This is the LAST free inaugural issue of The Broadway Maven’s Weekly Blast, which will now be free only once a month. Inaugural subscribers by the March 8 debut of the weekly paid Blast will get 25 percent off FOREVER (that’s $27 instead of $36.) Press here:
Shalom!
This week, The Broadway Maven looks at Mary Poppins and its songwriters, Richard and Robert Sherman:
• Next Monday’s class (March 8 at Noon ET) welcomes Gregg Sherman, whose Dad Richard co-wrote wrote the music to Mary Poppins and many other Disney movies and theme park attractions. His cousin Jeff Sherman (whose late father Robert also co-wrote those tunes) has been invited to join us next Thursday, March 11 at 8 pm ET. We’ll also (as usual) analyze some of the musical numbers in the movie and stage show.
• This Thursday, March 4 at Noon ET we’re doing a “Greatest Hits” class on Simon & Garfunkel.
• I have published a video about “earworms,” the tunes that get stuck in our heads that the Sherman Brothers were so effective in writing.
• This Weekly Blast looks at the future of Disney-on-Broadway; RAVES about a show that echoed one of my previous RAVES; and links to a YouTube GEM about the making of Mary Poppins from the point of view of Richard Sherman.
Mary Poppins was a Broadway smash, and other successful Disney shows on the Great White Way have included Beauty and the Beast; Aida; Aladdin; Newsies; and of course The Lion King. However, the House of Mouse hardly has a perfect record on Broadway: Tarzan and The Little Mermaid failed to find an audience; and Frozen was a COVID casualty.
What’s coming up?
• Composer Alan Menken’s Hercules (lyrics by David Zippel) is headed for Broadway. The anticipated all-star Broadway cast includes Jelani Alladin (Frozen) as Hercules; Roger Bart (Young Frankenstein) as Hades; and James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin) as Phil.
• Disney is working on a stage version of The Jungle Book with additional songs by Richard Sherman (yes, he’s in his 90s).
• There’s a Bedknobs and Broomsticks adaptation initially set for a world premiere in Chicago in 2019 that was canceled due to the death of the director. It’s now aiming for a World Premiere in England later this year.
• Other projects about which there are whispers: Alice in Wonderland; The Princess Bride; and a return of the truly dreadful stage adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
“America.” “Sounds of Silence.” “Feelin’ Groovy.” “Homeward Bound.” “The Boxer.” We’ll look at the lyrics and music for songs like those to figure out what role these artists played in the music and cultural scene of the 1960s. Sign up here. Prepare for the show by watching this video about “Sounds of Silence.”
A funny follow-up to my first RAVE, which was praise for The Muny in St. Louis for playing the Star-Spangled Banner before every performance (like at a sports venue), and a suggestion that more venues do the same.
A week later, I was shocked to see a video of a performance on YouTube that did precisely that. “Good for them!” I thought, until I realized that the show was Damn Yankees and the anthem was actually in honor of baseball and not theater.
Ah, well.
In honor of ear worm masters Richard and Robert Sherman (Mary Poppins) here’s my video with 101 catchy tunes you love to hate. Do any of them now interest you in seeing the show? Put your answers in the comments section.
In this video, Richard Sherman talks about the songs he and Robert wrote for Mary Poppins, more than half of which did not make it into the film. Fun!
Want to simplify things and gain access to great extra content? A $59 First Semester 2021 All-Access Pass gets you admission through the end of June to all classes free or paid, including those that are full; the right to “Watch When You Want” up to seven days after the class; the Weekly Blast; and admission to exclusive monthly bonus classes. Tentatively planned all-new exclusive classes include Sondheim’s Early Lyrics, Barbra Streisand’s Musicals, and Fiddler on the Roof. Passes only on sale through March 31. Register: bitly.com/BenkofFirst
NOTE: All course information is now available at our new Website: TheBroadwayMaven.com.
One-minute video introduction to the course (please share widely!)
The Broadway Maven’s YouTube channel
Next Eight Classes:
Thursday, March 4 Simon & Garfunkel 101 (Noon ET, Greatest Hits)
Thursday, March 4 A Chorus Line (8 pm ET)
Monday, March 8 Mary Poppins (with special guest Gregg Sherman) (Noon ET)
Thursday, March 11 Mary Poppins (8 pm ET)
Monday, March 15 Contemporary Jewish Broadway (Noon and 8 pm ET)
Thursday, March 18 Contemporary Jewish Broadway (8 pm ET)
Monday, March 22 Avenue Q (Noon and 8 pm ET)
Wednesday, March 24 Rodgers and Hammerstein 101 (8 pm ET Greatest Hits)
Thursday, March 25 Avenue Q (8 pm ET)
Monday, March 29 Chicago (Noon and 8 pm ET)
Thursday, April 1 Chicago (8 pm ET)
Wednesday, April 7 West Side Story (Noon and 8 pm ET)
April’s Greatest Hits Broadway Seminar has been announced. Included shows: West Side Story; Hair; Grease; Cabaret; and Into the Woods.