Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical

[10086sunset]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#1

Posted: 7/19/16 at 10:21pm

http://nypost.com/2016/07/19/this-forgotten-musical-is-about-to-make-a-big-comeback/

[macnyc]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#2

Posted: 7/19/16 at 10:28pm

Sounds promising!

[gypsy101]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#3

Posted: 7/19/16 at 10:37pm

I've always been curious about this! A new (or, new to us) Menken score is always welcome, in my book.

"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."

[10086sunset]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#4

Posted: 7/19/16 at 10:45pm

Agreed. Menken is truly a master. Any new or unproduced work would truly be welcomed...

[castlestreet]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#5

Posted: 7/20/16 at 7:37am

I only knew of the show because of this number Karen Ziemba performed years ago.  I've always enjoyed the song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tpGQrNWUyI

 

 

[GavestonPS]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#6

Posted: 7/20/16 at 8:33am

castlestreet said: "I only knew of the show because of this number Karen Ziemba performed years ago.  I've always enjoyed the song!

 

 

 

"

Paige O'Hara sang the song for 10 shows every week in the mid-90s, when she was co-starring with the Rockettes at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The joke was that Paige is barely 5'2", so the sight of her dancing in the line of very tall Rockettes also got a huge laugh. (Susan Anton later took over the role, but of course she is tall enough to actually BE a Rockette!)

[JennH]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#7

Posted: 7/20/16 at 9:09am

I'm still waiting for any hope that his King David will make a comeback and bigger than last time. That music is some of his best, and of course I don't think he's ever had a bad score in his life. Some may not be as GOOD as others, but really has that genius ever written anything that's ACTUALLY bad?? I can't think of one. Another underrated piece of his. Weird Romance. 

I'll see anything of his as long as I'm able.

[Eurotrash]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#8

Posted: 7/20/16 at 9:33am

What does he mean by "famous for deconstructing popular record albums onstage"?

Why don't you go? Why don't you leave Manderley? He doesn't need you... he's got his memories. He doesn't love you, he wants to be alone again with her. You've nothing to stay for. You've nothing to live for really, have you?

[Liza's Headband]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#9

Posted: 7/20/16 at 9:42am

JennH said: "I'm still waiting for any hope that his King David will make a comeback and bigger than last time. That music is some of his best, and of course I don't think he's ever had a bad score in his life. Some may not be as GOOD as others, but really has that genius ever written anything that's ACTUALLY bad?? I can't think of one. Another underrated piece of his. Weird Romance. 

I'll see anything of his as long as I'm able."

 

Yes. You must not be old enough to remember his rock musical Atina, Evil Queen of the Galaxy from 1980. It never progressed further than readings and workshops but it was a truly dreadful score. 

[gypsy101]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#10

Posted: 7/20/16 at 1:49pm

I still have never heard Mr. Rosewater (does any recording exist??), I wish they would record that one finally.

"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."

[VintageSnarker]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#11

Posted: 7/20/16 at 2:01pm

Interesting. I've heard one or two songs at concerts. The description makes it sound like a great show for Casey Nicholaw. But does anyone else get the sense from the end of the article that Menken isn't involved? Maybe it's just poor wording.

[neonlightsxo]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#12

Posted: 7/20/16 at 2:04pm

"Menken has given them his blessing."

 

[Mr Roxy]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#13

Posted: 7/20/16 at 2:13pm

This was discussed in a 1985 book Notes On Broadway. I have not read it in awhile. I will do so and if and good info is contained in the section on it I will share it with the rest of the class.

Poster Emeritus

[macnyc]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#14

Posted: 7/20/16 at 2:16pm

I am a huge Menken fan, but that video did nothing for me. The music seems almost a parody of musical theater writing, showcasing every cliche. I hope the rest of the show is better, or can be made better.

[EricMontreal22]

Riedel on Alan Menken's forgotten musical#15

Posted: 7/20/16 at 2:18pm

gypsy101 said: "I still have never heard Mr. Rosewater (does any recording exist??), I wish they would record that one finally.

 

"

Not officially, but the composer demo and a decent original cast "live" recording are pretty easy to find (I assume since I got copies on cassette back when I was 12 or so in the 90s).  I love the score, and I hope maybe we'll get an Encores recording (15+ years back there was talk about Menken and others funding a recording as a tribute to Ashman, but nothing became of it). 

Excited for Kicks actually.  Don't forget we should be getting a cast album soon of the Canadian production last year of Menken and Spencer (his lyricist for Weird Romance) adaptation of Duddy Kravitz--Spencer has confirmed it was recorded for commercial release. 

Menken has a few "unheard" shows--there's A Dream on Royal Street which he did specifically for the amateur market in the 1980s--it has some youtube clips of various performances so I guess still gets done (it's a gender reversed update of Midsummer Night's Dream set in New Orleans during Mardi Gras with an odd frame device of a night club).