Color Me Barbra (1966)

Color Me Barbra Poster

Barbra Streisand's second television special, aired in 1966 just after the singer-songwriter had completed a successful Broadway run of hit show 'Funny Girl'. Streisand sings surrounded by animals in a circus dream sequence and wanders the Philadelphia Museum of Art in a moody eight-minute piece. Filmed in spectacular colour, this companion piece to her first special is one for the ages. The vibrant colours become a metaphor for imagination, inventiveness, fantasy, and sheer brilliance.

Overview
"Color Me Barbra" is a 1966 tv special including renowned American singer and actress, Barbra Streisand. The strikingly unique television concert, aired by CBS on March 27, 1966, is the second of 5 Streisand specials broadcast from the 1960s through the early 1970s. The program, directed by Dwight Hemion and produced by Martin Erlichman, showcases Streisand's phenomenal skill as a singer, while likewise offering looks of her acting capacity. The music provided in the unique includes choices from both popular and classical repertoires, mainly from her new album at the time, likewise called "Color Me Barbra".

An Unconventional Concert Experience
The special unfolds over 3 acts, each encapsulating a different scene and tone for really distinct performances. The first act sees Barbra alone in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where she sings different tunes in different galleries. Utilizing the art as both backdrop and prop, this section was admirable for its effective merger of visual and carrying out arts.

Act two shifts the scene to a circus setting. Streisand, donned in a harlequin's outfit, carries out songs from her likewise titled album. This included more acting, with Streisand playing all the characters-- from the ringmaster to an elephant, showing her talent and flexibility.

The final act features Streisand in a more standard concert setting, backed by a full orchestra, where she carries out songs from authors such as Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. This climactic area is dedicated to more standard pop and show tunes.

Reception and Legacy
"Color Me Barbra" was gotten with high praise for both its creative vision and Streisand's efficiencies. Critics admired Barbra's power to captivate viewers through the television screen. The unique was a commercial success, ranking as the 5th most-watched program of the week it was relayed, and Streisand's album by the exact same name also debuted at primary on the Billboard charts.

The special remains an unforgettable piece of tv history offering a display of Streisand's skills in a genre-defying phenomenon of music, drama, comedy, and visual art. Provided the period's restrictions with noise and production worths, "Color Me Barbra" stands as a testimony to Streisand's indisputable talent and charm.

Conclusion
"Color Me Barbra" is an emblematic time capsule from the period, illustrating both the continuous evolution of tv and the boundless skill of Barbra Streisand. The seamless mix of performance, comedy, drama, and art gallery discussion underscores Streisand's capabilities as an all-around entertainer. This special signifies a significant milestone not just in Streisand's career, however also in tv programming history, staying a classic that is much appreciated to this day. Through "Color Me Barbra", Streisand strengthened her status as a family name and set the phase for her journey as a renowned singer and entertainer in years to come.

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