Podcast appearances and mentions of Thomas Meehan

Today, I'm thrilled to announce my episode with Tony winning librettist and performer Bob Martin, who is the author of two of this season's newest hits—SMASH and BOOP—both of which started previews on Broadway this week. Tune in to hear about the writing processes of those two musicals, and some of the other stories of his legendary career, including why he was sore every night after performing THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the character he almost played in THE PROM, writing for the film adaptation of that musical, why he loves writing for Beth Leavel, the challenges of working on MINSKY'S, changing ELF between its three Broadway runs, what he learned from Charles Strouse and Thomas Meehan, revisiting unsuccessful musicals in HEY, LOOK ME OVER, how supply chain issues have affected Broadway, developing THE STING with Harry Connick, Jr., working with Kevin Kline on AMERICAN CLASSIC, his idea for a sequel to THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, revising KISS ME, KATE in London, and so much more. You won't want to miss this honest and fun conversation with one of Broadway's funniest and most prolific writers.

Music by Stephen FlahertyLyrics by Lynn AhrensBook by Thomas Meehan & Sylvester StalloneDirected by Alex TimbersChoreography by Steven Hoggett & Kelly DevineStarring Andy Karl, Margo Seibert, Terence Archie, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Dakin Matthews & Jennifer MudgeOpened on Broadway March 13, 2014

[School of Movies 2024] You don't need to know a single thing about Ultraman to love this film. We brought in Kaiju and Sentai expert Dan Hoeppner to educate us along with you, regarding the history and cultural background of this character, but the film itself, viewable on Netflix is an absolutely perfect starting point. It is a smashing standalone story about the son of Ultraman, who grew up to be not especially great in the role himself, and instead pursued his mother's passion, becoming a baseball player. He's selfish and arrogant, not a team player, and has estranged himself from his widowed father, Hayao, with neither of them finding fulfilment. Then Kenji had an adorable, ginormous baby space dragon dropped into his lap, and he's about to find out that being a Dad is harder than it looks. It also sits confidently alongside the most gorgeous, dynamic and thrilling animated films of recent years, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, The Sea Beast and even the hallowed Spider-Verse. This one was commissioned by Thomas Meehan, and we're so glad he prompted us into tackling it now and not holding back because it felt too intimidatingly special. Sometimes we need that fire lit under us. Guest: Dan Hoeppner  @MightyMegatron0  of Leftover Army Monsters

'Elf' and 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' engage in a spirited holiday showdown. Who will charm their way to the top, and who will find themselves outshined? It's a high-stakes battle in our holiday movie showdown, where only one can emerge as the ultimate festive favorite! Prepare for an engaging journey filled with insightful critiques, captivating trivia, and holiday cheer as we explore the magic and merriment of these cherished films. | The Rules of the Game: - Four Rounds, Four Categories: Our showdown is governed by a spinning wheel of chance, deciding four random categories. - Points for Prowess: Each film earns points by outshining its opponent. - The Final Verdict: After all rounds, the film with the most points progresses, while the other takes a seasonal bow. | Image and Movie Clip Credits (with thanks to the magic-makers): - 'Elf' (2003): Directed by Jon Favreau, written by David Berenbaum, starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, and Zooey Deschanel, 97 minutes, United States, English | New Line Cinema. - 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (2000): Directed by Ron Howard, written by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman, based on the book by Dr. Seuss, starring Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, and Jeffrey Tambor, 104 minutes, United States, English | Universal Pictures. - 'Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas': Directed by Mark Caballero and Seamus Walsh, starring Jim Parsons, Mark Hamill, and Ed Asner, 2014, United States, English | Warner Bros. Television. - 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!' (1966): Directed by Chuck Jones and Ben Washam, narrated by Boris Karloff, who also voices the Grinch, 26 minutes, United States, English | MGM Television. - 'Elf: The Musical': Broadway musical adaptation of the film 'Elf', music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, premiered in 2010, United States. - 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical': Broadway musical adaptation of Dr. Seuss's story 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas', music by Mel Marvin, book and lyrics by Timothy Mason, original production conceived and directed by Jack O'Brien, premiered in 2006, United States. - 'Christmas Vacation' (1989): Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, written by John Hughes, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, and Randy Quaid, 97 minutes, United States, English | Warner Bros. - 'Home Alone' (1990): Directed by Chris Columbus, written by John Hughes, starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern, 103 minutes, United States, English | 20th Century Fox. - Rotten Tomatoes Logo: Logo of Rotten Tomatoes, a review-aggregation website for film and television. - Metacritic Logo: Logo of Metacritic, a review-aggregation website for films, TV shows, music albums, video games, etc. | Fair Use Note: This podcast adheres to the fair use guidelines under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, focusing on criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. We respect copyrights and acknowledge all rights of the respective owners. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thenerdcolosseum/support

Rebentar la caixa forta amb la clau sueca. Rebentar la caixa forta amb la clau sueca. «The Producers». Lletres de Mel Brooks i Thomas Meehan. Música de Mel Brooks. Intèrprets: Armando Pita, Ricky Mata, Àngel Llàcer, Oriol Burés, Mireia Portas, José Luis Mosquera, Bittor Fernández, Clara Lanzani, Alexandre Ars. Cos de ball: Pol Roselló, Adrià García, Enric Marimon, Raúl Maro, Jordi Garcia, Guillem Gamell, Empar Esteve, Ana Micó, Tamara Suárez, Julia Saura, Paula Pérez, Chema Zamora, Pablo López, Clara Casals i Marta Manotas. Coreografia i direcció original: Susan Stroman. Traducció i adaptació: Marc Gómez. Director resident i ajudant de direcció: Joâo Duarte Costa. Resident: Gerard Alonso. Disseny escenografia: Enric Planas. Disseny vestuari: Marc Udina. Disseny il·luminació: Albert Faura. Disseny so: Roc Mateu. Disseny caracterització: Helena Fenoy. Coreografia i claqué: Maria Bossy. Direcció musical: Manu Guix i Gerard Alonso. Coreografia: Miryam Benedited. Direcció: Àngel Llàcer i Enric Cambray. En col·laboració amb Music Theatre International. Producció: Nostromo Live. Teatre Tívoli, Barcelona. A partir del 15 setembre 2023. Veu: Andreu Sotorra. Música: Springtime for Hitler. Interpretació: Mel Brooks, Patrick S. Brady i cors. Composició: Mel Brooks. Àlbum: The Producers, 2005.

Welcome to a heartwarming episode of "Moving Panels." In this special episode, our host isn't Laramy Wells, but the equally charming Bethany Wells, accompanied by her delightful co-host, Ruby! Join this dynamic mother-daughter duo as they embark on a spirited discussion about the 2014 film "Annie," inspired by the original "Little Orphan Annie" comic created by Harold Gray and the musical by Charles Strouse (music), Martin Charnin (lyrics), and Thomas Meehan (book). From the infectious songs to the enchanting journey of a young girl's dreams, Bethany and Ruby share their insights, critiques, and most importantly, the moments that tugged at their heartstrings. Tune in for a delightful exploration of "Annie," where family, film, and fond memories intersect on this endearing episode of "Moving Panels." Follow us on social media... Facebook: facebook.com/movingpanels Twitter: twitter.com/movingpanels Instagram: instagram.com/movingpanels TikTok: tiktok.com/@movingpanels Email the show to discuss suggestions or let us know how we're doing at movingpanels@gmail.com Soundtrack: "Reload" by Alchemorph --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/movingpanels/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/movingpanels/support

Book Vs. Movie: HairsprayThe 1988 John Waters Movie Vs. the 2007 Adaptation“Musicals in March”The Margos continue their look at “Musicals in March” with the John Waters classic Hairspray, which started with the 1988 movie starring Rikki Lake, Divine, and Debby Harry. Based on his experiences of being a fan of the 1957-1964 Baltimore teen dance TV program--The Buddy Deane Show, Waters was a huge fan of R&B music. On the Buddy Deane show, the dancers were integrated, unlike Dick Clark's American Bandstand, which was based out of Philadelphia at the same time. Baltimore Magazine April 1985 by John Waters "Ladies & Gentleman: The Nicest Kids in Town!”Being a self-described “Super Fan” of the show, the director has a well-known career as an avant-garde-loving and bizarre artist who loves things that are in bad taste. His interest in something as wholesome as Buddy Deane made him think about writing a more accessible film about a group of teen dancers/local TV stars who fight racism and oppression with their love of music and dance. Given a modest budget of $2.8 million, the film was a box office hit, and the critics loved this new era of John Waters with even bigger hits in the 90s Cry-Baby & Serial Mom. Waters continues to write and direct his work and is very popular as an actor who appears in everything from Law & Order to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisles. In 2002, the musical version premiered in Seattle with music and lyrics from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and the book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Hit is not a big enough word for this adaptation's success in the 2000s. It won eight Tony Awards (including Best Musical) in 2003 and broke all box office records in London's West End in 2008. The 2007 movie was directed by Adam Shankman and stars John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Christopher Walken and continues the big box office that started with the original 1988 film. What are the differences between the original and the latest version of the story of the AMAZING Tracy Turnblad? Which do we like best? Have a listen!In this ep the Margos discuss:John Waters, Divine, and BaltimoreWaters ventures into more “family-friendly material.”The music used in both films1988 cast: Ricki Lake (Tracy Turnblad,) Divine (Edna Turnblad,) Debbie Harry (Velma Von Tussle,) Sonny Bono (Franklin Von Tussle,) Jerry Stiller (Wilbur Turbland,) Leslie Ann Powers (Penny Pingleton,) Colleen Fitzpatrick (Amber Von Tussle,) Michael St. Gerard (Link Larkin,) Clayton Prince (Seaweed Stubbs,) Cyrkle Millbourne (L'il Inez,) Ruth Brown (Motormouth Maybelle,) Shawn Thompson (Corny Collins,) Mink Stole (Tammy Turner,) and Josh Charles as IggyThe 2007 cast: Nikki Blonsky (Tracy Turnblad,) John Travolta (Edna Turnblad,) Michelle Pfeiffer (Velma Von Tussle,) Amanda Bynes (Penny Pngleton,) Christopher Walken (Wilbur Turnblad,) Queen Latifah (Motormouth Maybelle,) James Marsden (Conry Collins,) Brittany Snow (Amber Von Tussle,) Zac Efron (Link Larkin,) Elijah Kelley (Seaweed,) Allison Janney (Prudence Pingleton,) and Jerry Stiller as Mr. Pinky.Clips used:Hairspray (1988) “Corny Collins auditions.”Hairspray (1988) trailerThe Von Tussle house (1988)John Waters as Dr. FredricksonThe kids meet “Beatnicks” (1988)Hairspray (2007) trailerJohn Travolta's Baltimore accentEdna & Wilbur “You're Timeless to Me”“You Can't Stop the Beat” (2007)Music: Hairspray by Rachel SweetBook Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.comEmail us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com Margo D. @BrooklynMargo www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.comMargo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/ Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine

Book Vs. Movie: HairsprayThe 1988 John Waters Movie Vs. the 2007 Adaptation“Musicals in March”The Margos continue their look at “Musicals in March” with the John Waters classic Hairspray, which started with the 1988 movie starring Rikki Lake, Divine, and Debby Harry. Based on his experiences of being a fan of the 1957-1964 Baltimore teen dance TV program--The Buddy Deane Show, Waters was a huge fan of R&B music. On the Buddy Deane show, the dancers were integrated, unlike Dick Clark's American Bandstand, which was based out of Philadelphia at the same time. Baltimore Magazine April 1985 by John Waters "Ladies & Gentleman: The Nicest Kids in Town!”Being a self-described “Super Fan” of the show, the director has a well-known career as an avant-garde-loving and bizarre artist who loves things that are in bad taste. His interest in something as wholesome as Buddy Deane made him think about writing a more accessible film about a group of teen dancers/local TV stars who fight racism and oppression with their love of music and dance. Given a modest budget of $2.8 million, the film was a box office hit, and the critics loved this new era of John Waters with even bigger hits in the 90s Cry-Baby & Serial Mom. Waters continues to write and direct his work and is very popular as an actor who appears in everything from Law & Order to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisles. In 2002, the musical version premiered in Seattle with music and lyrics from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and the book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Hit is not a big enough word for this adaptation's success in the 2000s. It won eight Tony Awards (including Best Musical) in 2003 and broke all box office records in London's West End in 2008. The 2007 movie was directed by Adam Shankman and stars John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Christopher Walken and continues the big box office that started with the original 1988 film. What are the differences between the original and the latest version of the story of the AMAZING Tracy Turnblad? Which do we like best? Have a listen!In this ep the Margos discuss:John Waters, Divine, and BaltimoreWaters ventures into more “family-friendly material.”The music used in both films1988 cast: Ricki Lake (Tracy Turnblad,) Divine (Edna Turnblad,) Debbie Harry (Velma Von Tussle,) Sonny Bono (Franklin Von Tussle,) Jerry Stiller (Wilbur Turbland,) Leslie Ann Powers (Penny Pingleton,) Colleen Fitzpatrick (Amber Von Tussle,) Michael St. Gerard (Link Larkin,) Clayton Prince (Seaweed Stubbs,) Cyrkle Millbourne (L'il Inez,) Ruth Brown (Motormouth Maybelle,) Shawn Thompson (Corny Collins,) Mink Stole (Tammy Turner,) and Josh Charles as IggyThe 2007 cast: Nikki Blonsky (Tracy Turnblad,) John Travolta (Edna Turnblad,) Michelle Pfeiffer (Velma Von Tussle,) Amanda Bynes (Penny Pngleton,) Christopher Walken (Wilbur Turnblad,) Queen Latifah (Motormouth Maybelle,) James Marsden (Conry Collins,) Brittany Snow (Amber Von Tussle,) Zac Efron (Link Larkin,) Elijah Kelley (Seaweed,) Allison Janney (Prudence Pingleton,) and Jerry Stiller as Mr. Pinky.Clips used:Hairspray (1988) “Corny Collins auditions.”Hairspray (1988) trailerThe Von Tussle house (1988)John Waters as Dr. FredricksonThe kids meet “Beatnicks” (1988)Hairspray (2007) trailerJohn Travolta's Baltimore accentEdna & Wilbur “You're Timeless to Me”“You Can't Stop the Beat” (2007)Music: Hairspray by Rachel SweetBook Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.comEmail us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com Margo D. @BrooklynMargo www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.comMargo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/ Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine

In this episode, eight of this season's guests--Eric Matthew Richardson (Episode 72: Disney Parks Music as Musical Theater), Emel Greer (Episode 73: Evil Characters in Musical Theater), Tammy Tuckey (Episode 75: Marvin Hamlisch, David Zippel, and Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl), David Armstrong (Episode 79: Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O'Donnell, and Thomas Meehan's Hairspray), Ilana Kresch (Episode 80: Jule Styne, Bob Merrill, and Isobel Lennart's Funny Girl), Orian Israelsohn (Episode 81: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, and Richard Stilgoe's The Phantom of the Opera), Marc Eliot Stein (Episode 82: John O'Hara, Lorenz Hart, and Richard Rodgers's Pal Joey), and Rose Ginsberg (Episode 84: Abolition in Musical Theater), as well as BethAnn Cohen--return to discuss the topics from the season and listener questions and comments. We also discuss the song "Inner White Girl" from the 2022 Michael R. Jackson musical A Strange Loop. This discussion was held live on Sunday, December 18th on Scene to Song's Facebook page, and was recorded for this podcast almost in its entirety. Scene to Song will be going on a brief hiatus to prepare for Season six and will return in early 2023. In the meantime, you can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you'd like to be a podcast guest. Follow us on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.”  And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the new Patreon. The theme music you are hearing is by Julia Meinwald. Music played in this episode: "Inner White Girl" from A Strange Loop

HAIRSPRAY Book by Thomas Meehan & Mark O'Donnell | Music by Marc Shaiman | Lyrics by Marc Shaiman & Scott Whittman  | Based on the New Line Cinema film, Written & Directed by John WatersWorks Consulted & Reference :Hairspray (Original Libretto) by Hugh Wheeler & Stephen SondheimHairspray: The Roots by Thomas Meehan, Mark O'Donnell, Marc Shaiman, & Scott WhitmanThe Secret Life of the American Musical by Jack ViertelMusic Credits:"Overture" from Dear World (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music by Jerry Herman | Performed by Dear World Orchestra & Donald Pippin"The Speed Test" from Thoroughly Modern Millie  (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics by Dick Scanlan | Performed by Marc Kudisch, Sutton Foster, Anne L. Nathan & Ensemble"Why God Why" from Miss Saigon: The Definitive Live Recording  (Original Cast Recording  / Deluxe)  | Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Lyrics by Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby Jr.  | Performed by Alistair Brammer"Back to Before" from Ragtime: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Performed by Marin Mazzie"Chromolume #7 / Putting It Together" from Sunday in the Park with George (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | Performed by Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Judith Moore, Cris Groenendaal, Charles Kimbrough, William Parry, Nancy Opel, Robert Westenberg, Dana Ivey, Kurt Knudson, Barbara Bryne"What's Inside" from Waitress (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles | Performed by Jessie Mueller & Ensemble"You Can't Stop the Beat” from Hairspray (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Marc Shaiman | Lyrics by Marc Shaiman & Scott Whitmann | Performed by  Marissa Jaret Winokur, Matthew Morrison, Kerry Butler, Corey Reynolds, Harvey Fierstein, Linda Hart, Laura Bell Bundy, Mary Bond Davis, & Ensemble"Maria" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording)  | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Evadne Baker, Anna Lee, Portia Nelson, Marni Nixon"My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Julie Andrews"Corner of the Sky" from Pippin (New Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz | Performed by Matthew James Thomas“What Comes Next?” from Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Performed by Jonathan Groff

Facebook Page: @FromTheMezzaninePodInstagram: @FromTheMezzanine_PodcastTikTok: @FromTheMezzanine_PodcastBroadway Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5t55fULcCqN0NMmK4OnfOA?si=89c08b1a8bb34d95AARON TVEIT IS COMING BACK TO THE MOULIN ROUGE PEOPLE!!!! Our second story covers the situation unfolding at KPOP the musical after Jesse Green with the New York Times critic. Lastly, we discuss Phantom of The Opera's 2-month extension of their final run. Our Story from the Stage is about the holiday classic, Elf, the musical! #1: AARON IS BACK BABY#2: KPOP Critic Reviewshttps://playbill.com/article/new-york-times-theatre-critic-jesse-green-draws-criticism-for-kpop-reviewhttps://playbill.com/article/kpop-producers-respond-to-new-york-times-review-requesting-apology-from-jesse-green#3: Phantom Extensionhttps://www.playbill.com/article/more-music-of-the-night-the-phantom-of-the-opera-sets-new-closing-date-on-broadwayStory From The Stage: Elf, The Musicalhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F2dqA6f1Schttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EZOJsNUenghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33fODzLvn_shttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(musical)https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/elf-the-musical-like-the-will-ferrell-hit-but-noisier-and-faster/2013/12/19/16b179d2-68c6-11e3-997b-9213b17dac97_story.htmlhttps://playbill.com/article/elf-the-musical-about-a-misfit-toymaker-opens-on-broadway-com-173564https://mycitypaper.com/Cover/How-a-Jewish-kid-from-Northeast-Philly-grew-up-to-create-a-Christmas-classic/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Meehan_(writer)https://stageandcinema.com/2010/11/17/elf/https://www.broadway.com/buzz/172056/a-time-to-kill-star-sebastian-arcelus-on-moving-to-the-burbs-with-sjb-playing-nice-onTikTok: @FromTheMezzanine_PodcastInstagram: @FromTheMezzanine_PodcastBroadway Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5t55fULcCqN0NMmK4OnfOA?si=89c08b1a8bb34d95

Georgina Castle is currently starring as Jovie in the West End return of Elf The Musical at the Dominion Theatre. Based on the 2003 film, Elf The Musical has book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin with songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin. The show opened on Broadway in 2010 and first ran in the West End in 2015.  Georgina's theatre credits include: Sophie in Mamma Mia! (Novello), Doralee in 9 to 5 (UK & Ireland Tour), Marie in Cinderella (Gillian Lynne) and Millennials (Other Palace). After completing her run in Elf, next year Georgina will play Lisa in a West End run of Dirty Dancing at the Dominion Theatre, having previously played the role in the musical's UK & Ireland Tour.  Elf The Musical runs at the Dominion Theatre between 14th November and 7th January 2023. Visit www.elflondon.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.  

In this episode, director, producer, and podcast host David Armstrong discusses Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O'Donnell, and Thomas Meehan's 2002 musical Hairspray on its 20th anniversary. We also talk about the song "Big, Blonde and Beautiful" from Hairspray. You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you'd like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com The theme music is by Julia Meinwald. Music played in this episode: "Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs" from Hairspray "I Know Where I've Been" from Hairspray "The Nicest Kids in Town" from Hairspray "The Big Dollhouse" from Hairspray "Big, Blonde and Beautiful" from Hairspray

Suzie Miller was a lawyer before she became a playwright. Now, Prima Facie, a play that takes her back to the courtroom, has launched her career on the West End and Broadway. Also, we visit a regional theatre to meet the young locals preparing for a production of Annie Jr.

Suzie Miller was a lawyer before she became a playwright. Now, Prima Facie, a play that takes her back to the courtroom, has launched her career on the West End and Broadway.Also, we visit a regional theatre to meet the young locals preparing for a production of Annie Jr.

HARVEY FIERSTEIN wrote the books ( or adapted the books ) for the Broadway musicals Funny Girl, Kinky Boots. Newsies as well as Torch Song Trilogy (Tony®, Drama Desk, and OBIE Awards), La Cage aux Folles (Tony® and Drama Desk Awards), The Sissy Duckling (Humanitas Award), A Catered Affair (12 Drama Desk nominations), Safe Sex (Ace Award), Legs Diamond, Spookhouse, Flatbush Tosca, Common Ground, and more. His political editorials have been published in The New York Times, TV Guide, The Huffington Post, and broadcast on PBS's “In the Life”. His children's book, The Sissy Duckling, is now in its fifth printing. As an actor, Mr. Fierstein is known worldwide for his performances in films like Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day, and on stage in Hairspray (Tony Award®), Fiddler on the Roof, La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy (Tony Award®), and TV shows such as “Smash,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “The Good Wife,” “Cheers” (Emmy nomination), “The Simpsons,” and “Nurse Jackie.” Acclaimed originally for his groundbreaking writing and performance in his 1981 Torch Song Trilogy, Harvey Fierstein has refined and redefined the persona of the drag queen in the theater. Two years later, Fierstein brought that insight and humor into his book for the musical adaptation of La Cage aux Folles. As Frank Rich wrote in the New York Times, this “is the first Broadway musical ever to give center stage to a homosexual love affair – but don't go expecting an earthquake. The show at the Palace is the schmaltziest, most old-fashioned major musical Broadway has seen since ‘Annie,' and it's likely to be just as popular with children of all ages.”  Fierstein subsequently wrote the book for Legs Diamond (1988) with music and lyrics by Peter Allen, who also starred in the show. He did not return to Broadway until 2002, when he took on the role of Edna Turnblad in the musical adaptation of Hairspray (book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan; music by Marc Shaiman; lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman). According to Ben Brantley, Fierstein's performance as Edna “is not just a cross-dressing sight gag. She's every forgotten housewife, recreated in monumental proportions and waiting for something to tap her hidden magnificence.”  After playing Tevye in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, Harvey Fierstein wrote the book and starred in the 2008 musical, A Catered Affair. As a writer and actor, Fierstein has won three Drama Desk Awards and four Tonys®, most recently for his portrayal of Edna in Hairspray. His most recent memoir is called I Was Better Last Night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

THE PRODUCERS COMPOSER: Mel Brooks LYRICIST: Mel Brooks BOOK: Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan SOURCE: Mel Brooks' film The Producers (1967) DIRECTOR: Susan Stroman CHOREOGRAPHER: Susan Stroman PRINCIPLE CAST: Matthew Broderick (Leo), Cady Huffman (Ulla), Nathan Lane (Max) OPENING DATE: Apr 19, 2001 CLOSING DATE: Apr 22, 2007 PERFORMANCES: 2,502 SYNOPSIS: Broke Broadway producer Max Bialystock meets accountant Leo Bloom who offhandedly mentions that under the right circumstances a Broadway show that fails could make more money than one that succeeds. Seeing a way out of his current financial situation, Max decided to produce a musical that is guaranteed to flop: Springtime for Hitler.  Finding waning success in Hollywood, Mel Brooks was eventually convinced to adapt his Academy Award winning screenplay, The Producers, into a musical. Kasey RT Graham follows the ways Brooks, director Susan Stroman, and co-writer Thomas Meehan reinterpreted the cult classic film into a two act Broadway musical. Additionally, analysis of The Producers as a uniquely comic piece among the weightier subject matters of other popular Broadway musicals in the early 2000s and a look at how the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center affected attendance at Broadway shows is provided. The musical's record-breaking success at the Tony Awards, including for Nathan Lane, heralded a wave of musical comedies based on Hollywood films such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hairspray, and Shrek.  Kasey RT Graham is a director, music director, writer, and educator. Associate and resident director credits include the Broadway revival of On the 20th Century, the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera, and the US and Australian tours of Dirty Dancing. Conducting credits include the national tours of Oklahoma, The Producers, The Wizard of Oz, and Spring Awakening. Kasey is head of the Musical Theatre department at the University of Nevada - Reno. His book Small Talk is available on Amazon. SOURCES The Producers, Original Cast Recording, Sony (2001) The Producers: The Book, Lyrics, and Story Behind the Greatest Hit on Broadway by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, published by Miramax (2001) The Producers, starring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, directed by Susan Stroman, Universal Pictures (2005) Recording The Producers, starring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, directed by Susan Froemke, Rhombus International (2001) A Year With The Producers: One Actor's Exhausting (But Worth It) Journey From Cats to Mel Brooks' Mega-Hit by Jeffry Denman, published by Routledge (2002) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ANNIE COMPOSER: Charles Strouse LYRICIST: Martin Charnin BOOK: Thomas Meehan SOURCE: Harold Gray's comic strip Little Orphan Annie (1920s) DIRECTOR: Martin Charnin CHOREOGRAPHER: Peter Gennaro PRINCIPLE CAST: Andrea McArdle (Annie), Dorothy Loudon (Miss Hannigan), Reid Shelton (Warbucks) OPENING DATE: April 21, 1977 CLOSING DATE: Jan 02, 1983 PERFORMANCES: 2,377 SYNOPSIS: Annie is a young orphan who is under the dominating thumb of the orphanage's owner, the evil Miss Hannigan. When the richest man in the world, Oliver Warbucks, looks to adopt a child, Annie's life begins to turn around.  Amidst an increasingly concept-oriented Broadway lineup, the traditional book musical with a message about optimism from an orphan girl living through the Great Depression took cynical New York by storm, surprising critics and reminding producers of the possibilities of traditional material. According to historian Charles Kirsch the upbeat score and multiple movie adaptations have kept Annie firmly cemented in American pop culture. More importantly, it welcomed the “children's show” to Broadway, a musical in which the audience's aim is for children, with enough adult humor integrated to keep all parties engaged. Kirsch examines how subsequent children's musicals have not fared as well when they deviate from the formula created by Martin Charnin, Charles Strouse, and Thomas Meehan. Charles Kirsch is a 13-year old theater podcaster in New York City. He is the host of Backstage Babble on Apple Podcasts, in which he talks to actors, choreographers, designers, and other theater professionals. He is also one of BroadwayWorld's Kid Critics, and the author of a theater blog entitled Broadway Baby. His performing credits include acting in a reading of Doug Plaut's sitcom pilot The Mame and I, and several musicals at the 92nd Street Y. His greatest loves are performing, studying everything there is to know about theater, and reading.  SOURCES Annie, Original Broadway Cast Recording. Columbia Master Works (1977) Annie starring Carol Burnett and Aileen Quinn, directed by John Huston. Columbia Pictures (1982) Annie: A Theatre Memoir by Martin Charnin, published by Dutton (1977) Put On A Happy Face: A Broadway Memoir by Charles Strouse. Union Square Press (2008) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bloobcast tackle their first listener request and take a look at the 2009 season of Power Rangers - the post apocalyptic Power Rangers RPM. They discuss how this season came about, similarities to Mad Max and Terminator, it's self aware sense of humour, comparisons to other seasons of the show, it's cast going on to appear in the likes of IZombie and Jessica Jones, and Rob attempts to explain the connections between every iteration of Power Rangers. Thank you to Thomas Meehan for suggesting the topic for this episode! Music Used: Cool Vibes by Kevin MacLeod Cool Vibes Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Intractable by Kevin MacLeod: Intractable Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Bloobcast theme by Rob Horrocks Mighty Morphin Power Rangers theme by Ron Wasserman Power Rangers Turbo theme composed by Jeremy Sweet Power Rangers In Space theme by Ron Wasserman Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue themecomposed by Jeremy Sweet Power Rangers Wild Force theme composed by Lior Rosner Power Rangers Jungle Fury theme composed by Leigh Roberts Power Rangers RPM theme composed by Stephen Hampton Power Rangers Beast Morphers theme by Cash Callaway Chojin Sentai Jetman theme composed by Kazuhiko Toyama Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger theme composed by Akihiko Yoshida Gekisou Sentai Carranger theme composed by Toshihiko Sahashi Engine Sentai Go Onger theme composed by Takafumi Iwasaki Digimon theme composed by Paul Gordon

Welcome to Episode 110 of Adapt or Perish, and this one is completely divine. We're looking at John Waters' camp classic Hairspray, and the musical juggernaut it inspired! In this episode, we discuss: The original 1988 movie, written and directed by John Waters, and starring Ricki Lake, Divine, Jerry Stiller, Debbie Harry, and Sonny Bono The 2002 musical, with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, and starring (in the original Broadway cast) Marissa Jaret Winokur, Harvey Fierstein, Dick Latessa, Kerry Butler, Laura Bell Bundy, and Matthew Morrison The 2007 movie musical, directed by Adam Shankman, written by Leslie Dixon, and starring Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, James Marsden, and Zac Efron Hairspray Live!, the 2016 TV special, directed by Kenny Leon and Alex Rudzinski, written by Harvey Fierstein, and starring Maddie Baillio, Fierstein, Martin Short, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, and Kristin Chenoweth Footnotes: But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) "Smile" by Vitamin C Sarah Smallwood Parsons in "The Song In Every Musical That No One Likes" You can follow Adapt or Perish on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and you can find us and all of our show notes online at adaptorperishcast.com. We're also on Patreon! You can find us at patreon.com/adaptcast. We have multiple reward levels, which include access to a patron-only community and a patron-only, biweekly bonus show! We hope to see you there. If you want to send us a question or comment, you can always email us at adaptorperishcast@gmail.com.

Harlly, Jeaun and Lawson got the wrong play, the wrong director, the wrong cast. Where did they go right?ALSO DISCUSSED* Astonishing X-Men: Dangerous (2012)* Astonishing X-Men: Gifted (2010)* Astonishing X-Men: Torn (2012)* Astonishing X-Men: Unstoppable (2012)* The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)* The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)* Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021)* Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)* The Green Knight (2021)* House of Gucci (2021)* The King's Man (2021)* Licorice Pizza (2021)* The Matrix: Resurrections (2021)* Peacemaker: Season 1 (2022)* Red Rocket (2021)* West Side Story (2021)* Wolf Like Me: Season 1 (2022)Reach us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/IDontKnowWhyWe1Read Harlly and Jeaun's Blog at https://onthebrightsidemedia.home.blog/Read Lawson's Blog athttps://exitthroughthecandycounter.wordpress.com/

Annie: St. Ursula Academy Director, Kirsten Hinshaw and actors, Anni and Nina, sit down with Stage Door to tell us how much fun this show has been to produce and perform. January 27-30 on the Valentine Stage. Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, with a beloved book and score by Tony Award-winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, Annie KIDS features everyone's favorite little redhead in her very first adventure. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

"Tomorrow is now" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 1989's Annie 2: Miss Hannigan's Revenge and 1993's Annie Warbucks on episode twenty of My Favorite Flop.   ABOUT ANNIE 2: MISS HANNIGAN'S REVENGE The first official attempt at a sequel to the hit Broadway musical Annie, Annie 2: Miss Hannigan's Revenge follows the continued story of villainous Miss Hannigan as she escapes from prison to marry Daddy Warbucks, steal his fortune, and rid the world of of Little Orphan Annie once and for all. The musical features a book by Thomas Meehan, lyrics by Martin Charin, and music by Charles Strouse. At the closing performance of Annie 1, lyricist Martin Charnin stood onstage and told the audience that the story of Annie was not over and that a sequel to the musical was already in the works. Six years later, hundreds of little girls in their red velvet dresses pilgrimaged to Washington D.C. with their parents to get a first look at what was excepted to be one of the biggest hits on Broadway the following season. Little did they know that Annie 2 would feature very little Annie at all and, instead, would tell the misguided redemption story of the first musical's villain. The entire project was a manifestation of the creative team's own insecurities of now being best-known for writing a fluffy kids musical and not their more-serious previous works... so, they set out to prove to the industry that they could follow it up with something more complex and grown up. The happy endings we see at the end of Annie 1 we find out were short lived. Daddy Warbucks discovers that he can't legally adopt Annie as a single father, so he must find a wife and because of that, Annie's future is uncertain. Grace, who has genuine feelings for the billionaire, must balance her career and personal life as she is passed over for other candidates. And Hannigan must come to terms with her quest for revenge and money as she confronts her own past and humanity. The creative team had hoped that fans of the original musical had grown up with them and would appreciate their cynical take on what happens after "tomorrow". Sadly, "something was missing", and what that was what attracted so many fans to the original piece - the absolute charm of Annie and her orphan friends. Throughout the run in D.C., desperate changes were made to the show to fix that tonal issues, including adding more Annie and additional orphan characters from the original, but a major financial backer decided to leave the show and it's scheduled Broadway run (the marquee was already up!) was cancelled. Annie 2 would then go through a process of rewrites and restructuring at the Goodspeed Opera House that would not only remove Miss Hannigan from the show's title, but from the show completely... eventually evolving into a different sequel titled Annie Warbucks!   Original Washington Cast Dorothy Loudon as Miss Hannigan Fiely Matias as The Asp Gerry McIntyre as Punjab Lauren Mitchell as Grace Farrell Harve Presnell as Oliver Warbucks Danielle Findley as Annie Warbucks Beau as Sandy Marian Seldes as Mrs. Christmas Ronny Graham as Lionel McCoy Terrence P. Currier as Drake Raymond Thorne as FDR Ellyn Arons as Eleanor Roosevelt   ABOUT ANNIE WARBUCKS Another attempt at as a sequel to the hit Broadway musical Annie, Annie Warbucks begins immediately after Annie ends as  Daddy Warbucks learns that he must marry within sixty days or else Annie will be returned to the orphanage. The musical features a book by Thomas Meehan, lyrics by Martin Charin, and music by Charles Strouse. Annie Warbucks was developed in a workshop at the Goodspeed Opera House, directed by Charnin and choreographed by Peter Gennaro and under the direction of Michael P. Price, Executive Director. The musical played several out-of-town tryouts, starting at the Marriott Lincolnshire, Chicago in February through April 1992 and then the Drury Lane in Oak Brook, Illinois, followed by a five city United States tour, including San Diego in October 1992. It was originally planned that Annie Warbucks would open on Broadway, but a "major investor pulled out". Some characters were cut and the budget reduced, leading to delays. The Off-Broadway production opened on August 9, 1993, at the Variety Arts Theatre. The cast included Harve Presnell as Warbucks, Donna McKechnie as Sheila Kelly, and Kathryn Zaremba in the title role. The show broke all off-Broadway box office records for the time, running for 200 performances. The producers considered moving the show from the Variety Arts Theater to Broadway, and they secured $2.5 million from an investor for a move to Broadway, but discovered they couldn't make the move in time to be eligible for Tony Award consideration, which was a big part of the reason for moving in the first place. A provision in the Tony rules required that a show had to transfer to a Tony-eligible theatre within 30 weeks of its original opening in order to qualify for any nominations. The investor pulled out, ending the plans.   Original Off-Broadway Cast Kathryn Zaremba as Annie Warbucks Harve Presnell as Daddy Warbucks Donna McKechnie as Mrs. Sheila Kelly Alene Robertson as Commissioner Harriet Doyle Marguerite MacIntyre as Grace Farrell Kip Niven as Drake Raymond Thorne as FDR Cindy Lou as Sandy

Once upon a time warp, Mel Brooks made a Star Wars parody that helped shaped the childhood of everyone on this episode. So grab your merch, tap into the Schwartz, and be ready to jump to Ludicrous Speed... It's Spaceballs, released June 24th in 1987. We're joined by Rob Lloyd (Who, Me / The Mighty Littles Puppet Show) to see just how well it holds up! Join the Bad Porridge Club on Patreon for TWO bonus episodes each month! https://www.patreon.com/oldiebutagoodiepod Follow Rob Lloyd! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roblloydactor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/futurerobby Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurerobby/ Follow the show! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldiebutagoodiepod/  Facebook: https://fb.me/oldiebutagoodiepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfdXHxK_rIUsOEoFSx-hGA  Podcast Platforms: https://linktr.ee/oldiebutagoodiepod  Got feedback? Send us an email at oldiebutagoodiepod@gmail.com Follow the hosts! Sandro Falce - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandrofalce/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandrofalce - Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/SandroFalce/ - Nerd-Out Podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerd-out-podcast  Zach Adams - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zach4dams/ Donations: https://paypal.me/oldiebutagoodiepod Please do not feel like you have to contribute anything but any donations are greatly appreciated! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the Bros are taking June off from full-scale shows, they are sitting down and recording quick episodes focused on a single story. This week, Brian is sitting down with his 14-year-old to talk about Thomas Meehan and D-Day. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/history-bros/support

Get ready to get "in the ring" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 2014's Rocky The Musical on episode ten of My Favorite Flop.   ABOUT ROCKY THE MUSICAL Based on the Academy Award-winning 1976 film, Rocky The Musical tells the story of Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer from working-class Philadelphia, who is chosen to take on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, when the undefeated fighter's scheduled opponent is injured. The musical features a book by Thomas Meehan and Sylvester Stallone, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Sylvester Stallone began thinking about adapting Rocky as a musical in the early 2000s and commissioned the help of established Broadway librettist Thomas Meehan early onto help flesh out his ideas. Shortly after, songwriting team Ahrens and Flaherty joined the project. It was after Andy Karl entered the picture, playing the title role in workshops around 2011, that things really began taking off. European producing company Stage Entertainment picked up the show and decided to mount the musical's pre-Broadway engagement in Hamburg, Germany instead of a traditional US city. The lavish German production was a smash hit, praised for its elaborate and technically complex set that resulted in an actual boxing ring being brought out over part of the orchestra in an attempt to put the audience right in the middle of the action for the big fight. While American audiences didn't quite know what to expect, anticipation for the Broadway transfer was high. The anticipation didn't last, however, as Broadway previous were both cancelled and stalls due to technical issues and negative word of mouth. Reviews were also negative and because the show was never able to find a strong enough audience, it closed after just 180 performances. Rumors of an arena tour or Las Vegas sit-down production never materialized and the first post-Broadway engagement of the show in South Korea was cancelled the day before the first preview. Rocky The Musical came to Prague for a short 4-to-5 month run in 2017.   Original Broadway Cast Andy Karl as Rocky Balboa Margo Seibert as Adrian Terence Archie as Apollo Creed Danny Mastrogiorgio as Paulie Dakin Matthews as Mickey Jennifer Mudge as Gloria Adrian Aguilar as A Boxer/A Reporter Eric Anderson as Gazzo/Rocky's Cornerman/Rocky's Cornerman Michelle Aravena as Angie/Ensemble James Brown III as Sugar Jackson/A Boxer/A Referee Sam J. Cahn as Rocky Marciano/A Boxer/A Referee Kevin Del Aguila as Mike/A Watchman/Jack/A Doctor Ned Eisenberg as Wysocki/Ad Announcer/Bob Dunphy Sasha Hutchings as Apollo Girl/Ensemble David Andrew Macdonald as Miles Jergens/Ensemble Vasthy Mompoint as Linda McKenna/Apollo Girl Vince Oddo as A Boxer/Ensemble Okieriete Onaodowan as Dipper/Apollo's Cornerman Adam Perry as Spider Rico/A Boxer/Boom Operator Kristin Piro as Shirley/Apollo Girl Luis Salgado as Kid Rizzo/A Boxer/Rocky's Cornerman John Schiappa as Buddy/Jimmy Michaels Wallace Smith as Apollo's Manager/Fight Promoter/Disc Jockey Jenny Lee Stern as Joanne/Ensemble

There is so much to discuss about the stage production of “Hairspray” which began as a nonmusical John Waters movie in 1988 and, after its Broadway success (it won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including best musical), NY Times And, the humor in the libretto, which was sharply crafted by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan from John Waters's witty 1988 film, proves fairly sophisticated stuff, greatly energized by the contagious power of the early-1960s-influenced score from Marc Shaiman, the composer, who collaborated on the clever lyrics with Scott Wittman. Their appealing tunes, like “I Can Hear the Bells” and the rollicking “Welcome to the '60s,” sound authentic to the story's era and certainly remain catchy to the ear. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stringer5/support

In this episode, writer Jessica Plummer discusses adaptations of comics in musical theater, from Li'l Abner to It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman to Annie to Fun Home. We also talk about the song "Tomorrow" from Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, and Thomas Meehan's 1977 musical Annie. You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” The theme music is by Julia Meinwald. Music played in this episode: "Put 'Em Back" from Li'l Abner "You've Got Possibilities" from It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman "Maps" from Fun Home "Tomorrow" from Annie

The Bookstorian Podcast. A podcast for booklovers and bookstagrammers.Books mentioned in this podcast:Boy Swallows Universe by Trent DaltonRing Shout by P. Djèlí ClarkThe Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí ClarkThese Violent Delights by Chloe GongThe Midnight Library by Matt HaigMangos and Mistletoe by Adriana HerreraThe Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie JakuIn a Holidaze by Christina LaurenThe Unhoneymooners by Christina LaurenThe Paris Secret by Natasha LesterThe Last Migration by Charlotte McConaghyA Promised Land by Barack ObamaBecoming by Michelle ObamaIn the Clearing by JP PomereJasper Jones by Craig SilveyMy Name is Why by Lemn SissayThe Nevermore Series by Jessica TownsendPodcast may contain spoilersOther media mentioned in this podcast:Elf (Musical). (2010). Book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan, Music by Matthew Sklar and Lyrics by Chad Beguelin. America. AL Hirschfeld Theatre.Holidate (2020). John Whitesell. America. Wonderland Sound & Vision.Noelle (2019). Marc Lawrence. America. Walt Disney Pictures.The Spirit of Christmas (2015). David Jackson. America. Marvista Entertainment.Host: Teagan @bookstorian_Guests: Ally from @whatthedickinson (Ep102 - Thriller reads), Kirra from @bitchezwhobrunchwithbookz (Ep106- The Paris Secret) & Adele from @pages.with.del (Ep109- Jasper Jones)Email thebookstorianpodcast@outlook.com.auFollow me @thebookstorianpodcastDesign by Emma Russell CreativeMusic from https://www.zapsplat.com

Today we celebrate the botanist who discovered the Rhododenrun minus growing in South Carolina. We'll also learn about the young German botanist who died on the Niger Expedition after valiantly trying to keep his plants alive. We’ll recognize an Irish doctor who was one of the first people to discover the greenhouse effect. We salute the naturalist of Germantown, Pennsylvania, whose love for wildflowers and nature was unsurpassed. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a downhome book dedicated to helping you with the family garden to make it a resounding success. And then we’ll wrap things up with the brilliant plantswoman who understood the subtleties of gardening and design.   Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart To listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to “Play the latest episode of The Daily Gardener Podcast.” And she will. It's just that easy.   The Daily Gardener Friday Newsletter Sign up for the FREE Friday Newsletter featuring: A personal update from me Garden-related items for your calendar The Grow That Garden Library™ featured books for the week Gardener gift ideas Garden-inspired recipes Exclusive updates regarding the show and more. Plus, each week, one lucky subscriber wins a book from the Grow That Garden Library™ bookshelf.   Gardener Greetings Send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes, and so forth to Jennifer@theDailyGardener.org.   Curated News David Domoney’s Fencing Guide | David Domoney   Facebook Group If you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community.   So, there’s no need to take notes or search for links. The next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community, where you’d search for a friend… and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.   Important Events December 4, 1788 On this day, Andre Michaux made his way from Georgia into South Carolina by crossing the Tugalo River. In his journal, Michaux wrote: "At dawn, I went to look at the banks of the river, and I recognized the yellow root, [a new species of rhododendron], mountain laurel, hydrangea, [and] hemlock spruce. . . ." Now Harvard's Charles Sprague Sargent remarked on the significance of this moment because it was the first time that Michaux laid eyes on the Rhododendron minus. Rhododendron grows naturally in the South from North Carolina to Alabama. With its soil and climate, Rhododendrons are perfectly suited to grow in South Carolina. The blossoms of rhododendrons have a wide color range from white to deep purple and blue. A versatile plant, Rhododendrons can be planted as specimens or even as hedges in gardens or natural settings. If you have oak or pine trees on your property, Rhododendrons are ideal for underplanting due to the filtered light from the tree canopy, the soil pH, and natural mulch. As the mulch breaks down, the organic matter provides the rhododendron with the perfect mix of nutrients. Finally, Rhododendrons need well-drained soil, and you should consider taking advantage of that fact by planting them on a slope.   December 4, 1841  On this day, the German botanist Theodore Vogel was laid low with dysentery. After joining the Niger (“nee-ZHER") expedition, Theodore recorded in his journal the difficulties of traveling without the benefit of a Wardian Case on board a naval warship called the Wilberforce: "As soon as I got on board... my first care was to… the plants gathered since we arrived at Cape Coast Castle. But though I had taken all possible care, much was spoilt and almost everything in a bad state. It has been my lot ... after endless labor. I mention this, on purpose, that in case my collection comes into other hands, I may not be accused of negligence. I have sacrificed every convenience to gain room and spared no trouble to overcome the dampness of the ship and of the atmosphere, but without success. The general arrangements of a man-of-war do not give many opportunities for such experiments. When will the time arrive, that ...naturalists [will receive] the appropriate and necessary support?" When Theodore became sick on this day in 1841, his friend and fellow German, the mineralogist, Charles Gottfried Roscher, tended to him for thirteen days and never left his bedside. On December 17th, about mid-day, Theodore woke to ask Charles if everything was ready for their excursion, and then he peacefully passed away.   December 4, 1893 Today is the anniversary of the death of the Irish experimental physicist John Tyndall. In 1859, John discovered the link between atmospheric CO2 and what we call the Greenhouse effect. And Although John was often attributed as the first person to discover the Greenhouse effect, today we know that a female scientist named Eunice Foote discovered it in 1856 - a full three years earlier. That said, John is best known for learning why the sky is blue. It turns out that light scattering through molecules suspended in the atmosphere creates the color, which is sometimes referred to as Tyndall Blue. As all gardeners know, there is nothing more beautiful than the garden set against the backdrop of a brilliant blue sky. All in all, John was one of Ireland’s most successful scientists and educators.   December 4, 1903 On this day, the Germantown historian, botanist, and writer Edwin Jellett wrote his final column for The Independent Gazette. Edwin’s charming column in The Independent Gazette appeared for forty weeks and shared his thoughts on his two passions: history and botany in Northwest Philadelphia. Gardeners will appreciate that every one of Edwin’s columns wrapped up with a list of the 30 to 40 plants shared in the post, along with both the Latin and common names. And if you'd like to read Edwin's work, you can - thanks to the Awbury Arboretum. In honor of its centennial in 2016, the Awbury Arboretum digitized all of Edwin's columns.  Here’s an excerpt from his last column published today in 1903: “To me, the vale is stored with memories, and one of its most pleasing and tender is Thomas Meehan’s connection with it. In this region dwell many of our fairest and rarest wildflowers… Usually, about the middle of January, [there is] a new color in sweet-birch, sassafras, red maple, and many small plants... and the blushing glow is evidence of a renewed circulation. Hazelnut, if not in bloom at Christmas, is always so shortly after and is closely followed by alder, pussy willow, and silver maple; in favorable seasons, these always bloom before February first. In gardens, ice plant, sedums, and euphorbia appear early above ground, and evergreen native and exotic, Adam’s needle, Scottish heath, Japanese euonymus, retinospora, native and Chinese arborvitae, box and Japan privet, laurel and rhododendrons, holly and yew, cedar, juniper and evergreen cypress, fir, spruce, and pine, and other... evergreen plants, cast shadows upon the snow to remind us of pleasant days past, and of warmer, brighter ones to come.”   Unearthed Words The way that leads to winter Will lead to summer too, For all roads end in other roads Where we may start anew. — Arthur St. John Adcock, English poet and novelist (1864-1930), The Travellers   Grow That Garden Library The Family Garden Plan by Melissa K. Norris  This book came out in 2020, and the subtitle is Grow a Year's Worth of Sustainable and Healthy Food. In this book, Melissa shares her expertise after growing up gardening - and now gardening with her family on almost 15 acres of land in the foothills of the North Cascade mountain range in Washington State. Melissa shares hard-won knowledge from decades of trial and error. She is an expert heirloom gardener, preserver, farmer, cook, and homemaker. Her book is personal and Inspirational. Melissa shares inspiring bible verses, family stories, and photography from her very own garden, which gives her book an authenticity that many garden books lack. Melissa’s book is meant to be used as a reference. She includes helpful tips and suggestions to keep you and your garden growing. This book is 224 pages of downhome advice from a genuine gardener with a passion for helping others. You can get a copy of The Family Garden Plan by Melissa K. Norris and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $19.   Today’s Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart December 4, 1896 Today is the birthday of the charismatic Australian gardener, designer, and writer Edna Walling. Remembered for her gorgeous garden designs, Edna wrote some wonderful books on Australian gardening & landscaping. After working nonstop for four decades between the 1920s and 1960s, Edna created over 300 gardens. Today many Australians regard Edna as the most excellent landscape designer that Australia has ever known. An ardent conservationist, Edna was ahead of her time. By advocating for native plants, Edna’s favorite plants were naturally drought-hardy - a must for Australia’s harsh climate. Peter Watts wrote about Edna’s work and legacy and said, "[Enda] was a gardener’s designer – a brilliant plantswoman who understood the subtleties of gardening and design… [She] always thought gardens should be just a bit bigger than they needed so that you couldn’t control them entirely." It was Edna Walling who said, "Nature is our greatest teacher." And, there’s an adorable story about Edna. In November of 1941, Edna received criticism from a friend for sharing her preference for perennials over annuals. "[I got] a letter from a friend the other day who addressed me: ‘Dear Anti-annual!... If you can't grow them yourself, you needn't be snippy about them.’ Oooooh, what have I said? Something rude about Iceland poppies or asters? How narrow-minded of me.”   Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Little Me host and Broadway Workshop director, Marc Tumminelli sits down with child star, Kathryn Zaremba in episode 20 of LITTLE ME: Growing up Broadway. Kathryn shares her incredible story of going from a local production of ANNIE in Broken Arrow, OK to starring as "Annie" in the 1993 Off-Broadway hit production of ANNIE WARBUCKS and everything that came after. Kathryn talks about "Sandy" dog trainer, Bill Berloni kicking off her career, playing "Duffy" in national tour of Annie Warbucks before taking over the title role for the NYC production, working with the original creative team; Thomas Meehan, Martin Charnin and Charles Strouse, performing with her sister, doing press with Joan Rivers and Joan London, performing in the Macy's Parade on one of the coldest Thanksgivings in history, performing at the White House for the Clintons, being a "Broadway Kid", making the Annie Warbucks cast recording, moving to LA, starring in Ruthless, being part of the casts of Full House and the Jeff Foxworthy show, rehearsing in Bernadette Peters apartment and what she is doing now to bring beauty to your home! Produced by The Broadway Podcast Network For More information on Kathryn Zaremba visit: katezarembacompany.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Director:  Mel Brooks Producers:  Mel Brooks, Ezra Swerdlow Screenplay:  Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan, Ronny Graham Photography:  Nick McLean Music:  John Morris Cast:  Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga Rotten Tomatoes:  Critics: 58%/Audience: 83%

ANNIE | Book by Thomas Meehan | Music by  Charles Strouse | Lyrics by Martin Charnin | Based on Little Orphan Annie by permission of The Media Tribune Services, Inc.Works Consulted:Annie (Libretto) Book by Thomas Meehan, Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin CharninAnnie (1999 Telefilm) Directed by Rob MarshallPut on a Happy Face by Charles StrouseMusic Credits:"Overture" from Dear World (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music by Jerry Herman | Performed by Dear World Orchestra & Donald Pippin"Why God Why" from Miss Saigon: The Definitive Live Recording  (Original Cast Recording  / Deluxe)  | Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Lyrics by Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby Jr.  | Performed by Alistair Brammer"Back to Before" from Ragtime: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Performed by Marin Mazzie"Maybe" from Annie (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Charles Strouse & Lyrics by Martin Charnin | Performed by Andrea McArdle"Maria" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording)  | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Evadne Baker, Anna Lee, Portia Nelson, Marni Nixon"My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Julie Andrews

It's a crazy time on this little blue ball of ours, so we hope we can provide you with a little distraction by reimagining the 2017 remake of Power Rangers. Thanks to listener Thomas Meehan for suggesting this movie to us. The boilerplate pitch for this film must have been "Hey, what if we remade The Breakfast Club, but it was also Power Rangers?" but somehow doesn't capitalize. Instead, this remake contains a whole lot of training montage and not much else.  Gregg mistakenly attributes Power Rangers to Michael Bay's production company, which is incorrect. I could have edited it out, but I'm lazy. Go Go Lazy Producer!

Fine Music Radio — The next exciting production at Pieter Toerien’s Theatre on the Bay is the musical The Producers, adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from the 1967 fil of the same name. As in the film, the musical concerns two theatrical producers who decide to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Playing the role of Rodger de Bris is the popular actor Terence Bridgett, well known to television audiences for his role in many soap operas such as Isidingo, where he played Chico Booysens, 7de Laan and Backstage.

This week Julie, Miranda and Zane chat take some time out of their busy Christmas schedules to chat about which of life's truths can be gleaned from!- FURTHER READING -Wiki - Musical, MovieIMDbiTunes - Animated Movie, Original London Cast- CELEBRITY SHOUTOUTS -Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin, Thomas Meehan, Sebastian Arcelus, Amy Spanger, Beth Leavel, Mark Jacoby, George Wendt, Wayne Knight, Jordan Gelber, Leslie Kritzer, Ben Forster, Kimberley Walsh, Jessica Martin, Joe McGann, Jim Parsons, Mark Hamill, Ed Asner, Kate Micucci, Rachael MacFarlane, Gilbert Gottfried, Jay Leno

Today we celebrate the co-founder of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a man who maximized his small space garden about 130 years before the rest of us. We'll learn about the man who came to America to work with Andrew Jackson Downing, and then they both ended up dying by drowning 43 years apart from each other. We remember the poet laureate who wrote, "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you..." and the Catholic priest and poet who loved to garden and wrote elegantly about seasons. We Grow That Garden Library with a memoir featuring a gardener was working in naval intelligence in Washington on the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. I'll talk about using place card holders with your houseplants, and then we'll wrap things up with the tale of two botanical brothers at Gettysburg.   But first, let's catch up on a few recent events. 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Germany - Gardenista Jawohl! @Gardenista Here's 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Germany. Verdant Practices include rooftop gardens, wildflowers & gardens, Kleingartenkolonies, the one-of-a-kind Prinzessinnengarten, the incredible work of the florist Ursula Wegener and more...   How to care for and reflower your Christmas cactus - MSU Extension (Michigan State University)  There is a simple formula for success with Christmas cactus: organic, humus-rich soil, a cute little pot since they like to be pot-bound, regular watering, cool temps, and 14 hours of darkness per day. Done!   A Year Gardening the Grave of a Stranger - Atlas Obscura @atlasobscura shared this fascinating post about the kind folks at Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia who beautify gravesites with gardening. The cradle graves are especially poignant for gardeners... https://buff.ly/2Ea1bdC     Now, if you'd like to check out these curated articles for yourself, you're in luck - because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. So there’s no need to take notes or track down links - the next time you're on Facebook, just search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.   Brevities #OTD  Today is the birthday of the Landscape Architect Nathan Franklin Barrett, who was born on this day in 1845. Instead of joining his father's dye company, Barrett went his own way. After serving in the Civil War, BarrettLearned about plantsBuyWorking in his brother's nursery. In 1866, the field of landscape architecture was brand new – just a baby - and there is no prescribed coursework or preparation.   Like many Landscape Architects, Barrett secured work as a town planner. He laid out the town Dolgeville New York as well as Pullman, Illinois (now located in Chicago). The town of Pullman was named for George R Pullman, who was one of Barrett's closest friends. The planning Barrett carried out in Pullman became one of his proudest achievements. Pullman was the country's first planned industrial town. Gardeners will enjoy hearing about Barrett's personal home garden in New Rochelle. Set on half an acre, Barrett designed his garden in an attempt to show others how to maximize a small space. Listen to the various areas and gardens he managed to install in his modest yard: "[an] old fashioned Colonial garden, Japanese, Roman, and Moorish gardens, and English topiary work. His cellar... opened to the garden level and through which a long vista continued. [Barrett] also created a Normandy peasant's sitting room, a German peasant's kitchen, [and] a Pompeian Court. A little brook at the rear of the property... added picturesque effects, and the garden was replete with pleasant little nooks and surprises at every turn."   And, one newspaper shared a description of Barrett's wild planting tendencies: "The Poppy and the Ground Ivy, and Creeping Charlie and Myrtle mingle together; the Aster and Goldenrod feel at home; Ferns and Mosses are used liberally, and while abandon is aimed at, there is 'method in the madness,' and the wild garden and the formal play their part, each enhancing the charm of the other."   Barett co-founded the American Society of Landscape Architects and served as its president in 1903. Barrett worked all over the country, and when he retired, he had practiced Landscape Architecture for 50 years. By the time Barrett died in 1919, he had been the oldest living Landscape Architect in the United States.    In 1902, Barrett went to Los Angeles to give a speech on Landscape Architecture. Sadly, he caught a cold and lost his voice, so his speech was read for him, and the entire talk was shared in the newspaper. Here's my favorite excerpt - it's  where Barrett addresses the spaces where living areas connect with shopping areas, how good Landscaping should mask the sides of ugly buildings, and why maintenance is a vital habit: "The line between the store and the residence is a battle line. As the business increases, the residence is forced back. The only remedy for this in sight is to make the transition as inoffensive as possible. [And] let us ask the object of taking the valuable space In the city for lawns. Is it not to relieve the buildings? I think so. Therefore, we should plant large trees to take away the mass of masonry which must necessarily exist in both house, sidewalk, and street. Bull Street, Savannah, Ga. has always appealed to me, where the walls are covered with Ivy. The old parts of Norfolk, Va., where the Ivy makes a coping two to three feet thick and hangs down over the wall, is excellent.  ...[And] the pushcart picking up rubbish is as Important as the trees and flowers. Neatness is as contagious as a new bonnet, and a clean face becomes a habit and is an excellent rivalry to encourage. "     #OTD  Today is the anniversary of the death of the Landscape Architect Calvert Vaux ("Vox"), who died on this day in 1895.  Vaux was born in England, but he came to the United States at the age of 24 to work on landscape projects with Andrew Jackson Downing. Together, they planned the grounds around the Capitol and the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington.  After Downing's untimely death, Vaux named his second son Downing in honor of his partner and friend. Vaux went on to work with many talented people during his career, including Jacob Weidenmann and George Radford. When Calvert Vaux came up with the idea for a public competition to design Central Park, he teamed up with Frederick Law Olmsted, Senior. Together they created a plan they called Greensward, and while they worked on Central Park, Vaux first coined the term landscape architect to describe their profession. And, it was Calvert Vaux who said that his goal for Central Park was to “translate democratic ideas into trees and dirt.” Since Olmsted and Vaux worked so well together, after Central Park they designed Prospect Park in Brooklyn, South Park in Chicago, and the New York Reservation at Niagara Falls. By 1895, at the age of 70, Vaux was living with his son in Brooklyn. He had a morning ritual of taking a walk - often going to visit Prospect Park. But, on this day in 1895, the weather was foggy, and Vaux decided to walk the pier along Gravesend Bay. Two days later, after his kids reported him missing, newspapers shared this description: "Missing since Tuesday. Calvert Vaux. Aged seventy years; four feet ten Inches; medium build; gray hair and full beard; ruddy complexion; wore blue overcoat with velvet collar, blue trousers, dark mixed undercoat, no vest, black derby hat; wears gold-rimmed eyeglasses; shirt has name on it." The following day Vaux's body was found in Gravesend Bay. Like his dear friend Downing, Vaux had drowned. At the end of November, the Statesville Record And Landmark  out of Statesville, North Carolina ran an anonymous tribute to Vaux that read in part: "Calvert Vaux was in his line one of the most famous men in the world....  Calvert Vaux created Central Park [and] people who have traveled all over the world say that no park in any foreign city is so beautiful.    But, the Brooklyn folks say that their own Prospect Park is handsomer. Yet that, too, was "created" by Calvert Vaux. It was he who soothed nature's rough places and touched up and brightened her attractive features.   In Prospect Park, however, nature left little for man to do.   But Central Park is almost wholly artificial, and it's beautiful vistas of hill and dale, of lake and wood, are largely the work of Mr. Vaux.   Probably a statue of him will be erected in Central Park. Certainly, his name ought to be perpetuated in the most enduring of stone."       Unearthed Words On this day in 1850, the British poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, became the Poet Laureate. "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever."   Today is the anniversary of the death of the American poet and Catholic priest, John Banister Tabb who wrote:   Indian Summer   Tis said, in death, upon the face Of Age, a momentary trace Of Infancy's returning grace Forestalls decay; And here, in Autumn's dusky reign, A birth of blossom seems again To flush the woodland's fading train With dreams of May.     Autumn Gold   Earth in the house, and the golden-rod A-bloom in the field! O blossom, how, from the lifeless clod, When the fires are out and the ashes cold, Doth a vein that the miners know not, yield Such wealth of gold?         It's time to Grow That Garden Library with today's book: Adventures of a Gardener by Peter Smithers. Sir Peter Smithers, was a British politician and diplomat, but also an award-winning gardener. He worked as a British spy during World War II.  Smithers was said to have inspired the fictional character of James Bond. His obituary stated that: "Flowers were ... important to him. [He said] “I regard gardening and planting as the other half of life, a counterpoint to the rough and tumble of politics." Smithers learned to love the natural world from his nanny. It was when he was in his 50s, that Smithers was finally able to focus on horticulture and botany fulltime. Smithers loved rhododendrons, magnolias, tree peonies, lilies, and wisteria. He developed a garden that didn't require a ton of work - along the same lines as Ruth Stout. He wrote: “The garden is planted so as to reduce labor to an absolute minimum as the owner grows older.”   Today's book was the brainchild of the RHS - who asked Smithers to write his gardening memoirs. Thanks to Smither's travels, he had observed gardens in England, Mexico, Central America, and Switzerland. And, Smither's followed certain principals to help ground him as he pursued the hobby of gardening.  He wrote: "It shall be a source of pleasure to the owner and his friends, not a burden and anxiety."  This book is part-autobiography and part-garden book. Smithers shares stories from his incredible career like the time he was serving in naval intelligence in Washington when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. And, George Coen commented, "He's as comfortable talking about [his career] as he is in explaining the behavior of wasps in a flower garden." This book came out in 1996. It's considered somewhat rare. You can get a used copy and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for as low as $13.     Today's Garden Chore Use place card holders to help you remember the names of your houseplants. If names like Schefflera or Hoya keeps slipping your mind, hop on the labeling bandwagon and use place card holders to label your plants. I used to practice saying the names of my plants as I watered them. When they finally rolled off the tongue, I moved on. Now I use the labels just because I think they're pretty. But, every now and then, when I get a new plant, they still come in handy.     Something Sweet  Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart Today is the anniversary of the death of the botanist Thomas Meehan who died on this day in 1901. Meehan was born in England to a gardener and his wife and raised on the Isle of Wight. He trained at Kew and then immigrated to Philadelphia. Although Meehan ultimately became known as the Dean of American horticulture, there was a charming little story that took place when Meehan was in his 40's. Drexel University shared itin 2018.   When a curatorial assistant at the botany department at Drexel, named Elana Benamy, was digitizing plant images, she came across an image of milkweed - which is pretty common - but what made her take a double-take was the date and location of the plant specimen.   The plant was labeled "Battlefield of Gettysburg, August 20, 1863."   The battle in Gettysburg had occurred during the first three days of July. So this specimen had been gathered about seven weeks after the battle, and about five weeks after Frederick Law Olmsted had walked the field. Elana asked,    "Can you imagine why on earth would someone be out plant collecting [there]?"   As it turns out, the reason made perfect sense.   The collector was Thomas Meehan. At the time of the civil war, Meehan had worked for Andrew Eastwick, who was the owner of Bartrum‘s garden in Philadelphia. Afterward, Meehan opened up his own nursery in Germantown. In 1853, Thomas's younger brother, Joseph, had come to the United States from England. The younger Meehan brother was working in the greenhouses for his brother when he enlisted to fight in the Civil War.   As the battle of Gettysburg began, the younger Meehan was taken prisoner; but with the defeat of the army, he was given battlefield parole on July 4th.   Historians now speculate that Thomas' brother, Joseph, might still have been at Gettysburg, or Thomas might’ve gone out with him on a botanizing trip there.   In either case, 33 years later, Joseph would write a beautiful account of the landscape around Gettysburg in an article for a gardening magazine called Battlefield Flowers: Floral Treasures of Gettysburg.    Apparently, both brothers, who had made their homes in the city of brotherly love, had inherited their father's love of plants.       Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today, we have a C to Z first, where a listener has suggested this week's topic! So thanks Thomas Meehan for your suggestion. Colin and I will be talking about all films based on TV shows. Also, we have a look back at the 1953 film From Here to Eternity and quiz on the films of the Wachowskis. Apologies in advance for the sniffling - I tried to edit out as much as I could! 0.00 News 12.34 To C or Not to Z 19.12 Films based on TV Shows 50.19 From Here to Eternity 1.00.28 Quiz - Films by the Wachowskis

Will and Caitlin give you the t on Little Orphant Annie: how she was eaten by goblins, how she got no eyes, and how can she tap dance if she’s been locked in an orphanage her whole life? - Learn all about Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, and Thomas Meehan’s great depression musical Annie.

Thomas Meehan was the go to book writer for Broadway musicals for the past 40 years, winning 3 Tony Awards. We celebrate the shows he helped create on the anniversary of his passing two years ago.

"You don't have a garden just for yourself.  You have it to share." -  Augusta Carter, Master Gardener, Pound Ridge, Georgia Pass-along plants have the best stories, don't they?   They have history.   They have personal history.   One of my student gardeners had a grandmother who recently passed away from breast cancer.   Her mom was no green thumb. But, when her daughter started working in my garden, she let me know that her mom had some plants and her dad was looking for a place for them. Would I be willing to take one?   Sure. Absolutely, I said.   Next thing I knew, a few weeks later, Mom is walking up my driveway caring one of the largest Jade plants I’ve ever seen. The plant was in a container the size of a 5 gallon paint bucket and the plant was just as tall.   I took the plant from her with a promise to take good care of it.   When she turned to leave, I asked her mom’s name. I like to name my pass-along plants after the people I get them from; and, that’s when the tears started.   When she left, I brought it over to the potting bench and let it sit for a few days. Then, my student gardeners and I   set about dividing it and taking care of it. It was a good thing we did it - because the minute we started to take it out of the pot it became very apparent that this plant was severely waterlogged. It wouldn’t of made it have a knot rescued it from the pot. We removed as much potting soil as we could. We split the plant in half and put them into separate clay pots which were very heavily perlited; which was just what the doctor ordered. It’s the perfect environment and now it’s doing fantastic.   But, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it had a little more special meaning to me than just your typical jade plant -because of the look on this woman’s face when she gave me this plant; passing on this little, living thing that her mom had nurtured.   Brevities #OTD Today is Saint Bernard of Clairvaux‘s day; he was the patron saint of beekeepers.   He's also the patron saint of bees and candlemakers.   St. Bernard was a doctor of the church and a French Abbot.  He was apparently a fabulous preacher, with excellent speaking skills. He became known as the "honey sweet" doctor for his honey sweet language; he would draw people in.   When he decided to become a part of the monastery, he had to give up and get up and give a testimony. History tells us that his testimony was so compelling that thirty members of his family and his friends decided to join the monastery. That’s how he became associated with bees; all that sweet talk.   And it was Saint Bernard who said,   "Believe me, for I know, you will find something far greater in the woods than in books. Stones and trees will teach you that which you cannot learn from the masters."     #OTD   Today is the birthday of Edward Lee Green; who was born on this day in 1843. Green performed yeoman's work when it came to the plants of the American West; naming or describing or even re-describing over 4,400 species.   Before Green made his way west, he reached out to Asa Gray of Cambridge and George Englemann of St. Louis at the Missouri Botanic Garden. They gave him good counsel and in 1870, he started traveling to Colorado, California, Mexico, New Mexico, and Arizona. He eventually settled in Berkeley as a church rector.   In the early 1880s, an interesting thing happened: he left the episcopal church and he became a Catholic.   While he was becoming Catholic, Green began lecturing at the University of California, where he became the curator of the herbarium.   When he and the University's President didn’t agree on nomenclature for the plants, he ended up accepting a job at Catholic University in Washington DC, where he worked until 1904.    At that point, he ended up going to the Smithsonian. When he was there, he transferred his herbarium and published his masterpiece called Landmarks of Botanical History Part One.   Part Two was never completed.     #OTD  It was on this day in 1863 that a botanist preserved a specimen of milkweed about 15 days after the battle of Gettysburg.   Drexel University shared this story back in 2018.   A curatorial assistant at the botany department named Elana Benamy was digitizing plant images. She came across an image of milkweed - which is pretty common - but what made her take a double take was the date and location of the plant specimen.   The plant was labeled "Battlefield of Gettysburg, August 20, 1863."   The battle in Gettysburg had occurred during the first three days of July. So this specimen had been gathered about seven weeks after the battle, and about five weeks after Frederick Law Olmsted had walked the field.   Elana asked,    "Can you imagine why on earth would someone be out plant collecting [there]?"   As it turns out, the reason made perfect sense.   The collector was a man named Thomas Meehan. Meehan  had worked for Andrew Eastwick who was the owner of Bartrum‘s garden in Philadelphia. Afterward, Meehan opened up his own nursery in Germantown.   In 1853, his younger brother, Joseph, had come to the United States from England. The younger Meehan brother was working in the greenhouses for his brother when he enlisted to fight in the Civil War.   As the battle of Gettysburg began, the younger Meehan was taken prisoner; but with the defeat of the army he was given battlefield parole on July 4th.   Historians now speculate that Thomas' brother, Joseph, might still of been at Gettysburg or Thomas might’ve gone out with him on a botanizing trip there.   In either case, 33 years later, Joseph would write a beautiful account of the landscape in an article for a gardening magazine called, Battlefield Flowers: Floral Treasures of Gettysburg.    Apparently, both brothers had inherited a love of plants.     #OTD    It was on this day in 1912 that the Plant Quarantine Act was enacted. It gave the Health Inspection Office the authority to regulate, the importation and interstate movement of, nursery stock and other plants that may carry pests or disease. This is why if you’ve been stopped in the airport with a plant - it’s thanks to the Plant Quarantine Act. The Act is thanks, in part, to the work of David Fairchild. When he brought that first shipment in of Cherry trees from Japan, to be placed along tidal basin in Washington DC, they were infected with disease and insects. So that in part, lead to the Plant Quarantine Act - so that something like that would not happen again.       #OTD Today we wish a happy birthday to the man with a last name all gardeners covet:the lead singer of Led Zeppelin,  Robert Plant, who was born on this day in 1948.      Unearthed Words Today we celebrate the birthday of the poet Edgar Albert Guest.   Guest was known as the People’s Poet during the first half of the 20th century. His poems were happy and hopeful; which is why people like them.   Here’s his poem called To Plant a Garden:   If your purse no longer bulges and you’ve lost your golden treasure, If at times you think you’re lonely and have hungry grown for pleasure, Don’t sit by your hearth and grumble, don’t let mind and spirit harden. If it’s thrills of joy you wish for get to work and plant a garden! If it’s drama that you sigh for, plant a garden and you’ll get it You will know the thrill of battle fighting foes that will beset it. If you long for entertainment and for pageantry most glowing, Plant a garden and this summer spend your time with green things growing. If it’s comradeship you sight for, learn the fellowship of daisies. You will come to know your neighbor by the blossoms that he raises; If you’d get away from boredom and find new delights to look for, Learn the joy of budding pansies which you’ve kept a special nook for. If you ever think of dying and you fear to wake tomorrow, Plant a garden! It will cure you of your melancholy sorrow. Once you’ve learned to know peonies, petunias, and roses, You will find every morning some new happiness discloses.   Today's book recommendation: Rose Recipes from Olden Times by Eleanor Sinclair Rhode   This is an oldie but goodie and it was published back in 1973.   The author teaches many applications for working with roses including how to crystallize the petals and preserve the buds, how to use the rose leaves to flavor wines and vinegar, and how to use roses in medicinal ways.   So much rose wisdom has been lost to time. It’s wonderful to have resources like this still available. This book offers 83 recipes all together thanks to the herbalist Eleanor Sinclair Rhode, who gathered her information from a number of legendary herbalists, such as Sir Hugh Platt, Gervase Markham. Today's Garden Chore Pick herbs for fresh use and also for drying. Most herbs have a more concentrated flavor if they are not allowed to bolt or flower. Frequent harvesting will also accomplish that. As a bonus, harvesting encourages fresh, vigorous growth and keeps them growing longer into the season.     Something Sweet  Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart   Here’s another excerpt from a letter that Elizabeth Lawrence wrote to her sister on August 20, 1940: "I have finished [the chapter on] Summer, and I only have [the chapter on] Fall to do—which is short. I hope I can get it done quickly, and have time to rewrite after your reading.   If you get back before I do [from a trip with Bessie and sister Ann], and can find time to look into my garden, will you see if Nerine undulata is in bloom? And if it is, pick it when all of the flowers are out, and put it in your refrigerator until I get back.   It bloomed last year while I was gone, and I have never seen it, and it is the most exciting bulb I have. I enclose a map of where it is, and of other things that might bloom.   Don’t bother about any of them—don’t look for Ridgeway [color chart]. I am taking it with me in case we get to any nurseries.…"   Nerine undulata is an Amaryllis.  It grows 18 inches tall and has umbels of 8-12 slender, crinkled pale pink flowers and it blooms in autumn.   Thanks for listening to the daily gardener, and remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

Today we start off season 6 with an acid fueled action scene, and then the story of one man in three locations but in one of them, he was already dead! MERCH STORE!!! https://www.redbubble.com/people/deadrabbitradio/works/35749420-dead-rabbit-radio?asc=u   Help Promote Dead Rabbit! Dual Flyer https://i.imgur.com/OhuoI2v.jpg "As Above" Flyer  https://i.imgur.com/yobMtUp.jpg   LSD-fueled rampage in California leaves 8 injured after man stabs others with pencil, lawn light: police https://www.foxnews.com/us/lsd-fueled-rampage-in-california-leaves-8-injured-man-who-stabbed-others-with-pencil-landscape-light-shot-by-cops   SF tech worker charged with attempted murder in alleged drug-induced rampage https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/SF-tech-worker-charged-in-violent-drug-induced-14090999.php   Strange case Thomas P Meehan 1963 https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/c7vglq/strange_case_thomas_p_meehan_1963/   Thomas P. Meehan – Dead Man Walking https://paranormalexplorers.com/2018/08/13/thomas-p-meehan-dead-man-walking/amp/   "Do I Look Dead?" https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/458223609/   Listen to the daily podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts! ------------------------------------------------ Logo Art By Ash Black   "As Above" Art By Grant Scott   Opening Song: "Atlantis Attacks" Closing Song: "Bella Royale" Music By Dr. Huxxxtable Rabbitron 3000 created by Eerbud   http://www.DeadRabbit.com Email: DeadRabbitRadio@gmail.com Twitter: @DeadRabbitRadio Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DeadRabbitRadio   Paranormal, Conspiracy, and True Crime news as it happens! Jason Carpenter breaks the stories they'll be talking about tomorrow, assuming the world doesn't end today.   All Contents Of This Podcast Copyright Jason Carpenter 2018 - 2019

Happy Thursday, Cassettes! With Detective Pikachu heading to theaters, we decided to revisit the global sensation that won over the hearts of children (and adults) everywhere: Pokémon! Created in the late 1990s, the Pokémon games took the world by storm! There was the GameBoy games, the playing cards, the Burger King toys, the clothes, it was everywhere! Take a listen as Adam guides us through the world of these adorable pocket monsters. Don't forget to check out https://blackcasediaries.com/ for show notes and more. We also want to thank Thomas Meehan for suggesting this episode! Thanks for listening!

It's Morphin Time on this episode of the Back to the Past Podcast! Brad, Justin and Kevin each share their thoughts on this popular franchise that started in the 1990's and is still popular today with numerous TV series created over the years. This topic was suggested by listener Thomas Meehan. Thanks for the suggestion Thomas!   Closing music performed by Niall Stenson. Check out his YouTube channel here for more great guitar themes!   Visit us at www.BackToThePastPodcast.com   Follow us on and join the discussion on:  Twitter - @backtopastpod Instagram - @backtopastpod Facebook - Back To the Past Podcast Facebook Group   Email - contact@backtothepastpod.com

The next in our Reprise season is Hairspray with Kell Anderson!ENJOY!- FURTHER READING -Wiki - Musical, Film (original), Film (2007), Hairspray Live!IMDb - Hairspray (2007), Hairspray (1988), Hairspray Live!iTunesSpotifyKell's Podcast - Facebook, iTunes- CELEBRITY SHOUTOUTS -Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O'Donnell, Thomas Meehan, John Waters, Harvey Fierstein, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Matthew Morrison, Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, Linda Hart, Mary Bond Davis, Corey Reynolds, Dick Latessa, Michael Ball, Mel Smith, Leanne Jones, Jennifer Hudson, Martin Short, Derek Hough, Kristin Chenoweth, Ariana Grande, Sean Hayes, Rosie O’Donnell, Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, James Marsden,

Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Tom with her weekly review of a regional theatrical production. Today she spotlights Elf the Musical -- an adaptation of the beloved 2003 Will Ferrell comedy, Elf -- now on stage at the Olney Theatre Center in Olney, Md.David Schlumpf stars as Buddy, a human raised by Santa’s elves in the North Pole who travels to New York City to meet his real father, Walter Hobbs (played by Bobby Smith). Buddy is shocked to learn that Walter, as well as his wife Emily (Janine Sunday) and son Michael (Tyler Smallwood) don’t believe in Santa. He sets out to reignite their belief and spread Christmas cheer. Michael J. Bobbitt directs this fresh take on a holiday favorite.Elf the Musical -- written by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin with music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin -- continues at the Olney Theatre through the holidays until January 6th. Get ticket information here.

This week Zane, Patrick and Jess will chat with Tristan Vanyai about which of life's truths can be gleaned from Mel Brooks' hilarious musical Young Frankenstein!"Brooks and Stroman pull out every stop. Despite music that's more ho-hum than hummable, Brooks' lyrics are bright and witty. Better yet, the book ... does a great job, with the assistance of co-writer Thomas Meehan, in transferring the original script to the stage." - The New York Post - FURTHER READING -Wiki - Musical, Movie, Mel Brooks ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​IMDbiTunesSpotify- CELEBRITY SHOUTOUTS -Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan, Gene Wilder, Mary Shelley, Susan Stroman, Brian d'Arcy James, Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster, Roger Bart, Shuler Hensley, Cloris Leachman, Hadley Fraser, Megan Mullally, Andrea Martin, Dianne PilkingtonLike us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Support us on Patreon!Email us: musicalstaughtmepodcast@gmail.comVisit our home on the web thatsnotcanonproductions.comOur theme song and interstitial music all by the one and only Benedict Braxton Smith. Find out more about him at www.benedictbraxtonsmith.com

In this episode of Adapt or Perish, we discuss Mel Brooks’ The Producers! For this episode, we watched and discussed: The original 1967 movie, written and directed by Mel Brooks, and starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. Watch on Amazon or iTunes. The Producers on Broadway (2001), written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, directed by Susan Stroman, and starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. Listen to the original cast recording on iTunes or Amazon. Recording the Producers: A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks, the 2001 documentary that followed the production of the original cast album for the initial run of the Broadway musical, with appearances by Brooks, Meehan, Stroman, and stars Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. Buy it on Amazon. The 2005 movie based on the Broadway musical, directed by Susan Stroman, and starring Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, and Will Ferrell. Watch on Amazon or iTunes. Buy the soundtrack on Amazon or iTunes. Footnotes: Robin Hood: Men in Tights & The 2000 Year Old Man Monty Python’s Life of Brian Young Frankenstein, the 2007 Broadway musical starring Roger Bart Make ‘em Laugh and the Broadway Melody Ballet from Singin’ in the Rain The brilliance of Andrea Martin You can follow Adapt or Perish on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and you can find us online at adaptorperishcast.com.

This week Julie, Miranda and Zane chat with Kell Anderson about which of life's truths can be gleaned from Hairspray!- FURTHER READING -Wiki - Musical, Film (original), Film (2007), Hairspray Live! IMDb - Hairspray (2007), Hairspray (1988), Hairspray Live! iTunesSpotifyKell's Podcast - Facebook, iTunes- CELEBRITY SHOUTOUTS -Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O'Donnell, Thomas Meehan, John Waters, Harvey Fierstein, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Matthew Morrison, Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, Linda Hart, Mary Bond Davis, Corey Reynolds, Dick Latessa, Michael Ball, Mel Smith, Leanne Jones, Jennifer Hudson, Martin Short, Derek Hough, Kristin Chenoweth, Ariana Grande, Sean Hayes, Rosie O’Donnell, Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, James Marsden,

While 2017 was filled with so many theatrical highs (Ben Platt, The Band's Visit, Spongebob, Bette Midler, etc), it was also a time to say good bye to some of the industry's most beloved artists whose work made the theatre, and our world, a better place. Rob and Kevin sit down with Broadway Royalty, Lee Roy Reams, and reflect on the passing of such legends as Barbara Cook, Mary Tyler Moore, Gemze de Lappe, Thomas Meehan, Liz Smith, Robert Guillame, and so many others. But, in the tradition of the great Irish wakes, this episode features a lot of funny, juicy stories like Sammy Davis Jr trading in his gold chains for the Phantom mask, Joanne telling Cunegonde to take a ten, and Gomer Pyle seeking "The Impossible Dream." Become a sponsor of Behind The Curtain and get early access to interviews, private playlists, and advance knowledge of future guests so you can ask the legends your own questions. Go to: http://bit.ly/2i7nWC4

Thomas Meehan, who passed away on August 21st, was the go to book writer for the past 40 years, winning three Tony Awards in the process. Tonight, songs from the shows he wrote.

Making TV comedy about of illness, with Peep Show writer Sam Bain, whose new series Ill Behaviour features a cancer sufferer refusing conventional treatment, and Alison Vernon Smith, producer of Bad Salsa, Radio 4's comedy drama about women who take up salsa dancing after their cancer treatment. Thomas Meehan was behind successful musicals including Annie, The Producers, and Hairspray but he's not the name you're likely to know because he wrote the book: the narrative glue that holds a musical together. Theatre critic Matt Wolf assesses his legacy and discusses his partnership with Mel Brooks. Ned Beauman on his latest novel Madness Is Better Than Defeat. Beauman is the author of four novels including Boxer, Beetle. He has been longlisted for the Man Booker prize, won a Somerset Maugham award, and in 2013 was named one of Granta's best British novelists under 40. This latest novel is inspired by the making of the films Apocalypse Now and Fitzcarraldo, though its setting is the earlier Hollywood golden age of the 1930s. As Oscar-winning film-maker Michael Moore takes on Donald Trump in a new one man show Terms of My Surrender, Matt Wolf evaluates his attempt to "convert the unconverted" and whether the the stage is the best place to do it.Main Image: Ill Behaviour: Nadia (Lizzy Caplan), Charlie (Tom Riley), Joel (Chris Geere), Tess (Jessican Regan) Image Credit: BBC / Fudge Park Productions / Jon Hall.

Hosts Briana Phipps, Jacque Borowski, Ally Nasta, Alexis Torris and Becca Brown discuss the Hairspray Movie. Hairspray is a 2007 musical romantic comedy film based on the 2002 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was based on John Waters' 1988 comedy film of the same name. Adapted from both Waters' 1988 script and Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell's book for the stage musical by screenwriter Leslie Dixon, the 2007 film version of Hairspray was directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman and has an ensemble cast including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney and Nikki Blonsky. Set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, the film follows the "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation. Following the release of the musical in 2002, New Line Cinema became int

Hosts Briana Phipps, Jacque Borowski, Drexel Heard, Nino Llanera discuss the Hairspray Theatre Show. Hairspray is an American musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show.[1] When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, and meets a colorful array of characters. She then launches a campaign to integrate the show. The musical's original Broadway production opened on August 15, 2002. In 2003, it won eight Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical, out of thirteen nominations. It ran for over 2,500 performances and closed on January 4, 2009.[2] Hairspray has also

Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky interview Ryan Scott Foizey, artistic director of Theatre Lab, after reviewing: (1) HAIRSPRAY, by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan, at The Muny; (2) EMMELINE, by Tobias Picker, at Opera Theatre of St. Louis; (3) MY FAIR LADY, by Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe, at The Muny; (4) GAME OF THRONES: THE PARODY!, adapted by Jason Cryer, at Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre; and (5) THE BOY WHO LOVED MONSTERS AND THE GIRL WHO LOVED PEAS, by Jonathan Graham, at Metro Theater Co.

Theater Talk focuses on the key theatrical art form, book writing, with librettists, Richard Maltby, Jr. and Thomas Meehan, along with Laurence Maslon, editor of "American Musicals: The Complete Books and Lyrics of 16 Broadway Classics 1927-1969."

Yo, Adrian! I’m on Broadway! It might not be the last movie you ever expected to see turned into a Broadway musical, but it’s probably not one of the first either. Nevertheless, here it is: “Rocky,” the Oscar-winning 1976 movie written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, has now been set to song and dance. The show, with a score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Stallone and Thomas Meehan, has been directed by Alex Timbers and stars Andy Karl in the title role. Charles Isherwood had a ringside seat at a recent performance, and tells us if a tune-filled Rocky wins by a knockout or should be sent to the showers.

Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky interview Lara Teeter (actor, director, professor) after reviewing (1) ELF THE MUSICAL, by Matthew Sklar, Chad Bueglin, Bob Martin, and Thomas Meehan, at the Fox Theatre, (2) ROOM AT THE INN, by Steven Pokin, at Clayton Community Theatre, (3) THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, by Kim Esop Wylie & Joe Dreyer, at the Imaginary Theatre Co., and (3) AN ALMOST PERFECT MURDER, by Wendy-Marie Martin, at Tesseract Theatre Co

Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky review (1) CLYBOURNE PARK, by Bruce Norris, at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis Studio Theatre, (2) A RAISIN IN THE SUN, by Lorraine Hansberry, at Unity Theatre Ensemble, (3) MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS, by Ron Hutchinson, at Dramatic License Productions, (4) ANNE AND EMMETT, by Janet Langhart Cohen, at the Black Rep, (5) A CELTIC NIGHT CIRCUS: Tir na nOg, at Circus Flora, (6) ANNIE, by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, & Thomas Meehan, at Variety Children's Theatre, (7) IN THE BLOOD, by Suzan-Lori Parks, at at Univ. of Missouri-St. Louis, and (8) CABARET, by John Kander & Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff, at Washington Univ.

Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky review (1) THE GLASS MENAGERIE, by Tennessee Williams, at Dramatic License Productions, (2) CRY-BABY, by David Javerbaum, Adam Schlesinger, Mark O'Donnell & Thomas Meehan, at New Line Theatre, (3) WAKE UP, CAMERON DOBBS, by Stephen Peirick, at West End Players Guild, (4) AMERICAN IDIOT, by Michael Mayer & Billie Joe Armstrong, at the Peabody Opera House, (5) LA BOHEME, by Giacomo Puccini, at Winter Opera St. Louis, (6) BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL, by Keythe Farley, Brian Flemming & Laurence O'Keefe, at St. Louis Univ., and (7) BRIEFS: A FESITVAL OF SHORT LESBIAN AND GAY PLAYS, at That Uppity Theatre Co. & Vital VOICE Media.

Bob Wlicox and Gerry Kowarsky review (1) THE SECRET GARDEN, by Marsha Norman & Lucy Simon, at Stages St. Louis, (2) BYE BYE BIRDIE, by Michael Stewart, Lee Adams, & Charles Strouse, at The Muny, (3) RESTORATION, by Edward Bond, at St. Louis Shakespeare, (4) SHE LOVES ME, by Joe Masteroff, Sheldon Harnick, & Jerry Bock, at Insight Theatre Co., (5) LA CENERENTOLA, by Gioachino Rossini & Jacopo Ferretti, at Union Avenue Opera, (6) THRILL ME: THE LEOPOLD & LOEB STORY, by Stephen Dolginoff, at Max & Louie Productions, (7) SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, by Lawrence Kasha et al., at The Muny, (8) DEBBIE DOES DALLAS -- THE MUSICAL, by Erica Schmidt, et al., The NonProphet Theater Co., and (9) ANNIE, by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, & Thomas Meehan, at Hawthorne Players.

Bob Wlicox and Gerry Kowarsky review (1) THE SECRET GARDEN, by Marsha Norman & Lucy Simon, at Stages St. Louis, (2) BYE BYE BIRDIE, by Michael Stewart, Lee Adams, & Charles Strouse, at The Muny, (3) RESTORATION, by Edward Bond, at St. Louis Shakespeare, (4) SHE LOVES ME, by Joe Masteroff, Sheldon Harnick, & Jerry Bock, at Insight Theatre Co., (5) LA CENERENTOLA, by Gioachino Rossini & Jacopo Ferretti, at Union Avenue Opera, (6) THRILL ME: THE LEOPOLD & LOEB STORY, by Stephen Dolginoff, at Max & Louie Productions, (7) SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, by Lawrence Kasha et al., at The Muny, (8) DEBBIE DOES DALLAS -- THE MUSICAL, by Erica Schmidt, et al., The NonProphet Theater Co., and (9) ANNIE, by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, & Thomas Meehan, at Hawthorne Players.

Gerry Kowarsky and guest host Mark Bretz interview actors Laurie McConnell and Alan Knoll after reviewing (1) DEAD MAN WALKING, by Jake Heggie & Terrence McNally, at Union Avenue Opera, (2) MISTAKES WERE MADE, by Craig Wright, at The Midnight Company, (3) SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, by Edgar Lee Masters, Soundstage Productions, (4) THE CONVERSATION, by Dennis Corcoran, at The Black Mirror Theatre Co., (5) HAIRSPRAY, by Mark O'Donnell & Thomas Meehan, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, at Take Two Productions.

The production and creative team for the musical "The Producers" - press representative John Barlow, creator and producer Mel Brooks, producer Richard Frankel, general manager Laura Green, book writer Thomas Meehan, and director and choreographer Susan Stroman - discuss taking the cult film to the Broadway stage, including the out-of-town run in Chicago, budgeting a huge musical, and the overwhelming interest from producers, investors, publicists, and ticketbuyers.

The production and creative team for the musical The Producers -- press representative John Barlow, creator and producer Mel Brooks (who won a Tony for The Producers), producer Richard Frankel (Tony Award winner for the 2007 revival of Company), general manager Laura Green, book writer Thomas Meehan (Tony Awards for Annie, The Producers and Hairspray), and five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman (for Crazy for You, Showboat, Contact, and 2 awards for The Producers) -- discuss taking the cult film to the Broadway stage, including the out-of-town run in Chicago, budgeting a huge musical, and the overwhelming interest from producers, investors, publicists, and ticketbuyers.

The creative team behind the Broadway musical "Hairspray", producers Richard Frankel and Margo Lion, co-book writer Thomas Meehan, choreographer Jerry Mitchell, director Jack O'Brien, co-book writer Mark O'Donnell, composer Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman outline the journey the piece took from being a John Waters and Divine cult movie to hitting the Broadway stage; offer a peek at the process that created this smash hit and discuss the social messages that the show sends, both in its content and it's non-traditional casting.

The creative team behind the Broadway musical Hairspray, producers Richard Frankel (Tony Award winner for the 2007 revival of Company) and Margo Lion (Tony Awards for Hairspray in 2003 and Elaine Stritch at Liberty in 2002), co-book writer Thomas Meehan (Tony Awards for Annie, The Producers and Hairspray), choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Tony winner for the 2005 revival of La Cage aux Folles), director Jack O'Brien (Tony Winner for Hairspray, Henry IV in 2004 and The Coast of Utopia), co-book writer Mark O'Donnell (Tony Award for Hairspray) andTony winning-composer/lyricist team Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (for Hairspray) outline the journey the piece took from being a John Waters and Divine cult movie to hitting the Broadway stage; offer a peek at the process that created this smash hit and discuss the social messages that the show sends, both in its content and it's non-traditional casting.