The Fabulous Invalid

For their first series bonus episode, Jamie and Rob return to the mic to celebrate the life of the singular, legendary musical theatre composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021). Together, they share their personal reflections on Sondheim’s remarkable body of work, offer some favorites, and consider the legacy he leaves behind. As Sondheim wrote: “we die, but we don’t”. Tune into this spec...

On this week’s 100th and final regular episode of the series, Jamie and Rob cap off their season-long theme of “our favorite things” by recounting and celebrating some of the great performances by great performers that they’ve been fortunate enough to see over a lifetime of theatergoing. Joining them in sharing their personal remembrances for this special milestone episode is a roster of former gu...

On this week’s penultimate episode, Jamie and Rob are joined by stage and screen legend Sheryl Lee Ralph for their final regular interview of the series. Together, they talk about Sheryl’s remarkable career, from star turns on Broadway in “Dreamgirls”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, and “Wicked”; to her advocacy efforts combatting HIV/AIDS stigma; and her latest gig as a producer of “Thoughts of a Co...

On this week’s episode, Jamie and Rob sit down with their season one and two co-host Jennifer Simard for a reunion conversation. Together, they talk about Jennifer’s pandemic experience as a working actor, her remarkable career on stage, her mentors, and her excitement about getting back on Broadway in “Company” this fall. At the top, Jamie and Rob announce that the upcoming 100th episode of The F...

On this special bonus episode, Jamie and Rob return to the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival in Garrison, New York to check back in with Artistic Director Davis McCallum. Together, they discuss what it has been like producing theatre during a global pandemic, the shows they have playing this summer, and some exciting future plans for the company. Following this short new interview, you can listen...

On this week’s episode, Jamie and Rob chat with Rob Laqui and Sammy Lopez, two founding members of The Industry Standard Group (TISG), a new multicultural commercial investment and producing organization aiming to make theatre accessible, inclusive, and more equitable. With a unique focus on addressing current disparities in the commercial producing sector, TISG is focused on promoting work reflec...

On this week’s episode, Jamie and Rob chat with 12-time Tony Award-winning producer and theatre owner Daryl Roth, who holds the singular distinction of producing 7 Pulitzer Prize winning plays. Together, they discuss Daryl’s latest project, the socially distanced light and sound experience “Blindness”—which is currently running at her theatre on Union Square—along with her remarkable career, inclu...

On this week’s episode, Jamie and Rob chat with Broadway actor and activist Raymond J. Lee. Together, they discuss Ray’s career, his deep love for Disney, the challenges of being a parent during a pandemic, and the importance of representation on stage. From “Mamma Mia!” to “Aladdin”, “Groundhog Day”, “Soft Power”, and Britney Spears ... Ray’s got the range, and he’s optimistic about Broadway’s fu...

This week, Jamie and Rob continue exploring the mission of the podcast by speaking with sound designer Jessica Paz. Together, they discuss this newest, most mysterious, and oft-overlooked and under-appreciated field of stagecraft, diving into the challenges and secrets of Jessica’s Tony Award-winning work on “Hadestown”. What do Scuba diving, raccoons, magical iPads, and pizza have to do with soun...

This week, Jamie and Rob round out the mission of the podcast by speaking with Broadway musician, music director, music supervisor, conductor, composer, and orchestrator Charlie Rosen. Together, they chat about Charlie’s life and career in the music world, from his Broadway debut at age 18 to his Tony Award-nominated orchestrations for “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”, and his work beyond the stage in...

On this week’s episode, Jamie and Rob continue their season-long theme of their “favorite things” by paying tribute to the singular life and work of Broadway dancer, actor, choreographer, director, and Fosse muse Ann Reinking, who passed away in December 2020. In addition to sharing their own reflections on Ann’s remarkable career, Jamie and Rob are joined by Candy Brown (“Pippin”), Marilu Henner...

On this week’s show, Jamie and Rob decide to examine their shared love for Broadway posters by taking a closer look at the world of Broadway marketing. First up, they chat with Drew Hodges, founder of SpotCo (a marquee Broadway marketing, advertising, and branding firm) about his iconic ad campaigns for shows like “Rent” and “Chicago”. Then, they chat with Roger Puckett, founder of Triton Gallery,...

On this week’s show, Jamie and Rob talk through Jamie’s personal top ten list of showstopping production numbers, celebrating some of the greatest moments in Broadway musical theatre history. They take a look at the extraordinary work of choreographers like Bob Fosse, Michael Bennett, Tommy Tune, Onna White, Jerome Robbins, Gower Champion, and Agnes DeMille, and dig into some of the more unheralde...

For a special, two-part show, Jamie and Rob take an in-depth look at the life, work, and legacy of Broadway composer and lyricist Jerry Herman—“the poet of the showtune”. They chat with performers Joel Grey, Florence Lacey, Lee Roy Reams, and Alix Korey, music director Andy Einhorn, producer Barry Brown, and actress and cabaret star Molly Pope. Part two focuses on his lesser known shows, “Milk and...

For a special, two-part show, Jamie and Rob take an in-depth look at the life, work, and legacy of Broadway composer and lyricist Jerry Herman—“the poet of the showtune”. They chat with performers Joel Grey, Florence Lacey, Lee Roy Reams, and Alix Korey, music director Andy Einhorn, producer Barry Brown, and actress and cabaret star Molly Pope. Part one focuses on “Hello, Dolly!” and “Mame”, two o...

This week, Jamie and Rob put together their first ever holiday episode, taking a look at the perennial classic “A Christmas Carol”. First, they explore the history behind the Charles Dickens novella and its leap to the stage. Then, they chat with director Michael Arden and actor Jefferson Mays about their new production of “A Christmas Carol”, which premiered at the Geffen Playhouse in 2018 and is...

On this week’s show, Jamie and Rob take a deep dive into one of their favorite musicals: “West Side Story”. After exploring the fascinating story behind the creation of this landmark classic musical, they chat with Belgian director Ivo van Hove about his re-imagined 2020 Broadway production. Then, they moderate an exclusive discussion with Broadway legend Carol Lawrence and Broadway’s latest sensa...

Jamie and Rob kick off season three with 11-time Grammy Award nominated recording artist and Tony Award nominated star of stage and screen Vanessa Williams, one of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in the entertainment industry. Together, they discuss Vanessa’s work as a founder of Black Theatre United, her 1994 Broadway debut in “Kiss of the Spiderwoman”, her West End debut in “City...

On this week’s show, Jamie and Rob close season two with the final installation of their special three part mini-series looking at some of the biggest Broadway musical hits of all time. In part three, the British Invasion lands on our shores, and a Windy City murderess, an iconic mask, a helicopter, and La Vie Bohème visit Broadway! At the top of the episode, the always fabulous Jennifer Simard st...

On this week’s show, Jamie and Rob dive back into their special three part mini-series looking at some of the biggest Broadway musical hits of all time. In part two, they visit Rydell High, a little orphan named Annie, and perhaps two of the greatest musicals ever. This week’s music: “Greased Lightning” and “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” from “Grease” and “Grease” from “Grease: New Broadway C...

On this week’s show, Jamie and Rob launch a special three part mini-series looking at some of the biggest Broadway musical hits of all time, beginning with 1943’s landmark “Oklahoma!” and continuing through today’s juggernaut “Hamilton”. Part One focuses on the biggest hits of Broadway’s golden age. This week’s music: “Guns & Ships”, “Yorktown”, “It’s Quiet Uptown”, from “Hamilton”, “Kansas City”,...

On this week’s episode, Jamie and Rob return to the world of famous (and infamous!) Broadway flop musicals with part two of our look at these flawed and fabulous gems. We investigate Dude(s), space travel, sequels, VAMPIRES and much, much more. And, we finish out the show with a bit more about “Carrie” from the legendary Betty Buckley. This week’s music: “So Long Dude” and “Pears and Apples”, from...

On this week’s episode, Jamie and Rob dive into the world of famous (and infamous!) Broadway flop musicals with a special two-part show focusing on these flawed and fabulous gems. They kick it all off with a look back at “Carrie” (1988) with word from its original star, the incredible Betty Buckley, who provides a rare peak into that experience. Then, Rob and Jamie move on to discuss such musicals...

On this week’s show, Rob and Jamie are joined by three-time Tony Award winning composer, lyricist, conductor, arranger, orchestrator, director, and performer Jason Robert Brown, best known for his shows “Songs for a New World”, “Parade”, “The Last Five Years”, “13”, “The Bridges of Madison County”, and “Honeymoon in Vegas”. Together, they discuss his musical theatre work, solo albums, concerts, mo...

On this week’s show, Jamie, Jennifer, and Rob are joined by actor and director John Benjamin Hickey. Everyone checks in on how they’re dealing with the shut down and trying to stay sane, then John discusses his most recent projects: starring in last season’s “The Inheritance” and his Broadway directorial debut with Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite”, and the group chats about John’s remarkable roles in “L...