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T2C Interviews Beth Malone As The Unsinkable Molly Brown Is Released Digitally

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The Transport Group production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown won the 2020 Off-Broadway Award for Best Revival, and was Drama Desk-nominated. It was in the middle of its critically acclaimed run at Abrons Arts Center in New York City when the COVID shutdown happened. The reworked version of Meredith Willson’s Molly Brown stared Tony Award nominee Beth Malone in the title role. T2C talked with Beth about life, the album and what’s next.
Also in the cast was David Aron Damane (The Book of Mormon) as JJ, Whitney Bashor (MJ: The Musical) as Julia, Omar Lopez-Cepero (On Your Feet!) as Vincenzo, Alex Gibson (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Erich, and Paolo Montalban (Pacific Overtures) as Arthur. This version of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, seen regionally in Denver, Colorado, and St. Louis, Missouri, has music and lyrics by Willson (The Music Man), with additional songs from his catalog, and a new book (based on the original by Richard Morris) and new lyrics by Tony nominee Dick Scanlan (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Everyday Rapture). The music is adapted by Michael Rafter (Thoroughly Modern Millie), and the production is directed and choreographed by three-time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes, The Pajama Game). The musical tells “the rags-to-riches story of Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown—a turn-of-the-century hero of the underdog, champion of women’s rights, fighter for labor rights, advocate of immigration reform—and, most famously, a survivor of the Titanic disaster.” But Brown is also a progressive woman, rejecting her fate in a world run by men.
She ain’t down yet! Brought to you by the Transport Group’s award-winning production in conjunction with Music Theatre International, this studio recording of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, will be available everywhere, digitally, Friday, July 22nd. The Unsinkable Molly Brown features Meredith Willson’s original score and lyrics plus unknown gems from Willson’s trunk, with a new book and added lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and liner notes by Luis Miranda. The album was recorded on December 12, 2021.
“In addition to preserving a show that has been one of the most joyful and fulfilling of my career,
part of the thrill of recording this score is introducing Meredith Willson songs that no one had
ever heard before the new The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” – Dick Scanlan.
The Unsinkable Molly Brown is produced by Michael Croiter, Michael Rafter, and Dick Scanlan. The album features orchestrations by Larry Hochman and additional orchestrations by Michael Starobin and Bruce Coughlin. Meredith Willson’s music adaptation was provided by Michael Rafter. The album is recorded by Andy Manganello. Music coordination by Joey Chancey, music preparation by Howard Begun. Music assistance by Nick Stephens with Jill Dell’Abate as Production Manager. Script supervision, Covid compliance, and production assistance by Stephanie Prugh. The recording was mixed and edited by Michael Croiter at Yellow Sound Lab, New York, N.Y., and mastered by Michael Fossenkemper, Turtle Tone Mastering, New York, NY. The album was recorded at Power Station at Berklee, New York, NY.  MTI is the exclusive licensor for the performance rights to The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
The Transport Group’s cast featured on the album includes Tony Award Nominee Beth Malone, David Aron Damane, Whitney Bashor, Omar Lopez-Cepero, Alex Gibson, Paolo Montalban, Paula Leggett Chase, Lauryn Ciardullo, Karl Josef Co, Kaitlyn Davidson, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Gregg Goodbrod, Michael Halling, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Keven Quillon, and CoCo Smith.
The band is under the direction of Joey Chancey. Featuring Meg Zervoulis on acoustic piano and synth, Suzy Perelman on violin, Joe Wallace on upright bass, Micah Burgess on arch top, steel string, banjo, and mandolin. John Skinner appears on alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, and piccolo, and Justin Vance on flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor saxophone. Rounding out the band is Jami Dauber on trumpet and flugelhorn, Alex Jeun on tenor and bass trombone, and Barbara Merjan on percussions and drums.
Video by Magda Katz

Suzanna, co-owns and publishes the newspaper Times Square Chronicles or T2C. At one point a working actress, she has performed in numerous productions in film, TV, cabaret, opera and theatre. She has performed at The New Orleans Jazz festival, The United Nations and Carnegie Hall. She has a screenplay and a TV show in the works, which she developed with her mentor and friend the late Arthur Herzog. She is a proud member of the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle and was a nominator. Email: suzanna@t2conline.com

Cabaret

Cabaret, Talks and Concerts For April

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Spring, makes us gather as much sun as possible, but it also brings rain and it’s time to hop inside and catch your favorite performer. Here are our picks for April.

92 Street Y: 1395 Lexington Ave. 4/11: Apple TV+’s The Last Thing He Told Me: Jennifer Garner and Laura Dave; 4/19: Al Pacino in Conversation with David Rubenstein (In-Person); 4/30: Celebrating Balanchine: A Screening, Book Reading, Conversation and Performance with Director Connie Hochman, Heather Watts, Jennifer Homans, Tiler Peck, Unity Phelan, and Calvin Royal III Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of George Balanchine’s Death (In-Person)

Tony DeSare

Birdland Jazz: 315 West 44 St. Every Monday at 9:30pm Jim Caruso’s Cast Party; Every Tuesday at 8:30pm The Lineup with Susie Mosher; Every Saturday at 7pm Eric Comstock with Sean Smith (Bass) & special guest Barbara Fasano (Voice); 4/1: Eliane Elias; 4/3: Susie Mosher & John Boswell in CASHINO; 4/17: Anita Gillette & Penny Fuller: “Sin Twisters: The Next Frontier”; 4/17: Sean McDermott & Cassidy Place; 4/21 – 22: Tony DeSare; 4/24: Karen Akers and 4/25 – 29: John Pizzarelli Album Release

Christine Andreas

Cafe Carlyle: 35 E 76th St. 4/1: John Lloyd Young; 4/3: Seth Rudetsky; 4/5 -15; Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro; 18- 19 Christine Andreas; 4/20-21; John Brancy and Peter Dugan; 4/22; Richard Tognetti, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra and 4/25-29 Candace Bushnell.

Carnegie Hall: 881 7th Ave at 57th St.

Chelsea Table + Stage: Hilton Fashion District Hotel, 152 W 26th St. 4/14: Marieann Meringolo and 4/17: The Skivvies.

Don’t Tell Mama: 343 W. 46 St. 4/ 21: Tanya Moberly and 4/28: Ricky Ritzel’s Broadway!

Dizzys Club Coca Cola: Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street. 4/21 -22: Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour

Gabrielle Stravelli

The DJango: 2 Avenue of the Americas. 4/9: Gabrielle Stravelli

54 Below: 254 West 54 St. 4/1: Jennifer Simard: Can I Get Your Number?; 4/1: Bianca Marroquín; 4/4: LIVESTREAM | The Tom Kitt Band;  4/7, 11, 15: Linda Eder;  4/12-14: Kate Baldwin & Aaron Lazar: All For You; 4/21-22: LIVESTREAM | Seth Sikes & Nicolas King with Billy Stritch and 4/29: Darius de Haas: Maisel and More!

Reeve Carney – Photo by Matthew Tammaro

The Green Room 42: 570 10th Ave. 4/2: Melissa Errico; 4/13, 15: Sharon McKnight and 4/23: Reeve Carney

Sony Hall: 235 W. 46th St. 1/15:

Theatre at the West Bank Café: 407 West 42 St.

Jesse Luttrell

The Triad: 158 W. 72 St. 4/21: Jesse Luttrell

Mariza

The Town Hall: 123 West 43rd Street. 4/23: Mariza

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Cabaret

Storm Large Brings The Sexual Heat Along With Powerhouse Vocals To 54 Below

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Doris Day’s “Que Sera, Que Sera, takes on a hint of sexual subversive overtone as flower child Storm Large makes her way through the audience at 54 Below handing out possies.

If you do not know who Storm Large is, she is a musician, actor, playwright and author, who shot to national prominence in 2006 as a finalist on the CBS show Rock Star: Supernova. Large currently performs nationally with her own band, and tours internationally with the Portland-based band Pink Martini. Large also appeared on America’s Got Talent on June 14, 2021, performing a cover of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” which is when I became obsessed.

Large is raw, real, human, and oh so female, and her new show has her explaining her life and how she empathize with all of us during being locked down. Her take on Jay Livingston and Ray Evans “Crazy Train” took on a deeper and more profound epiphany.

Lauper’s and Large’s ode to self-gratification, brought back the 80’s “She Bop“. Large talks between the numbers and we learn how Ms. Large dealt with not performing, in Prince’s “Nothing Compares To You“.

You will never think of Grease’s “Hopelessly Devoted to You” in the same way again after the “Carrie: version Storm maps out. You definitely get a glimpse of the demons that she battles or rather plays with.

Connecting so strongly to lyric and having a range that is unbelievable, Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Shovels & Rope’s “After The Storm” and The Kinks “Strangers” told of heartbreak, longing, loss as Storm played the drums and ukulele. She is multi-talented and it is mind boggling how she is not more nationally and internationally beloved.


A lot of the audience knew Storm’s “8 Mile Wide” from her hit one-woman show Crazy Enough. This song is a female empowerment ode of being who she is and she does not apologize. Despite the song being about her anatomy, this was her father’s favorite song. She sang it to him before he died.

The Hollies “Air That I Breathe” and a song by Storm and her amazing musical director James Beaton, “Angels in The Gas Station” were dedicated to her father. Beaton is also who does Storm’s arrangements including the fabulous “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, that sadly she did not grace us with,

Playing in her band are musicians that are all stellar in the own rights with Matt Brown on Bass, Scott Weddle on Guitar and Greg Uklund on Drums.

You can catch Storm Large: Loving Storm, tonight at 54 Below and I highly recommend you do. If you have never experienced this super nova you will be glad you did.

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Cabaret

Ken Fallin’s Broadway: New York Pops and Marvelous Marilyn Maye

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“The astonishing Marilyn Maye sings with the magnificent New York Pops led by Maestro Steve Reineke this Friday evening, March 24th at Carnegie Hall. They are remarkable talents and remarkable people.

Kenny & Marilyn Maye penthouse

Cabaret legend Marilyn Maye takes the stage with The New York Pops for a program of standards and musical theater classics that make clear why she’s been celebrated as one of America’s greatest jazz singers for more than 50 years. Hear favorites by composers who include Porter, Lerner and Loewe, Loesser, and Sondheim, as well as Maye’s special version of “Too Late Now,” which was selected by the Smithsonian Institution for its permanent collection of 20th-century recordings.

 

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