Back in April—APRIL!—when this playlist began, I said we’d cover:
roles written for a specific performer
shows or songs that became forever tied to a performer’s legacy
roles that turn anyone who plays them into a star
Roles/songs that comment on the nature of fame itself.
How would you distribute the songs we’ve covered into those categories? Here’s what I’m thinking (which is most likely, but not necessarily, what I was thinking in April):
Written for a specific performer?: “Shall We Dance?,” “Rose’s Turn,” “My Favorite Things,” “Wig in a Box”
Forever tied to a legacy?: “Shall We Dance?,” “Rose’s Turn,” “My Favorite Things,” “Hello, Dolly!,” “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “The Impossible Dream,” “Wig in a Box,” “Waving Through a Window,” “She Used to Be Mine.”
Star Maker?: “Shall We Dance?” (which has the rare distinction of being both written for an existing star and creating a new one), “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “This is the Moment,” “I’m Here,” “Waving Through a Window”
Commentary on Stardom as a Concept?: “I’m Still Here,” “Wig in a Box.”
Bonus Track
Before I close the book on “Star Turns,” I have to mention this song that is very meaningful to 2008 musical theater fans. Songwriter Scott Alan released an album of stand-along songs in 2007 called Dreaming Wide Awake. It’s breakout “hit” is an example of high belting-as-dramaturgy called “I’m a Star” that is basically the entire Rachel Berry ethos. This video is from a cabaret evening of these songs in which then-unknown Natalie Weiss came in as a last-minute replacement for Eden Espinoza (who sang the rangy track on the album). Weiss’s performance of “I’m a Star” went viral on YouTube and helped establish Weiss as a certain type of internet star, back when being internet famous was unusual. (She’s still out there doin’ it, and I love watching videos of her coaching singers.)
Is It Covered By The Rat Pack, Audra McDonald, or Glee
The venn diagrams are back! I don’t know how i’ll eventually fit 48 more songs…but I’ve got plenty of time to figure it out.
In The Wings
While I may be done with Star Turns for the time being, the absolutely delightful podcast, Broadway Bound: The Musicals That Never Came to Broadway calls their current season “I’m the Greatest Star,” and focuses on celebrity-driven train wrecks. The’re dropping an episode about Randy Quaid and Lone Star Love around the time this article comes out, and I cannot WAIT.
Catch up with all the songs to date!
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