Spotlight
Stories that deserve your attention
Which version of 'Hamilton' are we going to get on Disney+?
Hamilton is no Avenue Q or The Book of Mormon, but it does contain some explicit language, gun violence, and sexual situations. This has led to many fans being concerned that Disney is going to censor these moments. After all, they did digitally edit movies like Splash and even cut parts from Aladdin, The Rescuers, and Lilo & Stitch.
The Underwritten Sex Workers of Musical Theatre, A Support Group
“THERAPIST: Yes yes yes, welcome in all of the languages. Lucy, if you wouldn’t mind just treating us like the audience of your musical and introduce yourself in relation to the male lead?
LUCY: Oh, I’m the whore from Jekyll and Hyde.
THERAPIST: That’s right! And your last name?”
Two Songs That Should Be Cut From 'Les Mis' : A Response
If you regularly follow the content from the Onstage Blog creators, then there’s a chance you’ve seen the article “Two Songs That Should Be Cut From ‘Les Mis’”. This article sparked quite an interesting discussion about whether it really was worth it to cut Javert’s “Stars” or Éponine’s “On My Own” from the three-hour show. Naturally, many fans who have always loved Les Mis were quick to defend these beloved songs, and I’m here to do the same.”
Putting It Together: A Fan Review of Sondheim’s 90th Birthday Tribute
“And for everyone else, we were given a gift last night, a beautiful reminder that theater and Broadway are not gone; the ghost light stays on for us all.”
Two Songs That Should Be Cut From 'Les Mis'
“For the most part, I have been impressed and amused seeing how the writers of the musical condensed and streamlined the massive story. Two characters, though, have stuck out to me as having made unnecessarily imperfect translations to the stage. I believe the musical version of “Les Mis” would be better if Javert and Éponine’s big numbers were cut.”
Parodying Covid-19 Through Musicals
“If the idea of making fun of the pandemic makes you feel ill, then, by all means, don’t, but if you think it will help keep you sane, let me give you a few prompts.”
Great Cast Recordings That Aren't the 'Original' Casts
“When we think of “cast recordings,” we think of “the original Broadway casts.” We don’t always think about the revival casts, recordings in other languages, or revisits. Here is a short collection of cast recordings that were not the “original” casts, but are very special, nonetheless and worth sitting down with some good headphones to enjoy.”
The Best Breakup Songs From Musicals
“So, I recently got dumped, and it kind of sucks. It’s not uncommon for people to drown their sorrows in music during these times, but where many people may turn to Adele or Taylor Swift, I prefer to turn my attention to musicals.”
Terrence McNally's Unfathomable Importance to Theatre
Today, March 24th, news broke that playwright Terrence McNally had passed away due to complications of coronavirus. Mr. McNally was a legend in his field and his work, I contend, ranks as some of the most important written work of the 20th century.
Why the Sondheim disco album is perfect for right now
“This is the perfect album for right now. It’s fun, it’s new, it’s dancey, it’s exciting, and it takes some of theater’s most classic songs and turns them inside out. Need something new to listen to? You’ve got it.”
I was Lucky to See "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and I Wish You Had Too
“I do hope that this show was archived in some way. It was a stunning production of a stunning play and deserved to be seen by the entire NY community and, I believe, receive many awards come awards season.”
During the COVID-19 Shutdown, Theatre Unions Need to Suspend Collecting Dues
“During the COVID-19 theatre shutdown, I think we need to try to do everything we can to make this easier for performers, even if it’s minimal in the grand scheme of things. One way to do that is for theatre unions to cease collecting dues during the shutdown, or go a step further and refund them.”