This is to announce that Puccini’s Chronicles will be moving to Blogger sometime this month, with a new domain…my name, Amanda DeLalla. Easy, right? This WordPress site shall remain active to preserve the pages and images, although most of the posts will migrate over to the new host. I hope you’re staying happy and healthy- see you around!
Popular Music Albums Made for Broadway Fans
Have you worn out all your cast albums during your at-home time? Are you tired of a traditional showtune? Then it may be time to crack open your wallet and invest in a pop record…but one that will still whet your appetite for the songs we hear on Broadway. It’s a great opportunity to broaden your horizons, listen to some new music, and maybe become a fan of someone you normally wouldn’t think of. So without further ado, check out these recommendations!
- Lena Hall released a series of Obsessed EPs in which she sang songs from some of her favorite pop and rock artists. I like the Elton John one the best, but they’re all worth listening to.
- Now this isn’t the cast recording of the wildly popular Hadestown; this is the original concept album that Anais Mitchell performed way before Broadway. It’s a good way to see how a piece evolves.
- Cher’s album of ABBA covers is something that I listen to with an agape mouth- it really is that campy- but her gorgeously stripped rendition of “One of Us” makes it a worthwhile acid trip.
- This debut solo record from Mandy Gonzalez will appeal to fans of In the Heights and Hamilton for sure…but it’s also an impressive effort that any fan of belters can appreciate.
- Tapestry is one of the most-selling albums of all time, and is considered a landmark artistic achievement by the star whose story inspired the smash show known as Beautiful.
- This album doesn’t come out until November, but the music of the Apple TV+ program Little Voice should be sung by its creator, who is quickly becoming a seasoned theatrical presence.
Super Smash Bros.: The Key to World Peace?
This is a bit of a random/silly post, but you all know how I feel about video games being their own kind of art. And art has the capacity to create social change.
With that said, I would like to hypothesize that the Super Smash Bros. series may, in fact, hold the key to us finding a common ground. I saw a video recently of gamers playing Super Smash Bros. in a tournament and reacting to their respective wins and losses. (Spoiler alert: they really don’t like to lose these things.) Aside from their amusing outbursts, what captivated me the most about these players was their diversity. They ran the spectrum from black to white, male to female, of all creeds and body types. This game knows no social boundaries, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.
Consider this: you’re playing a tournament, you pick the character you like most, and you beat the crap out of your opponent. In that moment, it doesn’t matter who you are (or who they are) in the “real world.” In that moment, you both share a common goal- to win the match- and a love of what Nintendo has created with these games.
After the battle, you “bump fists” with your opponent in a show of sportsmanship, and for a minute, it’s like you both are one with the cosmos. Then you part ways, having learned from the experience and been part of a community greater than yourself.
Isn’t that what we’re all searching for in these tumultuous times? Is that not the first step toward really seeing our shared humanity?
This peacemaker, this paradox, this bringer of solidarity: this Super Smash Bros.
The Top 10 Taylor Swift Songs
I bitch about Taylor Swift sometimes.
Something that bugs me: that she, already successful, can do something like drop a “surprise album” and make another million dollars because she has the resources to do that. Meanwhile the rest of us artists, who might make just as good material, struggle to even get our work out there because we don’t have those financial advantages.
Yeah, I bitch about Taylor Swift- and I envy her good fortune as an artist- but I still really like her music. So, without further ado and with much irony, here’s my list of the best songs she’s ever made.
10. “Sparks Fly” (Speak Now): This song is fun and exciting, a glittery and exuberant tribute to the thrill of early love. The music video is fantastic, too.
9. “You Belong with Me” (Fearless): This frothy country-pop anthem defined part of my high school years. Is it cheesy? Sure. But boy, is it fun to belt out in your room.
8. “Red” (Red): And a quick change from “Sparks Fly” brings us to the sad aftermath of relationship regret. Still, it’s an incredible jam with some good vocals by Swift…and a nice banjo, too.
7. “State of Grace” (Red): This album opener first showed off Taylor’s rock-n-roll side with rolling drums and electric guitar. It has this fantastic lyric- “Love is a ruthless game unless you play it good and right.”
6. “New Romantics” (1989): I think this is a really modern-sounding, vibrant number. It only appears on the Deluxe Edition of 1989 but was still released as a single. I’m glad for that, because it’s easily one of the album’s best. “I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me.”
5. “Style” (1989): This track is moody, melancholy, and nostalgic…all the qualities I value in a song. It has this wonderful opening riff and an insanely catchy hook of a refrain.
4. “Enchanted” (Speak Now): Other qualities I value in a song are dreaminess and an orchestral sound. This has them in spades and is one of Taylor Swift’s most popular songs that was, surprisingly, never released as a single.
3. “Cornelia Street” (Lover): I just love this number; it’s poetic and drenched in audial color, my favorite song from this record. It also (fittingly) fills my mind with thoughts of New York City, the home I love.
2. “Exile” (Folklore): The newest song on this list is from the “surprise album” I alluded to earlier, and it may also be the most tragic. Featuring guest vocalist Bon Iver, “Exile” examines a broken relationship that still painfully lingers after the fact.
1. “Wildest Dreams” (1989): I may get some flack for this choice, but it is indeed my favorite T-Swift tune of all time. Its lyrics speak to me. I also find it cinematic in its musical style, and the Old Hollywood-themed music video certainly contributes to that view.
One Play Glory
A few of you follow me on Instagram, on which I recently said that I had a big announcement coming up. Well, it’s reveal time! I am beyond honored that my play, Reversal, will have its world premiere in 2021 as part of The Pressure Players‘ inaugural season! It’s still a little surreal to know that my writing will soon come to life with a full stage production. Exact dates and venue TBD, but I hope all of you will come to see this contemporary play-with-music in action. Thanks to Danielle Kogan, Greg McGovern, and Jim Walsh for believing in the work and granting me this incredible opportunity.
Per the title of this post- I certainly hope this won’t just be my “One Play Glory,” but a first stepping stone for an up-and-coming playwright. I would really like if all the New Yorkers who read this blog could make it to the show!
P.S. I’ve also officially joined the Dramatists Guild since my last post.
Curious Things I Noticed in Mary Poppins Returns
The other day was an interesting one for me in regard to movies; I watched three in one day. The first two were Chicago and Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns, which were both directed by Rob Marshall. I’ve seen Chicago more times than I can count, but the latter was a first-watch for me.
Mary Poppins Returns seems like a film I was destined to see. The original Mary Poppins with Julie Andrews was one of my all-time favorites as a child and continues to be a favorite today. As a result, I was watching this sequel with an eagle eye- and in doing so, I noticed some pretty interesting things.
- Some of the songs in the movie sample instrumental bits from the original film’s score. This is no accident: Richard M. Sherman, who wrote the original movie’s music with his brother Robert, served as music consultant for this film.
- It seemed to me that each song in Mary Poppins Returns corresponds to a song in the original film. “Nowhere to Go but Up” was for “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” was for “Step in Time,” “The Place Where Lost Things Go” was for “Feed the Birds,” and “Turning Turtle” was for “I Love to Laugh,” et cetera.
- Dick van Dyke, who can dance better than me at 90 years old, played two roles in Mary Poppins: the chimney sweep Bert, and the bank chairman Mr. Dawes. He holds the rare distinction of playing the same role in two different films made decades apart. In movie theaters, it was reported that when he came onscreen, the crowds went wild.
- During “A Cover is Not the Book,” the Banks children can be seen holding blue, orange, and yellow cotton candy treats. Could this be a Schuyler Sisters Easter egg? (Lin-Manuel Miranda plays Lamplighter Jack in the movie.)
- This is Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt’s 3rd production together, having also starred in The Devil Wears Prada and Into the Woods.
- Karen Dotrice, who played Jane Banks in the original movie, cameos as a woman asking the adult Jane Banks for directions. POPPINS-CEPTION!
- If I say “A magical stoic woman takes care of children with David Tomlinson,” am I talking about Mary Poppins or Bedknobs and Broomsticks? Angela Lansbury, star of the latter Disney flick, makes a special appearance in Mary Poppins Returns as the Balloon Lady.
Four Facts about the Film Adaptation of The Prom
Look who’s back. That’s right- me!
In honor of Pride Month, let’s talk about one of my favorite shows that I saw in 2019, The Prom, which is currently being adapted into a film that will premiere on Netflix sometime next year (production was stalled due to COVID-19). I’m pretty psyched for this, and here are four reasons why you should hop on the hype train, too.
- It features one of the starriest casts we’ve seen in a while…but, sadly, nobody from the original Broadway company. Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, and Andrew Rannells fill roles originated by Beth Leavel, Brooks Ashmanskas, Angie Schworer, and Christopher Sieber, respectively. Even the two central teenagers- Emma and Alyssa- will be played by fairly established names in the arts community: Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose. Kevin Chamberlin and Kerry Washington are also tapped as Sheldon Saperstein and Mrs. Greene.
- As previously mentioned, the movie will be a Netflix release produced by Ryan Murphy…which is unfortunate for those of us who don’t have Netflix. I can only hope that a DVD/Blu-Ray release is also in its future.
- Some new material may appear in the movie, as hinted by the show’s writers (Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar). This includes added songs and dialogue scenes, such as one featuring Emma’s grandmother, who is unseen onstage.
- Despite the musical not recouping on Broadway, it gained a devoted fan following, and the excitement surrounding its film adaptation is living proof that Cats did not kill the movie musical genre for audiences. Thank goodness!
HSMTMTS Appreciation Post
Hi y’all. I know I said I wouldn’t be posting here regularly for a little bit, but how could I stay away?! Besides, there was a little something I just had to share.
Last year, mercifully, Disney aired its own streaming platform, Disney+. As with Netflix and all those other services, it features all the movies you know and love…plus a healthy dose of original programming. One such is High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. That’s quite a mouthful, so it’s called HSMTMTS for short. Basically, it’s Glee meets For Your Consideration: a musical mockumentary. Students at the “real” East High- where the original High School Musical film took place- are mounting a production of the stage show, with all the offstage drama that accompanies it. The soundtrack features new arrangements of the classic High School Musical numbers as well as original songs.
You may be wondering: “Amanda, why do you care so much about this?” The answer is simple…because I lived it. When I was a senior in high school, we too put on a production of High School Musical Onstage! The offstage drama was certainly there, and I was cast in the plum role of Ms. Darbus (of course I would play the adult at 17 years old). I don’t mean to brag, but I f***ing slayed in the part. I got a ton of laughs, compliments, and applause during my curtain call. The confidence boost I got from playing this role has stuck with me to this day.
Ultimately, the experience was the first of a few steps it took for me to realize that I desperately wanted a career in theatre. And watching HSMTMTS brings me right back to those thrilling performances at St. Joseph Hill Academy, when I felt on top of the world, the first time I believed that dreams can come true. It’s a memory that truly keeps me going when the going gets tough…and for this, I am grateful that Disney+’s little nugget of nostalgia exists. Go Wildcats!
What’s comin’ up: Residency
So- do you remember my last post, in which I shared character descriptions from a new play I’ve been writing during quarantine? Well…that work-in-progress is about to get a whole new platform.
I am happy to announce that I’ve been accepted into the Socially Distant Artist Residency, curated by Patricia Kalidonis as a way for creatives to dive into the themes of solitude during these coronavirus days. From what I understand, I am the first theatre artist to join the program (the others are visual artists). With that said, here’s how it’s going to work.
Every week or two, I’m going to share a scene from the play (or something relevant to my process) on the residency’s blog. Because I must now write more thoughtfully, I may not get to update Puccini’s Chronicles as regularly as I normally would. However, I would like to invite all my readers to continue following my work here…and rest assured that I will be back on here lickety-split.
I hope you enjoy what comes out of this residency- I’m certainly excited to embark on it- and that you take good care of yourselves! See ya real soon!
Post #320: World Theatre Day Exclusive
Good morning, all. Everything’s gotten a bit nutty over the past few weeks, hasn’t it? But I must commend the Broadway community for trying their best to spread positivity during this difficult time. I certainly hope the shows will reopen soon. In the meantime, today is World Theatre Day, and this also happens to be my 320th entry on the blog. So, I’ve decided to do my own virtual sharing by offering an exclusive look at something I’m putting together during my downtime.
These are character descriptions from a new play I’m trying out- a piece that blends fantasy, intrigue, and coronavirus allegory. The logline is as follows: “In these parallel stories, a young woman’s decision changes the course of history as two kingdoms go to war.” Let me know what you think! Spoilers ahead…
Lady Corrin: The heroine of our story. Born in Edelgard but found and adopted by the Ambersian royal family, she has been torn with her alliance for most of her life. Depending on whether she joins Edelgard or Ambers in the war, the trajectory of the story changes. Ultimately, however, it is she who either is named Empress of Edelgard or marries into the role of Ambersian Queen.
Manalyn of Edelgard: Queen Eleanor’s treacherous niece, whose charming exterior belies an ambitious soul. Unmatched in swordsmanship, she conspires with a childhood friend, Sir Galefort, to assassinate the queen and build a new Edelgard. She is later confronted by Corrin for her crimes and is slain in a duel, paving the way for Corrin to become the new Empress of Edelgard.
Farina: A peasant girl in Edelgard who wants nothing more than to be of use to her kingdom. In Part 1, she disguises herself as a squire and joins Corrin’s crusade against Manalyn, dying in combat. In Part 2, she is captured by Ambersian guards as a spy; although Corrin and the queen elect to spare her, she brings the plague into the castle and expires shortly after.
Baron de Varley: One of Queen Arabella’s most trusted advisors and the overseer of Varley Valley, the wealthy capital of Ambers. He is a skilled archer. In Part 1, he goes to battle in defense of Varley, where Corrin is forced to fight and kill him. In Part 2, he reports the news of plague in Edelgard and proposes a complete quarantine of Ambers, much to Corrin’s chagrin.
Prince Pierce: The son of Arabella who was falsely reported dead overseas. Flamboyantly chivalrous, he leads a battalion against Manalyn at the border in Part 1. When she is about to kill him, he surrenders and flees to parts unknown. In Part 2, he gets the idea to marry Corrin after the plague wipes out hundreds in Edelgard, uniting the two kingdoms at last.
Puccini's Chronicles 