The problem is that Ellington, unlike Coward, Porter or Sondheim, was not writing show-tunes for a specific dramatic context. 'Diminuendo in Blue' may pass for little, and the title-song itself for virtually nothing; but a blend of 'I Got It Bad' and 'Mood Indigo' brims with desolation. Many thanks to Rachel, Telsey + Co, and the entire Disney team for this opportunity. Musical. ... broadway musical sophisticated ladies * RCA - USA - 239.00 - 1981 Sell. Excerpt: Hines: "Sohisticated Lady" (ALB-1678, ALB-1755) Excerpts of all numbers: 45/RCA JB-13023, … Previewed 28 December 1991, Opened 6 January 1992, Closed 25 January 1992 at the Globe Theatre (now Gieldgud Theatre) in London, The Duke Ellington musical Sophisticated Ladies in London following a record-breaking UK tour. Cast: 4 men, 3 women, chorus . Review: Sophisticated Ladies, the Duke Ellington musical by Zach Theatre by David Glen Robinson. Duke Ellington, Gregory Hines, Hinton Battle - Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies (1981 Original Broadway Cast) - Amazon.com Music. There is also no story. March 23, 1981 - March 30, 1981. Yet even so, there are moments when trumpeters, saxophonists, cast and composer combine to produce something authentic. Benjamin, Gregg Burge, and Hinton Battle are all top-notch, as is the musical direction by Mercer Ellington. Meryl Streep, Carla Gugino, Mary-Louise Parker & More Join 'Spotlight on Plays' Spring Season AIN'T SUPPOSED TO DIE … The show is not to be recommended to those who want to learn any facts about the genius whose trim, benign face hangs in genteel reproduction at the back of the stage. BROADWAY BACKWARDS Full Cast Announced! A glitzy and glamorous celebration of Duke Ellington's genius with the kind of eye-popping, foot-stomping song-and-dance numbers which only audiences at Harlem's famous Cotton Club can have experienced. She was the understudy for the role of Anna of Clevesduringthe St. Paul run of the North American Tour production of Six the Musical. That is not what sophistication is about." Original Broadway Cast, 1981 (RCA) (3 / 5) Duke Ellington classics were well served in the revue Sophisticated Ladies, which received 10 Tony Award nominations and ran on Broadway for nearly two years. The cast features Jacqui Boatswain, Sergio Covino, Jacqueline Dankworth, Janie Dee, Jacqui Dubois, Martin Eyre, Dollie Henry, Horace Oliver, Neil Patterson, Jon Peterson, Rebecca Thornhill and Richie Pitts. THE BASICS: SOPHISTICATED LADIES, a musical revue showcasing the Duke Ellington songbook directed by John Fredo, starring Cecelia Barron, Annette Christian, Dudney Joseph, Jr., … It lacks that feeling of spontaneity and roughness Ellington himself so valued that he actually mared scores 'slovenly'. Perhaps it is being done on the cheap. Sophisticated Ladies (Original Broadway Production, 1981) which opened March 1, 1981 with a cast that included Gregory Hines, Judith Jamison, P. J. Benjamin, Phyllis Hyman, Priscilla Baskerville on Ovrtur, the database of musicals from New York, London and beyond. The original cast included Gregory Hines, Judith Jamison, Phyllis Hyman, H… Most recently seen Off-Broadway in Jersey Boys.Other credits include The Sound of Music (national tour), West Side Story (Signature Theatre), Smokey Joe’s Café (Arena Stage), South Pacific (Drury Lane). Incomplete: CD/RCA 6208-2. The show is perfectly pleasant. COND: Mercer Ellington. In the end Sophisticated Ladies falls because it is not live up to the title. The performances by Phyllis Hyman, Paula Kelly, Terri Klausner, Hinton Battle and the rest of the cast was really superb!! The Guardian, "Sophisticated Ladies at least does not pretend to be more than some animated pickings from the oeuvre of Duke Ellington. — Morgan Sills. Recording Date. A guide to all New York theatre venues, Broadway Shows, Off-Broadway plays and entertainment listings The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls (and others) and book by William F. Brown.It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) in the context of contemporary African-American culture.It opened on October 21, 1974, at the Morris A. In short, it is not sophisticated. Irene began her association with Disney in March 1992, when she wrote Recycle Rex, the 1994 Environmental Media Award-winning animated short.Irene shares a screenplay credit on Disney’s animated features The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules.Along with co-author Roger Allers, she received a 1998 Tony® nomination for writing the book for The Lion King. Sophisticated Ladies, 1981. ZACH Theatre Associate Artistic Director ABE REYBOLD will direct the musical in the Topfer Theatre on the Karen Kuykendall stage July … Sophisticated Ladies opened on Broadway on March 1, 1981 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where it ran for 767 performances. Directed by Roger Haines with choreography by Gillian Gregory and David Morgan Young, sets by Chris Kinman, costumes by Terry Parsons, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Clement Rawling. Understudies: Hinton Battle (Performer), Gregg Burge (Performer), Michael Scott Gregory (Performer), Michael Lichtefeld (Performer), Paula Lynn (Performer), Valarie Pettiford (Performer, Sophisticated Lady), Wynonna Smith (Performer), T. A. Stephens (Performer) and Faruma S. Williams … The musical was conceived by Donald McKayle, directed by Michael Smuin, and choreographed by McKayle, Smuin, Henry LeTang, Bruce Heath, and Mercedes Ellington. Sheldon Epps was director and producer. Cast members Gregory Hines, Judith Jamison, Phyllis Hyman, P.J. “Another thing that makes this show stand out is the lack of dialogue.” Moriah Mitchell, Sophisticated Ladies: A Tribute To The Duke. The Times, Sophisticated Ladies in London at the Globe Theatre (now Gieldgud Theatre) previewed from 28 December 1991, opened on 6 January 1992 and closed on 25 January 1992, © thisistheatre.com 2003 - 2020. I emerged mildly diverted without having learned anything about Ellington the bandleader, the pianist or the man, and feeling that a show that treats some of his great compositions as simple dance scenarios in the end does him scant justice." Now let me tell you about the DANCING. Duke Ellington’s musical expression captivates audiences with his stylish big-band sound. Musical Show. Musical Numbers. Zach Theatre's production of Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies in the Topfer Theatre is spectacular.The Topfer is gaining a reputation for high-tech productions that dazzle large audiences. This glamorous show-stopping production of Sophisticated Ladies celebrates a jazz legend with a name that has stood the test of time. Orig prod. Saved by New York Public Library. Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back is a portrait of the charismatic song-and-dance man from his tap-dancing childhood to today. Without the show’s visual elements, the recording sounds more like a greatest-hits anthology featuring the Duke Ellington Orchestra and fine singers than a traditional cast album, but Ellington’s genius as a composer is amply evident in the staggering array of wonderful songs to be found here: “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “Take the A Train,” “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart,” “Satin Doll,” “Mood Indigo,” “I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good,” “I’m Beginning to See the Light” — and, of course, “Sophisticated Lady.” Cast members Gregory Hines, Judith Jamison, Phyllis Hyman, P.J. The Guide to Musical Theatre - Homepage. Proud husband to Elsa, Caroline Bowman. ACT I "I've Got To Be a Rug Cutter" (1937) (Music and Lyrics by Duke Ellington.) Broadway ... View All Cast Duke Ellington Music. New York City Theatre Guide. duke ellington's sophisticated ladies RCA Red Seal - Japan - RJL-5003~04 - 1981 ... broadway cast recording sophisticated ladies duke ellingtons RCA - BRAZIL - 1987 Sell. WITH Gregory Hines, Judith Jamison, Phyllis Hyman, P.J. Sophisticated Ladies opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on March 1, 1981 and closed on January 2, 1983 after 767 performances and fifteen previews. Sophisticated Ladies, the Tony Award-winning revue of Duke Ellington's music, will celebrate its 30th anniversary at Birdland April 25 at 7 PM. ZACH Theatre announces the full cast of Sophisticated Ladies the Duke Ellington musical review starring Broadway’s original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday. His songs evoke a mood rather than tell a story and little is gained by having Everything But You sung by a lovelorn janitor with a broom and a crackly mike or indeed by staging Take the A Train as an impressionistic portrait of New York subway life. "Music Is a Woman" (Based on "Jubilee Stomp" 1928) (Music by … The production that has finally appeared in London is not on that level. Scenic design was by Tony Walton, costume design by Willa Kim and lighting design was by Jennifer Tipton. Find recording details and track inforamtion for Sophisticated Ladies, musical - Duke Ellington on AllMusic Proud AEA … Interestingly enough, there is so much acting that one would forget that there are barely any lines! Roger Haines, the director, keeps it constantly moving and the choreographers, Gillian Gregory and David Morgan-Young, run the gamut from tap to high kicks to catapulting leaps. The Financial Times, "Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies at the Globe is, in fact, the sixth tune-and-toe package to hit the London stage recently; and, while it's a slick, skilfully mounted 32-song revue, it also seems curiously devoid of anything resembling a heart or soul. Inducted into the Women in the Arts Museum, Lunt-Fontanne Fellow. 'He don't love me like I love him, nobody could, I've got it bad, and that ain't good': there, at least, is the sound of Ellington, rueful, melodious, original." The cast features Jacqui Boatswain, Sergio Covino, Jacqueline Dankworth, Janie Dee, Jacqui Dubois, Martin Eyre, Dollie Henry, Horace Oliver, Neil Patterson, Jon Peterson, Rebecca Thornhill and Richie Pitts. Shantel Renée "Shany" Cribbs is an American actress, singer, and dancer. An abundance of riches from the most sophisticated and sassy jazz king of them all! Benjamin, Terri Klausner, Hinton Battle, Gregg Burge, Mercedes Ellington and Priscilla Baskerville. Nor is it for serious lovers of his work, who will probably be irritated by the showbiz flimmery and flummery. Compare. The format itself is simple. Featuring a full-blooded big-band sound, sparkling sets and costumes, machine-gun tap-dancing, and Duke Ellington's unforgettable jazz numbers such as Satin Doll, It Don't Mean a Thing, Mood Indigo, I Got It Bad, and Solitude. An original cast album of ''Sophisticated Ladies,'' the Broadway musical based on compositions of Duke Ellington, will be produced by RCA Records. The main puzzle is why a show which on the face of it seems to promise so much should turn out to be so disappointing. | E&EO | Privacy Policy | Updated 6 January 2020. Sophisticated Ladies. Lack of variety is underlined by the almost entire absence of dialogue. Cast: Gregory Hines, Paula Kelly. The only downside was that being hard of hearing sometimes the songs were not loud enough to hear clearly for me... but even that did not take away from the joy and laughter and appreciation of this classic. Recipient of eight Jeffs, two Helen Hayes, Four BTTA, R.A.M.I., Ovation, Sarah Siddons, Excellence in the Arts, Kathy Lampkey, Rosetta LeNoire, Guy Adkins, After Dark, Barrymore, and Black Excellence Awards. Broadway Revue Original. "People who saw Sophisticated Ladies, a celebration of Duke Ellington, in New York and Paris in the mid-1980s still speak of it with great admiration and affection. It is for those who want to pass an undemanding couple of hours watching Roger Haines's gifted company sing and dance to the Duke's tunes... Charles Miller's band plays well, at times almost too well. Sophisticated Ladies. ORCH: Al Cohn. Other than that, it is simply one song or musical number after another. Sophisticated Ladies. Show/Musical Cast Recordings. The original cast, under the direction of Michael Smuin, included Gregory Hines, Judith Jamison, Phyllis Hyman, Hinton Battle, Gregg Burge and Mercer Ellington. CAST: Gregory Hines, Judith Jamison, Phyllis Hyman, P J Benjamin, Hinton Battle, Terri Klausner, Gregg Burge, Priscilla Baskerville. Original Broadway Cast of Sophisticated Ladies … Compare. Understudies: Hinton Battle (Performer), Gregg Burge (Performer), Casey Cole (Sophisticated Lady), Sheri Cowart (Performer), Lorraine Fields (Performer, Sophisticated Lady), Eugene Fleming (Performer, Sophisticated Gentleman), Leata Galloway (Performer), Loretta Giles (Performer), Michael Graham (Performer), Terri Klausner (Performer), Garry Q. Lewis (Performer), Steve Marder (Sophisticated … MUSIC: mostly Duke Ellington. Since there are no characters, there is no characterisation. On this adventure together with our 80+ pound German shepherd, Kodak. 97 likes. Benjamin, Gregg Burge, and Hinton Battle are all top-notch, as is the musical direction by Mercer Ellington. (RCA CBL2-4053. "Martin" Sophisticated Ladies (TV Episode 1995) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. One of hundreds of thousands of free digital items from The New York Public Library. “SOPHISTICATED LADIES” …La donna è qualcosa di misterioso che sta fra il canto e la metafora… Breve storia della vocalità jazz attraverso canto e parole Upstage Charles Miller leads a very good 12-strong band backed by a glittering art deco portrait of Ellington. All rights reserved. (November 3, 2000 to January 7, 2001) He was composer for the musical, "Play On!," in The Arena Stage production at the Fichlander Theater in Washington D.C. Cheryl L. West wrote the book. WORDS: Various. 12-Strong band backed by a glittering art deco portrait of Ellington. 2020. Burge, and Hinton Battle, Gregg Burge, and Hinton Battle - Ellington. Pickings from the New York Public Library number after another no characterisation so, there are no,. 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