Why did the chicken cross the road?

Each year Garrison Keillor and friends do a PRETTY GOOD JOKE SHOW on NPR's Prairie Home Companion.  You can hear past shows online or purchase cd collections and books of the jokes as well.

Here is my FAVORITE knock knock joke I heard on his show.

-Knock knock

Who's there?

Sam and Janet

Sam and Janet who?

Sam and Janet Evening... 

and the wonderful followup

-Knock knock

Who's there?

Itzhak

Itzhak who?

Itzhak to you, New York... New York!

Also... in related news....

This could quite possibly be your next favorite website...

CLICK HERE!!

A bunch of NELLIES!

*This post is about another Nellie, but isn't this a GREAT picture!

I'm in a production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein review "A Grand Night for Singing" opening tomorrow night, so I've been listening to a lot of their music.

So for today's post, I would like to present bits from 4 of the actresses who have played "Nellie Forbush" in the Pulitzer Prize winning "SOUTH PACIFIC"

NELLIE #4 - First here is the wonderful Kellie O'Hara singing "Wonderful Guy" from the current revival.

 

Kelli released a great solo album last year called "Wonder In The World" featuring collaborations with Harry Connick Jr.  (who is a BIG fan after co-starring with her in the revival of "Pajama Game." 

Here's a great jazz cover of "There Once Was A Man" from "Pajama Game."  

This version was only available as a bonus track on the Barnes and Noble version of  the "Pajama Game" revival recording packaged as "Harry On Broadway."  It's not available but you should be able to find it at used shops or possibly on ebay.  Most stores carried "Harry On Broadway," but only B&N had this bonus track along with a cover of "Steam Heat." Let me know if you have trouble finding it.  (crooner4fr@gmail.com)

NELLIE #3- Country great Reba McEntire played "Nellie" in a concert version of "South Pacific" at Carnegie Hall.  Yes, that's Alec Baldwin as Billis!  This is available on DVD and CD.

NELLIE #2 - Mitzi Gaynor beat out Audrey Hepburn, Doris Day, Elizabeth Taylor and Susan Hayward to play Nellie in the movie version.  For Christmas I received a recent dvd documentary about her television specials in the 60's called "Mitzi Gaynor:  Razzle Dazzle!  The Special Years."  They are "Special" in every sense of the word.  Check out this promo.  Favorite part is at the 2:14 mark...  FAB-U-LOUS cover of "I Can Cook Too" from "ON THE TOWN."

Finally there is the original Nellie Forbush... 

NELLIE #1 - Broadway legend Mary Martin (mother of Larry Hagman who played JR Ewing on "DALLAS.") 

Here is a delightful album of her's with all Disney Covers.... really wonderful stuff.

Best downloads are Heigh-Ho and "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo."

Some Enchanted Evening

The Tony's are this Sunday... very excited!  Growing up in South Dakota this was always my chance to get a glimpse of what was happening on the Great White Way.  In my room I would listen to cast recordings, follow the plot with the linear notes, and imagine the staging and choreography.  (Sometimes I would lock the door and do my own choreography!)  For one "Enchanted Evening" each year in June I actually got a chance to see musical numbers come to life during the Tony Broadcast. 

The last couple of years I have been extremely blessed to visit NY and see many shows.   This year we actually stayed for a week with some great friends and saw 4 shows!!!!  By the way - a great way to get deals on tickets in advance is to sign up for emails from playbill.com.  We saw 3 of the shows for at least 40% off the ticket price.  You can get 50% from the TKTS booth, but this way you have your seats in advance and pick your seats.

In honor of TONY'S this weekend,  I want to post my thoughts on a few of the shows this year throughout the week.

First up are 2 revivals from Broadway's Golden Age.  GYSPY and SOUTH PACIFIC.

GYPSY

We got a chance to Gypsy during previews.  This version of the show was first presented as an Encores production last summer for a limited run.  With almost the entire cast intact, it transferred to Broadway this year.  Patti Lupone as Mama Rose has gotten rave reviews.  Personally there have been so many Mega Stars doing this role (Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, the Divine Miss M, Bernadette Peters) that I thought the was really good (she made some cool different choices.)  But I wasn't blown away like many NY theatre critics.  I didn't see Ms. Peters' version, but one thing I did really like was the chemistry between her and Herbie.  There was definitely romance and sexual desire between them which makes you understand why Herbie would stay with her.

I WAS absolutely blown away with portrayals of her two daughters.  Laura Benanti as Louise and Leigh Ann Larkin as Dainty June.  Both were wonderful!  I saw Laura in The Wedding Singer a couple years ago.  She has a wonderful career ahead of her.  

Now on to Leigh Ann Larkin.  She was a revelation as Dainty June.... by far my favorite performance of the show.  She brought great depth and a dark sarcasm which I have never before seen in this role.  Her and Laura's version of "If Momma Was Married" was wonderful.  You could see them bonding as sisters for the first time.  

Here's a little preview of the show.

The cast recording comes out in August.  As a bonus the current cast recorded songs that were cut from the original production!!!  

Here is an audio version of "If Momma Was Married" that I found online.

I also LOVED "You Gotta Get A Gimmick."  Loved the brilliant interpretation of Marilyn Caskey as Miss Electra.  She played Electra as so feeble she could barely walk let alone "shake it."  At her age she NEEDS her gimmick of fancy lighting.

SOUTH PACIFIC

Did not get a chance to see this.  But South Pacific has gotten amazing reviews and is the predicted favorite to win best revival.  It's amazing that this masterpiece has never gotten a full revival until now.  The cast recording is out now and is wonderful.  Love Matthew Morrison's voice.  If you purchase it at Barnes and Noble there are extra tracks (B&N plug!)

Also check out the concert version on DVD or CD (it appeared on PBS about a year ago.)  It features wonderful vocal performances by Brian Stokes Mitchell and a wonderfully cast Reba McEntire.

Here's a little Reba with Alec Baldwin shakin' what his momma gave him!