Each day, the Bbox team trolls YouTube for the hot clip—sometimes it's a brand-new moment and sometimes it's a throwback to an oldie but goodie. No matter what praise hands are shot up, pearls are clutched and the repeat button is hit.
"Tom" from Hello Again (Christine Cornish Smith)
Ulterior Motives: It's May 12th and do we have a song for you. Christine Cornish Smith, triple threat company member of the recent revivals of Kiss Me, Kate, My Fair Lady and Cats (and her really funny Instagram comedy account Gehls with fellow triple threat Ellyn Marie Marsh), stopped by Broadway Sessions a few years back to take on this haunting Michael John LaChiusa tune from his incredible musical Hello Again.
Hello Again made its world premiere Off-Broadway at the Mitzi E. Newhouse at Lincoln Center back in 1993. Its 10 member cast was legendary - Donna Murphy, Michael Park, Carolee Carmello, John Cameron Mitchell - the list goes on. The concept of Hello Again mirrored the ninteenth century play it was based on - La Ronde. The show unraveled a string of ten love affairs throughout history. Michael John LaChiusa's outstanding score reflects these time periods - for example a 70's era disco section, a 40's wartime dance, a couple in their final hours on the Titanic. We're focusing today on the 1950's couple which included a Young Wife reflecting on her affair with her "Tom" on the 12th of May. Carolee Carmello wistfully sings the song on the show's cast album and Alexandra Silber sang it so beautifully in the 2011 Off-Broadway revival.
Ultimate 🙌 🙌 moment: Christine's gorgeous soprano suits the song beautifully. The acting is amazing - even those moments before the song even begins! We love how at 2:30, after unleashing her big soprano she gets so delicate. The whole song is like its own little one act play and Christine is a fabulous storyteller.
