My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies (1999)

A live concert at Carnegie Hall filmed in September 1998, My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies gathers a glittering lineup of Broadway's best, past and present. Some marquee names such as Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, and Betty Buckley are conspicuously missing, and Julie Andrews hosts but does not sing, but it still has Liza and stars aplenty from the '90s (Bebe Neuwirth, Faith Prince) as well as the '70s and '80s (Elaine Stritch, Jennifer Holliday, Nell Carter). The older stars sing songs from landmark original roles, while the '90s stars tend to sing either songs they've performed in revivals or songs from older shows--curiously, modern headliners such as Audra McDonald and Linda Eder sing older material rather than the contemporary shows (Ragtime, Jekyll & Hyde, respectively, among others) with which they are strongly associated.

A number of these performances might be slightly inferior to those on the original recordings, but there are a number of gems, and the star power of the whole lineup is undeniable. In addition, even though only a few numbers provide action to watch, video is a valuable format for this concert because it gives faces to stars who most viewers outside of New York might recognize only by name or still photographs, and also allows fans to catch up with yesterday's stars. (Those who were dazzled by Andrea McArdle's cameo in the 1999 TV remake of her original star-making vehicle, Annie, will love her sweet, understated performance here.) Furthermore, the 99-minute video program provides more footage than the PBS telecast (85 minutes) or the CD release (61 minutes). This is highly recommended for Broadway fans. --David Horiuchi Amazon.com essential video

Dream A Little

When you want to escape-purely escape-into a dream-like musical state, then 'The Leading Ladies of Broadway' is for you. There are show-stopping performances scattered throughout, especially the A.L. Weber Love Trio which is magnificent! If you are thrilled when you hear a wonderful song performed by an exceptional voice, you must have this recording. Julie Andrews moderation lends an elegant flair. March 24, 2007

Good Entertainment

Although this is not the best concert I have ever watched it is a superb DVD to have in one's collection. I have watched the DVD four times since receiving it, less than a month ago, and enjoy it more each time as I grow to know the performers I have never seen or heard of before. Seeing Julie Andrews is always a delight to me.
The best 'chapter' of the DVD, for me, is Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag performed by Karen Ziemba & Bebe Neuwirth. It is excellent. The two ladies were superb together. Bebe, technically, is the better of the two but I loved them both.
The best performances were: Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag, Nothing, Everybody's Girl, Some People, The Lloyd Webber Love Trio, Life upon the Wicked Stage and Adelaide's Lament.
The best performers were: Bebe Neuwirth, Karen Ziemba, Priscilla Lopez, Debra Monk, Liza Minnelli, Rebecca Luker, Kit Kat Girls, Dee Hott and Faith Prince.
All the ladies were superb in their own ways. The only performer I was really disappointed with (and she was greeted with such delight by the audience when she came on, and after) was Jennifer Holliday. I hated her hairstyle to start with. She obviously has great talent but I detested the way she sang 'And I'm telling you I'm not going'. I don't mind anyone giving their all but I hated her rendition. If her throat hurt her after the show I'm not surprised. Someone needs to fine tune her natural talent, because she certainly has it. Miss Holliday, I would like to have seen you perform another song where you could have blown my mind away.
Audra McDonald impressed me with her varied singing styles. She is delightful.
Of course every review is subjective and what I don't like, someone else could love.
All-in-all it is a wonderful evening's entertainment. March 17, 2007

They're the TOP

I first saw this when it was on PBS ... and then bought the CD and finally the DVD was available and I grabbed it up. It's brilliant. Not all the top performers of B;way are included but enough to say "what a group of Broadway legends...all in one room!" Star power, to say the least! If you want to know why these women have remained on top you only have to watch this program. They are the cream of the crop. In just one song these women illustrate why they are up there. Elaine, Liza, Karen, Audra, Marin, Dorothy and, of course, Julie, to name a few. I've watched this DVD many times and it nevers gets stale (as some do)! Incidently, if you want to catch a few more cream of the crop, check out the DVD of the concert version of Follies with Carol Burnett et. al. Brilliant! March 14, 2007

My Favorite Broadway - Leading Ladies

The remastered picture & sound quality of the DVD and was excellent. Three(3)day delivery was faster then I expected. February 17, 2007

Exellent DVD

This DVD has many of the broadway divas on it and there are some stand out performances, ie: Man of La Mancha. A real classic. February 2, 2007

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