“9 to 5’s” Stephanie J. Block on What She Does “5 to 9″ - Speakeasy - WSJBy Michelle Kung
- AP
- Block with co-stars Allison Janney and Kathy Fitzgerald
Stage actress Stephanie J. Block made her Broadway debut as Liza Minnelli (opposite Hugh Jackman’s Peter Allen) in “The Boy From Oz,” which she quickly followed with leading roles in the national tour of “Wicked” and the short-lived “The Pirate Queen.” Ms. Block can currently be seen as the nervous new employee Judy Bernly in the Tony Award-nominated musical adaptation “9 to 5.” Like many soaring voices of the Great White Way, she released a solo album entitled “This Place I Know” last month. But unlike most Broadway recording artists, she asked the composer of each her selected songs to perform with her, including “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz and, of course, “9 to 5″ song writer Dolly Parton. We recently spoke to Ms. Block about the evolution of her debut album, from which she’ll be singing several selections when she performs at Manhattan’s Birdland nightclub Monday evening.
The Wall Street Journal: The concept behind your album is that you’ve asked each song’s composer to join you in performing each selection. How did you decide on that idea?
I first started planning my album several couple years ago, when I was doing this little evening of music that I’d put together. Specifically, I knew I wanted to get the composer Stephen Schwartz to record a song called “Making Good” with me; [the song] was originally a part of “Wicked,” but then got replaced with “The Wizard and I.” He was very open to it, so in 2006, we laid down that first track. After doing that first song, I realized this was the concept I wanted to thread together my album with and started reaching out to other composers.
How many composers did you reach out to?
Probably 14 or 15. 12 to 13 actually said yes, but with everyone’s different schedules, not all of them made it onto the album.
That must have taken a ton of coordination.
Yes. In addition to arranging their schedules, each composer really wanted their own specific arrangements and musicians. Usually when you record an album, you have studio musicians that will sit there for 2 days. This was different, because each composer wanted different musicians, so in the studio, we’d do sound tests with one group, and then they would leave and another group of musicians would come and you’d need to reset the entire studio for a whole new instrumentation and arrangement. It became a lot more complicated than I was expecting and took a lot of extra time and care. But it was worth the two years in the making and the emptying of my bank account.
Yikes. Was the music licensing very expensive?
Well, we had to license the music, but I also wanted to produce this myself — I wanted to make sure that the final say on every decision came down to me, and that takes a producer credit, and that takes money.
You sing one of Dolly’s most iconic songs — “I Will Always Love You” — on the album. Was that intimidating?
It was actually her idea — I think, in humor and humility, she said, I wrote this song and Whitney Houston has recorded it [for the movie "The Bodyguard"], but I think your voice would sound great with it and we can do something completely different, so there is no sort of people reminiscing about other recordings. I thought about it and said, “Let’s really focus on the lyrics, and make it almost the most simple track on the CD — almost like lullaby.” The lyrics really are heart breaking. When you listen to the Whitney version, it’s all about the vocal tricks and sounds very produced. I mean, Whitney can do amazing things, but I wanted to focus on the lyrics.
What can audiences expect to hear at Birdland on the 13th?
Half of the set will be from the album, and the other half will be some of the tunes I fell in love with, but didn’t quite make it onto the album. Not that they’re sub-quality; they just didn’t work with the flow and cohesiveness of the album.
The first time I played Birdland was in 2004 and I was nervous as all get-out, because it was truly the first time I was going to step on stage in New York as myself — it’s very different playing a character and singing music that was written for a character and services the play. When you’re standing up there for yourself, there’s really a vulnerability and a feeling of being naked. I love it now, but with every set date, it gets to be a little nerve-wracking because you hope that you’re giving the audience the same experience that you first got at your first show.
September 3, 2009
“9 to 5’s” Stephanie J. Block on What She Does “5 to 9″ - Speakeasy - WSJ
some background: 'worked at a major broadway theater'--'HATE BROADWAY MUSICALS!' Playbill: Quizzes
Below are some fun and entertaining quizzes for you from the sharp staff at Playbill.com. Take one today!Playbill: Quizzes
Posted Musicals That Rock!
With such upcoming Broadway openings as Hair and Rock of Ages, Playbill takes a look at some of Broadway's best rock musicals. Are you ready to rock? (9 questions)05 Mar 2009 How Well Do You Know This West Side Story?
With the upcoming revival of West Side Story, Playbill wonders how well you know one of Broadway's most famous love stories? (9 questions)15 Feb 2009 Do You Know Your Guys and Dolls?
With the upcoming revival of Guys and Dolls, Playbill wonders how well you know one of Broadway's most celebrated classics! (5 questions)14 Jan 2009 Politics and Broadway
With the upcoming You’re Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush, Playbill recalls those Broadway shows where politics played a central theme! (5 questions)14 Dec 2008 All About Pal Joey
This fall marks the opening of the Pal Joey revival at Studio 54. Lets see how well you know your Pal Joey (5 questions)17 Nov 2008 Shows Starring Children
The autumn of 2008 brings the Broadway openings of two musicals starring children. How well do you know these kid-centric shows? (6 questions)17 Oct 2008 Don't Forget the Lyrics
Could you be on a reality show of Broadway lyrics? (6 questions)28 Feb 2008 Sunday in the Park with George Quiz
In honor of the 2008 Broadway revival's opening... (6 questions)21 Feb 2008 Valentine's Day Quiz
For Valentine's Day, see if you can answer these questions about Broadway love... (6 questions)03 Feb 2008 Scene Stealers
Over a decade before she entered our collective “Memory” as the Tony-winning Grizabella in Cats, Betty Buckley was already stopping shows. As Martha Jefferson in 1776, she wowed audiences as she wrapped her beautiful, powerful tones around “He Plays the Violin.” Buckley is just one of the multi-talented scene stealers The Great White Way has produced—actors who inhabit a character and a song so completely and with such originality that it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing that role. Twelve such scene stealers, all forever a part of Broadway history, are featured on each of the new Masterworks Broadway/Playbill Editors’ Choice CD releases, "Scene Stealers: The Women" and "Scene Stealers: The Men." Some of these talented performers are pictured below. Can you name them? For more information about the new "Scene Stealers" recordings, visit www.masterworksbroadway.com (4 questions)
Dolly's Video Diary - "9 to 5" Cast Album and New Single!
What is Dolly's new single? Watch this video to find out at the end...
9 to 5 The Musical—On Broadway—with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton: News
9 to 5 The Musical—On Broadway—with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton: Newsoffice gossip
National Tour of 9 to 5 to launch at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center - EXAMINER.COMThe national tour of the Broadway production 9 to 5: The Musical will open at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center next year.
9 TO 5 Star Janney Featured In Newest Episode Of ATW's 'Downstage Center,' Premieres 8/17 - BROADWAYWORLDThe American Theatre Wing has announced that four-time Emmy Award-winner and 2009 Tony Award Nominee Allison Janney, currently starring on Broadway in 9 to 5, is the next guest on their popular interview show, "Downstage Center."
"9 to 5" Cast Album Enters Charts!- DollyPartonMusic.netThe "9 to 5" Cast Album entered the Billboard Top Cast Album chart at #4! The Cast Album is the latest project to be released from Dolly Parton's record label, Dolly Records.Punching Out: 9 to 5 Will Close Sept 6; Tour Will Launch in Nashville - PLAYBILLThe marquee value of both songwriter Dolly Parton and the hit title 9 to 5 was not enough to keep the new musical version of the popular 1980 movie alive on Broadway. The musical will close Sept. 6
'9 to 5' Performs at Broadway in Bryant ParkAllison Janney, Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty (left to right) from the Broadway Musical 9 to 5 perform at Broadway in Bryant Park.
Photo Coverage: '9 To 5: THE MUSICAL' Celebrates At Barnes and Noble - The Performance! - BWWView photos from 9 to 5's cd performance and signing at Barnes and Nobles on July 14th.
This Week with Dolly - SEYMOUR HERALDDolly Parton has recorded a solo version of one of the songs from her Tony-nominated score to "9 To 5: The Musical" which will soon be released as her next single, she announced last week in a video diary released via YouTube.
"9 to 5's" Stephanie J. Block on What She Does "5 to 9" - WALL STREET JOURNALThe Wall Street Journal recently spoke to Stephanie J. Block about the evolution of her debut album, from which she’ll be singing several selections when she performs at Manhattan’s Monday evening.The Cast of 9 to 5 Sings and Signs at Barnes and Nobles - PLAYBILLOn July 14 at 4:30 PM, Stephanie J. Block returns along with her 9 to 5 co-stars to celebrate the release of the Broadway cast album of the Dolly Parton musical with a signing and performance.
George Jones - Yabba Dabba Doo: Free MP3 Download
 | George Jones - Yabba Dabba Doo |  |
 | Found at bee mp3 search engine |  |
George Jones - Yabba Dabba Doo: Free MP3 Download
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)