Noah Diamond displays one of the Prizes for Trivia winner. Marx Brothers Comic Book.
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Marx Brothers Sing-Along
Marx Brothers Singalong: “Alone”
There are two kinds of people: those who would enjoy a group singalong of Marx Brothers songs, and those who simply don’t know how to have fun. I assert that you have not truly lived until you’ve heard a room full of people singing Chico’s version of “Everyone Says I Love You,” in glorious unison. This video documents another of the Singalong’s many highlights: “Alone” (by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, from A Night at the Opera), led by Bill Zeffiro on the keys. (Noah Diamond contributed this and all other text for this post.)
Marx Brothers Singalong: “Dr. Hackenbush” and “Lydia the Tattooed Lady”
The Singalong concludes with a pair of Groucho specialty numbers. The penultimate selection is “Dr. Hackenbush” by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, one of Groucho’s favorite musical signatures, despite its unfortunate exclusion fromA Day at the Races. The Singalong concludes with the immortal “Lydia the Tattooed Lady,” by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, fromAt the Circus, led by Bill Zeffiro and me.
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Deep Dive Into Cracked Ice: Duck Soup Before Duck Soup!
Cracked Ice is an early draft of Duck Soup, written by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, and Grover Jones. It has some obvious similarities to the finished film, but it also reveals the more characteristically Marxian (and notably darker) comedy that was being planned before the director Leo McCarey imposed his vision on it. The first day of Marx Brothers Weekend ended with this cold reading, featuring Kathy Biehl, Melody Jane, Brett Leveridge, Jonny Porkpie, Matt Roper, Trav S.D., Seth Shelden, Matt Walters, and me. (Noah Diamond)
“Mr. Diamond himself plays Groucho, and he might as well be Groucho. Matt Roper’s Chico and Seth Shelden’s Harpo are also meticulous, and Matt Walters completes the quartet with the less well-known Zeppo, the male romantic lead in the story but certainly not the center of attention.”
Next..you better get tickets NOW before it is TOOO late!
I was delighted at be able to photograph the show early in the run. I did the NY Fringe Festival two years ago and again this year with the ‘full production’.
Here are some moments for this funny, charming, hilarious, musical, Marx Brothers show!
The chorus line is wonderful!
Matt Roper (Chico), Seth Shelden (Harpo) and Noah Diamond (Groucho) are great!
Singing and dancing and fooling around. What else would you want from an evening of theater?
Noah Diamond (Groucho) in a moment of distress.
Melody Jane (Beauty) sits and watches in amazement at Seth Shelden (Harpo) and Matt Roper (Chico) dance a bit!
Melody Jane (Beauty) sits with Kathy Biehl (Ruby) in the drawing room ‘love chair’.
Melody Jane (Beauty) with Matt Walters (Zeppo) singing one of the original songs from the show.
So many other great shots of the show BUT I suggest you see it for yourself!
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Musical Direction and Arrangements: Sabrina Chap Choreography: Shea Sullivan Directed by: Amanda Sisk
“it reminds us how brightly the Marx Brothers’ brand of lunacy once blazed.”