Bright lights big city

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 4:27pm

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?

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 4:32pm

There was a production in Philly last summer. I think Orfeh was in it. I love the music.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 4:34pm

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.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 4:35pm

I am pretty sure it was a studio recording.

Orfeh and Andy were indeed both in it last summer at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 4:52pm

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.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 4:54pm

The only individual on the recording that was actually in the cast is Patrick Wilson (of course he was then just out of college and completely unknown). The rest came on just for the studio recording.

The original production was a giant bomb.

[wicked4life51]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:17pm

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

[bobert5353]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:27pm

Who played who on the cast recording? The only voice I can pick out is Eden Espinosa.

[goofy108]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:29pm

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.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 6:52pm

The recording has a booklet that has charector names and who sings them. I know jamie is Patrick Wilson. Tad is Jesse L. Martin. Eden sings Coma Baby. Those are the 3 i know off the top of my head without the recording by me.

[bobert5353]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 7:40pm

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

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 7:46pm

IiiiiiiiIIIIiiiiiiiIIIIII Wanna have sex tonight!!!




Greatest. Song. Ever.

[fishergirl819]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 7:58pm

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.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 8:05pm

Like it overall.


I always thought ComaBaby got her screen name from this show.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 8:35pm

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

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 10:13pm

I, too, just got this cast recording and love it. Not on first listen, but it definitely grew on me on the second time through. It has a cast that can't be beat; Kelli O'Hara is even listed in the liner notes as singing backup- something I never thought I would read. "My Son" KILLS me on every listen; it is very simple harmonically and melodically, but it is still so tragic. Well done, Goodman. Well done.

[joniray]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 10:40pm

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.

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 10:45pm

I love the BLBC cast recording. When I first got it, I listened to it non-stop. I'd love to see a production of it one day, although I think I've been spoiled by the great cast on the recording.

[neelyohara]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 10:46pm

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

[perfectliar]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 3:25am

There wasn't really much in the way of a book, so the songs were all the plot you got. Which is why it was never very successful, because it IS confusing to follow the story through those songs.

[avab802]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 12:59pm

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.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 1:07pm

The cast of the Philly production was incredible and if you refer to the dozens of old threads and posts on this topic, you'll hear what all the "problems" were. It all goes back to it not having a book, good or otherwise.

[raphael06]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 1:17pm

Gavin sings the "Brother" songs.

[ComaBaby01]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 1:17pm

Good guess, taz

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 4:37pm

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.