Remembering Gwen Verdon
By Peter Filichia Had life been kinder to all of us, Gwen Verdon would still be here to celebrate her 90th birthday on January 13. Alas, we lost her 14 years ago, but at least we still have her recordings as well as a film in which she recreated her first starring role in […]
Elvis Can Still Be in the Building
Elvis Can Still Be in the Building By Peter Filichia Eighty. Yes, eighty. That’s how old Elvis Presley would have been on Thursday, January 8, 2015. Do the math: The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll — as Presley was […]
A Tale of Three ANYTHING GOES
By Peter Filichia We can’t let 2014 got by without acknowledging that the year marks the eightieth anniversary of Anything Goes. I’m a little late to the party, for the Cole Porter shipboard classic actually debuted on Nov. 21, 1934. It’s lucky it didn’t have to postpone until 1935, for its original Guy […]
Don’t Miss All of Into the Woods
By Peter Filichia It’s one of the most musical musical movies of all time, with many more songs than spoken lines. And yet, even with all that music and those reams of lyrics, director Rob Marshall and screenwriter James Lapine’s film of Into the Woods eliminates quite a few of Stephen Sondheim’s songs. […]
Annie’s Original Cast Album: You’re Still the Champ
By Peter Filichia There was a time when Hollywood played fast and loose with Broadway musicals. Many, if not most of the songs that charmed New York were discarded in the California studios. Anything Goes, Babes in Arms and The Boys from Syracuse were among the dozens of ‘30s titles that didn’t wind up […]
