MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast

Join Thos and Tim as they discover the hidden influence of British music hall on today's musical scene and see if they find gold amongst the any old iron.

Tim Saward talks to Mel Atkey about musical theatre in Canada and Nick and Dom discuss the movie version of Mamma Mia that Dom recently saw.

Join Thos, Andrew C and Blue Peter Presenter Matt Baker for more discussions on the famous flying car: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

IN JUST A FEW WEEKS, A LOT has changed in the world of the hip hop musical, not least a slew of awards for In The Heights on Broadway. Tim and Will Segal catch up with that show, and, with new presenter Alex Sutton, Tim also delves into Into The Hoods, now playing London's West End. We also take a sneak glimpse into the future of the hip hop musical in the UK by talking to Dean Atta and Richard Ha...

JENNIFER REISCHEL DISCUSSES her experience performing with Idina Menzel, Kerry Ellis and Josh Groban in Chess in Concert; performing in buccaneer and, along with Nick, reviews Margaurite, whilst Lisa reviews the UK tour production of The Wedding Singer. Jonathan also joins us and, once again, contributes precisely nothing!

THOS, TIM AND ANDREW KEATING deliver 201 years of frolics and fun as they investigate two centenaries: The Zeigfeld Follies and the Queen of the Foghorns, Ethel Merman.

NICK AND THOS take you on a journey exploring just a few musicals based on the novels of Charles Dickens - and discuss everything from Muppets to Menken and Druid to Bricusse.

TIM AND THOS sit down and watch the classic musical Meet Me In St Louis from beginning to end, recording their thoughts as they go. Is this Judy Garland classic a masterpiece or over-rated. Discuss!

NICK, JENNY AND JONATHAN discuss Phantom Of The Opera in Vegas as well as other shows, and Thos and Andrew give us a detailed disucssion on Chess.

NICK AND LISA discuss a huge amount of shows and related news items such as Phantom of the Opera, Shout, Bee Gees and Barry Mannilow's new jukebox musicals, Chess in Concert, Cabarets in the west end... PLUS an interview with west end star Shona White.

JOIN THOS as he discusses Turkish Delight The Opera with its creators, Giles Howe and Katy Lipson, and then talks to the very talented rising musical star, Stuart Ellis, who discusses his career at stage school all the way to Rocky Horror and Stiles and Drewe via aeroplanes and Winston Churchill.

ATTEND THE MUSICALTALK SEANCE as Thos and Nick discuss Brief Encounter, currenty playing in the West End, and compare it to the original material upon which it is based. They also discuss the play Blithe Sprit, and talk about the musical adaptation, High Spirits, and Nick talks about Jerry Herman on Broadway which he and Jenny went to see at the London Palladium.

JOIN JONATHAN AND NICK on the Jersey Boys journey as they review the new London show, get opinions from the lively audience and Nick meets up with Ryan Molloy who is playing Franki Valli. Also, Nick meets up with podcast fan and new correspondent Steve Bell as they discuss Spamalot, We Will Rock You and Nick's experience at the opening night of Gone With The Wind.

NICK INTERVIEWS the co-writer of Avenue Q, Jeff Marx. Jeff and Nick discuss the creation of the musical, what inspires them, the muppets, Scrubs and what it was like to be fired by and then re-employed by Sir Cameron Mackintosh. Along with the interview, you will also hear ex-Q-sive demo recordings from Jeff Marx - including two songs from Jeff (and Robert Lopez's) original muppet musical idea: Ke...

WITH IN THE HEIGHTS playing Broadway to some success, and Into the Hoods also doing good business in the West End, Tim joins guest presenter Will Segal to delve into the past, present and future of the Hip Hop (or rap) musical. This episode: why rap is theatrical, Idlewild, Carmen - A Hip Hopera, 8 Mile and Will's own forthcoming rap opera, Outflow. Tim interviews Flitz and Holly Shanks of the Hip...

WE WELCOME NEW PRESENTER JENNY ANTILL to the studio. Nick, however, meets up with Summer Strallen at the Star Dressing Room at the world famous London Palladium to discuss the Sound of Music and Summer's views on musical theatre. Lisa offers us her views on Shout - a musical that is now touring across the United Kingdom, and Nick and Jenny discuss the production of Grease that they both saw recent...

THOS RIBBITS REVEALS the success and scandals of one of Britain's most overlooked songwriters, whose centenary is today. Join him as he explains the fascinating story of this controversial figure from such exotic places as Blenheim Palace, the British Library and Heidelberg University and learn the shocking story of state sponsored songwriterly suppression...

ANDREW CORCORAN reports from behind the scenes of the touring Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, starting with rehearsals in London and leading up to the exciting Bradford opening. Meanwhile, Tim talks to Neil Marcus about his current series of audiences with legends of musical theatre, plus his history of managing the Jermyn Street Theatre.

THE SECOND PART OF OUR EASTER SPECIAL in which Thos, Jonathan, Tim and Nick get together around Jonathan's piano to hear and pay tribute to the work of musical theatre genius George Gershwin.

THE FIRST PART OF OUR EASTER SPECIAL in which Thos, Jonathan, Tim and Nick get together around Jonathan's piano to hear and pay tribute to the work of musical theatre genius George Gershwin. More George in Episode 73, later this week.

TIM AND JENNIFER met up in a Soho eatery to talk about the career and songs of Tim's favourite musical writer, William Finn, currently featured in the revue Make Me A Song at the New Players' Theatre, Charing Cross. Tim gets to interview the man himself, and we also hear from Paul Sirett, creator, bookwriter and lyricist of the Ska musical The Big Life, which played the West End in 2005.

NICK AND JONATHAN talk one of the most prolific and respected orchestrators working in the business today to discuss his works which include Crazy For You, Wicked, Miss Saigon, Mary Poppins, Ragtime, The Secret Garden, Curtains, Sweet Smell of Success as well as revivals of Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Oliver!, Showboat, Carousel and High Society. We talk with him in his apartment in London where he i...

NICK AND JENNIFER discuss Jennifer's book: "So You Want to Tread the Boards" in detail, discuss the What's On Stage Theatregoers' Awards for 2008 and also talk about musical theatre forum manners.

TIM, THOS and new presenter Becky Applin explore the world of pantomime, in particular focusing on the Barbican's production of Stiles and Drewe's Jack and the Beanstalk. Stiles and Drewe themselves join us for an extended interview about the show, and we also talk to Adele Anderson, Jonathan Cohen and Bury St Edmunds musical director and composer Annemarie Lewis Thomas.

THOS JOINS new presenter Andrew Corcoran to talk about growing up backstage and the art of the stage musician. We also mark the passing of Barry Morse.