The Scottsboro Boys

Be the first to write a review

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
It can take a musical a long time to reach Broadway. When lyricist Fred Ebb died in 2004, he and his composing partner John Kander had last had a show on Broadway with 1997's Steel Pier, but they had several projects in various stages of completion. One of these was Curtains, which reached Broadway in 2007. Another is The Scottsboro Boys, which had an Off-Broadway production represented by this cast recording and released as the show was preparing to transfer to Broadway in 2010. One characteristic of Kander & Ebb musicals is a tendency to tell stories, sometimes dark stories, within the frame of some show business form. Thus, Cabaret, although it is about the rise...
See more details below
CD (Jewel Case)
$18.04
BN.com price
(Save 5%)$18.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (16) from $8.66   
  • New (14) from $10.69   
  • Used (2) from $8.66   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
It can take a musical a long time to reach Broadway. When lyricist Fred Ebb died in 2004, he and his composing partner John Kander had last had a show on Broadway with 1997's Steel Pier, but they had several projects in various stages of completion. One of these was Curtains, which reached Broadway in 2007. Another is The Scottsboro Boys, which had an Off-Broadway production represented by this cast recording and released as the show was preparing to transfer to Broadway in 2010. One characteristic of Kander & Ebb musicals is a tendency to tell stories, sometimes dark stories, within the frame of some show business form. Thus, Cabaret, although it is about the rise of Nazism, is set partly in a nightclub, and Chicago, a tale of murder and celebrity, is set within a burlesque production. To tell the story of the Scottsboro boys, the nine black youths who were unjustly convicted of rape in Alabama in the '30s, Kander & Ebb hit upon the odd theatrical frame of the minstrel show, odd because minstrel shows predate the era of the Scottsboro boys by 30 years or so. Nevertheless, the characters are seen first in their minstrel roles, then in the story itself, with the music adhering to the popular styles of the late 19th century, including ragtime and cakewalk. (About halfway through, Kander starts slipping into his comfort zone of '20s jazz sounds, which may be inconsistent, but at least it's closer to the real time period of the show.) Actually, there is even a frame around the frame, since the minstrel show seems to be occurring in the memory of a woman waiting for a bus who turns out to be Rosa Parks, instigator of the Montgomery bus boycott for Civil Rights in the '50s. This may all seem like a bit too much framing, but at least it gives Kander & Ebb a handle on making a musical out of an extremely dark story in American history. Multiple trials and the recantation of one of the alleged victims do not set the young men free, and the show follows a downward trajectory; but at least the music is lively. Of course, many of the same aspects can be found in Chicago, if not the racial angle. The performers, almost all of them male, even playing most of the female parts, are accomplished, and there are some excellent Kander & Ebb songs here. No doubt some viewers, as well as listeners, will find the minstrel show format off-putting with its connotations of racism, but then racism is the point of this musical, and the creators have found a variety of ways to immerse their audience in it.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/12/2010
  • Label: Jay Records
  • UPC: 605288142123
  • Catalog Number: 1421
  • Sales rank: 5,757

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Original Off-Broadway Cast Primary Artist
Kander Vocals
Ernie Collins Tuba, Upright Bass
Donald Downs Trumpet, Cornet
Andrew Sterman Clarinet, Flute, Bass Clarinet, Piccolo
Paul Masse Piano, Conductor, Harmonium
John Cullum Vocals
Bruce Doctor Percussion, Drums
Justin Smith Violin
Rodney Hicks Vocals
Colman Domingo Vocals
Charley Gordon Trombone
Brandon Victor Dixon Vocals
Greg Utzig Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Ukulele
Sharon Washington Vocals
Sean Bradford Vocals
Kendrick Jones Vocals
Julius Thomas Iii Vocals
Josh Breckenridge Vocals
Forrest McClendon Vocals
Derrick Cobey Vocals
Cody Ryan Wise Vocals
Christian Dante White Vocals
Technical Credits
Kander Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Liner Notes
David Thompson Liner Notes, Book
David Loud Producer, Vocal Arrangements, Music Direction
John Yap Producer, Executive Producer
Fred Ebb Composer, Lyricist
Susan Stroman Choreographer, Direction
Larry Hochman Orchestration
Glen Kelly Arranger
Sophie Marchant Mastering
Bryan Smith Engineer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously