A Gay Musical Revue:

Out On Broadway

&

Sondheim Tonight

Review by Roland F. Palmer

It isn’t often you find musical theater in which an all-male cast sings Broadway songs written by songwriters who were themselves gay or bisexual (well, unless you count a gay men’s health club shower, which we won’t). It’s even harder to find a recording of such a show… that is, until now. New Line Theatre’s Out On Broadway is just such a find.

Out On Broadway debuted at the New Line Theatre, an alternative musical theatre company in St. Louis, in March, 1996. After a successful first run, it returned to this same theatre in August, 1996. This CD was recorded there on October 11 – National Coming Out Day – and 12, 1996.

Tracy Collins, Tim Kent, and Scott Miller were the masterminds behind the show. Collins also starred in the show, while Miller accompanied on piano. What makes both the show and the recording unique is that the songs are sung from a gay perspective, which may well have been the way the songwriters originally imagined them.

The CD contains 19 songs from a wide variety of shows, including classics such as Girl Crazy, South Pacific, and The King and I. There are also selections from more modern shows, like Chicago, Dick Tracy, and Les Miserables. Chris Brenner, Tracy Collins, Eddie Webb, Quenten Schumacher, and Keith Thompson unite in spirit and song to bring out the emotion and humor in each of these songs.

Two members of the cast really stand out on this recording. The first, Quenten Schumacher, brings a fresh perspective and modern commentary to “Happily Ever After” (Once Upon A Mattress) and lyrically defines bitchiness in “Bosom Buddies” (Mame). The second is Eddie Webb, whose rich, resonating voice is perfectly suited for the ballads “Sleepy Man” (The Robber Bridegroom) and “We Kiss In A Shadow” (The King And I).

As you may well imagine, Stephen Sondheim wrote seven of the songs featured on Out On Broadway. If you’re like some and cannot get enough Sondheim, you may also want to check out the 2-CD set Sondheim Tonight.

This is a live recording of a gala concert celebrating his music. The concert was performed on May 17, 1998, at the Barbican Centre in London by performers from around the world. The concept for this event was devised and directed by Hugh Woolridge. Woolridge brought together David Firman and Charles Prince to conduct the City of London Philharmonic. Add to this an all-star line up of speakers and performers and you have an unforgettable evening.

As in many live recordings, the sound quality isn’t always the best it could be. However, it is usually during the speeches that you will notice this difference.

The CD contains music that spans Sondheim’s career, and I must admit, had pieces I’ve never heard. It includes “Variations On A Theme,” written in 1947, and “A Very Short Violin Sonata,” penned in 1951. There are also a number of arrangements that were either first performances or their first British performance. One of these is a new arrangement by Chris Walker called “Sondheim Overture.” This piece is wonderful for those who like the challenge of naming all the pieces played in a medley...

There are some amazing performers featured on this CD. Woolridge was able to reunite Millicent Martin, Julia McKenzie and David Kernan, who performed together in Side By Side By Sondheim years ago. Len Cariou performed “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd,” which he performed on Broadway in 1976. Possibly the most unique piece on the CD, and the one that makes it a treasure for me, “possums,” is Dame Edna Everage performing “The Ladies Who Lunch.” Other performers on this CD include Clive Rowe, Maria Friedman, Michael Ball, Liz Robertson, and Cleo Laine.

Woolridge really did his research when choosing the pieces for this concert. By combining songs many of us know and orchestral and classical soloist pieces most of us may never have heard, he makes this CD collection a great experience for all who listen. Even if you have numerous other Sondheim CDs, and especially if you are just looking to start your collection, you should check out Sondheim Tonight.

Roland Palmer lives in Hinesburg.