Kyle Marshall

Putting It Together

Arts EN ↓ 384 episodes

This is a podcast about Stephen Sondheim's entire body of work show by show and song by song. Each week Kyle Marshall invites an expert to discuss a Sondheim song in-depth. Together they discover the humour, how the songs inform character, and any hidden meanings. Most importantly they try to understand the man behind the music, the Shakespeare of our time, as best they can.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: puttingittogether.transistor.fm

Author

Kyle Marshall

Category

Arts

Latest episode

Oct 13, 2026

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Episodes

Being Alive – Sondheim Redux (with William C. White) 20.10.2021

William White returns and gives his alternate reading on the song Being Alive. Is it possible that there could be a better way to end the show? William's podcast The Classical Gabfest : https://cgf.buzzsprout.com William's website : http://www.willcwhite.com William's Twitter : https://twitter.com/willcwhite William's YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/willcwhite You can purchase Stephen Sondh...

Lovely – Sondheim Redux (with Zina Lee) 13.10.2021

It's time to put on a toga again. Zina Lee returns to break down the two times Lovely shows up in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. They also try to figure out if there's a way to modernize the show. You can follow Zina on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/zinajlee/ You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat , by going here: https://amzn.to/2L...

Rose's Turn – Sondheim Redux (with Eric Matthew Richardson) 06.10.2021

Although credited with only writing the lyrics, could Sondheim have had a larger influence on this song? Eric Matthew Richardson returns to discuss why Rose's Turn is great and how it's been interpreted over the years. Check out The LEA Project : https://leaproject.dev Eric's website : http://www.ericmatthewrichardson.com Twitter : https://twitter.com/TheEMRMusic You can purchase Stephen Sondheim'...

Me and My Town – Sondheim Redux (with Matt Steele) 29.09.2021

Matt Steele returns to kickoff our miniseries on songs we've talked about before. Let's call it Sondheim Redux ! In this episode Matt insists that Cora should have been a showgirl instead of a politician and Kyle just wants to talk about Square One. You can learn more about Divos! here: https://www.divosthemovie.com You can follow Matt on Twitter : https://twitter.com/ItsMattSteele And on Instagra...

I Never Do Anything Twice – The Seven Per Cent Solution (with William C. White) 22.09.2021

Hidden within an obscure 70s film is a song written by Stephen Sondheim. It's sung by a Madame and it's delightfully dirty. Will White returns to talk about the movie, whether the song works, and its lasting legacy. William's podcast The Classical Gabfest : https://cgf.buzzsprout.com William's website : http://www.willcwhite.com William's Twitter : https://twitter.com/willcwhite William's YouTube...

Three Pacific Overtures recordings (with Colm Molloy) 15.09.2021

Every recording of a musical is slightly different. Colm Molloy returns to discuss how each album of Pacific Overtures brings something new and which song is the best from each production. You can check out Colm on Twitter : https://twitter.com/colmmolloy_/ Or Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/colmmolloy_/ Or even his website here: http://colmmolloy.com You can even listen to his music on: His...

Cut Songs from Pacific Overtures 08.09.2021

Kyle discusses all three cut songs from Pacific Overtures. You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat , by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo We are using three productions to frame our discussion of Pacific Overtures. The Original Broadway Cast (1976) starring Mako, Isao Sato, Sab Shimono, Yuki Shimoda, and Alvin Ing. You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://...

Next – Pacific Overtures (with Erik Stadnik) 01.09.2021

A song about always looking forward, no matter what your past is. Erik Stadnik returns to provide some insight into the final song of Pacific Overtures. Erik's podcast So Much Stuff to Sing : https://somuchstufftosing.libsyn.com Erik's Twitter : https://twitter.com/sjcAustenite Erik's Prague Blog : http://erikspragueblog.blogspot.com You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finish...

Pretty Lady – Pacific Overtures (with Ashley Pribyl) 25.08.2021

Ashley Pribyl returns to show this song in particular is the bridge between A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd . But she also talks with Kyle about such light topics as imperialism and institutional racism. You can pre-order the essay collection Sondheim in Our Time and His here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/sondheim-in-our-time-and-his-9780197603208?cc=ca&lang=en& Follow Ash...

A Bowler Hat – Pacific Overtures (with Sam Simahk) 18.08.2021

A perfect musical theatre experience. A Bowler Hat is a song that not only explains the theme of Pacific Overtures but also is one of the best stage songs of all time. Sam Simahk joins Kyle to discuss the history of Japan, how this song works, and try to figure out who Spinoza was. Follow Sam on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/soapboxsam/ You can also see what he's up to on his website : htt...

Please Hello – Pacific Overtures (with Donatella Galella) 11.08.2021

Japan is opening up. But what do the other nations have to say about that? Donatella Galella comes on to discuss history, Asian representation, and all the different musical styles of "Please Hello". You can read the article that Donatella wrote called Feeling Yellow here: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3bg763d9 And you can email Donatella Galella at: galella@ucr.edu You can purchase Stephen Son...

Someone in a Tree – Pacific Overtures (with Thom Sesma) 04.08.2021

Sondheim says this is his favourite song that he's written. Thom Sesma has actually performed this song on-stage. He joins Kyle to deconstruct the song. Plus they both try to figure out their place in history. You can go to Thom Sesma 's website: https://www.thomsesma.com Or follow him on Twitter : https://twitter.com/ThomSesmaNYC Or Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thsesma/ You can purchase...

Welcome to Kanagawa – Pacific Overtures (with Matt Koplik) 28.07.2021

Yo ho! Matt Koplik joins Kyle to discuss fan art, double entendres, and why Sondheim doesn't think this song is funny. You can listen to Broadway Breakdown here: https://podtail.com/en/podcast/broadway-breakdown-1/ And you can follow Matt on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mattkoplik/ You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat , by going here: https://amz...

Poems – Pacific Overtures (with Christine Chen) 21.07.2021

A couple of friends walk together and make up fake haikus to pass the time. Christine Chen returns to give insight into the song and the legacy of Pacific Overtures. Christine's Blog : https://acrossthearch.wordpress.com Christine's Twitter : https://twitter.com/AcrossTheArch Christine's podcast, Bottomless Broadway : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bottomless-broadway/id1457465060 Its Twitt...

The Music of Pacific Overtures (with William C. White) 14.07.2021

Will White returns to discuss the orchestrations of Pacific Overtures. He answers questions about why there's such a distinctive sound and how Sondheim and Jonathan Tunick created what they did. William's podcast The Classical Gabfest : https://cgf.buzzsprout.com William's website : http://www.willcwhite.com William's Twitter : https://twitter.com/willcwhite William's YouTube : https://www.youtube...

Alvin Ing – An Interview 07.07.2021

The song Chrysanthemum Tea was written specifically for Alvin Ing to perform in Pacific Overtures. He joins Kyle to discuss his time with the show (twice!) and how theatre has changed over the years. Alvin Ing: Tales of a Theatrical Trailblazer : https://www.onstageblog.com/profiles/2021/5/1/alvin-ing Alvin's theatre credits : https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Alvin-Ing/ You can purchase Stephe...

Chrysanthemum Tea – Pacific Overtures (with Zina Lee) 30.06.2021

Is the Shogun's mother trying to help her son, or is she seeking vengeance? Zina Lee returns to discuss the performance, lyrics, and history of Chrysanthemum Tea . You can follow Zina on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/zinajlee/ You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat , by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo We are using three productions to frame our...

Four Black Dragons – Pacific Overtures (with Danielle Breitstein) 23.06.2021

Are they dragons or are they volcanoes? Danielle Breitstein joins Kyle to discuss the story of this song and how it's melody stays important through the rest of the show. You can follow Danielle on Twitter : https://twitter.com/smalljewishgirl Or on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/smalljewishgirl/ You can also check out her Pacific Overtures meme page here: https://www.facebook.com/pacificov...

There Is No Other Way – Pacific Overtures (with Chris Dockum) 16.06.2021

A tragic song about what can be said out loud and what needs to be kept to yourself. Chris Dockum joins Kyle to discuss why it's two unknown characters who sing this song and the impact of Pacific Overtures in general. You can follow Chris on Twitte r: https://twitter.com/TheChrisDockum You can listen to his podcast, Just Meaningful Plastic , here: https://bit.ly/2TvPu9b You can purchase Stephen S...

The Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea – Pacific Overtures (with Rob Urbinati) 09.06.2021

The opening song to Pacific Overtures . Is it meant to be an explanation of the idyllic world Japan was in, or is it a warning about he dangers of isolationism? Luckily, Kyle doesn't have to figure that out alone as he has Rob Urbinati, a person who has seen the original Pacific Overtures dozens of times. Email Rob at: roburbinati@gmail.com And you can read his Wikipedia page here: https://en.wiki...

Pacific Overtures trailer 08.06.2021

Trailer for the upcoming Pacific Overtures season of Putting It Together. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Frogs: Act 2 (with Justin Havard) 02.06.2021

Listen. It's just frogs. Justin Havard joins Kyle to discuss the history of this show, reports on a friend of his who was at the original Yale production, and the song Shaw in particular. You can follow Justin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JHavPianoMan You can listen to the first full recording of The Frogs here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lSzNac0UAuYcEsY6iOhy8l32IO8PXEJR0 You can...

The Frogs: Act 1 (with Jonathan Chisolm) 26.05.2021

In this case it is a couple of hippy-dippy homosexuals talking about some hoity-toity intellectuals. Jonathan Chisolm returns to discuss the history of this show, the plot of Act 1 in general, and the song Ariadne in particular. Jonathan's YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/Grune123 Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jschisolm22/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/jschisolm22 Facebook : https://...

The 10 Best Sondheim Songs – 1970 to 1975 19.05.2021

Who doesn't like a list (song)? In this special episode Kyle goes through his 10 favourite Sondheim songs which were released from 1970 until the end of 1975. DON'T LOOK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!! Links to episodes where we discuss these songs in full. 10. Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music : https://share.transistor.fm/s/13eafecd 9. I'm Still Here from Follies : https://share.tra...

Kurt Peterson – An Interview 12.05.2021

Kurt Peterson was in the original production of Follies. But he also was in the second West Side Story revival and starred as Bobby in the first Canadian production of Company. In this episode you'll hear about his time on-stage and why he transitioned to being a creative producer. Kurt's website for James William Productions : http://jameswilliamproductions.com/kurt-peterson-2 You can contact Kur...

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