by Steven Blier | Jan 5, 2016 | Blier's Blog
Starting a new project is like starting a new love affair. You come in with excitement and high hopes, and you promise yourself that it’s going to go smoothly, fueled on daily progress and sustained industry. In reality, of course, every day brings its moments of...
by Steven Blier | Jan 1, 2016 | Song of the Day
Here’s a song I didn’t quite get until I saw it onstage: “The Brotherhood of Man” from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Frank Loesser’s score for that show is quite good but not really excerptable—sure, all the songs are à propos to the script but...
by Steven Blier | Dec 31, 2015 | Song of the Day
George Gershwin is my official “Favorite Composer.” After all, you have to have an answer ready when people ask that question, and Gershwin’s music is certainly very close to me—like my own skin, my own blood. Gershwin songs are usually very cheerful, but they always...
by Steven Blier | Dec 30, 2015 | Song of the Day
For me, “Follies” is the greatest of all modern musicals. But it’s almost impossible to get it just right in production. James Goldman’s book is difficult—brilliant but somewhat flawed—so it needs a subtle, clever director. The cast is large, and everyone, from...
by Steven Blier | Dec 29, 2015 | Song of the Day
I have loved the song “If You Hadn’t But You Did” ever since I heard the original cast recording of Two on the Aisle (where it was performed by powerhouse Dolores Gray, who sounds as if she could sing Amneris). Cy Coleman is at his peak, and lyricists Betty Comden and...
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