New Baby cast recording released to mark 40th anniversary of the musical

A new off-Broadway cast recording of 1980s musical Baby has been released.

The new album marks the 40th Anniversary of the show’s original production on Broadway.

The new cast recording is now available on streaming and digital platforms following its release on 14 February 2023.

Originally produced on Broadway in 1983, Baby features a book by Sybille Pearson, music by David Shire, and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., based upon a story developed with Susan Yankowitz.

The new album – which features new and never-before-recorded material – is based on the acclaimed 2021 Off-Broadway production by Out of the Box Theatrics.

This new production of Baby reimagines the story of three couples on their journeys to parenthood, triumphantly examining them through a 2022 lens. Taking place on a university campus, it deals with the painful, rewarding and unexpectedly funny consequences of the universal experience of pregnancy and parenthood.

They include two college students, barely at the beginning of their adult lives; the thirty-somethings, having trouble conceiving but determined not to give up; and middle-aged parents, previously looking forward to an empty nest when an unexpected night of passion lands them back where they started.

The production celebrates the intersectionality of both the actors’ and characters’ identities. With fresh lyrics and new storylines, this is a brand-new musical with a 40-year old score that will excite fans of the original while introducing it to a new generation of musical theatre lovers.

The cast features Christina Sajous as Pam, Gabrielle McClinton as Nicki, Julia Murney as Arlene, Robert H. Fowler as Alan, Liz Flemming as Lizzie, and Johnny Link as Danny.

The ensemble includes Jorge Donoso, Marisa Kirby, Jewell Noel, and Ethan Paulini.

Lyricist and original director Richard Maltby, Jr. said: “We wrote Baby in 1983 and since then the entire universe has changed.

“Revisiting and updating the show has been very exciting, and even with the updates, the process made us realize the heart of the show hasn’t aged at all. I am thrilled to have this new recording to document the show for 2022.”

Director of the new off-Broadway production Ethan Paulini added: “Getting the chance to collaborate so closely with Richard to reimagine this unique musical has been one of the privileges of my career. After living with Baby for the past several years, it seems only fitting that this recording is the next step in this special process.

“As Richard would say, we are working on a new musical with a 38-year-old score. Viewing these characters through a modern lens demanded to be preserved and with these top-notch performances. I am thrilled that this will be a more complete recording, capturing never-before-recorded material from this fabulous Maltby and Shire score.”