Greetings from Oxford

I may not be in the country right now, but important things are still happening in the theatre world.

Here are some highlights from the weekend:

Bailey Hanks made her Broadway debut, headlining Jerry Mitchell's Legally Blonde.  Her vocals have improved and the key change in "So Much Better" no doubt helped the song sit better on her voice.  Be sure to listen for Autumn Hurlbert in "Omigod, You Guys!"  Her character, Leilani, sings "Elle and Warner were meant to be."

Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles; Lea Michele, who turned down the role of Eponine in the 2006 revival (the role went to Celia Keenan-Bolger) to star in Spring Awakening, finally gets to fulfill her dream of taking on the role.  John Lloyd Young stars as Marius, and while his casting initially seemed like an odd choice, he proves to be an inspired addition to the cast.  Here, Young and Michele sing "A Little Fall of Rain."

Michele brings down the house with her rendition of Act Two showstopper, "On My Own" during dress rehearsal.

A long way from Dunder Mifflin, Melora Hardin, best known for her role as Jan, Michael Scott's unstable former boss and girlfriend on NBC's The Office, Hardin embodies another tortured female role, Fantine, and sings "I Dreamed a Dream."

Variety Show: Vids

Phoebe Strole plays idealistic Anna in Spring Awakening.  During summer 2007, she had several opportunities to play the more complex Wendla.  Though she gave strong performances, producers opted to give swings Alexandra Socha and Eryn Murman priority when choosing Wendla covers (most likely to avoid having more understudies in performances).  Here she sings, "Mama Who Bore Me."



Some pairs Wendla/Melchior pairings just ooze chemistry.  Eryn Murman and Jesse Swenson sing Spring Awakening's "The Word of Your Body."


Laura Bell Bundy has played many of the best soprano leading lady roles on Broadway right now, having appeared as Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, and Galinda in Wicked.  Bundy understudied Kristin Chenoweth and was expected to take over after Chenoweth's departure.  Should she have?  Listen to "Popular" and decide.

Broadway Madlibs is one of my favorite finds.  John Lloyd Young plays along, with a Madlib version of Jersey Boys' "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You."  Listen for the Jamie Lynn Spears reference.