Cast Offs with Ben and Daniel

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to legendary writer and New York nightlife fixture Michael Musto about the 1968 album Diana Ross and The Supremes Sing and Perform Funny Girl. They also discuss The Wiz, Motown, Barbra Streisand, Mahogany, Liza Minnelli, Madonna, Evita, Nancy Walker, Mary Wilson, Follies, and Marilyn Maye. Michael talks about the first time he saw the movie Funny Girl, as well...

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Real Housewives of New York City star Luann de Lesseps about Madonna's first album, Madonna. They also discuss Stevie Nicks, Natalie Cole, Desmond Child, Richard Jay Alexander, Billy Stritch, and Liza Minnelli. Luann talks about her current hit cabaret show, Countess and Friends, as well as her upcoming show, Marry... F**k... Kill. Luann is currently on tour...

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Broadway star Telly Leung about the 1993 live album Patti LuPone Live! They also discuss Betty Buckley, Mandy Patinkin, 1776, The Baker's Wife, cabaret, cell phones in the theater, Rent, Into the Woods, and Tower Records. Telly shares stories about growing up in New York City, working with Sondheim, being "Broadway swollen," and landing his first Broadway ro...

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to playwright, composer, and lyricist Michael R. Jackson about Tori Amos's 1994 album Under the Pink. They also discuss Liz Phair, Joni Mitchell, Mariah Carey, alt rock, Fiona Apple, Show Boat, William Finn, In Trousers, Raisin, Sondheim, Company, Rent, and Passing Strange. Michael talks about how he discovered his favorite songwriters and how they influenced h...

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to actress and singer Bridget Everett about Prince's legendary 1984 album Purple Rain. They also discuss Bread, Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, Little Richard, Lillias White, The Life, Tina Turner, Kiki & Herb, Murray Hill, Allison Janney, Brooks Ashmanskas, RuPaul, karaoke, lowbrow brilliance, and finding solace in music. Bridget talks about growing...

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Tony-winning actor Santino Fontana about Stevie Wonder's 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. They also discuss Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Ragtime, Anthony Newley, Joanna Gleason, Julie Halston, Anyone Can Whistle, Yul Brynner's dressing room decor, and Ben's love for Dickinson's Witch Hazel Cleansing Wipes. Santino shares stories about high school mus...

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Tony, Grammy, and Academy Award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz about Judy Collins' 1967 album Wildflowers. They also discuss Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, The Supremes, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Motown, Bye Bye Birdie, and Leonard Cohen. Stephen talks about the conception and creation of a number of his works, including Wicked, Godspell, P...

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to actor and comedian Cole Escola about Judy Garland's beloved 1961 Grammy-winning live album Judy at Carnegie Hall. They also discuss Bernadette Peters, Liza Minnelli, Barbara Cook, and Marin Mazzie. Cole talks about how he discovered each of these legendary performers and how live albums and concert patter have helped inform his own career. Cole currently wri...

In this very first episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Broadway star Mary Testa about Joe Cocker's 1970 live album Mad Dogs & Englishmen. They also discuss Leon Russell, Pink Floyd, Bonnie Bramlett, Bill Finn, Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, The Rink, Company, riffing Sondheim, belting, Les Misérables, character actors, foreign film, British television, and the current state of Broadway and cabaret. Mary...