Six Wives Original Cast Recording CD

In 1992, Janet Hayes Walker and The York Theatre Company produced the premiere of Six Wives as a mainstage production. It was presented in York's original home, The Church of the Heavenly Rest on 5th Ave. and 90th St. Directed by Maggie L. Harrer and music directed by Norman Weiss, it starred Steve Barton as Henry VIII, Tovah Feldshuh and Kim Crosby as the six wives, Rex D. Hays as the ministers and Buddy Crutchfield as the messenger.br /James Morgan, Producing Artistic Directorbr /br /When Joe Masteroff first mentioned Six Wives to me as a musical, I felt an interesting journey was about to begin. I was not to be disappointed. Shortly thereafter he provided me with a copy of the book and lyrics. The most interesting idea in the whole concept was that the Six Wives were to be played by only two women...indeed a challenge for the respective actresses. Besides the role of Henry VIII, the Ministers are played by the same actor and three other roles are played by one actor. In addition, the structure of the book and lyrics helped me considerably to come up with the appropriate music for each character. br /Iâd like to extend my thanks to Jim Morgan, artistic director of the York Theatre in New York for producing workshop readings which helped considerably towards bringing Six Wives to its present state. And thanks to John Yap, of JAY Records London who produced this recording. Finally, very special thanks to co-producer Maria Candil of Madrid for her very significant participation.This recording is dedicated to Steve Barton, the original Henry in Six Wives. A live recording of him singing is a special Bonus Track at the end of this complete recording. br /Edward Thomasbr /br /Steve Barton (June 26, 1954 - July 21, 2001)br /Steve Barton began his career as a pianist before transitioning into onstage roles as a teenager. Excelling in acting, dancing, and singing (his voice was a beautiful baritone), he attended the University of Texas at Austinâs Department of Drama on multiple scholarships. During this time, he performed leading male roles with the Austin Civic Ballet for four seasons. His ballet career took him to Europe, where he switched to primarily performing in plays and musicals, playing leading roles in dozens of shows, both classic and contemporary. The German newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt called him âthe Pavarotti of musical theaterâ.br /He originated the role of Raoul in Andrew Lloyd Webber´s Phantom of the Opera in both the West End (1986) and on Broadway (1988); in 1990, he returned to the Broadway production, this time as the Phantom. Several years later, he would make his only other Broadway appearance, joining the cast of The Red Shoes in previews to take over the role of Boris Lermontov. His other theatre credits in the US included productions of Wright and Forrestâs Anastasia, The Threepenny Opera, Kiss Me, Kate, and Sweeney Todd. With the York Theatre Company, Steve played Henry VIII in their world premiere of Six Wives in 1992. In Vienna, he played the Beast in the European premiere of Disney's Beauty and the Beast and originated the role of Count von Krolock in Tanz der Vampire, earning the 1998 IMAGE Award as Best Actor (the German-language Tony Award). He made frequent concert appearances on both continents.br /He appeared on both The Young and the Restless and Another World, as well as numerous German and Austrian television shows and can be heard on recordings of Cats (Vienna), The Phantom of the Opera (London), Show Boat, Anastasia, and Tanz der Vampire, as well as the charity album Living Water, for which he wrote some of the songs and sang accompanied by the voice of Mother Teresa. His last performance was a concert in Londonâs Royal Albert Hall (May 2001), where he sang âIf I Ruled the World❠from Pickwick, among other pieces. br /More than fifteen years after his unexpected passing, Steve is remembered and missed, not only by those who were blessed to have the special person he was in their lives, but by the many fans he has around the world._x000D_Tracklist_x000D_PROLOGUE Henry VIIIbr /PICTURE MY PALACE Henry VIIIbr /OH TELL ME WHY Anne Boleynbr /OH TELL ME WHY (Coda) Anne Boleyn and Henry VIIIbr /A GREAT KING / DO NOT DENY MY LOVE Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII and Catherinebr /I COULD GIVE YOU SONSAnne Boleyn and Henry VIIIbr /LEVITICUS Ministerbr /EXAMINE THEM Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII and Ministerbr /STORMS IN THE CHANNEL Messenger and Henry VIIIbr /CHARLES EMPEROR OF SPAIN Minister and Henry VIIIbr /PLAGUE ALL AROUND ME Messenger and Henry VIIIbr /NOTHING CHANGES Henry VIIIbr /ANOTHER GIRL Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIIIbr /OH COME SWEET MAID Messengerbr /I CANNOT ACCEPT Anne Boleyn and Henry VIIIbr /I HAVE A SON Henry VIIIbr /THE LADY OF CLEEVES Ministerbr /ACH LIEBER GOTT Anne of Clevesbr /SHE HAD A WONDEROUS LAUGH Henry VIIIbr /THE PERFECT WEDDING NIGHT Henry VIII and Anne of Clevesbr /ITâS COLD IN THE PALACE Henry VIIIbr /SCROLL SONG Minister, Kathryn Howard and Messengerbr /I DO NOT WISH TO MARRY Henry VIIIbr /AND SO BEGIN THE HAPPINESS Henry VIIIbr /INTERROGATION Henry VIII and Kathryn Howardbr /EPILOGUE Henry VIIIbr /ONLY FOOLS Henry VIIIbr /OH COME SWEET MAID Reprise Messengerbr /BOWS Dennis Buckbr /Bonus Trackbr /Steve Barton