Hello Again (1994 Original Broadway Cast)

There is not a weak link in the wonderful ensemble cast, and the album has the unexpected bonus of featuring many stars before they were well-known. It would be almost impossible to get Donna Murphy, Carolee Carmello, Malcolm Gets, John Cameron Mitchell, Michele Pawk, John Dossett and Judy Blazer to do a show like this today, so it is doubly delightful to hear them together on this recording.

Even in 1994, Michael John LaChiusa was proving himself to be a rising star among theatrical composers. His music for this show aptly displays why he has amassed such a devoted following among theatre enthusiasts.


What Goes Around...   September 3, 2001
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Being the fan of "new musicals" that I am, I picked this CD up on a whim, and now I can't stop playing it. For those who love rousing opening numbers, humable songs, or lots of tap dancing in their musicals, this is not the one for you. This is a "chamber piece" that examines sexual encounters through the decades. The score is nothing short of brilliant, and I can't understand why no one ever does this show. It's a great recording, a great score, and a great little puzzle (read the stage directions in the libretto). This is one "new musical" you want to own.


We may never be saying... Hello Again.   June 6, 2001
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

It's not your typical broadway musical. There's no kicklines. There's no helicopters, barricades or giant chandeliers (thank God!) But there is honest human emotion. There are believable characters. There are hummable songs, and intriguing lyrics. Hello Again is based on "La Ronde" and while you may not think that that would be a great source for a musical... You'd be surprised!!! The musical takes you on a journey from the first notes to the last "Hello, Again" and it's wonderful.

The performances on the cd are very entertaining as well. Carolee Carmello, Michelle Pawk, Donna Murphy are all three women who are now major players in Broadway musical. (Donna Murphy won a tony, Carolee was nominated, and Michelle is a Drama Desk Nominee.) It also features Malcolm Gets from "Caroline in the City Fame" and John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch creator). It's a must-have and I reccomend it to everyone.


LaChiusa at his most affecting   February 4, 2001
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Michael John LaChiusa is my personal favorite of the "new generation" of theatre composers; he blends a modern and experimental approach with traditional theatricality in a very exciting way. This 1994 effort lacks a bit of the edge of the recent "Marie Christine" and "The Wild Party" -- in its place is a strange kind of warmth and optimism. Even as the characters of "Hello Again" try and fail to find emotional fulfillment through ... liaisons, there's never a doubt that most of them have the capacity to find it in some other way.

And as is typical for LaChiusa, the score is highly melodic and accessible, if not something that can be easily broken down into individual songs. Insofar as it can, "Tom" is the principal standout. The lyrics are clever and appealing, and the performances first-rate without exception.


Very clever musical journey through the century   July 10, 2000
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

In much the same way as Stephen Sondheim's Follies, Hello Againscores through its inventive use of a variety of musical styles fromacross the 20th Century. Whereas in Follies the music is used to reflect upon the characters' past, the music in Hello Again positions each character in their own present, a present which shifts from scene to scene. Each song is well-crafted, and with a quick glance through the booklet, it is not too difficult to appreciate the action. My favourite song in the piece has to be Tom, which is so beautifully orchestrated as to be almost unbelievable. Other songs show the humour, fraud, sadness and frustration that can be had within sexual relationships. Although the music manages to remain upbeat and melodic, little joy is visible in these characters' lives. A look at the female cast list should whet the appetite of anyone familiar with musical theatre in the 1990s. Donna Murphy, Carolee Carmello, Judy Blazer and Michele Pawk remain right up at the top of the list of leading ladies, and this recording gives ample explanation of why. I am less familiar with most of the men in the production, but they compare well with the ladies. Together with The Wild Party, this recording shows that Michael John LaChiusa is one of America's leading theatre composers for the new century. This is an entertaining and accessible show, and long may LaChiusa write for the theatre.