Musical Theatre History Monthly - March 2022
Hello fine people!
As March begins and Spring settles in, I can't help but think about all of the new possibilities that await us in 2022. New chances to learn, love, and lighten our spirit through connection. This world can be a dark place, especially in the depths of winter, but as the sun rises, I turn to history as a reminder that nothing is permanent, and that every struggle can, in some way, be overcome.
In fitting with this hopeful theme (and the new redesign of the newsletter!) I have compiled a selection of upbeat, uplifting, and above all /happy/ musical theatre selections to brighten your days.
"Who knows what may lie around the next corner? There may be a window somewhere ahead. It may look out on a field of sunflowers." - Joe Hill
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Musical of the Month - House of Flowers
Written by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote, House of Flowers is a gentle romance set in a Haitian bordello during Mardi Gras. Based on Capote's short story of the same name, it was the first musical to utilize a steel pan in its instrumentation. The original cast featured Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll, Juanita Hall, Ray Walston, Carmen de Lavallade, Alvin Ailey and Geoffrey Holder.
Here, the divine Vanessa Williams lends her lilting voice to one of the standouts from the score, I Never Has Seen Snow.
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Person of the Month - Harry Belafonte
In keeping with the Caribbean theme, this month we are celebrating the divine Harry Belafonte. Born to Jamaican parents in New York, Mr. Belafonte popularized calypso music in the United States, becoming one of the first mega successful Black film stars in Hollywood's first golden age. He won a Tony for his work in John Murray Anderson's Almanac, and starred as Joe in the film of Carmen Jones, Oscar Hammerstein II's all Black version of the opera Carmen.
Today, March 1st 2022, is his 95 birthday - put on one of his records, and enjoy the feeling of the sun on your face as you wish him well.
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This months book is actually a preorder! After years of delays, Mary Rodgers' memoirs are finally set to be released on August 9 2022. Mary was an incredible spirit, and if you preorder the text now, it will arrive just in time to be your final beach read of the summer.
Preorder Link
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100 Years Ago, these shows debuted...
- Broken Branches - 3/6/22
- Candida - 3/22/22
- Just Because - 3/22/22
- Madeleine and the Movies - 3/6/22
- The First Fifty Years - 3/13/22
- The First Man - 3/4/22
- The Hairy Ape - 3/9/22
- The Hindu - 3/21/22
- The Hotel Mouse - 3/13/22
- The Rose of Stamboul - 3/7/22
- The Truth About Blayds - 3/14/22
- Up the Ladder - 3/6/22
- Voltaire - 3/21/22
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This months film is one I have recommended in the newsletter before, but I can't help but push it forward again. Few films make me feel as buoyant as An American in Paris, and after the doldrums of winter, we all deserve a little spring in our step.
Watch Here
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... and these lovely people were born
- Cyd Charisse (The iconic dancer was born March 8 1922)
- Carl Reiner (the legendary comic was born March 20 1922)
- Onna White (The eight time Tony nominated choreographer was born March 24 1922)
- Richard Kiley (The original Man of La Mancha was born March 31 1922)
- James M. Nederlander ( The impresario was born March 31 1922)
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