Children of Eden?

[bwaybuff012]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 3:40am

Okay I came across a short article about a Symphonic Edition of Children of Eden the other day and my curiousity got the better of me... Does anyone have any info about it? What I heard sounded interesting but information is really scarce??
Updated On: 6/22/11 at 03:40 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 5:08am

What kind of info are you looking for? Where did you look? It took me a very quick google search to find the wiki entry below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Eden


I saw an amateur produciton and I highly disliked it. But I'm often not interested in biblical stories.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 8:11am

Maybe this?

[BWIDB Charlie]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 8:33am

Thanks for asking, bwaybuff012. I'm actually producing the production you reference.

The production uses an orchestra of 50 musicians (versus the typical 13-musician version) and sounds absolutely fabulous. If you're a fan of the score, I think you'd have a great appreciation for how it now sounds.
Updated On: 6/22/11 at 08:33 AM

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 8:41am

Did the show in high school. Paper Mill Playhouse recorded their production about 15 years ago, which is worth a listen. I think it's a pretty interesting concept--Act I is Adam & Eve, Act II is Noah's Ark, with the story told with lots of parallels to emphasize the importance of family and interpersonal relations, even when times of strife seem to overpower them.

The score is very Schwartz-esque. It was my first exposure to Stephen Schwartz, and when I went to see Wicked I kept hearing very familiar chordal progressions and themes.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 8:50am

Our local HS did this show maybe 4 or 5 years ago. Not a great show, but a couple of good numbers. Lost In The Wilderness in act one, and a terrific song for Mrs. Noah in act two, but the name escapes me.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 8:57am

The two versions are so different. There are a lot of songs that were cut from the London production and replaced with new ones.

And then some of the songs (Lost In The Wilderness among them) that retained their titles but were completely re-written both lyrically and musically.

Which version is the symphonic production, BWIDB Charlie? Or is it a combination of both?

[BWIDB Charlie]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:05am

Tazber, it's based on the "Paper Mill" edition, which was slightly edited a few years after the New Jersey run, and is Schwartz's preferred version of the show.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:25am

I own the Paper Mill recording and I don't listen to it much except for "Lost in the Wilderness" and "Spark of Creation". I think Stephanie Mills sings the hell out of that song. I stumbled on this show listening to BWW Radio. I bought it for the song "Lost in the Wilderness". Not sure I would buy the symphonic version but would at least listen to it once.

Updated On: 6/22/11 at 09:25 AM

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:33am

If you can get a copy of London Cast recording it is amazing.

[grandpianoalex]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:45am

BWIDB Charlie,

Will they be making a recording of the concert? I have a couple friends in the cast, but won't be able to make it up there for the show. I'd LOVE a full recording.

[BWIDB Charlie]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:50am

grandpianoalex, it's actually not a concert, it is a fully staged production. As of now, I cannot answer the other question.

[rougeduck]

Posted: 6/23/11 at 12:22am

Eh. Ain't It Good sounds terrible on the OLCR.

[bwaybuff012]

Posted: 6/28/11 at 7:48pm

BWIDB Charlie: I'm assuming this is the production?

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/152244-US-Symphonic-Premiere-of-Stephen-Schwartzs-Children-of-Eden-Set-for-July

Sounds like it's going to be amazing...I hope there will be a video sizzle reel or something of that sort? I've always had a soft spot for this show.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/30/11 at 2:14am

While I amnot the biggest Schwartz fan, I do like his shows (some of them in a guilty pleasure way, admittedly), and Eden is his only core I really don't know at all. Back when I ws a teen and had more disposable income for cast recordings, I was desperate to get the very briefly in print London recording, but it was always selling for $100+ plus. Then I kinda lost interest--the clips I've heard of the Papermill recor5ding really don't do much for me whatsoever.

[BWIDB Charlie]

Posted: 6/30/11 at 8:31am

Bwaybuff012: yes, that's our production. Thanks for posting the link. We'll try to put something together...