A Musical Theatre Podcast

"They're creepy and they're kooky," but they also mean a lot to so many of you! THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a musical based on the beloved characters by Charles Addams is one of the most performed musicals in the United States. Today, we look at why that might be. Joining us is one of Broadway's "Wednesdays," the amazing Rachel Potter (EVITA, WICKED), whose new album "Stages" features one the musical's most popular songs. Follow Rachel on Instagram at @therachelpotter. Listen to her new album STAGES now! Also, here's the music video she mentions in the episode celebrating the "Addams Family Stage" of her life. If you enjoyed this episode, check out another celebrating composer Andrew Lippa: BIG FISH with Jeff Whiting For only a few dollars a month, subscribe to ⁠⁠PATREON!⁠⁠ for bonus episodes, contests, and polls! Don't forget to like and share our episodes on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠. We have fun playlists on ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ to keep you company in between episodes and be sure to check out our ⁠⁠⁠TeePublic Store⁠⁠⁠ where our profits from the designs are donated to ⁠⁠⁠Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS⁠⁠⁠. More than anything, thank you for being an important part of this podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SMILE, a musical by Howard Ashman and Marvin Hamlisch about a teen beauty pageant may not have won the crown when it premiered on Broadway back in 1986, but it was the winner of this year's "Flop Shop" PATREON! poll. We're hoping now a few more people will know just how important this musical is! Director, podcaster, and educator Robert W. Schneider joins us just having finished directing a production of this lesser-known gem. Tune in to hear all about the original production and how the show was received by audiences in 2025. Be sure to follow Rob on Instagram @robwschneider and learn more about his theatre company at The J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company If you enjoyed this episode, check out last year's winner of the "Flop Shop" poll: STEEL PIER with Colden Lamb Join us at ⁠PATREON!⁠ for bonus episodes, contests, and polls! Don't forget to like and share our episodes on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠. We have fun playlists on ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ to keep you company in between episodes and be sure to check out our ⁠⁠TeePublic Store⁠⁠ where our profits from the designs are donated to ⁠⁠Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS⁠⁠. More than anything, thank you for being an important part of this podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just as DEATH BECOMES HER celebrates 10 Tony nominations, we're thrilled to celebrate our new episode dedicated to this brand-new Broadway hit! Joining us is one of the nominees, the hilarious book writer himself, Marco Pennette (TV's Ugly Betty & Mom), and one of hard-working cast members keeping the show going 8 performances a week, Kaleigh Cronin (Cabaret, A Bronx Tale, Jersey Boys). Marco is an open, pardon the pun, "book," and you'll love his insider look at how this musical came to be. Kaleigh is not only in the show every night but also understudies both leading lady roles and has wonderful insights on those fabulous divas. Don't miss DEATH BECOMES HER at the Lunt-Fontaine Theatre in NYC! To learn more, visit deathbecomesher.com. Be sure to follow Kaleigh on Instagram at @kaleigh_cronin. If you enjoyed this episode, check out our recent episode with the writers of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS: Rick Elice and PigPen Theatre Co. Join us at PATREON! for bonus episodes, contests, and polls! Don't forget to like and share our episodes on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠. We have fun playlists on ⁠Spotify⁠ to keep you company in between episodes, and be sure to check out our ⁠TeePublic Store⁠ where our profits from the designs are donated to ⁠Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS⁠. More than anything, thank you for being an important part of this podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Let me give you the lowdown, we're K-razy for 'Lew!'" This week we're covering a game changing musical based on a game changing musical (get ready for Jeff's "Expired Ketchup" metaphor) featuring the Broadway debut of a performer who's now enjoying her Broadway debut as a choreographer! It's CRAZY FOR YOU with Shannon Lewis! Shannon (JUST IN TIME, FOSSE, CURTAINS, SWEET CHARITY, and so many more...) never forgets a count of choreo, so there's nobody better to talk about this "dance-tastic" musical that not only left audiences floating out of the theater but rolled out the red carpet for legendary director/choreographer Susan Stroman. For more Shannon, get your tickets now to see her choreographic work in the brand-new musical JUST IN TIME starring Jonathan Groff, and follow her on Instagram at @realshanlew If you enjoyed this conversation, listen to another incredible artist discuss the legacy of Broadway dance in our SWEET CHARITY episode with Dylis Croman! Join our ever-growing community on PATREON! Starting at only $1 a month, you can gain access to membership tiers, trivia competitions, bonus episodes and voting polls! Don't forget to like and share our episodes on Instagram and TikTok. We have fun playlists on Spotify to keep you company in between episodes. And be sure to check out our TeePublic Store where our profits from the designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Most importantly, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beetlejuice...Beetlejuice...Beetle-just kidding, we're not that crazy. Today, we're talking about "you know who," and we're doing it with original Broadway cast member and current dance captain on the BEETLEJUICE national tour, Ryan Breslin! (NEWSIES, THE BOOK OF MORMON, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY) Join us as we delve into the history of this fan favorite musical, the lore of the Netherworld, and what happens when Congresspeople are escorted out of your show. Follow Ryan on Instagram at @theryanbreslin and visit him and the rest of the cast on one of their stops by visiting BEETLEJUICE The Musical | Official Tour Website If you enjoyed this episode, check out another film turned musical composed by a different Australian comic: GROUNDHOG DAY with Ste Clough Join our ever-growing community on PATREON! Starting at only $1 a month, you can gain access to membership tiers, trivia competitions, bonus episodes and voting polls! Don't forget to like and share our episodes on Instagram and TikTok. We have fun playlists on Spotify to keep you company in between episodes. And be sure to check out our TeePublic Store where our profits from the designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Most importantly, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're the luckiest people in the world as "funny girl" Ruby Karp joins us to discuss the legendary musical FUNNY GIRL. Throughout the conversation there is plenty of love for Babs, plenty of "not love" for Nicky Arnstein, and even a hypothesis regarding who Fanny Brice's third husband would have been in the 2020s. Follow Ruby on Instagram at @rubykarp and don't miss her show I DON'T TRUST ADULTS playing Soho Playhouse from March 26-May 3. If you enjoyed this episode, check out our episode on another Bob Merrill musical, CARNIVAL featuring Tony winner Debbie Gravitte Shapiro! Join our ever-growing community on PATREON! Starting at only $1 a month, you can gain access to membership tiers, trivia competitions, bonus episodes and voting polls. Don't forget to like and share our episodes on Instagram and TikTok. We have fun playlists on Spotify to keep you company in between episodes. And be sure to check out our TeePublic Store where our profits from the designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Most importantly, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Be careful when you open the loop... A STRANGE LOOP is a musical outlier in many ways: it's one of the few Broadway shows to include book, music, and lyrics by one individual. It also won pretty much every award it could have (including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama) during its New York runs. But maybe most impressive is the sheer number of conversations one can have about it. This week we welcome Tony nominee L Morgan Lee (A STRANGE LOOP) to open as many of those loops as we can in about an hour's time. Adult conversations will include queer vs gay musicals, the not-so-subtle art of cruising, shame, identity, and more... (notice the ellipses) Follow L Morgan on Instagram at @lmorganlee and don't miss her March 31st as host of this year's Maestra Amplify 2025, a concert amplifying the women and non-binary musicians in the musical theatre industry. If you enjoyed this episode, try our FALSETTOS episode with Tony winner Michael Rupert. We've just announced our new series on PATREON! featuring conversations about the 10 musicals that have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. (PS- one of them will be A STRANGE LOOP.) Join the PATREON! FAM tier today or be a Beginner for only $1. Don't forget to like and share our episodes on Instagram and TikTok. We have great playlists on Spotify. And be sure to check out our TeePublic Store where our profits from the designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Most importantly, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we wrap our three-episode series on recent entries into musical theatre history with one of today's biggest Broadway hits! THE OUTSIDERS became standard reading for young people in the United States following its novel debut in the 1960s, and now the story has become essential viewing for all musical theatre fans. Joining us to discuss how and why this show became a certified blockbuster is an expert in "musical gangs" and one of the stars of the hit revival of GYPSY, Kevin Csolak! Broadway audiences have watched Kevin grow up onstage, and his vast experience in the worlds of WEST SIDE STORY and THE OUTSIDERS makes him the perfect guest for this episode. Follow Kevin on Instagram at @kevincsolak If you enjoyed this episode, try our GYPSY episode with Alison Fraser or our WEST SIDE STORY episode with Hector Guerrero. Have you heard it's only $1 a month to join the ever-growing community on PATREON!? You won't want to miss everything in store for our loyal subscribers from new tiers to trivia competitions and bonus episode series! Don't forget to like and share our episodes on Instagram, TikTok, and X. We have great playlists on Spotify. And be sure to check out our TeePublic Store where our profits from the designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Most importantly, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's beyond privilege to record an episode about a musical with the writers of said musical, and that is exactly what we have this week! To celebrate last season's WATER FOR ELEPHANTS debut in the licensing world, Tony-nominee Rick Elice (JERSEY BOYS, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, SMASH) as well as three members of innovative theatre team PigPen Theatre Co. (THE OLD MAN AND THE OLD MOON) join us to spend a little more time "under the Big Top" of their epic show. Their decade's long journey of imagination and creativity (with plenty of Rick stories along the way) will leave you excited to mount a production of your own. To learn about licensing WATER FOR ELEPHANTS where you live, please visit https://broadwaylicensing.com/shows/broadway/water-for-elephants/ Follow PigPen Theatre Co. on Instagram @pigpentheatreco Have you heard it's only $1 a month to join the ever growing community on PATREON!? Still too much money? Give us a nice review during the month of January, send a screenshot to amusicalpodcast@gmail.com and receive a free year on us! We can't wait to show you what we've been working on! Don't forget to like and share our episodes on Instagram, TikTok, and X. We have great playlists on Spotify. And be sure to check out our TeePublic Store where our profits from the designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Most importantly, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New for 2025: new episodes of "A Musical Theatre Podcast" will drop on Saturday mornings! Also new for 2025, we're spending the first episodes of the year discussing some of the newest entries into our musical theatre canon. First up is a "flop" from the 2024 Broadway season with a larger cultural and emotional impact than shows with three times as many performances. LEMPICKA is a musical that introduces us to an icon too few know by name: Tamara de Lempicka. Special guest and "president" of the Eden Espinosa fan club Sarah Anne Fernandez (WICKED) joins us to discuss historical women in musical theatre, the incredible art of Tamara de Lempicka both on and off the stage, and her upcoming show dedicated to both. Follow Sarah on Instagram @sarahannee17 and don't miss her show "Don't Forget Me" at The Green Room 42 this Monday, January 13th! Attend in person or virtually by reserving your tickets HERE! Have you heard it's only $1 a month to join PATREON! Still too much money? Give us a nice review during the month of January, send a screenshot to amusicalpodcast@gmail.com and receive a free year on us! We can't wait to show you what we've been working on! Don't forget to like and share our episodes on Instagram, TikTok, and X. We have great playlists on Spotify. And be sure to check out our TeePublic Store where our profits from the designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Most importantly, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're celebrating the end of the year this week with the musical A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD. And just like the musical itself, this week's episode is filled with much more than you'd expect: A salute to the Midwest musical theatre contributions that made this groundbreaking show possible? Check. Perspectives from the show's original Broadway choreographer? Check. Real talk on the successes and pitfalls of Theatre for Young Audiences? Check. A deep dive into the earnest yet sophisticated stories of two loveable amphibians... WITH COOKIES!? Double check. Join us for this packed conversation as guests Dr. Erica Halverson (host of Arts Educators Save the World) and director/choreographer Daniel Pelzig (Broadway's A Year with Frog and Toad and 33 Variations) bring their years of expertise to the intersection of children, theatre, and one of the most unique undertakings in modern Broadway history. Learn more about Erica's work (including her book and podcast) by visiting her website ericahalverson.com Have you heard it's only $1 a month to join PATREON! Join now to qualify for all of our new content in 2025. We can't wait to show you what we've been working on! Don't forget to like and share our episodes on Instagram, TikTok, and X. We have holiday and episode playlists on Spotify. And be sure to check out our TeePublic Store where our profits from those designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS TODAY, December 31st! Most importantly, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1964, Carol was bringing down the house as Dolly, Barbra was blowing the roof off as Fanny, and for 9 performances only, Angela Lansbury belted out Sondheim as Cora Hoover Hooper in ANYONE CAN WHISTLE. It's no surprise to hear that "flop" is not a curse word on "A Musical Theatre Podcast," but that goes double for a show with an incredible score and some of the biggest storytelling swings in musical history. (Some of which are brilliant!) Join special guest Mike Meaney (off-Broadway's Do Re Mi) as we explore this listener request with a larger cultural footprint than many musicals with 10 times as many performances. As promised, there will be plenty of cookies. ;) Head over to PATREON! where subscribers of $1 or more will find even more Sondheim as Mike also guests in our final installment of "Something Worth Singing About." Subscribers will also receive a Christmas gift to the theatre merch store Bubble Bard! Be sure to follow Mike on Instagram @realmikemeaney and look forward to a new season at J2 Spotlight in New York where he'll be serving as Associate Director. Don't forget to like and share our episodes on Instagram, TikTok, and X. We have holiday and episode playlists on Spotify. And be sure to check out our TeePublic Store where our profits from those designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS at the end of this month! Most importantly, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Come and meet those dancing feet!" Why? Because those feet have been through a lot! Karen Prunzik originated the role of "Anytime Annie" in one of Broadway's biggest hits 42ND STREET. This 1980 stage adaptation of the 1933 film gave birth to musical theatre lore we still talk about to this day, and Karen had a front row seat for it all. Join us as we discuss the plot twists both onstage and off that came together to create a classic. Special thanks to Jonathan Blake Flemings for making this episode possible! If you enjoyed this conversation, check out our drama filled episode about another musical from the early 1980s: NINE with Kim Criswell. ATTENTION! Now is the time to subscribe to PATREON! for only $1. Big changes are coming in 2025, and if you join now, you'll continue to get it ALL for only $1 a month. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for easy ways to share episodes and stay up to date with our latest. Don't forget our Spotify playlists can keep you company in between episodes. And our TeePublic Store has great designs that benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA enjoyed 13,981 performances on Broadway, the most of any musical of all time, but now it finally gets its true crowning glory: its own full episode of "A Musical Theatre Podcast." This week, Jeff is joined by actress, author, and public speaker Sandra Joseph who has a record-breaking title of her own: "the longest running leading lady in the longest running Broadway show of all time." With over 1,500 performances as Christine Daae under her belt, Sandra brings deep understanding and a beautifully personal connection to the show that is nothing less than a global phenomenon. Follow Sandra on Instagram @sandrajoseph, learn more about her current work at sandrajoseph.com, and buy her book Unmasking What Matters: 10 Life Lessons From 10 Years on Broadway. If you enjoyed this episode, share it! You might also enjoy our episode on EVITA with Javier Manente. Have you subscribed to PATREON! and, if you haven't, what are you waiting for? Bonus episodes, holiday surprises, and more wait for you for only $1 a month! Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Our Spotify playlists can keep you company in between episodes. And our TeePublic Store has great designs that benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you "Team Cathy" or "Team Jamie?" Exploring the arc of a five-year relationship from beginning to end (or end to beginning?) is no small feat, and this week we do it thanks to Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS. Singer/songwriter and social media star Grace Yurchuk joins Jeff to discuss this musical that has broken hearts and devastated audition accompanists since it's off-Broadway premiere in 2002. What did we get right? What did we get wrong? Let us know on social media! Follow Grace on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Check out her latest album Just Between Us: The Live Album on Apple Music and Spotify. Have you subscribed to PATREON! and, if you haven't, what are you waiting for? Bonus episodes, trivia nights, and our brand-new Rocky Horror Cooking Show just in time for Halloween! All of it awaits for only $1 a month! Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Our Spotify playlists can keep you company in between episodes. And our TeePublic Store has great designs that benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE PROM is an original musical that very much connected with audiences when it first premiered on Broadway in 2018. It features great characters, clever dialogue, and energetic songs. But those things don't write themselves, do they?! This week we sit down with the show's lyricist, and half of its book writing team, six-time Tony nominee Chad Beguelin! (THE WEDDING SINGER, ALADDIN, ELF) Chad takes us to "the prom" by way of exploring colorful characters like the Dee Dee Allen, inspirations from his hometown and childhood, and the pit stops his creative team passed up along the road to Broadway. (Spoiler alert: GOONIES THE MUSICAL was almost in the opening number.) Be sure to follow Chad on Instagram at @chadbeg and order his new novel SHOWMANCE. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our past episode Broadway Podcast Network - FUN HOME with guest Alyssa M Simmons Have you subscribed to PATREON! and, if you haven't, what are you waiting for? Bonus episodes, trivia nights, and an upcoming cooking show await you for only $1 a month! Plus, you get the satisfaction of supporting "A Musical Theatre Podcast." We're active on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Our Spotify playlists can keep you company in between episodes. And our TeePublic Store has great designs that benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Here she is boys! Here she is world! Here's... one of the best written musicals of all time!" GYPSY is part of Jeff's top three, and we have a top tier guest this week to celebrate it. Two-time Tony nominee Alison Fraser (THE SECRET GARDEN, ROMANCE/ROMANCE, IN TROUSERS) was a close friend of writer Arthur Laurents and played the role of Tessie Tura in the famous 2008 Broadway revival. Join us as she helps us explore the striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, her tragic monster of a mother, and how their musical fable is as old as storytelling itself. Be sure to send Alison that fan art on Instagram and Facebook! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our episode on another Robbins/Laurents/Sondheim collaboration: WEST SIDE STORY with Hector Guerrero Have you subscribed to PATREON! and, if you haven't, what are you waiting for? Bonus episodes, trivia nights, and fun surveys await you for only $1 a month! Plus, you get the satisfaction of supporting "A Musical Theatre Podcast." We're active on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Our Spotify playlists can keep you company in between episodes. And our TeePublic Store has great designs that benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode may have one of the all-time great backstories in musical theatre history: a woman composes a new Broadway score with her husband during the Great Depression while he works with the US president, and she falls in love with one of the biggest composers of all time. FINE AND DANDY is much more than its title implies, but it sure does have one humdinger of a "fine and dandy" score. Join producer and musical theatre historian Jennifer Ashley Tepper (54 Below, BE MORE CHILL) this week as we learn more about this piece of our collective musical past, and not the coconut tree from which we did not fall. We definitely recommend listening to last month's episode on LADY, BE GOOD! with William A. Everett before listening to this one. The crossover was unintentionally inspiring! You can find the 2004 World Premier Recording of FINE AND DANDY on Spotify and Apple Music. Pre order Jennifer's new book Women Writing Musicals: The Legacy That the History Books Left Out on Amazon and follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and X @jenashtep. To learn more about Kay Swift, read her granddaughter's book The Memory of All That: George Gershwin, Kay Swift, and My Family's Legacy of Infidelities Have you given "A Musical Theatre Podcast" a nice review? It's time! Are you on PATREON!? It's only a dollar! Have you joined us on Instagram, TikTok, and X? We have great content! These are all ways for us to connect with our wonderful podcasting community! We even have a TeePublic shop with great designs, and we donate our profits to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Above all thank you for being here! xo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few musicals have captured the hearts of audiences quite like Disney's ALADDIN. But did you know the beloved stage adaptation of the classic animation almost never came to be? This podcast pulls back the curtain on the untold story of ALADDIN's journey from conception to Broadway triumph. Join 11-time Emmy Award winning entertainment journalist for NY1 and NY1OnStage host Frank DiLella on an in-depth exploration that begins with the initial spark of a stage adaptation. We'll delve into the challenges faced during out-of-town tryouts, the unwavering determination to overcome them, and the celebration of reaching over a decade on Broadway – a remarkable feat in the world of musical theatre. This captivating series features exclusive conversations with the original cast and creative team behind ALADDIN including Alan Menken, Casey Nicholaw, James Monroe Iglehart, Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, Sonya Balsara, Adi Roy and more as they recount their experiences with the show. Whether you're a lifelong Disney fan, a theatre enthusiast, or simply captivated by the magic of storytelling, this series is a must-listen. Unveil the untold story of ALADDIN and discover the passion, resilience, and drive that created a Broadway sensation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ANASTASIA is a musical based on a rumor that has stood the test of time and is a testament to the stories we tell during our "darkest Decembers." Joining us this week to discuss it is a young man who's just beginning to tell his own story, and he's earned quite the platform to do so. Damson Chola Jr. won the Jimmy Awards earlier this year and, thanks to incredible performing arts support in his Texas hometown, already has this epic musical on his resume. Don't miss this conversation filled with history, animation, and heart. Follow Damson on Instagram @damsoncholajr, and be sure to check out his galleries and original music by visiting damsoncholajr.com If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our episode with ANASTASIA composers Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty: A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE with Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens Have you subscribed to PATREON! yet? It's only $1 a month, and next week subscribers get a new episode of "Something Worth Singing About" dedicated to the musicals of Ahrens & Flaherty. Follow all the latest from the podcast on Instagram, TikTok, and X. And don't forget about our TeePublic Store where our profits are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've got our first "musicologist" and first Gershwin brothers musical in the same episode! This week we welcome William A. Everett to discuss George & Ira's first full collaboration LADY, BE GOOD! Not only did this musical star the Astaire siblings, but it also landed in 1924, a year you'll soon realize was one of the most important in all of Broadway history. Don't miss this jam-packed episode that in under an hour manages to include both HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL references and highbrow words like "diagetic." (insert exclamation point here!) Order Bill's new book The Year that Made the Musical: 1924 and the Glamour of Musical Theatre If you enjoyed this conversation, give a listen to our episode on THE DROWSY CHAPERONE with Ken Werther, a modern take on a similar musical style. Have you subscribed to PATREON! yet?! For only $1 a month you get a bonus episode and more great ways to participate in "A Musical Theatre Podcast." You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for a steady flow of episode related content. Don't forget about our TeePublic Store, where the profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being a part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We had "Some Kinda Time" creating an episode all about the terrific musical DOGFIGHT. This off-Broadway offering from Pasek & Paul (pre-Evan Hansen) was both critically appreciated and feared for its unusual premise when it premiered in 2012, but this week's conversation with the talented Frankie Errington (San Diego Critics nominee for DOGFIGHT) reveals how that premise allows for a deep dive into all things human. This episode is one that just might make you a fan of a show you didn't know. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our other Pasek & Paul episodes: A CHRISTMAS STORY with Ian Eisendrath and DEAR EVAN HANSEN with Robert Bannon Be sure to follow Frankie on Instagram @frankie.errington for a daily dose of inspiration! Now listen... give "A Musical Theatre Podcast" a nice rating and review, okay? It helps. Subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive bonus episodes and ways to connect like "Musical Theatre Trivia Nights!" (You'll also score bonus points with Jeff...) Don't forget about us on Instagram, TikTok, and X. And finally, our designs on TeePublic bring us profits that we donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send out the call! We're not on strike, but we are covering the biggest hit to start out as a bigger flop (not a bad word). NEWSIES meant a lot to those of us who grew up in the 90s and, thanks to the stage adaptation that fouette'd all over Broadway in 2012, it will continue to mean a lot to future generations. The story of unity and speaking truth to power is timeless, and that's one of the reasons this week's guest has played Jack Kelly so many times. Dillon Klena (Nick in JAGGED LITTLE PILL) joins us to dive deep into the show and characters just in time to sell "papes" for the fourth time! Also adding to the conversation is producer and lyricist Jordan Beck whose admiration of lyricist Jack Feldman is guaranteed to bring respect you didn't know you had for this show. Look out for his segments scattered throughout the episode! Follow Dillon on Instagram @dillon_scott_klena and buy tickets to see him in NEWSIES July 12-28 at Musical Theatre West in Long Beach, CA by visiting www.musical.org. Learn more about Jordan by following him on Instagram @jordanbeck910 as well as his theatre company CCAE Theatricals @ccaetheatricals where he currently serves as Managing Producer. He is also one of the forces behind the award-winning new musical WITNESSES @witnessesmusical. Have you left us a nice rating and review? What are you waiting for?? Maybe you're waiting to first subscribe to PATREON! for only $1, so you can get bonus episodes every month and much more. Don't forget we're on Instagram, TikTok, and X. We also have our TeePublic Store where the profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"A spoonful of comedy helps the feminism go down," says this week's guest, the musical comedian and TikTok sensation Sarah Hester Ross. Sarah's personal blend of music and comedy makes her a perfect guest to discuss the musical AVENUE Q. Filled with puppets, paradoxes, and porn, this controversial 2004 Best Musical winner used comedy to help adults navigate life beyond Sesame Street. Enjoy this engaging discussion that examines what's changed since its debut, what remains the same, and the role of humor in it all. The easiest way to follow Sarah on her social media accounts as well as enjoy her new standup special, "Don't Mess with a Redhead" is by visiting her website sarahhesterross.com If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to listen to our THE BOOK OF MORMON episode featuring Candace Quarrels! Broadway Podcast Network - THE BOOK OF MORMON with Candace Quarrels Remember to give us a nice rating and review to help the podcast grow! Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for great content. For only $1 a month, subscribe to PATREON! to receive a monthly bonus episode plus ways to connect and participate. Finally, don't forget about our TeePublic Store, where the profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're feeling a lot of pride (see what we did there?) about covering the musical FALSETTOS this month. Jeff calls this show the "M word," and our guest calls it "twelve years of his life." Tony-winner Michael Rupert (SWEET CHARITY, LEGALLY BLONDE, ON THE TOWN) began playing the role of Marvin off-off-Broadway in 1980 when MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS (or Act 1 of FALSETTOS) first premiered, and he continued on with the character through the full show's Broadway bow. It earned him his second Tony nomination and a lifetime of memories. Don't miss this very special episode with a very special guest. Michael Rupert is really good at posting memories on Instagram, so follow him @michaelrupertofficial. The best way to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast" is to share it! Give us a nice rating and review! You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for more great content. Be sure to join us over at PATREON! where for only $1 a month you receive a bonus episode and much more. And finally, don't forget about our TeePublic Store where all our profits are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The musical of a generation! The show that changed musical theatre forever! The last musical to top the pop charts!" There's always plenty of hyperbole surrounding HAIR. This week, we're getting to the heart of it, and you might be surprised by how relatable it feels. Jordan Dobson (HADESTOWN, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE, BAD CINDERELLA, WEST SIDE STORY) joins us from the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia where he's currently starring in HAIR as Claude. Together, he and Jeff discuss the context of the show, its creators, and its 2024 relevance. Don't worry, there's also plenty of time to discuss astrology and being upstaged by nudity. Get your tickets now to see Jordan and his talented tribe in HAIR through July 7th at www.sigtheatre.org! You should also definitely follow Jordan on Instagram @jordandobson_ Speaking of tribes, thank you for all your kind messages and comments lately. Keep them coming! Stay up to date with "A Musical Theatre Podcast" on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Be sure to subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive bonus episodes like our recent "Listening Party" with Jayke Workman of THE RINK. We also have great designs on our TeePublic Store that can be put on all kinds of merchandise (including tank tops!!!) The profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Most of all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BARE: A POP OPERA was edgy and (dare we say) groundbreaking when it took Los Angeles by storm in 2000. Twelve years following that electric debut, the show was retooled to become BARE: THE MUSICAL. Despite both versions having loyal fans, both were unable to thrive in the New York theatre scene. Still, that hasn't stopped BARE from being one of the most requested titles by our podcast listeners. This week, we welcome the smart, funny, and glamorous Natalie Wachen (little "wa", big "CHEN"), on her one day off from the Broadway hit MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, for a personal conversation about this unique piece of musical theatre. This episode has it all: evening gown discussions, memories of DEAR EVAN HANSEN tech rehearsals, theatre that will keep you out of hell, and a whole lot of soul baring. (Jeff manages to not cry!) Follow Natalie on Instagram @happiestactress (a great follow). See her on Broadway in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG until July 7th. merrilyonbroadway.com If you enjoyed this episode, check out our MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG episode featuring Jennifer Shelton: Broadway Podcast Network - MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG with Jennifer Shelton The best way to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast" is to give us a nice rating and review! You can also follow us on Instagram, X, and TikTok. For only $1 a month, subscribe to PATREON! to receive a bonus episode and much more! Don't forget our TeePublic Store with great designs for all kinds of merchandise. Profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOLLIES is a Stephen Sondheim musical about looking in the mirror. What might you see? A theater? Or a parking lot? Here to discuss this complex show is the very definition of a multi-hyphenate. Jack Viertel is a producer-writer-artistic director who was not only the force behind hit musicals like Smokey Joe's Cafe and The Prom but oversaw twenty years at New York City Center Encores! He's seen more theatre than most of us put together, and today he brings context and life experience to a show filled with, well, context and life experience. Add to that a double helping of "pastiche," and we've got an episode not to be missed! Order Jack's new book Broadway Melody, filled with ghosts of Broadway past. You can also follow him on X at @jackviertel1. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our COMPANY episode featuring Nikki Renee Daniels and Teri Ralston: Broadway Podcast Network - COMPANY with Nikki Renee Daniels & Teri Ralston Support "A Musical Theatre Podcast" by giving us a nice review and rating! You can also subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive bonus episodes. For more great content, follow us on Instagram, X, and TikTok. Don't forget our TeePublic Store where our original designs benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once a year, we share a PATREON! preview on our main feed to showcase the amazing bonus content you might be missing by not being a subscriber! It may only be April, but today's episode was too good not to share. In celebration of over 75 years of Tony Awards excellence, the American Theatre Wing recently commissioned the creation of a new book about the biggest awards ceremony in theatre. Here to discuss the book as well as the history of the Tony Awards is the book's writer, Eila Mell, and the CEO of the American Theatre Wing, Heather Hitchens. These two powerhouse women shed light on the award's history, their favorite Tony Awards memories, and the amazing stories found in the pages of this beautiful, must have book. To listen to the full, 40-minute conversation, visit PATREON! at patreon.com/amusicalpodcast The Tony Awards: A Celebration of Excellence in Theatre is available now! Buy it anywhere you order good books. Follow Eila Mell on Instagram @eilamell Follow "A Musical Theatre Podcast" on Instagram, X, and TikTok and thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a theme this month! Both of the musicals we're covering this April are powerful examples of "pastiche" in musical theatre. The way the composers of these shows reference styles and works of the past bring depth and context to their stories and characters. First up, the 2004 musical DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, a show as raucous as it is sophisticated! Here to describe it as, "one of the greatest times of her life," is one of the musical's original stars, Sara Gettelfinger (SEUSSICAL, NINE, and currently WATER FOR ELEPHANTS). Sara joins us from backstage at the Imperial Theatre (where she originated the role of oil money heiress, Jolene Oakes) to share her memories of cast bonding and the joys of "not giving a f**k" in comedy. You can currently see Sara at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway in WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. Buy tickets by visiting https://waterforelephantsthemusical.com You can also jump on Instagram to see more about the show @w4emusical and Sara herself @saragettelfinger. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our episode on David Yazbek's Tony-winning musical, THE BAND VISIT. Broadway Podcast Network - THE BAND'S VISIT with Marc Ginsburg Want to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast?" Send a nice rating and review in our direction! You can also join PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive a bonus episode each month. Don't forget about our Instagram, X, and TikTok accounts where we regularly post more great content. And we still have our TeePublic Store, the profits from which we donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS. As always, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

STEEL PIER didn't win any of its eleven Tony nominations back in 1997, but it was the winner of our PATREON! poll earlier this year. That's why this week we're dedicating a full episode to this golden-aged, millennial musical. Joining us is STEEL PIER's all-time biggest fan, Colden Lamb. No matter what you might think of this show, it might be time to give it a "second chance." If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out Tony-winner Karen Ziemba in our CONTACT episode: Broadway Podcast Network - CONTACT with Karen Ziemba Colden's website coldenlamb.com is full of great content including his analysis, STEEL PIER at 25. You can also follow him on Instagram @coldenlamb Be sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Join us on PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive bonus episodes and participate in voting like the one that created this episode! Don't forget to visit our TeePublic Store where all our profits are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1949, KISS ME KATE won the first ever Best Musical Tony Award. Now it's 2024... and we still love it! Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita (Broadway's MATILDA, DAMES AT SEA) joins us to celebrate women and Cole Porter (in that order) as we dive headfirst into this silly and often deeply romantic show. Bonus points to those who can recite "We Open in Venice" correctly. Follow Lesli on Instagram and Twitter/X. Her wisdom knows no bounds. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our Anything Goes episode featuring Broadway Barbara for even more laughs. Broadway Podcast Network - ANYTHING GOES with Barbara Dixon Don't forget to Rate, Review, and Subscribe to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast." For more great content, you can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X. For only $1 a month, subscribe to PATREON! and receive a bonus episode each month. And don't forget about our TeePublic Store where you can use our designs to make great products, all while supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NINE surprised Broadway in 1982 when it opened last minute and proved to be a formidable foe to the other big hit of the season, DREAMGIRLS. It was also a musical that couldn't seem to escape drama, whether onstage at the hands of lead character Guido Contini or off. Here this week to discuss the highs and lows of this stylish and somewhat avant-garde musical is original Broadway cast member Kim Criswell (THE FIRST, BABY, THE THREEPENNY OPERA). From last minute costume shopping at a Times Square lingerie shop to wearing Tony-winning couture gowns, Kim spills the T on one of the most memorable musical seasons in Broadway history, and the unforgettable people who made it so. Learn more about Kim, including her many recordings and upcoming performances by visiting kimcriswell.net. If you enjoyed this episode, try our past episodes on Michael Bennett's A CHORUS LINE and Tommy Tune's THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES. Remember the best way to support the show is to rate, review, and share with your friends! You can also subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 a month and receive bonus episodes, including a brand-new DIVAS episode dedicated to Tommy Tune. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for more great content. And take a look at our TeePublic Store, the profits from which we donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Groundhog Day! We're celebrating with a special Friday release about, you guessed it, the musical GROUNDHOG DAY. It's a show you've either enjoyed seeing in the West End, on Broadway, in Melbourne, or you missed it. Well, if you think not seeing it means you're getting an early spring this year, you're wrong! Six more weeks of winter for you. Original West End cast member Ste Clough joins us to discuss the blood, sweat, and tears that went into bringing this surprisingly moving story to the stage. And be sure to listen through to the end of the episode where we have a special visit from listener Michael Lindner, currently appearing alongside original star Andy Karl in the new Australian production! Follow Ste on Instagram to see his new projects and beautiful family. If you're in Australia between now and April 2024, visit Michael and the new production of GROUNDHOG DAY by purchasing tickets at groundhogdaymusical.com.au If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to listen to our MATILDA episode with Broadway cast member Cassie Silva (SIX, ROCK OF AGES) at Broadway Podcast Network - MATILDA with Cassie Silva Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for more great content. Interested in PATREON! and bonus episodes each month? Subscribe for only $1 or write a nice review of the show in February and send it to us at amusicalpodcast@gmail.com to receive a free one-year subscription! Finally, don't forget about our TeePublic Store. Our profits from the designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS each year. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're ushering in Black History Month with an episode dedicated to FINIAN'S RAINBOW, a 1947 musical with a pitch perfect score ("Old Devil Moon," anyone?), zany satirical book, and surprisingly groundbreaking history. Broadway cast alum from the 2009 revival Joe Aaron Reid (CHICAGO, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, IF/THEN) joins us for a magically delicious conversation you won't want to miss. Follow Joe on Instagram and Threads to catch his latest projects and see his cute kids. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our HEATHERS episode that includes a great discussion on musical satire and our SHUFFLE ALONG episode celebrating one of the most important musicals in black theatre history. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for more great content. As a PATREON! subscriber this month, you can take another trip with us to "The Flop Shop" for only $1 and vote for what musical we'll cover on the regular feed in March! Don't forget about our TeePublic Store where we give our profits to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a tale as old as "dressing like merchandise from Bed Bath & Beyond." This week we're looking at the blockbuster musical BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, a show that changed Broadway (to steal a line from another musical megahit with a strong female protagonist) "for good." Original cast member Kim Huber (SUNSET BOULEVARD, MARIE CHRISTINE) joins us to provide context, insight, and hilarious anecdotes to a show that rightfully deserves all three. Tune in and feel "human again." Looking to send Kim a message? You can always find her on Facebook. If you liked this episode, you'll definitely enjoy our episode on THE LITTLE MERMAID featuring original cast member Chelsea Morgan Stock. The best way to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast" is to give us a nice rating and review! For more great content, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Bonus episodes are released every month on PATREON! for only $1. You can also go shopping at our TeePublic Store, the profits from which we donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's our last episode of 2023, just in time for Christmas, just like the new film version of the stage musical THE COLOR PURPLE. It's a piece that has only deepened in our cultural psyche since it premiered on Broadway in 2005, but for those who experienced "the purple effect" from the beginning, this has always been a monumental work. Actress, teacher, and motivational speaker Angela Robinson (PLAY ON!, WONDERFUL TOWN, "The Haves and Have Nots") was one of those artists. Enjoy as she brings the healing of this incredible story to all of our hearts. What a gift! Follow Angela on all of her socials to see more inspirational and creative content: Instagram Facebook TikTok YouTube Looking to give "A Musical Theatre Podcast" something for the holidays? Consider leaving us a nice review and rating wherever you listen. You can also subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 to receive a bonus "mystery episode" this month. Don't forget us on Instagram, TikTok, and X. We also have our TeePublic Store, our profits of which we donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, know how grateful we are to have you in this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And now for this year's, "Musical You Didn't Know is Actually a Christmas Musical..." THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. This 1985 crowd pleaser is maybe the first (if not only) Broadway musical who's ending depended completely on the audience (and we're not just talking about the length of the curtain call). Put on your detective caps and join author and podcaster Eila Mell (Designing Broadway, The Tony Awards) as they discuss the history of the show, comb through the evidence of the plot, and vote for who they think "did it." Follow Eila on Instagram @eilamell and visit Amazon to buy Designing Broadway and preorder The Tony Awards. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X. For only $1 a month, you can subscribe to PATREON! (where you'll receive a holiday gift next week!). And don't forget about our TeePublic Store for the holidays. The profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If two's company and three's a crowd, then what's four? A party? Well then that's what we've got this week, and the party's theme is the musical NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812. Kyle, Jeremy, and Dana from the musical mockumentary series "Act of Faith" join us to prove just how much they love this unique, electropop opera from 2016. And whether you're already in with or late to Tolstoy (cue Jeff), you'll feel right at home. Who's bringing the pierogies? Give some love to "Act of Faith" by watching their show and following them on socials. Visit actoffaithshow.com to find out how! Remember the best way to support our show is to give us a nice rating and review! Don't forget to check out more great content on our Instagram, TikTok, and X accounts. Subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive bonus episodes including great conversations that didn't make it into this week's episode. We also have new designs in our TeePublic Store, the profits from which we donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coming in at a healthy 1 hour and 40 minutes, this match, I mean episode, on DEAR EVAN HANSEN explores it all. In one corner, a podcast host fighting for empathy. In another, a podcast host fighting for justice. Who will win?! We couldn't have asked for a better guest this week than talented performer and host of The Roundtable on the Broadway Podcast Network, Robert Bannon. Robert brings humor, heart, and curiosity to this conversation (and musical) filled with subjects that otherwise might feel scary or unapproachable. Pop in the ear buds and enjoy. All you'll see is sky. Follow Robert on his... socials: Instagram and TikTok. For links to his latest album "Rewind," visit his website robertbannon.com. Don't forget to give us a wave through your window on Instagram, X, and TikTok. We also have PATREON! where for only $1 a month you can receive bonus episodes. And find brand new designs on our TeePublic Store, the profits of which we receive are donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Time to celebrate (and modulate) this year's spooky season with an episode on the gothic pop musical sensation JEKYLL & HYDE. Not only is this listener request's road to Broadway an epic journey, so is our guest's relationship to it. Rebecca Spencer originated the role of Lisa (Emma) Carew in the world premiere of JEKYLL & HYDE in 1990 only then to find herself coming full circle with the show on Broadway in 1997. Becky grew up both literally and figuratively with this musical and possesses one of the most infectious laughs in the business, so this week you're in store for much more treat than trick! Explore Becky's extensive photo gallery, listen to her albums, and so much more by visiting her website www.rebeccaspencer.com And check out the promo for her upcoming November concert celebrating the lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Remember the best way to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast" is by giving us a nice review and rating wherever you're listening! Be sure to check us out on Instagram, TikTok, and X for more great Becky stories we couldn't fit into our regular episode. You can also subscribe to PATREON! where for only $1 a month you'll receive bonus episodes made exclusively for you. Don't forget about our TeePublic Store where profits we receive will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Most of all, thank you for being part of this beautiful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PIPPIN. It's a musical with a lot to discuss which is probably why so many of you have requested it! This week, we welcome two wonderful guests with "magic to do" that will help make it happen. Podcaster and author Chris Adams (Out for Blood) joins us from the UK to talk about the hills & valleys and eagles & rivers that went into making a musical as fascinating as it is entertaining. Then, Tony-winner John Rubinstein (Children of a Lesser God, Ragtime, and the original "Pippin" himself) brings context (and first hand accounts) to the original production, including what it was like to be in a rehearsal room with Bob Fosse. Spoiler alert: he never yelled. Order Chris' new book Out for Blood: A Cultural History of Carrie the Musical. Follow the podcast on Instagram at @outforbloodpodcast or listen to it from the beginning on Broadway Podcast Network. See John in his latest play Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground, playing Off-Broadway in New York during the month of October. Visit eisenhowertheplay.com for more information. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for more great content. If you'd like to support the show, the best way to do so is by giving us a nice rating and review wherever you listen! You can also subscribe to PATREON! where for only $1 a month you'll receive bonus episodes made exclusively for you. Don't forget about our TeePublic Store where profits we receive will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, know how grateful we are you're part of this podcasting community and remember you can "pull a Catherine" whenever you like! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A great musical will often grow and change as its audience does, and as the people of Maui continue the long road of processing the recent devastation left by deadly wildfires, we realized it was time to relook at the musical COME FROM AWAY. In this newly edited reissue from 2020, Jeff not only speaks with original Broadway cast member Geno Carr about the magic of creating COME FROM AWAY, he also welcomes actress, director, and born & raised Maui girl Hōkū Pavao for an updated conversation exploring the similarities between the selfless responses on the islands of Newfoundland and Maui. Hear first hand about the spirit of Aloha and how it has ruled this recent Maui tragedy with a whisper. For a deeper look into the complexities of Hawai'i and its relationship to the western musical theatre art form, make sure you're subscribed to PATREON! to receive our latest bonus episode also featuring Hōkū. Looking for ways to help the island of Maui? Here is the list of vetted Go Fund Me and Venmo accounts of Lahaina survivors: Help Maui Rise Kāko'o Maui Fund- from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, this fund supports local organizations doing everything from providing legal advice to securing internet for the west side of Maui. Hawai'i Community Foundation- the Maui Strong Fund works in close collaboration with state and county leaders, nonprofit organizations, and community members. A Few Local Businesses Jeff loves that could use your support- Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, Ululani's Shave Ice, Leoda's Pie Shop We'll definitely be posting more throughout the week, so don't forget to follow "A Musical Theatre Podcast" on Instagram, X, and TikTok. Mahalo for being part of this wonderful podcasting 'ohana! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IMPORTANT: In the wake of the Maui fires this past month, thank you for your patience as Jeff prioritized his schedule. We hope you enjoy this new episode of "A Musical Theatre Podcast." In the year 1966, many iconic characters arrived on Broadway, among them: Mame Dennis, Don Quixote, and the focus of today's episode, Charity Hope Valentine. Her musical SWEET CHARITY allowed both Bob Fosse to continue his journey as a daring theatre artist as well as countless women to shine in the title role. One of them joins us this week. Dylis Croman (Broadway's CHICAGO, DANCIN', FOSSE) is a true triple threat who learned the Fosse style at the hand of the great Ann Reinking. Tune in as Dylis shares thoughts on her time with the 2000s revival of SWEET CHARITY and tells one of the greatest stories we've ever heard on the podcast. Follow Dylis on Instagram at @dycro33 and look for her as Roxie Hart in CHICAGO this Labor Day Weekend at the Ambassador Theater on Broadway. Want to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast?" Give us a nice rating and review wherever you might be listening! You can also follow us on Instagram, X, and TikTok for more great content. For only $1 a month, you can subscribe to PATREON! to receive bonus episodes (and a new theme song). Don't forget about our TeePublic Store where the profits our designs bring us go to Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2017, the original cast album of BE MORE CHILL was one of the most streamed cast recordings of the year, and it had yet to premiere on Broadway. In fact, it hadn't been performed since its world premiere in New Jersey two years earlier! The epic story of how this modern Faustian musical became a fan favorite is one for the ages, and this week, we have its composer to tell us the tale. Tony-nominated for writing the music and lyrics of BE MORE CHILL, Joe Iconis joins us to review his hit musical that teaches how to make peace with the "voices in our head." Don't miss Joe's new musical THE UNTITLED UNAUTHORIZED HUNTER S. THOMPSON MUSICAL playing this summer at LaJolla Playhouse. For tickets, visit https://lajollaplayhouse.org/show/hunter-s-thompson-musical/ You can also follow Joe on Instagram and TikTok to learn about his latest shows and performances. Remember the best way to help "A Musical Theatre Podcast" is to leave a nice review and rating wherever you might be listening. For more content, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. You can also subscribe to PATREON! for bonus episodes made exclusively for you! Be sure to submit your designs for our TeePublic Store! We'll be picking a new design this summer, and all profits we receive from orders will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chances are if you're alive in 2023, you've been to Urinetown... the place not the musical. That's because despite being a hit back in 2001, the near apocalyptic state that URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL hilariously captures is somehow more relatable than ever: greedy corporate CEO's, environmental disasters, progressives with grand platitudes... sound familiar? This week professor, director, and choreographer Kikau Alvaro is our guest to explore this brilliantly unique piece of musical theatre that inspires us to create art (no matter how weird it may seem) and laugh our way into having tough conversations. Follow Kikau on Instagram and Twitter where you'll find info on his podcast "Carefully Taught." You can also see what he's up to at University of the Arts by visiting https://www.uarts.edu/kikau-alvaro Want to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast?" Be sure to leave us a nice rating and review! You can also follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for more great content. For only $1 a month you can receive bonus episodes on PATREON! And don't forget about our TeePublic Store where the profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PASSION has maybe the most complex approach to exploring love in all of Musical Theatre, so of course the legends Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine were behind it. Here this week to discuss these collaborators and their evocative "passion project" is Ben Rimalower, whose latest project is a podcast spotlighting another of their collaborations, INTO THE WOODS. Warning: this episode requires you to access "the feels," so let that unibrow go and pop in those earbuds, cuz we're going full Fosca! Check out Ben on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and listen to his podcast "Giants in the Sky: How Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods" on the Broadway Podcast Network. Remember the best way to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast" is to give a nice rating or review wherever you listen! You can also subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 a month (we have a brand new episode for subscribers next week!), and don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for more great content. We also have our TeePublic Store, the profits of which are donated to Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CARNIVAL! is a 1961 musical that is simultaneously beautiful, hopeful, sad, and a great exercise for us in 2023. Set those literal minds on standby as Tony-winner Debbie Gravitte (JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY, ZORBA, CHICAGO) joins us to remember this special piece from our musical theatre history and the 2002 Encores! production in which she starred with Brian Stokes Mitchell and, fresh off "The Princess Diaries," future Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway. Apologies in advance if you can't get "Love Makes the World Go Round" out of your head. Learn more about Debbie and her production company by visiting debbiegravitte.com Thank you so much for tuning in! Be sure to leave us a nice review and rating wherever you're listening! You can also follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for more great content. For only $1 a month, subscribe to PATREON! to receive bonus episodes including our recent Tony Awards specials. Finally, don't forget about our TeePublic Store where the profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. We're so happy you're part of this great podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brand new episode mid week?? What is happening? Short answer: The Tony Awards. This Sunday we celebrate the most recent Broadway season by honoring the best of the best, and it just so happens our guest this week is one of the nominees! Taylor J. Williams has helped create more Broadway musicals than most of us have seen in person, and he also happens to be a life long "Renthead." Who better, then, to discuss the journey of being a musical theatre artist as told through the singular voice of Jonathan Larson? Buckle up, "come to your senses," and enjoy this conversation that covers everything from Subway sandwiches to Lin Manuel Miranda's grammar obsession. Remember to send some good thoughts to Taylor this week, especially concerning "Best Sound Design of a Play!" You can find out more about him at taylorjwilliams.com. You can also find him on Instagram @taylorjwmusic. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for more great content. We also have bonus episodes waiting for you at PATREON! for only $1 a month. Don't forget about our TeePublic Store, the profits from which we donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. And if you want to be one of Jeff's favorite listeners, leave us a nice rating and review wherever you're listening. Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The musical WAITRESS emerged from the 2016 Broadway season (supposedly dominated by HAMILTON) as something similar to its protagonist's famous pies: a hit on the outside thanks to secret ingredients on the inside. One of those ingredients happens to be this week's guest, Tony-winning actress Jessie Mueller (BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, CAROUSEL, ON A CLEAR DAY...) Listen as Jessie revisits one of her most iconic stage roles and discusses the power of baking, human stories, and, of course, Sara Bareilles. For more information about the musical "My Heart Says Go" and its brand new studio album featuring Jessie, please visit https://hawkinsandjay.wixsite.com/myheartsaysgo or @myheartsaysgomusical on Instagram. Remember the best way to support the show is to give us a nice review and rating wherever you're tuning in! You can also follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for more great content or subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive exclusive bonus episodes. Don't forget about our TeePublic Store, where all profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Most of all, thank you for being a part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today "A Musical Theatre Podcast" welcomes its first orchestrator! John Clancy (SHREK THE MUSICAL, MEAN GIRLS, THE PROM) has been a long time collaborator with composer Jeanine Tesori and was just nominated for a Tony Award for his work on their new musical KIMBERLY AKIMBO. It isn't often that we get to cover musicals from our current theatre history on the show, so don't miss this special conversation about a very special musical. Guaranteed you'll want to pause the episode to go listen to the cast recording. Get tickets to see KIMBERLY AKIMBO playing on Broadway right now! kimberlyakimbothemusical.com Want to support the pod? Leave us a nice rating and review! You can also follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. For only $1 a month, you can subscribe to PATREON! to receive bonus episodes. We also have a TeePublic Store where the profits we receive will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than anything thank you for being a part of this wonderful podcasting community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices