FRANK LOESSER’S BAD LUCK By Peter Filichia
Seeing the recent, brilliantly staged reading of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING by The National Asian Artists Project started me thinking. Frank Loesser had twice provided the music and lyrics for the biggest musical hit of the season. And yet, in both instances, he lost the Best Score Tony to other composer-lyricists. […]
SO MANY TONY QUESTIONS! By Peter Filichia
And now that the books have been officially closed on the 2023-2024 season and the Tony Awards, I’ve been answering a great many questions from relatives, friends and (let’s face it) frenemies. Q. Did you think that THE OUTSIDERS would win Best Musical? A. Yup! I had no doubts at all. No matter that some […]
OPERATION MINCEMEAT’S OUTSTANDING-O’S By Peter Filichia
Understand that in this tally, we’re not counting curtain calls. But indeed, last month in London during a Saturday matinee of OPERATION MINCEMEAT, I saw not one, not two, but three standing ovations greet a trio of numbers. Well, this show is a smash-hit of epic proportions. It’s often been dubbed “the best reviewed musical […]
THE OUTSIDERS’ INSIDERS by Peter Filichia
Although it’s a book that’s sold 20 million copies in 30 languages in the last 57 years, Danya Taymor had never encountered it. “I read the musical before I read the book,” said the director of THE OUTSIDERS. This admission was revealed last week when deft Broadway World contributor Richie Ridge hosted four 2023-2024 Tony […]
PLANNING YOUR THEATRICAL SUMMER By Peter Filichia
So, which type of cast album listener are you? Before you see a musical, do you play the show’s recording and learn the score down to every hemidemisemiquaver? Or do you avoid the album because you want to be taken by surprise and discover the score in the theater? What about a musical that you’re […]
