Your thoughts on "On the Record"

[bundy5000]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:17am

I just purchased this album online and am so excited. What is your history with this Disney musical album? I bought this album all because of Ashley Brown.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:32am

"On the Record" was a show that toured in 2003/2004, and I *think* Disney was attempting to bring it to Broadway. When it Opened, the two females were Ashley Brown and Emily Skinner, but after a few stops Skinner was replaced by Katlain Hopkins due to "Directoral Difficulties" or something similar (Personally, I think it was because she had already eaten 'Merrily we Roll Along' and Disney was afraid Ashley Brown would be next) The plot line was pretty sparse, and it was pretty much a failure. However, with any luck Disney will put it out on their cruises, where it is much better suited.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:39am

It was a simple review. I think the CD is great and shuold of had no plot line, just music, which could work.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:45am

I thought the show was pretty boring. Talented cast led by Skinner, Brown, and the young male lead (I don't remember his name), but the show got tedious after act I. I think the only highlights were their rendition of "Be Our Guest" and Ashley Brown singing "A Change in Me."

[ComaBaby01]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 11:02am

i'm always the only one on these boards who supports this show it seems....

i really liked it. if you're not a diehard disney fan you're obviously not going to enjoy it as much as someone who is, simply because it is ALL disney. i saw it when it toured (w/ hopkins) and i loved it. i loved the way that the band was on the set and that they incorporated the setting of the record studio into the show even more by using playback and actually audio from 1932.

I also enjoyed the attempt at a plot. I liked the idea of the past couple reuniting and the new couple witnessing love at first sight and that, yes the show is a revue, but every now and then you could tell a song they were singing was supposed to be the girl singing about the boy or vice versa. and they end was adorable.

i bought the cd at the theater when i saw it i liked it so much. but then again i am a diehard disney fan like no one's seen before and, well, i guess that makes me a little biased.

enjoy the cd, it freakin rocks. ashley brown steals the show in every aspect of the phrase.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 11:04am

I loved it too, but the plot din't work too well.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 11:15am

Emily Skinner was no longer in the show when I got to see it, but her replacement (forget name) was underwhelming. Her voice cracked every so often, and the worst of it was during "a whole new world". But it was probably an off night.

I saw the show, because I thought, Disney!? I must be there. I payed WAAAAY too much ($120 after taxes, etc) and my whole section (Row k orchestra) was empty, I sat in a sea of empty chairs. The show was very cheesy and too much toward the younger audience at times but is far better in person than on that recording.There are some great moments with fanastic arrangements (most noteably I'm wishing/One Song.

But overall, I walked out of the theatre saying two things (this was late in 2004 I believe):

It was worth it for Ashley Brown---she's gonna be a star.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 11:20am

I absolutely love this recording! I never got to see it performed, but there are some wonderful harmonies in there, and as an aspiring choir director, it made me want to have those arrangements!

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 11:22am

Yeah, I'll put it out there: if anyone has I'm Wishing/One song arranged like that, I'd LOVE IT.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 11:41am

I saw the very last performance of the show here in Denver. Either Brown or Hopkins was out because of another show in New York. The two male leads were Brian Sutherland (Julian) and Andrew Samonsky (Nick).

The show was cute but I think it was a bit before its time in that I kept thinking that this is a stage show, Disney is making a name for itself on Broadway, they should wait until they have more music from their stage shows to add. It just felt like a money making machine. Wasn't crazy about the staging or the "plot". But the people in the audience seemed to really enjoy it. For us older people, some of the older songs brought back memories and people were actually sighing when certain songs started. The 2 people I took to see it loved it. I agree with husk_charmer, it should be on one of their cruises. But with more recent music for the kids and some of the older stuff for the parents. JMO

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 11:42am

Bundy5000, you will love it! I promie you. I saw it and it was so fun to hear all of the Disney music arranged in one jukebox musical! :) I don't have the soundtrack but I saw it and it was amazing. Ashley Brown was really good!! Hope oyu enjoy it!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 11:44am

It was never intended for Broadway. They made that clear in the first press release. For me, these kinds of shows belong on the road (re Brooklyn) where they can play to the tastes of middle America. I have the cd, only for Hopkins. I think Brown is BORING! There I said it. I know I'm in the minority but she's dime a dozen for me.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 12:45pm

I thought their intention was to build up an audience on the road and once it had played to packed houses and gotten raves across the board, they would have to do the right thing and bring it to Broadway since that's what everyone would have wanted, of course. That was the impression I'd had about the show but maybe I'm mistaken. So yes, the plan was never officially to bring it to Broadway but I think Disney was definitely hoping they would get to.

As for the show itself, I read the plot in the Playbill and that story never materialized on the stage. Why were they at a recording studio? What were they recording? And as to the love at first sight and the old lovers reunited...what on the stage did you see that explained that to you? Just because you read a plot in a playbill or program does not mean there was a real story in the show. Quite literally, it was a revue of Disney songs that worked just fine as a revue. To pretend there was a higher purpose to it is laughable. Disney was trying to go high concept with something that didn't require it.

The CD is great, the best thing about the show was the strength of the cast's singing and the arrangements of the songs themselves so I know you'll enjoy it. My Favorite is "Out There", I really wish we could get Hunchback of Notre Dame on stage here, the Notre Dame songs on this disc make me really hopeful it would work great on stage.

And as for paying $100+ for the show, wow, you overpaid. I paid $30 bucks since Disney was discounting tickets in most of the cities this show went to. I got the offer for 1/2 tickets thru the Disney Visa card. I definitely would have hated the show at 2X the amount, must less $100+.

[theactorsociety]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 1:05pm

I thought it was completely AMAZING! If you are a voice person/Disney person, you'd have loved it. The medleys were so well done. And all the voices were amazing.

[Kgshrauder]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 1:11pm

Ashley Brown is great on the album. You will love it. A Change In Me is the main reason I bought the cd!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 1:49pm

I think it's one of the worst shows I've seen. I know it is a revue but there are some well-designed, well-put revues, and this wasn't it.
Ashley Brown's voice suits the Disney Princess songs very well and she was actually the only reason I didn't leave after intermission. It was a very mediocre, dull, pointless show.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 2:17pm

Emily Skinner's leaving wasn't due to "directorial differences," it was due to Ashley Brown's mere presence.

The story goes that Skinner was considered the star, everyone else supporting. Once she saw that Brown began getting more applause, she got pissed and made life difficult to the point where she either left on her own accord or they didn't renew her contract. They were all happy.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 3:45pm

Emily Skinner should have known better than to burn her bridges with Disney. I hear Disney can be a real beast when it comes to these things!

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 12:44pm

I personally loved the show. Caught it on tour for free. Maybe my expectations would've been higher if I'd actually paid. I pretty much disregarded the "plot" and focused on the vocals and arrangements, which were really a lot of fun. Some interesting song pairings, and some beautiful harmonies (the end of "Just Around the Riverbend" comes to mind). I'm surprised the ensemble hasn't been mentioned yet, because they worked their tails off and were great (Andy Karl was HOT). I agree that this show would work well on the Disney cruise line. Also, to the person who mentioned Hunchback of Notre Dame as a stage show: I saw a live production of Hunchback at one of the Disney theme parks several years ago---basically the entire movie condensed into about 45 minutes, and it worked surprisingly well. I could definitely see it as a full-blown Broadway production. Plus, Disney could totally play up the connection to another huge Broadway hit: "with lyrics by the composer of the smash-hit Wicked!"

[caitlinette]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 3:55pm

I think Brown is BORING! There I said it. I know I'm in the minority but she's dime a dozen for me.

As in, there are dozens of other girls who look and sound and act just like her?

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 4:06pm

Didn't see it, but I know one of the guys who did the tour...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 4:43pm

caitlinette - yup, that's pretty much AB's problem. She's got a lovely voice, but Celia Keenan-Bolger, Erin Dilly, et al. have the same and are more dynamic.

[ComaBaby01]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 8:04pm

Rotel, i didn't need a plot synopsis from the internet to tell me there was a plot... maybe i was the few that did, but i definitely knew there was a story centered around these supposed strangers (i saw that for the older couple who obviously had known each other in the past) coming to a recording studio to record Disney songs and they all live happily ever after (to use an appropriate phrase).

i don't think it's laughable, necessarily, to try to put some correlation between songs in a revue. I think it makes it more interesting. I'm sorry it didn't work for you, i really enjoyed it :)

and yes the ensemble rocked. especially during numbers like Everybody Wants to be a Cat, Pink Elephants on Parade, and that one Mickey/Minnie farm animal song lol. TOO cute.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 8:15pm

Hopkins version of Menkin/Slater's WILL THE SUN EVER SHINE AGAIN is brilliant.

[renthead333]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 10:08pm

I thought it was fun, but nothing spectacular. Ashley Brown was great as always. That's about it.