The Circle of Life (and the Love of Song)

Seen the clip making the rounds of Facebook of the cast of The Lion King singing on a flight to Sydney?  If you haven't seen it, go check it out.  We'll wait!

Well, dang. It is such a powerful song (even without the lead vocal) that it still brings tears to my eyes. I'm sure that if you, like me, had a chance to see it in the theatre you will never forget that opening number, ever. Wow...

After watching that, I had to post the two following clips. They are both so good!! 

The Circle of Life at the 1998 Tony Awards

Then, from London: The Circle of Life at the 2012 Olivier Awards

So, why do I love this song so much? There are a few reasons. Obviously it brings back memories of seeing the show live. The Lion King is such a change from "regular theatre." Yes, it has been called "the show with puppets and masks" but it is so much more. There is a pure theatricality to this work, and so much imagination went into the show that it fills me with great joy, and awe at the art. That joy and awe are what make me cry, cry at the beauty, the simplicity, the theatricality, the magic, the art. 

BUT, it is also the full-throated singing that goes along with it. Like the closing number of the shows "Hair", or "Spring Awakening", or even some of the songs in "War Horse." It is a single voice, joined by others in a great melody that grows, and takes you with it. Simplicity, beauty, theatricality.

Here is probably one of my favorite examples. Sure, it is the brilliance of Bernstein, and the great lyrics but just listen to that build, and the release. dang!!! I can barely even hear the opening strains of the orchestra without getting emotional. (Maybe I need to be on medication...hmmm...)

Candide: Make Our Garden Grow

And one more example of what I love. One single voice, starting out, others joining, almost sounding acapella but it isn't. So stunning.

Spring Awakening: Song of Purple Summer

Happy listening and enjoy the rabbit hole of Broadway clips online.  See you in a few days!

Hair - "The Flesh Failures / Let The Sunshine In"
Spring Awakening - "Song of Purple Summer"
War Horse - "Only Remembered"
Candide - "Make Our Garden Grow"

So You Love Submissions Only ...

Santino Fontana and Kate Wetherhead

Have you checked out the hilarious web series Submissions Only yet?

Created by Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger, this series about a casting director (Colin Hanlon), his aspiring actress bestie (Wetherhead) and the travails of New York stage life features hilarious theater jokes and tons of fabulous cameos.  It's wildly addictive and funny.

Looking for more online shows starring wildly talented theater folks?  The New York Times has a handy guide in their recent article:   If You Can’t Get Onstage, Go Online, which features enough do-it-yourself web series to keep you glued to your computer for weeks.

And in case you thought our local theater scene wasn't up on this fun trend, check out Theater People: A Drama About the People Behind the Drama, written, directed and produced by Matthew G. Anderson and starring a host of local actors and many faces that are well-known to Twin Cities theatergoers.   A complete list of cast members can be found on the website.  Here's looking forward to a new season of this fun series!

If You Loved Tristan & Yseult ...

If you loved Kneehigh's inventive and ingenious production of Tristan & Yseult at the Guthrie, you only have a few more days to catch it again.

But if you can't see it again, fear not. You can still bask in the glow of its romantic, quirky haze with a couple of cool online links:

Interested in learning more about the production, Kneehigh's work, and the original story?  Check out Kneehigh's Student Resource Pack, which includes this utterly lovely line from Mark Shepherd, Kneehigh's Joint Artistic Director (with Emma Rice):  "Why do we do theatre? Because anything could happen and leaps in the dark are imperative."  Amen!

Loved the evocative music? The Guthrie and Kneehigh put together a great YouTube playlist of the music used in Tristan & Yseult, from Wagner to Yma Sumac to Nick Cave.

Kneehigh's website has a wealth of fascinating resources about this amazing company, based on the Cornwall coast.  They work in barns!  They have a festival called Asylum!  So cool.

Their Watch, Look and Listen page has tons of videos of their past work. Definitely check out the blog and see what the cast members had to say about their visit to Minneapolis.

Adieu, Kneehigh and the Club of the Unloved.  Have a great time at Chicago Shakespeare!  And come back soon!

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You ... 2014 Season Announcements

A couple of theaters have announced their upcoming seasons.  Check out the links and plan up your next year accordingly!

Hennepin Theatre Trust announced its 2014–2015 Thrivent Financial Broadway on Hennepin Season (16-page season brochure PDF). 

Some new offerings on tour include Pippin, Motown the Musical and Kinky Boots, all currently running on Broadway.  The Book of Mormon and Jersey Boys are back, and a couple of eyebrow-raising shows;  Dirty Dancing and I Love Lucy Live on Stage.  Also included in the season is Theater Latte Da's Oliver.


The Ordway also announced their 2014-2014 Season.  Musical theater shows include Evita, Nice Work If You Can Get It, and the very well-received A Christmas Story.  Other offerings include Damn Yankees, Camelot and The Pirates of Penzance.  Hmm.

Park Square Theatre announced its new season and has expanded its number of shows due to the Boss Stage, their new black box space.  Shows of interest next season include Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play, which was well-reviewed at Playwrights Horizon in New York, 33 Variations (warning: sound--I mean, really?) and The Color Purple.

A few shows are making encore appearance at Park Square, including Trick Boxing, created by and starring the wildly talented Brian Sostek, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol and Two Sugars, Room for Cream.

More season announcements to come--stay tuned!