No More Revivals, Vol 1 - Songs From the BMI Lehman Engel Workshop

"One of the plusses of having a show in The New York Musical Theatre Festival was meeting Michael Gilboe, who hosts the Broadway Bullet podcast. He suggested that he, Broadway Bullet and The BMI Musical Theatre Workshop “do something together.” A year or so later, the always affable, unflappable and red-headed musician (his studio is called “Copperhead”) producer contacted me about an open mic series he was running and I said I’d like to talk about one that would be BMI Workshop only.” “I have a better idea,” Michael said. “Why don’t we do a CD of songs from the BMI Workshop?” Veteran songwriter Lew Spence joined the Workshop with two major hit songs to his credit: “Nice ‘n’ Easy” introduced by Sinatra in the album of the same name and “That Face,” introduced by Fred Astaire. When Sinatra bet that he could turn “Old MacDonald” into a hit, Lew got the assignment of rewriting the lyric (considerably!) and Sinatra’s bet paid off.

Lew, who wrote either music or lyrics, but rarely both at the same time, gained the confidence to write both at The Workshop. He treated less seasoned Workshop writers as colleagues and pros. When Ed Kleban was working on what would become A Class Act, he modeled a character after Lew, giving him a song about how songwriters of his generation skirted the new generation’s use of four letter words about intimacy. Lew loved the minds of his New York friends, but not the city’s noise and dirt. He felt the exact reverse about LA. After a number of years in Albuquerque, he finally settled into a house on LA’s Doheny Drive, a street best known for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Lew grumbled about the noise and presence of squad cars, but made

friendships with (to his surprise) warm, brainy LA natives and replanted New Yorkers. He never stopped writing, sustaining a stroke which did not hamper his keen mind or his ability to drive…short distances during the day. On January 9, 2008, Lew died peacefully --- napping with a smile on his face.

In his will, Lew left a gift to The BMI Foundation. Cinda Fairchild, Executor Michael of Lew’s estate, not only lent us support, but she and Sean Patrick Flahaven at Warner-Chappell cleared Lew’s song “That Green Dress,“ which is the final track on the recording. Michael Gilboe contacted Kurt Deutsch at Sh-K-Boom, who agreed to come on as Executive Producer. Pat Cook, Richard Engquist, Rick Freyer and Jane Smulyan helped screen over 250 songs submitted from members of the Workshop and after several intense and passionate meetings, fortified by coffee, bagels, egg and tuna salad, we had 15 songs selected. Michael wanted the three 2009 adult Tony® winners, Greg Jbara for Billy Elliot, Karen Olivo for West Side Story and Alice Ripley for Next to Normal and once they agreed to perform, we were off and running. Nancy Opel, Tony nominee for Urinetown, then appearing in a dazzling dual role in Toxic Avenger, David Hyde Pierce, Tony Award winner for Curtains and a graduate of the “Frasier” TV series and Kelli O’Hara, three time Tony® nominee, who had just returned to her starring role in South Pacific all joined our growing list of singers. Two Wicked veterans, the effervescent Kate Reinders, during a week off from her TV series and powerhouse Stephanie J. Block, preparing for her London concert as well as release of her first solo album found time to record for us. And soon we had Will Swenson, Tony® nominated for Hair, Kerry Butler, Tony® nominated for Xanadu, Malcom Gets, Tony® nominated for Amour, Hunter Bell, Tony® nominated for writing the book of [title of show], David Hyde Pierce, Tony® Award for Curtains, Theatre World Award Winner for Enter Laughing-The Musical Josh Grisetti, Next to Normal’s Adam Chanler-Berat and actor/composer/lyricist Nick Blaemire. Performers Andy Karl who appeared on Broadway in Legally Blonde and Wicked, Harrington Award winner Adam Overett who appeared in with Light in the Piazza at Lincoln Center, are both BMI Workshop writers. BMI Workshop writer Mary Feinsinger is the lead singer in her song, the CD’s opening number “That’s My Town.”

Enjoy FROM THE BMI WORKSHOP: No More Revivals, Volume 1. Our hope is that Lew’s generous bequest will generate Volumes II, III and more. Particular thanks to the optimistic Jean Banks for her belief that “anything is possible.”

- Frank Evans, Special Projects Coordinator for the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop

1. "That's My Town!" from Ting Twusters

Music, Lyrics and Musical arrangement by Mary Feinsinger

Performed by Mary Feinsinger and the BMI Workshop Chorale

Vocal Arrangement by Michael Gilboe

2. "A Completely Different Place"

Music and Orchestration by Christopher Cooley, Lyrics by Benj Pasek

Performed by Kelli O'Hara

Orchestration by Christopher Cooley

3. "Rock City," from See Rock City & other Destinations

Music by Brad Alexander, Book and Lyrics by Adam Mathias

Performed by Will Swenson

Orchestration by Justin Hatchimonji

4. "I Was Better Off Without You" from The Dogs of Pripyat

Based on the play by Leah Napolin

Music by Aron Accurso, Lyrics by Jill Abramovitz, Book by Napolin & Abramovitz

Performed by Kerry Butler and Nick Blaemire

Orchestration by Greg Anthony

5. "He Needs Me" from We Dance

Music and Orchestration by Robert Maggio, Lyrics by Kristin Maloney

Performed by Karen Olivo

6. "New Jersey" from Flambé Dreams

Music and Orchestration by Randy Klein, Book and Lyrics by Matthew Hardy

Performed by Nancy Opel

7. "Women Leave" from China Doll Overdrive

Based on the play by Michael P. Hildago

Music and Orchestration by Linda Dowdell, Lyrics by Sara Wordsworth

Performed by Malcolm Gets and Andy Karl

8. "The Kid" from The Kid

Based on the memoir by Dan Savage

Music by Andy Monroe, Lyrics by Jack Lechner, Book by Michael Zam

Performed by Hunter Bell

Arranged by Michael Gilboe, String Arrangement by Yury Shubov

9. "My Van" from The Dirty Hippie Jam Band Project

Music by Daniel I. Israel, Lyrics by Phoebe Kreutz

Orchestration by Daniel I. Israel and Kary Haddad

Performed by Gregory Jbara and the BMI Workshop Chorale

10. "Lime Colored Sheets"

Music and Orchestration by Joy Son, Lyrics by Steve Routman

Performed by Alice Ripley

11. "Goodbye to Boston" from What's Your Story

Music and Orchestration by Sam Davis, Lyrics by Sean Hartley

Performed by David Hyde Pierce

12. "My Sky"

Music and Lyrics and Orchestration by Adam Overett

Orchestrated by Bruce Coughlin

Performed by Stephanie J. Block

13. "Evermore"

Music and Orchestration by Ron Barnett, Lyrics by Greg Edwards

Performed by Kate Reinders and Adam Chanler- Berat

BONUS TRACKS

14. "Penny's Song" cut from High Fidelity

Music by Tom Kitt, Lyrics by Amanda Green

Performed by Josh Grisetti and the BMI Workshop Chorale

Arranged by Michael Gilboe, String Arrangement by Yury Shubov

15. "Leaving Saint Urbain Street" from The Education of Duddy Kravitz

Based on the novel by Mordecai Richler

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by David Spencer,

Performed by Adam Overett

16. "That Green Dress"

Music and Lyrics by Lew Spence

Performed by Lew Spence