GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS has announced that Between the Lines - Original Cast Recording, based on the recent new Off-Broadway production, will be released in streaming and digital formats on Friday, January 13, 2023. The album is currently available for pre-order. Produced by Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots, Indecent) and based on the novel by international bestselling author Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer, the show was directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun(Newsies) and choreographed by Paul McGill (The Legend of Georgia McBride). Between the Lines features a book by Timothy Allen McDonald (Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas) and music & lyrics by Elyssa Samsel & Kate Anderson (Apple TV+'s "Central Park"
, in their New York theatre debuts. The album is produced by Michael Croiter and Greg Anthony Rassen. Pre-save the album at Ghostlight.lnk.to/BetweenTheLines
I don't usually get involved on Off-Broadway threads on these boards, but having previously seen Jacobs, Burton, and Cavazos in other projects, I'm interested in giving this full score a first listen.
Track listing:
I loved this show (and the wonderful score) when I saw it. Looking forward to hearing it again.
The album will be released in streaming and digital formats on Friday, January 13, 2023, and is currently available for pre-order.
https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/between-the-lines-original-cast-album-release_94618.html
Releases tomorrow - here’s a first listen of Wren Rivera (Jules / Ondine), Vicki Lewis (Ms. Winx / Mrs. Brown / Jessamyn Jacobs), Jerusha Cavazos (Janice / Marina), and Arielle Jacobs (Delilah) performing “Do It for You”:
First listen of "Inner Thoughts", performed by Hillary Fisher (Allie McAndrews / Princess Seraphima), Cavazos, Sean Stack (Martin / Troll / Dad / Delivery Person), Lewis, and Will Burton (Frump / Ryan):
Jacobs and Jake David Smith (Prince Oliver) performing the title song:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/between-the-lines-original-cast-recording/1652656279
https://open.spotify.com/album/6VgVW45OzRVdX4rwCuutfa?si=wur_ugeBRGSbAetEe8LE8A
The whole album is finally out - who’s listening?
It’s an excellent recording - the score is still stronger than some of the newer things that have opened this season, just saying.
This is a cute, safe, jaunty piece of fluff; an hourlong dose of optimism that I certainly needed today. The New York Times called the score “innocuous” and I would agree with that too. To me, this was a mashup of Big Fish, Mean Girls, and basically every Disney animated musical since the late ‘80s.
The first act has a lot of the better numbers, though act two gets off to a strong start as well and has a delightful closer. For the most part, the music has a beating pop heart that should be a nice fit for the show. Samsel and Anderson have done some very nice work here.
The MVP of this album is undoubtedly Arielle Jacobs, though she did leave me a bit concerned after “Another Chapter”, which I think didn’t sound as sharp as the previously-released demo version. She settles in beautifully afterwards and gives one heck of a vocal performance throughout.
Jake David Smith and the kids offer some solid support. I actually liked “Crazy Chemistry” more than “Inner Thoughts”, compared to what some said on the show’s thread when it played last summer.
The new orchestrations for “A Whole New Story” are stunning, kudos to Greg Anthony Rassen. That final minute with the ensemble coming in with their “ah”s and the emphatic orchestral ending… WOW. A first act closer with 11 o’clock number potential.
I wasn’t enamored by Julia Murney and John Rapson’s excessive vibrato. Nevertheless, Murney gives an acting masterclass in “Leaps and Bounds”, and I look forward to hearing about Rapson as the Beadle in Sweeney Todd.
Vicki Lewis fares a little better than the other adults.
I look forward to seeing the whole show for the first time on Disney+, if the rumors are true.
Just adding on to say that having not seen the show yet (but knowing its premise), I already imagine act one concluding with a brilliant “Finding Wonderland”-esque staging moment during the final chorus of “A Whole New Story”:
When the “ah”s come in during “Why can’t mine change…” the fairytale creatures drift slowly on stage, surrounding Delilah, who is front and center and in full view. The audience can only see the creatures’ silhouettes as they freeze in position and “ah” their way through the last chorus. Then, when Delilah sings that last “and never look back…”, Oliver steps forward next to Delilah and offers his hand, to which she accepts. A bright light comes up right on the final chord, revealing everyone in full view for a split second, followed by a sudden blackout.
Stand-by Joined: 12/11/22
This is a guilty pleasure musical for me. I've been waiting to flail my arms to "In My Perfect World", the new "Love Is an Open Door". Although the cast album version lost a little quirky energy from the live show, I'm glad it's finally here. Then there are tracks like "Inner Thoughts" that's actually better than live. At my performance, Jeff Calhoun said the show was filmed for future release. Hopefully we'll get the proshot this year too.
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