The Los Angeles Times Holiday Gift Guide has listed among the year's best family video and audio entertainment gift giving, DreamWorks' very fine biblical epic, Joseph: King of Dreams (with Maureen playing the role of Rachel, Joseph's mother) and "THE FANTASTICKS IN JAZZ" The Trotter Trio, - (with "Soon It's Gonna Rain" featuring Maureen on Vocal).

October- November, 2000

December, 2000 Issue
Review By Peter Leavy

"Maureen McGovern's WITH A SONG IN MY HEART at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room was an appealing and multi-faceted presentation of the music of Richard Rodgers.

So much of the Rodgers songbook is familiar that much of the success of this show must go to McGovern's fresh interpretations and musical director Jeff Harris's supportive arrangements. "

So you liked DreamWorks' THE PRINCE OF EGYPT? And you're drooling salaciously just waiting for the next big animated religious epic? Well, then you're going to love DreamWorks upcoming direct-to-video animated feature JOSEPH: KING OF DREAMS. Here are the details. The 75-minute film is being released to VHS ($24.99) and DVD ($26.99) on November 7, and stars the voices of Ben Affleck, Mark Hamill, Steven Weber and Judith Light. There's also five all-new songs sung by Maureen McGovern, David Campbell, and the voice of Ariel from Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, Jodi Benson.

Based on a classic tale known the world over, JOSEPH: KING OF DREAMS is a stirring story of family and forgiveness. An inspiring musical adventure, JOSEPH: KING OF DREAMS retells the fascinating story of a boy whose extraordinary gift of seeing the future in his dreams sparks a deep division in his family. The jealousy of his brothers sends Joseph to faraway Egypt, where he is suddenly thrown into a world of high adventure, hidden intrigue and blossoming romance. In this new land, the Pharaoh enlists Joseph to interpret his royal dreams and save Egypt from disaster. Joseph is rewarded with honor and status, and as he rises to power, Joseph finds love and happiness. But when a sudden twist of fate reunites Joseph with his brothers, Joseph must face decisions of forgiveness.

The DVD will have lots of extra goodies such as sing-along songs; a DVD-ROM component with an interactive trivia game and downloadable activity sheets, coloring sheets and holiday cards; cast and crew bios; production notes; and other suprises. The film is directed by Robert Ramirez and Rob LaDuca.

September, 2000

August, 2000

Cabaret in Review: Pack a Wallop, Hold the Sugar

"Maureen McGovern, Oak Room at the Algonquin: It takes a special combination of qualities for a singer nowadays to be able to carry off the big inspirational ballads of Rodgers and Hammerstein without seeming either too saccharine or too grandiose, since these Broadway warhorses already tend to push the envelope of sentimentality. But Maureen McGovern, whose newest cabaret show, a tribute to Richard Rodgers, opened at the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel on Friday evening, is one of the few singers with the sensibility and vocal capacity to put them over.

... Ms. McGovern's beautiful semi-operatic voice, perfect enunciation and innate sense of propriety prevent her from turning the songs into gushy showcases for a phony show business empathy. In allowing the songs to breathe, she brings them to emotional life."

Da Diva Guest Artist on New CD

"WITH A SONG IN MY HEART / The Great Songs of Richard Rodgers", has just been released by Readers Digest. The CD features The New York Pops with Skitch Henderson, Conductor, and guest artist Maureen McGovern.

Maureen is featured on 9 of the 18 songs recorded, singing the title song, "With A Song In My Heart", "My Favorite Things", "It Never Entered My Mind","Lover", "I Didn’t Know What Time It Was, "Hello, Young Lovers", "Rodgers & Hart Medley: My Romance / Isn’t It Romantic?" and "This Nearly Was Mine".

You can phone: 1 (888) RD-Music to order or:
For more information on how to order this album click here.

"Who's the best choice to star in a tribute to Mel Torme? Maureen McGovern, for sure, since she performed with Torme on dozens of concerts.. . .

A talent display of that magnitude was tough competition--even on video. But McGovern was up to the task, singing with astonishing musical facility. Her scatting on "I'm Late" and "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" was astounding. And her a cappella rendering of "Skylark" (a tune some singers have difficulty delivering in tune even with accompaniment) was both a musical and a storytelling tour de force. Torme would have loved every minute of her presentation"

"...it's hard to think of a single song that he "owned" per se (his composition "The Christmas Song" comes closest, but that's associated more with Nat Cole).

One solution was to have a virtual Mel right there with us via several entertaining historic film collages and video performances on giant video screens flanking the shell. Unlike other icons whose best years were captured only in scratchy-sounding, faded black-and-white images, Torme was lucky enough to have lived into the digital era, still singing in top form -- indeed, he got better as he aged -- so his later performances had a startling vibrancy. With Torme singing "The Christmas Song" onscreen to a gorgeous string/wind arrangement and Maureen McGovern weaving around his lines live onstage, this virtual duet seemed achingly real, uncontrived."

To read the Variety Review click here.

July, 2000

Wondrous soprano gets better
By Philip Elwood EXAMINER MUSIC CRITIC

"MAUREEN McGovern, one of the classiest singers around, is currently celebrating her 27 years in show business by singing her way around the nation's cabaret circuit.

I'm going to disappoint those who feel that it's a critic's job to criticize, since McGovern's Tuesday performance was beyond - well, nearly beyond - reproach.

Her soprano is still a wonder of the world of musical shows, and she uses it far more tastefully than in yesteryear, when she spent a good deal of time in coloratura gymnastics. Singing "Nice and Easy," her second song on opening night, she did a bit of soprano-scat (in duet with pianist Jeff Harris) on the tune's bridge, but she'd already established a nice swing on the tune, so all was well.

. . .She had great fun with Harris on Hoagy's party tune,"Heart and Soul," and then sang a soft, knock-out rendition of "The Nearness of You," which she identified as "the most romantic song ever written." A couple of tunes later, she sang another 1940 classic, "It Never Entered My Mind," following that with "Skylark" - both songs that also might be the most romantic ever written."

McGovern Shines Long Past `Morning'
'70s `disaster singer' plays Plush Room
R. Daniel Foster, San Francisco Chronicle

"McGovern arrives in San Francisco ... to perform in the sixth annual ``Help Is on the Way'' AIDS benefit, followed by a two- week engagement at the Plush Room. Most recently, she starred in the Kennedy Center premiere of ``Letters From 'Nam,'' based on the book ``Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam.''

...McGovern's Plush Room show promises to be more upbeat. Titled ``With a Song in My Heart: A Centennial Celebration,'' it will include works by such great mid-20th century American composers as Larry Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Duke Ellington, George and Ira Gershwin and Hoagy Carmichael."

CLICK HERE TO READ STORY

Maureen Featured in ASCAP/Kennedy Readings of
Letters from'Nam'

"Letters from 'Nam', by composer and adaptor Paris Barclay, was adapted from the best-selling book, "Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam." Starring Maureen McGovern, who leads a cast of seven, the staged-reading for Letters takes place at the Kennedy Center's American Film Institute Theater on Fri., July 28 at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, and on Sat., July 29 at 2:30 PM.

Letters from 'Nam' composer Paris Barclay (the Emmy-winning director of "NYPD Blue") and the creative team behind 90 North (Daniel Sticco, Doug Frew and Patti McKinney) are all alumni of the ASCAP Foundation Musical Theater Workshops. Other workshop graduates have achieved Tony-winning success, including Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime) and the late Jonathan Larson (Rent.)"

April-May-June , 2000

A Tribute to Mel Torme

The world-famous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California is very excited that Maureen McGovern will be among the stars performing at our concert entitled, A TRIBUTE TO MEL TORME´ on Wednesday, September 6, 2000. The general public will not be notified of the concert until Sunday, April 30th. We would like to offer Maureen's most devoted fans this great opportunity at securing the best available seating now. Groups of 10 or more will receive 20% discounts on most seating. Groups should contact us at 323-850-2158 or newgroups@laphil.org for seating and pricing information. We also offer assistance with reserving picnic areas, catering and transportation information.    

McGovern's singing commands attention
. . ." and then McGovern's voice rose all alone from the stage. She was singing "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow," a capella and unmiked. From my seat at the back of the enormous hall, I felt the audience fall absolutely silent, its attention riveted on McGovern's incredible voice."

January, 2000

Sondheim Meets Jazz in a Standoff

Expert performers at UCLA refresh occasionally overrated material
by Tony Gieske

"The estimable Maureen McGovern whacked 'em pretty good with "Sooner or Later," which would have been a showstopper in "Dick Tracy" had that show ever gotten moving, and brought a standing ovation in this one."

CLICK ON HEADLINE TO HOLLYWOOD REPORTER REVIEW

Looking for a Different 'Side' of Sondheim

By DON HECKMAN, Special to The Times

"McGovern found the essence of a rare Sondheim torch-type song, "Sooner or Later," and combined brilliantly with Daniels on "Anyone Can Whistle."

CLICK ON HEADLINE TO SEE LA TIMES REVIEW

PLAY THE MELODY ONCE
Jazz musicians riff on the theater music of Stephen Sondheim
by Nicole Cavanzos, Performing Arts Magazine

"With the astronomical costs involved in mounting a typical Broadway musical, it is not surprising that Sondheim's progressive compositions are the exception, rather than the rule. "No one is willing to take a chance on composers with an original voice," says Maureen McGovern. "Sondheim stands alone. He knows his craft, he is wildly talented, and, unlike many Broadway composers, he writes what he feels and what he understands. He writes for himself, not for other people."

McGovern, who good-naturedly volunteered that she worships the ground that Sondheim walks on, is not alone in her enthusiasm.

CLICK ON HEADLINE TO SEE "PERFORMING ARTS" MAGAZINE ARTICLE

Thanks to everyone who has written and left guestbook entries!

Always for Da Diva,

Brian (Buddy) Daher

For previous news about Maureen, please click on Previous Latest News

Update7/24/00