RSO Songbook Winner

Thanks for all the great entries, guys! Really enjoyed seeing everyone's favorite performance videos!

So I drew a name from a hat, and the winner of the RSO songbook is... Chase, who posted this video as being a favorite:



Congrats! Email me your address at emergingmt@gmail.com, and I'll be sure to send the book your way!

Even if you didn't win, you can order your copy from RSO's website here -- you can even get a sneak peek at what's inside. Also, concerning Crazytown, I highly suggest reading his newest post "I Love My Dead Gay Song," which discusses musical theatre songs, their contexts and cultures, and being able to maintain those values when the content you're representing is in the minority.

Aren't we all a little crazy when it come to love?

I first heard of Drew Gasparini when I saw this video from Emma Hunton's concert at (le) Poisson Rouge where he smoothly finesses a cover of Damien Rice's "Volcano" (with the always lovely Emma):

So imagine my excitement when I found out that he also writes music. And it's good.

Two of his musical projects (with books co-written by Louis Sacco) Crazy, Just Like Me and Circles, both explore human relationships, examining love, hope and human connection and feature gorgeous songs that slow big moments and emotions, prodding and finding greater meaning in them.

A couple of my favorites from Circles includes "What Remains" (sung here by Jennifer Damiano and Matt Doyle):

"Two Little Lines" (sung by Anna Ty Bergman):

Drew is also a recent addition to NewMusicalTheatre.com, where you can download his sheet music for songs like the following "My Year" (sung by Alex Ellis) and the hilarious "The Text Message Song" (performed in Cait Doyle's Hot Mess in Manhattan):

Weekend in Review

Didn't get a chance to make it out to see the Nick Blaemire and Danica Dora concert last Thursday, the Kerrigan-Lowdermilk performance on Friday, or the Joe Iconis show on Saturday? Honestly, me neither. But though I'm still awaiting videos for Joe's show, the formers already have youtube clips up and running (and some of these are pretty awesome). Rather than describe them, I'll let you see for yourself.

Nick Blaemire singing (somewhat) original tune "Empty Handed":



Danica Dora singing "Slowin' Down":



And, though not an original tune but because it makes me incredibly happy, a cover of Justin Bieber's "Baby":



From the Kerrigan-Lowdermilk set, David Goldstein singing "Living the Dream":



Skylar Astin and Emma Hunton singing "Run Away With Me":