Thoughts on the new Jekyll & Hyde 2012 Concept Album.
The new Jekyll & Hyde 2012 Concept Recording was recently released to give audiences a preview of the upcoming U.S. national tour and broadway revival. There are a TON of recordings of this show out there, and I’ve listened to many of them. Here’s what I thought of this new release:
1. For those expecting a completely re-imagined version of the show, don’t get your hopes up. The new, rock arrangements are definitely hit-or-miss and often feel very ‘put on.’ There are no new songs on the album per se, but some fan favorites from the original concept recording(s) have been added back in (specifically “I Need To Know”, “Bring On The Men”, “Girls of the Night”).
2. So how are the leads? Constantine Maroulis is, again, very hit-or-miss (mostly miss on this album). There is almost NO differentiation in his voice between the two characters he’s supposed to be playing (Jekyll & Hyde). Also, most of his songs are overly-‘fussy’, and his pop/rock music background adds almost nothing to this musical. Deborah Cox fares a bit better as Lucy- perhaps because most of the character’s songs are pop ballads which Deborah pulls off quite well. Teal Wicks sounds A LOT like Christiane Noll (with a little more ‘bite’ to her voice at times), but she also doesn’t have much to sing on this album (Emma’s song “I Need To Know” will not be included in this production despite appearing on the 2006 Resurrection Album).
Overall Thoughts: This new recording really isn’t worth the $12+ that’s being charged for it. The changes to the show’s music aren’t substantial enough to draw in new audience members, yet they’re just enough to piss off Jekyll & Hyde traditionalists who prefer the more gothic-sound over the modern rock arrangements (I generally put myself in that category). I’ll try to catch the upcoming national tour and post my thoughts on the production here, but this ‘concept recording’ did very little for me.
The Carrie: The Musical ‘Premiere Recording’ seems to be confusing some people, so here’s a quick history of the show:
Generally speaking, this is NOT a new show. After an initial try-out run in Stratford, England, the original broadway production of Carrie: The Musical opened in 1988. It featured Linzi Hately in the title role and Betty Buckley as Carrie’s mother, Margaret. The show was torn apart by critics, and it closed after only 16 previews and 5 performances- making it one of the most expensive broadway flops of all time. Despite this, Carrie: The Musical gained a large cult following over the years. Bootlegs of performances, scores, and other memorabilia from the show survived, and some individuals even staged un-authorized productions.
In 2009, a reading of a completely reworked version of the show was held in New York City featuring various new songs, lyric/book changes, etc. The reading also had an all-star cast including Marin Mazzie, Sutton Foster, Jennifer Damiano, Matt Doyle, Diana DeGarmo, John Arthur Greene, and Molly Ranson as Carrie.
In 2010, it was confirmed that a revival of Carrie: The Musical (including further changes) would be produced off-broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. The show officially opened on March 1st, 2012 and closed a month later after a limited engagement that included 34 previews and 46 performances. Soon after, Ghostlight Records announced that they would be releasing a cast recording of the show on September 25th, 2012. It was also announced that the rights to perform the show would be made available starting in spring 2013 (as well as a Vocal Selections book). If you’re interested in reading more about the show, check out the Wiki page.
FEATURE: TOP 5 VAMPIRE MUSICALS
#1 - Dracula
Wait, that boring Frank Wildhorn show that flopped on broadway in 2004? Well, it turns out that dud of a show was completely reworked and a brand new production premiered in St. Gallen, Switzerland a year later. This revised version of the musical featured 6 new songs, a heavily edited book, and was performed by a 40-piece orchestra. The cast was lead by Thomas Borchert and Drew Sarich who alternated playing the title role of Dracula. The show was even further reworked for a production in Graz, Austria in 2007 which starred Borchert and Lyn Liechty as the two leads. This version featured new, ‘modern’ rock orchestrations and various other revisions. The production was considered a rave by many fans and critics alike.
Dracula is number one on this list because it’s the perfect example of a show that shouldn’t have been written off so quickly by critics. It came to broadway too early, but Frank Wildhorn and the show’s supporters didn’t get up hope. The newer, reworked productions of Dracula are vastly improved, and English language productions have been popping up all over the UK, United States, Canada, and other locations. The show reminds us that vampire musicals may struggle on stage, but they aren’t dead (so to speak).
FEATURE: TOP 5 VAMPIRE MUSICALS
#2 - Lestat
Inspired by Anne Rice’s book series The Vampire Chronicles, Lestat is a musical with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. The show tells the story of a young 18th century Frenchman named Lestat who is unwilling transformed into a vampire. He struggles to balance his continued sense of morality with the ‘Dark Gift’ he has been given. The storyline spans over a century, and Lestat becomes entwined in several destructive relationships. For example, he transforms his mother into a vampire in order to save her life, but the transformation ultimately changes her original personality greatly. He also develops an antagonist romantic relationship with another vampire named Armaud who seems to take joy in watching Lestat suffer. Like the novel, the show is full of other dark plot twists and turns as well, but not all of them translate to the stage so well.
Although Lestat had a successful pre-broadway run in San Francisco, the show was changed drastically for its broadway run. Reviews of the show were mixed to negative, and the broadway production closed after only 39 performances. However, the show has developed a bit of a cult following since it closed in 2006. It’s a tough world out there for vampire musicals, and fans hope the show might be resurrected in some form in the future.
FEATURE: TOP 5 VAMPIRE MUSICALS
#3 - Tanz der Vampire (aka Dance of the Vampires)
Tanz der Vampire, known by some as Dance of the Vampires (though this is a quite different version of the show), is a gothic pop-rock musical with music by Jim Steinman and original German lyrics by Michael Kunze. The show is a musical adaptation of Roman Polanski’s 1967 film of the same name. Tanz der Vampire first premiered in Vienna in 1997 and was met with a great deal of success. Many more worldwide productions were produced in the following years. A massively reworked version of the show, Dance of the Vampires, opened on broadway in 2002 after many delays and setbacks, but the show closed after only 56 performances. The changes to the show were not met with success.
Like many ‘dark’ musicals, some critics have accused the show of failing to establish a good balance between gothic horror and Rocky Horror-esque ‘camp.’ The score is full of pop-rock tunes, many of which Steinman recycled from his earlier projects. Perhaps the most famous song added the show is “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Although Dance of the Vampires was a huge broadway flop (and all the changes associated with it), the original version of the show, Tanz der Vampire, continues to live on internationally.
FEATURE: TOP 5 VAMPIRE MUSICALS
#4 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More With Feeling
Although it was never on or off-broadway, the Buffy musical episode (titled Once More With Feeling) is probably the most culturally influential musical on this list. Carefully tucked away in the show’s sixth season, this stand-alone episode has been viewed and appreciated by fans of the show and non-fans alike. The storyline revolves around a mysterious demon who comes to Sunnydale, California and casts a spell that makes everyone start suddenly singing and dancing (as if they’re in a musical). You might be thinking- that doesn’t sound so bad. Well, there’s a catch. Too much singing and dancing leads to… spontaneous combustion. It’s up to Buffy and the Scooby Gang to stop the demon while dealing with their own personal issues- which they can’t seem to stop singing about.
Once More With Feeling features some super catchy tunes, but the main appeal is the massive amount of character development that occurs in a relatively short period of time. Ideas and emotions that characters had been keeping secret for a long time suddenly come flying out in song form before they can stop themselves. Put simply, imagine if couldn’t stop yourself from blurting out all your deepest, darkest secrets. Now imagine if you SANG them. The episode provides the perfect plot device to study these wonderful characters that Joss Whedon created. It’s a beautifully quirky and self-referential musical that has built up a large cult following and keeps us wondering: “How DID they get the mustard out?”
FEATURE: TOP 5 VAMPIRE MUSICALS
#5 - BAT BOY: The Musical
“No, I’m not here to harm you… I only want to KILL!” Bat Boy is the story of a teenage boy named Edgar who is half-boy and half-bat (hence the name). After being discovered alone in a cave one day, he is taken in by a married couple named The Parkers and their daughter, Shelley. Over time, the family begins to accept Edgar as one of their own, and he attempts to adjust to normal life in the small conservative community. However, Mr. Parker begins to grow increasingly distrustful of Edgar and believes that the boy is tearing the family apart. He attempts to get rid of the boy once and for all by framing him for a series of vicious crimes. Edgar is forced into hiding and begins to embrace his animalistic nature- resulting in a final confrontation (and a shocking revelation) between him, The Parkers, and Shelley.
Bat Boy is a very entertaining musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe (best known for Legally Blonde: The Musical). Like many ‘dark’ musicals, this show is presented more as tongue-in-cheek satire. However, there are still plenty of twists and turns in the show’s plot, and it tackles some very taboo subjects. Over the years, the show has become a cult favorite in community theatres around the world.
FEATURE: 10 WITCHY MUSICALS
*In no particular order*
#1 - The Wizard of Oz
I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore, Toto. The Wizard of Oz continues to be one of the most beloved musicals of all time. At the heart of the story is an average girl from Kansas named Dorothy who is suddenly whisked off by a twister to the magical land of Oz (with her dog Toto). Her arrival really shakes things up in Oz, and The Wicked Witch of the West quickly marks Dorothy as an enemy after Dorothy’s house accidentally lands on the witches’s sister. Dorothy sets out on a mission to seek out The Wizard of Oz in hopes that he can help her return home to Kansas. she also receives some help along the way from Glinda The Good Witch, a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion. The musical has been a permanent staple of pop culture for decades, and it is one of the most famous musicals featuring witches, wizards, and other magical beings.
FEATURE: 10 WITCHY MUSICALS
*In no particular order*
#2 - Wicked
Wicked came out of nowhere and became one of the most internationally successful and well-known musicals of all time. The story is a prequel (and tie-in) to The Wizard of Oz that focuses on The Wicked Witch of the West’s (Elphaba’s) relationships and back story. Why was/is the musical so successful? There are several factors. The score is extremely catchy and productions feature lush special effects. It also came to broadway right when the Harry Potter book series became popular. Finally, the world has always been fascinated by The Wizard of Oz, so a prequel seemed to make sense. However, it’s worth noting that Wicked the musical is FAR less darker and more family-friendly than the book it is based on.
