Oklahoma! transformed the world of musical theater in more ways than one. Richard Rodgers was interested in adapting the 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs into a piece for musical theater. However, his writing partner Lorenz Hart had no interest in the project. Oscar Hammerstein II expressed interest, but his writing partner Read More
Category: Musicals
Profile of a Performer: Elvis Presley– The Comeback King
In remembrance of the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, we will finish his profile this week. We’ve already discussed the younger years and his return from the Army. After a decade in films, Elvis Presley was considered a joke by both fans and critics. Now, it was time for some damage control. Colonel Parker made Read More
Profile of a Performer: Elvis is Back!
After serving two years in the Army, the time had come for Elvis to return to his public. Would he be able to make the comeback he hoped for? Elvis returned to the United States and was honorably discharged in early March 1960. Less than three weeks later he was in the recording Read More
The Sound of Music
Theaters this week are celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music. The film version, starring a then-unknown Julie Andrews and primarily stage performer Christopher Plummer, of the musical first hit theaters in 1965. The stage version first premiered six years earlier in 1959, with Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel, in the title roles. Read More
Behind the Song: Edelweiss
Edelweiss is the popular ballad from the musical The Sound of Music. This was the last song written for the musical. Edelweiss is a white flower found high in the Austrian Alps and was the inspiration for the waltz. The song was written as a vehicle for Captain Von Trapp, played by Theodore Bikel in Read More
Behind the Song: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was almost cut from the film that made it popular. The song was sung in the 1944 MGM musical, Meet Me in St. Louis. In the film, Judy Garland’s character sings the song to her despondent little sister, played by Margaret O’Brien. The song was written by Hugh Martin Read More
Behind the Song: White Christmas
White Christmas is the most popular Christmas song of all time. The Irving Berlin song is reminiscing about an “old fashioned Christmas.” Accounts vary as to when and where Berlin wrote the song. He often stayed up all night writing or would ask his secretary to write down what he dictated. Both La Quinta Hotel Read More
Behind the Song: Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep
Count Your Blessings {Instead of Sheep} was the last hit for the popular composer Irving Berlin. The song was written sometime around 1952. Irving Berlin tells the story best: In the book The Irving Berlin Reader, a letter from Irving Berlin to Joseph Schenck and dated September 1952 includes the following information about the writing Read More
Behind the Song: My Favorite Things
My Favorite Things is another song from a popular musical, The Sound of Music, that is often heard at Christmas although there is no mention of Christmas in the song. The popularity at Christmas is most likely due to the winter-related imagery of “snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, silver white winters that Read More
Profile of a Performer: The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees were a group that comprised of three brothers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. Robin and Maurice are fraternal twins. The group is recognized for their three part harmonies. The Gibb brothers were born on the Isle of Man, England. The family lived in various parts of England before relocating to Queensland, Australia Read More