
THOMAS SHEPARD, INC. By Peter Filichia
“Maybe it was a compliment. I’ll never know.” So writes Thomas Z. Shepard in his most informative memoir, Recording Broadway: A Life in Cast Albums. He’s referring to the leading character in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. Franklin Shepard, the composer who turned out to have feet of the hardest clay, has a last name spelled […]

BEAU COMES OUT OF THE BOX
BEAU reminds us of an unshakable truth. When you were growing up – with as much love as you may have had from your parents – you probably received more from your grandparents. That’s what Ace experiences in BEAU. It’s the musical that received a world premiere recording on Masterworks Broadway six years ago, where […]

ONE SONG GLORY By Peter Filichia
Everyone I spoke to before the Tonys knew he’d be a shoo-in. And indeed, Jak Malone won the Best Featured Actor in a Musical prize. When his name was announced, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one giving a definitive, up-and-done head-bobbing, accompanied by a loud “Yes!” Granted, part of Malone’s achievement is his frenetic […]

HALLELUJAH, LESLIE AND DANIELLE! By Peter Filichia
Leslie Uggams was certainly surprised last week. Oh, she knew that she was receiving a Lifetime Achievement trophy from The Theatre World Awards. We had announced that weeks ago, and she was thrilled that we thought of her for that honor. What she didn’t know is that we had arranged for Danielle Chambers, her daughter, […]

THE PRODUCERS: YES, THEY DID IT By Peter Filichia
THE PRODUCERS: THE NEW MEL BROOKS MUSICAL experienced that famous theory. Starting 25 years ago, THE PRODUCERS indeed saw that bad luck comes in threes. “Wait,” you’re saying, “it was a smash hit, wasn’t it?” Let’s start before the very beginning. In early 1998, Brooks received yet another offer to turn his 1968 Oscar-winning screenplay […]