Lily Casson
Lily Casson
Singer & Lover of Musicals
As a new decade rolled around, the musical scene was a tourist trap full of revivals and show-stopping hit versions of well known stories such as The Addams Family and Matilda. Elsewhere new writers explored previously controversial topics such as how women are treated by men in Waitress, and religious beliefs in Book of Mormon. Jukebox musicals continued to grow in popularity as shows based on the music of Dolly Parton and Carol King delighted audiences on both sides of the pond. However, the biggest musical hit of the decade without a doubt was Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, founding father of the USA, which reignited excitement for the musical with queues of fans gagging to get a ticket.
THE LOWDOWN
Music & lyrics by Sara Bareilles
Book by Jessie Nelson
Based on 2007 movie, Waitress
Premiered at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway, 24th April 2016
MY FAVOURITE CAST
(Original Broadway)
Jenna Hunterson : Jessie Mueller
Dr Jim Pomatter : Drew Gehling
Earl Hunterson : Nick Cordero
Becky : Keala Settle
Dawn Williams : Kimiko Glenn
Joe/Josie : Dakin Matthews
Ogie Anhorn : Christopher Fitzgerald
Cal : Eric Anderson
Nurse Norma : Charity Angel Dawson
Lulu : Claire Keane/McKenna Keane
THE SHOW & SHOW HISTORY
Based on the 2007 film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and pie maker, at Joe’s Diner. Stuck in a small town in a loveless marriage, Jenna escapes the world by baking up eccentric pie fillings for customers. When unexpectedly she falls pregnant after a drunken night with her abusive husband, she begins an affair with Dr Pomatter, the doctor who is assigned to her during her pregnancy. Stuck in what seems an impossible situation, Jenna begins a journey to discover herself again by entering a pie contest to create a new life for herself and her new baby.
Written by American singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles and produced by an all female creative team, the show premiered at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway in April 2016. Since then, it has continued to warm the hearts of audiences with its story of love and baking on Broadway and on tour in the USA. The show arrived on the West End early in 2019 and I still haven't had a chance to see it myself but hope I will be able to in the future.
WHY I HEART IT
I first heard about Waitress when I was looking for new material and came across one of Sara Bareilles' songs from the show, 'What Baking Can Do' all about how baking can change your life. I instantly fell in love with a musical based on baking as it is one of my other major passions and the story that you can change your life however impossible it seems. Jenna is a very strong role model to inspire women who are trapped in what seem unchangeable situations, which is why it has hit a chord with audiences throughout the world.
SONG IN CONTEXT
‘What Baking Can Do' is sung by Jenna when she has just discovered that she is pregnant with her husband's baby, despite the fact that they are stuck in a loveless marriage. At work at the diner, she furiously bakes her worries away into her strange pie concoctions which give her solace from her current situation. As she bakes, Jenna remembers the time she spent with her mother, who was in a similar situation trapped in an unhappy marriage, and escaped her troubles through baking with her.
WAITRESS
WHAT BAKING
CAN DO
Singer, Flute & Ukulele
Lily Casson
Piano
Sid Sonac
Arranger
Sue Casson
Recorded and mixed at
Lana Banana Studios
DOWNLOAD ESB'S RECIPE INSPIRED BY WAITRESS BY CLICKING ABOVE!
NEWSIES
WHY I HEART IT
I first became aware of Newsies via YouTube. The cast created a vlog series of all of the happenings that took place backstage which immersed me in their world. Hooked by the cast and the snippets of the cast recording I heard through the vlogs, I bought my own copy and fell in love with the show and score. I was so pleased when the original cast came back together to film the production for general release and have loved watching it on repeat throughout 2020 on Disney+!
SONG IN CONTEXT
'Watch what happens' is sung by Katherine Plumber, the newspaper owner's daughter, when she is employed to cover the 'newsies' strike by her father. Although she is frustrated to have been given a job no one else wants, she decides to use it to her advantage to bring the newsies' plight to the attention of the public, and bring about the change she wants to see in the world.
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS
Singer & Flute
Lily Casson
Piano
Sid Sonac
Arranger
Sue Casson
Recorded and mixed at
Lana Banana Studios
DOWNLOAD ESB'S RECIPE INSPIRED BY NEWSIES BY CLICKING ABOVE!
THE LOWDOWN
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Based on the true story of the Newsboys Strike in 1899
Debuted at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway on 29th March 2012
MY FAVOURITE CAST
(Original Broadway)
Jack Kelly : Jeremy Jordan
Joseph Pulitzer : John Dosset
Katherine Plumber : Kara Lindsay
Medda Larkin : Capathia Jenkins
Davey : Ben Fankhauser
Crutchie : Andrew Keenan-Bolger
and a cast of Newsies
THE SHOW & SHOW HISTORY
Based on the real life story of the Newsboys strike of 1899, Newsies follows the journey of Jack Kelly, a leader of a group of young destitute newspaper sellers 'newsies'. They take on the establishment when the owner of the newspaper they are selling makes life more difficult for them by raising the price of the paper whilst lining their own pockets. The newsies take action to let the world know that although they are young and hidden from society, their voice matters.
Told through Alan Menken's heart stopping songs and elaborate dance numbers, Newsies is a story that resonates with today's society and shows everyone that the world can be changed by working together. Starring Jeremy Jorden as Jack Kelly and Kara Lindsay as Katherine Plumber, the show opened on Broadway in 2012 before touring all over the USA. More recently, the show has been filmed for general release in cinemas around the world so new audiences can enjoy its inspirational message.
