Good things come to those who wait and JAY Records’ release of the First Complete Recording of 42nd Street on 8 April 2022 is a perfect example of that.
This is an opportunity for musical theatre fans to enjoy the sensational and sparkling orchestrations of Philip J. Lang and ALL the dance sequences complete and intact.
The newest edition to JAY’s Complete Recordings, 42nd Street once again demonstrates the company’s commitment to preserving the essence and legacies of this unique theatrical art form. These original versions of great classic musicals are unlikely to be ever produced in theatres again.
On 5 October 1996 an excited group of high-profile performers and the National Symphony Orchestra – led by conductor Craig Barna – gathered at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London to embark on the First Complete Recording (of the score and selected scenes) of the original version of the Broadway musical fable, 42nd Street.
The recording, without the ‘taps’ and its star Marti Stevens, who plays the role of Dorothy Brock, was completed over four days. On 18 and 19 October, the recording team went to New York to record Stevens’ vocals and the tap routines as well as finalise the recording at Clinton Recording Studios. After 26 years, the First Complete Recording of 42nd Street is now ready to be enjoyed by everyone.
The team at JAY Records is beyond excited to be presenting this recording to the world for the first time outside of the theatres where the original Broadway and West End productions were staged. The joyful dance sequences, as orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, are included in their entirety.
All the songs as performed within the context of the book, together with selected scenes as presented in the original productions, are recorded and preserved for posterity. One song, ‘I Know Now’, which was left out of all previous cast recordings of the musical is now featured in its rightful place as part of the original Broadway version.
The original Broadway production of 42nd Street
JAY has also been able to assemble the perfect cast for this Complete Recording:
- Marti Stevens has the ideal singing voice and acting style for the role of Dorothy Brock. “Marti wisely decided to portray Dorothy Brock as an egotistical and proud ageing star and not as a satirical comedienne as some predecessors have done,” says the company.
- Jamie Ross repeats his much-lauded performance as Julian Marsh in the final few years of the original Broadway production.
- Cathy Wydner took over the role as Peggy Sawyer in the original Broadway production from Wanda Richert. Not only does Cathy give a vivid and stunning performance, she does all her solo tap dancing as well. Sadly, Cathy passed away in 2004. This recording is dedicated to her memory.
- Michael Gruber is one of those Broadway brilliant juveniles who can bring to life any such role with aplomb. Although he has not played Billy Lawlor in any productions of the musical, he performs and sings the part as if he has been doing so for years.
- Wonderful West End stars Kim Criswell and Caroline O’Connor perform the roles of Maggie and Annie.
- To complete the star-studded cast, JAY assembles a company of actors from the West End and Broadway who have appeared in various productions of 42nd Street. This includes a group of American artists performing the tap sequences, specially choreographed by Cathy Wydner.
- JAY’s regular orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, plays the original Broadway orchestrations by Philip J. Lang. Craig Barna, who has overseen several productions of 42nd Street, conducts.
Over the years, many have bemoaned the absence of a good recording of 42nd Street because almost all the dance sequences have been either abridged or not recorded at all. Critics have suggested that past recordings are badly mixed and mastered, too many songs and dance numbers cut etc, but not this one!
JAY Records hopes this Complete Recording of the Original Broadway version of 42nd Street will finally do justice to this wonderful musical fable.
Click here for full cast details, teaser tracks from the 42nd Street Complete Recording and you can put in your order too!
The late Cathy Wydner stars in 42nd Street at the 5th Avenue Theater. JAY’s recording is dedicated to her memory
42nd Street Fact File:
1932: 42nd Street was first published as a novel by Bradford Ropes.
3 March 1933: The movie adaptation, directed by Lloyd Bacon with choreography by Busby Berkeley, premiered in Manhattan, featuring songs with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin. The movie starred Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers.
25 August 1980: David Merrick presents the musical adaptation on Broadway. The stage musical was adapted by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin and Johnny Mercer. It was directed and choreographed by Gower Champion. The cast featured Jerry Orbach as Julian Marsh, Tammy Grimes as Dorothy Brock, Wanda Richert as Peggy Sawyer and Lee Roy Reams as Billy Lawlor.
8 August 1984: The Broadway production transferred to London. It starred James Laurenson as Julian Marsh, Georgia Brown as Dorothy Brock, Clare Leach as Peggy Sawyer and Michael Howe as Billy Lawlor. Catherine Zeta Jones, who was in the chorus in 1984, took over as Peggy.
2 May 2001: The musical was revived on Broadway. It was directed by Mark Bramble and choreographed by Randy Skinner. It starred Michael Cumpsty as Julian, Christine Ebersole as Dorothy, Kate Levering as Peggy and David Elder as Billy.
4 April 2017: The London revival of the musical opened. It was again directed by Mark Bramble and choreographed by Randy Skinner. It starred Sheena Easton as Dorothy, Tom Lister as Julian, Clare Halse as Peggy and Stuart Neal as Billy.
5 October 1996: JAY commenced the first Complete Recording of the original version of the musical with the original orchestrations at Abbey Road Studios, London.
8 April 2022: The Complete Recording of 42nd Street is released by JAY Records.
(clockwise) Marti Stevens, Michael Gruber, Cathy Wydner, Kim Criswell, Jamie Ross and Caroline O’Connor
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