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Dave’s Gone By #355 (6/11/2011): THE 7th ANNUAL TOTALTHEATER TONY SHOW

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Here is the 355th episode–our annual Broadway Tony Awards special–of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired on UNC Radio, June 11, 2011. info: davesgoneby.com.

Host: Dave Lefkowitz
Guests: Jonathan Abarbanel (theater critic, WBEZ Radio), John Ekeberg (programming & operations director, Denver Center Attractions), Leslie (Hoban) Blake (vice president, Drama Desk), Rosalind Friedman (theater critic, WMNR adio), Eric Grode (critic, New York Times), Brian Scott Lipton (editor, TheaterMania.com), Michael Portantiere (columnist, BroadwayStars.com), Michael Riedel (columnist, New York Post), Simon Saltzman (president, Outer Critics Circle), Richmond Shepard (producer), David Sheward (editor, BackStage). Bonus Guest: Paul Williams (composer, recorded June 2010).

Featuring: Dave celebrates the Tony Awards with NYC theater critics making picks and predictions on the 7th Annual TotalTheater Tony show. Plus: Chicago critic Jonathan Abarbanel, The Denver Center’s John Ekeberg, Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflection on the Tonys, and a chat with composer Paul Williams.

Note: Technical difficulties added slight audio hiccups and truncated the recorded versions of interviews with Leslie (Hoban) Blake and Jeff Goodman. Apologies!

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN
00:03:00 GUEST: Michael Riedel
00:34:00 GUEST: Eric Grode
00:52:30 DAVE: Sponsors & Quiz, part one
00:57:30 GUEST: Brian Scott Lipton
01:18:00 GUEST: John Ekeberg
01:39:00 GUEST: Simon Saltzman
01:52:30 GUEST: Rosalind Friedman
02:05:00 GUEST: Jonathan Abarbanel
02:21:30 GUEST: Michael Portantiere
02:36:30 GUEST: Richmond Shepard
02:51:30 Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflection #17: the 2011 Tony Awards
02:59:00 GUEST: David Sheward
03:20:00 Quiz, part two
03:26:30 Dave – post-show message
03:30:30 GUEST: Leslie (Hoban) Blake
03:42:30 GUEST: Jeff Goodman
03:49:00 Quiz, part three
00:25:30 DAVE GOES OUT
03:56:30 BONUS GUEST: Paul Williams (2010)

June 11, 2011 Playlist: (part one) “Overture” (00:00:02) & “The Company Way” (02:03:00) & “Exit Music” (03:54:30; How to Succeed in Business…, 2010 Bway cast), “Southern Days” (00:30:00) & “It’s Gonna Take Time” (02:08:30; The Scottsboro Boys, 2010 off-Bway cast); “Hello” (00:46:30) & “Turn it Off” (03:23:30; The Book of Mormon, 2011 Bway cast), “Finishing the Hat” (00:50:00; Sunday in the Park with George, 1984 Bway cast), “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (01:14:30; Thoroughly Modern Millie, 2002 Bway cast). “Mad Tea Party” (01:32:00) & “Home” (02:47:30; Wonderland, 2011 Bway cast); “Tonight’s the Night” (01:33:00; Crazy for You, 1992 Bway cast); “Now I Have Everything” (01:34:30; Fiddler on the Roof, 1964 Bway cast); “Someday” (01:36:30; Memphis, 2010 Bway cast); “By the Sea” (01:48:30; Sweeney Todd, 1979 Bway cast); “If This isn’t Love” (02:19:00; Finian’s Rainbow, 1947 Bway cast); “It’s De-lovely” (02:33:00; Anything Goes, 1962 off-Bway cast); “The Song that Goes Like This” (03:16:00; Spamalot, 2005 Bway cast).

Dave’s Gone By Interview (5/14/2011): MARK RUSSELL

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Dave Lefkowitz interviews satirical comedian Mark Russell

Topics include: politics, comedy.

Segment originally aired May 14, 2011 as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Interview segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast: Full Episode

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

Dave’s Gone By #354 (5/14/2011): RUSSELLMANIA

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Here is the 354th episode of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired on UNC Radio, May 14, 2011. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Host: Dave Lefkowitz
Guest: political satirist Mark Russell

Featuring: Dave chats with satirist Mark Russell. Plus: Inside Broadway (The Book of Mormon, Tony nominees), Bob Dylan – Sooner & Later (Italy), Saturday Segue (Italians), Etta James get-well tribute, and Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflection on Israel’s birthday.

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN
00:20:00 SATURDAY SEGUE: Italy
00:33:00 GUEST: Mark Russell
01:31:30 Bob Dylan – Sooner & Later: Italy
02:01:30 Items in the news
02:05:00 INSIDE BROADWAY (Tony nominees (02:05:00), The Book of Mormon (02:09:00) & news (02:16:30))
02:19:00 Get Well – Etta James
02:32:30 Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflection on Israel’s birthday
02:59:00 DAVE – Friends & Sponsors
03:09:00 DAVE GOES OUT

May 14, 2011 Playlist: (part one) “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore” (00:10:00; Walker Brothers); “Mambo Italiano” (00:22:00; Dean Martin); “Calypso Italiano” (00:24:00; Bobby Darin); “Be Italian” (00:27:00; Nine, 2009 film soundtrack); “We Open in Venice” (00:31:00; Kiss Me, Kate, 1949 Broadway cast); Excerpt from 1976 PBS special (01:22:00; Mark Russell, youtube clip); “Tangled Up in Blue” (01:31:30), “Down the Highway” (01:37:00), “Joey” (live w/ The Grateful Dead) (01:40:30), “House Carpenter” (01:49:30) & “When I Paint My Masterpiece” (01:54:00; Bob Dylan); “These Foolish Things” (02:21:30) & “Slow and Easy” (02:25:30; Etta James), “Let’s Get Away from it All” (02:39:00; Frank Sinatra); “Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day” (02:41:00; Sam Cooke); “Fly Me to the Moon” (02:43:30; Tony Bennett); “Young at Heart” (02:47:30; Jimmy Durante); “Opus I, No. 2, 2nd Movement – Minuetto Grazioso” (02:50:00; Frank Zappa); “The Vatican Rag” (02:52:30; Tom Lehrer).
(pictured: Mark Russell, Etta James, Italian flag, happy birthday Israel!)

Dave’s Gone By Interview (5/7/2011): JOHN RUANE

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Dave Lefkowitz interviews political pundit John Ruane

Topics include: The Wizards of Spin, Osama Bin Laden, politics.

Segment originally aired May 7, 2011 as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

Dave’s Gone By Interview (5/7/2011): BOB CUDMORE

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Dave Lefkowitz guests and discusses the 2011 Tony nominations on the WVTL FM morning show hosted by Bob Cudmore

Topics include: Broadway, Tony Awards, Book of Mormon, Rabbi Sol Solomon.

Segment originally aired on WVTL FM (Amsterdam, NY) and was re-broadcast May 7, 2011 as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com
More information on Rabbi Sol Solomon: http://www.shalomdammit.com

Dave’s Gone By Interview (5/7/2011): BENJAMIN WELCH

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Dave Lefkowitz interviews University of Northern Colorado’s The Mirror newspaper editor, Benjamin Welch

Topics include: journalism, University of Northern Colorado.

Segment originally aired May 7, 2011 as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

All content (c)2011 TotalTheater Productions.

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

Dave’s Gone By #353 (5/7/2011): RACK AND RUANE

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Here is the 353rd episode of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired on UNC Radio, May 7, 2011. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Host: Dave Lefkowitz
Guests: editor Benjamin Welch (UNC Mirror) and author John Ruane, radio host Bob Cudmore

Featuring: Dave chats with college newspaper editor Benjamin Welch and political pundit John Ruane (“The Wizards of Spin”). Plus: Inside Broadway (news, nominations & reviews), Saturday Segue (mother songs), Bob Dylan – Sooner & Later (mothers), Dave’s appearance on WVTL’s “Coffee with Bob Cudmore,” and Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflection on the death of Osama bin Laden.

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN
00:08:00 DAVE GOES OFF – Osama
00:22:30 GUEST: Benjamin Welch
00:45:30 DAVE on “Coffee with Cudmore” w/ Bob Cudmore (WVTL-AM 1570, taped 5/3/11)
00:58:00 INSIDE BROADWAY, pt. 1 – Tony Nominations
01:14:00 BOB DYLAN – Sooner & Later (mothers)
01:40:00 GUEST: John Ruane
02:30:30 Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflection – Dead! Dead! Dead!
02:40:00 INSIDE BROADWAY, pt. 2 – Obits (02:40:00) & Reviews (Potato Needs a Bath (02:52:00) & War Horse (02:55:30)
03:04:30 SATURDAY SEGUE: Mothers
03:17:30 Friends & Thank Yous
03:23:00 DAVE GOES OUT

May 7, 2011 Playlist: (part one) “Gimme Some Truth” (00:18:00; John Lennon); “Ain’t That News” (00:43:30; Tom Paxton); “Tell Me, Momma” (01:14:30), “Mama, You Been on My Mind” (w/ Joan Baez; 01:19:30), “Shake Shake Mama” (01:22:30), “Tough Mama” (01:26:00); “Call Letter Blues” (01:30:00) & “Clothes Line Saga” (01:34:30; Bob Dylan); “Turn on the News” (02:26:00; Husker Du); “Small World” (02:37:00; Gypsy 1959 Bway cast w/ Ethel Merman); “A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing” (02:48:00; Promises, Promises, 1968 Bway cast w/ Jerry Orbach & Marian Mercer); “Your Mother Should Know” (03:04:30; rehearsal version); “Your Mother’s Here to Stay” (03:07:30; Allan Sherman); “Mother” (03:10:00; Tiny Tim); “Mother Dear” (03:12:30; The Divine Comedy); “What Would My Mama Say” (Roger Miller; 03:24:30).

Pictured from top: John Ruane, UNC Mirror newspaper, Osama bin Laden, 2011 staff of the UNC Mirror (Dave – front row, second from left; Benjamin Welch – back row, third from right), Bob Cudmore, Tony Award, John Ruane’s “The Wizards of Spin,” War Horse, Shona Reppe in Potato Needs a Bath.

Dave’s Gone By Interview (4/30/2011): SHECKY GREENE & Rabbi Sol Solomon

Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews comedian Shecky Greene

Topics include: comedy, show business.

Segment originally aired April 30, 2011 as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

All content (c)2011 TotalTheater Productions.

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

More information on Rabbi Sol Solomon: http://www.shalomdammit.com

Dave’s Gone By #352 (4/30/2011): SHECK & JIVE

Click above to listen to the episode (audio only).

Here is the 352nd episode of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired live on UNC Radio, April 30, 2011. Info: davesgoneby.com.

Host: Dave Lefkowitz

Guest: comedian Shecky Greene

Featuring: Rabbi Sol Solomon chats with legendary comedian Shecky Greene. Plus: Inside Broadway (NY musical reviews), Saturday Segue (green songs), Bob Dylan – Sooner & Later (green), Dave Says Bye to Phoebe Snow, and Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflection on the royal wedding.

00:00:01 DAVE GOES IN
00:15:30 SATURDAY SEGUE – green
00:31:00 INSIDE BROADWAY – Broadway news & reviews (Anything Goes (00:50:00) & How to Succeed in Business… (00:56:00))
01:02:00 BOB DYLAN – Sooner & Later: green
01:30:00 GUEST: Rabbi Sol Solomon interviews Shecky Greene
02:19:00 DAVE SAYS BYE – Phoebe Snow
02:33:30 DAVE – Sponsors
02:42:00 Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflection – royal wedding
02:57:30 DAVE GOES OUT

April 30, 2011 Playlist: (part one) “Green Onions” (14:30:30; Booker T. & the MG’s), “Green Shirt” (00:17:30; Elvis Costello); “The Leaves that are Green” (00:19:30; Simon & Garfunkel); “Little Green” (00:22:00; Joni Mitchell); “Green Rocky Road” (00:25:30; Tim Hardin), “It’s De-Lovely” (00:47:00; “Anything Goes” 1962 off-Bway cast); “Wiggle Wiggle” (01:03:00), “House Carpenter” (01:05:00) “Let Me Die in My Footsteps” (01:09:00), “Baby, Where are You Tonight?” (01:12:30) & “Three Angels” (01:18:30) & “Copper Kettle” (01:21:00; Bob Dylan); “Shecky Greene at Italian Earthquake Benefit” (01:27:30; youtube excerpt), “Somewhere That’s Green” (02:14:00; Little Shop of Horrors, off-Bway cast), “Poetry Man” (02:20:30), “Every Night” (02:25:00) & “Majesty of Life” (02:28:30; Phoebe Snow), “Wedding Bells” (02:46:30; Benny Bell); “Bein’ Green” (02:57:30; Van Morrison).

Dave’s Gone By Skit: RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #13 (4/24/2011): Easter

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RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S RABBINICAL REFLECTION #13 (4/24/2011): Easter

Aired 4/23/11 on Dave’s Gone By. Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgmT5qW-5Vc

Shalom, Dammit! This is Rabbi Sol Solomon, with a Rabbinical Reflection for the week of April 24th, 2011.

April 24th is a big day for our Christian brethren because it is Easter Sunday, the day that commemorates Jesus rising from the dead. According to the story, Jesus was crucified, pulled off the cross, and buried in a tomb. Three days later, they move away the rock – because that’s what you always do after you bury someone, you go back in and make sure they’re dead – and lo and behold, no corpse. The cave was empty.

And then, depending on which gospel you read, Jesus started appearing to his followers. He returned from the dead and visited his old pals. He saw the apostle Peter, and Paul, and Thomas – the famous “doubting Thomas.” Jesus said to him, “You don’t believe I’m dead? Stick your fingers in my wrist holes.” That’s actually in the book of John. Jesus telling Thomas, “You don’t think it’s me? Why don’t you blow in my feet like an ocarina? What? Disgusting? I spend seven hours bleeding to death on a cross, and you don’t wanna get goo on your face? Forget `doubting Thomas’; I’m gonna call you `asshole Thomas.’ How do you like that, ha? Pussyboy asshole Thomas. Now shut up and put your thumb in my ankle.”

I dunno. Obviously, I don’t believe in the whole resurrection thing, or any part of the Jesus story. But what intrigues me is the accepted idea that Jesus rose on the third day, and on the 40th day, he ascended to heaven. That leaves 37 days – nearly a month and a half – when he’s the walking dead, strolling around Bethlehem and wherever.

Wouldn’t that have been enough time to…I dunno…do anything? The gospels are very cryptic about his whereabouts all those weeks. Which is another reason they’re so suspect. If somebody rose from the dead, wouldn’t you follow them everywhere? Wouldn’t you take notes on every single thing they did? Instead: one visit here, an appearance there, a possible sighting in New Mexico.

And what if you were Jesus coming back to earth – what would you do? Was he still wounded? If he was part-human; maybe he went to a hospital, got himself re-hydrated, a couple of splints, maybe a chest x-ray.

And when he felt better… I don’t think they had guns in those days, but don’t you think he would’ve grabbed a sharp sword and gone looking for some people?

If I were Jesus, I’d be like, “Hello, there. Remember me? Oh, that’s right, you didn’t see my face. You were too busy looking at my back while you were whipping it 39 times. Ohhh..no hard feelings. You were just doing as you were told. But, see, I’m the son of God now. So you have two choices: I can either put this sword through your head, or you can take me to Herod, and then I’ll put this sword through your head. Who? Pilate? Oh, I’ve been to Pilate. His courtroom, as a matter of fact. Let’s just say I put his gavel in a very interesting place.”

Now, see? If the New Testament read like that, I’d believe in it. Here you’ve got the son of God coming back with six weeks on earth to wreak havoc, get revenge, maybe get a little somethin’-somethin’ from Mary Magdalene. Or the reverse – maybe he uses his post-mortem super powers to unite everyone on the planet, prove that he’s divine and turn the whole world Christian.

But no. He comes back, a few people see him, and then he goes off to God. What a wasted opportunity! Which is why I’d sooner believe in the Easter Bunny than Jesus. But that’s just me. I certainly wish our goyische friends and neighbors a happy holiday, with lots of good family gatherings and frilly bonnets and chocolate bunnies.

Although speaking of food, it does occur to me that if the last supper was, as they say, a Passover Seder, that means for his final days on earth, Jesus could eat only Kosher-for-Pesach meals. Forget all the other tortures of the crucifixion; can you imagine how constipated he was? That poor bastard.

This has been a Rabbinical Reflection from Rabbi Sol Solomon, Temple Sons of Bitches, in Great Neck, NY.