Music and Comedy

My memory of chatting with the late Howard Kissel

2012-02-25T10:33:00.000-08:00

I got a chance to have a brief exchange with Howard Kissel, because I was doing a Stritch-Walter Kerr spoof of the Kerr-Stritch work on GOLDILOCKS, and the spoof was going to be about all the critics showing up to see Stritch in NIGHT MUSIC at the Kerr theatre. I'd run into a friend of Howard Kissel's totally by chance, as the friend was (accidentally) my job search counselor at Unemployment, and I was able to drop her name in contacting Howard.

Long story short, even though he'd been ill, he turned out to be OK with my including a parodic reference to his trademark hairstyle, and that's at 38 seconds in here. Extremely brief Howard Kissel reference, but I'd had the fun of getting to have brief chats with him, and a fond memory.

WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE'LL SEE BEN (a/k/a WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE'LL SEE CHUCK, maybe too familiar, but it's the characters of Walter Kerr and Elaine Stritch who are "singing" that in this I NEVER KNOW WHEN TO SAY WHEN parody, not me!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru1H03Qaz1g

Isn't it long since time for an all-Adele jukebox parody musical?

2012-02-11T20:09:00.001-08:00

LOL! So much parody-worthy Adele drama in under a week!

[THIS POST UPDATED FEBRUARY 22, 2012]

Adele "Rolling in the Dough" Grammy parody about the CBS ad people pushing her, at link below :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGh6OqPif0M

Also, one of Adele's ex-boyfriends responds - ROLLING IN THE DEEP parody #2 (SHE'S CALLING ME A CREEP)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZryfFrMmjM

And the drama of that famous airbrushed, photoshopped Vogue cover - with an attempt at the indie vocal style :) of Adele's ex, Slinky Sunbeam (the ex she's still on good terms with)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN_oexA7W-g

Mitt Romney preps for karaoke in Vegas as the EYE OF THE TIGER writer from supergroup Survivor sues Newt Gingrich for using the song at rallies

2012-02-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

Mitt - Newt - EYE OF THE TIGER parody - THE IRE OF SURVIVOR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxQ100IzJuU

from ROMNEY II - the lost ROCKY spoof

A parody to tune of La Vie En Rose, as Edith Piaf gets a postage stamp

2012-01-29T19:44:00.000-08:00

Piaf postage stamp parody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5Z6iz4jPsw

Parody of DON'T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY on Petula Clark's anticipated (but - to me - expensive!) return to NYC at Feinstein's

2012-01-22T06:05:00.000-08:00

My dear neighbor Sheree Sano sang my Petula Clark DON'T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY PARODY, so naturally I put it on YouTube - it's one joke, but with the Subway chain being in the news about their recent product placements, I figured what-the-heck and YouTubed it:

PARODY "CELEBRATING" PETULA'S HIGH-PRICED :) APPEARANCE AT FEINSTEIN's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WQiQ9FhEBI

New for Valentine's Day: My non-parody original theater songs, "Is It Mushy to Say I Love You" with 70,000 views and "Another Christmas" (after-Christmas ballad) over 40,000 views - feel free to use in your acts and performances!

2012-01-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

IS IT MUSHY TO SAY I LOVE YOU? - my music, with lyric by Hunter Prillaman, quirky love song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZZfjTLHl1s

A traditional power ballad music & lyric by me, ANOTHER CHRISTMAS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfenKQ7sj1E

In the show it was written for, it's sung in the first months of the New Year looking back, yearning for the love felt at Christmas time to be here again;

Also, BROOKLYN BOY show tune, newly updated video on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiQRDVKvf5Q

Not worthy of its own entry, but in the strange coincidence department, some of you who read here may remember that the person who went by the name vic from the That's All Chat board is - according to the folks at Talkin Broadway - named JEFF BROOKS. Well, I was just going through boxes in the storage bin from my first apartment in New York and found a scrap of paper on which was handwritten JEFF BROOKS WORK PHONE 382-3*** (numbers left out because they should be, and this was before NYC has many area codes). Fascinating that I'd kept this name and number, but hoping it's just a coincidence that it's the same name - and that it's not the same person.

Hollywood Gown Golden Globes 2012 - the "Madonna-Elton John feud" edition

2012-01-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

Hollywood Gown Golden Globes 2012 - based on Harriet Schock's "Hollywood Town"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9tZwsJKa6M

Hoping the Madonna-Elton John "feud" over the Golden Globes Best Song award is just a phony publicity stunt, since it just seems so silly, but the public battle is featured in our thumbs-down spot in this year's Golden Globes "Hollywood Gown" rundown

- also featuring a glamorous glimpse (thumbs-up all the way, of course!) of one of the most exciting people I had the privilege of first meeting in 2011 (and even getting to help out just a little bit on her and my dear friend Harriet Schock's reading "Last of the Bad Girls" at the Actors Studio in June): the amazing Diane Ladd, who is as effervescent and delightful in person as she always seems on stage and camera. So much fun to have a chance to include Diane Ladd (and Laura Dern) in a number that takes off on Harriet's wonderful "Hollywood Town."

Also, in other NBC news, it seems like we YouTube-spoofed the Betty-White-as-Mame tribute on the Monday night 90th birthday special, and had done it it over a year BEFORE the real Betty/Mame tribute was done. :)

Betty White as Great-Auntie Mame - the parody from May 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ados3loEZBs

An ode to a fave mispronunciation of Downton Abbey

2012-01-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

This may be the silly first in a silly series - or maybe not. I've just been enjoying the various ways people have been having fun with the name DOWNTON ABBEY, so I set one of those mis-hearings to music.

"DOWNTOWN ABBY / UPTOWN ANN LANDERS" THEME SONG ON YOUTUBE - music & lyric by me; I tried to put Abby & Ann Landers' faces on the actual Downton Abbey cast, but the result was so pointless that i couldn't justify parodic fair use of the scenes from the show :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7n2P2CIFBM

Songs from "Tangled Webs," which is based on one of my stories (songs sung by Rebecca Luker

2011-12-31T09:15:00.000-08:00

2 SONGS SUNG BY REBECCA LUKER,

SINGING THE ROLE OF "JEANINE" FROM "TANGLED WEBS" -

Book by Bill Connington, Music by Skip Kennon. Lyrics by Ellen M. Schwartz,

adapted from the story "WebCast" by Fred Landau

And I'll Seal It With a Kiss - sung by Rebecca Luker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYyjCvAxyUQ

Flying (in a Starry Sky) - sung by Rebecca Luker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LkAoRbwkO0

Also, a song sung by Jeanine's love interest, Aaron:

YOU DON'T SEE ME - sung by Ric Ryder, singing as "Aaron"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLivoWGuUD4

If anyone's looking for holiday material...

2011-12-05T01:47:00.000-08:00

If anyone's looking for material for the holiday season's cabaret and holiday show performances:

Here's ALL THE KRINGLE LADIES: PUT FIVE GOLDEN RINGS ON IT, a parody of SINGLE LADIES - parody sung here by Leenya Rideout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxPxWRC6AWk

A sincere (non-parody) power ballad ANOTHER CHRISTMAS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfenKQ7sj1E

For Marys everywhere - A BRAND NEW MARY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJnyexTjcgM

And because it's so topical for holiday traveling, here's FLY ME IN THE NUDE about the full-body airline scanners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn3AcCmPL00

Feel free to use any of these this holiday season. If you do, all I ask is that you just let me know how the song goes over.

It's Not Delusional - Parody of Darren Criss IT'S NOT UNUSUAL

2011-11-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

Parody of Darren Criss' recording and video of IT'S NOT UNUSUAL - as the Gleek Chorus wishes the best to Darren Criss and Lea Michele and the cast of GLEE for a jump-start in their ratings (and, we hope, their musical theater bankability)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6t8MQNPmAs

Parody based on Hugh Jackman's Broadway show & what people need to do to get really good seats

2011-10-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

"I Go To Rio" parody / parodying the sales on the Hugh Jackman Bway show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPa84ySiryA

Musical by some family & friends timed to the Occupy Wall Street protests; very much like a modern Cradle Will Rock in many exciting ways.

2011-10-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

"Reckless Endangerment, a citizen's plea for the promise of America" -- on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNdxw9-wfdY

This is an eight-minute musical film. I hope it's a pilot for a larger musical stage or film project, but it stands beautifully on its own.

Here's the Hollywood Gown Emmys 2011 edition

2011-09-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here's the Hollywood Gown for the Emmys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Rpk846HR4

Rodgers & Hart parody -parody of John Doyle's new show, looking likely to be a NY smash when it gets here

2011-08-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

Parody of IT NEVER ENTERED MY MIND - as the actor/musicians reportedly get paid for both roles when they do both

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtFGyZGDDCM

With Gov. Mark Sanford back in the news & giving interviews

2011-08-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

Revisiting our NOTHIN' COULD BE FINER THAN TO LEAVE SOUTH CAROLINA parody about the itinerant governor who claimed to have been hiking along the Appalachian Trail (but was actually in Argentina) back in summer 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAFeLTchV8c

Sesame Street Gay Wedding controversy :)

2011-08-12T10:28:00.001-07:00

That Katy Perry "controversy" for SESAME STREET last year, the "Bert and Ernie gay wedding controversy" this year.

These controversies must be good for SESAME STREET ratings, right?

GETTING HITCHED ON SESAME STREET - my parody take

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM9EHE3EjDE

Vascillating Rhythm, or Oh Yes We Can Take That Away from You: Gershwin heirs allow changes, a look back

2011-08-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

Just in fun, not 100% sure what I think about this issue, but so much intelligent conversation about this issue today:

The Gershwins' ghosts kvetching about their heirs allowing changes
SOMEONE TO WATCH OUR ESTATE - updating our "parody chat" with George and Ira Gershwin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF8tBUVE24E

Living EVITA Loca - an audio parody preview, because suddenly, everyone's talking EVITA instead of FUNNY GIRL

2011-08-09T06:22:00.000-07:00

I was planning a full "Living La Vida Loca" parody on Ricky Martin's casting for the fall (I think he'll do a great job with the role, even if his fans will buy tickets for hotness reasons) - but decided to put out this UNMIXED audio preview since suddenly "everyone" is talking EVITA because of the show's casting announcement yesterday.

LIVING EVITA LOCA - UNMIXED AUDIO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO_9RahIuAM

Parody based on Lauren Ambrose casting as Fanny Brice, and the much-talked-about Marilyn Michaels NY Times blog item this morning

2011-08-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

I'D RATHER A JEW OVER YOU (parody of I'd Rather Be Blue Over You)

suggested by the NY Times blog item (on FUNNY GIRL casting Lauren Ambrose) by the legendary Marilyn Michaels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2w4qioo5Jg

The sing-along parody lyrics are in the "More info" on the YouTube screen!

In honor of the new documentary "Sarah Palin -You Betcha" debuting in Toronto in Sept.

2011-08-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

You may only want to watch this if you like laughing at Sarah Palin instead of with her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IGmbd3PDA4

Revisiting a parody from Fred Landau & Jan Horvath (a so-called rogue-umentary)

Parody of Carly Simon's "You're So Vain"

On A Clear Day - some affectionate parody videos

2011-07-31T07:11:00.000-07:00

("Alan Jay Lerner" goes from mellow and nervous at

Vassar tryout to excited at Vineyard)

"CLEAR DAY" song parody- jazz-inflected version to honor the revisal's plot;

Seen & Interred: "Donna K" with ecstatic Alan Jay Lerner & Burton Lane on Vineyard

Theatre elevator (kidding the beloved NY1 "Scene and Heard" segment just a little bit)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of_VHtZh4bQ

For the earlier WHAT DID I HAVE THAT I DON'T HAVE parody,
see Youtube link at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt9VtE_1TY8

- Alan Jay Lerner's ghost's reactions to the Vassar tryout last summer

Trying something unusual on friends' advice: link to my entry on a music submission site

2011-07-28T05:01:00.000-07:00

"MusicSubmit" URL - 4 songs that seem to stand outside their contexts (?), two parodies and two non-parody ballads.

http://www.musicsubmit.com/Freddielandau

Warning: The songs start playing automatically when you click above.
HOLLYWOOD GOWN is my parody of Hollywood Town, on award red carpets, featuring Jan Horvath's vocal.
FLY ME IN THE NUDE is my topical Sinatra/airline Tharpian parody, my vocal.
ANOTHER CHRISTMAS & I LOOK INTO THOSE EYES are ballads - with music, lyric, and vocal by me.

What are the odds? Getting loads of views because people think I'm a different "Landau" than I am?

2011-07-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

Been enjoying getting loads of extra YouTube views because of people looking for YouTubes of Landau Eugene Murphy, who goes by the one-name "Landau" generally, but his FLY ME TO THE MOON vocal just the other night was eerily similar to my FLY ME IN THE NUDE parody. I know we're both doing Sinatra, but so similar, at least to these ears. The orchestrations are different, but just compare the sound of the vocals; I'd been wondering why people's emails for him were coming to me - I've just been writing back saying I'm flattered by the comparison but I'm not THAT Landau.

Landau Eugene Murphy doing FLY ME TO THE MOON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyxDEBBlaEs

Me (now the other Landau - LOL!) doing the FLY ME IN THE NUDE PARODY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn3AcCmPL00

The FLY ME IN THE NUDE parody is totally suitable to watch at work, by the way!

Hollywood Gown - Emmy season "rap" version

2011-07-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

HOLLYWOOD GOWN - anticipating-the-Emmys "parody-rap" version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WdZ6QYw8oA

July 4 tribute: recalling the John & Abigail Adams family theme

2011-07-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of 1776, hope it's OK to bring out this oldie, which assumes a working knowledge of the lyrics to "Yours Yours Yours" from "1776"

JOHN & ABIGAIL ADDAMS FAMILY theme song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bUcJKIYFyw

Thanks if you have time to include this in your July 4 celebration, (it's under 90 seconds)

Some thoughts on Brooklyn vs. Manhattan, and my "Brooklyn Boy" video link

2011-07-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

The Times had articles today on what people prefer, noise or quiet. But interestingly, the articles concentrated on Manhattan, where you really can't get away from the noise.

It occurred to me that in Brooklyn, you can find noise and excitement OR peace and quiet, depending on what you're in the mood for. I think this was even at the heart of that battle over the noise emanating from the concerts in Brooklyn's Seaside Park near Coney Island, and why people who think like Manhattan residents couldn't quite empathize with the Brooklyn residents.

Brooklyn offers you choices, noise and peace often within minutes of each other. Manhattan doesn't offer such a wide array of options. Here's an opinionated musical salute to peace of mind in Brooklyn (note, however, that I've opted not to live in Brooklyn any more, at least for now.)

BROOKLYN BOY video on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiQRDVKvf5Q

With gay marriage having just passed in New York...

2011-06-25T06:55:00.000-07:00

As all the LGBT-wedding musicals around town go into rewrites for a happier ending.... I did a quick rewrite of the verse to my LGBT musical's ending. Maybe it'll go over better with a happy ending anyway. :)

Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayrH_uvXk_0

Also, here's a YouTube link to about 10 minutes from the score:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMTk0Q8qgjk

Airline Scanners in the news again, so here's the revised "PG-rated" FLY ME IN THE NUDE

2011-06-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

Since those airport nude scanners are being talked about again, here's the revised "PG-rated" :) version of the FLY ME IN THE NUDE video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMJvlkzntBg

A couple of FOLLIES take-offs on YouTube

2011-06-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

HERE'S "I'M STILL QUEER" -COVERING 40 YEARS OF THEATRE

TO THE TUNE OF "I'M STILL HERE" -sung by Bill Parry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt40nQGc1I4

Speculating on Henry Miller’s ghost reconciling himself with the name change of the Henry Miller Theater to the Stephen Sondheim Theater - LOSING MY SIGN, tune of LOSING MY MIND from FOLLIES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phlrsBx23O0

A song written to buck up a character named Mary, but which went over as a gay pride song for some friends who performed it, so here it is

2011-06-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

A Brand New Mary - music & lyric by Fred Landau

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJnyexTjcgM

After seeing FOLLIES in D.C. - revisiting a Sondheim take-off

2011-05-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

HERE'S "I'M STILL QUEER" -COVERING 40 YEARS OF THEATRE TO THE TUNE OF "I'M STILL HERE" -sung by Bill Parry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt40nQGc1I4

As Oprah ends her show -

2011-05-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

A favorite Oprah memory: As living authors turned green with envy, Oprah Winfrey selected two Dickens novels (Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations) as her 65th Book Club selection. We gently parodied the selection through a number from perhaps the most famous Dickens musical.

AS LONG AS SHE READS ME - featuring the vocal stylings of Charles Dickens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haBeWfW-tYY

Just kidding, but an affectionate parody of this year's Kleban award $100,000 winners

2011-05-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

WHAT I DID GOT SNUBBED, parody of WHAT I DID FOR LOVE
Kleban Award 2011 parody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZn00NbxLbM

Times reports Meryl Streep to play Mme. Curie in Alan Alda play at a benefit (and here's my ELEMENTS parody video)

2011-05-10T05:14:00.000-07:00

If they ever need a scientific love song, here's my own ELEMENTS parody song (a parody of the song "Elegance" from Hello Dolly, and also with a nod to Tom Lehrer's great Elements song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yqJ4Fjxvd8

Mothers Day lead-up - kidding THE MOTHER WITH THE HAT & a KYLE'S MOM'S A B**** salute to Book of Mormon Tony noms

2011-05-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Kidding The Mother with the Hat and the possible Mother's Day confusion -
THE MOM WITH THE HAT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3LEsRfbpMk

Kyle's Mom's A B**** parody - as Kyle's Mom of South Park reacts to the Book of Mormon Tony nominations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmNU8wCzBfc

The royal wedding - crowd demands do-over for the First Royal Kiss

2011-04-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

TRIBUTE TO THE ROYAL WEDDING - parody of "IT'S IN HIS KISS" -

"IT'S THEIR FIRST KISS -The Smooch Smooch Song" (May 1 update)

studio version sung by Jan Horvath, at the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O00tb72yXVU

Parody of the Weird Al - Lady Gaga parody brouhaha

2011-04-24T17:44:00.000-07:00

Parody of the Weird Al - Lady Gaga brouhaha, now resolved with the divine Lady Gaga's manager falling on his sword. We're fans of both, but why does the brilliant Weird Al ask if he's not ready to accept "no" as an answer?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jyk-TW2eiU

A "Landau family edition" of Hollywood Gown parody

2011-04-19T04:39:00.000-07:00

A more universal version of the Hollywood Gown video, not tied to any specific red carpet event. this one is a family thing, as I got some glamor photos of family to mix in here -

HOLLYWOOD GOWN "Landau family edition" - parody of Harriet Schock's Hollywood Town

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBJiWUlpKlY

P.S. Here again is the one from 2011's series that got best response in YouTube insight info:

HOLLYWOOD GOWN - "day after the Golden Globes version"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh_Pf4zr3wc

TIMES REPORTS "HAIR" IS COMING BACK - so we're bringing back our affectionate parody as well!

2011-04-13T06:31:00.000-07:00

THE CAST OF "HAIR" INVADING THE AUDIENCE WAS A BIG STORY FOR THEATER FANS in 2009-2010, and NOW - THE TIMES REPORTS THAT THE "HAIR" REVIVAL COMING BACK FOR SUMMER 2011. SO HERE AGAIN IS OUR PARODY OF "AQUARIUS"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQQnN5liEAw

No idea why this love song we'd been promoting suddenly went from 200 to 10,000 on YouTube, but so glad people are hearing it!

2011-04-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

Right Nearby on YouTube - just a sweet uptempo love song from a show we stopped working on recently

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri92dfRHYxg

We'd been lightly promoting it since Sept 2010, but out of nowhere, people have started watching it, and we do appreciate it.

P.S. For a varied selection (about 10 songs) of my original non-parody theater songs on YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/27n954m

NY Times reports today that bones of person reputed to be Mona Lisa model may be dug up for TV

2011-04-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

Mona Lisa parody on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DoH2g1M-8o

Kidding American Idol - Casey Abrams Tribute Band Parody - "Your Song"

2011-03-31T14:23:00.000-07:00

The Casey Abrams Tribute Band (parody version), while sounding nothing like Casey, rushed out a parody of "Your Song" and the whole saving shebang!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5to1UHw5eA

Gershwins' spirits react to changes heirs are allowing

2011-03-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

Gershwin parody (their spirits react to their heirs allowing so many changes) -

Someone To Watch Our Estate :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF8tBUVE24E

P.S. Not sure why the heirs want the PORGY AND BESS changes, but since the heirs want this, at least it's in hands of people who seem most likely to respect the spirit of the work

A gentle PRISCILLA parody, only of the clever marketing, though :)

2011-03-11T06:29:00.001-08:00

PRISCILLA / BETTE MIDLER / THE ROSE parody (parody-tribute of Amanda McBroom's classic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5CCbK-Qvoc

Hollywood Gowns - Oscars Edition 2011

2011-02-28T15:18:00.000-08:00

Cheated a little using the gown that James Franco wore twice, but hard to find stuff to put in the minus column gown-wise!

HOLLYWOOD GOWN - 2011 OSCARS EDITION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Wlq-xZcxs

Why are so many people getting here through a week-old post on All That Chat?

2011-02-23T14:16:00.000-08:00

If someone can comment, I'm anxious to know: Why are so many people getting here today by way of a post from All That Chat about Cactus Flower and Forty Carats, way down on the second page there from February 15, when it's February 23 now? This has never happened before, normally ATC link referral are all from that same day or the day before. Is something going on with Cactus Flower?

and now this is coming up from more than one person:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Fred+landau+blog&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

WTF?

Are more than one person trying to do something on this site? Please email me at the AOL address dylan43rd or comment here, to assure me that nothing wrong is being done here, because it looks unlike anything that's ever happened here before.

Last weekend of the Pacino MERCHANT, so...

2011-02-20T05:22:00.000-08:00

...we bring back our most controversial video (in that it's the first time we've pretty much had to re-edit after YouTube views had built up due to a request from the show being parodied, but we did it gladly).

Al Pacino’s transfer to Broadway was big box office, so we imagine the producers trying to get him to extend

SHYLOCK, a parody of SKYLARK and the Pacino MERCHANT OF VENICE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATx9lb04HIw

Hollywood Gown Grammy Edition

2011-02-14T08:58:00.000-08:00

So much tougher than usual, lots of eccentricity which others might have loved. So if anyone has any comments at all, please let me know.

HOLLYWOOD GOWN about GRAMMY NIGHT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0odiPuYeRqE

P.S. For a varied selection (about 10 songs) of my original non-parody theater songs on YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/27n954m

Christina Aguilera National Anthem flub parody

2011-02-07T05:23:00.000-08:00

Did Christina Aguilera actually sing "At the twilight's last reaming" last night before the Super Bowl? Sure sounded like it!
Christina Aguilera Star Spangled Banner parody - founding fathers watch and react (all in fun)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfRlhLXFytg

We love her - but this moment just cried out for parody.

Some folks asked about NON-PARODY songs & about HAPPIEST OF TIMES, which I mention in my bio (well, only 4 people asked, but)...

2011-02-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

Here are four of the songs (audio) on YouTube from THE HAPPIEST OF TIMES at this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwHp2AycSJY

One of the workshop panelists called the musical "a gay I DO! I DO!" so if that doesn't sound like something you want to hear right now... Thanks if you have time to listen! (it's about 9 minutes of material from the musical)

If anyone's interested, a varied menu selection (about 10 songs) of my original Non-Parody theater songs on YouTube is at

http://tinyurl.com/27n954m

Honoring All That Chat's 14th anniversary; also new link for LAST STARFIGHTER photos, liner notes, sound clips

2011-02-02T17:42:00.000-08:00

We bring back our NOTHING MAKES ME GLADDER THAN TO BE AN ALL-THAT-CHATTER IN THE MORNING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iahkfqVVUD4

Also: New links for Last Starfighter Storm Theatre photos, notes, etc.

Bruce Kimmel, whose Kritzerland label did our original cast album,  
has put some photos and our liner notes on the Kritzerland site.

The page with LAST STARFIGHTER sound clips and quotes about the show  
and the Kritzerland original cast album is at this link
http://kritzerland.com/starfighter.htm

Photos of the Storm Theatre production are at this link
http://kritzerland.com/starfighter_pix.htm

Some descriptive info & the synopsis of the Storm Theatre production,  
in the album's liner notes reprinted at this link
http://kritzerland.com/KL_TLS_Notes.pdf

P.S. For a varied selection (about 10 songs) of my original non-parody theater songs on YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/27n954m

Hollywood Gown Golden Globe video & Fly Me in the Nude (airport security scanner spoof) now at 35,000

2011-01-17T05:42:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD GOWN - "day after the Golden Globes version"



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh_Pf4zr3wc





Here's an edgier version of the above HOLLYWOOD GOWN that's unlisted, not public yet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeU4Bmji_SQ    



And FLY ME IN THE NUDE (airport security scanner parody) reaches 35,000 views

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn3AcCmPL00

2010 in Theater-Related Parodies: Month by Month

2010-12-30T07:22:00.000-08:00

These are not necessarily my most-watched YouTubes, but my favorite stories in those months (based on when the subject actually caught me for better or worse, rather than when we actually did the video).

Recurring themes (two videos each) are four subjects of adoration – Stephen Sondheim, Kristin Chenoweth, Al Pacino, and Elaine Stritch – and also the Sarah Palin/Tea Party thing. Rounding out the list are Addams Family and D.C.'s Oklahoma phenomenon.

Quick summary (details and links further down)

January – those full-body airline scanners (Come Fly Away tribute)

February – Kristin & those added Promises Promises songs

March – Palin and the tea party and the coffee party

April – Addams Family feat. John & Abigail Adams

May – Stritch, based on a loving parody take on her Night Music negotiations

June – Al Pacino and Merchant of Venice in Central Park

July – Stritch again, coping as she strives to be the very best she can!

August – Kristin again, another affectionate look at Promises Promises

September – Henry Miller Theater becomes the Sondheim!

October – Al Pacino and Merchant again, this time a Broadway phenomenon

November –Oklahoma puts D.C.’s Arena Stage on the map again!

December – Palins, tea party & D.C. power shift to Sondheim's Chrysanthemum Tea

JANUARY 2010 – FLY ME IN THE NUDE – THE FULL-BODY AIRLINE SCANNERS START APPEARING

Parody of “Fly Me to the Moon” in honor of the Tharp-Sinatra COME FLY AWAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn3AcCmPL00

FEBRUARY 2010 – ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ADDITION OF “I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER” TO PROMISES PROMISES SOMEHOW SEEMED MOST IMPORTANT TO US IN TERMS OF THEATER PARODY

Affectionate Kristin parody, of “I Say A Little Prayer”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4srdnbhOYs4

MARCH 2010 – NOT TECHNICALLY THEATER, JUST TANGENTIALLY, BUT CARLY SIMON IS LUCY SIMON’S SISTER AFTER ALL-

Parody of “You’re So Vain” about Sarah Palin, the Tea Party and the Coffee Party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IGmbd3PDA4

APRIL 2010 – EVERYONE WAS DOING ADDAMS FAMILY THEME SONG PARODIES

So we did the John and Abigail Adams Family Theme, which assumes a working knowledge of the cast album of “1776”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bUcJKIYFyw

MAY 2010 – THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ELAINE STRITCH HAD CERTAIN “REQUIREMENTS” TO APPEAR IN A LTTLE NIGHT MUSIC prompted some humorous looks online at what those might be. My favorite was one by a very funny fellow named “Royboy” on All That Chat, so:

With real love for Ms. Stritch, we did a low-tech take on one of those silly hypothetical lists of supposed demands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgev_fewvlQ

JUNE 2010 – FREE SHAKESPEARE WITH AL – Al Pacino in Merchant of Venice, at that time for FREE, as people line up in Central Park, a parody of FOR ME AND MY GAL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qahNQd9M6c0

JULY 2010 – CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THE GREAT ELAINE STRITCH, so we wondered (to a parody of ZIP! called SIT!) how she copes sitting for eight performances a week, three hours at a clip – as she strives to be the very best Mme. Armfeldt ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXbEVQKSPo0

AUGUST 2010 – SPECULATION OF WHO MIGHT REPLACE SEAN HAYES & KRISTIN CHENOWETH in “PROMISES PROMISES” was big chat fodder. In the end, they decided to close in January when their contracts ran out

KNOWING WHEN TO CLOSE, another affectionate Kristin parody, this time of KNOWING WHEN TO LEAVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf_ZsvMCZTo

SEPTEMBER 2010 – As the Henry Miller Theatre is re-named for the great Stephen Sondheim, we speculate on Henry Miller’s ghost reconciling himself with the name change

LOSING MY SIGN, parody of LOSING MY MIND from FOLLIES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phlrsBx23O0

OCTOBER 2010 – Al Pacino’s transfer to Broadway was big box office, so we imagine the producers trying to get him to extend

SHYLOCK, a parody of SKYLARK and the 2010-11 production of MERCHANT OF VENICE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATx9lb04HIw

NOVEMBER 2010 – A regional parody – The most fun news this month was that the Arena Stage’s production of OKLAHOMA! managed to come into the New York spotlight as a rejuvenating production of the show.

EVERYTHING’S UP TO DATE AT THE ARENA, parody of EVERYTHING’S UP TO DATE IN KANSAS CITY from OKLAHOMA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kIMKGkAaRM

DECEMBER 2010 – With the political power shifting in Washington in January, here’s our take on Stephen Sondheim’s CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA from PACIFIC OVERTURES

Our “CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA PARTY” (featuring Sarah Palin & Bristol Palin on Dancing with the Stars)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taiPOElxQdc

Thanks if you have to watch any of this,

Fred

Anyone looking for material for holiday season?

2010-12-03T11:47:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for material for the holiday season's performances:

Here's KRINGLE LADIES: PUT FIVE GOLDEN RINGS ON IT, a parody of SINGLE LADIES - (I have no idea just why YouTube is putting pop-up ads on it; we get nothing from those ads!) - parody sung here by Leenya Rideout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxPxWRC6AWk

Susan Boyle Christmas album parody - Here's THEY MADE YOU OVER, parody of DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER from Susan Boyle's Christmas album - parody sung here by Sheree Sano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmul1wW--64

A sincere (non-parody) power ballad ANOTHER CHRISTMAS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfenKQ7sj1E

And because it's so topical for holiday traveling, here's FLY ME IN THE NUDE about the full-body airline scanners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn3AcCmPL00

Feel free to use any of these this holiday season. If you do, all I ask is that you just let me know how the song goes over.

Thanks,

Fred

Cher parody - parody of Gypsies Tramps & Thieves

2010-11-29T08:07:00.000-08:00

Cher parody - as she opens in BURLESQUE, Cher's been talking about the surprise of the aches and pains of middle age, but also stays modern with being an active computer communicator with her fans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouMDcHTyhWw

FLY ME IN THE NUDE update: Airline full-body scanner video: not technically viral, but over 30,000

2010-11-18T08:48:00.000-08:00

I'd promised myself this blog wouldn't be mainly about quantity of viewer numbers, but this video is attracting more new people to this blog than all the new recent ones this month, so I hope it's not annoying to old friends that I'm quickly referencing/plugging it again. (If you've seen it, it's the same one you already saw.)

FLY ME IN THE NUDE - but it's totally suitable for work, G-rated, contains no nudity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn3AcCmPL00

Draft of "Chrysanthemum Tea Party" video

2010-11-18T08:19:00.000-08:00

Posted this (it's still kind of a draft, unlisted but accessible from here) after seeing Brandy lose to Bristol Palin on "Dancing with the Stars" on Tuesday night, and then the next day seeing reports about an outgoing Rep asking Nancy Pelosi to step aside as Democratic House leader AND Sarah Palin's intimation that she could beat Pres. Obama.

Chrysanthemeum Tea Party Overtures - tune of Stephen Sondheim's CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taiPOElxQdc

The Wasserstein Prize - now that they're reconsidering, hope it's OK to parody about it!

2010-11-15T13:35:00.000-08:00

Here's my parody video take on this, with a hypothetical young female playwright facing being told that no under-32 female playwrights are good enough, and spilling her angst over this into her first play. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8hZkDHZjpY

Airline "nude" scanners are back in the news - brought this (G-rated) one past 25,000 views

2010-11-13T05:15:00.000-08:00

"Fly Me In The Nude" - going though the full-body scanners at Newark Airport.

I'd tried for a visual equivalent to make (very affectionate) fun of what Twyla Tharp did with movement in her Broadway - and now Vegas - Sinatra show, and the video part came out a little too simple for some of the commenters - the visual may not have totally worked, but the parody song has gotten nice reaction!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn3AcCmPL00

OTHER YOUTUBE-VIEWS MILESTONES:

"Another Christmas" my post-Christmas blues song (not a parody)
written several years back passed 40,000 views pretty recently
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfenKQ7sj1E

This one's 2009 news, but people are still finding and watching the  
"Appalachian Trail" video
Gov. Mark Sanford CAROLINA parody - it recently passed 133,000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAFeLTchV8c

A regional parody-tribute: to the Arena Stage's contemporary take on OKLAHOMA

2010-11-12T12:31:00.000-08:00

We're fans in our household of what the Arena Stage strives for and what it accomplishes, so here's a Regional Parody-Tribute -
Parody-tribute of "Kansas City" from OKLAHOMA

EVERYTHING'S UP TO DATE AT THE ARENA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kIMKGkAaRM

Thanks if you have time to watch (it's about 2 minutes)

Finally found out the simple trick to doing video groupings on YouTube

2010-11-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

A varied selection (about 8 songs) of my original non-parody theater songs on YouTube

http://tinyurl.com/27n954m

I finally figured out the simple way to make these groupings on YouTube. (You just put a unique set of words into the video descriptive info.) Thanks for whatever you have time to listen to!

Why not give Doris Day the Oscar that Godard doesn't seem to care about?

2010-10-31T03:39:00.000-07:00

Whether or not she wants to appear in person, maybe give Doris Day the Oscar that Jean-Luc Godard doesn't seem to want. (Clearly, they're ready to give it to Godard without his appearing to get it.)

PARODY OF "QUE SERA SERA"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRrSMfxOUnc

(Jonathan Schwartz radio show referenced, even rhymed, in 3rd verse at 1:18)

For Halloween - Great Theater's Ghosts!

2010-10-29T08:11:00.001-07:00

The ghost of Henry Miller about theatre being re-named

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phlrsBx23O0

And on a much-lower-tech note, the ghost of Alan Jay Lerner hanging out at Vassar watching the ON A CLEAR DAY revisal in its pre-NYC incarnation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt9VtE_1TY8

Shameless self-promo: I'm a Finalist for 2010 Ebb Award!

2010-10-06T05:41:00.000-07:00

I got a phone call from the trustee of the Fred Ebb Foundation, saying that I'm one of the eight "finalists for the Fred Ebb Foundation award." The odds aren't in my favor for me to win (to paraphrase the great Mr. Ebb's lyric to "Maybe This Time") but whatever happens, being a "finalist" is a thrill in and of itself.

And to Julie Miller, if you're reading this, thanks. Julie basically picked out which songs I should include on the CD out of the many I gave her to listen to. (And I only know Julie because of All that Chat, so thanks to All that Chat, too.)

I was wondering whether i should take off some of my Kander-and-Ebb parodies on the net lest someone happen across them while deliberating, but they're so much more tribute-like towards Mr. Ebb and Mr. Kander in their commenting than anything else, so i haven't done anything like that - yet.

Musto's lovely blog item; also gently (?) kidding American Idiot

2010-10-01T06:18:00.000-07:00

La Daily Musto in the Village Voice did a blog item all about my Sesame Street parodies on Katy Perry and Elmo.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/archives/2010/09/katy_perry_brou.php

Please pass this around to anyone who might like the parodies!

Also, I did an AMERICAN IDIOT parody a few days ago,based on the great Billie Joe Armstrong/Green Day song WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS, making very gentle fun (I thought gentle) of Billie Joe joining that cast as the end-of-September doldrums hit.

American Idiot parody link - does this go too far, do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9YbyW5chjc

2 Parody minutes: the Katy Perry & Sesame Street flap - so it looks like AVENUE Q was prescient by 7 years!

2010-09-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

"Katy Perry & Sesame Street" parody theme song - She Brought "Sex" to Sesame Street

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvb4pODL9rw

"Rainbow Connection" parody - "Cash Flow Connection" - about how they seem to be capitalizing on whatever the Katy Perry controversy is when appearing on all the talk shows hawking the new season of Sesame Street; when's the last time "everyone" cared about a new Sesame Street season starting?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsj-X6mlu-M

Celebrating naming a theatre for Sondheim

2010-09-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

I got the FOLLIES publishers permission to use Mr. Sondheim's music for this video --

HENRY MILLER'S SONG - LOSING MY SIGN, to tune of LOSING MY MIND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phlrsBx23O0

It was also picked up on the course site for an NYU class on History of New York

http://ahistoryofnewyork.com/2010/06/losing-my-sign/

Please pass the link around if you like it.

Link to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/starfighterllc

2009 - A look back in theater parodies

2010-09-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

If you have time to be selectively nostalgic about 2009 "current events" from a theater lover's parody perspective, here's my month-by-month recap of the year!

(These are organized by subject rather than video-debut date.)

JANUARY 2009 - WE WERE STILL TALKING ONLY ABOUT THE JEREMY PIVEN SUSHI SCANDAL

WE BROUGHT YOU "FISH!" - THIS WAS BEFORE NEW INFO CAME OUT, BUT IT STARTED THE THEATER PARODY SERIES, SO WITH THAT CAVEAT, HERE IT IS:

PARODY OF "ZIP!" (PAL JOEY)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wFvpx3q6vI

FEBRUARY 2009 - DAVID CROMER & HIS "OUR TOWN" WERE THE HOTTEST THINGS GOING

A SPOILER PARODY OF "NEW YORK NEW YORK" -

PROBABLY THE ONLY DAVID CROMER PARODY ON YOUTUBE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfHwSwUWUF8

MARCH 2009 - EVEN THEATER FANS WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BAILOUT AND EXECUTIVE SALARIES

"AIG AGAINST THE WORLD" -

PARODY OF "YOU AND ME AGAINST THE WORLD" [MIGHT AS WELL BE A SHOW TUNE, SINCE IT'S A GREAT PAUL WILLIAMS SONG]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75daFChjAMw

APRIL 2009 - THE CAST OF "HAIR" INVADING THE AUDIENCE WAS A BIG BROADWAY STORY

HERE'S "YOU'RE SCARING US" -

A PARODY OF "AQUARIUS"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQQnN5liEAw

MAY 2009 - MISS CALIFORNIA CARRIE PREJEAN WAS THE DUBIOUS CELEBRITY OF THE MONTH

HERE'S "I'M JUST WILD ABOUT CARRIE" -

PARODY OF "I'M JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mfpBpRLZ_I

JUNE 2009 - GAY PRIDE! - FROM 1969 AND ONWARD

HERE'S "I'M STILL QUEER" -COVERING 40 YEARS OF THEATRE

TO THE TUNE OF THE "I'M STILL HERE"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt40nQGc1I4

JULY 2009 - EVERYBODY HAD GOV. MARK SANFORD & HIS ARGENTINIAN MISTRESS ON THEIR MINDS

HERE'S "NOTHIN' COULD BE FINAH THAN TO LEAVE SOUTH CAROLINA"

[MY FIRST 100,000-PLUS-VIEW VIDEO!]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAFeLTchV8c

AUGUST 2009 - THE BIRTHERS MOVEMENT CLAIMING PRES. OBAMA WAS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN BEGAN TO SELF-DESTRUCT

HERE'S "BYE BYE BIRTHERS" -

A PARODY OF "BYE BYE BIRDIE"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xjopFriYZg

SEPTEMBER 2009 - FOR ME, THE HIGHLIGHT WAS THE MINI-FOOD-FEUD BETWEEN BARBARA WALTERS & FOOD NETWORK'S PAULA DEEN - THIS WAS BEFORE WE KNEW OF BARBARA WALTER'S HEART CONDITION, OF COURSE!

HERE'S "SO MUCH BUTTER"

TO THE TUNE OF THE SONG "SO MUCH BETTER" FROM LEGALLY BLONDE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZnWq9Vi1ww

OCTOBER 2009 - SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE WORLD, BUT CARRIE FISHER'S ONE-WOMAN SHOW OBSESSED ME

HERE'S "QUEEN OF WISHFUL DRINKING" -

A PARODY OF "KING OF WISHFUL THINKING" FROM PRETTY WOMAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S4STdq9KtU

NOVEMBER 2009 - THE "A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC" REVIVAL WAS MUCH ANTICIPATED

HERE'S THE MINI-MUSICAL "A LITTLE SITE MUSIC, OR EVERY DAY A LITTLE NET"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2mMKTJhdMc

DECEMBER 2009 - THOSE FULL-BODY AIRLINE SCANNERS CAME INTO VOGUE JUST AS WE WERE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO TWYLA THARP'S UPCOMING SINATRA SHOW & THE DISROBING IN THE SHOW

HERE'S "FLY ME IN THE NUDE"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn3AcCmPL00

====