Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast

Next Friday Mackenzie and Autumn are deep diving into the musical Falsettos which is a terrific early 90s musical that helped bring  the conversation about the HIV and the AIDs crisis to the forefront.  During this episode Mackenzie and Autumn discuss the importance of this musical, the complex character of Marvin and also hear both Autumn and Mackenzie's connections to the game of baseb...

This week Autumn and Mackenzie are taking their seats around the round table and discussing the classic musical Camelot! Listen in as Mackenzie and Autumn debate whether or not. the concept of Camelot is achievable in our day and age.  In this episode they discuss the eerie connections this musical has to JFK and the Kennedy Administration, importance of this musical in our current political...

There has been an episode shake up! Instead of the original plan Mackenzie and Autumn are mounting their noble steads and riding back to Arthurian times to discuss the Learner and Lowe classic musical Camelot! These two work together to not only pull the sword from the stone but also to deep dive into this surprisingly complex show. Together they explore the characters of Lancelot, Arthur, and Gui...

This week Autumn and Mackenzie are walking up and saying "Good morning Baltimore" because they are talking all about the B-Movie turned hit musical Hairspray! Listen in as Mackenzie and Autumn embrace the beats of time and talk all about how truly timely this musical is and they even debate if you can call Velma and Amber Von Tussle villains. Plus hear the special introduction done by Harvey Fiers...

Autumn and Mackenzie are breaking out their cans of Ultra Clutch Hairspray and are getting ready to join the The Corny Collins Show because next Friday they are talking all about the hit musical Hairspray ! Join in the fun as Autumn and Mackenzie twist and jive to the beat as they discuss the importance of this musical, why it's okay to be adapting movies into musicals, and why this musical needs...

It's time to break out the history books again. Last season Autumn and Mackenzie covered the sinking of the Titanic and this time they are going back to 1776 to talk all about the signing of the Declaration of Independence with the musical 1776! They are once again joined by Canadian theatre critic Lynn Slotkin. Listen in as they debate if this musical is better than Hamilton and if they think the...

In honour of Independence Day and Canada Day coming this week Autumn and Mackenzie have reworked the schedule and we are releasing our episode all about the musical 1776 a week early! Enjoy as Autumn and Mackenzie are joined once again by Lynn Slotkin. Together they deep dive into this forgotten historical musical that was the Hamilton before Hamilton. On this upcoming episode Mackenzie, Autumn, a...

Autumn and Mackenzie are having fun with the devil and the cookie jar this week as they discuss the Sir Cameron Mackintosh musical Witches of Eastwick! Listen in on Autumn's backstage stories of this show as as she worked on the original London production with Ian McShane, Lucie Arnaz, Maria Friedman, and Joanna Riding! Hear them discuss why this show wasn't the big hit it was suppose to be, and w...

Start wishing and break out your cookie jar as Mackenzie and Autumn are heading the picturesque fictional town of Eastwick in the state of New York! The are heading to this town as they are discussing the turn of the century musical Witches of Eastwick. Join these two next Friday as they discuss the magic behind this mega musical and how this musical can improved for a revival. Plus find out the m...

Surprise! Oliver! is a two parter! Mackenzie, Autumn, and Lynn were having such great conversations there was no way for the episode to edited into one part. So instead they cut the episode into 2 parts to give you all the deep dive goodness that Mackenzie, Autumn, and Lynn had to offer. In this part hear as these three discuss their favourite songs, the songs they either skip or would cut, and th...

With so much to discuss it's no wonder that this musical, Oliver! , earned the honour of being the first two parter of the podcast! Join Autumn, Mackenzie, and Lynn this Friday as they finish their exploration of Dickensian London and this musical. Hear them discuss their favourite songs, the songs they'd cut, and see if they think this musical warrants another revival. All this and more coming th...

This week Mackenzie and Autumn are joined by theatre critic Lynn Slotkin. Together they discuss the classic musical Oliver! and debate the concept of a 'Fine Life', if they'd do anything for each other, and where is love! Listen in as they share their personal connections with this musical and their thoughts on Charles Dickens the author of the source material for this musical. Find out the origin...

Next Friday Autumn and Mackenzie welcome Canadian theatre critic Lynn Slotkin to the podcast. The three of them are heading into the east end of Dickensian London to try and pick a pocket or two plus they are oom pah pahing with the locals at the Three Cripples. Join in the fun as Autumn, Mackenzie, and Lynn deep dive into the iconic British musical Oliver! . Hear them the discuss their opinions o...

Last season Mackenzie and Autumn explored the court case of Leo Frank in the musical 'Parade'. Now this season they are exploring not only one murder case but two! You've read about this show, listened to the albums, seen the 2002 film and now here is the breakdown you've been waiting for all about those killer dillers - those two scintillating sinners -Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly! That's right thi...

Slick your hair and wear your buckle shoes because Mackenzie and Autumn are heading to Chicago to discuss the Kander and Ebb musical 'Chicago' which is all about vaudeville, jazz, liquor, and murder! Listen as these two explore why this musical about merry murderesses still attracts us, what this musical has to say about the relationship between crime and media, and if this musical still relevant...

It's the premiere of season 2 so head to Anatevka and explore the musical 'Fiddler on the Roof'! Join Autumn and Mackenzie as they watch the sunrise and sunsets, raise glass to life, and dive deep into this musical. They breakdown the reason why this show has such universal appeal, what it means to stick with and go against tradition, why Tevye is one of the most complex characters in the musical...

It's the season 2 premiere and next Friday we will be doing the iconic musical 'Fiddler on the Roof'! In honour of this musical Mackenzie and Autumn are breaking out their fiddles and of quarantine and heading up onto their roofs to see just how dangerous it is to be a fiddler on the roof. Join us as we discuss to pros and cons of traditions, the power of community, and what we leave behind on the...

It's finally here! The long await review of the 2019 movie musical disaster Cats directed by Tom Hooper staring Judi Dench, Jennifer Hudson, and Idris Elba. Listen to Mackenzie and Autumn walk through this musical and break down each song and discuss why this musical was such a hairball.  Plus there's still time to do our season 1 survey!  Do the survey and get your chance to win a prize...

It's the final episode of season 1 of Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast! Mackenzie and Autumn make a faustian bargain and discuss the Ashman and Menken dark musical comedy 'Little Shop of Horrors'! Find out what Autumn and Mackenzie think the killer plant of the musical represents in todays culture and if they'd kill to achieve their dreams.  Enjoy!  Do this survey and get your chan...

Watch out for those killer plants next Friday as Mackenzie and Autumn will be discussing the dark musical comedy 'Little Shop of Horrors'. Listen to Mackenzie and Autumn discuss this musicals ties to the Christopher Marlowe play 'Doctor Faustus'. Plus see hear how this early collaboration between Ashman and Menken planted the seeds for their greatest songs in their Disney films of 'The Little Merm...

Phone rings, door chimes, in comes Autumn and Mackenzie with all the ladies who lunch to rise a glass of vodka stinger to this iconic musical from the Stephen Sondheim canon! Mackenzie and Autumn will debate Prince, Sondheim, and Furth's satirical views on upper class middle married life. Plus hear their thoughts on the most recent gender switched revivals of this musical.  Don't forget to le...

Order your vodka stinger and get ready to rise because next Friday Mackenzie and Autumn will be talking all about the Sondheim musical 'Company'! Find out which couple is each of hosts favourite. Listen to Mackenzie's thoughts about the recent gender switched version of this musical and if he's sold Autumn on making a trip to NYC to this new production onstage. Finally hear if being in relationshi...

Mackenzie and Autumn forgo the hard knock life and break down the iconic, family musical 'Annie'! Mackenzie and Autumn we be discussing all things from why the song 'Maybe' is such a unique opening to a musical and if this show deserves another run on Broadway or should it just stay with community and regional theatres?  Enjoy! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this...

Next Friday Mackenzie and Autumn head to New York and adopt an orphan in honour of the musical 'Annie'. Mackenzie and Autumn break down this dark yet feel good family musical. Find out what big names have gone on to play this memorable characters. Plus see if we can answer why does this musical endure? See you next Friday! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode o...

Mackenzie and Autumn step out on the balcony of the casa rosada and breakdown the timely and highly political musical 'Evita'. Through our exploration of the music, lyrics, and real life characters we discuss how this musical has connections with modern day politics. Plus listen to find out which current world leader is a big fan of this show.  Don't forget to leave us a review and share your...