WWII, Swing...and some Revolting Children

 First the novel by James Jones,

then the movie with Burt and Deborah and Frank,

now a musical!

From Here To Eternity,

yet to find a niche on Broadway, but it did in the West End,

with music by Stuart Brayson

and lyrics, Tim Rice 

(of Evita/Jesus Christ Superstar/

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat fame).

 The novel was censored from Day 1

(gay prostitution, profanity, the effects of war),

but in 2011 the original (un-excised) text was released,

which prompted renewed interest in a musical rendition.

So it is to the novel, not the film,

that this show pays allegience.

 

 It opened in London in 2013,

to mixed reviews,

tho the score was praised.

Below Robert Lonsdale and Siubhan Harrison

as Prewitt and Lorene.

 

 Darius Campbell as Warden

and Rebecca Thornhill as Karen.

We'll hear "Run Along Joe" with Siubhan Harrison

and "Marking Time" with Darius.

 Swing!, a juke box musical from 1999,

featuring songs from Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman.

Ann Hampton Callaway, Laurie Benanti, and Everett Bradley

were in the cast...

which also featured the Lindy Champs of 1997,

Ryan Francois and Jenny Thomas, 

who added their own jitterbug/lindy choreography

 to that of Lynne Taylor-Corbett.

 Swing! lasted over a year on Broadway,

was nominated for several Tonys,

and won Theatre World Awards for Ann and Everett.

 We'll hear "Swing Brother Swing," "Harlem Nocturne"

and "In the Mood/Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree".

 I'm a Tim Minchin nut,

and tho I tend to like his "stand up" work

(or should I call it his "sit down" work, because he usually 

plays the piano and sings his "stand up")

to his musicals,

I really do like Matilda and (some of) Groundhog Day.

Above, the wonderful UK production/set of Matilda,

and below, the man himself.

Born in Northampton, raised in Perth,

Tim has also had MANY theatrical roles,

playing Pontias Pilate AND later Judas in

Jesus Christ Superstar,

the title role in Amadeus,

and Don Quixote in Man Of La Mancha.

  

Matilda garnered Oliviers, Tonys, Grammys,

and Drama Desk Awards.

 We'll hear "When I Grow Up"

and "Revolting Children".

Looks like it from here. :)