Podcast appearances and mentions of garth drabinsky

My guest today is Joshua Rosenblum, author of Closer than Ever — The Unique Six-Decade Songwriting Partnership of Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire. This terrific new book chronicles the sixty-six-year (and counting) partnership of two of the most gifted songwriters of our time, giving full behind-the-scenes accounts of their musicals interspersed with deep-dive analyses of standout individual numbers. Among the well-known Broadway figures who feature prominently in the Maltby/Shire story are Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Michael Stewart, Francis Ford Coppola, Susan Stroman, John Weidman, Charles Strouse, Garth Drabinsky, Jason Robert Brown, and Jonathan Tunick. Using his experiences as a Broadway conductor, music journalist, and professor of musical theater composition, as well as his long-term personal and professional acquaintance with both Maltby and Shire, Joshua Rosenblum is uniquely suited to chronicle their lives, careers, and creative output. The songwriters, both of whom are engaging and articulate in describing what they do, are quoted liberally throughout the book in exclusive interviews, creating the impression that one is spending time with two inspiring creative artists who happen to be great company.   Joshua Rosenblum teaches Composing for Musical Theater at Yale University and Conducting at New York University. As a composer/lyricist, he wrote the scores to the off-Broadway musicals Fermat's Last Tango, Bush is Bad, and Einstein's Dreams (four Drama Desk Nominations). He has conducted fourteen Broadway and off-Broadway shows and has performed as pianist with the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, the City Center Encores! Orchestra, and the American Symphony. A longtime contributor of reviews and features to Opera News, Rosenblum is a summa cum laude graduate of Yale College and holds a master's degree in Piano from the Yale School of Music. Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation! This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Patron Club Members such as John Schroeder. If you are a fan of Broadway Nation, I invite you to become a PATRON! For as little as $7.00 a month you can receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussion that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. And you will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast. And all patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And If you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits. If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link: https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/ Thank you in advance for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Garth Drabinsky overcomes a sickly childhood to become a world-famous theater producer, bringing big shows like Phantom of the Opera and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to his native Canada. Then he tackles Broadway, always staging shows that were bigger, brighter, and more expensive than anyone else. Like every theater kid, he's determined the show must go on — even if that involves a little fraud. But when the most feared man in Hollywood becomes a business partner, Garth's dreams come crashing down in dramatic fashion.Listen to Scamfluencers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/scamfluencers/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is the podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. If there was a huge asteroid hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? It can be anything you want - a show you've seen before, one that you wish you'd seen, or something you've made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?Our guest this episode is Rebecca CaineRebecca Caine was born in Toronto and studied at the Guildhall School of Music, London.Uniquely, her career has been divided between Opera and Musical Theatre, making her West End debut at 19 in the role of Laurey in Oklahoma! She then sang the role of Eliza in My Fair Lady on the National tour. While making her debut at Glyndebourne as Amor in L'incoronazione di Poppea, she was asked to join the Royal Shakespeare Company where she created the role of Cosette in Les Miserables. After a successful West End run she joined the original cast of Phantom of the Opera to play Christine opposite Michael Crawford. She then returned to Toronto to repeat the role in the Canadian premiere of Phantom of the Opera. During her run in Toronto she joined the Canadian Opera Company to make her highly praised North American debut in the title role of Lulu. She has performed in may different shows ever since, brilliantly switching between musical theatre and opera genres, thrilling people worldwide with her extraordinary voice. This episode was recorded in the winter of 2022.Links:Official Website https://www.rebeccacaine.com/index.htmAbomination tickets https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/classical-music/abomination-dup-operaConor Mitchell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conor_MitchellThe Rite of Spring information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rite_of_SpringThe Rite of Spring full performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOZmlYgYzG4Rebecca performing in Phantom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkJxMly5Wm4Rebecca performing in Les Miserables ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aW1ToWOTCEArticle about Garth Drabinsky https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2021/10/28/the-tyrannical-and-abusive-garth-drabinsky-and-his-attempted-return-to-broadway-with-paradise-square-part-1Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair BrammerMusic written by John Owen-Jones and Alistair BrammerMusic performed by John Owen-Jones, Alistair Brammer and John QuirkRecorded & edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair BrammerA 2023 John Owen-Jones Associates Productionwww.johnowenjones.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Asserting their relevance like never before, Dan and Joshua are FINALLY getting to the hottest ticket in modern musical theatre - the 1928 Kern and Hammerstein musical Show Boat! Now that the embargo has finally dropped, our hosts are free to talk about this groundbreaking new work in a production recorded at the San Francisco Opera. Even if you haven't had the chance to check it out yet (we'll give you some more time), you should join our discussion on such topics as man of the year Garth Drabinsky, the moment musical theatre became serious, and Dan's business plan for a musical theatre opera house. Tune in to next week's episode when we discuss Ragtime; specifically, the Broadway production's performance from December 29th, 1997. Contact us: unccpodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @unccpodcast Instagram: @unccpodcast

Filmmaker & Marketing Executive Barry Avrich talks about RENT-A-FAN CLUB, getting stuck in an altercation between Jackie Mason & Jerry Stiller, why you need to treat ‘yelling' as performance art, why his Bob Saget anecdote was far too filthy to share, whether we can expect an update to Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Project, how Hollywood is the “only place you can die of encouragement,” his father's best advice [“look at the audience, not the movie” and “DON'T blend in”], working on docs about Lew Wasserman/David Foster/Bob Guccione/Howie Mandel/Oscar Peterson, and lessons learned from mentors Michael Cohl, Eddie Greenspan, Dusty Cohl, Gino Empry and Garth Drabinsky! TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We tell our pal Jared about Paradise Square Producer Garth Drabinsky and how he ended up the unions Do Not Work List.

This week, the fiends discover capitalism. Topics include why Jean Val Jean and Javert should smooch, fraud, a confusing lamp, and an attempt to unpack the unnecessarily convoluted world of Broadway finances. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dramafiends/support

About the Guest David Loud (NYC) occupies a unique place in Broadway history. In addition to his distinguished career as one of Broadway's most respected music directors and arrangers, he originated three Broadway roles as an actor, including his appearance in the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's legendary failure (and cult classic) Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Harold Prince. In a career spanning several decades, he served as music director for the original Broadway productions of Ragtime, Curtains, Sondheim on Sondheim, The Visit, The Scottsboro Boys, A Class Act, The Look of Love, and Steel Pier, as well as revivals of She Loves Me, Company, and Swehttps://www.parkinson.org/rence McNally's Tony-winning play, Master Class.  The extraordinary cast of characters in his life also includes John Kander, Fred Ebb, Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera, Roger Rees, Marin Mazzie, Scott Ellis, Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Garth Drabinsky, and Barbara Cook, among others.  Links https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Facing-the-Music/David-Loud/9781682451915 (Facing the Music Publisher Page) https://www.parkinson.org/ (Parkinson's Foundation) Music Credit Opening written and performed by Huck Borden. Instagram @huck_borden. Connect with Us Facebook @beltlinetbroadway Twitter @beltlinetobway Instagram @beltlinetobroadway

This week on the podcast I'm talking with Broadway Musical Director and Conductor, David Loud.  David tells me about his 34 years on Broadway, the magic of theatre and music "in the room" with someone.  He talks to me about working with some of the best, including Stephen Sondheim.   And how rewarding the teaching he's doing now is.David tells me about the energy of being in the middle of everything while conducting on Broadway,  and how the best collaborating happens when everyone makes the same show.  We talk a lot about being grateful during the hardest things in life and David tells me about being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and the peace he has found since.  David is releasing his memoir Facing the Music in February 2022 be sure to check that out.  Great, special chat this week.Music by GuustuuvThis episode was sponsored by Him&HerAbout Facing the Music:https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Facing-the-Music/David-Loud/9781682451915FACING THE MUSICBy David Loud"Beautifully written, filled with vivid details, braided withlove and loss and wit and the perspective of someone withan utterly unique story to tell."-- Lynn Ahrens, lyricist(Ragtime, Seussical, A Man of No Importance)Experience Broadway musicals from a new perspective – from theconductor's podium.David Loud occupies a unique place in Broadway history. In additionto his distinguished career as one of Broadway's most respected musicdirectors, he originated three Broadway roles as an actor, including hisappearance in the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's legendary failure(and cult classic) Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Harold Prince. In acareer spanning several decades, he served as music director for the originalBroadway productions of Ragtime, Curtains, Sondheim on Sondheim, TheVisit, The Scottsboro Boys, and Steel Pier, as well as revivals of She Loves Me,Sweeney Todd, Company, and Porgy and Bess. And he appeared alongsideZoe Caldwell and Audra McDonald in Terrence McNally's Tony-winningplay, Master Class.FACING THE MUSIC is David Loud's poignant and hilarious memoirof his extraordinary adventures conducting Broadway shows, rubbingshoulders with John Kander, Fred Ebb, Audra McDonald, StephenSondheim, Harold Prince, Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera, Roger Rees, ZoeCaldwell, Marin Mazzie, Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Garth Drabinsky, andBarbara Cook, among others.It is also a look at his path to the podium, from his one-of-a-kindchildhood (a stage-struck kid growing up at a school devoted to organicfarming and mountain climbing), to formative experiences at a NewEngland prep school and Yale University. His coming out as a gay man andhis diagnosis as a person with Parkinson's Disease, combined with hisextraordinarily entertaining backstage anecdotes, make for a riveting look atwhat it means to live, love, and make music in the rarefied air of Broadway.“Luminous and surprising, an extremely honest memoir of alife lived in the world of Broadway musicals, by one of thetheatre's most gifted conductors. I can't think of anotherbook quite like it.”-- John Kander, composer(Cabaret, Chicago, New York, New York)

Join your host Hermene Hartman as we cover a new Broadway production happening right here in Chicago! ‘Paradise Square' is a live theatrical production that tells an exciting story of a notorious New York neighborhood which, following the civil war, was a melting pot of Irish immigrant and African American culture. We are joined by Paradise Square's Producer, Garth Drabinsky, Vice President for Broadway in Chicago, Eileen LaCario, & Paradise Square Lyricist, Masi Asare. We discuss the cultural and historical significance of the story of ‘Paradise Square' & how two cultures came together and thrived in post-civil-war New York. Our guests elaborate on the creative process of developing the story, the music, and the dances & how they were inspired by both Irish and African history & culture. Our guests explain that they are hoping people will walk away from ‘Paradise Square' with a fresh perspective and to consider that cultural progress is a continuum that continues to this day.  Join us as we discuss all of this and much more on today's great episode of N'DIGO studio podcast!  Guests Garth Drabinsky Producer Paradise Square https://ndigo.com/2021/06/21/qa-garth-drabinsky-paradise-square-broadway-producer/  Eileen LaCario Vice President Broadway In Chicago https://timelinetheatre.com/person/eileen-lacario/  Masi Asare Lyricist of Paradise Square https://masiasare.com/  N'DIGO Studio Supported by The Chicago Community Trust MacArthur Foundation The Field Foundation Of Illinois  Special Thanks Hyatt Tyronne Stoudemire   Credits Host/Executive Producer Hermene Hartman Technical Producer/Editor Erik Hammond Film Company Clear Vision Multimedia   Associate Producer Joi Mitchell Administration Sylvester Cosby Sound Editor Scott Stronach Intro/Outro Music Christian Standring - Is There A Doctor In The House Song is published by Mr.Christian Music (BMI)

In this week’s podcast, Paul goes behind the curtain with Eileen LaCario, VP of Broadway in Chicago with a look at the new upcoming season then producer Garth Drabinsky joins the conversation to discuss his latest production, Paradise Square, which opens at the Nederlander Theater on November 2nd. First, Eileen explains the safety protocols in […]

Jeremy Piven and Sushi Gate. Adela Holzer, one of Broadway's greatest grifters. James Barbour in Riker's. And the return of Broadway's own mini Madoff, Garth Drabinsky. Take a listen to some of Broadway's other great true crime scandals. Episode 5 features an interview with Robert Viaga (Encore Magazine). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BroadwayBob responds to listener letters and voicemails. Apologies for the hot mic - trying a new setup and some kinks are being worked out. Call The Sunset Hotline: ‪(984) 219-8028or email Broadway Bob at thebroadwaybob@gmail.com  

RAGTIME Book by Terrence McNally | Music by Stephen Flaherty | Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Based on “Ragtime” by E.L. Doctorow  Episode Segments:2:12 - Speed Test5:06 - Why God Why10:43 - Back to Before14:14 – Putting It Together28:12 - What's Inside49:26 - How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?1:15:34 - Our Favorite Things1:24:54 - Corner of the Sky1:28:10 – What Comes Next?Works Consulted & Reference :Ragtime (Original Libretto) by Terrence McNallyRagtime by E.L. DoctorowRagtime: The Making of a Musical in “The Cultural Critic” by Steve Cohen Great Performances: Creating Ragtime (PBS – 1998)Stars in the House: Ragtime ReunionThe Making of a Musical: Ragtime at The Kennedy CenterSingular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway by Michael RiedelMusic Credits:"Overture" from Dear World (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music by Jerry Herman | Performed by Dear World Orchestra & Donald Pippin"The Speed Test" from Thoroughly Modern Millie  (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics by Dick Scanlan | Performed by Marc Kudisch, Sutton Foster, Anne L. Nathan & Ensemble"Why God Why" from Miss Saigon: The Definitive Live Recording  (Original Cast Recording  / Deluxe)  | Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Lyrics by Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby Jr.  | Performed by Alistair Brammer"Back to Before" from Ragtime: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Performed by Marin Mazzie"Chromolume #7 / Putting It Together" from Sunday in the Park with George (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | Performed by Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Judith Moore, Cris Groenendaal, Charles Kimbrough, William Parry, Nancy Opel, Robert Westenberg, Dana Ivey, Kurt Knudson, Barbara Bryne"What's Inside" from Waitress (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles | Performed by Jessie Mueller & Ensemble"Your Daddy's Son” from Ragtime: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Performed by Audra McDonald"Maria" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording)  | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Evadne Baker, Anna Lee, Portia Nelson, Marni Nixon"My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Julie Andrews"Corner of the Sky" from Pippin (New Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz | Performed by Matthew James Thomas“What Comes Next?” from Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Performed by Jonathan Groff

The Canadian premiere of Sunset featured the great Diahann Carroll as Norma -- a casting choice that broke barriers and gave this icon a grand return to her stage roots.  Contact Broadway Bob at: thebroadwaybob@gmail.com  

Barry Avrich (barryavrich.com) has produced and directed over 30 documentary films and television productions that have been broadcast in over 100 countries, and won awards and critical acclaim. Barry has made a name for himself focusing on powerful moguls and captivating personalities including Universal Studios titan Lew Wasserman, Miramax founder Harvey Weinstein and Rolling Stones promoter Michael Cohl. Barry has also produced several television specials for PBS, HBO, Showtime and Bravo including the concert special BOWFIRE, The Tempest starring Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer and a charity awards gala ( One X One) starring Richard Gere, Matt Damon and Shakira. His reputation as provocative filmmaker was defined when he set his sights on the Holy Grail. Producing a biography on Lew Wasserman, the founder and reclusive powerful chairman of MCA Universal for six decades, was considered career suicide. Wasserman had told everyone that he would never participate in any kind of biography and threatened anyone who dare try while he was alive (or dead). Barry waited until he died and commenced production. In spite of family legal threats and anonymous threats of physical harm, Barry’s film, The Last Mogul, was a massive success garnering rave reviews in Variety and The New York Times. He would go on to produce other highly acclaimed films like Unforgettable, Satisfaction,  Guilty Pleasure, A Criminal Mind, and many television specials. Barry’s passionate profile on billionaire concert promoter Michael Cohl put him face to face with Bono and Mick Jagger. Barry went on to produce acclaimed feature films on Winston Churchill, Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and disgraced theatre mogul Garth Drabinsky. Barry has also produced two Stratford Festival film adaptations of Caesar and Cleopatra and The Tempest with Christopher Plummer. Barry has also produced and directed two biographical docs on legendary comedian David Steinberg and Penthouse founder Bob Guccione. His films on Guccione and Drabinsky both had their world premieres at The Toronto International Film Festival. Barry’s full filmography can be seen at  imdb.com  

Discuss on Reddit ➤ Support the Show ➤ We’re heading back to the turn of the 20th century in New York city as we take on the behemoth that is Ahrens and Flaherty’s ‘Ragtime.’ Back with a vengeance, the boys have six months of pent up discussion under their collective belts. This time they are talking about whether an epic production needs an epic design, pull apart what makes this show challenging to perform and discuss the importance of musical theatre existing outside of the ‘Broadway bubble.’ Ragtime: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Amazon / iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES If you want to try your very first ‘special froth’ then grab your own Cremola Foam (replica) today! It doesn’t happen often, but when it does my goodness is it tricky! Here’s some more information about the costume nomination debacle of the 2009 revival of Ragtime. For our bookworms out there, you can grab E.L. Doctorow’s original book here to fill in the blanks in this epic tale! With ‘The Producers’ we know that there are often some shenanigans going on behind the scenes of even the biggest Broadway shows. Here’s some information on Ragtime’s producer, Garth Drabinsky. E.L. Doctorow was very involved in the production of this musical and cites it as one of the finest recreations of his work. Here’s an article discussing his involvement. Doctorow was less impressed with James Cagney’s star turn as the police chief in the Ragtime film. But if you’re intrigued, here it is! Be warned, there’s no singing! The Regent’s Park Revival was polarising at best. Have a look at the trailer and let us know what you think on Twitter! In a complete contrast to the gaudy sets of the Regent’s Park production, the Ellis Island concert production shone a whole new light on the piece in the shadow of Lady Liberty herself. And straddling the two is the production Jimi first saw of Ragtime, from the Landor theatre. Here is a glimpse of its scaled down production! What do you think listeners? Is Ragtime a show for the small stage or the big? Come and chat up a storm on Reddit! If you’re a Ragtime aficionado, check out the 1996 recordings here for a whole new spin on the piece! A HIGH-FLYING QUIZ QUESTION In what show does Patti LuPone do her best “Elphaba” impression and “fly” at the end of Act 1?

The Kiss of the Spider Woman production team -- producer Garth Drabinsky (Tony Award winner for Kiss of the Spider Woman), lyricist Fred Ebb and composer John Kander (Tony Award winners for Best Original Score in 1967 for Cabaret, 1981 for Woman of the Year and 1993 for Kiss of the Spider-Woman) playwright Terrence McNally (four-time Tony Award winner for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class and Ragtime), director Harold Prince (who has won 21 Tony Awards), and actor Chita Rivera (Tony Award winner for The Rink and Kiss of the Spider Woman) -- discuss adapting the novel and film, starting as a ""New Musicals"" development at SUNY Purchase through productions in Toronto and London before reaching Broadway, how the script has changed over the years, the budget required for the long creative process, and the business of producing and marketing a new Broadway musical.

"The Kiss of the Spider Woman" production team - producer Garth Drabinsky, lyricist Fred Ebb, composer John Kander, playwright Terrence McNally, director Harold Prince, and actor Chita Rivera - discuss adapting the novel and film, starting as a "New Musicals" development at SUNY Purchase through productions in Toronto and London before reaching Broadway, how the script has changed over the years, the budget required for the long creative process, and the business of producing and marketing a new Broadway musical.

Lyricist Lynn Ahrens (1998 for Tony for Best Original Score with Ragtime), producer Garth Drabinsky (Tony Award winner for Kiss of the Spider Woman), composer Stephen Flaherty (1998 for Tony for Best Original Score with Ragtime), director Frank Galati (two 1990 Tony Awards for The Grapes of Wrath), book writer Terrence McNally (four-time Tony Award winner for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class and Ragtime), and advertising representative Jon Wilner discuss the journey of the American musical Ragtime -- from adapting E.L. Doctorow's novel, to comparisons with the 1981 film, through numerous workshops, to the full-scale Toronto and Broadway productions.

Lyricist Lynn Ahrens, producer Garth Drabinsky, composer Stephen Flaherty, director Frank Galati, book writer Terrence McNally, and advertising representative Jon Wilner discuss the journey of the American musical "Ragtime" -- from adapting E.L. Doctorow's novel, to comparisons with the 1981 film, through numerous workshops, to the full-scale Toronto and Broadway productions.

A CBC “Off the Beaten Track” episode in which I talk about Showboat and the history of the song Old Man River. Originally aired on August 20, 2000 on CBC Radio’s Mainstreet program in Prince Edward Island. Ol’ Man River Introduction: A brief history of the song “Ol’ Man River,” along with two very different interpretations by Canadian artists Curtis Driedger and Jane Siberry. Show Boat In 1926, a book called “Show Boat” by Edna Ferber was published – she was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan who had won the Pulitzer Prize in 1924 for her book So Big. Show Boat follows the life of Magnolia, daughter of the captain of the riverboat The Cotton Blossom. Magnolia marries a gambler, Gaylord Ravenal. As a result of his gambling, they separate Magnolia moves to Chicago where she takes up life in musical comedy. Their daughter follows her mother into show business, and eventually Magnolia and Gaylord are reunited years later at a performance of their now internationally famous daughter. Woven throughout this plot is the sub-plot concerning the lives of the black workers on the riverboats, and marriage of Magnolia’s best friend Julie La Verne and her husband, which runs afoul of the law because it is discovered that Julie is of mixed black and white heritage, and this is against the law. In 1927, collaborators Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II adapted the book into a Broadway show. Show Boat the musical was groundbreaking when it premiered in 1927, as musicals up to that point hadn’t had a coherent plot or songs tied to the action. Show Boat is said in many circles to mark the beginning of American musical theatre. Show Boat originally played Broadway in 1927, was adapted into a movie in 1936 and again in 1951, and was revived on Broadway in 1946, and several times thereafter, most famously in recent years in 1994 by Garth Drabinsky. Ol’ Man River The song Ol’ Man River is sung by Joe, one of the riverboat workers, several times throughout the musical. Edna Ferber said in her autobiography: “…Jerome Kern appeared at my apartment late one afternoon with a strange look of quiet exultation in his eyes. He sat down at the piano. He didn’t play the piano particularly well and his singing voice, though true, was negligible. He played and sang ‘Ol’ Man River.’ The music mounted, mounted, and I give you my word my hair stood on end, the tears came to my eyes, I breathed like a heroine in a melodrama. This was great music. This was music that would outlast Jerome Kern’s day and mine. I have never heard it since without that emotional surge. When SHOW BOAT was revived at the Casino Theater in New York just four years after its original production at the Ziegfeld I saw a New York first-night audience, after Paul Robeson’s singing of ‘Ol’ Man River,’ shout and cheer and behave generally as I’ve never seen an audience behave in any theater in all my years of playgoing…” The song is most closely associated with Paul Robeson, who played Joe in the Broadway production of Show Boat and in the 1936 movie. In the original 1927 lyrics, it’s written: I gits weary and sick of tryin’; I’m tired of livin’ and scared of dyin’ And Ol’ man river, he just keeps rollin’ along. Robeson later revised the lyrics to: I keeps laffin’ instead of cryin’ I must keep fightin’ until I’m dyin’ And Ol’ man river, he just keeps rollin’ along. Roberson, who had been a football star and then an actor, went on to a life as a political activist. Canadian Singers on Ol’ Man River Back on June 1, 1990, I was program director at Trent Radio, a community radio station in Peterborough, Ontario. We organized an evening of performances by local musicians at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough. One of the performers was Curtis Driedger, formerly of the infamous Toronto band the CeeDees. Here’s some of his performance from that night, recorded live and originally broadcast on Trent Radio… [clip from “Curtis Dreidger live at Artspace”, recorded June 1, 1990; on cassette tape, queued] Toronto singer/songwriter Jane Siberry, who has, in recent years, been running her musical career largely through her own Sheeba Records website – www.sheeba.ca — is about to release an album of Celtic and American spirituals called “Hush.” From that album, here is her own rendition of “Ol’ Man River,” which you will immediately see is quite different from Curtis’ [clip from “Hush” by Jane Siberry, track 9]