Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast

Next Friday on Before the Downbeat Autumn is still away so Mackenzie is joined by friend, audio magician and returning guest Teni Brant! Together they geek out and discuss the super hero debacle of a musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark ! Hear these two friends deep dive into the world of comics and the turbulent production history of this musical disaster. They breakdown how both plots for this...

This Friday on Before the Downbeat while Autumn is still away Mackenzie and his wonderful theatre friend Katie Miller let their hair down and let the sunshine in as they  discuss the hippie musical Hair ! These two dive deep into the lyrics and explain how the lyrics are supported by the score. They explore whether this show still has the same impact when not seen live. Plus discover which ic...

Next Friday on Before the Downbeat while Autumn is still away Mackenzie is joined by his wonderful theatre friend Katie Miller! Together they enter the age of Aquarius as they discuss the concept rock musical Hair ! These two break down the iconic nude scene and discuss what it was like for Katie to perform and do this particular scene back when she performed in Hair.  They explore why this m...

This week on Before the Downbeat Mackenzie and special guest co-host and the Elphaba to Mackenzie's Glinda Jessica Maxwell are revisiting their youth and discussing the angsty coming of age musical Spring Awakening ! Hear these two long time friends from portable 303 converse over whether the angst of this musical still connects with the youth today. They debate this musicals score and if it needs...

Next Friday on Before the Downbeat while Autumn is still away Mackenzie is joined this time by friend and returning guest turned co-host Jessica Maxwell! Together they head to Germany and discuss the angsty teen rock musical Spring Awakening ! Hear these two long time friends  debate if the score properly reflects teenage angst or if it blows its proverbial load too soon. They explore whether...

This week on Before the Downbeat Mackenzie and guest co-host Jillian Robinson are breaking out puppets and discussing the adult musical comedy Avenue Q ! Hear these two friends  converse over whether this musical rightful deserved to win the Tony Award for Best Musical over Wicked and why puppets make tackling some of these difficult adult topics easier. Plus hear their pitches for a sequel m...

Next Friday on Before the Downbeat Mackenzie along with guest co-host Jillian Robinson head to New York and discuss the puppet musical comedy Avenue Q ! Hear these two friends  debate if all the jokes and comedic elements of the show still fit in towards more PC aware world. They explore the power of puppetry and find out how they'd adapt this musical for a modern audience. All of this plus a...

This week on Before the Downbeat marks the first in series of episodes where Autumn will be away on a theatre contract. But never fear Autumn and Mackenzie have some great content planned for you in the meantime. So sit back and enjoy as Mackenzie and guest cohost Graeme McClelland do a deep dive review of the latest movie musical to hit the big screen Dear Evan Hansen . Hear these two give their...

This week on Before the Downbeat Autumn and Mackenzie are hanging out with the Peanuts gang while starring at the clouds and discussing Snoopy! The Musical ! Hear these two reveal their favourite Peanuts character. They explain why this musical while not having the best book still has important messages to impart to both adults and kids. Plus find out how Autumn thinks the upcoming reworking of th...

Next Friday on Before the Downbeat Autumn and Mackenzie head into the world of the Peanuts and are hanging out by the dog house to discuss Snoopy! The Musical ! Hear them debate about how intellectual these children should be and if some songs are too sophisticated for them. They champion the often overlooked character or Peppermint Patty and find out if they think this musical should finally have...

The journey continues on the road to Before the Downbeat's holiday movie musical review. Join host Mackenzie as he dives into the official trailer which premiered on Good Morning America. In this review Mackenzie gives his thoughts on the trailer, how this trailer builds on the teaser trailer, and how he thinks the marketing campaign is going thus far. Head over to our YouTube page to watch part 2...

After a brief hiatus from our regular programming it's the season 4 premiere of Before the Downbeat ! So Mackenzie and Autumn along with long time guest of the podcast Lynn defy gravity and take to the western skies to explore the Wizard of Oz prequel musical Wicked ! This trio breaks down the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba and if both parties are sincere in their sentiments featured in t...

Next Friday it's the season premiere episode of season 4 of Before the Downbeat ! So to kick off the season Autumn, Mackenzie and friend of the podcast Lynn Slotkin are heading to the realm of Oz and discussing the musical about happened before Dorothy arrived Wicked ! Hear them explore the character of Glinda and if she can trusted. Find out if they think both Glinda and Elphaba have been changed...

After a fun summer of remastering, live movie musical commentaries, and Schmigadoon reviews we have one more instalment (for now) in our Remastered Episodes project before season 4 begins next week! So journey back to the end of season 1 and enjoy our now reedited and remixed instalment of Season 1-Episode 14: Little Shop of Horrors! Plus do our end of the season 3 survey and you enter your chance...

Enjoy our last instalment (for now) of our episode by episode review miniseries of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this season finale episode, Mackenzie gives his thoughts on whether the show stuck the landing and provided a satisfying conclusion to the season or if there is more to be desired. Also find out if Mackenzie thinks if Keegan-Michael Key's big song lives up to the hy...

Enjoy our latest instalment in our episode by episode review miniseries of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this episode 5, Mackenzie gives his thoughts on whether Jane Krakowski's Countess is necessary or if she is a tragically wasted opportunity and if this penultimate episodes sets audiences up for a gratifying finale. Plus he continues to point out the various connections to...

Enjoy our latest instalment in our episode by episode review miniseries of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this episode 4 Mackenzie gives his thoughts on whether this episodes plot should have been split into two episodes and if these new couplings pose a really threat to Josh and Melissa reconciling. Plus he continues to point out the various connections to the golden age music...

Here we are with the next instalment in our episode by episode review miniseries of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this episode 3 Mackenzie gives his thoughts on the character of Florence Menlove and he gives insights on how this episode not only covers a lot of plot points but also shows how it balances the genuine emotions of the characters and cheeky humour to pokes fun at t...

Here we are with the next instalment in our episode by episode review miniseries of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this episode 2 Mackenzie gives his thoughts on the characters Betsy and Mayor Menlove and he deep dives into all the easter eggs that can be found in the 'Oklahoma!' inspired basket auction scene. Plus he continues to point out the various connections to the golden...

Tune in and enjoy our review of the pilot episode of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this episode Mackenzie breaks down the various connections to the golden age musicals that inspired this show and he sings the praises of writers who've done a great job laying a solid foundation for the show to build on. Stay tune for more episode reviews! Plus do our end of the season survey a...

This week we have another instalment in our Remastered Episodes project! Don't worry Season 4 is coming sooner than you think! In the meantime, enjoy another dive back into one of our earliest episodes that has now been reedited and has had the sound quality fixed too. For this latest instalment enjoy Season 1-Episode 11: Evita ! Plus do our end of the season survey and you enter your chance to wi...

Surprise! After the resounding success from our first batch of Remaster Episodes Autumn and Mackenzie have decided to release a few more as they continue to prepare for Season 4 during this brief hiatus! So enjoy another dive back into their earliest episodes that have now been reedited and have had the sound quality fixed too. For latest instalment enjoy Season 1-Episode 5: Jesus Christ Superstar...

As Autumn and Mackenzie continue to prepare for season 4 they decide to have you wonderful listeners submit some questions that you might have about the podcast. So sit back and enjoy this fun peak behind the curtain as Mackenzie reveals the mysterious origins of Autumn's nicknames and discover which early episode Mackenzie and Autumn would like to revisit and potentially rerecord. Don't forget to...

As Autumn and Mackenzie are preparing for Season 4 during this brief hiatus they've embarked on a large and exciting Remastering Project! They are diving back into their earliest episodes and they reedit the episode and fix the sound quality too. For this last instalment for the being enjoy Season 1-Episode 13: Company ! Plus do our end of the season survey and you enter your chance to win a prize...

As Autumn and Mackenzie are preparing for Season 4 during this brief hiatus they've embarked on a large and exciting Remastering Project! Enjoy as they dive back into their earliest episodes and they reedit the episode and fix the sound quality too. This time it's Season 1-Episode 12: Annie ! Plus do our end of the season survey and you enter your chance to win a prize! https://www.surveymonkey.co...