There is nothing quite like the gentle rise of the overture as the red velvet curtain parts and the spotlight shines before a musical begins and on Sunday 13 November you can get that feeling with us at our Magic of the Musicals night with Too Darn Hot.
In honour of the premier West End show band’s performance with us, we have rounded up our favourite musical tunes from some of history’s most iconic shows that will have you laughing, crying and dancing almost simultaneously!
1) Too Darn Hot, Kiss Me, Kate
This sassy show tune from the 1948 Cole Porter musical Kiss Me, Kate has earned its place in theatre’s hall of fame and is perhaps the most iconic from the musical’s score. With its toe-tapping, lilting rhythm and tongue-in-cheek lyrics the song provides one of the all-out musical moments of the show as we follow a cast preparing to stage a production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. Although the song doesn’t aid the story progression in Kiss Me, Kate its jazzy undertones and masculine manner really set it apart from your average show tune and will leave you humming it all the way home.
2) One, A Chorus Line
The lead song from the 1975 smash and innovative exposé of the inner goings on of a Broadway audition stage hits all the marks for the perfect show tune. Have your top hat and tails at the ready as the multiple looping melodies, eye-watering harmonies, punchy brass sections and a melodic build that would tempt even the most reluctant of dancers makes ‘One’ an ultimate favourite of ours. The song is performed by the entire cast as the finale of the show and is guaranteed to get the audience on their feet, fan-kicking their way down the aisles every time.
3) A Spoonful of Sugar, Mary Poppins
We couldn’t possibly put together a round-up of our favourite songs from the musicals without mentioning perhaps the most perfect pairing in cinematic history – Julie Andrews and Disney. This up-beat, light and airy melody is only made greater by the soprano tones of Andrews’ voice and we are sure it provided the soundtrack to many people’s childhood chores, as it did ours!
4) Memory, Cats
This is one of those songs that even non-theatre folk have heard of and is perhaps one of musical legend Andrew Lloyd Webber’s biggest smash hits. Made famous, in particular, by West End veteran Elaine Page, who played the role of Grizabella in the original production, the song has a haunting and commanding melody that completely encapsulates Grizabella’s desperation – and that famous key change really packs a punch.
5) I Dreamed a Dream, Les Miserables
This one is a real weeper and provides one of the most poignant moments of the emotional show where we see one of the female protagonists, Fantine, reflect on her life and remember a happier time. The stunning melody of the song is reprieved throughout the show, aiding in the story’s progression and providing the soundtrack to some of the most emotive scenes in musical theatre’s back catalogue. With the recent release of the smash hit film version of the musical, I Dreamed a Dream has enjoyed a revival and the musical remains the longest running West End musical of all time.
So there we have it – our top five songs from the musicals featuring just some of the famous shows which will be performed by Too Darn Hot at our Magic of the Musicals event.
If our round-up has left you feeling nostalgic for your childhood or itching to feel the rush of the theatre there’s still time to grab your tickets.
Find out more and book here.
Lorna Mann - Marketing & PR Coordinator