Grand Hotel: The Musical - Broadway Cast Recording
OK, so it's not exactlyThe Threepenny Opera.  Still,Grand Hotelhas plenty of the atmosphere of prewar Berlin in this Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune. Based on the 1932 star-studded, Oscar-winning film, the show takes place in Europe's most luxurious hotel and follows the intertwining lives and shattered dreams of both regular and once-in-a-lifetime guests. Leading the ensemble cast are Parisian follies starLiliane Montevecchias the aging ballerina, and strong tenorBrent Barrettas the dashing but debt-saddled baron. Also appearing areAlly McBeal'sJane Krakowskias the would-be movie star, cabaret artistKaren Akersas Montevecchi's confidante, and Michael Jeter as the dying bookkeeper. The score was written by Robert Wright and George Forrest (who brought Borodin to Broadway withKismet), with additional material by Maury Yeston (Titanic), and the highlights include the soaring romantic ballad "Love Can't Happen," the jazzy scat of "Maybe My Baby Loves Me," and the sassy Charleston number "H-A-P-P-Y."  Plenty of dialogue helps capture the flow of the show, and the CD also includes a live cabaret performance of "Love Can't Happen" by the late David Carroll, who originated the baron role on Broadway.--David Horiuchi