Some days you simply can’t stop thinking about a recording. So in my world, I give in and put it on replay.
Several years ago I worked as an actor in a new musical titled Boulevard of Broken Dreams about the life of composer Al Dubin (“42nd Street”). Directed and choreographed by A Chorus Line alum Kay Cole, the show had a developmental run at Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida.
Our leading lady was the luminous Elizabeth Ward Land, who we all fell in love with. Talent for days, the warmest personality, and a voice that can do anything. An actor’s actor and a singer’s singer. Her resume is an arm long including Broadway’s Passion, City of Angels, Memphis, and Amazing Grace.
For her debut album, First Harvest (2008), she struck gold recording the song “A Change In Me” from the Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast.
The song has an interesting history in that it was added to the stage musical four years into its run on Broadway written specifically for pop star Toni Braxton when she joined the show in the starring role as “Belle.”
In the show’s second act, the character sings the song to her father “Maurice” after reuniting with him to explain how much she has matured and changed for the better while she was imprisoned at the Beast’s castle.
Hit play and you’ll know why I’m a bit obsessed with Elizabeth’s take on the song: warm, pensive, and just the perfect touch of vocal power. This, for me, is the definitive recording of the song.
You can find more of her music, including the studio album of her award-winning show “Still Within The Sound of My Voice: The Songs of Linda Ronstadt” here on Spotify.
(lead photo: Justin Patterson)
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