Best of Broadway

With the Tony Awards coming upon us this Sunday, I thought it would be a good time to post this.

That said, I have no idea precisely what "this" is -- but I'm sure glad it exists.  It's just identified as "1984 Tony Awards The Musicals."  So, that would suggest is a production number that took place during...well, the 1984 Tony Awards.  Except this isn't a mere "production number" -- it's 32 minutes!  That's like a separate show.  Except it's too look for a half-hour slot and not long enough for an hour show.

So...maybe it is just one bejeepers of a production number during the middle of the Tony's.  It's a salute to Kander & Ebb, Stephen Sondheim and Jerry Herman, and features an impressive range of wonderful performers, including Robert Preston, Julie Andrews, Carol Channing, Tony Roberts and a whole lot more.

Many of the performers are singing songs made famous by others.  But several recreate their own classic songs.  George Hearn belts out a phenomenal "I Am What I Am" from La Cage aux Folles (albeit tastefully in a tux, rather than his gown in the show), Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon bring back their famous "Nowadays" from Chicago, Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters re-create a number from their Mack & Mabel (although it looks like Ms. Peters couldn't make it for the show, and they recorded her earlier), and a few others.

It's a fairly good collection of songs.  A lot are just snippets, but many are sung in their entirety.  (A couple are odd choices, for my taste.)  You will either be bowled over by the wildly energetic Dorothy Loudon in two numbers, or think the scenery could do with a little less chewing.  I really like her -- but not as much here.  Basically, I get the sense that she's auditioning for The Dorothy Loudon Show.  But she sure is enthusiastic.

Overall, this is a real treat.  It comes in three separate videos, but they should run seamlessly together.