The Officially Official Manoel Felciano Love Thread- Page 117
The Officially Official Manoel Felciano Love Thread
#2900The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 8:58pm
Bump, cause Mano's "son" is about to sing on AI.
Ha! I kill me.
#2901The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:02pmI feel like I've missed something...
ihearttheatre
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/12/05
#2902The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:04pm
There was a thread on the main board not too long ago comparing the appearances of Taylor from American Idol and Mano...
ETA: Here. https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=890057#1996713
That will explain it.
Updated On: 3/21/06 at 09:04 PM
#2904The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:06pmYeah, can't say I agreed with that thread...
#2905The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:06pm
Bump, cause Mano's "son" is about to sing on AI.
HAHAHA! 
Taylor is "29"... so, yeah. I think that joke started when we didn't have a clue about Mano's age.
#2906The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:09pm
Well, I knew Mano's age. But people were joking that Taylor looked like Mano's dad, and I said that given the cutoff age for AI, it was more likely that MANO was the dad, and Taylor the son.
And for the record, I SO don't see the similarities.
#2907The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:11pm
OY VEY. Why?! Mano is just...no.
*THROWS CONFETTI*
#2908The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:14pmI don't see it AT ALL... but that's because I *never* liked Taylor. He seems so OLD, and Mano seems so... not.
ihearttheatre
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/12/05
#2909The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:15pm
The gray hair makes him seem old.
ANYway...confetti!
Updated On: 3/21/06 at 09:15 PM
Bohemian1232
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/26/05
#2911The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:24pm
The confetti is the best.
#2912The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 9:29pm
I a. Have no idea why I ever said "Mano-shaped confetti" and b. have no idea why on earth I inspired myself to go make some.
Either way...*TOSSES*
#2913The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 10:53pm*hides until confetti madness is over*
#2914The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/21/06 at 10:53pmThe headshot! SO CUTE.
Zyla
Broadway Star Joined: 1/28/06
#2915The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/22/06 at 12:32am
^ Agreed. And seeing it that size...wow. I'm at a loss for words.
Well, I had an embarrassing fangirl moment today. A girl at my writer's club meeting mentioned Sweeney Todd, and I energetically blurted out something along the lines of "Oh my gosh, I love that show!" (even though all I know about it comes from the cast recordings and occasional video clips.) 
I wish I could have said something about the brilliant music, the witty lyrics, or the chills, goose bumps, and feelings of wonder, even exhiliration, it can produce. But no, all I say is "I love that show!"
I guess I can tell myself that I reacted out of surprise that a fellow university student knows about Sweeney Todd.
It shocks me that Sondheim is apparently so little-known outside of the theater community. That's a bit hypocritical of me - a year or so ago I didn't know who he was either. Like so many others, I do not live in New York or any other prominent theater area. I rely on cast recordings, web sites and, most recently, Broadwayworld radio, and now you guys with your reviews and openness in sharing your experience. Now I'm more familiar with musical theater and always willing to open my eyes to new (to me) shows and performers.
Anyway, as I listen to cast recordings and such, I feel disappointed that they seem to be restricted to a certain community (theater fans). In my opinion, at least, there is no other genre of music that touches me as much as musical theater. Songs are typically filled with substance, often a showcase for extreme talent (classically trained singers, singers who act their songs, etc.), frequently offering plenty of wit, and, of course, rarely forgettable. I believe that there are few other genres that can convey and evoke emotion as well as musical theater (due to the acting). That's just my opinion; I'm aware that there is plenty of talent outside of musical theater.
Still, I can't help but wish that many theater talents - Sondheim, for a prime example - were more generally well-known. In their days, the works of such witty and theatrical composers as Gershwin and Cole Porter were the popular songs. Now, mainstream music tends to be a purely commercial sea of conformity.
Sorry about the ramblings. I hope that something in there makes sense!
Liz, thanks for posting the headshot and letter! As everyone else has said, he seems like such a sweet guy. As if I needed another reason to be crazy about him...
Updated On: 3/22/06 at 12:32 AM
#2916The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/22/06 at 12:55am
I know what you mean (and how appropriate to have this discussion on Sondheim's birthday!!). It's amazing how Sondheim has remained this little secret between us. And even within the musical theater community, Sondheim is somewhat of an anomaly.
I was talking to a friend of mine, who was sharing his love of musical theater. We talked about My Fair Lady, Cinderella, South Pacific... When I mentioned Sondheim, he said he'd never heard of him. Which was SHOCKING to me. It's amazing how many people love Broadway musicals, and yet have never seen or heard a Sondheim show!
Sondheim has an avant garde, artistic sensibility, which is rare in the commercial world of musical theater. His work doesn't exactly have mass appeal. And he'd NEVER compromise his artistic vision for the sake of more commercial success. Which is exactly why we love him, and why he'll never be widely embraced by the masses.
But Sondheim has touched my life. And I feel privilged to be among the few who know his work. And his work will far succeed those of other, more commercially succesful and better known composers.
Updated On: 3/22/06 at 12:55 AM
Zyla
Broadway Star Joined: 1/28/06
#2917The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/22/06 at 1:11am
Then happy birthday to him, and many more years of success and creativity!
I'm sorry to threadjack, and this might sound a little odd, but recently I was thinking about possible comparisons between Sondheim and Shakespeare. Like the Bard, Sondheim has an extensive repertoire that includes comedies, tragedies, histories, romances. Both have created works that are nearly archetypal ("West Side Story" and "Gypsy" are staples in musical theater) and powerful, memorable characters. Both are known for inventive use of the English language, and so on. Sondheim is already a legend in his own time; can you imagine what will be said about him a hundred years or so from now?
Um, anyway...from what (admittedly little) I've heard of the new Sweeney recording, I think Mano interprets the material extremely well...*grows light-headed at the thought of "Not While I'm Around"*
Updated On: 3/22/06 at 01:11 AM
#2918The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/22/06 at 1:23amThere are definitely many similarities between Sondheim and Shakespeare. Which is why a production like this one makes perfect sense. The TEXT is so brilliant, that, as Donna Lynne Champlain said "you can mess with it!!" You can do radical intepretations, and give the piece new life.
#2919The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/22/06 at 9:19amIt's almost Friday, yay.
#2920The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/22/06 at 9:20amHooray!
#2921The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/22/06 at 9:29amExcited I am.
#2922The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/22/06 at 3:04pm*Battles off sharks to save Mano from the depths of page 2*
#2923The Land of Mano, where the violins roam freely
Posted: 3/22/06 at 3:12pmLiz, the SuperFan.
Please Start a New Thread!
Videos