2021 as reflected in our mostly-theater/cabaret blog - part 1 of 2: January through May 2021

(This was added later) Here's the new HAVE YOURSELF ANOTHER DISTANT CHRISTMAS. https://youtu.be/9j8nxF_lW1E

Parody lyric by Fred Landau, sung by Sheree Sano

AND HERE IS 2021 as reflected in our mostly-theater/cabaret blog - part 1 of 2: January through May 2021

This felt like an overall Broadway theme for 2021, that even the hopeful people were concerned that the joyous optimism of those "One singular sensation" ads felt like wishful thinking - Then yikes, by December, the cynics somehow were sadly proven right!!! 

For those who were hungering for some negativity with the sunny ads for Broadway optimism - 

This was "What You Did Got Snubbed"- which had wondered whether Ed Kleban, 

who wrote "What I Did For Love" capturing his characters brilliantly but never his own world view - 

might have preferred looking from heaven enjoying the reactions of the 298 people who lost the $100,000 Kleban Prize every year more than the 2 who won.

"What You Did Got Snubbed" (or "What You Did Got - Nothing!") - with Jan Horvath

https://youtu.be/LZn00NbxLbM

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

And a look back at our 7-minute mini-musical - where we were in May 2020.  

How have we in Dec. 2021 stepped back to resuming precautions of May 2020, except of course we have better treatment.  

WHEN I'M STUCK AT HOME - with MJ and KJ and Scott Arcangel

https://youtu.be/s7mTdB7C8fg

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

Parody-song musical, as Emily plays a performer with her daughter making masks while not being able to perform during quarantine and dreaming about the roles she'd love to play- 

Make 'Em Masks, then Rose (Gypsy), Joanne (updated Company),Bianca/Lois Lane (Kiss Me Kate), and still "Home" a while longer (Dorothy)

JANUARY 2021

January 6 2021 - Oy, what a day! With the attacks in DC, maybe the slow progress of the vaccine was OK for a little ribbing to get that moving?

"Vaccinating Rhythm"  - with Sheree Sano

https://youtu.be/fgg2pGUmZXo

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

THEN:  This non-parody showtune number  was offered on a  sincere note.   Any hope of us getting a 2021 Biden/Harris optimism like we had back in pust-crash January 2009 with Obama/Biden? 

Back in 2008, we had a Christmas burdened by the financial crash, but somehow by Inauguration for Obama/Biden, with a smooth transition, there was optimism, and I thought maybe we could declare a do-over for the 2008 Christmas we'd emotionally missed But "someone" seemed to be working overtime to not let that optimism kick in by Inauguration Day 2021. Maybe it's not too late? "Another Christmas" - wanting do-over for a bleak Christmas when we have optimism with the new year. Did the lack of transition and total lack of cooperation from 45 to 46 just mess up the year that followed? "Another Christmas"

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

Music & Lyric by Fred Landau

FEBRUARY 2021

Valentine’s Day: original theater love songs 

“Is It Mushy to Say I Love You” somehow passed 73,000 views

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

"Brooklyn Boy"

https://youtu.be/XiQRDVKvf5Q

"I Look Into Those Eyes"

https://youtu.be/5HcENPH12UU

MARCH 2021

Announcement of Free Shakespeare this summer brings a very rare touch of optimism for live theater in NYC - 

Mask Up For Shakespeare

https://youtu.be/blbyKSx2Uu8

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

APRIL 2021

To join the celebration of the 50th birthday of FOLLIES - 

With approval and arrangement with then-publisher Carlin America. 

"I'm Still Queer" 

This had gotten into Michael Musto's column in 2009, looking at 40 years of musicals - though the embedded links in the Voice got discontinued during 2021  

https://www.villagevoice.com/2009/10/16/hilarious-gay-spoof-of-im-still-here/

The Sondheim-approved lyric and publisher-approved video is at this link  

https://youtu.be/bt40nQGc1I4

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

Thanks again to Bill Parry, who has done so many Sondheim shows including the boatman in Sunday in the Park with George, and the Mizner brothers' father in Road Show, for performing the vocal, to Route Design technology and Jim Cooney's staff - Arminda at Carlin America and Sean at Warner, and to MAC VP Julie Miller who in 2007, 2008  and 2009 was still instrumental to everything the LLC was doing!!!!

MAY 2021

We had an Urgent Parody update (LOL). - and if anything can be called a parody emergency, this could be it:  

Despite a gazillion (very rough estimate) coincidental similarities with Paul Zindel's play, "The Shape of Water" is exonerated. 

Does that leave open the possibility that all of Paul Zindel's work is up for grabs!

The one of musical parody concern is his screenplay for MAME - We are springing to action to be first - and dusting the cobwebs off this one, to get to the market first - with our MAME update for Betty White!

"Great Auntie Mame" 

https://youtu.be/ados3loEZBs

Parody lyric by Fred Landau

next on this topic  will be June to Dec.2021