Musical Theatre Mondays

It's been one of those work weeks where a good breakdown feels appropriate. So where do I turn? Gypsy . Specifically "Rose's Turn." And you know what I love about this song? It can be done a bunch of different ways (as evidenced below) and each is so nuanced and perfect that you can't help but hope that someday they do like a Gypsy mega concert and everyone gets to take turns playing Mama Rose and Laura Benanti is always Gypsy (obviously). First, we'll just figure out how to bring a few people back from the dead, BUT THEN - we can concert. Here are some of my favorite Mamas below. I timed it out so they all start at the same spot and you can hear how different they each approach. I think my favorite is Patti, what about you? Imelda Staunton - I wish there was a good *legal* filming of this scene because the other promo stuff I've seen of Imelda is amazing. Bette Midler  - This one is fun and campy like only Bette can do. This is the first

The first time I ever heard a song from Ragtime , I was immediately obsessed. I was in high school and "Your Daddy's Son" would be on repeat for the next few years of my life. But silly me never really put much thought into listening to any other songs from the show or even learning what it was about. But after Saturday's showing of Ragtime and Centerpoint Legacy Theatre, I finally understand what I've been missing out on. Ragtime, with a book by Terrence McNally and music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Aherns, is the story of America at the turn of the century told through the eyes of three different groups of people: Mother, Father and Younger Brother in New Rochelle, Coalhouse and Sarah in Harlem and Tateh and Little Girl as they emigrate to New York from Latvia. Based on the novel of the same name by E.L. Doctorow, Ragtime has historical figures from the time sprinkled throughout the show to give you a feel for what was going on in politics, ent