Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
34) Hello Dolly (Original Broadway Cast) - (1964)
35) Funny Girl (Original Broadway Cast) - (1964)
Today listened to two iconic musicals. Hello Dolly Is not a particular favorite of mine, but with four Broadway revivals including the most recent in 2017 with Bette Midler, it certainly has staying power. Of course, the orginal Dolly Levi, Carol Channing, is the standard (remember NYC TV commercials for her in 1979 - she would appear again in 1995 at age 74) given her stage presence and humor. Other original cast members included Match Game panelist Charles Nelson Reilly (who was also in How to Succeed in Business) and Eileen Brennan (whose singing voice is a beautiful contrast to her scratchy speaking voice as seen in The Sting and Private Benjamin).
Still, despite it’s great title track, it always seemed a bit dated musically - it is set in the turn of the 20th century granted. A show of a bygone era when more modern shows were starting to arrive on the scene. Channing would not be used in the film version of Dolly, her role going to the star of the next musical, Funny Girl, a killer musical adaptation or Broadway/radio performer, comedian Fanny Brice. Songs like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “People” have only seemed to become more popular over the years as covered by younger performers. A current revival - originally with Jonah Hill’s sister Beanie Feldstein now with controversial Glee-actress Lea Michelle - has kept this musical in the public’s ear. Streisand would of course go on to share the Best Actress Oscar for her role in the film version.
35) Funny Girl (Original Broadway Cast) - (1964)
Today listened to two iconic musicals. Hello Dolly Is not a particular favorite of mine, but with four Broadway revivals including the most recent in 2017 with Bette Midler, it certainly has staying power. Of course, the orginal Dolly Levi, Carol Channing, is the standard (remember NYC TV commercials for her in 1979 - she would appear again in 1995 at age 74) given her stage presence and humor. Other original cast members included Match Game panelist Charles Nelson Reilly (who was also in How to Succeed in Business) and Eileen Brennan (whose singing voice is a beautiful contrast to her scratchy speaking voice as seen in The Sting and Private Benjamin).
Still, despite it’s great title track, it always seemed a bit dated musically - it is set in the turn of the 20th century granted. A show of a bygone era when more modern shows were starting to arrive on the scene. Channing would not be used in the film version of Dolly, her role going to the star of the next musical, Funny Girl, a killer musical adaptation or Broadway/radio performer, comedian Fanny Brice. Songs like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “People” have only seemed to become more popular over the years as covered by younger performers. A current revival - originally with Jonah Hill’s sister Beanie Feldstein now with controversial Glee-actress Lea Michelle - has kept this musical in the public’s ear. Streisand would of course go on to share the Best Actress Oscar for her role in the film version.
