Violet (1998 Original Off-Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Robert Westenberg, Jeanine Tesori, Stephen Lee Anderson, Cass Morgan, Brian Crawley, Michael Park, Jordanaires | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 9, 1999)
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Pony Proof Records
• ASIN: B00000DGOE
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,703 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #97 in Music > Indie Music > Broadway & Vocalists

Track Listings

1. Act I: Spruce Pine, North Carolina To Kingsport, Tennessee: Water In The Well - Amanda Posner/Lauren Ward

2. Act I: Spruce Pine, North Carolina To Kingsport, Tennessee: Surprised - Lauren Ward

3. Act I: Spruce Pine, North Carolina To Kingsport, Tennessee: On My Way - Lauren Ward/Ann Brown, Linda Dorsey/Brian D'Arcy James

4. Act I: Spruce Pine, North Carolina To Kingsport, Tennessee: M & Ms - Ann Brown, Linda Dorsey/Brian D'Arcy James

5. Act I: Spruce Pine, North Carolina To Kingsport, Tennessee: Luck Of The Draw - Stephen Lee Anderson/Amanda Posner/Lauren Ward/Michael Park/Michael McElroy

6. Act I: Kingsport To Nashville, Tennessee: Question & Answer - Michael Park/Lauren Ward

7. Act I: Kingsport To Nashville, Tennessee: All To Pieces - Lauren Ward/Michael Park/Michael McElroy

8. Act I: Nashville To Memphis, Tennesse: A Healing Touch - Robert Westenberg/Amanda Posner

9. Act I: Nashville To Memphis, Tennesse: Let It Sing - Michael McElroy

10. Act I: Memphis: Who'll Be The One (If Not Me) - The Jordanaires

11. Act I: Memphis: You're Different - Michael Park

12. Act I: Memphis: Lonely Stranger - Paula Newsome

13. Act I: Memphis: Lay Down Your Head - Lauren Ward

14. Act I: Memphis: Anyone Would Do - Paula Newsome/Rozz Morehead/Cass Morgan

15. Act II: Memphis To Fort Smith, Arkansas: Hard To Say Goodbye - Michael McElroy/Lauren Ward

16. Act II: Memphis To Fort Smith, Arkansas: Promise Me, Violet - Michael Park/Michael McElroy/Lauren Ward

17. Act II: Tulsa, Oklahoma-Hope And Glory Building: Raise Me Up - Robert Westenberg/Avis Graves/The Broadway Gospel Choir/Michael McElroy

18. Act II: Tulsa, Oklahoma-Hope And Glory Building: Down The Mountain - Stephen Lee Anderson/Amanda Posner

19. Act II: Tulsa, Oklahoma-Hope And Glory Building: Raise Me Up (Reprise) - Lauren Ward/Robert Westenberg

20. Act II: Tulsa, Oklahoma-Hope And Glory Building: Look At Me - Lauren Ward/Amanda Posner

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Violet is my favorite musical..., December 22, 1999

By 

Jessica M. Sher (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Violet (1998 Original Off-Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

so naturally, I love this album. Produced by Playwrights Horizons in NYC, I saw Violet four times while I was working at the theatre. About the musical: Violet is a girl in her mid-20s whose face has been scarred by an axe blade. She travels from her home in North Carolina to visit a televangelist/preacher in Oklahoma who claims to be able to heal people. She meets a couple of Army guys along the way, and... This musical is about the healing of the spirit, sung in everything from gospel to bluegrass to the blues.

Lauren Ward has the most beautiful voice. Her temperament and richness fit Violet perfectly. My mom's favorite is Michael McElroy as Flick conveys soul unheard of in "Let it Sing," and Robert Westenberg (Into the Woods, The Secret Garden, Sunday in the Park with George)is funny and touching as the preacher.

This show ran off-Broadway for 6 weeks and has popped up in Seattle and Philadelphia recently. I you haven't seen this show, listening to this CD will make you feel like you're there.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An usual musical -- surprising turns with every track, July 16, 2005

By 

D. Fair (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Violet (1998 Original Off-Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Like many reviewers, I am reviewing this after I had the sheer joy of performing it (I was Flick). Boy would I love to perform Flick again but I won't and you know why? Because this is one of those unfairly neglected gems that this so obscure and the mainstream musical theater audience really has no wind of it.

And I can understand why. Violet doesn't follow the popular musical theater formula. First off, it's based on a very serious and what some would call "dark" premise. It's about a woman in 1964 on her way to see a televangelist peacher so he can heal her of a terrible scar she received as a little girl. Second, Violet's music is glorious, but quite varied in style. One song will be a country ballad, the next, what sounds like Tina Turner should be singing, and the next, R&B, and the next, a soul gripping gospel number. That in itself may sway some listeners.

But let me tell you, the ending and THE MESSAGE that this musical sends is worth it all. It's so unusual in the the way it takes you this journey, that you become so compelled to feel for each of this characters.

To continue with it's premise, Violet meets along her way two friend soldiers: one black (Flick), one white (Monty). Violet and these soldiers learn to find affection in one another and an unusual love triangle forms as the soldiers fall for Violet (Monty openly, Flick secretly) where feelings are hurt and love is found. The audience is also unclear as in the beginning when the story seems understandable and innocent enough, the second act presents race and sex issues. However, the themes can be universally understood and appreciated.

Michael Elroy, Flick, is absolutely wonderful and perfect for the role. His hefty and sultry baritone has just a beautiful middle range and can do remarkable vocal feats as he flies to remarkably beautiful and sustained A's and B's, and one fantastic high falsetto Eb! Michael Park has the absolutely perfect country southern boy quality for Monty. His rendition of "You're Different" is so sentimental and poignant and just hits the spot. And his acting training is clearly evident. Lauren Ward stole the show and it sounds as if the role was written for her. I don't think she could be a show that fit her talents more perfectly. And what a great vehicle for her to learn her career on. She's a mezzo with a very healthy belt as well as a trained head voice all the way to a great F at the top of the staff.

The music is just beautiful and touching. "On My Way" is the central musical number as it ties up the themes so perfectly. The recording simply will not leave you bored as it is surprising with every track as new styles are infused and great acting compels you.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MOVING MUSICAL JOURNEY, June 7, 1999

By 

R. Scott Denny "Scott Denny" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Violet (1998 Original Off-Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Violet has fast become one of my most played musical theatre cds this year. Tesori and Crawley have created a moving, emotional musical journey with this touching story of a young girls search for outer and inner healing. With stunning vocal performances from Lauren Ward (Exactly Like You, 1776), Michael Park (Smokey Joe's Cafe, Little Me) and Robert Westenberg (Into the Woods, The Secret Garden), and especially Michael McElroy, this score captures the color and flavor of the 1960's mid South using bluegrass, gospel and traditional musical theare idioms. Along with Jason Robert Brown (Songs for a New World, Parade), Michael John LaChuissa (Hello Again, Marie Christine) and Adam Guettal (Floyd Collins, Myths and Hymns), Tesori and Crawley are leading the way for the musical theatre of the next century.