Groovelily update

For those of you who remember last year's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" coproduced by McCarter Theatre Center and Paper Mill Playhouse, here's an update on Groovlily, the musical trio who wrote original music and performed in that fabulous show, directed by my favorite director, Tina Landau.

I enjoyed an interview with them a while back and have stayed in touch. Very nice people. They have gone on to produce their "holiday musical," striking 12," to good reviews and crowds off-Broadway and continue to tour the country, playing their unique blend of jazzy, breezy and abstractly pop tunes.

They recently released a CD of music from the show, "A Little Midsummer Night's Music" (PS Classics), and donated $5 from each Internet sale for a designated week to Paper Mill Playhouse's "survival fund." The net result: 73 sales and a $365 donation. Not bad.

And they said the Internet wouldn't last.

Also, they were hired by Disney to write songs for a musical version of "Toy Story." Even if, for now, it's only planned for now as a 55-minute show (to be performed on the Disney cruise ship Wonder), you know the Mouse will find an address on Broadway if the show gets a good response. Leave it to Disney to put a new spin on the old "out-of-town trial." Anyway, the show will still include Randy Newman's "You've Got a Friend in Me," but the rest will be groovy grooves from Groovelily.

As for the CD, I must say, if I hadn't seen the show twice, I might be scratching my head wondering what to make of it. It's good, and a great keepsake of show I remember very fondly. But if I wanted to buy a first Groovelily CD and learn more what they are all about, I would seek out the compilation "Are We There Yet?" Man, there's a lot of great music on that one.

Groovelily also will play a rare New Jersey concert Sept. 22 in Chatham. For details, or to order a CD, visit http://www.groovelily.com/

Busy day at work, then I'm near home tonight for "Painting Churches," which wraps up the season at the Womens Theater Company in Parsippany. Off we go ...