Tag: Tony Awards

Merrily We Roll Along…It’s a Hit!

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The musical Merrily We Roll Along is a Tony Award winning hit! Winning this year’s Tony award for best revival, lead actor, supporting actor, and best orchestrations, Merrily is one of Stephen Soundheim’s celebrated scores, a personal narrative that moves backwards in time. Merrily follows the turbulent relationship between three lifelong friends played by Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez and traces every milestone of their lives for nearly two decades as they navigate success, show business and unbreakable bonds. (Taken from Merrily’s website)

Merrily is one of the best musicals I have seen on Broadway. I saw it in January 2024 with one of my bff’s and fellow theatre aficionado, Auntie Jaime! It has all the feels, and is relatable no matter where you are in your friendship dichotomy. And did I mention the dynamic score? After the show we turned to each other and said in unison, “Merrily is going to sweep the Tonys!”

The Noteworthy Mommy and Auntie Jaime in the lobby at the Hudson Theatre prior to seeing Merrily We Roll Along.

But when Stephen Soundheim and Hal Prince premiered Merrily on Broadway in 1981, it was a major flop! It closed after a mere 16 performances. Perhaps audiences weren’t ready for Merrily, it was ahead of its time. But more than likely the show was confusing for theater goers to follow as it starts at the end and goes in reverse chronological order, ending at the beginning. Pure genius in my opinion!

While many saw failure, others saw Merrily’s potential, and over the years Soundheim and Furth (book writer) gave permission and subsequent successful productions were staged throughout the world.

But it wasn’t until Maria Friedman took hold of Merrily that the stars aligned. Friedman transformed the cult flop and brought the little show that could back to Broadway for the first time since 1981. Merrily finally got the recognition it deserved! I think Friedman was robbed at the Tony awards; she should have won for best director.

Merrily will sadly play its last Broadway performance on July 7, 2024. How I wanted to make it back to NYC to see it again, the show is that good! Thankfully, I will get to see it again! Merrily was recently filmed and will likely appear on a streaming service within the next year, allowing fans like myself to relive this amazing production for years to come and allowing those who were unable to visit the Hudson Theatre in NYC to experience the magic in their living rooms.

Epilogue: The story behind the musical Merrily We Roll Along, going from failure to award winner, epitomizes “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.” It illustrates you may have a brilliant concept, but if the execution is completely off, your project won’t stand a chance. It reminded me, don’t get discouraged, move on, it simply isn’t the right time. The story behind the rebirth of Merrily shows you can start something good but sometimes you need to let it go, allow someone else to take over, and as a result, something extraordinary can happen!

COVID-19 May Have Cancelled the Tony Awards but You Can’t Stop the Beat!

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COVID-19 may have cancelled the Tony awards this year but Broadway performers have taken to the Internet and proven that nothing can stop the beat! Many current and former Broadway casts have come together and created Zoom like performances that have brought a little bit of Broadway into homes across America. These are my top picks for award winning virtual performances. Although some are produced better than others, every single video fills this Noteworthy Mommy with pure joy.

And the winners are…

Legally Blonde the Musical– Laura Bell Bundy along with the original cast of Legally Blond the Musical created this hilarious COVID-19 version of “OMIGOD You Guys Sanitize for Corona!” CLICK HERE to watch.

Company– This is by far my favorite performance, so clever and so well done! I can’t wait for the cast album. CLICK HERE to watch the current cast of Company perform the opening number in a Zoom call. Cell rings, text chimes, Zoom calls…Company!

Hairspray– Alumni from numerous casts of the musical “Hairspray” come together to perform “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” CLICK HERE to view.

Hamilton- The original cast of Hamilton performs “Alexander Hamilton” for one of their biggest fans. CLICK HERE to view.

A coloring page completed by me and my mini me from the Playbill Coloring Book a dear friend sent us.

How I dearly miss the theatre! I was anxiously awaiting the opening of the Broadway revivals of “The Music Man” and the reinvented production of “Company.” Both are musicals that hold a special place in my heart having played in the orchestra for both shows in summers past. Summers I innocently took for granted. Summers filled with music and rehearsals and friends. Summers where I felt part of something bigger then myself. Nothing is greater then being a member of a group of talented individuals who come together and shape and mold and create something beautiful for others to enjoy. It is something COVID-19 has taken from me and my world won’t be “normal” until I can create music with my friends once again.

The Tonys and the Stanley Cup…The Seasons Greatest Singers, Dancers and Hockey Players!

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Everyone in St. Louis is wearing blue these days as we enthusiastically cheer on our hometown hockey team, the Saint Louis Blues, to what we hope will be a historic Stanley Cup victory! But on Sunday, June 9, this girl isn’t excited about game 6 of the championship along with the rest of the city. Instead, I’m wrapped up in my own game, my personal Super Bowl taking place on the Great White Way. A magical night filled with both victory and defeat that I look forward to all year long with great anticipation. I’ll be cheering on the best of Broadway as I watch the 73rd annual Tony Awards!

My Musical Theater Beginnings- My fascination with musical theater began at an early age. My dad was a high school art teacher who designed the sets, supplied the props and was in charge of the house (ticket sales, posters, program design, ushers) for the annual high school spring musical. Having an “in” with the house manager privileged me with front row seats to every performance! I must have been five or six when I saw my dad’s first show, “West Side Story”and I immediately became hooked. I remember sitting there completely mesmerized. I fell in love with everything… the music, the dancing, the emotion, the set, the costumes, the spot lights! A new world opened for me and I eagerly entered in by acting out the shows I saw in our backyard and critiquing the performances (I saw each show three times).

As a child, the high school productions introduced me to many of the classics like Rodger and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” and “The King and I,” and Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” and “Guys and Dolls.” I also saw contemporary productions like “Pippin” and “Working” by Stephen Schwartz.

One of my favorites was “Grease” and to this day it remains in my top ten. I remember feeling like I was part of that production when I saw my mom’s makeup table and baby blue Samsonite carry-on cosmetic bag being used by Rizzo and Sandy on stage. As an impressionable preteen I related to Sandy, yet sympathized with Rizzo when she belted out, “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.”

Meeting My Broadway Tribe- The Tony Awards didn’t enter my life until high school. That’s when I met friends in marching band who were just like me… Broadway obsessed! It was the era of “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserable” where musicals were mostly all sung through. We spent hours studying the CD liners, memorizing every, single, word! In concert band and in the pit orchestra for our own high school musicals we played music from the shows we were so passionate about. And on the night of the Tony Awards we gathered together, seeing numbers from nominated shows and cheering on our favorite performers.

The 60th Annual Tony Awards- In 2006 I checked a huge event off of my bucket list when I attended the 60th annual Tony Awards in person at Radio City Music Hall! Jersey Boys won best musical that year. My friend and I dressed in elegant evening gowns and experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity that we will never forget! Although legendary performers like Chita Rivera, James Earl Jones and Julie Andrews appeared tiny from our mile high seats, we were thrilled to simply be present.My story ends with the band geek marrying the captain of the football team (although he played in the orchestra during off season). And we are raising a well rounded little girl who is gaining an appreciation for live theater and live sporting events. So on Sunday, June 9, with an assist from a sophisticated remote and DVR, our family will avoid any interference and have a night choreographed with the seasons greatest singers, dancers and hockey players.