Combined Price $36.95; Club Member Price $31.95
An anatomical history of the musical which I have little hesitation in proclaiming the most authoritative yet published
STEPHEN BANFIELD, THE MUSICAL TIMES
We're pleased to offer a unique double-bill of words and music - Broadway Babies Say Goodnight, Mark's classic book, plus Mark Steyn Celebrates The Songs Of Frank Loesser, a double CD featuring an hour-and-three-quarters of great entertainment marking the centenary of the man who wrote such Broadway landmarks as Guys And Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.
Broadway Babies is an acknowledged classic in its field. The late Steve Allen praised it as a "dazzling commentary on popular music culture", while the Pet Shop Boys used it to help write their own musical. There’s no Broadway history like this one!
As for Frank Loesser, in a comparatively short life he gave us one of the greatest Broadway shows of all time, some memorable movies, and seasonal standards such as "Baby, It's Cold Outside". Mark's audio extravaganza features highlights from the Steyn archives, and lots of brand new live musical performances from his special guests. From the Steyn vault, Burton Lane, composer of Finian's Rainbow, and Jule Styne, composer of Gypsy, recall the early days writing songs with Frank Loesser in Hollywood and providing hits for everyone from Bob Hope to Billie Holiday. Then Cy Feuer, producer of shows such as Guys And Dolls and films like Cabaret, joins Mark for a warble through the big take-home tune from Loesser's first Broadway smash, with a bit of help from the 106-year old George Abbott, director of Pal Joey, On The Town, The Pajama Game and a ton of other hits. And there's lots more live music from the Loesser songbook: Siân Phillips, the great West End stage star, reprises her Tony-nominated performance as Marlene Dietrich in a rousing western saloon song. Dorothée Berryman, star of the Oscar-winning film Barbarian Invasions and Monique Fauteux, one of Quebec's great musical treasures, team up for a rare feminized version of "Standing On The Corner". Mark's Sweet Gingerbread Gal Jessica Martin sings one of the most lyrical of Loesser's movie songs. And along the way, you'll hear the story of Loesser's rise through Hollywood and Broadway, and enjoy live performances of "Heart And Soul", "On A Slow Boat To China", "A Bushel And A Peck", and a spectacular, no-expense-spared, full-scale dramatic re-enactment of "The King's New Clothes", with full supporting cast of gullible duchesses, sycophantic courtiers and fickle townsfolk. All that, plus Mark singing doowop.
For this special offer, we're offering Broadway Babies and Mark Steyn Celebrates The Songs Of Frank Loesser together at one low price, with combined savings of 15 per cent. And don't forget, the book can be personally autographed to you or your loved one. |
