Podcast appearances and mentions of Nell Benjamin

Send us a textAfter a few years living in the US, Ashley Day is preparing to make a highly anticipated return to the UK stage at Manchester Opera House in Come Fall in Love - the Musical, an adaptation of DDLJ. The exciting new musical boasts a top tier creative including book & lyrics by Olivier Award winner Nell Benjamin, music by legendary composers Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani and choreography by Olivier, Tony and Emmy Award winner Rob Ashford. The show will see Ashley taking on the role of Roger (Rog), a party-going, laid back guy opposite Jena Pandya's more serious Simran. Come Fall in Love is based on a record-breaking phenomenon that has taken India and the Middle East by storm, and this new adaptation is expected to have a similar effect when it arrives on the Manchester stage.In this brand new interview, Ashley Day sits down with us to tell us why this felt like the perfect project to reintroduce himself to musical theatre audiences. Having started his career 20 years ago in Matthew Bourne's The Nutcracker and as part of the original company of Mary Poppins, Ashley Day is known in the musical theatre community as one of a few true triple threats. Over the last 2 decades, he's taken on leading roles in shows like The Book of Mormon, An American in Paris and 42nd Street. In more recent years, Ashley was also a series regular in Dynasty and in our interview he opens up about his love life and how his recent marriage to fellow actor Adam Kaplan has changed him for the better. We also get to hear Ashley reflect on his remarkable career leading up to this point and discuss how the industry has transformed over his time working as one of the West End's most charming leading men. It's a fascinating conversation and we hope it won't be too long until we see Ashley Day treading the boards on UK shores in another hit show.Come Fall in Love opens at Manchester Opera House on 29th May and runs till 21 June 2025.Support the show

Real Women Have Curves is currently playing on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre in an open-ended run. To learn more, visit www.realwomenhavecurvesbroadway.com. Follow The Present Stage on Instagram at @thepresentstageThe Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers is hosted by Dan Rubins, a theater critic for Theatermania and Slant Magazine. You can also find Dan's reviews on Cast Album Reviews and in The New Yorker's Briefly Noted column.The Present Stage supports the national nonprofit Hear Your Song. If you'd like to learn more about Hear Your Song and how to support empowering youth with serious illnesses to make their voices heard though songwriting, please visit www.hearyoursong.org

Charlie Burn is starring as Cady Heron in the West End production of Mean Girls. Having premiered on Broadway in 2018, Mean Girls opened in London last year. Tina Fey adapted the show from her 2004 film, collaborating with Jeff Richmond who composed the music and Nell Benjamin who wrote the lyrics. The show is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. Charlie's other theatre credits include playing Cosette in Les Misérables on tour and in the West End as well as touring arenas in Disney 100: The Concert.Recorded backstage at the Savoy Theatre, in this episode Charlie discusses her whirlwind ride with Mean Girls and what makes Cady such a challenging role to play and sing. She also talks about her path into theatre, how she reflects on her Les Mis era and lots more.Mean Girls runs at the Savoy Theatre until 8th June 2025. Visit www.london.meangirlsmusical.com for info and tickets. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We present our Mean Girls (2024)/Waitress the Musical (2023, MAX)/Legally Blonde The Musical (2007) review!Mean Girls is a 2024 American teen musical comedy film directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. from a screenplay written by Tina Fey. It is based on the stage musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the 2004 film (both also written by Fey), itself inspired by Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 book Queen Bees and Wannabes. It stars Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auliʻi Cravalho, and Christopher Briney. Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their roles from the original film.Mean Girls premiered at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York City on January 8, 2024, and was released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on January 12. The film grossed over $104 million worldwide on a $36 million budget and received mixed reviews.Waitress (also known by its promotional title Waitress: The Musical) is a 2023 American musical comedy drama film consisting of a live stage recording of Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson's 2015 musical based on the 2007 film by Adrienne Shelly.It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2023 and was theatrically released in the United States on December 7, 2023 by Bleecker Street in collaboration with Fathom Events. It received positive reviews from critics.Legally Blonde is a 2007 musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and a book by Heather Hach. It is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name.The musical was recorded in September 2007 and aired on MTV in October 2007. Following this, a reality television program aired showing the audition process for the next person to play Elle Woods on Broadway. The winner was Bailey Hanks, who played the role from July 23, 2008, until the production closed on October 19, 2008.Disclaimer: The following may contain offensive language, adult humor, and/or content that some viewers may find offensive – The views and opinions expressed by any one speaker does not explicitly or necessarily reflect or represent those of Mark Radulich or W2M Network.Mark Radulich and his wacky podcast on all the things:https://linktr.ee/markkind76alsohttps://www.teepublic.com/user/radulich-in-broadcasting-networkFB Messenger: Mark Radulich LCSWTiktok: @markradulichtwitter: @MarkRadulichInstagram: markkind76RIBN Album Playlist: https://suno.com/playlist/91d704c9-d1ea-45a0-9ffe-5069497bad59

Today in the ArtZany Radio studio Paula Granquist welcomes director Rachel Haider and students from the Purple Door Youth Theater production of Legally Blonde, Jr. The Musical at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater. LEGALLY BLONDE, JR. The Musical is a musical comedy; book by Heather Hach, music and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe. Based on the Novel by Amanda […]

Elena Skye is playing Janis in the West End production of Mean Girls.Having premiered on Broadway in 2018, Mean Girls opened in London earlier this year. Tina Fey adapted the show from her 2004 film, collaborating with Jeff Richmond who composed the music and Nell Benjamin who wrote the lyrics. The show is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. Elena made her professional debut as Lauren in the West End production of Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre) and went on to play Éponine in the West End production of Les Misérables (Queen's Theatre).Elena starred as Scaramouche in We Will Rock You, initially on tour before transferring with the show into the West End for a run at the London Coliseum. Last year Elena originated the role of Twiggy in Close Up: The Twiggy Musical at the Menier Chocolate Factory. In this episode, Elena discusses all things Mean Girls, including auditioning for the show, why she wanted to play Janis and how she got to grips with her song "I'd Rather Be Me". Elena also discusses her path into theatre, the hardest role she has played and what she's learnt along the way.Mean Girls is booking at the Savoy Theatre until 6th April 2025. Visit www.london.meangirlsmusical.com for info and tickets. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins  @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

Daniel Bravo is playing Aaron Samuels in the West End production of Mean Girls.Having premiered on Broadway in 2018, Mean Girls opened in London earlier this year. Tina Fey adapted the show from her 2004 film, collaborating with Jeff Richmond who composed the music and Nell Benjamin who wrote the lyrics. The show is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.Earlier this year Daniel starred as Sebastian Valmont in the London premiere of Cruel Intentions at The Other Palace. His other theatre credits include: Suddenly Last Summer (The English Theatre Frankfurt), Witness for the Prosecution (London County Hall), Speak (Rose Theatre/Paines Plough), Little Sausage (The Other Palace Studio), Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (King's Head Theatre) and Look Who's All Grown Up (The Space).In this episode Daniel discusses all things Mean Girls. He also reflects on Cruel Intentions, discusses his path into theatre and shares why he's excited to be doing musical theatre... and lots more pops up along the way! Mean Girls is booking at the Savoy Theatre until 6th April 2025. Visit www.london.meangirlsmusical.com for info and tickets. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins  @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we celebrate the transition of 'Mean Girls' from a beloved movie to a hit musical. We'll explore how Tina Fey, Jeff Richmond, and Nell Benjamin brought this high school saga to life on stage, and I'll spill the tea on its glittering debut and reception on Broadway. I also dive into the standout songs that make the musical so fetch. From the hilarious 'Apex Predator' to the empowering 'I'd Rather Be Me,' I'll break down the musical numbers that capture the essence of high school drama and triumph. I'll share my personal favorites and why they resonate with me, giving you a peek into the soundtrack that keeps me dancing and singing along. So, grab your Burn Book, throw on some pink (because on Wednesdays we podcast), and get ready to join the Plastics on this wild, musical ride.SONGS MENTIONED: A Cautionary TaleWhere Do You Belong?Apex PredatorI See StarsRevenge PartyI'd Rather Be MeEpisode 37: Exploring Broadway's Villain Songs Support the Show.Keep listening, keep grooving, and let the music in you continue to shine. Thank you, and see you soon!CONTACT TERI:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terirosborg/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teri.rosborgYouTube: The Music in MeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@terirosborgPodcast Facebook Page: The Music in Me Podcast Facebook pageTHEME SONG BY: Hayley GremardINTRODUCTION BY: Gavin Bruno

Gordon Greenberg has directed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in London's West End, written for television and stage, and developed, directed and produced new works for arts institutions across America. Current Directing/Writing projects include The Heart of Rock and Roll , which opens on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre in April, 2024, following its record breaking run at The Old Globe, the hit Off-Broadway show Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors (Director & Co-Writer, with Steve Rosen, New World Stages & podcast starring John Stamos, Laura Benanti, & Annaleigh Ashford), a new musical about Picasso (directing & co-writing with Stephen Schwartz & Caridad Svich), the NBC television series Most Talkative (Co-Executive Producer/Writer, NBC, Blumhouse, Andy Cohen), Crime and Punishment, A Comedy (directing & co-writing with Steve Rosen) for the Old Globe, a London revival of The Baker's Wife (Menier Choclate Factory, 2024), Single White Female (A.T.G.), The Wedding Banquet (Ang Lee, Hua Musicals, Taiwan), Ghost Tour, The Play, and the new comedy podcast series Rolling Calls starring Julie Halston & Richard Kind (co-writer, Steve Rosen). His acclaimed revival of Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf starring Calista Flockhart and Zachary Quinto at the Geffen Playhouse won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Revival. Variety called it “Inspired”, the L.A. Times called it “Unerringly good…Qunto & Flockhart expose something infinitely fragile in Edward Albee's shatterproof play”, Entertainment Weekly called it “A riveting production…brilliantly staged by Gordon Greenberg”, and the Wall Street Journal called it “Intriguing…Here, unusually, there is the suggestion that the oncoming dawn may truly presage a fragile new beginning.”  Other directing work includes the revisal of Working (Drama Desk Award, adapted with Stephen Schwartz and Lin-Manuel Miranda), Jacques Brel…(Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Award noms), Terms of Endearment with Alfred Molina & Calista Flockhart (Geffen Playhouse for Greg Berlanti), the stage adaptation of Tangled (Disney), Johnny Baseball (Williamstown), Stars of David by Jeanine Tesori, Tom Kitt, Tony Kushner (Daryl Roth), Pirates! (created with Nell Benjamin, Huntington, Paper Mill, Goodspeed, MUNY), Band Geeks! (also co-writer, Goodspeed, NEA grant), The Baker's Wife (Paper Mill, Goodspeed), 1776 (Paper Mill), Floyd Collins (Signature), the Klezmer-Rock reimagining of Isaac Bashevis Singer's Yentl (Asolo Rep), Blue Sky Boys by Deborah Breevort (Capital Rep.), the professional premiere of Edges The Musical (Capital Rep.), the acclaimed reimagining of Jesus Christ, Superstar starring Billy Porter (Helen Hayes, St. Louis MUNY), the U.S. national tour of Guys & Dolls, Disney's Believe, the Disney Fantasy Christening (with Neil Patrick Harris & Jerry Seinfeld), West Side Story (MUNY, Circle Award nom), Happy Days, A New Musical (Paper Mill, Goodspeed, U.S. National Tour), Vanities, A New Musical (Theatreworks Palo Alto - San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Award), We The People (Lucille Lortel Theatre & Paper Mill Playhouse), Rags (Roundabout, workshop), and the all-female workshop of Man of La Mancha (Mirvish, Toronto), Other writing work includes, for television, Herbie Rebooted for Disney, Emerald City Music Hall, an original movie musical for Nickelodeon Television and Scramble Band, an original movie musical for the Disney Channel, The Single Girls Guide (co-writer Tommy Newman) for Dallas Theatre Center, Ars Nova, Capital Rep, the podcast Theatre Camp (with Jonathan Marc Sherman) for Sirius XM, Killing Time (with Steve Rosen), an At Home Play Commission from The Old Globe, and the new book of Meet Me In St. Louis for the St. Louis MUNY's 100th Anniversary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Book Vs. Movie: Mean GirlsThe 2002 Book vs. the 2004 Movie vs. the 2018 Musical vs. the 2024 Movie"Mean Girls" is a teen comedy film released in 2004 that follows Cady Heron, a high school student who navigates the social hierarchy and mean girls. The film stars Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert. "Queen Bees and Wannabes" is a book by Rosalind Wiseman that explores the dynamics of teenage girls' social cliques. The "Mean Girls" musical adaptation premiered on Broadway in 2018 and follows the same storyline as the film but with some changes. The 2024 film stars Renee Rapp. Angourie Rice, and Auli'l Cravalho. Tina Fey wrote the screenplays for all versions. Which did we (the Margos) prefer of all of the adaptations?In this ep, the Margos discuss:The origin stories of the various “Mean Girls.” The differences between the 2004 film and the musicalThe cast of the 2024 film includes Augourie Rice (Cady Heron,) Renee Rapp (Regina George,) Auli'i Cravalho (Janis,) Jaquel Spivey (Damian Hubbard,) Avantki (Karen,) Bebe Wood (Gretchen Wieners,) Christopher Briney (Aaron Samuels,) Jenna Fischer (Ms. Heron,) Busy Phillips (Mrs. George,) Tina Fey (Ms. Norbury) and Tim Meadows as Mr. Duvall. Clips used:Cady joins the “Plastics”Mean Girls (2024 trailer) “Someone Gets Hurt”“Cool Mom”“Regina gets run over”The Holiday Pagent. Music by Jeff Richmond and Lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast GroupFollow us on Twitter @bookversusmovieInstagram: Book Versus Movie https://www.instagram.com/bookversusmovie/Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com Margo D. Twitter @BrooklynMargo Margo D's Blog www.brooklynfitchick.com Margo D's Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”Margo D's TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@margodonohuebrooklynfitchick@gmail.comYou can buy your copy of Filmed in Brooklyn here! Margo P. Twitter @ShesNachoMamaMargo P's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shesnachomama/Margo P's Blog  https://coloniabook.weebly.com/ Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine 

Book Vs. Movie: Mean GirlsThe 2002 Book vs. the 2004 Movie vs. the 2018 Musical vs. the 2024 Movie"Mean Girls" is a teen comedy film released in 2004 that follows Cady Heron, a high school student who navigates the social hierarchy and mean girls. The film stars Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert. "Queen Bees and Wannabes" is a book by Rosalind Wiseman that explores the dynamics of teenage girls' social cliques. The "Mean Girls" musical adaptation premiered on Broadway in 2018 and follows the same storyline as the film but with some changes. The 2024 film stars Renee Rapp. Angourie Rice, and Auli'l Cravalho. Tina Fey wrote the screenplays for all versions. Which did we (the Margos) prefer of all of the adaptations?In this ep, the Margos discuss:The origin stories of the various “Mean Girls.” The differences between the 2004 film and the musicalThe cast of the 2024 film includes Augourie Rice (Cady Heron,) Renee Rapp (Regina George,) Auli'i Cravalho (Janis,) Jaquel Spivey (Damian Hubbard,) Avantki (Karen,) Bebe Wood (Gretchen Wieners,) Christopher Briney (Aaron Samuels,) Jenna Fischer (Ms. Heron,) Busy Phillips (Mrs. George,) Tina Fey (Ms. Norbury) and Tim Meadows as Mr. Duvall. Clips used:Cady joins the “Plastics”Mean Girls (2024 trailer) “Someone Gets Hurt”“Cool Mom”“Regina gets run over”The Holiday Pagent. Music by Jeff Richmond and Lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast GroupFollow us on Twitter @bookversusmovieInstagram: Book Versus Movie https://www.instagram.com/bookversusmovie/Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com Margo D. Twitter @BrooklynMargo Margo D's Blog www.brooklynfitchick.com Margo D's Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”Margo D's TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@margodonohuebrooklynfitchick@gmail.comYou can buy your copy of Filmed in Brooklyn here! Margo P. Twitter @ShesNachoMamaMargo P's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shesnachomama/Margo P's Blog  https://coloniabook.weebly.com/ Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine 

It's MEAN GIRLS day! Yes, on Wednesdays we wear pink and we launch a new episode about the *iconique* adaptation of the musical version of the OG film that premiered 20 years ago! Join Cess, Karen, and Ica as they talk about what's new, who to look out for, and what stands out in this latest adaptation. TBH we send love and kudos to Tina Fey herself for releasing a fresh new take on her classic work. Mean Girls, 2024 is directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. Story by Tina Fey, Nell Benjamin, Rosalind Wiseman. Starring Renee Rapp, Angourie Rice, Auli'l Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Avantika Vandanapu, Christopher Briney, Tina Fey, and even a cameo appearance by Ashley Park (from the musical) and of course, Lindsay Lohan herself. Too many cameos appear here too so catch it now in PH cinemas nationwide! Check out the trailer here. Minor spoilers are present in this episode. A few technical glitches hence the background music AND a temporary music at the start but do let us know if the background music works for you. Do check out other episode from the Women's edition here.

It's MEAN GIRLS day! Yes, on Wednesdays we wear pink and we launch a new episode about the *iconique* adaptation of the musical version of the OG film that premiered 20 years ago! Join Cess, Karen, and Ica as they talk about what's new, who to look out for, and what stands out in this latest adaptation. TBH we send love and kudos to Tina Fey herself for releasing a fresh new take on her classic work. Mean Girls, 2024 is directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. Story by Tina Fey, Nell Benjamin, Rosalind Wiseman. Starring Renee Rapp, Angourie Rice, Auli'l Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Avantika Vandanapu, Christopher Briney, Tina Fey, and even a cameo appearance by Ashley Park (from the musical) and of course, Lindsay Lohan herself. Too many cameos appear here too so catch it now in PH cinemas nationwide! Check out the trailer here. Minor spoilers are present in this episode. A few technical glitches hence the background music AND a temporary music at the start but do let us know if the background music works for you. Do check out other episode from the Women's edition here.

Mean Girls is a 2024 American musical teen comedy film directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. (in their feature directorial debuts), from a screenplay by Tina Fey. It is based on the Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was based on Mark Waters's 2004 comedy film, both written by Fey and based on Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 book Queen Bees and Wannabes.[4] It stars Angourie Rice, Auliʻi Cravalho and Christopher Briney with Reneé Rapp reprising her role from the stage musical, while Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their roles from the original film.Paramount Pictures announced the film's development in January 2020, with Fey returning to write the screenplay and serve as a producer alongside Lorne Michaels, who produced the 2004 film. Composer Jeff Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin returned to rework their songs from the stage musical, while Richmond also composed the film's score. Casting began in December 2022. Principal photography took place in New Jersey between March and April 2023. The film was originally set to premiere on the streaming service Paramount+, but in September 2023, the distributor opted to release the film theatrically first after the film received positive test scores.[5]Mean Girls premiered in New York City on January 8, 2024, and was theatrically released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on January 12WebsitePatreonTwitterFacebookInstagramRetro Latefee Podcast (@retrolatefeepod) • Instagram photos and videosTikTok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Daniel, Shahbaz, & Anthony review Samantha Jayne's MEAN GIRLS, a new twist on the 2004 classic comedy film. It stars Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli'i Cravalho, Jenna Fischer, Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr., Nell Benjamin, Jon Hamm, and Tina Fey. New student Cady Heron is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics,” ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George and her minions. However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina's ex-boyfriend, she finds herself prey in Regina's crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group's apex predator with the help of her outcast friends, she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school. Mean Girls releases exclusively in theatres January 12, 2024 by Paramount Pictures. Watch and listen to The Movie Podcast now on all podcast feeds, YouTube, and TheMoviePodcast.ca Get a whole month of great cinema FREE on MUBI: mubi.com/themoviepodcast Contact: hello@themoviepodcast.ca FOLLOW US Daniel on X, Instagram, Rotten Tomatoes, and Letterboxd Shahbaz on X, Instagram, Rotten Tomatoes, and Letterboxd Anthony on X, Instagram, Rotten Tomatoes, and Letterboxd The Movie Podcast on YouTube, X, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and Rotten Tomatoes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://themoviepodcast.supportingcast.fm

An actress and filmmaker, Jennifer Westfeldt is perhaps best known for writing, producing and starring in the indie films Kissing Jessica Stein (Indie Spirit Nomination, Golden Satellite Award, GLAAD Media Award, multiple Audience Awards), Ira & Abby (Best Actress/HBO Comedy Festival, multiple Audience Awards), and Friends with Kids (Top Ten Films of 2012, New York Magazine, NPR), which also marked her directorial debut. Her television credits include Younger,This Is Us, Girls, 24, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Notes from the Underbelly, and Children's Hospital, among others.  Jennifer made her Broadway debut opposite Donna Murphy in Wonderful Town, directed by Kathleen Marshall, for which she received a Tony nomination, a Theater World Award and a Drama League Award. Other notable stage work includes the world premieres of Scott Z. Burns' The Library at the Public Theater, directed by Stephen Soderbergh; Nell Benjamin's The Explorer's Club at Manhattan Theater Club; Nicky Silver's Too Much Sun opposite Linda Lavin at The Vineyard Theater; Joe Gilford's Finks at NYSAF; Cusi Cram's A Lifetime Burning at Primary Stages; and Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros' Big Sky at The Geffen Playhouse.  On the writing side, Jennifer recently adapted Robinne Lee's novel The Idea of You to the screen; the film, starring Anne Hathaway and directed by Michael Showalter, is shooting this fall for Amazon Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing THE SEA BEAST (2022) which is currently streaming on Netflix. With screenplay credits to Chris Williams and Nell Benjamin and directed by Chris Williams, the film follows Maisie (Zaris-Angel Hator) a young orphan who stows away on a celebrated sea monster hunter's, Captain Crow (Jared Harris), ship and forges a relationship with Jacob (Karl Urban). They soon find their world and way of life forever changed after an encounter with the dreaded sea beast known as the 'Red Bluster'. They come to learn that the things they thought they knew might not be quite right and that even heroes can still be wrong. A compelling script, gorgeous visuals and excellent voice actors make this a MUST WATCH. The film has a run time of 1 h 55 m, and is rated PG. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review. Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jokagoge/support

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk. Mean Girls the musical hits the stage in Houston.  The show features a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey, music by three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond, and  lyrics by two-time Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin. Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs. Cast member April Josephine, who plays Mrs. Heron, Ms. Norbury, and Mrs. George, talks with us about her experience touring with this production, the nuance of her roles, and what audiences can expect.  Josephine is not only an actress, but also works as an arts educator.  She shares why the arts and theatre is so important in providing an open, safe space for students to discuss hard topics. Also, as students head back to school, we talk with a school psychologist, about “mean girl” behavior, what causes it, and how we can prevent it.  Plus, what parents, students, and school staff can do about bullying, and cyberbullying. If you or someone you know is being bullied, contemplating suicide, or in crisis, call 988, or log on to 988LifeLine.org.  “Mean Girls”, the musical comedy based on the hit film, runs August 17 – 21, 2022, at the Hobby Center in Houston.  For more information, log on to www.TheHobbyCenter.org.  Please note, the Tuesday, August 16, 2022, performance of “Mean Girls” has been rescheduled due to unforeseen technical difficulties.  Tickets for the August 16, 2022, performance, are now valid for a newly added performance on Friday, August 19, 2022, at 2:00pm CT.  Ticketholders unable to attend the new performance should check their e-mail or reach out to their original point of purchase for further options. Guests: April Josephine Actress in 'Mean Girls' (Mrs. Heron/Ms. Norbury/Mrs. George)  Dr. Laurie McGarry Klose School Psychologist, Owner of educational consulting firm RespectED, and Immediate Past President of the National Association of School Psychologists Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues. We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

Andrew Garfield is dynamite! Get it? Because Tick... Tick... BOOM? Awe, never mind. Broadway News: Producers announced on Thursday that Chicken & Biscuits will play its final performance on Nov. 28. The news comes after the new play announced an extended cancellation of performances through Nov. 18 due to COVID-19 cases in the company. The production will now resume performances on Nov. 19. An HBO documentary following the making of tonight's sold-out, one-night-only, reunion concert of Spring Awakening benefitting The Actors Fund, is now in production. Produced by RadicalMedia, the documentary will follow the original stars as they come together for the first time in 15 years. The documentary will debut on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max next year, bringing the story of this one-night-only musical performance to fans and audiences across the globe. Billy Crystal will return to Broadway this spring in a musical adaptation of “Mr. Saturday Night.” Crystal will play comedian Buddy Young Jr., the role he originated in the 1992 Columbia Pictures film. The Broadway cast will include Randy Graff, David Paymer and Chasten Harmon. The musical will play the Nederlander Theatre starting March 1, 2022, ahead of a March 31 opening night. “Mr. Saturday Night” features a score by Jason Robert Brown and lyrics by Amanda Green. Crystal wrote the book to the musical, alongside Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, all of whom were screenwriters for the film.  Lucy Moss who is the co-writer and director of the international hit musical Six, will direct the musical adaptation of Legally Blonde for the summer 2002 season at London's Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. The musical, featuring a score by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and a book by Heather Hach, will open the venue's 90th anniversary season, running May 13 to July 2. Casting: Devin Kawaoka and Jonathan Chad Higginbotham will join the cast of Jeremy O. Harris' “Slave Play.” Kawaoka will join the company as Dustin and Higginbotham will play Philip. Both actors will make their Broadway debuts with the production. They join returning cast members Ato Blankson-Wood, Chalia La Tour, Irene Sofia Lucio, Annie McNamara and Paul Alexander Nolan. As previously announced, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy will take over the role of Kaneisha. “Slave Play” is scheduled to begin performances at the August Wilson Theatre on Nov. 23, ahead of an opening night on Dec. 2. The limited return engagement will play through Jan. 23. The play originally ran at Broadway's Golden Theatre from September 2019 to January 2020. Joshua Boone will join the previously announced Broadway cast of Dominique Morisseau's “Skeleton Crew,” Manhattan Theatre Club announced Monday. Boone, who previously appeared in “Network” on Broadway, joins Phylicia Rashad, Chanté Adams, Brandon J. Dirden and Adesola Osakalumi to complete the full cast. The Broadway premiere is directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. “Skeleton Crew” will begin performances at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Dec. 21, ahead of a Jan. 12, 2022 opening.  Two-time Grammy nominee and Theater World Award winner Conrad Ricamora will star as Seymour in the three-time Best Musical Revival Award-winning production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS beginning January 11, 2022. Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, American Son) will play his final performance on January 9, 2022 at the Westside Theatre.  Follow @BwayPodNetwork on Twitter. Find co-hosts on Twitter at @AyannaPrescod, @CLewisReviews, and @TheMartinAcuna. Tickets for Is This A Room and Dana H. playing in rep at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway are on sale NOW! Purchase HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Such a treat to speak with Nell and Larry, the hilarious duo behind Legally Blonde, the Musical. We spoke about identifying a musical moment, the creative benefits of going away to “Camp Blonde”, and of which Legally Blonde moment they’re most proud. Nell Benjamin is a Laurence Olivier-winning and Tony-nominated composer and lyricist. For Broadway, with Larry, Nell wrote Legally Blonde: The Musical. Also for Broadway, Mean Girls. Off-Broadway, Nell’s credits include: The Explorers Club; Dave The Musical; Because of Winn Dixie; and Half Time. In development: Huzzah!; Life of the Party. Nell is also working on an original musical movie for Universal and three new animated films for Netflix. Larry O’Keefe is a Laurence Olivier and Lucille Lortel Award-winning composer and lyricist for Broadway musicals, film, and television. His credits include: Bat Boy: The Musical; Legally Blonde: The Musical; Heathers: The Musical; and Sarah Plain & Tall. In development, with Nell, are Life of the Party and Huzzah! To follow their projects in development, follow Larry on Twitter @LarryisOKeefe. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Omigod you guys, in this episode, we’re joined by Jeff Parsons of A Musical Theatre Podcast to shine a light on musicals of Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe (and Kevin Murphy and Jeff Richmond)! We’re talking Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, and Heathers because more is better, so take a listen and see if they’re so much better than the original movies. -- Listen to A Musical Theatre Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and check out the Heathers episode with original cast member Rachel Flynn, and you can also hear us discuss My Fair Lady. Hear Barrett Wilbert Weed and Jeff Richmond discuss the lyrics to I’d Rather Be Me. Check out the Apex Predator performance on the Today Show to just watch The Plastics strut their way around Rockefeller Plaza. Listen to different performances of the ending of So Much Better. Watch Laura Bell Bundy keep going after kicking off a shoe during So Much Better. If you want to hear more about the process of turning Legally Blonde into a musical (including the shoe incident), you can listen to the creators talk about it on the Broadway Backstory podcast. You’re Welcome originally replaced Blue in the high school version of Heathers before displacing it completely in all productions, and you can hear about some of the other changes that Lawrence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy made for the high school version. Watch Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez get ready for her day and talk about the importance of femininity and self-appreciation. You can read some of the behind-the-scenes info for each song in both Mean Girls and Heathers. Listen to the cast albums! Mean Girls: Apple Music / Spotify Legally Blonde: Apple Music / Spotify Heathers (Original Off-Broadway): Apple Music / Spotify Heathers (West End): Apple Music / Spotify -- Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BottomlessBway, our blog at https://bottomlessbway.home.blog/, or email us at bottomlessbway@gmail.com! You can also leave feedback in this 30-second survey.

Mitchell's early Broadway credits were as a dancer in The Will Rogers Follies and revivals of Brigadoon and On Your Toes. He is openly gay. Mitchell's first professional credit as a choreographer was for the 1990 Alley Theatre world premiere of the musical Jekyll & Hyde. Mitchell's first Broadway production as sole choreographer was the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which he followed with The Full Monty. Mitchell created and for many years directed the annual Broadway Bares benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. In addition to the theatre, he has choreographed for films such as Camp, In & Out and Drop Dead Gorgeous. He garnered an Emmy Award nomination for his work on The Drew Carey Show. In 2003 Mitchell was named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch". He directed and choreographed Legally Blonde: The Musical, which opened in April 2007, and served as a mentor on Bravo's reality competition Step It Up and Dance in 2008. Mitchell created, directed, and choreographed a stage show for Las Vegas, Peepshow, which opened at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in 2009. He was involved in workshops for the stage musical version of the film Catch Me If You Can. In 2013, Mitchell directed and choreographed the Broadway musical Kinky Boots. He won the Tony Award for Best Choreography and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. He is the director of the new musical On Your Feet!, about the lives of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. The musical premiered in Chicago in June 2015 and opened on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre on November 5, 2015. He is the director and choreographer of the new musical Half Time, based on the film Gotta Dance, which began performances on December 13, 2015 at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre, and ran through January 17, 2016. The musical has the book by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, with additional music by Marvin Hamlisch. The musical opened at the Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn, New Jersey) on May 31, 2018. Instagram: @jammyprod Host: Jamie Neale @jamienealejn Discussing rituals and habitual patterns in personal and work life. We ask questions about how to become more aware of one self and the world around us, how do we become 360 with ourselves? Host Instagram: @jamienealejn Podcast Instagram: @360_yourself Music from Electric Fruit Produced by Tom Dalby Composed by Toby Wright

Donna welcomes beloved actor Kerry Butler, acclaimed Tony-winning actor/activist Tonya Pinkins and maestro lyricist/book writer Nell Benjamin to Sardis. Over lunch, these super power women chat about the twists and turns in their careers, their lives and Broadway. Tony-Nominee Kerry Butler was most recently seen on Broadway in "Beetlejuice". Other unforgettable roles include: “Mean Girls”, “Disaster!”, “Catch Me If You Can”, “Xanadu”, “Little Shop”, “Hairspray” and “Bat Boy”.  Tonya Pinkins, a Tony-winning actor and host of the Broadway Podcast Network Podcast “You Can't Say That', has been celebrated for her work in “Caroline, Or Change”, “Jelly's Last Jam”, “Play On!”, “Radio Golf”, “Holler If Ya Hear Me” and “The Wild Party”. Tony-Nominee and Olivier Award winner Nell Benjamin is a lyricist, writer and composer has been recognized for her work on “Mean Girls”, “Legally Blonde”, “The Explorers Club”, “Sarah Plain and Tall” and “Cam Jansen”.  Produced by Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales, music composed by Matthew Sklar. Part of the Broadway Podcast Network. Every episode is recorded live at the legendary Sardi's restaurant, 234 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036. Thank you so very much to Max Klimavicius, Sean Ricketts, Beth Shafeman and the entire Sardi's family for your tremendous kindness and delicious cuisine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for the first-ever LEGALLY BLONDE MUSICAL REUNION. 20 members of the original Broadway company along with the show's creators, director/choreography and producers come together to share crazy behind-the-curtain memories and to celebrate and raise money for BC/EFA's COVID-19 Emergency Fund.  DEEP DIVE BROADWAY welcomes Laura Bell Bundy, Annaliegh Ashford, Andy Karl, Orfeh, Richard Blake, Leslie Kritzer, Nikki Snelson, Michael Rupert, Kate Shindle, Asmeret Ghebremikael, Kate Wetherhead, Natalie Joy Johnson and Becky Gulvisg along with creators Larry O'Keefe, Nell Benjamin and Heather Hach, director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell and Producers Hal Luftig, Mike Isaacson and Dori Berinstein for this special podcast event.  Please join us in supporting BC/EFA by making a contribution to Broadwaycares.org/help2020.  To watch the video of this live event, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7zwtz-GE8U

It’s London, 1879, and the hapless members of the Explorers Club must confront their most lethal threat yet: the admission of a woman into their hermetically-sealed ranks. But the intrepid Phyllida Spotte-Hume turns out to be the least of their troubles, in this hilarious farce starring members of the original Broadway cast.The Explorers Club by Nell Benjamin. Directed by Kate McAll. Producing Director, Susan Albert Loewenberg. Starring Jack Cutmore-Scott as Bebee/Irish Assassin, Carson Elrod as Luigi, David Furr as Harry Percy, John Getz as Professor Sloane, Martin Jarvis as Sir Bernard Humphries, David Krumholtz as Professor Walling, Lorenzo Pisoni as Lucius Fretway, Jennifer Westfeldt as Phyllida/Countess, Matthew Wolf as Professor Cope. The Explorers Club is part of L.A. Theatre Works' Relativity Series of science-themed plays. Lead funding for the Relativity Series is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, bridging science and the arts in the modern world.Recorded at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood.

It’s London, 1879, and the hapless members of the Explorers Club must confront their most lethal threat yet: the admission of a woman into their hermetically-sealed ranks. But the intrepid Phyllida Spotte-Hume turns out to be the least of their troubles, in this hilarious farce starring members of the original Broadway cast.The Explorers Club by Nell Benjamin. Directed by Kate McAll. Producing Director, Susan Albert Loewenberg. Starring Jack Cutmore-Scott as Bebee/Irish Assassin, Carson Elrod as Luigi, David Furr as Harry Percy, John Getz as Professor Sloane, Martin Jarvis as Sir Bernard Humphries, David Krumholtz as Professor Walling, Lorenzo Pisoni as Lucius Fretway, Jennifer Westfeldt as Phyllida/Countess, Matthew Wolf as Professor Cope.The Explorers Club is part of L.A. Theatre Works' Relativity Series of science-themed plays. Lead funding for the Relativity Series is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, bridging science and the arts in the modern world.Recorded at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood.

Broadway composers Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe (Legally Blonde: The Musical, Mean Girls, Heathers: The Musical) stop by to discuss how they got their start, how their creative relationship has changed over time, and the biggest hurdles they’ve faced as a team.Support our show by supporting our sponsors!Robinhood - Robinhood is giving listeners of One Plus One a FREE stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint to help you build your portfolio. Sign up at plusone.robinhood.comCayman Jack- Cayman Jack provides premium prepared cocktails for those with good taste and little time. Find Cayman Jack at a store near you by visiting caymanjack.com. Please drink responsibly. Premium malt beverage. American Vintage Beverage Co. Chicago, Illinois.

Today our theater critic, J. Wynn Rousuck, joins Tom (a day earlier than usual) to share her take on the new political musical, Dave, now playing at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C. Directed by Tina Landau (SpongeBob SquarePants) and adapted from the 1993 Oscar-nominated film of the same name, Dave tells the story of Dave Kovic -- played by Drew Gehling (Waitress) -- a high school teacher with an uncanny resemblance to the President of the United States (also played by Gehling). Dave is recruited by members of the White House staff to stand in as the President's secret double when the Commander-in-Chief falls into a stroke-induced coma. As Dave struggles to manage the complex charade, he realizes that he must also gain the trust of the American people -- and the First Lady, played by Mamie Parris (School of Rock, Cats).Dave features a book by three-time Tony winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, Hairspray, The Producers), lyrics by Tony nominee Nell Benjamin, (Mean Girls, Legally Blonde), and music by Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony winner Tom Kitt (Next to Normal, If/Then).Dave is playing at Washington D.C.'s Arena Stage, not far from the real-world inspiration for the production's Oval Office set. Performances continue through August 19th.

The writers of the Tony-nominated "Mean Girls" -- book writer Tina Fey, composer Jeff Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin -- take us behind the scenes of their fetch new musical.

Hi guys, it's the twenty fifth episode!  OH YAS! Welcome back to Geeking Out Loud! On today's episode Maria talks about Apex Predator and Stupid With Love, two songs from Mean Girls: The Musical. The new songs feature Barrett Wilbert Weed as Janis Sarkisian, and Erika Henningsen as our protagonist Cady Heron.  Mean Girls is a movie that came out in 2004 and it became part of pop culture. For example, everyone knows that “On Wednesdays we wear pink.” The musical opened April 8th 2018, and it’s written by Tina Fey, the composer is Fey’s husband, Jeff Richmond, and the lyricist is Nell Benjamin. The full soundtrack will be released in digital form on May 18, and the physical copies will be released June 15.  We’re all really excited here at Geeking Out Loud, so let’s talk about Apex Predator and Stupid With Love, shall we?  Song: Ikson - Heartbeat (Vlog No Copyright Music) Music promoted by Vlog No Copyright Music.

Hi guys, it's the nineteenth episode!  YAY! Welcome back to Geeking Out Loud! On today's episode Maria talks about I’d Rather Be Me, a song from the Mean Girls on Broadway soundtrack. The new song features Barrett Wilbert Weed as Janis Sarkisian, the unpopular girl who becomes Cady’s first friend on her first day of school.  Mean Girls is a movie that came out in 2004 and it became part of pop culture. For example, everyone knows that “On Wednesdays we wear pink.”  The musical opened April 8, 2018, and it’s written by Tina Fey, the composer is Fey’s husband, Jeff Richmond, and the lyricist is Nell Benjamin. The full soundtrack will be released in digital form on May 18th, and the physical copies will be available on June 15th.  We’re all really-really excited here at Geeking Out Loud, so let’s talk about I’d Rather Be Me, shall we?  Song: Ikson - Heartbeat (Vlog No Copyright Music) Music promoted by Vlog No Copyright Music. Video Link: https://youtu.be/YQjlxD0IbtA 

Every Thursday, our indefatigable theater critic, J. Wynn Rousuck, joins us with her review of a current production playing on one of the Baltimore-Washington region's many stages. This week, Judy reviews Mean Girls - the Musical, writer-comedian Tina Fey's lively new staging of her hit 2004 movie, now getting its world premiere on the boards at The National Theatre in Washington, D.C., before heading to Broadway.Like the movie, Mean Girls --the Musical spins on the travails of Cady Heron, a sensitive and naive high-schooler who's just moved to Illinois after spending her childhood living in Africa with her zoologist parents. As she struggles to find her place in the social hierarchy, Cady attracts the attention of The Plastics, a trio of popular girls reigned over by the competitive and ruthless Regina George. Cady tires of Regina's cruel and controlling ways and soon plots to topple her from her throne. But things don't go precisely as planned.Also like her movie, Tina Fay's new musical comedy is witty and insightful, and in an era fraught with bullying concerns, the story offers an important commentary on human nature and the meaning of friendship.The Broadway-bound traveling show is produced by Lorne Michaels, Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman, and Paramount Pictures. The book is by Tina Fey, with music by Fey's husband Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Mean Girls - the Musical is directed at The National Theatre by Tony-award winner Casey Nicholaw (Aladdin, The Book of Mormon).Mean Girls - the Musical continues at The National Theatre DC until Sunday, December 3rd.

Hosts Briana Phipps, Jacque Borowski, Carla Renata and Ally Nasta discuss the musical Fun Home. Legally Blonde is a musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and bookby Heather Hach. The story is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name. It tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. She discovers how her knowledge of the law can help others, and successfully defends exercise queen Brooke Wyndham in a murder trial. Throughout the show, no one has faith in Elle Woods, but she manages to surprise them when she defies expectations while staying true to herself. Legally Blonde premiered in pre-Broadway tryouts in San Francisco, California. In April 2007 the show moved to Broadway, opening to mostly positive reviews and grossed more than $1,000,000 a week on several occasions. Jerry Mitchell directed and choreographed. The

Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky review: (1) DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, & Linda Woolverton, at The Muny, (2) RIGOLETTO, by Giuseppe Verdi, at Union Avenue Opera, (3) MOON OVER BUFFALO, by Ken Ludwig, at Insight Theatre Company, (4) ANYTHING GOES, by Cole Porter et al., at Stages St. Louis, (5) THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF HEDDA GABLER, by Jeff Whitty, at St. Louis Shakespeare, (6) THIS IS N0T FUNNY, by the Cast, at Theatre Nuevo, (7) CAROUSEL, by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, at Hawthorne Payers, (8) LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL, by Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin, & Heather Hach, at Take Two Productions, and (9) LABUTE NEW THEATRE FESTIVAL, PART TWO, by several, at St. Louis Actors’ Studio.

Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky interview Maggie Ryan (Artistic Director, Insight Theatre Company) after reviewing (1) LEGALLY BLONDE, THE MUSICAL, by Heather Hach and Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin, at Stages St. Louis, (2) WEST SIDE STORY, by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, & Jerome Robbins, at The Muny, (3) THE SECRET GARDEN, by Lucy Simon & Marsha Norman, at Hawthorne Players, (4) MARY POPPINS THE MUSICAL, by Julian Fellowes, the Shermans, George Stiles & Anthony Drewe, at The Muny, and (5) THE ENCHANTED ISLAND, adapted from Shakespeare by Beverly and Gerald H. Bailey, at Clayton Community Theatre.

On this episode, Gerry Kowarsky and guest host Mark Bretz review 1) WAITING FOR GODOT, by Samuel Beckett, at St. Louis Actors' Studio, (2) THREE SISTERS, by Anton Chekhov, at Saint Louis Univ., (3) MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, by Colin Escott & Floyd Mutrux, at the Fox Theatre, (4) LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL, by Laurence O'Keefe, Nell Benjamin, & Heather Hach, at Webster Univ. Conservatory, (5) SMASH/HIT!, by Steve Broadnax and Michael Bordner, at The Black Rep, (6) IN THE NEXT ROOM (Or the Vibrator Play), by Sarah Ruhl, at Washington Univ., (7) FOOL FOR LOVE, by Sam Shepard, at Tesseract Theatre, and (8) TROUBLE IN TAHITI, by Leonard Bernstein, at Union Avenue Opera.

Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky review (1) THE SOUND OF MUSIC, by Rodgers & Hammerstein and Lindsay & Crouse, at Stages St. Louis, (2) THE KING AND I, by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, at The Muny, (3) THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL, by David Nehls & Betsy Kelso, at Stray Dog Theatre, (4) AIDA, by Elton John & Tim Rice, Linda Woolverton & Robert Falls & David Henry Hwang, at Take Two Productions, (5) PIRATES! (OR, GILBERT & SULLIVAN PLUNDER'D), by W.S. Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan, & Nell Benjamin, at The Muny, (6) THE SOUND OF MUSIC, by Rodgers & Hammerstein and Lindsay & Crouse, at The Over Due Theatre Co., and (7) COMPANY, by Stephen Sondheim & George Furth, at Hawthorne Players.

Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky review (1) KISS ME, KATE, by Cole Porter, William Shakespeare, et al., at The Muny, (2) THE DEATH OF KLINGHOFFER, by John Adams & Alice Goodman, at Opera Theatre of St. Louis, (3) 101 DALMATIONS, by Marcy Heisler, Bryan Louiselle, et al., at Stages St.Louis, (4) DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, by John Patrick Shanley, at The NonProphet Theater Co., (5) BEHIND THE CHAIR, by Jason Slavik, at First Run Theatre,(6) THE MINEOLA TWINS, by Paula Vogel, at Muddy Waters Theatre, (7) LEGALLY BLONDE, by Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin and Heather Hach, at The Muny,(8) THE ROYAL FAMILY, by George S. Kaufman & Edna Ferber, at ACT Inc., and (9) SNOOPY!!! THE MUSICAL, by Warren Lockhart et al., at Soundstage Productions.

Interviews with 23 Tony Nominees from 13 shows: Audra MacDonald. Christopher Plummer, David Hyde-Pierce, Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater Bill T. Jones, Gavin Lee, Laura Bell Bundy, Liev Schreiber, Orfeh, Raul Esparza, Charlotte D'Amboise, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba, Steven Sater, Rebeka Luker, Jerry Mitchell, Julie White, Larry O'Keefe, Nell Benjamin, Douglas Carter Bean, John Earl Jokes, Scott Frankel, Michael Korie and Dana Ivey FROM A Chorus Line, Curtains, Spring Awakening, Mary Poppins, Legally Blonde, The Little Dog Laughed, Radio Golf, Grey Gardens, Butley, 110 in the Shade, Inherit the Wind, Talk Radio and Company!