FRONT ROW CENTRE presents a weekly radio show featuring original cast recordings!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 1:11am

Some shameless self-promotion here, but I have struck a deal with Toronto radio station FOXY 88.5 to carry my weekly Broadway program FRONT ROW CENTRE starting November 12.The program will be heard each Sunday night at 7 PM (Eastern Time.)

Each week I will feature an original cast recording telling story and introducing the songs. A weekly intermission feature will present news of upcoming openings and closings as well as backstage interviews with the creators and performers.
The featured musicals will be chosen to highlight what is playing in Toronto and the surrounding area, new and current Broadway and off-Broadway scores, and major theatrical anniversaries and birthdays.

Starting in 2007 the program (with a slightly different line-up) will also be heard on FOXY's sister station THE JEWEL 98.5 in Ottawa.

I know many BWW members are outside the listening areas and unable to tune it in but you may be able to catch the program on the Internet as FOXY does have a live feed on the website: http://www.foxy885.com

If you think there is a radio station in your area that would be interested in carrying front row center please pass along info on the station (call letters, frequency, basic music format, name of the program director) and I will be happy to follow up with them. With your help, FRONT ROW CENTRE can spread across the nation!

For more information please contact me at: [e-mail]

The program schedule for November, December and January will be as follows:

November 12: MY FAIR LADY (1956 original Broadway cast recording) - to celebrate the show's 50th anniversary this year. Also, 50 years ago this week the original cast album was the #1 best-selling album in North America.

November 19: 42ND STREET (1980 original Broadway cast recording) - the musical will open at Mississauga's Meadowvale Theatre on Nov 24 and at the Fairview Library Theatre in Toronto on December 7.

November 26: SHE LOVES ME (1963 original Broadway cast recording) - being presented at Theatre Sheridan starting on November 28

December 3: CANDIDE (1956 original Broadway cast recording) - The show celebrates its 50th anniversary on December 1. It is also being presented this week in the studio theatre at Sheridan College, and on December 26 the Toronto Operetta Theatre will open their production.

December 10: I REMEMBER MAMA (1985 studio recording) - being staged by Toronto's Civic Light Opera Company from December 21 to January 6.

December 17: WHITE CHRISTMAS (2006 original cast recording) - a new recording of a stage version of the classic movie musical

December 24: I will be hosting a special Christmas program from 6pm until midnight but in the FRONT ROW CENTRE time slot we will feature selections from SAVE THE CHILDREN - a 1988 collections of carols and songs performed by the casts of then-current Broadway shows, as well as selected Christmas songs from Broadway musicals.

December 31: JERSEY BOYS (2005 original Broadway cast recording) - the 2006 Tony award winning musical.

January 7: FINIAN'S RAINBOW (1947 original Broadway cast recording) - to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its Broadway premiere: January 10, 1947.

January 14: CALL ME MADAM (the original 1950 Broadway cast recording…that never was!)) - January 16 marks the start of the one-year countdown to the 100th anniversary of the biggest star Broadway ever: Ethel Merman. This new CD release combines selections from both her Decca studio cast album and the original Broadway cast recording where Miss Dinah Shore substituted.

January 21: THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (2006 original Broadway cast recording) - One of Broadway's current hits. The show began in Toronto seven years ago and offers a lively spoof of 1920s musical comedies. Like NO NO NANETTE.

January 28: NO NO NANETTE (1971 original Broadway revival cast recording) - celebrating the anniversary of the opening of the wildly successful 1971 revival. As a bonus we'll hear the 1925 recording of vocal gems from the show by the Victor Light Opera Company.

Remember … Curtain time is at 7:00 each Sunday night on FOXY 88.5!

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/4/06 at 4:36am

Just bumping this post.

I always enjoy frontrowcentre2's insight and knowledge of cast recordings and I didn't want this to get lost for those of you who might have missed this.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 11/4/06 at 12:03pm

oooh She Loves Me!!!

I will most def. try to listen!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 11/5/06 at 1:45am

Thanks for the bump. I'll provide more details later this week after the first show is recorded.

Advance warning: The program lasts 1 hour. 8 minutes are for commercials, 7 minutes for my talk leaves 45 minutes for music. So we’ll be doing the "readers digest condensed" versions of each musical, but with me explaining the story between cuts you'll still get the gist of the show.

I'll have to figure out SHE LOVES ME. That OCR runs 74 minutes so a lot will have to be cut.

If any of you do hear the show on the website, please send your comments to me (either on here or via e-mail) afterwards. All feedback is appreciated.

Also, if there is a radio station in your area that would be interested in carrying the show let me know and I will contact them. We can custom produce the show for any market. Starting in January it will also be on the air in Ottawa.

[rose_pearl]

Posted: 11/5/06 at 6:05pm

Can't wait for these to begin!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 11/5/06 at 7:53pm

I hope the show is a huge success! I'll be listening online. Thank god for the internet. It'll be interesting to see if I can pick up the show from Beijing where we'll be shooting our film! Somehow, I doubt the Chinese Government will block out Broadway!

Updated On: 11/5/06 at 07:53 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 11/11/06 at 11:43am

Thanks for the support!

The first show is done and ready to go: MY FAIR LADY. It will be on Sunday night at 7:00 (EST) on FOXY radio.

FOXY 88.5 is a Toronto radio station devoted to "music with class" featuring the best artists of the past 60 years: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Sarah Vaughn, Michael Buble, Bette Midler, Abba, Gordon Lightfoot, Petula Clark, BJ Thomas, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, and Johnny Mathis are just a few of the featured artists.

The station is on the FM band at 88.5 and can also be heard online at: http://www.foxy885.com/homepage.php

If you hear the show please let me know your thoughts, suggestions and requests.

[musical_devotee]

Posted: 11/11/06 at 4:30pm

Best of luck!! I am keeping my fingers crossed!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 11/12/06 at 7:12pm

Thanks! It's on now, see if you can get it.