“Up to His Old Tricks” from The Magic Show (Original Broadway Cast)
written by Stephen Schwartz
performed by The Entire Company (including Anita Morris, Robert LuPone, David Ogden Stiers, and Dale Soules)
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This cast recording—brief as it is with 11 tracks totaling about 38 minutes of music—is a sheet delight and certainly one of my happy places. I still know very little about what is actually happening during any given number—let alone between them. This is the opening number. And I love it. So cheesy and happy and fun.
There is a DVD of a live performance that has long been commercially available, but I’ve never seen it. They apparently made a number of changes to the score, which severely diminishes the appeal of the production.
Also, is The Magic Show is arguably the most obscure show to have played 1900 performances on Broadway?
Speaking of great Stephen Schwartz opening numbers…
Counting the Omer with Showtunes: Two’s Company (from The Magic Show)