OCTET at Signature Theatre — Page 6

Not loving Alex Gibson laughing during The Field. It’s a fun moment but it’s not exactly what you want from a cast recording

Updated On: 11/15/19 at 11:39 AM

Just got an email from Nonesuch announcing their release of the original cast album of OCTET, available now for download and on CD on January 17, 2020.  

---

raddersons said: "Not sure at all about the recording process for this, but it sounds like this is mixed from a live recording -- you can hear the audience faintly at a few moments."

It is. Dave tweeted on the night they recorded it that they were doing it for the album. 

schubox said: "raddersons said: "Not sure at all about the recording process for this, but it sounds like this is mixed from a live recording -- you can hear the audience faintly at a few moments."

It is. Dave tweeted on the night they recorded it that they were doing it for the album."

Yeah it's a weird format; kind of feels like a particularly good boot.

If they couldn't do a studio session, I almost wish they'd gone all-in on the live format and miked the audience or something, like the Passing Strange recording. This doesn't do the (strong) material and cast any favors.

Ledaero said: "Not sure if anyone has noticed, but it appears that Octet went live with a website today. I found this link buried in the Kickstarter update. Maybe they went live a while ago, but this is the first I'm hearing about it. Feels very commercial, I'm wondering what plans they have for the show's future. They have a mailing list sign-up on the website to get more information on the show. Implying more runs??

octetmusical.com"

I hope it shows up somewhere, I'd love to see it again. I know people were talking about it going in to CITS, but I don't think it would do well on Broadway.

CATSNYrevival said: "Does anyone know who sings what? It's a bit of a pet peeve of mine when iTunes doesn't include artist information."

Do you mean which song is who? Or voice parts?

Songs:

Refresh: Margo Siebert
Candy: Alex Gibson
Glow: Starr Busby
Solo: Adam Bashian/Kim Blanck
Actually: Justin Gregory Lopez
Little God: JD Mollison
Beautiful: Kuhoo Verma

I've been listening to this recording, and I want to officially take back every bad thing I ever said about Dave Malloy while defending Dear Evan Hansen.

I feel quite comfortable calling this a work of genius. The music, the lyrics, the structure, the groundbreaking vocal arrangements. I don't think I've ever seen a writer better understand internet culture and social media.

Everyone who cares even marginally about musical theatre needs to listen to this show.

I listened to the cast recording recently, without having seen the show. I like it but I don't love it, after one listen at least. The performers, harmonies and rhythms are great, and I was never bored. But I think I would actually rather have heard some of these themes and questions woven into a more traditional narrative. The album, in isolation from the overall show, feels a bit "Here's a song musicalising this great thinkpiece I read. And here's another. And here's another..." And what's wrong with that, you may well ask. Maybe nothing. I suppose, having read some good articles about these issues previously myself, it just didn't feel like a particularly fresh take on the topics to me. I would rather that the insights and opinions were 'dressed up' not just with music, but maybe with longer-form storytelling, characters we get to know better over the course of a few numbers, or similar. Although, perhaps seeing the full show provides a much better experience. And the album might grow on me.

Huh, they just announced their West Coast premiere. Technically they announced it back in the spring, but it recently got re-confirmed, along with CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND. It's interesting to see how confident they feel about this.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Signature-Theatre-Announces-2021-2022-Tour-of-CAMBODIAN-ROCK-BAND-20200924

This quote from Malloy really stuck out: "I'm so thrilled to be returning to Berkeley with Octet, and have this show continue to evolve under the care of two of my favorite theaters. It's a wonderful extension of my Signature residency, bringing this work to another coast, in a theater that will hopefully by then be filled with smiling, healthy, socially close theatergoers."

I admire the optimism of the playwrights and of the theatre, but I'm not so sure I'm ready to be optimistic myself. However, I'd definitely consider it to be win for the show and for Malloy!

Saw this upstate this past summer. I was worried it would feel dated in the AI era. Actually it felt even more poignant as ever. 

raddersons said: "Saw this upstate this past summer. I was worried it would feel dated in the AI era. Actually it felt even more poignant as ever."

The one at Hudson Valley? I saw that too, really enjoyed that production