Comments for Marvin Hamlisch

Comment on A Salute to Those Who Serve by Sarah B

Sarah B — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 14:29:16 +0000

A few years ago I attended one of your performances in Washington, D.C. for a celebration
with The U.S. Army, The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force.
You were the performer for the evening. I will never forget how you composed a
song on the spot paying tribute to all of us. It was funny and beautiful! I get a big smile
every time I remember that moment. Be well SIR!
Sarah B

Comment on Idina Menzel and the Kitchener-Waterloo Orchestra conducted by Marvin Hamlisch by Carly C

Carly C — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:20:16 +0000

This past November, on Idina Menzel's 2011 tour itinerary, the star recorded her forthcoming PBS special Idina Live: Barefoot at the Symphony. On March 6, Concord Music Group will release the DVD and accompanying album. The TV special, DVD, and the album, were captured in Toronto at Koerner Hall, a beautifully modernist, acoustically blessed space literally carved out of the city's historic Royal Conservatory of Music headquarters. Menzel performs with the 52-piece Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, one of Canada's premiere symphony orchestras, under the direction of legendary conductor Marvin Hamlisch and her equally accomplished music director and pianist, Rob Mounsey, who has worked with everyone from Paul Simon and Steely Dan to Madonna, Usher and Rihanna. Though Menzel's symphony concerts have attracted sellout crowds and earned consistent critical praise, she was hesitant about the idea at first. "I've toured a lot in my life with different bands and different styles of music, but I stayed away from orchestras and symphonies for a long time, because I like to have a real intimacy with the audience, and I was afraid these big orchestras would usurp my ability to do that. But then I discovered that there's a way to work with 80 musicians and make it feel like we've all known each other for years. I'm still able to explore my edgier side with songs like ‘Roxanne,' but do it with an orchestra, which is really thrilling." With the PBS special and the album both completed, Menzel plans to go back on tour this summer. She also hopes to return soon to Broadway for "a brand new, original show that I'm not allowed to talk about, but really excites me." Carly C

Comment on About the Broadway Musical: A Chorus Line by Gaila M

Gaila M — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:21:42 +0000

Just wanted to say thanks to Marvin Hamlisch for providing the world with wonderful music and entertainment. I think you are truly a remarkable person and you amaze and inspire me everyday. I didn’t realize how much of an amazing person you are until I done a speech, a seven page report on you and, read your book “The way I was”. I admire how you worked so hard to get where you are today. I am only 18 years old but have known about you for several years because my aunt talks about you all the time so I have learned a lot from her as well. Thank you for being such an inspiration to millions of people.
Sincerely,
Gaila M

Comment on About the Broadway Musical: A Chorus Line by Rich

Rich — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:06:12 +0000

This is just to send good wishes to a man who has provided so many of us
with so much pleasure through his music, Marvin Hamlisch.
And he’s a really nice guy, too! Rich

Comment on About the Broadway Musical: A Chorus Line by Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:40:49 +0000

A few years ago we had a sensational production of a chorus Line in the Beit Zvi College in Ramat Gan. One of the best show ever in Israel.
Thanks and good luck!

Comment on Marvin Hamlisch honored at the National Arts Club by Don Pippin

Don Pippin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:10:56 +0000

Don Pippin Marvin deserves a celebration per week. His music and Broadway shows are playing somewhere nightly. What a great talent and generous man. Don Pippin

Comment on A Chorus Line — Melbourne, AU through March 11, 2012. Next: Singapore by Derryn H

Derryn H — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:14:01 +0000

Over the weekend I nearly committed my biggest theatrical boo-boo since turning down tickets to the Opening Night of Hair in New York in 1967. Well, it was off-Broadway. And it was Joe Papp’s first non-classical endeavour and who wanted to see a bunch of long-haired full-frontal hippies mocking the American flag in the age of Aquarius.
Saturday night I had tickets for the opening night of A Chorus Line and nearly didn’t go. I did see that show’s opening on Broadway in 1975 and it ran for 15 years, won heaps of Tony awards and a Pulitzer Prize.
It’s one of the greatest musicals of all time. It was last staged here in 1977. Was it dated. Could it come back?
The reasons for my reluctance to spend Saturday night at Her Majesty’s were myriad. I hadn’t heard much advance mail. It was only going to run for about 35 performances. The after-show party was to be a few glasses of warm white wine in the foyer, I didn’t know who was in it, and there’d been a stuff-up with my tickets.
It sounded like a two-minute noodles job from Jeanne Pratt’s low-cost Production Company. To add to my suspicions I found out just before the show that the main character, the pivotal character of Zach, the casting director, was being played by Dancing with the Stars Judge Josh Horner. Okay, I hadn’t seen Billy Elliott. I just knew him from his hissy fits with Todd McKenny.
So there we were, having a regular Saturday night drink at JJ’s at Crown and the idea of a dinner at Bistro Guillaume or Rockpool sounded very tempting. Would have been my loss.
A few hours later, when I got home from a great night at the theatre I tweeted:
A Chorus Line. Opening night. Top night. Great talent. Josh Horner nails crucial role of Zach. Surprised such a short run. Don’t miss it.
In 140 characters I didn’t have room for more superlatives. A lot of people would only know the show from the movie. A generation wouldn’t know it at all. The movie, with Michael Douglas in the lead role of Zach, was a cop-out. He could talk the talk but not walk the walk so in the film he didn’t dance at all. Horner dances his feet off.
It’s all about the ensemble and, like a reality TV show, 17 wannabes desperately vie for eight spots in the chorus line. Being an ensemble cast you shouldn’t pick out special mentions. But. Special mentions to Anita Louise Combe as Cassie, Euan Doidge as Paul and Karlee Misipeka with the showstopper What I did for Love. And the sultry, sexy, Sheila played by the only woman on the Australian stage with legs as long as Rhonda Burchmore’s, Debora Krizak.
It kept bugging me where I’d seen her before. Of course… the Swedish secretary in The Producers. No, that was Chloe Dallimore. Dammit.
Well, the producers of this show should be ecstatic. Hope they can extend the season.
And life imitating art: You know how many wannabes auditioned for the 17 dance parts? 1200. Now, that’s show business.

Comment on Hamlisch receives lifetime achievement award by Christopher S

Christopher S — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:57:32 +0000

Dear Marvin, This is just to say what a pleasure it was to meet you in Ghent. I have listened to your music all my life. Your sensitive, elegant, sophisticated music inhabits the same universe as another favourite composer of mine, Michel Legrand. If I could turn back the clocks and relive my musical career during the 1950s and 60s I would! Your comments about my score and the few words we exchanged in Ghent meant a great deal to me and I would certainly love to keep in contact. With warmest wishes /Christopher http://www.christopherslaski.com

Comment on About the Broadway Musical Sweet Smell of Success by Libby

Libby — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:34:46 +0000

Dear Marvin, thank you for sharing this information about your broadway musicals and your whole body of work! (all your “creations”.)

When I was 9 I was visiting my grandmother in NYC and my dad took me to see A Chorus Line — my first Broadway play. It was the first year it opened and I was absolutely thrilled. The fact that we were in the last row didn’t matter. I was enthralled and captivated the entire time. I loved all the songs and adored the dancing.

Now, 3 decades-plus later, I have taken up piano. While my spontaneous motivation was inspired by a desire to learn DeBussy’s Clair de Lune (and I can satisfactorily say I have accomplished that) — the basic arrangement anyhow -. I am now thoroughly enjoying learning What I did for love (the basic arrangement anyhow). It brings me so much joy, and fond memories of my premiere Broadway experience. The song/lyrics are beautiful. With age and experience, I more fully appreciate how truly insightful and meaningful the words are, not to mention the divine music itself.

No doubt you receive lots of fan mail like this, justifiably, expressing their sheer joy and pleasure in your music. I will happily add to that throng of fans. So, decades later, kilometers later (I now live in Australia), I wanted you to know how much your music transcends time and distance.

Thank you, Marvin. Cheers. Libby

Comment on Concert: Idina Menzel, Marvin Hamlisch, New York Philharmonic by Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:13:18 +0000

I saw Wicked in Chicago, too. I have to say it was a pretty awesome show. I had read the book before we saw it and while the musical was different from the book it was amazing to see the story play out on the stage. No big ugly tears moment for me but I do remember thinking how differently I felt about the Wizard of Oz after seeing Wicked!! Daniel