The Kritzerland team would be forgiven for slowing down after such an exciting fall, what with the sold-out, 2-CD deluxe edition of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (read our interview here!) and the expanded release of Elmer Bernstein’s score to Summer and Smoke.  But the label isn’t slowing down, at all, but barreling towards 2012 with a full slate of more exciting releases.  Today, Kritzerland announced not one, but two, new titles.  In addition to the brand-new Melodyland, the debut recording by 13-year old rising cabaret star Melody Hollis, the label is bringing the Off-Broadway Cast Recording of Adryan Russ and Doug Haverty’s Inside Out back to CD in a remastered edition.

Inside Out premiered at New York’s Cherry Lane Theatre on October 28, 1994, where it enjoyed a 74-performance run.  Its six-member ensemble included Tony Award nominee Jan Maxwell, currently starring as Phyllis Rogers-Stone in the acclaimed Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies.  Another Tony nominee, Ann Crumb (Aspects of Love, Anna Karenina), joined Harrriett D. Foy (Once On This Island, Mamma Mia), Kathleen Mahony-Bennett (Anything Goes), Cass Morgan (Pump Boys & Dinettes, Memphis), and Julie Prosser (Baby) in the production.

Reissue producer Bruce Kimmel describes the musical: “A therapy group, headed by group leader (Grace), is transformed forever when a new person (Dena) joins the group and winds up being a catalyst for change in the lives of (Sage) a flower child of the ‘80s, a powerful businesswoman (Liz), a gay, bank employee single mom (Chlo) of a teenage son, and (Molly), a mother of two young children who’s dealing with weight issues.   Featuring tuneful music by Adryan Russ and insightful lyrics by Russ and Doug Haverty, Inside Out, is every bit as timely today as it was when it premiered off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theater, where it received excellent reviews and praise for its amazing cast.”

Hit the jump for more, including the track listing and pre-order link!

Writing for The New York Times, Stephen Holden opined that “the smart, spunky little musical…does an unusually good job of creating characters who seem like real people with real problems, even when they sing and dance.”  In Variety, it was observed that “we know that group therapy sessions don’t usually include singing and dancing, but Russ and Haverty make the audience believe it’s the most natural thing in the world…at once funny and touching.”

Since that initial off-Broadway run, Inside Out has had productions all over the United States and overseas.  Its original cast recording, with orchestrations by Ned Ginsburg, was first released on DRG Records.  DRG’s issue has been CD has been out of print for several years; Kritzerland has completely remastered and repackaged it for this release.

Inside Out is currently available for pre-order now at Kritzerland for $17.98 plus shipping, as is Melody Hollis’ Melodyland.  Both titles are scheduled to ship the second week in December, but pre-orders usually arrive an average of four weeks early!

For more Kritzerland fun, head right over to YouTube.  The first episode of writer/director Bruce Kimmel's new web series, Outside the Box,  is now streaming here at YouTube.com and you won't want to miss its signature blend of irreverent comedy and music!  Tony winner Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone, Baby It's You!) stars in Episode One of the musical series "about an outre musical theatre group called Outside the Box, run by a very outre artistic director, Stephen Findle, who do very outre new musicals."  What is the musical?  Will she do it?  You'll find out in Episode One!  Barry Pearl (Doody in the film of Grease) and Melody Hollis also star.  The show's theme is by Grant Geissman (Two and a Half Men, Mike and Molly).  Check it out!

Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording, Inside Out (DRG CD 19007, 1997 – reissued Kritzerland, 2011)

1. Inside Out
2. Let It Go
3. Thin
4. I Can See You Here
5. If You Really Loved Me
6. Yo, Chio
7. If You Really Loved Me (Reprise)
8. Behind Dena’s Back
9. No One Inside
10. Inside Out (Reprise)
11. Grace’s Nightmare
12. All I Do is Sing
13. Never Enough
14. I Don’t Say Anything
15. The Passing of a Friend
16. Things Look Different
17. Do It at Home
18. Reaching Up