The Internets Most Overdone Monologue And Now They Sing 2024-10-02 | "A good journalist, novelist, magazine writer always needs a hook – a killer first line that pulls the reader in and makes them want to read the next line, and then the next, and the next. Similarly, a monologue with a strong hook should peak the audience's attention." -Gabriel Davis, "Monologue Writing 101"For over a decade now, a single monologue has been so persistently used for high school auditions that it's taken on an aura of omnipresence. You may have heard about "I Ate The Divorce Papers," but how well do you know the play it's from, or its author? Zach Barr (they/them) digs deep into both to tell the full story of the fabled "divorce papers monologue" – why amateur actors keep finding it in their monologue searches, and why they keep choosing it once they do.All music in the video is from the album "Illinois and Maco," by Blue Dot Sessions, and used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license (though Free Music Archive). Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1MXc4x4vTfYUzZE0gUWpQ7lHQd-pvfKeNFLolZLMnbGs/edit?usp=sharing "And Now They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: instagram.com/admiralzachbarr For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
[Schaffrillas Parody] Every Tony Winner for Best Musical, 1949-2025 And Now They Sing 2025-06-09 | Congrats to the four people who get this jokeSOUND SOURCES:1949 (Kiss Me Kate): "Veggietales: The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown"1950 (South Pacific): "Oh, Mary!" by Cole Escola (clip from CBS Sunday Morning)1951 (Guys & Dolls): Vine1952 (The King And I): "The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie"1953 (Wonderful Town): "Empire State of Mind," Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys1954 (Kismet): "It'll Be Okay" Friendship is Witchcraft1955 (The Pajama Game): "Squid on Strike," SpongeBob Squarepants1956 (Damn Yankees): "Shadow The Hedgehog," SnapCube Real-Time Fandub1957 (My Fair Lady): "Making A Man," Operation Mincemeat1958 (The Music Man): "Buster The Myth Maker, Arthur / "Seventy-Six Trombones," The Music Man1959 (Redhead): "Headhunters," Gravity Falls1960 (The Sound of Music & Fiorello!): "The Election of 1800," Hamilton1961 (Bye Bye Birdie): "Oct. 28, 1956," The Ed Sullivan Show"1962 (How To Succeed...): Theme to "The Office"1963 (...Forum): @leeleelance, TikTok1964 (Hello, Dolly!): "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," Fiddler on the Roof1965 (Fiddler on the Roof): "Bum Biddy," Eight Crazy Nights1966 (Man of La Mancha): "Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy," SpongeBob Squarepants / Vine1967 (Cabaret): "Kid Gorgeous," John Mulaney1968 (Hallelujah, Baby!): "Purlie Victorious," by Ossie Davis (clip from 2023 Broadway revival)1969 (1776): "The Adams Administration," Hamilton1970 (Applause): Jeb Bush 2016 Presidential Campaign1971 (Company): "Frosty The Snowman," Rankin/Bass1972 (Two Gentlemen of Verona): Anthony Padilla, Vine1973 (A Little Night Music): "Finale," The Office1974 (Raisin): Theme to "The Jeffersons"1975 (The Wiz): "The Wizard and I," Wicked1976 (A Chorus Line): "High School Musical"1977 (Annie): "Tomorrow," Annie1978 (Ain't Misbehavin'): "Ain't Misbehavin'," Stormy Weather1979 (Sweeney Todd): "The Whole 'Being Dead' Thing," Beetlejuice1980 (Evita): "Act I Finale," The Drowsy Chaperone1981 (42nd Street): 42nd Street (1933 film)1982 (Nine): "POV you have an argument with Mario and Luigi"1983 (Cats): "UP," Bigtop Burger1984 (La Cage Aux Folles): "I Love You Phillip Morris"1985 (Big River): "A River in a Dry Land," Persona 5 / "Oh, Mary!" by Cole Escola1986 (Edwin Drood): "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"1987 (Les Misérables): "24601 Releases a Sammich on Parole"1988 (Phantom of the Opera): "The Phantom of the Opera" (2004 film)1989 (Jerome Robbins' B'way): "Werewolf vs. Unicorn," Robot Chicken1990 (City of Angels): "To Boldly Flee," Channel Awesome1991 (Will Rogers Follies): Vine1992 (Crazy For You): same as above1993 (Kiss of the Spider Woman): "The Adventures of Shark-Boy and Lava Girl"1994 (Passion): "2much2na with Stephen Colbert," "Oh Hello on Broadway"1995 (Sunset Boulevard): "F9 – Our Return to Theatres"1996 (Rent): "A Musical," Something Rotten1997 (Titanic): "My Heart Will Go On," Titanic / Metal Pipe Falling SFX1998 (Lion King): "The Ultimate 'Madagascar' Recap Cartoon," Cas Van De Pol1999 (Fosse): "Liza Minelli Tries to Turn Off a Lamp," SNL2000 (Contact): "The Perfect Pokérap," Unraveled & Polygon2001 (The Producers): "Hitler Rap," To Be Or Not To Be2002 (Millie): "Advanced Gay," Community2003 (Hairspray): "civil rights beam," @nass_is_secretly_a_pikmin2004 (Avenue Q): "Man or Muppet," The Muppets (2011)2005 (Spamalot): "Spam," Monty Python's Flying Circus2006 (Jersey Boys): "Whale of a Birthday," SpongeBob Squarepants2007 (Spring Awakening): "Spring Awakening: Those You've Known"2008 (In The Heights): "Washington Song," Brad Neely / "In The Heights," In The Heights2009 (Billy Elliot): "Headhunters," Gravity Falls2010 (Memphis): "The Best, Worst, and Blandest Games of 2019," Zero Punctuation2011 (Book of Mormon): "Hello!," The Book of Mormon / "Frozen"2012 (Once): Vine2013 (Kinky Boots): Vine2014 (Gentleman's Guide): "Sonic Adventure 2," SnapCube Real-Time Fandub2015 (Fun Home): "Lesbian Lightning Round!," Billy On The Street2016 (Hamilton): "Lazy Sunday," SNL2017 (Dear Evan Hansen): "RuPaul's Drag Race"2018 (The Band's Visit): "The Hostage Negotiator Knows The Hostage Taker From Way Back," Make Some Noise2019 (Hadestown): "Hercules: The Animated Series" (clip from "Hercules: Disney's Beautiful Hot Mess" by Lindsay Ellis)2020 (Moulin Rouge!): "El Tango de Roxanne," Moulin Rouge!2021 (no Tony award, pandemic)2022 (A Strange Loop): "An Original Musical," [title of show]2023 (Kimberly Akimbo): "BattleBlock Theatre"2024 (The Outsiders): "HUNK NIGHT SUMMER," Let's Make A Music podcast2025 (Maybe Happy Ending): "The Iron Giant
Americas Only Conservative Theatre Company And Now They Sing 2025-04-28 | “In order to benefit from another point of view, you have at least to live in the same reality...I only wish I still lived in the imaginary world I inhabited when I started the Republican Theater Festival, where diverse ideas and other people’s stories could conceivably find common ground.” -Cara Blouin, 2017In Dublin, OH, just north of Columbus, there is a small community theatre with a unique mission: to uphold stories, writers, and messages that come from the more conservative, “traditional” side of the aisle. Founded by Robert Cooperman in 2016, Stage Right Theatrics has spent the last nine years asking to be taken seriously by the liberal theatre establishment. Zach Barr (they/them) decided to take them at their word. The result is an odyssey through the insular world of conservative art, featuring six exclusive interviews and a visit to the very limits of empathy.Drum and percussion music in this video is "Percussion Stomps & Claps" by AudioCoffee, and used under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license (though Free Music Archive). "And Now They Sing" Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz&si=YIqSzURPHUJZ1SOzFor suggesting topics: instagram.com/admiralzachbarr For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
I Should Hate Back to the Future: The Musical (But I Dont) And Now They Sing 2024-12-14 | "In my bleaker thoughts, I wondered whether drama has been reduced to a kind of auxiliary feature for cinematic intellectual property, aiming to produce only minor feelings like recognition and comfort. The cheerier ideas were about theatre as graveside ritual, in which we impersonate or digest our ancestors to defeat death. So not that much cheerier." –Helen Shaw, 2023"Back to the Future: The Musical" is many things: a blatant cash grab, a technical marvel, a depository of more than a dozen forgettable songs, the location of some of Broadway's hardest working musical theatre performers, and a story about time travel. Zach Barr (they/them) saw the national tour, and then couldn't stop thinking about it. Enjoy a deep dive into the modern trend of the IP Musical, and how it's thrusting Broadway and its audiences...Back to the Past.All music in this video is from the albums "Textural" and "Electronic II" by Podington Bear, and used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license (though Free Music Archive). "And Now They Sing" Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: instagram.com/admiralzachbarr For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
I Ate The Divorce Papers – performed by Jackie Hoffman And Now They Sing 2024-10-05 | I'm not crying. I'm laughing.From the larger video: youtube.com/watch?v=8_tewSTT0YU
Low Budget Milky Whites [LIVE at BroadwayCon 2024] And Now They Sing 2024-08-11 | "He wasn’t puppeteering her just yet; she was still inanimate. Then he tilted her head ever so slightly, and instantly there she was: imbued with life and seemingly quizzical — even if her big, almost teary eyes are really just beveled foam coated with clear epoxy that catches the light. 'Yeah, we’re best friends,' said Kanagawa." -Laura Collins-Hughes, 2022Of all the characters from “Into The Woods,” none have seen more…variation between productions than Jack’s beloved cow. The defunct Tumblr blog “Low Budget Milky Whites” catalogued a bestiary of staging choices: puppets, masks, facepaint, balloons, and more. But, funny as they are, what can these costumes teach us about the medium of theatre? Zach Barr (they/them) discusses the differences between Static and Dynamic Art, through the lens of the cow as white as milk.Performed July 27, 2024 – LIVE at BroadwayCon 2024Thank you to BroadwayCon and the Mischief Management staff for hosting me! This was my first time ever presenting And Now They Sing live, and it was a blast the whole way through. Special shoutout to the attendee who brought their own Milky White puppet and asked me to sign the udder afterwards – I missed your name but you made my whole weekend.
The Gatsby Musicals Are (Not) The New Wild Partys And Now They Sing 2024-04-25 | "Has the age of these uniquely convergent adaptations, like Queenie, 'stood still'— or is it perhaps time to move on to the next party?" -Christopher Caggiano, 2015As two musical versions of "The Great Gatsby" barrel towards parallel runs in New York and Boston, theatregoers would do well to remember the last time a Jazz Age literary classic received two musical adaptations at the same time. Zach Barr (they/them) investigates the two musicals based on "The Wild Party" that debuted in the Spring of 2000, and how the situation mirrors today's dueling Fitgerald adaptations. Because in some ways, it's the same story – and in important ways, it's decidedly not.Music underscoring this video is a 1923 recording of King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band – the recording is in the public domain.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1gd0fGCioW-NFqGARYZ-8u037tr5ag7QC60ZotLRu2dc/edit?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFor suggesting topics: instagram.com/admiralzachbarr For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Pellys Régiment: How and Why to Film an Opera And Now They Sing 2024-02-07 | "The point, therefore, is not to take sides in a dispute between liveness and mediatization—an assumption in which this discussion may easily get trapped—but to investigate the ways in which their interaction may enhance the critical role of opera in a media-saturated world" –João Pedro Cachapo, 2018For those audience members unable to attend an opera in-person, a filmed recording of the performance can be another way to watch. But how does the act of filming itself affect what version of the story you see? Zach Barr (they/them) looks at two different proshots of Laurent Pelly's staging of "La fille du régiment," as well as one live performance, to make a much larger point about how and why to bring the stage to the screen.Music in this video provided by Podington Bear, and used through a Creative Commons BY-NC license (though Free Music Archive).Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1s9KayLQKHzU6ResQPCYaMGDIv4uEz-4iyQhGVIqviH0/edit?usp=sharing "And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFor suggesting topics: instagram.com/admiralzachbarr For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
The Shrek The Musical Sleigh Bell Conspiracy And Now They Sing 2023-12-19 | a story of ogres, orchestration, and Music Theatre InternationalVote for "And Now, They Sing" in the Chicago Reader's Best of 2023 Awards: chicagoreader.com/best-of-chicago/2023-ballot ["Arts & Culture," category "Best Original Digital Content (Theatre)"]Music in this video by Blue Dot Sessions, used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license."And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: http://instagram.com/admiralzachbarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr---Show footage used in this video:Broadway, 2008Pioneer High School, 2013 (youtube.com/watch?v=zcQbV7841Zs&t=58s)Chico Theatre Company, 2014 (youtube.com/watch?v=agfQ67PklHc&t=1m14s)Lyndonville & Medina Schools, 2015 (youtube.com/watch?v=h6_200RBB7Q&t=88s) Notre Dame Regional, 2016 (youtube.com/watch?v=BaAwZHlUMCY&t=99s)Arts in Motion, 2022 (youtube.com/watch?v=nxtdIeouLBE&t=269s)JCB Drama Club, 2023 (youtube.com/watch?v=T2D4bJ6CCwo&t=102s)Stage Crafters Community Theatre, 2023 (youtube.com/watch?v=l8poCtf8HP8&t=400s)Olympia Musical Theatre, 2023 (youtube.com/watch?v=Uv4c7JNNcLc&t=210s)CenterStage Theatre, 2015 (youtube.com/watch?v=8SNwHbYuCkA)Hessle Theatre Co., 2022 (youtube.com/watch?v=2LwRg9FomoU&t=71s)Cedar Valley Middle School, 2022 (youtube.com/watch?v=VaTrjn0M11s&t=54s)Kennedy Middle School, 2023 (youtube.com/watch?v=dUQJBxdrO1w&t=88s)
Is There A Future For King Charles III? And Now They Sing 2023-09-08 | "I do not choose, but like an Albion oak / I'm sown in British soil, and grown not for / myself but reared with single purpose meant." -Charles III, 2014Mike Bartlett's play "King Charles III" imagined what the future of the British monarchy would look like, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Today, one year exactly after the Queen's passing, Zach Barr (they/them) returns to the play, to judge how its message and motives have evolved, as the public view of the royals changes. Does it have a future? And does the real life King at its center?Music in this video is "Lamentations I" by Thomas Tallis, performed by The Tudor Consort. Used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1c3nd7g1FMEjq7osVOiUQwozuV7Uxlo7rXYQmlBrbL10/edit?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFor suggesting topics: http://instagram.com/admiralzachbarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Fords Theatre: The True Lincoln Memorial (Part 2) And Now They Sing 2023-08-11 | "I got into the theatre with the mentality that, if I do a show and, say, 2000 people come to see it, if I change one person’s mind on something, then I would have succeeded. That means that 1900 of them didn’t get it. But one person did. Oh my God, what a victory that is. You know?" José Carrasquillo, 2023In the second part of this two-part series, Zach Barr (they/them) looks at the programming and education work of Ford's Theatre, the LORT-B company founded to honor the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. But how should a politician be honored within the arts? How far from his life and times is it appropriate to stray? And why are so many people angry about statues all the time? More information on Ford's Theatre can be found at https://fords.org. This video is not sponsored but did consult with members of Ford's Theatre staff while researching. Music in this video is provided by Podington Bear, and used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1Ykd8I8VhugBg3FTb8GRTwXpr98YEA7ZO7Fz83qrDqm4/edit?usp=share_link "And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: instagram.com/admiralzachbarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
The Death and Rebirth of Fords Theatre (Part 1) And Now They Sing 2023-08-06 | "On that night the play was going off so well. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln enjoyed it much. She was laughing at my speech when the shot was fired. In fact, it was one laugh from the time the curtain went up until it fell -- and to think of such a sorrowful ending." -Harry Hawk, 1865Most Americans know Ford's Theatre as the ignoble location of the Lincoln Assassination. But the company, rebuilt and revived in 1968, is still in operation today, as both venue and museum. How do you bring back a site of mourning, and what goes into programming for that space? In the first video of this two-part deep dive, Zach Barr (they/them) discusses the unexpected and tumultuous journey of Ford's Theatre – from theatre to warehouse to museum and back again.More information on Ford's Theatre can be found at https://fords.org. This video is not sponsored but did consult with members of Ford's Theatre staff while researching. Music in this video is "The Goldberg Variations," performed by André Tchaikowsky.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1Ykd8I8VhugBg3FTb8GRTwXpr98YEA7ZO7Fz83qrDqm4/edit?usp=share_link "And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: instagram.com/admiralzachbarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
The Cirque Du Soleil Show Based on Avatar And Now They Sing 2023-06-21 | “"Avatar" is not simply a sensational entertainment, although it is that. It's a technical breakthrough. It has a flat-out Green and anti-war message. It is predestined to launch a cult.” –Roger Ebert, 2009James Cameron's "Avatar" may not be a film audiences can recall much about. But at least a few people at Cirque Du Soleil seem to be fans. Zach Barr (they/them) investigates the odd cultural artifact that is "TORUK: The First Flight" – an awkward mess of a show that is, nonetheless, more memorable than its high-grossing source material.Music provided by Kevin McLeod and John Bartmann, and used under a Creative Commons BY License.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1sDYMlJs_zftFhL3id8x-NEWLMQuQTfG5YbYA-LhRBPo/edit?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: instagram.com/admiralzachbarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Madamæ Butterfly: or, how to name an opera And Now They Sing 2023-05-21 | "I want to make sure that the choices we make are intentional, that they serve a purpose. If they don’t, then why are we changing it?" -Hawai'i Opera Theatre, private correspondenceAmerican productions of operas sometimes retitle the works in English. But sometimes, for other reasons, the title is left intact. But what are the rules around these naming conventions? And how have companies navigated this issue for Puccini's "Madama Butterfly?" Zach Barr (they/them) investigates this issue, discussing both the unspoken guidelines that companies follow, and responses from marketing teams working today.Music in this video is provided by Podington Bear, and used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license."And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarr For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
A Dolls Life: A Musical That Could Have Worked And Now They Sing 2023-04-09 | "'With Hal Prince,' said Mr. Nederlander, 'you're talking about one of the theater's greatest talents – it's like going with Babe Ruth on the baseball field. I never read the script – I went with him and Comden and Green.'" Michiko Kakutani, 1982It was the first new musical of the 1982/83 Broadway season, and it collapsed after five performances. But did audiences miss something worthwhile in this musical flop? Or, more intriguingly, did the writers miss the target they were aiming for? Zach Barr (they/them) returns to Hal Prince's famous flop "A Doll's Life," to investigate what failed then – and, hopefully, find how the show can succeed now.Music in this video is provided by Blue Dot Sessions.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1Ds3sWGulS1UyLFlo5RqWDLXXOTwrsu-17UhALY3kFXU/edit?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFollow me: instagram.com/AdmiralZachBarr Support me: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
The (Dis)Comfort of Nunsense And Now They Sing 2023-03-01 | "Although she performed in community theaters in Demarest and Teaneck in her youth, 'Ya gotta get serious' was her father's advice, Miss Farina said, when she wanted to pursue performing seriously. 'Then I'll be a nun instead,' she retorted at the time." -Alvin Klein, 1986"Nunsense" was a successful off-Broadway show from the 1980s. And then it got a sequel. Then another. Then four more. Forty years after its debut, the Nunsense series of musicals are produced by community theaters nationwide. But what makes this septet of musicals work? And what can they tell us about the perils of judging a script on its ability to comfort audiences? And how is this all affected by watching all seven in one day? Zach Barr (they/them) investigates the unique phenomenon of "Nunsense" – featuring an interview with the series playwright, Dan Goggin. Music in this video provided by Blue Dot Sessions. Choral music comes from The Tudor Consort and the Sisters of Aquinas. All music used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1eUwecAN5RcHBlkt_KWRj7vIQscMSAsDhWDHsXi3XDV0/edit?usp=sharing "And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarr For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
I Wrote William Shakespeares Shrek And Now They Sing 2022-12-22 | "And, most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath." -Bottom, A Midsummer Night's DreamDownload The Full Script Here: drive.google.com/file/d/18UrHRGIYzp6oH8Vwo4F3CoTScO37a4FX/view?usp=sharingIf you have an account on New Play Exchange, you can leave a review here: newplayexchange.org/plays/2040020/comical-historie-shrek-ogreSpecial thanks to Meredith Ernst and Sonia Goldberg for lending their voices to this videoSupport the channel: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Mama Rose By Any Other Name And Now They Sing 2022-11-18 | "The change of name from 'Gypsy Robe' to 'Legacy Robe' initiated by the Actors' Equity Association is remarkable. It is a step towards accurate representation of Roma people in mainstream society. We are moved by their honorable choice." -Roma Peoples Project, 2018What do you do when a classic musical has a title that is an unambiguous racial slur? Well, the answer certainly shouldn't be nothing. Zach Barr (they/them) discusses the history of the term itself, the arguments against changing the title, and what would truly be at stake in making–or not making–this adjustment. Music in this video is provided by Lobo Loco, and used under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license."And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFor suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarr For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Randy Feltface: Suspended Disbelief And Now They Sing 2022-10-29 | RANDY JOKE: youtu.be/Mq_wZE93ZAY“Discussion of the puppet can be nothing other than discussion of puppetry in performance. This is because the puppet, properly speaking, exists only as a process of performance." -Steve Tillis, 1990The Australian stand-up comedian Randy Feltface is one of the most vibrantly chaotic and emotionally pointed performers currently working on the touring circuit. He is also a purple hand puppet. What has led so many audiences to believe in him? In this video essay, Zach Barr (they/them) explores the trust that audiences place in both comedians and puppets, and how Randy brings the two worlds together to land one hell of a gut punch at the end of his 2018 special.Music in this video is courtesy of Podington Bear, and is used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1vl9CIA9J6skRlXinWwl6wGnO60rEiDbQLCPa3ol_3O4/edit?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFor suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarr For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Diana: The Musical – Full Show Commentary Track And Now They Sing 2022-09-26 | "What else have we talked about when we talked about Di? About her uncanny knack for exposing society's callowness...About the bizarreness of an institution–monarchy–that, though it has lost all true power, remains part public-relations firm, part pedigree kennel: Play our game or we'll fire you." -Francine du Plessix Grey, 1997It became the Internet's largest target when it debuted last year, but was DIANA: THE MUSICAL as bad as everyone said? Is there something worthwhile lying behind its poor writing and staid rhyme structure? And was this made for the right reasons?Zach Barr (they/them) has a new commentary track, to be enjoyed alongside the Netflix film, discussing all this and more. (For best viewing experience, have this video at full volume and Netflix at about 10-15% volume)
Shen Yun Wants To Clarify The Truth And Now They Sing 2022-09-04 | "The human body is the most perfect in the universe. It is the most perfect form. The aliens want the human body." -Li Hongzhi, 1999Nothing seems to match the viral marketing achieved by the Chinese dance troupe Shen Yun. But behind those billboards, what sort of performance is actually happening? And should we trust the artists just because they were kicked out of China in the 90s? In this video essay by Zach Barr (they/them), the secrets of Shen Yun's performance are revealed, as well as the history of how they, and their parent organization Falun Gong, came to be. And folks, it's so much weirder than you think it will be. Music in this video is courtesy of John Bartmann and Blue Dot Sessions, and is used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1Pogp70LbJTRQ1P5bB5TLya_2dh9fmBcfC76dfSWcPP0/edit?usp=sharing "And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarr For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
I wasnt kidding about writing a Winnie-The-Pooh play And Now They Sing 2022-05-26 | The adaptation I talked about writing back in my video essay about "Winnie-The-Pooh" is coming up soon! Here are a few updates on what the adaptation will look like, and how you can come see it (if you're able to). Tickets go live June 2nd, at thedentheatre.comWatch the original "Winnie-The-Pooh" video essay here: youtube.com/watch?v=WJW_n3aS1Iw
The Intoxicating Nostalgia of The Drowsy Chaperone And Now They Sing 2022-03-16 | "All the creators sort of have a love/hate relationship to the theatre. Because we love what it's capable of, but we're so disappointed normally. Which I think is true of any art form...you know how powerful it can be, and you want that transporting experience. And it's so rare." -Bob Martin, speaking on the podcast Downstage Center (2006)"The Drowsy Chaperone" may be one of the most expertly crafted interrogations of theatre's fragile relationship to nostalgia ever put on Broadway. Or, it's a simple comedy. It's neither. It's both. Either way, it's a Dynamic artwork. Zach Barr (they/them) takes a deeper look at 'Drowsy' and its protagonist, Man-In-Chair, and the discourse around how to present old material in the present day. It's a video essay ten years in the making.Music in this video is courtesy of:Blue Sky Moon (Creative Commons BY-NC-ND)Crowander (Creative Commons BY-NC)Ketsa (Creative Commons BY-NC-ND)Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1PnUxd_wop-I0imPJFCDuvRT_d9BJhyLHCe2MV1Pbhs4/edit?usp=sharing "And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Waitress 2: Back To The Big Apple Pie And Now They Sing 2022-01-24 | Everyone thought the diner had closed on Broadway for good. But 20 months after closing on Broadway, the musical "Waitress" reopened for a limited run, bringing a host of actors back to the stage, and inviting a few new faces. The sequel to an earlier video essay, Zach Barr (they/them) continues the story of the cast replacements who kept "Waitress" afloat during its brief, yet memorable, return. All music in this video is courtesy of One Man Book, and is used under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license."And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFor suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
The Many Adaptations of Winnie-The-Pooh And Now They Sing 2021-12-31 | "Christopher Robin was sitting outside his door, putting on his Big Boots. As soon as he saw the Big Boots, Pooh knew that an adventure was going to happen, and he brushed the honey off his nose with the back of his paw." -A.A. Milne, "Winnie-The-Pooh" (1926)For nearly a full century now, the stories of Winnie-The-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and their friends have been delighting children of all ages – on the page, on the screen, and even on stage. But how many different ways can you bring the Hundred Acre Wood to the theatre? Well, at least eleven different ways, it appears. In this video essay, Zach Barr (they/them) looks at the 91-year history of stage adaptations of "Winnie-The-Pooh," and what they may tell us about future adaptations yet to come.All music in this video is courtesy of Matt LeGroulx, and is used under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license.All materials relating to Julian Slade's "Winnie The Pooh" (1970) courtesy of Archival & Special Collections, University of Guelph. L.W. Conolly Theatre Archives, XZ1 MS A750027, Box 6. Special thanks to archivists Graham and Gillian for their assistance.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1exDO29hWLUs___OEN8GgCW-0Zhc9shLJpUDsPWDNIH8/edit?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
The Longest Running Broadway Play, For Now (Maybe Ever) And Now They Sing 2021-11-17 | "At the final [performance], the cast led the audience in a rendition of 'Aude Lang Syne,' and a former cast member sent a telegram: 'Hear the Statue of Liberty goes next.'" -Jordan Schildcrout, "In The Long Run," 2020Do you know what Broadway's longest-running play is? Zach Barr (they/them) explores the odd afterlives of "Life With Father" – the 1939 comedy that dominated Broadway for more than seven years – and the record it continues to hold, nearly three-quarters of a century later. How did it run for so long? And more pressingly: what sort of play could possibly take the record next?All music in this video is courtesy of M.A.G. Trio, and is used under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license.Longest-Running Plays since 1980: docs.google.com/document/d/17-MgQPxw5IN_5CWdKC00nzmQUh9aO625jCIGrRwd2Xg/edit?usp=sharingBibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1K2DxT74WHqgIlNr_zWFzSJgYTHj85xdP2kvkclXwtLo/edit?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
The Tragic Tale of the Three Tenors And Now They Sing 2021-10-21 | “We didn't realize in Rome that we created the Beatles for the senior citizens. It's something the people have been waiting for for a long time. Only nobody knew they were waiting for it." -Tibor Rudas, 1996What began as a charitable concert by José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti expanded throughout the 1990s into a veritable juggernaut, a touring musical act like the world has never seen. But what was lost in the transition? And will we ever see something like this again? Zach Barr (they/them) analyses the mesmerizing, and ultimately tragic, story of The Three Tenors – a concert series that brought opera to the masses, for better and worse.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/12fVwBkbZyGI94_WTAezo4ymrIPU5NNqvTXFpDUpu3VA/edit?usp=sharingAnd Now, They Sing:youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFor suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Staging Dr. Seuss: Katie Mitchells The Cat in the Hat And Now They Sing 2021-07-31 | "For a woman who has just spent the morning surrounded by a talking fish, a cat balancing on a ball and a rabble of primary schoolchildren, Katie Mitchell is looking unbelievably serene." –Sarah Crompton, The Telegraph, 2009What do we adapt when we adapt the works of Dr. Seuss? The story? The characters? Or the pictures? And what are the benefits of adhering so closely to the letter of Dr. Seuss's...well, letters?Zach Barr (they/them) takes a closer look at Katie Mitchell's 2009 stage adaptation of THE CAT IN THE HAT – perhaps the most intricately constructed stage play of Seuss's works, all for an audience of children not old enough to read.All music in this video is courtesy of Lobo Loco, and is used under a Creative Commons Zero license.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1UxF-bZPfDdaU6iQ48FYeHWt_LtDPEMwRVGfZ3NFcQP4/edit?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFor suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Season 2 Wrap-Up & Updates And Now They Sing 2021-04-24 | And Now They Sing Season 2 has come to an end. A quick video to announce a short hiatus until late June and give some hints as to upcoming S3 contentFor suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Alas, Poor André: The Story of the Tchaikowsky Skull And Now They Sing 2021-04-23 | “If André Tchaikowsky isn’t actually playing Yorick this year, please can we have his skull back in the Collection for future reference, or whatever you do with skulls of dead pianists.” -Letter from an unnamed museum to the RSC, 1989It takes a truly unique performer to steal the limelight from actor David Tennant, but it happened in 2008, in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Hamlet. The twist? The actor was dead.Zach Barr (they/them) explores the bone-chilling tale of the Tchaikowsky skull: how a Polish pianist was able to donate his skull to a theatre company, the history of its usage, and why such a donation is unlikely to ever happen again. All background music in this video is performed by André Tchaikowksy.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1NX4PzHHN9Xnk26qwxdSmBkZmyqlacoR91JrLmxT9P-M/edit?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFor suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
The Rite Steps: Reconstructing The Rite of Spring And Now They Sing 2021-03-27 | "Although the reconstruction process undertaken by Hodson and Archer relies on diverse source material to suggest a restoration of a material phenomenon—how the dancers and audience members in 1913 experienced the ballet—it seems their ultimate goal aligns more with the ideal: reconstructing what Nijinsky would have wanted." -Marisa Lily Gaetgaeow, 2018Can a lost ballet be found again? This was the question that led two archivists and a ballet master on a 17-year quest to revive Vaslav Nijinsky's LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS, the ballet that inspired the most famous opening night riot of all the performing arts. But what are we really hoping to preserve when we reconstruct a dance? Zach Barr (they/them) explores the inspired, contentious, and often impossible story behind the Joffrey Ballet's 1987 reconstruction of THE RITE OF SPRING, and the struggle to document an ephemeral work of art.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1NOdEh161PoRwPTaEeATNovi_Uzt15cxevFHI7P_ygxA/edit?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflzFor suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
We Need To Talk About The Ratatousical And Now They Sing 2021-02-14 | "I saw a couple of original songs being taken pretty seriously, and I thought, 'I’m a composer and I have Logic, I have a MIDI keyboard, and I have a microphone. I have the equipment. Why not throw my hat in the ring?'" RJ Christian, composer (2020)A crowdsourced movement of musical theatre artists spent the last three months of 2020 turning Pixar's "Ratatouille" into a digital musical. By the New Year, the musical had become a star-studded benefit concert with a professional team behind it. But what does the movement mean for Broadway, and what was lost in the quest to make it "real?"Zach Barr (they/them) explores the tumultuous, fast-paced history of the "Ratatousical:" what both the trend, and the subsequent hour-long production, mean for digital artists and Broadway artists alike.Bibliography: docs.google.com/document/d/1PlbVLPZBRWK5qlFA-LE-QWRQZlOEMUQMtLP6mFvvkbI/edit?usp=sharing "And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
How The Nutcracker Conquered America And Now They Sing 2021-01-01 | "'The Nutcracker,' something of a bad seed in its homeland – a ballet thought to be in constant need of a makeover...the recipient of many head shakes and clucking noises over its flawed nature – was about to be adopted and make good somewhere else." -Jennifer Fisher, "Nutcracker Nation" (2003)Why does the United States have such an obsession with THE NUTCRACKER? Productions can be found in all fifty states, and for many families, the holidays aren't complete without it. What production inspired this trend? This holiday video essay by Zach Barr (they/them) investigates George Balanchine's role in the ballet phenomenon, and the continued impact of his 1954 staging of THE NUTCRACKER."And Now, They Sing" playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Secret Ingredients: The Cast Replacements of Waitress And Now They Sing 2020-11-06 | “It's not like in some shows where you're locked into a way, because you're telling a specific story. Here it's really about a diner of personalities and people, and their situation is the story. There's a lot of freedom to how it can be cast.” -Bernie Telsey, casting director for WAITRESSDuring its nearly four-year-run on Broadway, the musical WAITRESS saw many, many performers come through the doors of the diner, and make their mark on the show's six leads. In this video essay, Zach Barr (they/them) discusses all 43 of these performers – from the unexpected to the inevitable – and how their performances in the show may influence productions of WAITRESS moving forward.Waitress Wiki: waitresswiki.orgCharted version of the cast replacements: drive.google.com/file/d/1D10nYECu3WLzUOZ8ivh9pn9aSpVrkWGu/view?usp=sharing "And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrXQ7kppQrbLhnG50hWlVJcr For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
Papps Pirates: From Operetta To Musical And Now They Sing 2020-07-26 | "If this 'Pirates of Penzance' at first seems like a misbegotten ship of fools, I'll be damned if it doesn't sail." –Frank Rich (1980)How did a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, well known for a rigid history of following original practice, become the model of a modern major improv-filled musical? In this new video essay, Zach Barr (they/them) discusses the history of "Papp's Pirates," the 1980 Shakespeare in the Park production that changed everything.Bibliography: drive.google.com/file/d/1RLz1Kzmo9K801DnMkhWdCmVFxYjIWW3O/view?usp=sharing"And Now, They Sing" series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrXQ7kppQrbLhnG50hWlVJcrFor suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarrFor donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr "An Open Letter to the Senators of the 116th Congress: Fund the Arts" by Matthew-Lee Erlbach: americantheatre.org/2020/07/25/an-open-letter-to-the-senators-of-the-116th-congress-fund-the-arts
Episode 4: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2012) And Now They Sing 2019-03-16 | It’s the experimental rock album that finally launched The Flaming Lips into the mainstream...and now, they sing! Episode Four features the 2012 musical adaptation of The Flaming Lips’ “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots.” And Now, They Sing is a six-part video essay series created by Zach Barr, a Chicago-based theatre director and writer. Each essay focuses on a musical whose source material is very well known, but the musical adaptation is not. The full series released on March 15, 2019.Twitter/Instagram: @AdmiralZachBarr#AndNowTheySingThis video series is intended for educational purposes only, and the author is not monetizing the videos or profiting off them in any way. All use of copyrighted works in this series falls under the fair use guidelines outlined in the 1998 Digital Copyright Protection Act. In other words, please do not copyright strike me. Filmed on location in Park Ridge, ILCredits Music: bensound.com
Episode 6: Raisin (1973) And Now They Sing 2019-03-15 | It’s one of the most respected plays about the experiences of being young, gifted, and black in America...and now, they sing! Episode Six features the 1973 musical “Raisin,” based on Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin In The Sun.” And Now, They Sing is a six-part video essay series created by Zach Barr, a Chicago-based theatre director and writer. Each essay focuses on a musical whose source material is very well known, but the musical adaptation is not. The full series released on March 15, 2019.Twitter/Instagram: @AdmiralZachBarr#AndNowTheySingThis video series is intended for educational purposes only, and the author is not monetizing the videos or profiting off them in any way. All use of copyrighted works in this series falls under the fair use guidelines outlined in the 1998 Digital Copyright Protection Act. In other words, please do not copyright strike me. Filmed on location in Park Ridge, IL
Episode 3: Doonesbury (1983) And Now They Sing 2019-03-15 | It’s the Pulitzer-winning comic strip about the daily life of college students living through the 1970s...and now, they sing! Episode Three features the 1983 musical adaptation of Gary Trudeau’s “Doonesbury.”And Now, They Sing is a six-part video essay series created by Zach Barr, a Chicago-based theatre director and writer. Each essay focuses on a musical whose source material is very well known, but the musical adaptation is not. The full series released on March 15, 2019.Twitter/Instagram: @AdmiralZachBarr#AndNowTheySingThis video series is intended for educational purposes only, and the author is not monetizing the videos or profiting off them in any way. All use of copyrighted works in this series falls under the fair use guidelines outlined in the 1998 Digital Copyright Protection Act. In other words, please do not copyright strike me. Filmed on location in Park Ridge, IL
Episode 2 Happy Days 2005 And Now They Sing 2019-03-15 | It’s the long-running television show about the wholesome adventures of a Wisconsin family and their motorcycle-riding derelict...and now, they sing! Episode Two features the 2005 musical adaptation of Garry Marshall’s “Happy Days.”And Now, They Sing is a six-part video essay series created by Zach Barr, a Chicago-based theatre director and writer. Each essay focuses on a musical whose source material is very well known, but the musical adaptation is not. The full series released on March 15, 2019.Twitter/Instagram: @AdmiralZachBarr#AndNowTheySingThis video series is intended for educational purposes only, and the author is not monetizing the videos or profiting off them in any way. All use of copyrighted works in this series falls under the fair use guidelines outlined in the 1998 Digital Copyright Protection Act. In other words, please do not copyright strike me. Filmed on location at Voice Power Chicago.
Episode 1: Breakfast At Tiffanys (1966) And Now They Sing 2019-03-15 | It’s the novel that became a classic film, about a struggling writer and the mysterious woman he idolizes...and now, they sing! Episode One features the 1966 musical adaptation of Truman Capote’s “Breakfast At Tiffany’s.” And Now, They Sing is a six-part video essay series created by Zach Barr, a Chicago-based theatre director and writer. Each essay focuses on a musical whose source material is very well known, but the musical adaptation is not. The full series released on March 15, 2019.Twitter/Instagram: @AdmiralZachBarr#AndNowTheySingThis video series is intended for educational purposes only, and the author is not monetizing the videos or profiting off them in any way. All use of copyrighted works in this series falls under the fair use guidelines outlined in the 1998 Digital Copyright Protection Act. In other words, please do not copyright strike me. Credits Music: bensound.com
