A Funny Thing Happened: Songs From The Road To Broadway
June 13, 2016
Sometimes a single song can save a show. This June, three-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall comes to the Feinstein’s/54 Below stage to share the nail-biting stories behind the 11th-hour songs that saved the day and became Broadway classics in “A Funny Thing Happened: Songs From The Road To Broadway,” direct from a sold-out run at the 92nd Street Y.
“I love the romantic idea of composers and lyricists writing a last-minute song in a hotel room or a theatre lobby out of town — the pressure of creating on the fly, with the clock ticking and adrenaline pumping,” comments Kathleen Marshall. “Many of those songs not only made a huge impact on the show, but became standards as well. We will explore some of the wonderful and surprising stories behind classic Broadway songs.”
A cast of Broadway all-stars will join Marshall and music director David Chase to sing such numbers as “Comedy Tonight” (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), “You’re Just in Love” (Call Me Madam) and “Before I Gaze at You Again” (Camelot). For “A Funny Thing Happened: Songs from the Road to Broadway,” Marshall digs up some unknown before-and-after versions of these hits, as well as songs that were cut out of town, such as “The Man I Love” (cut from two Gershwin shows) and “Ten Percent” (cut from Chicago). The concerts will be produced by Benjamin Rauhala.
Featuring:
Aaron Finley (Rock of Ages, It Shoulda Been You)
Greg Hildreth (Cinderella, Peter and the Starcatcher)
Elena Shaddow (The Visit, The Bridges of Madison County)
Jessica Vosk (Fiddler on the Roof, Finding Neverland)
The band, led by music director David Chase on piano, will feature Paul Pizzuti on percussion, Steve Kenyon on woodwinds, Brian Pareschi on trumpet, and Dick Scarpola on bass.
Based on an original idea and production for 92nd Street Y’s Lyrics & Lyricists [TM], New York, NY.
