50 Upbeat and/or Optimistic Showtunes to Get Us Through

50 Upbeat and/or Optimistic Showtunes to Get Us Through

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

Let’s face it. It has been a daunting few days for most of us with all that is going on in the world at the moment. Whether you are feeling anxious, closed-in, confused, disheartened, or are soldiering through with determination and an upbeat attitude, we all could use a little pick-me-up as we adjust to social distancing, toilet paper hoarding, and recipes made from pasta and rice. In an effort to stay positive, I have put together a playlist to help you fill the time, a combination of songs that will make you smile and maybe offer you some hope.

Album Review: "Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Disco Fever Dream"

Album Review: "Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Disco Fever Dream"

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

This month marks Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday, and there is much to celebrate regarding his music, his lyrics, and his influence over the shaping of musical theatre for the last sixty-plus years. As Mr. Sondheim becomes a nonagenarian, Broadway Records provides us with a unique way to explore his music. The new album “Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Disco Fever Dream” offers an “off-the-beaten-path” assemblage of many of his well-known (and lesser-known) tunes dished up in a decidedly clever format that evokes mirror balls, Donna Summer, and Studio 54.

Remembering Jerry Herman and the Joyous Music He Made

Remembering Jerry Herman and the Joyous Music He Made

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

On December 26, 2019 we lost one of Broadway’s greatest composers, one who infused every song he penned with emotion and a deep understanding of the character for whom he was writing. Jerry Herman, with his melody and lyrics, brought to life some of musical theatre’s most colorful and unforgettable characters, reminding us to celebrate life. One should not underestimate the joy, pure, unadulterated joy that he brought to us through songs for characters like Dolly Levi, Mame Dennis, Georges and Albin. This kind of fun, melody and embrace of the human spirit is rare in the contemporary musical theatre, something that is sorely lacking. Though he hadn’t written for the musical stage in some time, with Herman’s passing, we have lost a one-of-a-kind voice from a time where musical comedy scores were joyous, infectious, warm, and, most importantly, illuminating without being starkly literal. 

Women Who Wrote for the Stage and the Book You’ll Want to Own

Women Who Wrote for the Stage and the Book You’ll Want to Own

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance

Fans of theatre and those with a respect for the women who have created it will want to add the book From Aphra Behn to Fun Home: A Cultural History of Feminist Theater to their collection. Written by theatre historian and journalist Carey Purcell, the book is an essential read for anyone who knows that women have struggled to be heard in the male-dominated profession of playwriting. Purcell walks us through history, pointing out the places where women’s voices have shown through, shaping and redefining the art of playwriting. 

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