Radio Hits of 1958
Just as CIRQUE DREAMS: JUNGLE FANTASY is not a CIRQUE DU SOLEIL production, RADIO HITS OF 1958 is not a BROADWAY BY THE YEAR production. But it sure looks and sounds like one. It's happening at Town Hall, where BBTY is; on a Monday night, when BBTY performances are; it's organized according to year, just like BBTY; and it's using MANY performers who are BBTY regulars like Nancy Anderson and Max von Essen. I also hear that they want to make this into another long-running series, and they hope to do RADIO HITS OF 1969 in August. Raymond Jaramillo McLeod, who played the football player Wreck in WONDERFUL TOWN, is hosting.
Do I think this is unfair to BBTY? Well, other than the fact that this series will focus on pop music instead of Broadway, this does appear to be a direct appropriation of their style - at least on first glance. But on the whole, this might not do any harm to BBTY. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And if this could live up to the excellence of BBTY, it'd be great to have another series around offering great entertainment and jobs for actors.
But if RADIO HITS was inspired by BBTY, I think it is only fair for RADIO HITS to acknowledge that and thank BBTY. I am attending the show tonight and will let you know what I think.
