Sound Advice
Schedule of New & Upcoming CD, DVD & Book Releases
Updated 4/16/24
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Affective Memories: How Chance and the Theater Saved My Life
(Sunbury Press, Inc. - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Autobiography by Laurence Luckinbill. "This is the riveting, brutally honest story of a mans struggle to make something of himself in the theater. Coming from meager circumstances in the Ozark Mountains, he fights his way up the shaky ladder toward fame. He makes mistakes, goes down blind alleys, fails and succeeds, again and again. But he never quits." 480 pages.
Don't Forget Us: A Chekhovian Song Cycle
(new digital album)
Concept album for score by Permanent Moves members Shane Chapman and Julia Sirna-Frest. Shane Chapman, Julia Sirna-Frest, Chris Giarmo, Jessie Shelton, Karl Blau, and Starr Busby.
The Great Gatsby: The 1926 Broadway Script
(Cambridge Univ Press - new Hardcover Book)
James L. W. West III and Anne Margaret Daniel, editors. Script for Owen Davis' adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. The show played the Ambassador Theatre in 1926. Photographs of the original sets and actors, reviews. 150 pages. [Appears to be shipping ahead of schedule.]
The Irish Repertory Theatre: Celebrating Thirty-Five Years Off-Broadway
(Palgrave Macmillan - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Maria Szasz. History of the multi-award winning Off-Broadway Irish Repertory Theatre Company, from its beginning in 1988 to its thirty-fifth season in 2023. Considers how the Irish Rep's plays and musicals reflect the Irish diaspora, the relationship between Ireland and America, and what it means to be Irish and Irish American, both historically, and in the twenty-first century. 185 pages. [Appears to be shipping ahead of schedule.]
The Tony Awards: A Celebration of Excellence in Theatre
(Black Dog & Leventhal - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Coffee table book by Eila Mell and The American Theatre Wing. Foreword by Audra McDonald. Commemorating over 75 years of Broadway greatness with never-before told stories, rare photos from the American Theatre Wing's archives, and more than 100 interviews with past and present Tony winners, including actors, producers, writers, and costume designers. 400+ color and black-and-white photographs. 320 pages.
April 18, 2024
Ageless Dancers
(Overhead Press - Hardcover Book)
Photographs by Betti Franceschi, from her collection of photographs of dancers age 70 and up. Forty iconic dancers from the disciplines of ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, and musical theater. 130 pages. https://brilliant-editions.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/copy-of-refractions-2-ralph-gibson.
Song of the Season: Outstanding Broadway Songs since 1891
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Thomas Hischak. Charts the progress of American showtunes alongside popular music forms as songs evolved from the waltz and ragtime to jazz, rock, rap and hip-hop. Factual analysis and historical context combine to offer a rich picture of the American songbook from Irving Berlin to Elton John. 440 pages.
April 19, 2024
The Notebook
(Atlantic Records - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by Ingrid Michaelson. Cast includes Maryann Plunkett, Dorian Harewood, Joy Woods, Ryan Vasquez, Jordan Tyson, John Cardoza, Andréa Burns, and Carson Stewart. "Time," "Dance With Me," "Carry You Home," "Blue Shutters," "I Paint," "Sadness and Joy," "Leave The Light On," "What Happens," "I Wanna Go Back," "If This Is Love," "Kiss Me," "Home," "We Have To Try," "Forever," "Iron In The Fridge," "Don't You Worry," "It's Not Easy," "My Days," "I Love You More," "I Know," "Coda." CD to be released 6/14/24.
April 23, 2024
Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent
(St. Martin's Press - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea. Judi Dench opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career in a series of intimate conversations with actor and director Brendan O'Hea. Interspersed with vignettes on audiences, critics, company spirit and rehearsal room etiquette, she serves up priceless revelations on everything from the craft of speaking in verse to her personal interpretations of some of Shakespeare's most famous scenes. Previously released in paperback.
April 26, 2024
Flying High: Big Band Canaries Who Soared
(new on CD/vinyl)
From the live show. Songs made famous by jazz canaries once they spread their wings - that's Billie Holiday, Anita ODay, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, and others. Champian Fulton, Jane Monheit, Carmen Bradford, Olivia Chindamo, Vanessa Perea, and Gretje Angell. Liner notes by Ricky Ricardi.
April 29, 2024
Theatre Work: Reimagining the Labor of Theatrical Production
(Focal Press - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Brídín Clements Cotton and Natalie Robin. "investigates both the history and current realities of life and work in professional theatrical production in the United States and explores labor practices that are equitable, accessible, and sustainable." 352 pages.
May 7, 2024
Ann Kittredge: Romantic Notions
(Jazzheads - new digital album)
Singer Ann Kittredge's second album. "I Just Called to Say I Love You," "I Feel the Earth Move," "Mr. Tambourine Man," "You're My Home," "I Just Want to Dance with You," "Where've You Been," "Garden 2," "Together, Wherever We Go," "I Just Wanted You to Know," "There You Are," "Didn't We," "Romantic Notions." Accompanied by Tom Kochan, Christopher Denny, Alex Rybeck, Sean Harkness, Mary Ann McSweeney, Rex Benincasa, Aaron Heick, Yoed Nir, Gary Oleyar. Produced by Paul Rolnick. Liner notes by Will Friedwald.
May 9, 2024
An Actor Convalescing in Devon
(Faber & Faber - Kindle Edition)
Play by Richard Nelson, which opened at Hampstead Theatre, London, in March 2024.
May 10, 2024
Pulman & Stilgoe: A Couple of Swells
(new digital album)
Based on Liza Pulman and Joe Stilgoe's live act. "Steppin' Out With My Baby," "Harmony," "People Will Say We're in Love/If I Loved You," "That Was Then," "I Had Myself a True Love," "Mountain Greenery," "Close Your Eyes," "The Folks Who Live On the Hill," "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring," "Some Other Time."
May 14, 2024
Becky Nurse of Salem: A Contemporary Comedy About a Historical Tragedy
(Theatre Communications Group - new Paperback Book)
Play by Sarah Ruhl. Played at Lincoln Center Theater in the fall of 2022. 112 pages.
Clyde's
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback book/Kindle)
Play by Lynn Nottage. 96 pages.
May 16, 2024
How to Find, Choose, and Prepare Successful Audition
(Methuen Drama - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By Adam Wachter. Foreword by Rachel Hoffman. Afterword by Caissie Levy. Takes the reader step-by-step through the process of building your audition repertoire portfolio ... helps to identify what songs are needed in which categories and explains where to find them, how to source and cut the sheet music, and how to communicate effectively with the accompanist and act the song. 184 pages.
May 17, 2024
Days of Wine and Roses
(Nonesuch - new on CD)
Original Off-Broadway (and Broadway) cast recording of score by Adam Guettel (book by Craig Lucas). Sharon Catherine Brown, Bill English, Olivia Hernandez, Brian d'Arcy James, Byron Jennings, David Jennings, Ted Koch, Ella Dane Morgan, Kelli O'Hara. "There Go I," "Evanesce," "Sammen I Himmeln," "As The Water Loves The Stone," "Are You Blue," "Underdeath," "First Breath," "435," "Morton Salt Girl," "Forgiveness," "Turlycue," "Forgiveness (Reprise)," "Lila Hangs The Moon," "There Go I (Reprise)." Recorded week of 7/24/23. Digital released 12/15/23.
Here We Are
(Concord Theatricals Recordings - on CD/digital)
Score by Stephen Sondheim (book by David Ives). Cast includes Francois Battiste, Tracie Bennett, Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Jin Ha, Rachel Bay Jones, Denis O'Hare, Steven Pasquale, David Hyde Pierce, and Jeremy Shamos. Recorded week of January 10, 2024. Produced by Sean Patrick Flahaven and Bill Rosenfield. 2-LP, 180g baby blue vinyl due on September 6.
May 21, 2024
On Bette Midler: An Opinionated Guide
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Kevin Winkler. Traces the early development of Midler's performing ethos from New York's downtown experimental theater scene and examines her impact across media, with chapters on the soaring highs (and occasional cringe-worthy lows) of her stage work, movies, recordings, and television appearances, and considers her influence as an environmental activist and social media presence. Features performance analysis and deeply researched background information, all supporting informed - and divinely opinionated - consideration of Midler the artist. 224 pages.
Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales from Broadway, Television, and the Movies
(Viva Editions - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
By Jerry Adler. The author recounts his career as a theater director, producer and actor that has spanned over 70 years. 240 pages.
May 22, 2024
The Outsiders
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new digital album)
2024 OBC recording of score by Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine (the book is by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine). Three tracks released early. Cast includes Brody Grant, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Joshua Boone, Brent Comer, Jason Schmidt, Emma Pittman, Daryl Tofa, Kevin William Paul, and Dan Berry. CD to be released June 28.
May 24, 2024
Tom Ball: Curtain Call
(Westway Music - new album)
Debut album from former Britain's Got Talent and "America's Got Talent" star Tom Ball. "Intro," "Writing's on the Wall," "Feeling Good," "The Best Part," "Stand By Me ft The Inner Voices," "Bring Him Home," "Goodbye ft Lucie Jones," "Let Me Live," "Can't Help Falling In Love," "Seize The Day," "Winter Song," "Home Again," "I (Who Have Nothing)."
Yankee Doodle Dandy: George M. Cohan and the Broadway Stage
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Elizabeth T. Craft. Part of the Broadway Legacies series. In the first book on Cohan in fifty years, Craft situates Cohan as a central figure of his day. Examining his multifaceted contributions and the various sociocultural identities he came to embody, Craft shows how Cohan and his works indelibly shaped the American cultural landscape. 288 pages.
Yankee Doodle Dandy: George M. Cohan and the Broadway Stage
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Elizabeth T. Craft. The author situates Cohan as a central figure of his day. Examining his multifaceted contributions and the various sociocultural identities he came to embody, Craft shows how Cohan and his works indelibly shaped the American cultural landscape. 288 pages.
May 29, 2024
Lempicka
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by Matt Gould and Carson Kreitzer. Eden Espinosa, George Abud, Amber Iman, Natalie Joy Johnson, Zoe Glick, Nathaniel Stampley, and Beth Leavel. CD to be released 7/5/24.
May 31, 2024
Ben Platt: Honeymind
(Interscope - new on CD/digital/vinyl)
To include songs written with songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Natalie Hemby, and Alex Hope. Executive producer Dave Cobb.
My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert
(Concord Recordings - new on 2 CDs/Digital)
Live Concert recording. Released at the time of the condensed version of the filmed concert premiere on PBS "Great Performances." Cast includes Joanna Ampil, Michael Ball, Daniel Dae Kim, Maria Friedman, Audra McDonald, Julian Ovenden, Lucy St. Louis, Aaron Tveit, Marisha Wallace, Patrick Wilson. 40-piece Rodgers & Hammerstein Concert Orchestra conducted by music supervisor Simon Lee. 42 tracks.
June 3, 2024
Mike Bartlett
(Routledge - Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle Edition)
By William C. Boles. Routledge Modern and Contemporary Dramatists series editors Maggie Gale and Graham Saunders. Includes Barlett's plays Cock, Doctor Foster, King Charles III, and Albion, a biographical introductory chapter, and new interviews with Bartlett and some of his closest and oft relied upon collaborators. 186 pages.
June 7, 2024
Closer than Ever: The Unique Six-Decade Songwriting Partnership of Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire
(Oxford Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
By Joshua Rosenblum. Chronicles the sixty-six-year (and counting) partnership of Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire, with behind-the-scenes accounts of their musicals interspersed with analyses of standout individual numbers. 304 pages.
June 11, 2024
Plays for the Plague Year
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book/Kindle Edition)
Collection of plays by Suzan-Lori Parks. Presented at Public Theater in 2023. 112 pages.
June 14, 2024
The Notebook
(Atlantic Records - new on CD)
OBC recording of score by Ingrid Michaelson. Cast includes Maryann Plunkett, Dorian Harewood, Joy Woods, Ryan Vasquez, Jordan Tyson, John Cardoza, Andréa Burns, and Carson Stewart. "Time," "Dance With Me," "Carry You Home," "Blue Shutters," "I Paint," "Sadness and Joy," "Leave The Light On," "What Happens," "I Wanna Go Back," "If This Is Love," "Kiss Me," "Home," "We Have To Try," "Forever," "Iron In The Fridge," "Don't You Worry," "It's Not Easy," "My Days," "I Love You More," "I Know," "Coda." Digital released 4/19/24.
June 18, 2024
Appropriate/An Octoroon: Plays
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Two plays by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Revised edition. 260 pages.
Stereophonic
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Play by David Adjmi (songs by Will Butler). On Broadway this season. 160 pages.
June 28, 2024
The Outsiders
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new on CD)
2024 OBC recording of score by Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine (the book is by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine). Three tracks released early. Cast includes Brody Grant, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Joshua Boone, Brent Comer, Jason Schmidt, Emma Pittman, Daryl Tofa, Kevin William Paul, and Dan Berry. Released earlier in digital format
Schwartz Songs
(Westway Music - new on CD/digital/vinyl)
New recordings of songs by Stephen Schwartz. With Samantha Barks, Jamie Muscato, Lucie Jones, Louise Dearman, Kerry Ellis, Rachel Tucker, Billy Luke Nevers, John Owen-Jones, Oliver Thompsett, Rob Houchen, Hiba Elchikhe, Alice Fearn, Rachel John, Peter Jöback And Emma Kingston. Conceived and produced by Rhydian Roberts and Stephen Schwartz.
June 2024 (release date unknown):
From The Back Of The House: Memoir of a Broadway Theatre Manager
(Ibis Books - new book)
Memoir by Broadway theater manager Dan Landon. Spanning from 1978-2018, the book shares backstage and onstage stories of encounters with theatre luminaries such as Bob Fosse, Ian McKellen, Bernadette Peters, August Wilson, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Madeline Kahn, Stephen Sondheim, Tom Stoppard, David Mamet, and more.
July 5, 2024
Lempicka
(Sony Masterworks Broadway - new digital album)
OBC recording of score by Matt Gould and Carson Kreitzer. Eden Espinosa, George Abud, Amber Iman, Natalie Joy Johnson, Zoe Glick, Nathaniel Stampley, and Beth Leavel. Digital version previously released.
September 17, 2024
The Third Gilmore Girl
(Gallery Books - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
Memoir by Kelly Bishop, spanning her six decades in show business from Broadway to Hollywood with A Chorus Line, Dirty Dancing, Gilmore Girls, and much more. Also includes a special collection of personal and professional photographs. 288 pages.
September 24, 2024
Suffs
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Libretto for musical by Shaina Taub. 144 pages.
October (no release date)
Sunset Blvd: The Album
(new album)
West End cast recording of score for Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Recorded live at the Savoy Theatre, in the West End. Cast includes Nicole Scherzinger, Tom Francis, Grace Hodgett Young, and David Thaxton as Max Von Mayerling. October 2024 release date expected, to coincide with Broadway run, which begins 9/28/24.
November 26, 2024
Ira Gershwin: A Life in Words
(Liveright - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Michael Owen. First full-length biography devoted to the life of Ira Gershwin. Draws on extensive archival sources and often using Ira's own words. 30 illustrations. 400 pages.
Release date unknown
Boop! The Musical
(new album)
Cast recording the score by David Foster and Susan Birkenhead of musical (book by Bob Martin) now playing at CIBC Theatre in Chicago. Cast includes Jasmine Amy Rogers, Faith Prince, Ainsley Melham, Erich Bergen, Stephen DeRosa. Recorded the week of November 12. Details TBA.
Carol Burnett: The Prime Time Specials Collection
(Legendary Entertainment - DVD set)
"Carol + 2" 1966 TV Special, "An Evening with Carol Burnett" 1963 TV Special, "Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall" 1962 TV Special. Details and release date TBA.
Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band
(new double album)
First recording from this band, which "puts both modern and classic showtunes on display, sung by the best and brightest of Broadway's young generation of leading performers, in the timeless tradition of Big Band. A full sized Jazz orchestra composed of 17 musicians play Rosen's re-imagined arrangements of an eclectic mix of tunes from Broadway's past, present, and beyond."
Complete Lyrics of Sheldon Harnick
(new book)
The Connector
(Concord Theatricals - new album)
World premiere Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Jason Robert Brown (book by Jonathan Marc Sherman). Scott Bakula, Max Crumm, Hannah Cruz, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Danielle Lee Greaves, Mylinda Hull, Daniel Jenkins, Jessica Molaskey, Fergie Philippe, Eliseo Román, Ben Levi Ross, Ann Sanders, and Michael Winther. Spring 2024 release expected. Recorded week of 2/14/24 at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music. Produced by Jeffrey Lesser and Brown, who also serves as arranger, orchestrator, and pianist. Tom Murray is the music director and Kristy Norter is the music coordinator. The band includes Brown, Jamie Eblen, Hidayat Honari, Adam Kaufman, Randy Landau, and Todd Reynolds.
Death Note, The Musical
(Ghostlight Records - new album)
West End Palladium concert cast recording of score by Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy. Orchestrations by Jason Howland. Adam Pascal, Joaquin Pedro Valdes, Dean John Wilson, Aimie Atkinson, Frances Mayli McCann, Rachel Clare Chan, and Christian Ray Marbella. Album produced by Nigel Wright. Co-produced by production musical supervisor, Katy Richardson. Engineered by Nick Pugh. 17 tracks. Release date TBA.
Gutenberg! The Musical!
(Center Stage Records/Yellow Sound Label - new on CD)
OBC recording of score by Scott Brown (music/lyrics) and Anthony King (lyrics). Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells. Recorded 1/29/24. Arrangements, and orchestrations are by T.O. Sterrett. Produced and mixed by Michael Croiter. To be released Spring 2024. Now pre-ordering.
The Heart of Rock and Roll
(new album)
OBC recording of score from the new musical inspired by the Songs of Huey Lewis and The News. Cast includes Corey Cott, McKenzie Kurtz, Josh Breckenridge, John Dossett, F. Michael Haynie, Zoe Jensen, Tamika Lawrence, Raymond J. Lee, John-Michael Lyles, Orville Mendoza, Billy Harrigan. Release date TBA.
The Jerusalem Syndrome
(JAY Records - new on CD/digital)
Original Off-Broadway (2023 York Theatre Company) cast recording of score by Laurence Holzman, Felicia Needleman, and Kyle Rosen.Farah Alvin, Dana Costello, Scott Cote, Andrea Fleming, James D. Gish, Alan H. Green, Danielle Lee James, John Jellison, Josh Lamon, Garrett Long, Karen Murphy, Jeffrey Schecter, Jennifer Smith, Chandler Sinks, Pablo Torres, Curtis Wiley, Lenny Wolpe, and Laura Woyasz. Digital release expected in January 2024 and CD in March 2024.
Harbinger Records upcoming releases: material from Eubie Blake; download only demos of Hugh Martin and Sheldon Harnick; Steve Ross' back catalog for download;
Larry Kramer authorized biography
(Henry Holt & Co. - new book)
By Bill Goldstein. To include interviews with Kramer and his husband David Webster, along with friends, colleagues, and "foes" plus material from Kramer's archives at Yale University.
Lizard Boy
(new album)
Live recording of 2023 Prospect Theatre cast. Score by Justin Huertas. Cast features Huertas, Kiki deLohr, and William A. Williams. Release date TBA.
The Nutty Professor
(new album)
Studio recording of score by Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes. Based on the recent Ogunquit Playhouse staging of the musical based on the Jerry Lewis movie.. Cast TBA. 2024 release expected.
Paradise Square OBC
(new on CD/digital)
Broadway cast recording of score Jason Howland (music), Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare (lyrics), with additional music by Larry Kirwan, inspired by the songs of Stephen Foster. Joaquina Kalukango, Chilina Kennedy, John Dossett, Sidney DuPont, A.J. Shively, Nathaniel Stampley, Gabrielle McClinton, Jacob Fishel, Kevin Dennis and Matt Bogart. Produced by Jason Howland and Billy Jay Stein. Recorded at Power Station at BerkleeNYC during the weeks of April 18 and April 25.
Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn
(Yellow Sound Label - new album)
Off-Broadway cast recording. Nikita Burshteyn (Newsies), Anna Kostakis, Carlos Lopez (Man of La Mancha), Michael Marotta (Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical), Judy McLane (Mamma Mia!), Michael Notardonato, Ari Raskin, Troy Valjean Rucker (August Rush), Zach Schanne (Pippin), and Viet Vo (Viet Gone). Lyrics by Mark Saltzman and music adapted from classic Italian melodies. Recorded 2/18/20. Late March release expected.
Rosemary Loar: Vagabond Heart
(new album)
Actress/singer Rosemary Loar
Suffs
(Atlantic Records - new album)
2022 Public Theater cast recording of score by Shaina Taub. Jenna Bainbridge, Ally Bonino, Tsilala Brock, Jenn Colella, Hannah Cruz, Nadia Dandashi, Aisha de Haas, Amina Faye, Holly Gould, Cassondra James, Nikki M. James, Jaygee Macapugay, Grace McLean, Susan Oliveras, Mia Pak, J. Riley Jr, Phillipa Soo, Shaina Taub, and Ada Westfall. Release date TBA.
Tammy Faye
(new album)
Music by Elton John; lyrics by Jake Shears. Cast from Almeida Theatre debut production. Details TBA.
Titanic
(Stage2View)
Filmed musical, with a score by Maury Yeston, that was shown in cinemas. Now streaming at BroadwayHD, to be available for global streaming 8/1/24, and released in physical format sometime in 2024 with Liberator Films and MVD Entertainment Group.
This Side of the World
(new album)
East West Players cast recording of score by Paulo K Tiról.