Somewhere That's Green - Ellen Greene - 1983 - The Standard Drama Awards 

How her voice can switch between the mousey lisp whisper and a belting diva within the same second, I'll never know.

The wonderful thing about Ellen Greene is that amidst the utter campiness of it all, she makes you feel real emotion. And I have seldom heard a singer with such amazing breath control.

All she has to sing is, "I know Seymour's the greatest", and I'm already tearing up. What a talent.

I was so lucky to witness this performance, I played Chiffon in the London run.

I love the very dark irony that she does eventually end up "somewhere that's green".

She’s the blueprint. Easily one of the most iconic performances in all of musical theatre.

Ellen Greene is the GOAT. Who else could take the most modest, simple ambitions and make it into one of the most heartfelt, moving "I Want" songs in all of musical theater with such utter sincerity, without a trace of irony?

her performance is amazing, that "far from skid row' always gets me in the belly.

It's like two voices are fighting each other to see which one of them earn the spot light

Her breath control and the intelligence to use and interpret it to strongly or softly evoke the emotion from line to line; yet still tell a flowing story with the song. Incredible.

That woman’s voice is nothing but love in it’s purest form

I finally get this song, it's campy in the surface but heart breaking at its core.

Ellen Greene as Audrey... Wow....here is the breakdown folks.. There was the rock and roll moan like timbre of the head voice. Then the lifted neck to raise the larynx ( usually a awful thing in free singing) all combined with the platinum blonde Moll look and whiney spoken voice of Audrey -created something special in Greene's performance. A sort of naturalism and affected 1950's rock and roll pining that really was part of Menkens vision. The composition is almost a lullaby. A feminine doll like world sparkling with far away yearnings of a middle class homestead typical of the popular American 1950's idyll are in the lyrics. The entire effect is haunting and completely relatable to most theatre goers. An attempt to break free of a battered sado/masochistic gone wrong relationship is also underlined in the parallel unspoken lyrics. To keep it "plastic on the furniture to keep it neat and clean." Naturally there are many other people who could/have sing/sung this entire number in a more clean way with less veering off of tone or a more solid uninformed voice. However no one ever reached the success/believability of this character better than Ellen Greene. This role was originally created for the bright voiced belter Faith Prince ( Later, to acclaim the 1992 Adelaide in Guys & Dolls on B'way) who has a more well rounded technique, but could not get out of a previous running contract. Greene went on and simply owned this role for years. It is evident to her transfer to the Hollywood version, which was rare as Hollyweird often dubs over actors or simply overlooks the originators of the role on stage etc. The tear on her face is part of her expression in this role. She had the same tears literally over 20 years in another performance. Amazing. I don't know a grown man who does not feel the vulnerability in this song when sung . Nor a woman who does not resonate with it's message. Knowing that life can be so cruel. It is one of those special musical theatre moments in American history that stay with you. The entire musical is a fascinating piece. And has lots of messages peppered throughout, dotted alongside very "Doo -Wop" plucky score.

I have yet to see Ellen sing this song and not cry during the performance...and I've seen it a lot. She puts every ounce of herself into the roll she plays, and that's what separates the real divas from the rest.

Oh my gosh, you can see the tears welling up in her eyes when she sings "Our kids watch Howdy Doody." And the rattle when she draws that breath at 3:28? Perfection. Every second of this is packed with such raw, genuine emotion.

A hell of an actress and an incredible singer. Beautiful to top it off. Some people just have it all.

Ellen gives Audrey so much heart!!! So many others are just a cartoon campy copy. Nobody does it better than Ellen!!!

That voice explodes and soothes. She is mesmerizing. Watching her is a rare show.

MESMERIZING!

My favorite performance. Ellen Greene sings with all of her heart and won mine years ago. Thank you Ellen again and again.❤❤❤❤

Whether it be the SDA's in 1983, Hey Mr. Producer! in 1998, or at the Little Shop of Horrors Encore in 2015, Ellen Greene proves that she has owned this role for more than 30 years. I don't think I can recall any other role that has been claimed so exclusively as Ms. Greene's portrayal of Audrey. She is simply perfection as the broken, battered and beautiful woman who steals Seymour's heart. The character calls for so much emotion, wit and timing, and no-one has better provided that unique mixture before or since. Ellen Greene is simply peerless. Thank you for posting this absolute gem!!

She hits those notes just right. What a talented singer.

Okay, "beautiful" doesn't start to explain it. Every time I watch Ellen Greene perform this number it always blows me away because she frickin' becomes the character as soon as the number starts.

2020 and Audrey still doesn't have a toaster 😢

Ellen Greene is pure vocal passion. This is an exceptional performance and the best video take!

Ellen Greene’s head to chest voice and back again delivers exceptional emotion. I have heard talented others sing this song, but not stirring you to love her. No duh she was the original.

I came here after watching "Family Guy's"version. Seth McFarlane did a great job, but Ellen Greene's version brought tears to my eyes.

I could happily listen to this as I pass away. The ultimate way to let go would be to hear this beauty in my last moments

Her dream is campy, totally stupid and superficial, and the lyrics convey it in a parodic way. But the music and her acting manages to put you in a position where you're totally standing up for her. You really want her dreams to come true.

This song popped into my head out of nowhere today and I happened to open and watch this video. What a singer, good gawd! To do the voice, stay on key, have that vocal range and control to go from shaking the rafters to a whisper in the same breath and phrase without anything sounding forced or manufactured... what a beautiful experience.

bro she deserves the world 😔💕

This is my favorite performance of hers! She was simply flawless that night! Phenomenal.

Some performers portray the part with great skill But Greene becomes Audrey right before our eyes and it is amazing to watch

It's amazing how she is able to make you feel pity, joy, hope, despair, happiness, sadness, & love, plus tears of joy all within 3 minutes. If such a thing were possible I would become her guardian angel and never let anything bad happen to her ever again. I guess technically that means I felt fear also. And laughter Wow!! Truly phenomenal.

Something about the toaster line idk why but it gets me Everytime because it such a mundane thing we all take for granted or at least I take for granted that the fact of thinking someone dreams of owning one one day is so beautiful and moving to me

I still get chills when I hear Ellen Greene sing this song. Even though the song is very campy, you feel genuine emotion in her voice. It is amazing!

"Well if not then he's goooottt inuuuuh beauty!" I love when she belts that out.

I don't know what it was about this performance. Ellen was just even more magical. It felt like it was live.

A u d r e y . The one and only Audrey. Perfect and amazing always.

Words can't describe it, she's just INCREDIBLE!!!❤️❤️❤️ There's something about her that's so completely mesmerizing and pure, love her!

Such emotion. Ellen is amazing. The version sounds a bit rushed, no? Probably due to time constraints, I assume. Thanks for the upload Mike.

Simply stunning, the emotion is captivating and kind of breaks my heart each time I hear it . Ellen you are incredible

I'm auditioning for Little Shop of Horrors tomorrow, and I have to sing this song. I've never auditioned for anything before and my anxiety is killing me, but nonetheless still hope to be casted as Audrey.

The sweetest song sung by the sweetest lady.

Just unparalleled voice control.

She is so adorable 🥺❤️

PART OF YOUR WORLD

If it wasn’t for Ellen Greene then this song would probably mean very little to me but speaking as someone whose received very little love in their life I can actually appreciate such majesty

Chills. I got Chills watching this. It brought me back to my childhood. I loved that movie so much growing up but I never saw the stage show. Ellen Greene is something special. ❤

Amazing song and singing. When the song is, purposefully, a parody of suburban middle-class lifestyle (of the 60s?), Green poignantly elevates it to sublimity that is unreachable to Audrey. The power of the song and singing is overwhelming.

She owned that! She was made to perform as Audrey!

How do you do that Ellen ? That’s just brilliant.

It might just be me - but the parts where she sings loudly and broader sound like "Fantasy Audrey" - where she feels confident, happy etc. But when she sings softly and nervously - that's "Real Audrey" wanting her house, wanting the toaster, etc

Dearest darling Ellen,, What memories we have of London…. You are magnificent….❤️

The most dynamic singer I've ever heard! The best!!!

The power of theatre seeing the images thru her performance

Fantastic, wonderful, powerful and heartfelt. Small dreams are the most important.

Ok… I shed a few tears watching this. It’s so emotional 😂😢💔

This is perfect.

Probably the saddest song in musical history. Audrey doesnt really have big hopes and dreams, she just wants a normal life and a "better home" with a guy who loves her. Unforunately, "somewhere" doesnt exist. It's "nowhere". A daydream. Sad.

I love all of comments. Another thing that adds to this amazing performance is her appearance. The heavy makeup and wig totally makes you see an abused woman sadly trying to hide her injuries.

I love Ellen Greene as Audrey. So alive and vulnerable.

Genius. Period. 🥺

Absolutely wonderful!!!!!!! I can never get enough of Ellen Greene!

Can't wait for tomorrow night at encores. ellen greene back in new york! Let's let her know how we have missed her presence. She can still be as big a superstar as she should have been for the last 40 years. Barbra who? Missm hasn't been divine in decades. But ellen greene is still the original persona she presented in the 70's. ,

I still am lost on how she can switch between mousy love-struck bimbo, and still give master-class belting diva vibes. I don't care who is cast as this character in the future, no-one will ever come close to this goddess!

i hope i could sing this with all the emotions too. she is so talented. i love her performance.

and THAT, is how you SING in character ladies and gentlemen. Voices like these are so rare.

magical how she goes between that voice and the singing. something supernatural here. lol. beautiful. thank you.❤

No one can top her performance!

The overall movie is definitely a more light-hearted version of the musical, which I don't have a problem with, but this version of Somewhere That's Green is just so much more haunting than the movie version. It's absolutely mesmerizing.

My favourite movie ever!

That's when you fall in love with her

Does anyone else agree that Ellen Greene would be an amazing Norma Desmond? Xxx

Wow, just wow

Forever inspired. What a queen.

Perfection. Chain link was never more romanticized.

Oh my! She's VERY VERY VERY awesome !

only two words come out of my mouth after every time i watch her sing this song… “my gosh”…😮😮😮

I know Seymour's the greatest But I'm dating a semi-sadist So I've got a black eye And my arm's in a cast. Still, that Seymour's a cutie Well, if not, he's got inner beauty And I dream of a place Where we could be together at last A matchbox of our own A fence of real chain link, A grill out on the patio Disposal in the sink A washer and a dryer and an ironing machine In a tract house that we share Somewhere that's green. He rakes and trims the grass He loves to mow and weed I cook like Betty Crocker And I look like Donna Reed There's plastic on the furniture To keep it neat and clean In the Pine-Sol scented air Somewhere that's green Between our frozen dinner And our bedtime, nine-fifteen We snuggle watchin' Lucy On our big, enormous twelve-inch screen I'm his December Bride He's Father, he Knows Best Our kids play Howdy Doody As the sun sets in the west A picture out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine Far from Skid Row I dream we'll go Somewhere that's green.

Makes me fill up everytime

she is able to communicate not just words and ideas, but feelings. she was able to share the exact way audrey was feeling.

You can see why she got the part in the movie. She is awesome

That's so bittersweet! I love this song and her unique performance!

Stupendous. All the comedy from a superbly skilled singer/actress.

Her vocal control is unbelievable

You can see here that she had to chase the fast instrumental a little… but ugh she’s phenomenal!

I love Audrey . I love her voice. I love her TALENT !🥰🥰

Beautiful.

So amazing such a talent make it look easy!

Stunning

What an absolute sweetheart.

Gorgeous! Amazing!

Love her voice.

Goddess. Absolute goddess.

Fabulous xxx

so good.

WOW!!!

Family Guy introduced me to this song.

I love her voice