All stories by Fred Landau on BroadwayStars

Thursday, May 6, 2021

To mark a "say-what?" Gov. Cuomo Broadway news week that will live in EITHER (a) the lunacy OR (b) the audacity - of unscientific arbitrariness: by Fred Landau

To mark a Broadway news week that will live in Covid history as EITHER (a) the lunacy OR (b) the audacity - of Cuomo's arbitrariness:  Cuomo proclaimed this week we are ready for full theat…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 04:10AM
Saturday, April 17, 2021

Since its what's in theater news - lookback on parody-tributes of Rudin Company shows by Fred Landau

Since its what's in theater news - lookback on parody-tributes of Rudin Company shows  Hello Dolly! - 2017 PUT ON YOUR TONY GOWN. https://youtu.be/hv4JujI26zM The Music Man -  TILL WE …

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 01:37PM
Thursday, April 15, 2021

Crying Poverty (FROM 2010 about Madoff scandal) - We're already finding sympathy on the web for Ruth Madoff. So before this becomes non-PC... by Fred Landau

Defying Gravity Parody FROM 2010 - Coincidentally , this is the first video we did after the destructive business gaslighting by then-Davenport Theatricals' Jen Tepper and Encores' videogr…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 11:20AM
Monday, April 5, 2021

Urgent Parody update - Despite a gazillion (rough estimate) similarities with Paul Zindel's play, "Shape of Water" is exonerated. What is the effect by Fred Landau

 Urgent Parody update - and if anything can be called a parody emergency, this could be it:   Despite a gazillion (very rough estimate) coincidental similarities with Paul Zindel's play, "…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 12:30PM
Sunday, April 4, 2021

To join the celebration of the 50th birthday of FOLLIES by Fred Landau

To join the celebration of the 50th birthday of FOLLIES -  both of these done by approval and arrangement with then-publisher Carlin America.  "I'm Still Queer" - This got into Michael M…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 12:04PM
Friday, March 19, 2021

Let's "Mask Up for Shakespeare" - As the Delacorte summer plans bring NYC theater some needed optimism by Fred Landau

 Mask Up For Shakespeare -  as the Delacorte announcement for Free Shakespeare this summer brings a very rare touch of optimism for live theater in NYC -  YouTube link is https://youtu.b…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 07:20PM
Thursday, February 18, 2021

Lyric first heard in our virtual revue "Labor Day - The Re-opening" - Gov. Cuomo - a take on "You're So Vain" by Fred Landau

 Our Emmy-winning Gov. Cuomo featured in a take on "You're So Vain" https://youtu.be/ewpDo0XSGlc this lyric was first heard in our virtual revue  "Labor Day - The Re-opening" https://you…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 09:53AM
Saturday, February 13, 2021

For Valentine’s Day: - a few original theater love songs by Fred Landau

 For Valentine’s Day: original theater love songs  “Is It Mushy to Say I Love You” somehow passed 73,000 views http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZZfjTLHl1s "Brooklyn Boy" https://yout…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 09:13AM
Friday, January 29, 2021

This non-parody showtune number was on a sincere note. by Fred Landau

 This non-parody showtune number  was on a  sincere note.   Any hope of us getting a 2021 Biden/Harris optimism like we had back in pust-crash  January 2009 with Obama/Biden?  Back i…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 11:47AM
Wednesday, January 6, 2021

"Vaccinating Rhythm" - maybe a little morbid lightness will make the time go faster. by Fred Landau

 Oy, what a day! The slow progress of the vaccine may be less immediate, but maybe OK for a little morbid lightness. "Vaccinating Rhythm" -  https://youtu.be/fgg2pGUmZXo

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 10:58PM
Friday, December 25, 2020

Our year-end 2020 Blog Year in almost all show tune salutes or parodies by Fred Landau

 Our year-end 2020 Blog Year in almost all show tune  salutes January “The Hollywood Gown” series tried to pick up where it was  interrupted in 2013 - Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 02:27PM
Thursday, December 24, 2020

Honoring Rebecca Luker by Fred Landau

 In the Times obit, it's mentioned that Danny and Rebecca met on the show "Time and Again, " which Skip wrote with Jack Viertel, though they started dating the following year,  (That pr…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 12:12PM
Friday, December 11, 2020

Saluting Irish Rep for really stepping up as an example: We offer a pragmatic-for-2020 "Meet Me on Zoom in St Louis". by Fred Landau

 An off-B'way parody-tribute: Saluting the Irish Rep with a pragmatic-in-2020 "Meet Me on Zoom in St Louis" https://youtu.be/bBNVI5PCmiM"Have a Merry Distant Christmas (and Have it Yours…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 09:21AM
Sunday, December 6, 2020

Remembering actor David Prowse, who became best known embodying Darth Vader by Fred Landau

 A quick "Darth of Your World" - the parody asks: Will we ever get to see Darth Vader in "Disney's Star Wars" onstage? https://youtu.be/zBgUp7OrFbk R.I.P. David Prowse, the distinguished …

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 09:25PM
Monday, November 23, 2020

If you've started looking for musical material for the holiday season' by Fred Landau

For the Rockefeller Center "scrawny Christmas tree" controversy.  Is it really worse than any earlier trees before they were decorated, or is it just hitting us as sad because it's 2020. …

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 01:36AM
Friday, November 20, 2020

Our videos about trying to find socially distant versions of musicals, laughing because if you don't laugh you might despair by Fred Landau

 These were about trying to find socially distant versions of musicals, laughing because if you don't laugh you might despair.  "MY FAR LADY" The flower girl is given a mask sewn from…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 09:12AM
Sunday, October 18, 2020

On Ben Brantley's end of an era as Times critic: I celebrated my favorite feature, Ben Brantley London Journal : by Fred Landau

On Ben Brantley's end of an era as Times critic: I celebrated my favorite Ben Brantley London Journal reviews: This was about the London Journal on Imelda Staunton's scorched-earth Rose in…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 08:51AM
Sunday, September 27, 2020

Music Man Parody update - "Till There Is Hugh" - also some videos I did with Sheree Sano reflecting (to me, anyway) a need for change this Election Da by Fred Landau

 Parody update - "Till There Is Hugh" "TILL THERE IS HUGH" - parody lyric by Fred Landau about the Music Man ad - for social distance era. This video is at https://www.youtube.com/watc…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 04:45AM
Wednesday, September 16, 2020

For the Jewish holidays by Fred Landau

  "I Will Survive" parody lyric by Fred Landau - "I'll be Inscribed":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxTuhLayowQsungby  Jan Horvath"Put Your Pain In the Hands of a Jew" - music by Skip Ke…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 03:03PM
Monday, September 7, 2020

A parody update as re-opening is in full swing, for better or maybe better not. Let's hope. by Fred Landau

 A parody update as re-opening is in full swing, for better or maybe better not.  Let's hope.  The one-minute opening from the 7-minute Labor Day sequel (coming soon) to our "When I''m St…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 05:58PM
Friday, August 14, 2020

The Piaf forever stamp was 2012, and even then we were worried about how snail-like even "snail mail" was by Fred Landau

 The Piaf forever stamp was 2012, and even then in that election year we were worried about how snail-like even "snail mail" was. The snail makes a guest appearance at 0:30 and this is be…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 09:36PM
Saturday, August 8, 2020

Looking back ten years ago this week- one of the most successful replacement casts ever! by Fred Landau

Looking back ten years ago this week-  one of the most successful replacement casts ever!  It's 10 years this week since one of the best reviewed and most surprisingly well-realized replac…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 01:10PM
Saturday, July 4, 2020

he July 4th parody update - John and Abigail Adams Family/1776 cross-over and Moulin Rouge's Firework by Fred Landau

"Firework, Moulin Rouge version" Parody-Tribute video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNGZJrX81zc [still just one Firework; they had to cut corners somewhere]  John and Abigail Adams Fa…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 03:46PM
Wednesday, May 13, 2020

More socially distant theater to help Broadway come back by Fred Landau

Here's the video from the "Kiss me Kate" re-revisal -  MJ plays "Bianca/Lois Lane," manning the desk for high-net-worth patients at the Upper East Side ER, putting VIP patients at ease tha…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 07:59PM
Sunday, April 12, 2020

Because we're seeing sometimes the only way to not give up is to laugh, or burst into song - on social distancing by Fred Landau

Because sometimes the only way to not give up is to laugh, or burst into song.  It doesn't make the problem go away, but it can help you face it better after you laugh or sing.  And it m…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 06:44AM
Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Some non-parody theater song demos, since it's tough to record new stuff right now in social distancing time by Fred Landau

Some non-parody original theater songs, since it's tough to record new stuff right now in social distancing time From the musical ACROSS STATE LINES  (performed previously as The Octagon…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 11:18AM
Sunday, February 16, 2020

"Mack and Mabel" at Encores in 2020 - parody by Fred Landau

Type Our Troubles Away - the more good-natured full-song version  Parody of Encores' 2020 "Mack and Mabel”  [or "Jack and MABEL"] https://youtu.be/RafIinDbF5A The earlier one-minute pre…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 03:34AM
Monday, February 10, 2020

Hollywood Gown Oscars 2020, and a parody for "The Lehman Trilogy"" (9-minute mini-movie) by Fred Landau

Hollywood Gown Oscars 2020 - based on Harriet Schock's song "Hollywood Town" https://youtu.be/1uQ_XPirkaMThis parody lyric Fred Landau- Video, edit and vocal Jan HorvathHollywood Gown Oscars…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 04:03PM
Monday, January 20, 2020

The Hollywood Gown Song SAG Awards 2020, COMPANY 2020 tribute, and tribute to the late Jerry Herman by Fred Landau

The HOLLYWOOD GOWN SONG (short version) - SAG AWARDS 2020 - feat. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's gownhttps://youtu.be/Zp58fA38qdoparody lyric by Fred Landauto Harriet…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 03:16PM
Monday, November 25, 2019

Nov. 2019 - Updating the 2019-2020 theater preview (plus a short tribute to the book by Anonymous) by Fred Landau

The 2019-2020 season, what we have so far:  Bat Out of Hell" - August-September 2019 at NY City Center "Bat out of Hell" parody by Fred Landau and Jan Horvath  parody set to Jim Steinma…

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 12:32AM
Monday, September 16, 2019

"I'll Get You Kicked Out of Here" - a don't-mess-with-me, world-weary parody of "I Get a Kick Out of You" PLUS we start our 2019-2020 theater season " by Fred Landau

"I'll Get You Kicked Out of Here" - cell phones in the theater - a now-I've-seen-it-all, don't-mess-with-me, world-weary parody of "I Get a Kick Out of You"  (The parody is done here with …

SOURCE: Music and Comedy at 10:41AM