillusioned men and women who attempted (and sometimes succeeded) killing Presidents of the United States. John Weidman would provide a book that used the failed American Dream as the through line to bring these notorious character into the same world. With Jerry Zaks at the helm as director, and a cast that included a vast array of Broadway's finest talent (Victor Garber, Terrence Mann, Debra Monk, Annie Golden, Jonathan Hadary, Lee Wilkof among them) Assassins looked to be something unique in musical theatre terms. Everyone assumed it would be well-received and then transfer to Broadway where it would settle in for an artful but not particularly long run. It didn't.

Broadway Musical Musings: Cats: A Return from the Heavyside Layer

Broadway Musical Musings: Cats: A Return from the Heavyside Layer

Mark Robinson
Broadway Musical Musings

Cats is back. Though I am not particularly ready for it, I cannot dispute the fact the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical of my childhood, based on the poems of T.S. Eliot, is readying itself for a revival at Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre. I imagine many folks are excited by its return, especially those who have a fond “Memory” of their first visit to a Broadway show, ushered into the thrill of live theatre by this feline extravaganza. For some, this revival will be a cosmic return from the Heavyside Layer.  

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