Masterworks Broadway Releases Two Rare Cast Recordings

NEW YORK, Oct. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Masterworks Broadway continues to make good on its promise to open its vaults with more classic cast recordings previously unavailable in the CD era.  Seventeen (1951 Original Broadway Cast) and Cabaret (1968 Original London Cast) will be available as downloads through all major digital service providers and as disc-on-demand with the original cover art, via Arkivmusic.com and Amazon.com.  All releases will be accompanied by new album pages and photos on MasterworksBroadway.com.

Seventeen, a genial coming-of-age story, managed a Broadway run of 182 performances in the summer and fall of 1951 – not bad, considering that Guys and Dolls, Call Me Madam and The King and I were the new shows everyone wanted to see that year. Based on a novel by Booth Tarkington, Seventeen features a score by composer Walter Kent and lyricist Kim Gannon and book by Sally Benson.  Produced by legendary TV star Milton Berle, Seventeen starred Kenneth Nelson (the original Matt in The Fantasticks and Michael in The Boys in the Band) and evokes a world located – to quote a line from the show – "somewhere between a headache and a heartache and a laugh." It's a loving snapshot of the era it depicts – pre-World War I small town America – filled with the gee-whiz charm of the post-World War II era when the show was written and produced. The first and only authorized CD version of Seventeen, digitally remastered from the original tapes, is available on October 22, 2012.

The original London production of Kander and Ebb's Cabaret, with Harold Prince reprising his Broadway role as director, opened in 1968 and ran for 336 performances. Cabaret starred Judi Dench (long before she was a "Dame") in her first musical role as the heroine, Sally Bowles. Lila Kedrova, known to movie-goers for her roles in Zorba the Greek and Torn Curtain, is Fraulein Schneider, her first musical role. Also featured is American actor Barry Dennen in his British stage debut as the Kit Kat Klub's gregarious and outrageous Master of Ceremonies. Dennen received the Evening Standard Award for his performance, which led to his role as Pontius Pilate on the original concept recording of Jesus Christ Superstar and its subsequent 1973 film version.  The 1968 Original London Cast Recording of Cabaret is available on November 13, 2012.

Masterworks Broadway is a label of Sony Masterworks.  For email updates and information on Masterworks Broadway please visit www.masterworksbroadway.com.

SOURCE Masterworks Broadway

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