• Bio
  • Music
  • Stage & Screen
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Voice & Acting Lessons
  • Advocacy & Activism
  • Blog
Michael Bihovsky | Official Website
  • Bio
  • Music
  • Stage & Screen
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Voice & Acting Lessons
  • Advocacy & Activism
  • Blog
Menu
  • Bio
  • Music
  • Stage & Screen
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Voice & Acting Lessons
  • Advocacy & Activism
  • Blog
17 October 2020

RIP Herbert Kretzmer – You Dreamed a Dream, and Shared it With All of Us

Written by Michael Bihovsky

We’ve lost another one of the greats: Herbert Kretzmer, who was singly responsible for translating (and often entirely re-imagining) the lyrics of Les Miserables from French into English.

Les Mis was the first musical I was ever aware of, spawning a love for the artform that has delighted me ever since. It has remained my favorite since I was five years old, and it’s been a hallmark of my own career – especially my two Les Mis parodies, “One Grain More” and “Trapped Inside the House.”

You might think that in a parody where you replace the entirety of the text, the original lyricist doesn’t have much to do with it. But nothing could be further from the truth. If the parody is a building, the original lyrics are the blueprint. The art of writing parody is to match syllables, rhyme schemes and scansion perfectly, and to draw on elements of the original and twist them to fit into the new form in order to add extra layers of comedy to people who know and love the piece that inspired it. I think that Les Mis has probably inspired more parodies than any other show, not only because of its perfect and epic score – but because the intricate and poignant lyrics are such a fertile playground and vehicle for any subject you can imagine (even food allergies!).

Herbert’s words were such a joy to work with. In studying his lyrics to write my parodies, I learned so much about the art of lyric-writing itself, which I’ve been grateful to carry over into my original music as well as my satirical pieces. He will be sorely missed, but his contributions to the world of musical theater will last forever.

Rest in peace, Herbert – and thank you so much for everything you have given to me, and to millions of others.

Entertainment, Recent Comments are off
18 September 2020

RIP RBG – Champion for Women, Role Model for All

Written by Michael Bihovsky

We’ve lost one of the greats. THE greats – of all time. A pioneer of women’s rights, and the rights of all people. A role model for each and every one of us. The notorious Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

I can’t even begin to get into the mindset right now of the political firestorm that is about to begin… So for now, I only grieve the loss of such a powerful and resilient human being, who fought so hard to (among other things) bring an awareness to countless areas where women face discrimination, enabling them to raise the ceiling ever higher (though the fight continues) just as she did, and teaching men like me about issues we needed to understand and to be allies with a full heart, a strong voice, a boundless will.

May we all strive to follow her example; we’re going to have to.

Politics Comments are off
16 September 2020

RIP Major Van Winkle – The Master of Freestyle

Written by Michael Bihovsky

Today I was heartbroken to learn that a friend and collaborator of enormous talent, spirit and energy, has left this world forever.

If you ever met Major Van Winkle, you were not likely to forget him. Major was a musician and rapper whose freestyling was at a level I have never witnessed anywhere else – you may have seen him on the news rapping about the Eagles from time to time. He and I were both working at a concert with an international superband called the One People Band last year, and as Eric Bazilian closed out the show by performing probably his 9,000th rendition of his famous classic “[What if God was] One of Us,” he looked to Major in the wings and invited him to come out and rap. And without a single instant of preparation, Major ran up to the mic and blew the entire room away.

It wasn’t just the cleverness and alacrity with rhymes that made that moment, though – more than anything, it was his heart. In just 38 seconds, Major took us on a journey unlike anything I have ever experienced, ending with the following impromptu lyrics:

“I don’t even know if it’s a question mark
Can I find God in war and art?
Can I find God in love and peace?
Can I find God in you and me?
Can I find God in all the above?
‘Cause God is just love.”

For the next minute, the entire band (and the entire audience) all sang together, again and again:

“God is love.”

It devastates me to no end that people who radiate nothing but joy into the universe seem too often to have so little left for themselves.

The world is a much sadder place without Major in it. I will miss him, and all of the work and collaborations we talked about but will never get to do. But I will never forget his passion, charm, charisma, talent, resourcefulness, and absolutely pure love of music. Rest in peace, Major – you will never be forgotten.

Advocacy, Entertainment Comments are off
31 August 2020

The (Entirely Unnecessary) Cost of “Herd Immunity”

Written by Michael Bihovsky

As reported by The Washington Post, our Supreme Leader is being advised to surrender to the virus entirely and try to achieve “herd immunity.” This would be against the nearly-unanimous consensus of public health officials, and requires widespread rebuttal that can be made to make sure Trump is never, ever able to enact this literally fatal policy.

First, let’s be clear what the policy would be: Basically it boils down to, “Let’s keep people intentionally in the dark about who is and isn’t sick to get as many people sick as possible, until we achieve herd immunity.” Here are just five of the innumerable serious problems with that:

1) There is no evidence yet that there even *is* permanent immunity to COVID-19. The first confirmed re-infection case was just reported in the US, in addition to another in China a couple weeks ago. So *millions* could die, and tens of millions be left with permanent damage, if this joke of a “strategy” is implemented.

2) Let’s be more specific with those numbers. Even if herd immunity is possible, it would require an estimated 70% of people to become infected. In America alone, that is *200 million sick people,* compared to the 6 million sick so far. The death rate is estimated to be about 2.1% (or as much as twice that), so at minimum that is over 4 million dead Americans. If any of you have lost loved ones as I have, or seen them irreparably wounded, you can expect 33 times as many of those lives stolen or destroyed.

3) The death rate in America is particularly high. Why? Because we are, by far and by almost every measure, the sickest country in the world. 1 in 2 American adults have an invisible disability; 1 in 4 adults have two or more such ailments. These “preexisting conditions” make Americans far more vulnerable to death and/or serious and potentially permanent complications from COVID-19.

4) What do I mean by “permanent complications”? It’s important to discuss this, because this disease’s heavy toll goes beyond a dramatic death count. Take it from me: you don’t have to lose your life in order to lose your quality of life. Just from my immediate circle, I have a friend whose kidneys were damaged severely by the virus’ notorious blood clots and who still can’t sit up for more than a couple hours, another whose legs are now covered in tiny red spots, and another whose sweet 6-year-old daughter has literally changed personalities and now spends most of her time screaming and crying due to inflammation in her brain. So in addition to the 4 million deaths, you can expect tens of millions of lives not necessarily ended, but quite powerfully ruined.

5) THIS. ISN’T. NECESSARY. There are so many incredibly promising vaccines just on the horizon, utilizing all sorts of different approaches. One of them at the very least is bound to be effective, and probably many of them, and relatively soon. The reason Trump is considering putting hundreds of millions of lives at risk is simple: those vaccines won’t be available until the end of the year or early next year, which means he won’t benefit from it in this election. He wants to be able to say he has a plan… even if that plan means death and sickness at numbers that do not have a precedent in American history. Each and every one of those millions of lives, I remind you, is an individual person, with hopes, dreams, and – no matter how shaken by this destructive and uniquely uncaring regime – the most fundamental trust for which government was created in the first place: to protect our lives. Donald Trump has betrayed that trust time and time again, whether it’s an unarmed black citizen being shot by police, covert ops missions that he authorizes over dinner without being briefed on actual details that (surprise!) manage to go very wrong, or now with the coronavirus, the seriousness of which he has belittled and dismissed since day one, and continues to do so now.

Donald Trump is asking our entire country to enter a dark room filled with sharp objects and alligator pits, all so that he can say he “has a plan.”

Well, we must have a plan too. We must vote for Joe Biden in such monumental numbers that Trump and his entire entourage of sadists and sociopaths are sent back into the swamps they came from. And if we do, maybe then – God willing – we will actually have a plan out of this that doesn’t require millions of us to suffer and die for the sake of one man’s unearned and insatiable ego.

Advocacy, Healthcare, Politics, Science Comments are off
03 June 2020

Jewish Values: Supporting #BlackLivesMatter

Written by Michael Bihovsky

As Jews, being allies to anyone facing oppression is not a choice – it is a commandment. There is no question about this – the only debate is over whether the Torah says it 36 or 46 times. Exodus 22:20. Leviticus 19:34. Deuteronomy 10:19. And on, and on, and on, and on.

The oppression and genocides that have plagued and followed us for over 3,000 years mean that we cannot close our eyes or remain silent in the face of the pain of our Black brothers and sisters, because we are all-too-familiar with the deafening echoes of silence. When we say “never again,” it does not mean never again to us, but never again to anyone. That is our duty, our pain, and our purpose. To fight against oppression wherever it may be, and to combat injustice and senseless cruelty with which we are all too familiar.

#BlackLivesMatter. I will always be an ally in the fight against racial injustice, even while recognizing that I am but one indescribably small cog in a wheel that is far greater than myself, and far greater than anyone. I know that the most important thing I can do right now is to listen, and I am, and I will; but I also know that I must use what voice I have to pass along what I have learned from those going through a pain and anguish that I can barely conceive of, so that we as a community can educate ourselves in these vital issues, and purge our own communities of whatever prejudice and hostility we may find.

I call upon all of my fellow Jews – and all decent human beings – to do the same.

But words are not enough. Here you’ll find an article with multiple options for actions you can take to make a tangible difference in this struggle. Please find a way to help, however you can. Because these aren’t just matters of principle; they are core Jewish values. Tikkun olam (repairing the world). V’ahavta l’reacha k’mocha (love your neighbor as you love yourself). Din (justice). Bina (understanding). Derech eretz (righteous action). Rodef shalom (pursuit of peace). And achrayut (responsibility for others).

I will always strive to live by these principles, and I hope you will, too. For as the Talmud teaches us:

“Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.” (Jerusalem Talmud, Sanhedrin 4:1 (22a))

Let us save the world – one precious, precious life at a time.

Advocacy, Politics Comments are off
← Previous 1 2 3 … 15 Next →

Mailing List Sign-Up

Michael’s Favorite Posts

  • HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, “ONE GRAIN MORE”!!! July 19, 2022HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, “ONE GRAIN MORE”!!!
  • When Your Heroes Surpass Expectations (Amy Lee of Evanescence) November 6, 2017
  • Composition Premiere at the Kimmel Center! March 22, 2017
  • Rare Disease Day 2017: Reaction to EDS Video by AJ+ February 28, 2017
  • 5 Acting Tips to Nail Your College Musical Theater Audition (or any other audition) December 27, 2016
  • An Open Letter to My Beard August 6, 2015

Recent Posts

  • HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, “ONE GRAIN MORE”!!! July 19, 2022
  • Gun Law Issue, Or Mental Health Issue? (It’s Both.) May 26, 2022
  • “Hadestown” Review (AKA I went to a show! I remember shows!) February 17, 2022
  • In Memory of Stephen Sondheim – The Guru of Musical Theater November 27, 2021
  • If You Are Pro-Gun Control, Then You Can’t Be Anti-Vaccine. August 7, 2021
  • RIP Herbert Kretzmer – You Dreamed a Dream, and Shared it With All of Us October 17, 2020

Categories

  • Adventures
  • Advocacy
  • Comedy
  • Creations
  • Entertainment
  • Favorites
  • Healthcare
  • New Creations
  • Politics
  • Recent
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Voice & Acting Studio

Michael On Twitter

Tweets by @MichaelBihovsky
© Michael Bihovsky 2021. All rights reserved.