Down the Yellow Brick Pod

Send us Fan Mail Patrick Clanton returns to join Tara and EmKay for part one of "Brand New Day"! The trio unpacks the longer, more brutal scene in the original Broadway production, celebrates Louis Johnson's iconic choreography and Patrick shares why this scene is his favorite in the film.  Part two dropping Wednesday! Show Notes: Oklahoma  Tour Patrick's Website "Wonder W...

Send us Fan Mail Author Caseen Gaines joins Tara and EmKay for part two of Evillene's Sweatshop! The trio unpacks Mabel King's life on and off the stage, discusses the problematic portrayal of the flying monkeys, reveals the current reality of sweatshops and poor working conditions in America and shares some behind the scenes details of shooting at Shea Stadium. Show Notes: Caseen Gaines...

Send us Fan Mail Author Caseen Gaines joins Tara and EmKay as a special guest co-host to celebrate all things villainous in Evillene's Sweatshop of 1978's "The Wiz"! The trio discusses the impact of conventional beauty in determining good vs. evil, describes the longer segment of this scene in the original Broadway production and the incredible detail of Evillene's costume...

Send us Fan Mail Jayson Kerr joins Tara and EmKay on the pod as a special guest co-host to dive into the throne room scene of 1978's "The Wiz"! The trio celebrates André De Shields in the original Broadway production of "The Wiz", reveals an eye injury endured by Diana Ross and attempts to give the Cliff's Notes version of André's astonishing 50+ year career!  Sh...

Send us Fan Mail Tara and EmKay continue diving into the Emerald City scene of 1978's "The Wiz" by providing history on the World Trade Center and the Sphere's relocation post-9/11, celebrating featured actresses in the scene and defining success for themselves in an age of competition. Show Notes: The History Makers Instagram:  @downtheyellowbrickpod #DownTheYBP Tara: @taratag...

Send us Fan Mail Aneesa Folds joins Tara and EmKay on the pod as a special guest co-host to dive into the Emerald City scene of 1978's "The Wiz"! Aneesa provides incredible trumpeting, the trio celebrates the fierce dancing, provides insight into what overnight filming was like, highlights differences in the original Broadway production and unpack the idea of social status. Part 2 d...

Send us Fan Mail Seyward Darby and Ariel Ramchandani, hosts of the incredible podcast No Place Like Home, join the pod to delve further into their process of creating a true crime podcast centered around the ruby slipper heist in Grand Rapids, MN! Further topics include the delicate balance of interviewing various subjects with conflicting interests, the surprising twists throughout the season, th...

Send us Fan Mail Sea Sharp joins Tara and EmKay once more in an alley filled with poppies and an iconic song sung atop a roof! The trio reflects on the question "Where do you feel anonymous?," unpacks the history of Times Square, discusses "Be a Lion" in the film and the Broadway production and shares their personal Emerald City skylines. Show Notes: Sea Sharp Goodbye, Show Wor...

Send us Fan Mail Patrick, Tara and EmKay continue into the depths of the subway for the most terrifying scene of "The Wiz!" The trio spills the history of the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets station and other iconic projects filmed there, highlights abandoned subway stations around the city, EmKay discovers a huge realization about the MTA and each host shares some of their most memorable subw...

Send us Fan Mail Patrick joins the pod once more to venture into the depths of New York City: the subway! Tara and EmKay highlight a theory and observation from listener of the pod Tibby, the trio unpacks the original Broadway production's Kalidah battle and discuss if the Lion's courage is on display too soon in the film. Part 2 dropping Wednesday! Show Notes: The Kinswomen Podcast Patr...

Send us Fan Mail Special guest Deonté L. Warren is back for Part 2! Deonté shares about his senior thesis paper, in which he dove deeper into “The Wiz” and the blaxploitation genre, leading to a discussion regarding what actual diversity and inclusion within the theatre industry could look like. The trio dives further into the career of Ted Ross, challenges and questions workplace culture and cele...

Send us Fan Mail Special guest Deonté L. Warren joins Tara and EmKay to venture to the exterior of the New York Public Library where Dorothy, Scarecrow and Tin Man encounter a growling "Mean Ole Lion" played by one iconic Ted Ross! The trio discusses their relationship to libraries and bookstores, celebrates Ted Ross's rare crossover from the original Broadway production to the film...

Send us Fan Mail Amanda "Mandy" DeVenuta joins the Slipperhood to share about her magical onstage experience portraying Dorothy in ruby red pointe shoes as a professional ballerina with the Kansas City Ballet! Mandy walks us through her daily rituals as a performing artist, shares what keeps her dedicated to her art form, details her experience being filmed for Kansas City PBS's beh...

Send us Fan Mail Tara and EmKay are joined by special guests Wonu Ogunfowora and Gerald Caesar to unpack the addition of a new character to Dorothy and the Scarecrow's friendship: the Tin Man, played by one Nipsey Russell! Rabbit holes include original Broadway Tin Man Colonel Tiger Haynes, questioning the intention of the song order in the original Broadway production, Wonu's riffs in &...

Send us Fan Mail Ten-year-old Alexa (our youngest Slipperhood member!) and her mom Charity of ABC Story Sisters Podcast join the Slipperhood to share all about their family's podcast where they read aloud and act out classic children's stories, including "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"! Along with younger sisters Bristol and Charlotte, Alexa is sharing her joy of reading for a gre...

Send us Fan Mail Tara and EmKay are joined by special guest Patrick Clanton to venture further into Oz where Dorothy is about to meet the Scarecrow, played by one Michael Jackson. The trio gets into the life of Michael Jackson leading up to the film,  discusses possible meanings of the presence of the crows, unpacks the confusing relationship between Diana Ross and Michael and bops to "Can&ap...

Send us Fan Mail Tara and EmKay are joined by special guest Patrick Clanton to venture further into Oz where Dorothy is about to meet the Scarecrow, played by one Michael Jackson. The trio compares the differences between "You Can't Win" from the film and "I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday" from the Broadway musical, celebrate original Broadway Scarecrow Hinton Battle...

Send us Fan Mail Matt Ripa of Catholic University unexpectedly went down in Oz history earlier this year when he discovered a missing gingham dress worn by Judy Garland in 1939's "The Wizard of Oz." Gifted to Father Hartke by actress Mercedes McCambridge in 1972, the dress was hidden away in a trash bag for decades until Matt's fortunate discovery. Today he shares more about hi...

Send us Fan Mail Tara, EmKay and guest co-host Tiffany Sutton continue their journey of being transported to Oz where they meet Miss One/Addaperle and appreciate every hula hoop-ing, frisbee-ing, cheerleading piece of choreography of "He's the Wizard." The trio dives into the history of the 1964 New York World's Fair and its connections to Disney, the importance of graffiti in...

Send us Fan Mail Tara, EmKay and guest co-host Tiffany Sutton have been transported to Oz where they meet Miss One/Addaperle and appreciate every hula hoop-ing, frisbee-ing, cheerleading piece of choreography of "He's the Wizard." The trio recalls memories of fairs they've attended, deep dive into cast members from the Broadway and film productions including Phylicia Rashād and...

Send us Fan Mail The incredible Kelli Rabke joins the Slipperhood to travel back in time to her 1992 portrayal of Dorothy in Papermill Playhouse's production of "The Wizard of Oz," where one little Tara Tagliaferro got to meet the star backstage after the show and has never forgotten it! Kelli shares her experience playing such an iconic role at a huge theatre, going on to star in B...

Send us Fan Mail Tara, EmKay and guest co-host Patrick Clanton continue their discussion of the opening credits and scene of the 1978 film "The Wiz." The trio chuckles at the dropped checkers moment, appreciates Dorothy's intimate monologue song "Can I Go On?," dives more into the lore of Diana Ross getting cast in the film and gives some love to Broadway's original D...

Send us Fan Mail Tara and EmKay are joined by the incredible Patrick Clanton as a guest co-host to discuss the opening credits and scene of the 1978 film "The Wiz", including "The Feeling That We Have." The trio celebrates the mural in the opening credits, debates whether this scene takes place on Thanksgiving Day or not, delves into the differences between the Broadway product...

Send us Fan Mail Tara and EmKay begin their journey into the 1978 film "The Wiz" by tracking the acquisition of the rights by Motown Productions and Universal Pictures, reenacting the dramatic casting of Diana Ross as Dorothy in the middle of the night, diving into the background of the creative team, and giving context and history behind the state of 1970s Harlem. Join your gingham gals...

Send us Fan Mail Tara and EmKay continue their deep dive into the history of The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" as it debuts at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway in 1975! Rabbit holes include the impact of the extensive advertising campaign, Stephen Sondheim's love of the production, an unnecessarily critical review from The New York Times , cast recordings and...