December 12, 2016

BC/EFA Releases Vivacious 2016 Holiday Album; 'Chicago' Creates Original Video

EDGE READ TIME: 6 MIN.

The 18th volume in the "Broadway's Carols for a Cure" collection is full of Broadway's favorite musicals such as "Hamilton," and "Waitress, and a special holiday video by the team from "Chicago."

The holiday season is not complete without the perfect music to accompany it.�"Broadway's Carols for a Cure" is the latest compilation album that embodies the spirit of the season like nothing else can. A project born completely out of love, "Broadway's Carols for a Cure" pairs the casts from famous Broadway musicals with songs that are both classic and new. The result is pure gold that will make you reach for the "repeat" button over and over again.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is "Broadway's incredible, dedicated nonprofit organization that helps individual people with serious illnesses such as AIDS and women's health issues receive the health care and support they need. In addition, they provide financial support in the form of grants to AIDS and family service organizations throughout the country," said album producer Lynn Pinto.

With a jaw-dropping list of all the most popular musicals, each production company is allowed the creative freedom to choose their contribution. Instead of the typical live singing the artists are used to, they're provided with intimate studios that allow for vocal and instrumental isolations. This makes the album unique from the majority of cast albums on the market, and showcases some of the best voices and instrumentalists in the world.

After 18 years of experience, you can imagine that producer Lynn Pinto and engineer Andros Rodriguez know how to create perfection. The production team they work with is passionate and relentless in their pursuit of the ideal sound. After listening to several seconds of any track, it becomes very clear that "Broadway's Carols for a Cure" is magical.

Some of the most notable songs on the album include:

  • "Chicago" - The first track opening this year's album is a standout original titled "Holiday Melody" written by cast member Brian O'Brien and orchestrated by Richard Rockage. Roxie Hart herself, performer Angel Reda provides the knockout vocals which kicks the album off with a joyful, holiday feel.
  • "Hamilton" - With a song titled "I Can See the Light" written by performer Anthony Ramos and Associate Music Director Kurt Crowley. Ramos sings the solo, backed up by the smooth group vocals from the rest of the company, creating an infectious instant yule-time hit.
  • "Waitress" - With Jessie Mueller and the incredibly fun and talented cast, they perform Sara Bareilles' "Love is Christmas," that feels, in the words of music director Nadia Digiallonardo, "like a big, warm hug!"
  • "Matilda" - For their farewell song on the album, composer Deborah Abramson creates a wistful and gorgeous new "Auld Lang Syne." With voices featuring all ages from the show, it's a nostalgic look back on the wonderful friendships that have been made during the run of the show. As a bonus, the masterpiece contains the voices of every single one of the 19 girls who played Matilda since opening night.
  • "On Your Feet" - The cast performs Gloria Estefan's "Christmas Through Your Eyes" with energetic verve and a special nod to a Cuban Christmas in Miami.
  • "The Lion King" - Cast member Mduduzi M. Madela wrote original melodies and added beautiful African chants for a very special "What Wondrous Love," orchestrated and conducted by Cherie Rosen. The company is featured, as well as three child soloists from the cast to create stunning results.

    Those are just 6 of the 22 highly detailed tracks that you will hear, along with:

  • Alix Korey with the cast of "Fiddler on the Roof"
  • Rob McClure with the cast of "Something Rotten!"
  • Leona Lewis with the cast of "CATS"
  • Drew Seeley with the cast of "Jersey Boys National Tour"
  • Robert Creighton for "Cagney"
  • Chilina Kennedy & Jessica Keenan Wynn with the cast of "Beautiful"
  • 11-year-old Raghav Mehrotra on drums with the cast of "School of Rock"
  • The entire, stellar orchestra and cast of "The Phantom of the Opera," led by Maestro Richard Carsey

    And the list still goes on and on. The only way to immerse yourself in the beauty and love "Broadway's Carols for a Cure" exudes is to listen to it in its entirety. It will envelop you with warmth, like a cozy blanket on a snowy Winter's day.

    Cast members of "Chicago," the longest-running American musical on Broadway, also launched a music video to accompany their original song "Holiday Melody," which appears on the 2016 edition of the annual "Carols for a Cure" album. All proceeds from the album benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

    "Holiday Melody" is written by Brian O'Brien and features Angel Reda as lead vocalist. Fellow cast members Paul Alexander Nolan, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Lana Gordon and Tonya Wathen are also featured, as is the world-class orchestra of "Chicago."

    "Holiday Melody" is arranged and orchestrated by Richard Rockage, and produced by Lynn Pinto and Andros Rodriguez of Rock-it Science Records. The video is directed, filmed and edited by "Chicago" company member Jason Patrick Sands.

    "The company of 'Chicago' and Broadway Cares have been working together to make a difference for 20 years," O'Brien said. "With this year's original 'Carols for a Cure' song Jason and I realized it was an opportunity to do ever more to raise awareness and donations for a cause that helps so many in our community and across the country."

    For 18 years, the companies of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring shows give the gift of music by participating in this annual celebratory musical feast for the holiday season. The 2-CD set exclusively benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and features new and classic holiday songs.

    by EDGE

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