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Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread

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Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread

Mr. Nowack Profile Photo
Mr. Nowack
#1Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/2/16 at 4:57pm

Still a week till it starts, but I thought it would be as good a time as ever to start a thread and get the excitement pumping!

 

It's a fabulous score by Vernon Duke, and it hasn't been heard with a full orchestra in over 75 years or at all in New York in over 50. I'm most excited at the prospect of a recording of the full score with the new orchestrations (by PS Classics of course given Mr. Krasker's love for Duke).

 

Rehearsal Clip:

 


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CarlosAlberto
#2Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/2/16 at 5:14pm

There was a staged concert of it in October 2003 at the 14th Street YMHA.

Updated On: 2/2/16 at 05:14 PM

broadwayboy223
#3Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/2/16 at 5:41pm

Will this be recorded? I love LaChanze!!

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Fantod
#4Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/2/16 at 5:47pm

Hopefully, and not just like Paint Your Wagon which was "recorded" and then never released.

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CarlosAlberto
#5Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/2/16 at 5:50pm

I want to see this. Carly Hughes rocks my socks and Norm Lewis?!?! That's my dreamboat! 

broadwayboy223
#6Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/2/16 at 5:53pm

What happened to the Paint Your Wagon recording?

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NYadgal
#7Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/3/16 at 10:54pm

I'm not at all familiar with this show.   Which is why I'm looking forward to it so much.  

 

Long live Encores!


"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

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Mr. Nowack
#8Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/4/16 at 12:03pm

I think it's mostly known for its film adaptation, one of the early big budget all-black cast musicals.

 

The movie added a number of excellent Harold Arlen songs, though I think the stage score by Duke is very strong in its own right.


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Mr. Nowack
#9Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/4/16 at 2:55pm

Here are some full song rehearsal clips:

 

Honey in the Honeycomb:

 

Cabin in the Sky:

 

The choral/vocal arrangements and performers sound amazing!!

 

Interviews:

 


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yfs
#10Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/5/16 at 9:34am

Interesting article on the City Center website about the show and its reconstruction for those who want to know more. They're including "Happiness is a Thing Called Joe" even though it was written for the film by different writers. Hmm....

 

 

VintageSnarker
#11Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/6/16 at 3:52pm

I was very excited about this cast... until I listened to the score. Can anyone who knows the score/these actors voices better speak to how well you think they'll fit these parts? The glaring issues for me are that it seems too low for LaChanze and Norm Lewis. 

yfs
#12Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/6/16 at 9:46pm

Where did you listen to the score? Since the original orchestrations are all lost, I assume they will place the new version of the score where it best suits the performers. Why would they not? 

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Mr. Nowack
#13Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/6/16 at 11:49pm

Ethel Waters' delivery in the film is decidedly husky, though her earlier recordings of songs from the show (contemporaneous with the 1940 Broadway production) seem to be in a higher key. Like you said though, if they're rebuilding it from scratch why not adapt to the stars.

 

Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread

 

Very interesting stuff in that article, I especially love the production photo from the original production. I never knew Boris Aronson did the original set design.

 

Even Viertel admits the inclusion of "Joe" is a betrayal of Encores' endgame but pretty much says "F- it we can do whatever we want" which I find very amusing. My favorite of the added songs is "Ain't It The Truth" (although it was ultimately cut) but I suppose "Joe" fits more in line with the story than that one.

 

I also see that the "eat fried chicken every day" line is cut from the title song in the rehearsal clips. I assume it was the original lyric since it appears on both Ethel Waters' and Ella Fitzgerald's earlier recordings as well as the '64 revival recording, but it was changed to "all we'll do is sing and pray" for the film which is the version used here. I can definitely see how it's not very PC and agree that the line used here is more fitting but I find it an unusual trajectory. They got away with it on Broadway but not in the film and then it was restored in later productions before being cut in the concert reconstruction.


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macnyc Profile Photo
macnyc
#14Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/9/16 at 5:08pm

Is anyone going to the dress rehearsal, which I assume is tonight?

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singer73192
#15Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/9/16 at 5:18pm

I have a ticket for Thursday night that I can no longer use! It is in the mezzanine Row D. I paid $37.50. Would love to get face value, but will take best offer at this point! Shoot me an PM if interested! 

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Matt Rogers
#16Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/10/16 at 12:56am

I was there tonight.This is everything that you want in an Encores production:

First and foremost, the discovery  or re-discovery of an incredible musical, even if it has some real problems.

An absolutely amazing cast. 

Gorgeous music, huge orchestra, beautiful voices. 

Wonderful choreography.

Lighting was fine. Set, not so much. 

Story is very, very spiritual - a very religious morality tale. Not specifically into that kind of thing myself, but this material was performed so perfectly that it was like looking back in time --- which I guess is one of the points of Encores. 

On a final note, La Chanze was totally, totally amazing. 

Overall, very highly recommended.

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Jordan Catalano
#17Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/10/16 at 1:00am

I can't wait to see this tomorrow night!

marknyc Profile Photo
marknyc
#18Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/10/16 at 1:28am

"La Chanze was totally, totally amazing."  Really?  I was there and came away with a very different opinion.  But since it was the first dress, I'll wait for the reviews tomorrow.

SmoothLover Profile Photo
SmoothLover
#19Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/10/16 at 1:39am

I saw it tonight and thought it was very well done. The singing was very strong and the choreography was outstanding, original, unpredictable, sexy and very smartly integrated into scene work. One of the best choreographed Encores productions I have seen.

LaChanze hit the ball out of the park. She very comfortably played to the back row of the balcony (which is rare) and her vocals and acting were spot on.

This production will only get better but it was a very strong showing for a preview.

If it were written today it probably would be trimmed a bit and the musical numbers would further the plot but the show did not by any means seem like an old dusty musical.

I think the actor playing the devil could rely less on the book holding so he can commit to the character physically and the cues could be picked up somewhat; but I think that will all happen naturally.  I appreciated the professional control exhibited by the actors but I think there is a little more room for added humor and some of the blocking could be better motivated although that usually happens as the week progresses. But I am being picky.....

Highly recommended.

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marknyc
#20Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/10/16 at 2:06am

I was going to wait, but I have to counter these reviews.

While the show was great, particularly the dancing, La Chanze was clearly struggling vocally.  Everyone I was with agreed on that point, and everyone I asked later also agreed.  This was more noticeable in the first act than the second, but even in Act II, she was still spotty.  Her acting was great, but her singing (particularly her low notes) was a real problem.  I'm crossing my fingers that this was just nerves and she'll do better tomorrow.  The difference between her voice and Carla Hughes' - who played Georgia Brown - was striking.

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givesmevoice
#21Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/10/16 at 9:57am

Mr. Nowack said: "I also see that the "eat fried chicken every day" line is cut from the title song in the rehearsal clips. I assume it was the original lyric since it appears on both Ethel Waters' and Ella Fitzgerald's earlier recordings as well as the '64 revival recording, but it was changed to "all we'll do is sing and pray" for the film which is the version used here. I can definitely see how it's not very PC and agree that the line used here is more fitting but I find it an unusual trajectory. They got away with it on Broadway but not in the film and then it was restored in later productions before being cut in the concert reconstruction."

 

I'm surprised that line was cut, since when I saw the discuss Jack Viertel had with Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jeanine Tesori and Sheldon Harnick a few weeks ago, Santiago-Hudson said he was going to keep that line in.

I'm really excited about this production either way, though.

 


When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

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forgetmenotnyc
#22Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/10/16 at 12:44pm

I liked it! If I had to grade it I would give it a B+

 

Chuck Cooper has the shows best moments mainly because of his sense of humor. LaChanze picked up some humor, as well, which helped her characters earnestness. I found Norm Lewis to not be creating anything very interesting.

 

Star of the show is choreography by Camille A. Brown who brought everything to life with a stylishness that gave the work hope.

 

Music: Folk songs/spirituals 'Wade In the Water' (here identified as 'God's Gonna Trouble the Water,' & 'Dry Bones' are the best. Then some song standards like "Taking a Chance on Love" & "Honey in the Honeycomb" which seems to occupy another musical world made more right by the jazzy modern orchestrations. On "Taking a Chance..." LaChanze's pitch was so weird - I just have to write her voice off as not really right for standards (if that makes any sense?) She just didn't seem to occupy a tonal pocket that could have sent her songs up to that magical place. Left me a bit uneasy.  Her other songs didn't strike me quite the same way. "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" by Arlen/Harburg didn't bother me since "Taking a Chance on Love" was also in the score. The rest of the scores songs are weird & just hard to describe but I felt they are what kept the show closer to a C grade with the other elements lifting it to B (& possibly A.)

 

The choral arrangements & vocal chorus is SUBLIME & the dancers are just doing some AMAZING things with their bodies.


Hopefully this piece will only get better as it goes along this week & weekend. I'll be curious to keep up on the thread to see how others feel about it.

 

 

 

VintageSnarker
#23Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/10/16 at 4:27pm

"Her acting was great, but her singing (particularly her low notes) was a real problem."

"LaChanze's pitch was so weird - I just have to write her voice off as not really right for standards (if that makes any sense?) She just didn't seem to occupy a tonal pocket that could have sent her songs up to that magical place."

 

Called it. That said, all the positive opinions of the choreography and chorus have me intrigued. How was Norm Lewis' singing?

 

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SmoothLover
#24Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/10/16 at 5:33pm

Norm sang very well. I have always found him to have a lack of charisma and this was true with his Cabin In The Sky performance but again I am being picky.

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marknyc
#25Encores! CABIN IN THE SKY Official Thread
Posted: 2/10/16 at 8:27pm

Let's be clear - the show is great.  And La Chanze is great, when she's not singing.  Perhaps it was just nerves and she'll be better tonight.  Either way, the show is definitely worth seeing.