James Joyce's The Dead

[chess12]

James Joyce's The Dead#0

Posted: 1/21/05 at 4:00pm

After seeing this show in Broadway previews, I assumed the original cast recording would be made and released during the run. Much to my disappointment, this seems to have never happened, even the show was nominated for Best Musical at the Tony Awards.

I believe that Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner recorded at least one of the songs on their 2nd duets album, but do y'all know if any of the songs were recorded anywhere else?

[ghostlight2]

re: James Joyce's The Dead#1

Posted: 1/21/05 at 4:05pm

While there was singing in the show,it was a stretch to call it a musical(Tony nomination & onstage orchestra nothwithstanding).I don't recall what other musicals were on Broadway that year,but I'm guessing it was a thin season.Great piece of theatre,though.

And sorry,I don't think there were any recordings made(maybe the Playwrights Horizons version has something?).

[ShineOn]

re: James Joyce's The Dead#2

Posted: 1/21/05 at 4:18pm

I don't think anyone *really* knows how to classify the show. I mean, for the entire first act and about 90% of the second act it was actually just a play where the characters "happened" to be singing at a party. Until the VERY end when Christopher Walken's character just burst into song, a la musical theatre.

It's definitely a shame the music wasn't preserved, though. I was young when I saw it and only remember bits and pieces of it, but I really enjoyed it at the time. I'm sure I'd appreciate it more today.

"You! You are the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber! And you, well, I just plain don't like you."
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin

[Unknown User]

re: James Joyce's The Dead#3

Posted: 1/21/05 at 4:46pm

I adored that show, saw it twice out here with Faith Prince. It's criminal that it wasn't recorded.

[CATSNYrevival]

re: James Joyce's The Dead#4

Posted: 1/21/05 at 4:52pm

I've only seen the Tony performance so I can't say, but I did see CONTACT and I'm still trying to figure out what gave CONTACT the qualifications of a "musical"...

[chess12]

re: James Joyce's The Dead#5

Posted: 1/21/05 at 5:00pm

Amen to the CONTACT crack.

I have such great memories of THE DEAD. Maybe it's because Sally Ann Howes winked at me.

[eslgr8]

re: James Joyce's The Dead#6

Posted: 1/22/05 at 12:38pm

Such a great show, and I wasn't expecting to enjoy it. I was front row center and so moved at curtain call that I said the word "wonderful" while looking at Faith Prince. She mouthed back to me "thank you!" It was a great moment for me!

[Mr Roxy]

re: James Joyce's The Dead#7

Posted: 1/22/05 at 12:49pm

I really tried but I only found it mildly entertaining. I doubt I would have bought the cast album had one been done.

I am glad everyone else liked it however

Poster Emeritus