Bright lights big city

So I just saw my library got the recording in. I had never heard of it. I got it and though Im confused out of my mind I find a few of tunes are stuck in my head. And the cast is unbelivable Patrick Wilson, Jesse L Martin, Sherie Rene Scott, Gavin Creel, Keli O'Hara, Ceilia Kenan Bolger, Eden Espionsa. Thats nuts how great the cast was. How long did it run. Whatever became of this show?

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yea the music is very catchy and there was a production last year. But this original cast is amazing. Everyone of those people except for two have gotten tony nominations. And Christine Ebersole was also in the cast too. She already has one and soon to get anotherl. So why with this cast had I never heard of it. Its sort of a shame.

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Theaterboy, there are a great many threads and posts discussing the recent Philly production. Do a search and i'm pretty sure everything you could possibly want to know was discussed.

the philly production was amazing . my freind was in it , i never got to see it but what i saw of clips and such was amazing

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yes, is there a 'who sings what' list?
ive had the cd for awhile and i love it sooo much. and i know who is in the cast but i have trouble placing some of the female voices.

Also, does anyone have a detailed spoiler of the show? It's hard to follow the plot solely based off of the songs.

Gosh, the Philly production kind of spoiled me on the cast recording, so I haven't listened to it in a while, but from off the top of my head...

Ebersole sings Fact and Fiction, You Couldn't Handle It Jamie, and My Son
Eden sings Coma Baby
Sharon Leal sings To Model and Camera Wall
Celia is "Mary O'Brien McCann" and sings in Sunday Morning 6am and "Missing."
Sherie Renee Scott sings Kindness and Perfect Feeling
Ann Marie Milazzo is Jamie's mom and sings all of those parts, i.e. Happy Birthday Darling and Mummies at the Met

I'm sure I'm missing a bit...I know Celia and Eden both have bits in things like "Odeon" and the title song...but that's what I remember.

That was the show at NYTW that brought Patrick Wilson to the attention of NY theatre community. I saw it and Patrick stood out as excellent, though the show was lacking, especially in the book. Patrick went straight from there to Broadway, next to a short-lived Gershwin musical on Broadway called "Fascinatin' Rhythm" which I also happened to see. Again, Patrick again stood out and went on to be cast in The Full Monty and then Oklahoma on Broadway, both of which I enjoyed seeing. From there Patrick flew of to the movies, making Phantom. I don't think he's been on stage in a musical since, unfortunately. I did see his Barefoot in the Park, but the play has not stood up to the passage of time.

Patrick stayed loyal to his early Off Broadway musical and he was probably the very reason Bright Lights, Big City was able to, later on, get this studio recording of the musical, which I understand has progressed into a new incarnation.

Updated On: 5/28/07 at 08:35 PM

Annmarie Milazzo was also in the original NYTW off-Broadway cast. Actually, I thought she (and "Are You Still Holding My Hand") was the best thing about it.

I tend to shamelessly rock out to "You Couldn't Handle It Jamie" in my car.

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The original production played at the NYTW in 1999. As others have said, Patrick Wilson and Anne Marie Milazzo are the only two actors from that production who are on the studio recording.
I saw the NYTW production and was a little bit obsessed with it for a while. The story is easier to understand when you are watching it on stage than just listening to the songs, but it is sung-through (a la RENT) so there isn't really a book in the traditional sense. I also think some songs and/or interludes were cut from the CD. If I can find my playbill from NYTW I will post the song list, and cast list if people are interested.

Gavin sings the "Brother" songs.

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Good FREAKIN' Lord, I love this cast recording. I, no lie, am listening to it at this very moment for the first time, and I already want to start over again.

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