We’re looking at songs from musicals whose openings spanned a whopping 153 years on this week’s Dress Circle (12/3 7:00 p.m.) as we celebrate some of the shows that opened in New York in December.
Actually, it should be 155 years since our oldest December opening was a revival of a show that originally opened two years prior. It’s Jacques Offenbach’s “Barbe-Bleue” or “Bluebeard.” Although it’s rarely heard today, it was a huge hit, running 102 performances when it first opened in July of 1868, but the revival in 1870 eclipsed that with a run of 160 performances at a time when many shows ran for only a few dozen performances in order to make a profit.
Oddly enough, our latest opening hasn’t really even occurred yet, but because of an advance EP of the songs from the show, we can bring you a sample of “How to Dance in Ohio” which is opening on the 10th of this month. Based on the 2018 documentary of the same name, the musical centers on seven young people who are all on the autism spectrum who are getting ready for a school dance. It’s reportedly the first musical that has cast autistic actors to fill those roles. The show moves to Broadway from a successful run at the Syracuse Stage.
We’ll also be hearing from a few other recent openings with songs from “Some Like It Hot,” “School of Rock,” and “Mrs. Doubtfire” as well as some old favorites like “Pal Joey,” “Flower Drum Song,” and “On the Town.”
Of course, we’ll also be featuring some less familiar shows like Jerome Kern’s “Very Good Eddie,” the Gershwins’ “Tip-Toes,” the Lucille Ball vehicle “Wildcat,” and the charming “Ballroom” based on “Queen of the Stardust Ballroom.”
Oh, and don’t worry… We won’t be playing a 153-year-old recording this week. Offenbach is so loved that we have more than enough modern recordings to play for you so that you can hear a sample of his delightful melodies.
Escape from the holiday stress this Sunday evening for an hour of diverse and interesting music, and join us for The Dress Circle.
