I think I remembered you saying that you recently moved out of the city? Did you get a chance to see First Daughter Suite at the Public? It was really terrific.

Oh no, I agree with you that Babs at close to the height of her popularity is the only person who ever could have made that happen, and she didn't manage to.

Probably my pick for future standard from Light in the Piazza is "Passegiata" - a great waltz in the tradition of Richard Rodgers.

The characters are older in the movie than in the original book. They are slightly younger in the musical, which doesn't help things.

And "Sleigh Ride" was of course written by the Broadway legend Leroy Anderson. (Tongue firmly in cheek, although Goldilocks is a pretty good score.)

I think that the marvelous cast and direction of the Shakespeare in the Park production definitely made up for some of the show's shortcomings. (I loved it too, saw it twice.)

This…surprises me.

Oof, I'm also a 13 megafan (just got an early pre-Broadway script), and I kind of thought that "Brand New You" was one of the weakest songs in the show.

Completely agree on "Here I Am" - I think this is more likely to become a standard than "Breeze Off the River," although it's very much comparing apples and oranges.

Although I actually think "Will You" is more likely to become a standard. It's one of the few pastiche songs written that actually sounds like a standard from that period - it's good enough.

I saw the show 8 times during the Broadway run, and it was actually the last show I stage doored - less as an autograph-seeker and more just as someone who wanted to tell the artists what their work meant to me. Let me tell you, Stew was very vocal about not loving the idea of doing this show for any longer than he…

I completely agree with you - "Keys" is a marvelous dramatic moment that couldn't really happen that way in any other format.

"Without Love" is probably my favorite song from the show too.

I actually liked Next to Normal more off-Broadway, when there was still a little camp and humor in the show. The tone was more consistent on Broadway, but once the camp elements were gone, I found that (much like Diana), I missed the mountains. Those elements made me appreciate the human drama that much more.

Gosh, Roswulf, you know I agree with you on most things musical theater (and I do agree that Lippa is a hack), but I have seen MJL's Wild Party in three different productions and I've never found it grueling to watch or listen to. I find it immensely cathartic and moving. It certainly can be ugly, but the ugliness…

"People Like Us" and "When It Ends" are also good songs to play for people who complain that LaChiusa's music is "too difficult/dissonant."

"turned into"?

"Ring of Keys" is already a musical theater standard, kind of. Everyone in piano bars perks up when they hear the pianist start it.

I think Heathers is half terrific, half pretty bad, which is really weird. Among the songs not yet mentioned, "Kindergarten Boyfriend" is really good too.

I actually thought her understudy was even better.