First-Ever iTunes 'Digital Exclusive Release' Set for a Broadway Original Cast Album
Rock Musical PASSING STRANGE Confirmed for May 27th via Digital Download; Brick and Mortar Retail to Follow in July
“Truly Unlike Anything You've Seen on Broadway" (USA Today)
The acclaimed rock musical PASSING STRANGE will be the first-ever Broadway show to get a 'Digital Exclusive Release' via iTunes, as Ghostlight Records confirms a May 27th download date for the Original Cast Recording. Brick and Mortar retail availability is planned for July.
The Original Cast Album of the celebrated production was recorded in front of a live audience, in a dynamic recording session on stage at the Belasco Theatre. Sh-K- Boom/Ghostlight Records President Kurt Deutsch and Bill Rosenfield served as Executive Producers for the OCR, with PASSING STRANGE co-creators Stew and Heidi Rodewald as the CD's Producers. The CD was mixed by Britt Myers, and recorded by Frank Fillipetti.
Ghostlight Records is committed to bringing the music of the 'New Broadway' to a contemporary audience, using modern technology, innovative marketing and artist involvement. The digital release of PASSING STRANGE puts Ghostlight on the vanguard of interacting with the next generation of Broadway music consumers. Kurt Deutsch said: “We finished mastering the album yesterday, and wanted to get the music to fans as quickly as we could. With the technology that exists today, we're able to do that."
Read the VARIETY write-up: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985470.html? categoryid=1009&cs=1
ABOUT THE PASSING STRANGE OCR: On April 14th, lucky fans of PASSING STRANGE had the opportunity to be part of a rare event on Broadway, when the cast, band and creators of the show performed the songs in a bare-bones recording session -- no lights, no set, no costumes, no scenes from the play -- on the stage of the Belasco Theatre where the musical has been playing to enthusiastic audiences since it began previews in early February.
TRACK LISTING: 1. PROLOGUE (We Might Play All Night) 2. BAPTIST FASHION SHOW 3. CHURCH BLUES REVELATION /FREIGHT TRAIN 4. ARLINGTON HILL 5. SOLE BROTHER 6. MUST HAVE BEEN HIGH 7. MOM SONG 8. MERCI BEAUCOUP, M. GODARD 9. AMSTERDAM 10. KEYS (Marianna) 11. KEYS (It's Alright) 12. WE JUST HAD SEX 13. STONED 14. BERLIN: A BLACK HOLE WITH TAXIS 15. MAY DAY (There's A Riot Goin' Down) 16. WHAT'S INSIDE IS JUST A LIE /AND NOW I'M READY TO EXPLODE 17. IDENTITY 18. THE BLACK ONE 19. COME DOWN NOW 20. YOUTH'S UNFINISHED SONG 21. WORK THE WOUND 22. PASSING PHASE 23. CUE MUSIC 24. LOVE LIKE THAT Music Coordinator: Seymour Red Press
Prior to the recording session, Stew said: “A live recording session of PASSING STRANGE will be a wildly unique event." “More than just a live show document or a studio recording, we are aiming for a freaky hybrid of the two. The audience will be in on the process, witnessing it. Heidi Rodewald and I have always tried to bring the spontaneity of live performance into our studio recordings. But now, through the magic of theater, the studio is coming to the Belasco. And that's a lot more convenient than trying to fit several hundred people onto those black leather sofas in a recording studio."
With book and lyrics by the popular singer/songwriter Stew, and with music by Stew and his longtime musical partner Heidi Rodewald, PASSING STRANGE is directed by and created in collaboration with Annie Dorsen. PASSING STRANGE is the first musical by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, best-known for their rock-and-roll music since 2000 when they formed the band STEW, promptly winning two Album of the Year Awards from Entertainment Weekly for their acclaimed works “Guest Host" and “The Naked Dutch Painter." Previously in 1995, Stew had formed the band The Negro Problem.
PASSING STRANGE is the coming-of-age story of a middle-class youth seeking to find 'the real' by embarking on a journey of escape and exploration: he leaves the confines of his upbringing and discovers that the further he travels the more it is that the voyage within is the one that counts.
The PASSING STRANGE recording features the original Broadway cast: de'Adre Aziza, Daniel Breaker, Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo, Chad Goodridge, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Stew, himself, as well as the band of musicians, who join the cast on-stage at the Belasco Theatre each night, including the musical's co-creator Heidi Rodewald, along with Jon Spurney, Christian Cassan and Christian Gibbs.
PASSING STRANGE opened on Broadway on February 28, 2008 at the Belasco Theatre to such rave reviews as: “Bursting at the seams with melodic songs. I'll just call it wonderful" (New York Times); PASSING STRANGE “is truly unlike anything you've seen on Broadway" (USA Today); “ a brilliant work" (The New Yorker); “The music gives the show a freshness that runs an easy gamut from rock to jazz, blues, punk, pop, funk, gospel and show tunes," (Dan's Paper); “PASSING STRANGE is a magical mystery tour." (Variety)
PASSING STRANGE performs Tuesdays at 7pm; Wednesdays - Saturdays at 8pm; Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2pm; and Sundays at 3pm at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) on Broadway.
ABOUT GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS: Sh-K-Boom Records and its imprint Ghostlight Records is a Grammy-nominated record label, a producer of recorded and live entertainment, and an interactive community at www.sh-k-boom.com, and www.ghostlightrecords.com. Since being founded seven years ago by Kurt Deutsch and Sherie Rene Scott, Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight is the leading producer of Original Broadway and Off Broadway cast albums, and solo recordings by the new generation of Broadway stars and composers. Their winning philosophy has been to work in close partnership with performers and producers, to create product that comes from directly within the community of Broadway artists. With over 50 albums in their catalogue, titles include: The Smash Broadway Hit Legally Blonde, Grammy and Tony Nominated Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Grammy nominated and Tony Winning The Drowsy Chaperone, Grammy nominated and Tony Winning The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the Grammy nominated all-star benefit recording of Hair for The Actors' Fund of America, as well as The Last 5 Years, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Bright Lights, Big City (with Patrick Wilson and Jesse L. Martin), and Michael John LaChiusa's See What I Wanna See and Bernarda Alba. Solo Artists include: Patti LuPone, Billy Porter, Jason Robert Brown, Christine Ebersole, Adam Pascal (original star of Rent), Sherie Rene Scott (star of Aida and The Little Mermaid), and Kelli O'Hara's debut solo album, Wonder in the World. In June, Ghostlight will release the double-CD OCR of In The Heights.
Rock Musical PASSING STRANGE Confirmed for May 27th via Digital Download; Brick and Mortar Retail to Follow in July
“Truly Unlike Anything You've Seen on Broadway" (USA Today)
The acclaimed rock musical PASSING STRANGE will be the first-ever Broadway show to get a 'Digital Exclusive Release' via iTunes, as Ghostlight Records confirms a May 27th download date for the Original Cast Recording. Brick and Mortar retail availability is planned for July.
The Original Cast Album of the celebrated production was recorded in front of a live audience, in a dynamic recording session on stage at the Belasco Theatre. Sh-K- Boom/Ghostlight Records President Kurt Deutsch and Bill Rosenfield served as Executive Producers for the OCR, with PASSING STRANGE co-creators Stew and Heidi Rodewald as the CD's Producers. The CD was mixed by Britt Myers, and recorded by Frank Fillipetti.
Ghostlight Records is committed to bringing the music of the 'New Broadway' to a contemporary audience, using modern technology, innovative marketing and artist involvement. The digital release of PASSING STRANGE puts Ghostlight on the vanguard of interacting with the next generation of Broadway music consumers. Kurt Deutsch said: “We finished mastering the album yesterday, and wanted to get the music to fans as quickly as we could. With the technology that exists today, we're able to do that."
Read the VARIETY write-up: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985470.html? categoryid=1009&cs=1
ABOUT THE PASSING STRANGE OCR: On April 14th, lucky fans of PASSING STRANGE had the opportunity to be part of a rare event on Broadway, when the cast, band and creators of the show performed the songs in a bare-bones recording session -- no lights, no set, no costumes, no scenes from the play -- on the stage of the Belasco Theatre where the musical has been playing to enthusiastic audiences since it began previews in early February.
TRACK LISTING: 1. PROLOGUE (We Might Play All Night) 2. BAPTIST FASHION SHOW 3. CHURCH BLUES REVELATION /FREIGHT TRAIN 4. ARLINGTON HILL 5. SOLE BROTHER 6. MUST HAVE BEEN HIGH 7. MOM SONG 8. MERCI BEAUCOUP, M. GODARD 9. AMSTERDAM 10. KEYS (Marianna) 11. KEYS (It's Alright) 12. WE JUST HAD SEX 13. STONED 14. BERLIN: A BLACK HOLE WITH TAXIS 15. MAY DAY (There's A Riot Goin' Down) 16. WHAT'S INSIDE IS JUST A LIE /AND NOW I'M READY TO EXPLODE 17. IDENTITY 18. THE BLACK ONE 19. COME DOWN NOW 20. YOUTH'S UNFINISHED SONG 21. WORK THE WOUND 22. PASSING PHASE 23. CUE MUSIC 24. LOVE LIKE THAT Music Coordinator: Seymour Red Press
Prior to the recording session, Stew said: “A live recording session of PASSING STRANGE will be a wildly unique event." “More than just a live show document or a studio recording, we are aiming for a freaky hybrid of the two. The audience will be in on the process, witnessing it. Heidi Rodewald and I have always tried to bring the spontaneity of live performance into our studio recordings. But now, through the magic of theater, the studio is coming to the Belasco. And that's a lot more convenient than trying to fit several hundred people onto those black leather sofas in a recording studio."
With book and lyrics by the popular singer/songwriter Stew, and with music by Stew and his longtime musical partner Heidi Rodewald, PASSING STRANGE is directed by and created in collaboration with Annie Dorsen. PASSING STRANGE is the first musical by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, best-known for their rock-and-roll music since 2000 when they formed the band STEW, promptly winning two Album of the Year Awards from Entertainment Weekly for their acclaimed works “Guest Host" and “The Naked Dutch Painter." Previously in 1995, Stew had formed the band The Negro Problem.
PASSING STRANGE is the coming-of-age story of a middle-class youth seeking to find 'the real' by embarking on a journey of escape and exploration: he leaves the confines of his upbringing and discovers that the further he travels the more it is that the voyage within is the one that counts.
The PASSING STRANGE recording features the original Broadway cast: de'Adre Aziza, Daniel Breaker, Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo, Chad Goodridge, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Stew, himself, as well as the band of musicians, who join the cast on-stage at the Belasco Theatre each night, including the musical's co-creator Heidi Rodewald, along with Jon Spurney, Christian Cassan and Christian Gibbs.
PASSING STRANGE opened on Broadway on February 28, 2008 at the Belasco Theatre to such rave reviews as: “Bursting at the seams with melodic songs. I'll just call it wonderful" (New York Times); PASSING STRANGE “is truly unlike anything you've seen on Broadway" (USA Today); “ a brilliant work" (The New Yorker); “The music gives the show a freshness that runs an easy gamut from rock to jazz, blues, punk, pop, funk, gospel and show tunes," (Dan's Paper); “PASSING STRANGE is a magical mystery tour." (Variety)
PASSING STRANGE performs Tuesdays at 7pm; Wednesdays - Saturdays at 8pm; Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2pm; and Sundays at 3pm at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) on Broadway.
ABOUT GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS: Sh-K-Boom Records and its imprint Ghostlight Records is a Grammy-nominated record label, a producer of recorded and live entertainment, and an interactive community at www.sh-k-boom.com, and www.ghostlightrecords.com. Since being founded seven years ago by Kurt Deutsch and Sherie Rene Scott, Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight is the leading producer of Original Broadway and Off Broadway cast albums, and solo recordings by the new generation of Broadway stars and composers. Their winning philosophy has been to work in close partnership with performers and producers, to create product that comes from directly within the community of Broadway artists. With over 50 albums in their catalogue, titles include: The Smash Broadway Hit Legally Blonde, Grammy and Tony Nominated Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Grammy nominated and Tony Winning The Drowsy Chaperone, Grammy nominated and Tony Winning The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the Grammy nominated all-star benefit recording of Hair for The Actors' Fund of America, as well as The Last 5 Years, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Bright Lights, Big City (with Patrick Wilson and Jesse L. Martin), and Michael John LaChiusa's See What I Wanna See and Bernarda Alba. Solo Artists include: Patti LuPone, Billy Porter, Jason Robert Brown, Christine Ebersole, Adam Pascal (original star of Rent), Sherie Rene Scott (star of Aida and The Little Mermaid), and Kelli O'Hara's debut solo album, Wonder in the World. In June, Ghostlight will release the double-CD OCR of In The Heights.
For more information contact Seth Cohen PR.
