MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast

THE NEW MOVIE-MUSICAL version of John Waters' Hairspray is now out, a few months ahead of hitting the London stage. Nick and Rebecca review the movie, and consider how it will differ when the stage version shows up at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Dipping into our collection of "CDs we recently listened to" for the second time, Tim reveals his choice - William Finn's 1998 musical A New Brain.

TIM AND THOS are joined by cabaret experts Paul L Martin and Sarah-Louise Young of Millionth Muse Productions to dissect the art of cabaret and where it relates to or diverges from musical theatre. We also talk to Fascinating Aida star Adele Anderson about her career.

NICK, MARTIN AND REBECCA discuss the fuzzy musical Avenue Q, and we quiz Martin on the often under-appreciated role of Stage Manager.

IN THIS EPISODE, we countdown the top 25 AFI film musicals, with only two minutes for each musical. Join Nick, Thos and Rebecca for this fun episode - where you get 25 musical discussions for the price of one!

JOIN Nick, Emma and our 10th new presenter, Martin Ball, for this week's show. We discuss everything from Martin's role in the London production of Wicked, to critics and The Drowsy Chaperone. We're also joined by cabaret star Adele Anderson, to discuss her role in the new Landor production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

WE'RE JOINED by guest interviewer Jenifer Toksvig who interviews guests Bonnie Langford and Sandi Toksvig. They discuss all things musical theatre and we also discuss The Drowsy Chaperone, recently opened in London to rave reviews as well as the Flaherty-Ahrens musical My Favorite Year.

IT'S JUDY'S BIRTHDAY. Thos, Tim and Nick delve into The Wizard of Oz - and the career of its star, Judy Garland. Also, Dom and Kate return to discuss their trip to see a new children's musical at the Minack Theatre on England's South West Coast.

MUSICALS FOR CHILDREN - exactly what falls into this category and what doesn't? Nick, Emma and Dom talk about this issue as well as offering a bit of reflective commentary about The Lord of the Rings, now that some time has passed.

GEORGE STILES AND ANTHONY DREWE are Britain's currently most successful musical writing team. Since winning the Vivian Ellis prize in 1985 for Just So, their 'ugly duckling' musical Honk! and their new songs for the West End/Broadway Mary Poppins has brought them international fame. With Tim and Nick, they discuss those early shows, Poppins and their future projects. Also, Emma reviews Fiddler on...

THE EPIC MUSICAL version of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece is about to open in London after weeks of techs, a rebuild of the Drury Lane Stage and a famous tryout in Toronto. Nick, Tim, Dom and Kate take the handheld recorder out to the theatre and give you their reactions from their seats, along with views from other members of the audience. Also, Tim, Thos and Nick discuss the 1998 Lynn Ahrens and...

OK, SO Kiss of the Spiderwoman isn't a superhero musical; it just sort of sounds like it could be. And OK, so the version currently playing at the Donmar isn't the Kander and Ebb musical, but it's a good excuse to talk about that, and to take a break from the high-kicks, and start looking at high-flyers as we talk about some of the strangest superhero musicals ever made!

POPULAR MUSICALTALK guest turns presenter as we welcome Emma Williams to the MusicalTalk studio. Many topics are discussed in this entertaining episode such as The King and I, how one records cast albums, Legally Blonde and Bat Boy composer/lyricist Laurence O'Keefe.

THOS TALKS about An American in Paris. Our listener, Steve, reviews the last Kander and Ebb, Curtains, now on Broadway. Tim reviews the Finborough Theatre production of Adam Guettel's Myths and Hymns and we feature interviews with director Tom Cooper, actor Caroline Sheen and additional commentary from Tim Sawers of the Greenwich Theatre. We also say goodbye to the old MusicalTalk website...

CONTINUING ON with Nick's adventures in Orlando, he discusses a marvellous theme park stage production he saw - but not one from Disney or Universal. Tim, Nick and Thos also talk about their first brushes with musical theatre, and Justin and Nick discuss the works of Adam Guettel.

SPANNING THE HISTORY of musical theatre, our Easter episode begins with a discussion of the Irving Berlin 'jukebox musical' Easter Parade; the updates bring news of revivals of forgotten musicals (I can't remember the titles just now) and we come bang up to date with an interview with Philip Hedley, the man behind the recent UK surge of 'urban musicals', including Da Boyz, with its all hip-hop sco...

WE'RE PLAYING AWAY! We join our Celebrity Guest Presenter, Jonathan Cohen, in his lovely front room and he takes to the ivories to help us talk about MDing, incandescent minims and anything and everything about musical theatre past and present. Listen out for our special 'guess the classical connection' quiz towards the end of the show!

EEK - NICK'S AWAY! Can Tim and Thos work all the levers in the MusicalTalk studio? We have the second half of the Jen Toksvig interview and Nick will join us virtually for a pre-recorded chat on Little Shop of Horrors, We discuss West End news and there's a chat about the recent Follies in Concert production at The London Palladium.

DOM AND NICK discuss Miss Saigon and its Fillipina star Lea Salonga. Tim talks about The Harder They Come (playing at the Theatre Royal Stratford East) and interviews lyricist/bookrwriter and NYU Tisch Graduate Jen Toksvig.

The Phantom in Manhattan , a planned sequel to The Phantom of the Opera , is discussed, along with the effect of celebrity castings, Hairspray and High School Musical.  

Emma Williams, star of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the recent Model Girl at the Greenwich Theatre, is interviewed. plus whether the musical is an American artform.

Jerry Herman, the legendary composer of Hello Dolly! , La Cage aux Folles , Mame , Mack & Mabel and many more, talks to Thos and Nick about his life and career.

All about jukebox musicals and the effects they're having on Broadway and the West End... plus Dreamgirls! 

The great tradition of the British theatre is pantomime (which doesn't mean pretending to be stuck in a glass box, American friends!). Tim and Thos, panto fans both, join the MT team.

All about training in musical theatre, and its relationship with education.

Ghosts at Drury Lane, plus training, plus training and Nick singing!