Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

I like Laura Benanti’s patter number and Patti LuPone’s torch song. So did the critics.
As for the rest, well…  you’re better off watching the film.

Aida

The Elton John / Tim Rice musical. Not the Verdi opera or the 1952 musical My Darlin' Aida. 

Revisiting 2000's Aida I see that it laid some groundwork for 2003's Wicked. The serious woman chooses political rebellion over romance. The shallow leading man finds his angsty side. The privileged woman sings a comedy song about fashion in act one and a heartbroken ballad in act two before taking political power.

A key difference is that Wicked focuses on the friendship between the leading ladies while Aida devotes about 7 songs and 2 reprises to the chemistry free romance. Critics were cold but Headley won a well deserved Tony and the show ran 4 years. The score won a Tony too but it was up against two LaChuisa scores which likely cancelled each other's votes.

Now I suppose I'll have to research My Darlin' Aida.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coming Out of Their Shells

I didn't care for the recent Turtles movies, but it's important to remember that the Turtles have survived worse. Eastman and Laird created and published them as an independent comic in 1984. When Playmates bought the rights to a toy line the Turtles expanded into a global franchise. Eastman and Laird struggled to keep creative control and got buried in an avalanche of property rights contracts and lawsuits.

In the early 90's some actors in creepy animatronic suits toured the states dancing to pre-recorded songs. A "behind-the-scenes" look at the tour was released on VHS. The composers of these songs seem uneager to take credit.

The live singing arrives as an 11 o'clock power ballad for news reporter April O'Neil. Good lord is that... yes it is!... That's Broadway's Sherie Rene Scott playing April! And what on earth have they done to her hair?