Arlo Hill Celebrates the Legacy of Composer Frank Loesser
By: Ellis Nassour
Arlo Hill, who’s been featured in several roles in Broadway’s longest-running musical The Phantom of the Opera for over 25 years, is saluting the legacy of Broadway composer and writer Frank Loesser with his cabaret concert I’ve Been in Love Before:The Songs and Stores of Frank Loesser, July 2 at 54 Below.
Hill says he’ll be taking guests "behind the scenes with the man who wrote such classics as Guys & Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and The Most Happy Fella, not to mention songs for several revues and the Oscar-winning and now winter time pop standard ‘Baby, it’s Cold Outside.’" The above three shows all won Best Musical Tonys. He also wrote two other shows, which while not classic, are long remembered: Where’s Charley? and Greenwillow. Loesser was Oscar-nominated four more times.
"Baby, It’s Cold Outside" was debuted in the 1949 Esther Williams musical Neptune’s Daughter, which co-starred Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalbán, and Betty Garrett. Years later, it made a huge comeback on the 1958 Oscar telecast when none other than Mae West and Rock Hudson rocked the audience into a standing ovation.
Loesser’s journey to Broadway began when the college dropout worked in the the back rooms of the Tin Pan Alley and made his way to Hollywood and the silver screen, and five Broadway shows. He wrote well over 700 songs.
Hill has also appeared in Encores! recent concert reading of The Most Happy Fella and Off-Broadway in Jacques Brel Returns!). He’ll be joined by three cast members from the Encores! production and accompanied by pianist Rick Hip-Flores, who’s music director of Rocky.
Arlo Hill in I’ve Been in Love Before will play 54 Below at 7 P.M. There’s a $25-$35 cover charge and $25 food and beverage minimum. Tickets are available at www.54Below.com. Day of performance tickets may be available. To purchase those, call (646) 476-3551 on July 2 after 4
