NiteLife Exchanges is a streaming video interview show, with hosts Scott Barbarino and Tony Javed. This week they welcome Michael Colby.
Librettist/lyricist Michael Colby has an impressive string of successes to his credit; his lengthy resumé includes musicals Charlotte Sweet (Drama Desk Award nomination), Tales of Tinseltown, North Atlantic (Show Business Award), Slay It With Music (Off-Broadway & London), Mrs. McThing and many more. He was chief writer for the Drama Desk Award-winning New Amsterdam Theatre Company and has been a writer for The NY Festival of Song and Theatre By the Blind. Colby also is the author of the autobiographical “The Algonquin Kid: Adventures Growing Up at New York’s Legendary Hotel.”
This year, as is part of the annual Winter Rhythms series at Urban Stages. produced by Sue Matsuki and Tom Toce, Colby is presenting two shows:
NIGHTS AT THE ALGONQUIN (Gala; Wednesday December 6 at 7:30 PM) pays tribute to the heyday of the Oak Room Supper Club, spotlighting its stars. Scheduled for reminiscences—and songs from their Oak Room shows—are Karen Akers, Jeff Harnar, Mark Nadler, Steve Ross, Daryl Sherman and KT Sullivan, plus Natalie Douglas and Karen Oberlin evoking other Algonquin memories. Musical direction by Alex Rybeck, hosted by Colby.
CREATED AT THE ALGONQUIN (Sunday December 10 at 3 PM) celebrates songs from musicals written (in part or more) at the Algonquin Hotel. Among shows covered will be Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady and Camelot, Noel Coward’s Sail Away and Drama Desk Award nominated Charlotte Sweet. Stars slated to appear to date include Craig Bierko, Nat Chandler, Jenn Gabatese, Anita Gillette, Steve Ross and Marianne Tatum. Directed by Sara Louise Lazarus. Musical directed by Michael Lavine. Hosted by Michael Colby.
Here’ the list of songs to be presented:
1. OPENING/“Other Lives” P (composer: Alex Rybeck [ASCAP/Riley Red Music]; sung by Dan Hoy, Megan Styrna, Lauren Baker, Talia Cutulle, Heeya Kim, Michael Lavine, Luke Naphat). Forget strangers in the night! These are the people you see every day in passing, each one with a story that may be a hum-dinger.
2. “Changing Times” (composer: Steven Silverstein [ASCAP]; sung by Stephen Bogardus). One man’s introspective journey through the vagaries of passing years.
3. “Since I Fell” (composer: Steven Silverstein [ASCAP]; sung by LaDonna Burns with Lauren Baker, Talia Cutulle & Heeya Kim). A tale of love gone wrong.
4. “Dream Park Lullaby” (composer: Steven Silverstein [ASCAP]; arrangement: Seth Weinstein; sung by Maureen Taylor). A nocturnal fantasia.
5. “Oh-Yo!” P (composer: Steven Silverstein [ASCAP]; sung by Luke Naphat). A teen learns how music can make possible even longshot goals.
6. “Oh-Yo!” (Reprise: Luke Naphat)
7. Papiros’n (composer: Herman Yablokoff; from the musical FIRST FAMILY OF SECOND AVENUE; sung by Ari Axelrod). Michael Colby’s translation of a Yiddish classic.
8. “Repeating” (composer: Steven Silverstein [ASCAP]; arrangement: Seth Weinstein; sung by Jane Seaman). A family’s vicious circle dealing with depression.
9. “That’s My Pooch” (composer: Andrea Colby; arrangement: James Higgins; sung by Bethe Austin). The story of a woman’s best friend.
10. “Backstage at the Vic” (composer: Gerald Jay Markoe [ASCAP/Astro Music]; from the musical HAPPY HAUNTING; sung by Marianne Tatum). The passionate memoirs of a theatre actress.
11. “Frank Kiley” (composer: Peter Millrose [ASCAP]; from the musical ON WITH THE SHOW; sung by David Edwards). Escaping from hard times through the magic of the theatre.
12. “Carl’s Song” (composer: Ned Paul Ginsburg [BMI/NYLA Music]; from the musical THEY CHOSE ME!; sung by Joshua Turchin with Talia Cutulle & Heeya Kim). An account of a modern-day adoption.
13. “My Best” P (composer: Steven Silverstein [ASCAP]; sung by Deborah Tranelli). Originally written for Theatre By the Blind, this is the actual history of the late performer May Muth, based on an interview by the lyricist and the subject.
14. “That’s a Wrap!” (composer: Paul Katz [ASCAP/Great Ears Music]; from the musical SLAY IT WITH MUSIC; intro: Michael Lavine; sung by Janet Aldrich). A screen legend strikes out in her movie comeback.
15. “Junior” P (composer: Larry Hochman [BMI/Larry Hochman Music]; sung by Klea Blackhurst). A tale of extreme parental devotion—to the extreme. Based on an anecdote told by Cyd Mazo.
16. “Elevator Man” P (composer: Peter Millrose [ASCAP]; sung by Stuart Zagnit).. A parable of what’s lost in the modern world.
17. “Léocadia” (composer: Gerald Jay Markoe [ASCAP/Astro Music]; arrangement: John Baxindine; from the musical ANOTHER TIME based on Jean Anouilh’s TIME REMEMBERED [LÉOCADIA]; sung by Sarah Rice). A loony lesson about fame, exemplified by the heartbreak saga of a prima ballerina (based on Isadora Duncan).
18. “Christmas Every Day” (composer: Joseph Thalken [ASCAP]; sung by Megan Styrna & Sean McDermott). A holiday debate.
19. “That She Could Write” (composer: Joseph Thalken [ASCAP]; sung by Deborah Jean Templin). Remembering a promising life in today’s world.
20. “Growing Up at the Algonquin” (composer: Ned Paul Ginsburg [BMI/NYLA Music]; sung by Michael Colby). A personal history.
21. FINALE/“Other Lives” [Reprise] P (composer: Alex Rybeck [ASCAP/Riley Red Music];; sung by Lauren Baker, Talia Cutulle, Heeya Kim, Michael Lavine, Luke Naphat, Megan Styrna).
BONUS: “Christmas Every Day” (sung by Megan Styrna & Dan Hoy)
P Premiere of song. Deborah Tranelli). Originally written for Theatre By the Blind, this is the actual history of the late performer May Muth, based on an interview by the lyricist and the subject.[PERFORMED DECEMBER 11 ONLY]
13. “Junior” P (composer: Larry Hochman [BMI/Larry Hochman Music]ß; sung by Klea Blackhurst). A tale of extreme parental devotion—to the extreme. Based on an anecdote told by Cyd Mazo.
14. “Elevator Man” P (composer: Peter Millrose [ASCAP]; sung by Stuart Zagnit).. A parable of what’s lost in the modern world.
15. “Léocadia” (composer: Gerald Jay Markoe [ASCAP/Astro Music]; arrangement: John Baxindine; from the musical ANOTHER TIME based on Jean Anouilh’s TIME REMEMBERED [LÉOCADIA]; sung by Sarah Rice). A loony lesson about fame, exemplified by the heartbreak saga of a prima ballerina (based on Isadora Duncan).
16. “That’s a Wrap” (composer: Paul Katz [ASCAP/Great Ears Music]; from the musical SLAY IT WITH MUSIC; intro: Michael Lavine; sung by Janet Aldrich). A screen legend strikes out in her movie comeback.
17. “Christmas Every Day” (composer: Joseph Thalken [ASCAP]; sung by Megan Styrna & Sean McDermott). A holiday debate
18. “That She Could Write” (composer: Joseph Thalken [ASCAP]; sung by Deborah Jean Templin). Remembering a promising life in today’s world.
19. “Growing Up at the Algonquin” (composer: Ned Paul Ginsburg [BMI/NYLA Music]; sung by Michael Colby). A personal history.
20. FINALE/“Other Lives” [Reprise] P (composer: Alex Rybeck [ASCAP/Riley Red Music];; sung by Lauren Baker, Talia Cutulle, Heeya Kim, Michael Lavine, Luke Naphat, Megan Styrna).
P Premiere of song.
