t whimpers
(Note: Victor Garber was the original Booth in Assassins.)
Victor Garber to Run for President in Encores! Presentation of Of Thee I Sing
Victor Garber will star in Of Thee I Sing — which boasts a score by George and Ira Gershwin and a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind — in the 2006 City Center Encores! season.
Garber will play presidential candidate Wintergreen. The actor has a long list of theatre credits, including Sweeney Todd, Lend Me a Tenor and Art, but in recent years has enjoyed fame as one of the stars of "Alias."
The show will be presented at City Center May 11-14, 2006. The satirical look at American politics opened on Broadway in December 1931. Song titles include "Wintergreen for President," "Love Is Sweeping the Country," "A Kiss for Cinderella," "Who Cares?," "Posterity Is Just Around the Corner" and the title tune.
Of Thee I Sing joins the previously announced 2006 Encores! offerings Kismet and 70, Girls, 70. Kismet — starring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie — will play City Center Feb. 9-12, 2006. John Kander and Fred Ebb's 70, Girls, 70 — the musical comedy about "old folks" and a heist caper — is set to play March 30-April 2, 2006.
Speaking of Petra Haden, any of you heard Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out?
Yep. It was the subject of some discussion shortly before you joined us. Personally, I found it interesting enough for a listen or two, but it usually made my thirsty for the original (which is, y'know, one of the best albums ever made, in my humble opinion).
That's kinda how I felt, but I admired the gumption at making an a capella version of a Rock Canon album.
Gumption! That's exactly it. Possibly moxie.
Oh yeah. Some of the things she chose to emphasize were just brilliant, too, and have changed the way I hear the original.
Apparently, it was Mike Watt's idea. If we had to drink every time he came up with some out-of-this-world great idea, we'd be constantly soused.
And hey, it just occurs to me how much instant cred Petra Haden adds to a band. The Decemberists can now claim two steps to the Minutemen and one step to Ornette Coleman. Wow.
dw, thanks for the link! I'll be sure to listen to it when I get home tonight.
What else has Petra Haden done? I hadn't heard of her before she did that Who cover album, but I figured she had to be famous for something other than being in the Decemberists.
She was in a band with her sister Rachel called That Dog back in the nineties. I recommend them. They're not bad. She also recently did a fantastic cover album with Bill Frisell. It's so unbelievably good. Their version of Elliott Smith's "Satellite" makes my skin bumpy.
She also sings backup on Mike Watt's third solo album (aka "the one with organ").
The Mountain Goats have given me a new tag line.
