December 14, 2007

I was listening to Fresh Air yesterday with Terry Gross. She was interviewing the producer of Sweeney Todd, which, I'm sure you're aware, is the motion picture version of Sondheim's musical–starring His Hotness Johnny Depp and directed by good friend Tim Burton.

According to the interview, which you can listen to in its entirety here, Richard Zanuck, the producer, hadn't heard Johnny Depp sing until eight weeks before production started.

As he put it: sets were being built, casting was being finalized, costumes were being designed…and he hadn't heard Johnny sing. Eep.

Neither had Steven Sondheim, who Tim Burton had been negotiating and pleading with for years before he gave permission for the musical to be turned into a film. In fact, two of his stipulations for doing the film were that he had to have approval for Sweeney and also for Mrs. Lovett (played by Helena Bonham Carter). 

In fact, apparently, Johnny met privately with Sondheim and all had expected that he'd sing for him then…but no go. Yet, Sondheim approved him anyway. (And why wouldn't he? I mean, really. Who else would be so perfect for the role, singer or no singer?)

And…here's the stunner of them all: even Tim Burton hadn't heard Johnny sing!

But when he finally did, the way Zanuck tells it, Burton walked into his office (which was next door to his) and put a tape deck down in front of him with headphones, and then just walked out, with no explanation. Zanuck didn't know what it was or what to expect, so he put the headphones on and played it.

It was so good that Zanuck rushed over to Burton's office and they were literally crying…they were so pleased.

(Hint: if you listen to the interview above, you'll hear a snippet from one of the songs.)

So, now, of course, I must get the soundtrack. I mean, to hear Johnny sing? Enough to make two grown men cry? *sob* Off to Rhapsody I go….

PS. Is it wrong of me to look at that picture and want to sit in his lap?

October 24, 2007

Don't ask me where I got that blog title, or topic.

I guess it was because I heard a snippet of that song on NPR this morning, and so now it's in my head. I'm ready to leave for a two-hour meeting this morning, then a lunch date (good grief, when am I going to write today?)…so off I'll go with that song in my head–and there could be worse earworms, no?

Which brings me to the question: Do you have a favorite "old" or "revival" musical? How about a newer one (ie, Webber, Rice/John, etc.)?

I used to be involved in theater productions in high school, and then when I got out of college, I met my Music Man doing community theater. Since I can't sing, I'm rarely onstage, but in those years just out of college, I got a bit of a reputation for being a damn good stage manager and assistant director.

I like to remind my Music Man that when we met, he was merely a cast member in a community theater production of Oliver! (to date one of my favorites, because that's how we met)…and I was the assistant director/stage manager. Which meant that he had to do what I said.

Unfortunately, that didn't last long. Sigh.

Anyway, there was, of course, much backstage hanky-panky going on–so much so that once he nearly missed his entrance.

But I digress.

So, because of my involvement with plays, I have my favorites–some of which are ones I've been involved in. Oliver! and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella in particular. I love Webber's Phantom of the Opera, which should come as no surprise to anyone who hangs around here much, and I really enjoyed Spamalot.

I confess…I have never seen Les Mis, which my editor contends is The Best, and I'm desperate to see Wicked.

So…you? 

October 17, 2007

By "there," I mean back.

Back to high school, adolescence, first kisses, clammy-hand-holding, dances where the guys and girls line up across the room from each other as if an invisible wall separates them.

For me, I'll always remember Stairway to Heaven as the backdrop for my first real kiss, courtesy of a guy named Freddie.

And those first ringing chords of You Shook Me All Night Long immediately transport me to middle school, when I discovered heavy metal and bought my first record album.

My senior prom theme song was Almost Paradise. And the theme for one of our fall dances was I'm So Excited, though we wanted Let's Go Crazy. The nuns wouldn't let us use anything by Prince (even though we tried to explain that it had nothing to do with sex…and little did they know what I'm So Excited was really about).

Melt With You was a fraternity party staple in my college days. And we all listened to Where the Streets Have No Name.

So, what takes you there?

October 12, 2007

I'm married to a Music Man, as you well know. Over the years, he's done much to broaden my horizons musically, even though he's a music snob.

He's introduced me to Jeff Buckley and David Gray and Ben Folds Five and Ray LaMontagne and Sinead Lohan–and some of my other favorites.

But I always like it when I find someone before he does, someone that he actually likes (unlike Dave Matthews, which I originally found, or Maroon 5, The Fray, and Nickelback, at whom he rolls his eyes).

Some of my successes (and believe me, I keep track of them) are The Red House Painters, The White Stripes, Liz Phair and James Blunt (although the rolling of the eyes is beginning to commence with Mr. Blunt).

Anyway, so it's time for me to find some other new artist that I'm going to like–someone along the lines of some I've listed above.

So I'm looking for suggestions. Anyone?

What are you listening to that I might like?