New York City Theater

Why is it that during each Broadway By the Year season, the concerts of the earlier decades are far more compelling and artistically satisfying - at least for me?

I'd point to the fact that as we go into concerts dedicated to material from the 1960s, we're facing songs that we are more familiar with, and we bring higher expectations. Plus, the 60s brought the rise of the Broadway superstar (ie Streisand, Channing, Lansbury), who truly did put their signatures on showtunes. And in the case of tonight's concert, 1964, it was a sequel to an earlier one from 5 years ago, and thus they were forbidden from re-using songs previously used.

So, while I would not go as far as saying tonight's concert was weak, it was "weaker" than this year's previous three ones - BUT that says more about how artistically successful the previous three were, especially Broadway Musicals of 1959, which was absolutely superb. Poor sound design also marred about a quarter of tonight's songs. Scott Siegel mentioned that tonight's sound system was different than usual because a jazz event had just installed its own system for another event at Town Hall this week.

Out of everyone, the one who really impressed me was Gregg Edelman, who has not been on the boards since WONDERFUL TOWN. Isn't there anything out there right now for him? Maybe Javert? Something in MAMMA MIA?

Unlike in past years, Scott did not mention the highlighted years for next year's concerts. He did, however, note to me later that the series would begin in the 1940s, and end in the 1970s.

Here's tonight's running order:

ACT ONE

To Life - All
Everbody Says Don't - Gregg Edelman
This is the Life - Devin Richards
You Better Love Me - Stephanie J Block
Everything I Want - Sean Martin Hingston
Night Liz - Lizz Callaway
You Are Woman - Edelman/Block
Do You Love Me? - David Pittu/Beth Leavel
My Hometown - Scott Coulter
Far From the Home I Love - Sarah Uriarte Berry
My Fortune Is In My Face - Edelman
Now I Have Everything - Pittu/Callaway
God Bless the Human Elbow - Berry

ACT TWO

Soon - Band
Yes I Can - Pittu
To Be Alone with You - Berry and Coulter
Come Play Wiz Me - Sean Martin Hingston and Joyce Chittick
See What It Gets You - Callaway
Funny Girl - Leavel
I Wanna Be With You - Richards
There's Always a Woman - Block/Leavel
With So Little to Be Sure Of - Edelman/Callaway
It Only Takes a Moment - Coulter
Don't Rain On My Parade - Block
Keep the Home Fires Burning - Callaway and All
To Life Reprise - All