A Musical Theatre Podcast

WEST SIDE STORY might be the most important collaboration in all of musical theatre. There's no way to overstate its layers of storytelling and emotional relevance, but in this episode, we sure try. Join Jeff and director/choreographer Hector Guerrero as they celebrate the original artists behind this iconic show, explore what it means to be a "Shark" in a "Jet" world, and laugh at what happens at...

We're celebrating our 50th episode this week with never before heard conversations with past guests including Glenn Rosenblum (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF), Ryan O'Connor (SUNSET BOULEVARD), Barbara Dixon (ANYTHING GOES), and Terron Brooks (THE LION KING). We've also got messages from listeners about what they've taken away from our first fifty, and new announcements from Jeff. Celebrate with us and thank...

More than likely this New Year's Eve won't see many wild parties, so we're giving you two! In 2000, two different composers were inspired by the same 1920s poem of excess and epiphany and gave birth to two different musicals that shared a title, characters, and theatre season. Broadway star Julia Murney was the leading lady in Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY and has since worked closely with Michael...

Deep in December it's nice to remember THE FANTASTICKS, an unusual little show that also happens to be the longest-running musical in the world. Join us as we talk to actress (and off-Broadway Luisa) Madison Claire Parks about musical allegories, musical families, and what it means to own our journeys and follow. ("follow, follow, follow, follow...") Learn about the Redhawk Native American Arts Co...

The history of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA is a testament to taking musical theatre to new places and making the impossible possible. Who better then to discuss this musical than an innovator like musical theatre writer/performer/educator Sadie Bowman! Join us this week as we discuss the parallels and pitfalls of a very famous fairy tale and the way it evolved from 1957 TV creation to a 201...

The creative team of SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK often referred to their musical as a "rock & roll circus drama," but there's no way they knew how accurate a description that would become. This week Jeff is joined by his incredibly talented friend Andrew Madsen to discuss the strangest creative journey that ever got to Broadway, stayed for three years, and still managed to be considered a failur...

Disney’s theatre landmark THE LION KING celebrates the great circle of life in all its ups and downs. This week we welcome recording artist, and Broadway Simba, Terron Brooks to celebrate the circle of life within this stunning show. Who are the artists that brought it to life, and what does it require of its performers to make it one of the longest-running musicals in history? Click here to follo...

It's fun, irreverent, endlessly melodic, and more profound than you might think. HAIRSPRAY is a new classic in musical theatre, and our guest to discuss it this week is Broadway cast member Sabrina Sloan (CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, HAMILTON). We also enjoy a visit with listener Jonathan Chisolm! Get ready for stories galore, followed by an uncontrollable desire to revisit the score.  Be sure to follow S...

Wasn't it Oscar Hammerstein II who remarked, "Nothing says musical theatre quite like a quiet board game and the Cold War?" Maybe not, but this week composer Michael Gordon Shapiro joins us to discuss the musical that tried it anyway. Get your ABBA on and join us for a look at the incredibly electric CHESS, a show from the 1980s that shouldn't work, might not work, and yet has a bigger cultural fo...

This week's episode is dedicated to a musical about kids, so we have a guest who happens to be an expert on musical theatre and kids! Julie Cohen Theobald is the Executive Director of the Educational Theatre Association, a non-profit celebrating over 90 years of creating theatre curriculum for kids in their educational settings. Together, we discuss the joys of discovering theatre while being a ch...

Few musicals have left a singular cultural imprint quite like the song "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" from the zany 1949 musical GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES. Whether associated with Carol Channing, Marilyn Monroe, or anyone else, this iconic piece of musical theatre is a fascinating window into our history, both past and present. Join us this week as we welcome Tim and Anna from "My Little Tonys...

MATILDA (aka the rubik's cube) is an intricately crafted show put together by geniuses about a genius. And once you hear this week's guest Cassie Silva (Broadway and 1st National Tour "Mrs Wormwood") explain why, you'll be a believer. Enjoy our journey through the world of Roald Dahl, childhood journals, and "British accents for American audiences." Follow Cassie on Instagram @cassiemsilva for a d...

The musical CONTACT may be one of the most controversial Tony Award winners of all time, but Karen Ziemba is one of the most gracious and deserving. A musical theatre triple threat with incredible work ethic, true vulnerability, and a dazzling smile, we are honored she joined us this week to discuss the very special show that brought her so much acclaim. Along the way, we talk about her many colla...

Ten years ago, we would have said MY FAIR LADY is a musical that will be produced forever: iconic characters, a legendary score and source material. But now has that all changed? This week we're joined by Cindy & Christine from the Bottomless Broadway podcast to discuss rom com makeovers, gender politics, and of course, "quan" Julie Andrews.  For more Cindy & Christine, subscribe to Bottomless Bro...

SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE may be a five person musical dealing with the existential crisis of objective truth, but it also has brought together one of our most exciting episodes. Not only do we have the charming and talented Travis Leland to discuss this wonderful show, we have the composer and writer himself: five time Tony nominated Michael John LaChiusa (HELLO AGAIN, THE WILD PARTY, MARIE CHRISTINE)...

"Wilkommen, bienvenue, and welcome" to the legendary musical that entertains you, slaps you across the face, and somehow makes you grateful for it. Award-winning director Richard Israel joins us to discuss the brilliance of Kander & Ebb's CABARET, the elegance of Joe Masteroff, and why this musical is a must in 2020. Enjoy a look at Richard's work by visiting https://richardisraeldirector.com Take...

"How did you get to be here?" That single question has always been the success and struggle of Stephen Sondheim's 1981 musical MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. This week, actress and activist Jennifer Shelton joins us to discuss the musical's fascinating past, and what its unconventional style reveals about our past, present, and future. Take a deeper dive into Jen's career by visiting her website at http:/...

Can you spell the word... podcast? Yeah, too easy. You know what's not easy, though? William Finn music! Here to discuss the brilliance of him and the delightful THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is the equally delightful music director, Jennifer Lin. Get ready to delve into the quirky side of musical theatre with this conversation that we promise isn't "chimerical." Follow Jennifer Lin o...

ANYTHING GOES is a legendary madcap musical from the 1930s, and thanks to actress Leah Sprecher, our guest to celebrate it this week is the equally legendary and madcap icon Broadway Barbara Dixon. You don't want to miss Barbara's unique and infamous perspective on her first love: Broadway! Follow Barbara on Instagram and TikTok at @broadwaybarbaraofficial You won't regret it! Take one moment to f...

Hooray for our "favorite son!" It's an election year, so this week we're covering THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES with music director extraordinaire Jeff Rizzo. It's also a pretty great excuse for us to talk about musical theatre legends like Cy Coleman, Tommy Tune, and of course, the show stealing dogs in Act 1. This one isn't getting a revival anytime soon, so enjoy! Be sure to check out Jeff Rizzo's vi...

There's nothing "shy" about this episode! ;) Actress Rena Strober joins us to shed a little love on the summer camp musical to end all summer camp musicals: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. Carol Burnett, the Rodgers Dynasty, golden age comedy, and champagne bought with your unemployment insurance...this episode has it all.  Be sure to follow Rena on Twitter @renastrober and support her new album IMAGINE THA...

Anybody in the mood to fall in love? If so, try following the simple recipe from ALL SHOOK UP... add Elvis. "C'mon Everybody" get ready to tune in and tune out with this week's episode as actor Andre Myers joins us to discuss jukebox musicals, this feel-good show's identity crisis on Broadway, the reason Andre stopped pursuing musical theatre, and why he still can't help falling in love with it. (...

This week we take a ride through THE GRAND TOUR, ironically the biggest flop the king composer of optimism Jerry Herman ever had. Here to chat about it is the man Mr. Herman personally asked to star in it. Broadway vet Jason Graae joins us for a funny and heartfelt retrospective on one of the greatest writers in musical history and this largely forgotten show that quite possibly includes the most...

This week we get to be part of "her" world. Broadway Ariel, Chelsea Morgan Stock joins us for a conversation about the stage adaptation of Disney's game changing film THE LITTLE MERMAID. Tune in as Chelsea reveals the complexities of being an understudy, dancing in Heelys, and staging a certain villain's demise.    Be sure to follow Cheslea on Instagram @chelsmstock Take one moment to follow "A Mu...

THE BAND'S VISIT is one of the most sophisticated musicals in our relatively short musical theatre history, and yet, despite winning pretty much every award imaginable, it isn't talked about nearly enough. National Tour cast member Marc Ginsburg joins Jeff for a conversation about the joy, sadness, and phonetic pronunciations of this great addition to modern musical theatre. To follow all things M...