Sound Advice
Schedule of New & Upcoming CD, DVD & Book Releases
Updated 3/25/25
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Elphie
(William Morrow - Hardcover Book/Paperback/Kinde Edition/Audible Audiobook)
By Gregory Maguire. The childhood story of Wicked's Elphaba, including her promiscuous mother, her pious father, her saintly sister Nessarose, and her junior felon brother Shell. Deluxe collector's hardcover features stenciled edges and a color illustrated map of Oz. 288 pages.
Every Day a Little Death: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Stephen Sondheim
(Level Best Books - new Paperback/Kindle Edition)
Edited by Josh Pachter. Twenty crime stories, one inspired by a song from each of the twenty musicals with scores by Stephen Sondheim (including the made-for-TV Evening Primrose and the final show, Here We Are). Contributing authors include both widely published crime writers and people who are involved in the world of the theatre. 329 pages.
King of Broadway
(Olympia Publishers - Paperback Book)
By Dan Elish (13: The Musical). Novel about Horatio King, an eighty-five-year old curmudgeon who happens to be the greatest musical theater composer and lyricist of his generation. Fifteen years before the story begins, his last musical, Black Hawk Down, was a flop. Now King is approached by twenty-five-year old Ben Willis who sends him a copy of his newly published children's novel, "The Worldwide Dessert Contest." Would King like to get back in the game and collaborate with a new-comer on what could be his last Broadway musical? 244 pages. Released 12/10/24.
Liaisons II
(Avie Records - new on CD)
Part two of Anthony de Mare's commissioning project of "Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano." Fourteen tracks by contemporary composers from the worlds of classical, jazz, film, indie, pop and musical theatre, including Jon Batiste, Stephen Hough, Meredith Monk, Max Richter, Conrad Tao, with the soloist himself contributing the title track "All Things Bright and Beautiful". Digital version expected in February 2025.
Mostly Marlene
(new digital album)
New concert album from Australian performer Kim David Smith. With guests Charles Busch, Joey Arias, Bright Light Bright Light, and Ali McGregor. Recorded live at Joe's Pub. Music director Tracy Stark on piano, Matt Podd on accordion, Skip Ward on bass, and David Silliman on drums. "Black Market," "Ich Bin die Fesche Lola," "Band Intro" (patter), "In Your Eyes / Slow," "Jonny, wenn du Geburtstag hast?," "Padam Padam," "You're the Cream in My Coffee," "Look Me Over Closely," "Queer B (icon)" (patter), "The Man's in the Navy," "Judy Garland" (patter), "The Boys in the Back Room," "Lili Marlene," "Cabaret," "All the Lovers (with Bright Light Bright Light), "Falling in Love Again," "Just a Gigolo," "Nature Boy (with Ali McGreggor), "Illusions " (with Charles Busch), "A Little Yearning" (with Linda Randall), "Black Market" (with Joey Arias).
Places, Please, Act One: Poems Around and About Theatre
(Gelassenheit Publications - Paperback Book)
By Warren Kliewar (poet, playwright, essayist, director, actor, professor and producer, founding-producing director of The East Lynne Company). Foreword by Raylene Hinz-Penner. 78 pages.
March 28, 2025
Miscast: The Studio Sessions
(Joy Machine Records - new digital recording)
Twelve songs from the past 25 years of MCC Theater's Miscast. "Let Me Be Your Star" (Jeremy Jordan & Jonathan Groff), "Go the Distance" (Eva Noblezada)(available now), "The Wizard and I" (Ben Platt), "If I Were a Rich Man" (Katrina Lenk), "The Human Heart" (Leslie Odom, Jr. & Nicolette Robinson), "What Is It About Her?" (Stephanie J. Block), "Who I'd Be" (Rachel Zegler), "Edelweiss" (Lea Salonga), "Come to Your Senses" (Raúl Esparza), "Beautiful City" (Kelli O'Hara), "Endless Night" (Take Me or Leave Me" (Live, Aaron Tveit & Gavin Creel).
Once Upon a Mattress
(Center Stage Records / Shout! Broadway - new digital)
2024 Broadway revival cast recording of score by Mary Rodgers (music) and Marshall Barer (lyrics). The cast includes Sutton Foster, Michael Urie, Nikki Renée Daniels, David Patrick Kelly, Ana Gasteyer, Will Chase, Daniel Breaker, and Brooks Ashmanskas. Produced by Amy Sherman-Palladino, Adam Guettel, Lawrence Manchester, and Jenny Gersten. Executive produced by Van Dean for Center Stage Records and Douglas Denoff for Shout! Broadway. CD version to be released 5/2/25.
April 10, 2025
Strategic Love Play
(Audible Originals - Audible Audiobook)
Play by Miriam Battye, with 2024 Off-Broadway cast Heléne York and Michael Zegan.
"Makin' It Work With Joy": Songs from Real Women Have Curves
(Ghostlight Records - new EP)
Joy Huerta with Katya Diaz, Nadia DiGiallonardo , Aline Mayagoitia, and Mari Solis, from Huerta's score. Four tracks. Cast recording to be released later this spring. Real Women Have Curves: The Musical begins previews 4/1/25 at the James Earl Jones Theatre.
April 11, 2025
Goddess: Moto Moto Presents Nights in Mobasa
(Warner Music Group Arts Music / Octoverse Media - new EP)
Music and lyrics by Michael Thurber. Amber Iman, Austin Scott, and Nick Rashad Burroughs. Goddess begins previews at the Public Theater 4/29/25.
John Raitt: Songs of the Open Road and Other Rarities
(Stage Door Records - new on CD)
20 rare studio and broadcast recordings made between 1946 and 1959, including Raitt's debut studio recordings and a mini album recorded for the Decca label in May 1946. Kinescopes remastered. Produced in conjunction with John Raitt's Estate, all selections make their debut on CD. Deluxe full gloss six panel digipak sleeve and sleeve notes by George Dansker. "Songs of the Vagabonds," "Stout Hearted Man," "The Rangers' Song," "Song of the Open Road," "Without a Song," "Great Day," "The Song the Angels Sing," "Because You're Mine," "Song of the Open Road (Guest Star Version)," "Hey There!" (Guest Star Version), "Lucky Day," "That Old Black Magic," "Silver Dollar," "Deeo Purple," "I Concentrate on You," "The Girl That I Marry," "Indian Summer," "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'," "Shenandoah," "Figaro's Entrance Aria." StageDoorRecords.com.
April 15, 2025
The In-Between: Intimate and Candid Moments of Broadway Stars
(Applause - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
By Jenny Anderson. Foreword by Ariana DeBose. Anderson's personal ode to the theatre community, including more than 100 of her photographs taken behind the scenes of the most iconic shows of the last decade: Hamilton, Wicked, The Lion King, Kinky Boots, Sweeney Todd, Waitress, Hadestown, Phantom of the Opera, and many, many more. Rare photography of performers like Glenn Close, Patti LuPone, Hugh Jackman, Chita Rivera, Jonathan Groff, and Gavin Creel. A privileged glance behind the curtains of the world's most prestigious theaters and the stars who grace their stages. 144 pages.
The Musicals of Cole Porter: Broadway, Hollywood, Television
(Univ Press of Mississippi - Hardcover Book)
By Bernard F. Dick. A critical study of Porter's Broadway and movie musicals, and his one foray into live television, from his first failure, See America First (1916) to Silk Stockings (1955). Interspersed with chapters on Porter's "list songs," his love songs, and his love of figurative language. Discusses the various literary sources and cultural reference points that inspired the lyrics to Porter's numbers. 240 pages.
April 17, 2025
Death Becomes Her
(Concord Recordings - new digital album)
Original Broadway cast recording of score by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey (book by Marco Pennette). Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, Michelle Williams, Taurean Everett, and Josh Lamon. "Prelude," "If You Want Perfection" (already released), "For The Gaze" (already released), "That Was Then, This Is Now," "Tell Me, Ernest" (already released), "Madeline Ashton's Intimate Wedding Extravaganza," "Ernest's Real Vows," "Madeline," "Til Death," "Tell Me, Ernest (Reprise)," "Falling Apart," "Siempre Viva," "Let's Run Away Together," "Confrontation," "Don't Say I Didn't (Warn You)," "Hit Me," "The Plan," "Stefan's Turn," "Live To Serve," "Siempre Viva (Reprise)," "'Til Death (Reprise)," "Alive Forever" (already released), "Fifty Years Later," "The End." produced by Sean Patrick Flahaven, Scott M. Riesett, Julia Mattison, and Noel Carey. CD and Vinyl editions expected later.
April 25, 2025
Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra: Still Blooming
(Decca - new on CD/digital/vinyl)
Goldblum on piano is joined by guest vocalists Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Scarlett Johansson and Maiya Sykes. "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)," "The Grease Patrol," "We'll Meet Again," "Blue Minor," "The Best Is Yet to Come," "Bye-Ya," "Stella By Starlight," "Bouncing with Bud," "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye."
Swept Away
(Joy Machine Records - new on CD/vinyl)
OBC recording of score by The Avett Brothers (book by John Logan). Cast includes John Gallagher, Jr., Stark Sands, Adrian Blake Enscoe, Wayne Duvall. "Prelude," "The Charnel House," "Go to Sleep," "Hard Worker (Part 1)," "Nothing Short of Thankful," "Hard Worker (Part 2)," "Swept Away," "Lord Lay Your Hand on My Shoulder," "Ain't No Man," "May It Last," "Murder in the City," "The Shipwreck," "A Gift for Melody Anne," "Through My Prayers," "Two Tableaux," "Satan Pulls the Strings," "No Hard Feelings" (now available), "Go to Sleep (Reprise)," "Finale." Produced by Brian Usifer, Chris Miller, Will Van Dyke, and Madison Wells Live. Digital version released earlier.
May 2, 2025
Once Upon a Mattress
(Center Stage Records / Shout! Broadway - new on CD)
2024 Broadway revival cast recording of score by Mary Rodgers (music) and Marshall Barer (lyrics). The cast includes Sutton Foster, Michael Urie, Nikki Renée Daniels, David Patrick Kelly, Ana Gasteyer, Will Chase, Daniel Breaker, and Brooks Ashmanskas. Produced by Amy Sherman-Palladino, Adam Guettel, Lawrence Manchester, and Jenny Gersten. Executive produced by Van Dean for Center Stage Records and Douglas Denoff for Shout! Broadway. Digital released earlier.
May 6, 2025
God and the Angel: Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier's Tour De Force of Australia and New Zealand
(Melbourne Books - Hardcover Book)
By Shiroma Nathan. First illustrated book on the 1948 Old Vic Tour of Australia and New Zealand led by Olivier and Leigh. Written from an Australian perspective and utilising never-before published photos from the National Library and author' s collection, it diarises a theatrical tour amidst a tense postwar context. 256 pages.
Theater Kid: A Broadway Memoir
(Simon & Schuster - Hardcover Book/Kindle Edition)
A coming-of-age tale by theatrical producer Jeffrey Seller. From Detroit to New York City, finding his voice through musical theatre and making a name for himself. Through the 1980s, from working as an office assistant to Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights and Hamilton. 368 pages.
May 13, 2025
Stereophonic
(Theatre Communications Group - Paperback Book)
Play by David Adjmi (songs by Will Butler). On Broadway this season. 160 pages.
May 20, 2025
The Book of Joel
(powerHouse Books - Hardcover Book)
By Joel Grey. The visual life story of Joel Grey: actor, singer, dancer, director, and photographer. This sprawling yet intimate scrapbook-style volume uncovers a kaleidoscope of both famous and previously unseen photographs, family snapshots, playbills, posters, and ephemera from Grey's personal archive, revealing an encyclopedic and all-absorbing visual romp through one of the last living greats of American entertainment. Excavated from Grey's personal archives and the treasure trove of his New York Public Library collection. Also included: intimate essays contributed by Eddie Redmayne Tony Kushner. 176 pages.
May 23, 2025
Theater after Film
(Univ of Chicago Press - Hardcover/Paperback Book)
By Martin Harries. Argues that after 1945, as cinema became omnipresent in popular culture, theater had to respond to cinema's hegemony. Postwar theatrical experiment, Harries shows, often channeled and represented film's mass cultural force, while knowing that it could never possess that force. Throughout the book, Harries brings critical theory into contact with theories of performance. Although Theater after Film treats the theatrical work of many figures, its central focus falls on Tennessee Williams, Samuel Beckett, and Adrienne Kennedy. 304 pages.
June (no release date)
Alan Harris: The Poetry of Jazz
(new album)
Singer/musician/writer Alan Harris. From his live show in which he performs through music and recitation, literary masterpieces. With John Di Martino (piano), Jay White (bass), Sylvia Cuenca (drums), and Alan Grubner (violin). Recorded live at Blue Llama Jazz Club, Ann Arbor MI. AllanHarris.com
September 2, 2025
Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Puzzles and Games of the Broadway Legend
(Applause - Hardcover Book)
Gaming expert and theatre fan Barry Joseph draws from over eighty years of Sondheim's activities, collecting his extremely rare and never-publicly-seen puzzles and game designs, original interviews with the celebrity friends who played them, deep dives into Sondheim-related archives from around the country, and analysis from both puzzle designers and theatre professionals from around the world. Allows readers to solve Sondheimian puzzles and bring Sondheimian games into their own homes. 208 pages. MatchingMindswithSondheim.com.
2026, date TBA
Liza Minnelli memoir
(Grand Central Publishing - new Hardcover book/ebook)
Liza Minnelli, with Michael Feinstein, Heidi Evans, and Josh Getlin. Audio edition will include bonus content with unreleased autobiographical recordings and musings that Minnelli and Feinstein have been working on for 15 years.
Release date unknown
Boop! The Musical
(new album)
Cast recording the score by David Foster and Susan Birkenhead of musical (book by Bob Martin) now playing at CIBC Theatre in Chicago. Cast includes Jasmine Amy Rogers, Faith Prince, Ainsley Melham, Erich Bergen, Stephen DeRosa. Recorded the week of November 12. Details TBA.
Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band
(new double album)
First recording from this band, which "puts both modern and classic showtunes on display, sung by the best and brightest of Broadway's young generation of leading performers, in the timeless tradition of Big Band. A full sized Jazz orchestra composed of 17 musicians play Rosen's re-imagined arrangements of an eclectic mix of tunes from Broadway's past, present, and beyond."
Complete Lyrics of Sheldon Harnick
(new book)
Empire: The Musical
(Yellow Sound Label - new album)
Original Off-Broadway cast recording of score by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull. Produced by Michael Croiter. Recorded at PowerStation at BerkleeNYC. Release date TBA.
The Fantasticks
(JAY Records - new album)
Studio album recording of score by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones. Brad Oscar, Telly Leung, Elizabeth Teeter, Lewis Cleale, and Ron Raines.
The Fitzgeralds of St. Paul
(Brainstorm Live Entertainment - new album)
Concept album for score by Christie Baugher. Heidi Blickenstaff, Jewell Wilson Bridges, Jessica and Santino Fontana, Grace McLean, Shannon O'Boyle, Tiffany Topol, Alysha Umphress, and others. Fate unknown as Kickstarter was unsuccessful.
Harbinger Records upcoming releases: material from Eubie Blake; download only demos of Hugh Martin and Sheldon Harnick; Steve Ross' back catalog for download;
The Jerusalem Syndrome
(JAY Records - new on CD/digital)
Original Off-Broadway (2023 York Theatre Company) cast recording of score by Laurence Holzman, Felicia Needleman, and Kyle Rosen.Farah Alvin, Dana Costello, Scott Cote, Andrea Fleming, James D. Gish, Alan H. Green, Danielle Lee James, John Jellison, Josh Lamon, Garrett Long, Karen Murphy, Jeffrey Schecter, Jennifer Smith, Chandler Sinks, Pablo Torres, Curtis Wiley, Lenny Wolpe, and Laura Woyasz. Digital release expected in January 2024 and CD in March 2024.
Jo - The Little Women Musical
(Center Stage Records - new album)
Studio concept album for musical by Dan Redfeld (music), Christina Harding (book and lyrics) and John Gabriel Koladziej (book and lyrics). Christine Allado, Laura Benanti, Christine Ebersole, Eleanor Grant, Bob Gunton, Rob Houchen, Chris Mann, Kelly Mathieson, Miyuki Miyagi, Julian Ovenden, Sophie Pollono, Liam Tamne, Tobias Turley and 29-piece orchestra. Produced by Nigel Wright and Dan Redfeld. Recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios.
Lizard Boy
(new album)
Live recording of 2023 Prospect Theatre cast. Score by Justin Huertas. Cast features Huertas, Kiki deLohr, and William A. Williams. Release date TBA.
Love Life
(Capriccio - new album)
Live recording of Opera North of Leeds concert recording of score by Kurt Weill (music), Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics). Book by Lerner. The first "complete" recording. To be broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and subsequently released on CD. James Holmes, conductor. Quirijn de Lang, Stephanie Corley, Justin Hopkins, Themba Mvula, Will Hopkins, Joshua Da Costa, Andrew Randall, Masimba Ushe, Holly Saw, Max Westwell, Tilly Baker, Louie Stow, Felicity Moore, Amber Midgley, and Lottie Gray. Release date TBA
Maybe Happy Ending
(Ghostlight Records - new album)
OBC recording of score by Will Aronson and Hue Park. Darren Criss, Helen J Shen, Dez Duron and Marcus Choi. Spring 2025 release date expected.
The Nutty Professor
(new album)
Studio recording of score by Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes. Based on the recent Ogunquit Playhouse staging of the musical based on the Jerry Lewis movie.. Cast TBA. 2024 release expected.
Paradise Square OBC
(new on CD/digital)
Broadway cast recording of score Jason Howland (music), Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare (lyrics), with additional music by Larry Kirwan, inspired by the songs of Stephen Foster. Joaquina Kalukango, Chilina Kennedy, John Dossett, Sidney DuPont, A.J. Shively, Nathaniel Stampley, Gabrielle McClinton, Jacob Fishel, Kevin Dennis and Matt Bogart. Produced by Jason Howland and Billy Jay Stein. Recorded at Power Station at BerkleeNYC during the weeks of April 18 and April 25.
Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn
(Yellow Sound Label - new album)
Off-Broadway cast recording. Nikita Burshteyn (Newsies), Anna Kostakis, Carlos Lopez (Man of La Mancha), Michael Marotta (Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical), Judy McLane (Mamma Mia!), Michael Notardonato, Ari Raskin, Troy Valjean Rucker (August Rush), Zach Schanne (Pippin), and Viet Vo (Viet Gone). Lyrics by Mark Saltzman and music adapted from classic Italian melodies. Recorded 2/18/20. Late March release expected.
The Sound of Music
(Disney - new in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray)
For its 60th anniversary, a newly restored and remastered version of the 1965 musical film, score by Rodgers & Hammerstein. Screenplay by Ernest Lehman based on Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse's book. Directed by Robert Wise. Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer lead the cast. Screenings of the restored version will also be presented globally.
Tammy Faye
(new album)
Music by Elton John; lyrics by Jake Shears. Cast from Almeida Theatre debut production. Details TBA.
This Side of the World
(new album)
East West Players cast recording of score by Paulo K Tiról.
Welcome to the Big Dipper
(new album)
York Theatre Company cast recording of score by Jimmy Roberts (book by Catherine Filloux and John Daggett), with additional lyrics by John Daggett. Jennifer Byrne, Robert Cuccioli, Darius Harper, Jillian Louis, Christian Magby, Mia Pinero, Jayae Riley, Jr., Pablo Torres, Debra M. Walton, and Michael Yeshion.