Putting It Together

A short history of Richard Rodgers with speculation about what he and Sondheim were feeling before they started their only collaboration. Part 1 of the three episode mini-series on Do I Hear a Waltz? features William C. White and Layan Elwazani along with some old audio clips and lots of great music. William C. White has a website you should visit: http://www.willcwhite.com William's Twitter : htt...

The new season of Putting It Together debuts on October 30th! This will be different from previous seasons, as we take a look at Do I Hear a Waltz in a three episode miniseries. It will explore the history, the problems, but most importantly the music. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It's a weird way to end a show, but then again with Anyone Can Whistle everything has been a bit odd. Karen Unland and her daughter Elizabeth (from the podcast That's a Thing?! ) join the show to discuss With So Little To Be Sure Of . They also talk about the difficulty with love songs, whether this song is inconsistent with the characters singing it, and they try to guess how many Tony Award nomi...

An extended ballet sequence that leads directly into a song that was eventually cut. Tim Kov and Anna Hulkower , from My Little Tonys , join the discussion and reveal secret Sondheim facts while deciding on whether the cut song should have stayed and whether the dance should have left. My Little Tonys website: https://www.mylittletonyspodcast.com Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mylittletonys...

Fay has been holding out for a hero the entire show, but now she realizes it needs to be her that's the hero. Local actor Riley Galarneau joins Kyle to discuss character motivation, being pushed to do uncomfortable things, and 80s power ballads. You can follow Riley on Twitter : https://twitter.com/R_Galarneau Or Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ridom/ The 11th episode of Season 8 of The Simp...

Sometimes you got to to lean on yourself. Kyle talks with himself about a song where people say they can rely on each other. But could they be just as likely to stab each other in the back? The answer is yes. Watch the choreography of this song from the 1995 concert featuring Madeline Kahn here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nM1DBo1crw Or the choreography from a 2010 version starring Donna Murp...

Everybody Says Don't may seem like another song that fits into the theme of "be yourself no matter what the world says." But guest William C. White discusses with Kyle why you shouldn't overlook this part of Anyone Can Whistle . Plus, does Ira Gershwin suck? William C. White has a website you should visit: http://www.willcwhite.com You can also follow him on Twitter : https://twitter.com/willcwhit...

There's a Parade in Town is a song that was written because Angela Lansbury demanded it. Sometimes it can be hard to think about Angela Lansbury as a diva, especially if you've seen interviews with her and can see how gracious she normally is. In this episode Jonathan Chisolm helps Kyle to square those two sides of her personality. Jonathan's professional profile : https://www.backstage.com/u/jona...

Listeners called and wrote in questions for Kyle to answer about Broadway, Sondheim, and the podcast itself. This is a special episode that celebrate the last 50 episodes and (hopefully) gets you excited for the next 50. The interview at the beginning of the episode is from Sondheim's appearance on The American Musical Theatre from October 15, 1961: https://youtu.be/IxOS70IR3t8 The podcast Punch U...

Is whistling easy, or is it hard? Darby Turnbull returns to the podcast to discuss the song Anyone Can Whistle . In the conversation truths are revealed, lessons are learned, and gay themes are discovered. "Put your lips together and blow." - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MheNUWyROv8 You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat , by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9...

Kyle's ability to do a French accent isn't very good. But this song, Come Play Wiz Me , is a fascinating example of pastiche. It's a musical style in which Stephen Sondheim is well known for. Eric Matthew Richardson returns to offer his expertise on that, plus gives a bunch of references ranging from Shakespeare to Monty Python . Eric's website : http://www.ericmatthewrichardson.com Twitter : http...

Simple is a long song. And, as it turns out, not so simple. This was the first time where Sondheim combined music, speaking, multiple characters, and multiple melodies into one song. David and Kyle try to break it apart and figure out what works and what doesn't. Quantum Leap theme song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-xRRKLRhDw A great overview of Hal Prince 's career from PBS: https://www.yout...

Justin Guarini has acted and sang all over the world. One of his most cherished performances was as Bobby in Stephen Sondheim's Company , at the Bucks County Playhouse . He discusses that show, theatre in general, and reveals the advice he'd give to young actors. Justin's website : www.auditionsecrets.com Video behind the scenes of Company , performed at the Bucks County Playhouse : https://www.yo...

There Won't Be Trumpets was cut from the show but still made it onto the cast album. It grew in popularity from there and now appears anytime Anyone Can Whistle is revived. Did it deserve to be cut? Suzanna and Kyle discuss that and how Fay may be the hero she wants somebody else to be. Suzanna's Twitter : https://twitter.com/suzzzanna Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/suzzzanna/ Santa Barbara...

Miracle Song can be looked at as a satirical takedown of religion. There are certainly gospel elements to the music and blatant Christian imagery. Christine Chen returns to talk to Kyle about this and whether this should have been the opening number. Christine's Blog : https://acrossthearch.wordpress.com Christine's Twitter : https://twitter.com/AcrossTheArch Christine's podcast, Bottomless Broadw...

The failure of Anyone Can Whistle is legendary. It closed after 9 performances. Madeline Botteri and Joel DeCandio , of The Sondheim Project, join Kyle in discussing how the first song of the show helps (and doesn't help) set the stage for what's to come. How is a show affected when the antagonist is the one who opens the show? Plus you'll hear from Angela Lansbury and her less than happy time bei...

The trailer for the upcoming season on the troubled Broadway show Anyone Can Whistle. You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat , by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo We are using two productions to frame our discussion of Anyone Can Whistle. The original Broadway cast starring Angela Lansbury and Lee Remick (1962) You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://ap...

Kyle invites on Janet and Lucia of Repodcasting to discuss the film version of Forum, and figure out who would star in it if it were remade today. You can subscribe to Repodcasting here: https://repodcasting.blubrry.net Twitter : https://twitter.com/repodcasting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/repodcasting/ Google survey about the show. PLEASE FILL THIS OUT IF YOU CAN! : https://forms.gle/xGE...

Federico Tedeschi returns to wrap up our season on A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. We discuss the weirdness of the Funeral Sequence, the appropriate way the Finale ends, and then have the return of the game How Many Tonys Was This Show Nominated For? Federico's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/federicotedeschi1/ Larry Gelbart talks about Forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3...

Philia's only solo song is one that shows how clueless she is about her whole situation. It might be a song that Sondheim fans disregard, but there are a few things worthy of consideration. Paul Matwychuk also discusses with Kyle about whether there might be a way for Philia to be portrayed differently, and whether the show should ever be revived. The podcast Trash, Art, and the Movies : http://my...

The character of Domina is usually considered a shrewish old woman who wrecks the fun for all the other characters. But perhaps there is more to her than that two dimensional depiction. Zina Lee joins Kyle to discuss her song, the treatment of women in the show, and whether gender swapping should be encouraged in the modern theatre. Zina's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/zinajlee/ Alberta Po...

Miles Gloriosus is a brutish man who would be called "problematic" in our modern times. However, is there more to him than meets the eye? Christine Chen joins Kyle in discussing whether Miles is more bluster than barbarian. Also, at the end, there's a conversation about their favourite Sondheim show of all time. Christine's Blog : https://acrossthearch.wordpress.com Christine's Twitter : https://t...

There are no gibbering fools on this week's podcast. At least no more than usual. Elizabeth Keep joins the show for the first time to discuss the two songs I'm Calm and Impossible . Are they funny? Do you need to see the staging for them to work? Those and other fraughter things are to be expected this week. Elizabeth's Twitter : https://twitter.com/lizaanne42 Her website : https://lizaanne42.word...

Is Forum sexist or does it just feature sexist characters? Matt Sampson return to try and answer that questions, while also playing his piano to show how clever Sondheim can be, even with a generic list song. Matt's website : https://sampsonmusicstudios.com Avenue Q performs on the Tony Awards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsCKs26g-MM You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Fi...

Pretty Little Picture is certainly a witty song, but is it funny? William C. White returns to offer his opinions on a song that Sondheim considers one of his best. They also debate whether Zero Mostel or Nathan Lane sing it better. William C. White has a website you should visit: http://www.willcwhite.com You can also follow him on Twitter : https://twitter.com/willcwhite Or see him on YouTube : h...