Bring On The (1860s) Dancing Girls
Today I got led (via my blonde burlesque ladies) into the world of the ‘spectacular theatre’. You know, those shows
read moreWeekly Column
Lehár’s New “Graf von Luxemburg” On OEHMS Classics
If you grew up as a kid in Germany, you probably learned early from a famous TV program to always
read more
The History Of A Burlesque Blonde: Belle Land
Last night, I was researching in ancient texts, trying to track down the history of a burlesque blonde who went
read more
“Csardasfürstin” In Magdeburg With A New “Killer Ending”
Perhaps it was only a matter of time before someone hired choreographer Otto Pichler to stage an operetta all by
read more
The Demystification Of “The Black Crook”
One thing leads to another … Answering various queries, after my 15 years old article on The Black Crook, which
read more
Wooden Cut-Outs & Selfies: The Revival Of “Cats” On Broadway
It’s “business as usual” at the Neil Simon Theater, where I caught up with the new revival of Andrew Lloyd
read more
From Operetta To The Russian Hit Parades: Paul Hankinson & Fiora
Not so very many years ago, two young students, already laurelled, each one, with considerable success, entered the Queensland Conservatorium
read more
On The Road With John Groves: “Im weißen Rössl” In Neustrelitz
To tell the truth: Im weißen Rössl at the Neustrelitz open air operetta festival was fascinating! For a start, I
read more
“Im weißen Rössl” In Neustrelitz. Plus: An Amazing Erik Charell Exhibition
It’s rare, these days, to encounter such personal enthusiasm for operetta history as is demonstrated in the picturesque town of
read more
A Re-Written And New “Paint Your Wagon” In Seattle
How very much I wish I could recommend the all new version of Paint Your Wagon in its world premiere
read more
“Shuffle Along”: The Making of the 1921 Musical Sensation
Deep among the indelible memories of my theatergoing life are singer Lynnie Godfrey sprawled on a piano suggestively growling “Daddy”
read more
Michael W. Balfe’s “Satanella,” Plus: A Contemporary Cantata And “Merman’s Apprentice”
It is not often that I write about recordings. Since my massive listening-writing effort of The Musical Theatre on Record,
read more
The First Great Dickensian Operetta: “Pickwick” (1889)
Retrospect Opera, a registered charity in Britain, has launched a project to record the operetta Pickwick (1889) by Sir Francis
read more
“Grimm”: Tomorrow’s Stars In Today’s Hit-Show
Yes, here it finally is: the original cast album and DVD version of Grimm. This fairy tale musical, with some
read more
“Spring Awakening” With Deaf Actors
I must confess that I admired more than loved Spring Awakening in its 2007 Broadway premiere, and really didn’t care
read more
“Baby, You Can Can-Can Too”
In their 2015 summer season, the Ohio Light Opera presented the original stage version of Cole Porter’s Can-Can. It’s a
read more
Hatice Point The Way: Black- And Yellow-Face in Operetta
Most people would probably agree: operetta is all about performance. And, more to the point, about turning realities upside down
read more
The “Csardasfürstin” From Budapest
It’s holiday time, obviously. So unless you’re on your way to some summer festival, chances that you’ll catch a regular
read more
What Is Johann Strauss Doing In The Exhibition “Homosexualität_en”?
To say that I was surprised would be putting it mildly. Here I was, at the opening of the grand
read more
Grimm!, or Who’s Afraid of the Big, Dancing Wolf?
Last year, while in Berlin, I went to see the musical produced by the UDK musical-theatre school and its graduating
read more
Down To My Last Two Days: Linie 1 & Lillie Claus
Down to my last two days in Berlin. The Komische Oper was hosting a three-day symposium on operetta, the last
read more
A Musical Comedy Orgasm: Seeing “Clivia” In Berlin From A Broadway Perspective
Tuesday and Wednesday in Berlin were exasperating for me. A combination of misunderstandings, bad directions, getting lost, buying a theatre
read more
An American in Berlin: Seeing Operetta At The Komische Oper
Richard C. Norton, New York City based author of A Chronology of American Musical Theater, regular contributor to the Operetta
read more
From Dingsda To The Mississipi: Bumping Into Alen Hodzovic Again
Perhaps you know that feeling: you see a super-duper operetta performer one day, and the next he’s vanished. Or so
read more
Coffee With Jochen Kowalski – And Laughing With Novikova
Admittedly, Heilbronn is not the first city that comes to (my) mind when talking about operetta “Made in Berlin.” Still,
read more
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Allegro” Returns to New York
As this Off-Broadway revival of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s 1947 failure Allegro is directed by John Doyle – he
read more
“The Golden Apple”: Reclaiming A Classic In Texas
The Golden Apple (1954) is widely acknowledged by musical theatre scholars as a much-neglected gem, and it is presently receiving
read more
Who Will Be The Savior of Operetta in the 21st Century: Volker Klotz Or Barrie Kosky?
This week-end, a new production of Offenbach’s La belle Hélène premieres at the Komische Oper Berlin. Its director, Barrie Kosky,
read more
“Yellowface, in Your Face”: Is “The Mikado” Racist?
In Seattle, a new production of The Mikado by the local Gilbert & Sullivan Society has sparked a heated debate
read more
A Trip to Ohio. Or: Six Operettas (And More) in Four Days
For the last five days, I’ve been in Ohio. Yes, Ohio, USA. Yes, I know I said, years ago, that
read more
Reviving Cole Porter’s “The Ambassador Revue”
Last Friday at New York’s Town Hall marked a major event for historians of musical theatre. For one night only,
read more
Going Up? The Music of Louis Hirsch
Never heard of Louis Hirsch (1881–1924) and his Broadway operettas? Well, we can change that easily. Because our friends at
read more
The Fall and Fall of the Town of Mahagonny
It’s June, and somehow, this season, I had not yet been to an opera at the Staatsoper, where I experienced
read more
Liberace on the Blue Danube
I don’t think I have been to a solo piano concert since I was at school. Julius Katchen. Lili Kraus.
read more
Sweeney Todd: Der teuflische Barbier von Freak Street
I’m just back – exhausted – from Magdeburg. Yes, I didn’t know where it was either. But I do now,
read more
“Um acht beginnt die Nacht”: Lehar program in Berlin
I don’t know what it is about Lehar that attracts so many people. Well, that’s not entirely true. I do
read more