ON THE RECORD: A Time for Singing, Bravo Giovanni, and Lady in the Dark by Steven Suskin

This week's column examines the new-to-CD original cast album of the 1966 musical A Time for Singing, along with digital releases of the 1962 Bravo Giovanni and the 1963 studio cast albu…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on April 28, 2013☆⚑

Barbara Cook, In Perfect Form, at 54 Below by Steven Suskin

Tony winner Barbara Cook began a limited engagement at the Manhattan nightspot 54 Below April 23, and Playbill.com was there.

SOURCE: Playbill at 2:00pm on April 24, 2013☆⚑

THE DVD SHELF: "Strictly Ballroom," "Broadway Musicals," Judi Dench in "A Fine Romance" and Ian McKellen in "The Scarlet Pimpernel" by Steven Suskin

This month's column looks at Baz Luhrmann's "Strictly Ballroom"; the recent documentary "Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy"; the Judi Dench sitcom, "A Fine Romance"; and Anthony Andrews and…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on April 21, 2013☆⚑

The Wizard and I: The Musical Journey of Stephen Schwartz Made Magic at Carnegie Hall by Steven Suskin

Jeremy Jordan, Norm Lewis, Julia Murney and Jennifer Laura Thompson joined the New York Pops April 12 to celebrate the work of Academy Award-winning and Tony-nominated composer Stephen …

SOURCE: Playbill at 9:42am on April 15, 2013☆⚑

ON THE RECORD: Everybody Rise! The Essential Elaine Stritch Show Recordings, Part Two by Steven Suskin

Last week's column was the first of our two-part salute to Broadway's own Elaine Stritch, who will soon pack her bags and retrace her steps back to Michigan. In Part 1, we follo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on April 14, 2013☆⚑

ON THE RECORD: Everybody Rise! The Essential Elaine Stritch Show Recordings, Part One by Steven Suskin

In honor of Elaine Stritch's retirement this spring, here's part one of a roundup of cast-album tracks that best represent the mellow, earthy, fearless actress known for the musicals…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on April 7, 2013☆⚑

THE DVD SHELF: "Les Miserables," "Hands on a Hardbody," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Ministry of Fear" and More by Steven Suskin

This month's column looks at the international blockbuster "Les Misérables"; Jessica Chastain in "Zero Dark Thirty"; Fritz Lang's "Ministry of Fear&qu…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on March 31, 2013☆⚑

THE BOOK SHELF: "The House of Redgrave," Charting the Family Tree of a Theatrical Dynasty by Steven Suskin

This month's column looks at Tim Adler's "The House of Redgrave: The Secret Lives of a Theatrical Dynasty."

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on March 24, 2013☆⚑

The Man of Steel Sings! Superman Soars in Encores! Concert Revival by Steven Suskin

The sweetly satiric 1966 Broadway musical It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman twisted its way back to New York on March 20, in a City Center Encores! concert revival playing to March …

SOURCE: Playbill at 2:10pm on March 21, 2013☆⚑

The Man of Steel Sings! Superman Soars in Encores! Concert Revival by Steven Suskin

The sweetly satiric 1966 Broadway musical It's a Bird...It's a Plane…It's Superman twisted its way back to New York on March 20, in a City Center Encores! concert revival …

SOURCE: Playbill at 2:03pm on March 21, 2013☆⚑

ON THE RECORD: Christiane Noll's Gifts at 54 Below by Steven Suskin

This week's column gives a listen to Gifts, Christiane Noll's recent act at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on March 17, 2013☆⚑

THE DVD SHELF: Vintage TV Musicals "Marco Polo" and "Babes in Toyland," Plus "The Quiet Man" by Steven Suskin

This month's column screens two early television musicals — Alfred Drake as "Marco Polo" and Jo Sullivan or Barbara Cook as "Babes in Toyland" (though not toget…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on March 10, 2013☆⚑

ON THE RECORD: Patti LuPone's Far Away Places, Plus a Jerome Kern Revue and Porter/Coward Creation by Steven Suskin

This week's column addressed a live recording of Patti LuPone's Far Away Places act from 54 Below, plus songbooks of Jerome Kern ("The Land Where the Good Songs Go") and th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on March 3, 2013☆⚑

A Memorable Carousel, Starring Kelli O'Hara and Nathan Gunn by Steven Suskin

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's Carousel, when done well, is one of the true glories of the world of musical theatre. The New York Philharmonic's current concert version, whi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 2:00pm on March 1, 2013☆⚑

THE BOOK SHELF: A Les Miz Coffee Table Book and Benedict Nightingale's "Great Moments in Theatre" by Steven Suskin

This month's column looks at the deluxe, over-stuffed new coffee table book about Les Misérables, plus a survey of world drama entitled "Great Moments in the Theatre," b…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on February 24, 2013☆⚑

Adam Guettel Introduces New Songs From His New Musicals at 54 Below; We've Got the List by Steven Suskin

Composer-lyricist Adam Guettel's evening of music at 54 Below — featuring the songwriter and Steven Pasquale and Whitney Bashor — included favorites from The Light in the Pia…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:53pm on February 20, 2013☆⚑

How Kristin Chenoweth Embraced Tuptim, Marian, Rosabella, Flora, Johanna, Dolly and Other Dames by Steven Suskin

For her American Songbook concert at the Allen Room in Manhattan, a show recorded for later broadcast, Kristin Chenoweth embraced some of the greatest characters and songs of the musical the…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:03am on February 19, 2013☆⚑

ON THE RECORD: The Broadway Revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Plus Early Chita Rivera by Steven Suskin

This week's column discusses the revival cast album of Rupert Holmes' The Mystery of Edwin Drood plus a two-fer of 1961 recordings by Chita Rivera.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on February 17, 2013☆⚑

Kristin Chenoweth Sings Tuptim, Marian, Rosabella, Flora, Johanna, Dolly and Other Dames of Broadway; We've Got the List by Steven Suskin

For her American Songbook concert at the Allen Room in Manhattan, a show recorded for later broadcast, Kristin Chenoweth embraced some of the greatest characters and songs of the musical the…

SOURCE: Playbill at 3:01pm on February 16, 2013☆⚑

THE DVD SHELF: Blu-rays of Oscar Winners "Grand Hotel," "Mrs. Miniver," "Driving Miss Daisy," "On the Waterfront" by Steven Suskin

Oscar Season has officially approached, and with it new Blu-ray releases of at least four of the 84 Best Picture winners (thus far).

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on February 10, 2013☆⚑

In American Songbook's Ring Them Bells!, Kander & Ebb Vets Chita Rivera and Joel Grey Heat Up the Night by Steven Suskin

Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, Joel Grey and Chita Rivera sang the bitter, sweet — and bittersweet — songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb in Lincoln Center's American Songbook se…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:38am on February 7, 2013☆⚑

ON THE RECORD: Rebecca Luker Sings Kern on "I Got Love," Plus the Digital Release of No Way to Treat a Lady by Steven Suskin

This week's column discusses Rebecca Luker's sterling new Jerome Kern collection, "I Got Love," plus the reissue of the Off-Broadway chamber musical No Way to Treat a Lady.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on February 3, 2013☆⚑

THE BOOK SHELF: Scripts of Once, The Lyons and The Anarchist by Steven Suskin

This month's column looks at the scripts of three recent Broadway attractions, Enda Walsh's Once, Nicky Silver's The Lyons and David Mamet's The Anarchist.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on January 27, 2013☆⚑

ON THE RECORD: Barbara Cook's "Loverman," and the Original Soundtrack of "Bye Bye Birdie" by Steven Suskin

This week's column discusses Barbara Cook's new album, "Loverman," and the remastered soundtrack recording of "Bye Bye Birdie," the movie starring Ann-Margret.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on January 20, 2013☆⚑

THE DVD SHELF: Hugh Jackman in Oklahoma!, Season One of "Smash," Mel Brooks, Hitchcock by Steven Suskin

This month's column looks at the Blu-ray release of the Trevor Nunn-Susan Stroman Oklahoma! starring Hugh Jackman; the first season of the TV series "Smash"; rarities from Mel …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00am on January 13, 2013☆⚑