Putting It Together

The Last of Sheila is a cult classic film co-written by Stephen Sondheim. Erik Stadnik returns to discuss the inspiration, the execution, and the reception to this oddity of a movie. Erik's new 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 Sondh...

There has been over a dozen major productions of Follies . Some have released an album version of the show. Kyle takes the time to listen to all the albums he could find to discover the best Follies recording, and which songs on each album are standouts. You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat , by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo We are using three productio...

Follies is full of songs. But that doesn't mean that certain tunes didn't get cut during the creative process. On this episode Kyle details the 10 songs that weren't included in Follies and why they didn't ever see time on-stage. Here are the songs that we talked about that you can listen to now: Bring on the Girls - https://youtu.be/K2W5EnSEYQ0 Cheri - N/A Can That Boy Foxtrot - https://youtu.be/...

It's not exactly the play where everything goes wrong, but it feels like it! Ben tries to put on a smiling face, dance, and be charming but the show is crumbling around him. William White returns to the podcast to close out the Follies season. William's brand new podcast The Classical Gabfest : https://cgf.buzzsprout.com William's website : http://www.willcwhite.com William's Twitter : https://twi...

The 1987 London version of Follies decided to change how the show ended. Out was the original ending of Live, Laugh, Love and instead was this song. Colm Molloy joins Kyle to figure out which ending might be better and why it's probably not this one. You can check out Colm's website here: http://colmmolloy.com His Twitter : https://twitter.com/colmmolloy_/ His Soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/c...

Depending on the actress that is cast as Phyllis she might be asked to perform The Story of Lucy and Jessie or this song. This is a burlesque strip tease. Phyllis is asking the audience what they expect to find underneath. Celina Reynes joins Kyle to discuss what it is that's revealed and what remains hidden. Follow Celina on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/metoomusical/ And check out he...

It's time for Phyllis to shine! Should she be more like Jessie or Lucy? You see it's not that easy. Victoria Gordon returns to educate Kyle about what this song is actually about and how Phyllis is the unsung hero of the show. Victoria's website : https://www.thevictoriagordon.com Victoria's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thevictoriagordon/ Victoria's Twitter : https://twitter.com/thevictor...

This song is deceptively simple. There is a richness to it both musically and thematically in the show. Ashley Pribyl returns to offer insight and tells the story about which character this song was originally written for. Follow Ashley on Twitter : https://twitter.com/pribbleprabble Or on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/pribylprabble/ Losing My Mind is a pastiche song. It was inspired by th...

We have entered the pscyho Follies. Buddy is up first to sing about what is driving him mad. David Heineman returns to explore Buddy's psyche, talking fast, and who performed it best. David's last appearance was talking about Simple from Anyone Can Whistle : https://share.transistor.fm/s/1722d41a Musically this song is based on The Half of It, Dearie, Blues ; lyrics by Ira Gershwin with music by G...

This is the only time the younger versions of the four main characters get to sing a song. Is the jaunty melody actually a sign that their relationships started positively but became corrupted? Or are they trading fake niceties to hide the negativity brewing in their lives? A Fine Romance , music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Dorothy Fields , performed by Ella Fitzgerald : https://youtu.be/VMUFn9D6...

Is Loveland a collective mental breakdown, or is there something deeper going on? Steve Johnson joins Kyle to discuss MGM musicals and the idea that this is just the crossing of the threshold to the fantastic. You can follow Steve on Twitter : https://twitter.com/SteveTomJohn And you can check out his YouTube channel, The Listener's Guide , here: https://www.youtube.com/c/thelistenersguide/ Listen...

Phyllis deserves more love! Both in the show and from general audiences. In this song she delivers withering barbs to her husband Ben. But could she also be hiding behind a mask of anger her vulnerability? Darby Turnbull returns to discuss this and more! Darby's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/darby2u/ This episode ends with Donna Murph y's rendition of Could I Leave You : https://youtu.be/_...

One More Kiss was cut from the original Broadway cast album. That's a shame because it just might be the most thematically rich song of the entire show. Marco DeNinis joins Kyle to explore operetta, ghosts, and beautiful things dying. You can follow Marco on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/marcodeninis/ You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat , by going he...

Buddy is mad. He dreams of being with the right girl. But who is that right girl? Isaac Bernier-Doyle returns to discuss Margie, delusions, and dad's dancing. You can find Isaac on Twitter : https://twitter.com/isaacbd Or on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/isaacbd/ Isaac is also the co-host of That's a Shame : https://shame.city Sondheim on Reddit : https://www.reddit.com/r/Sondheim/ You can...

David Möschler is a conductor and musical director. He's also the founder of Awesöme Orchestra Collective . In this "intermission" from Follies David and Kyle dive into what makes Sondheim magical and which songs from Follies are the best. David Möschler's website : https://www.davidmoschler.com More about Awesöme Orchestra Collective : http://www.awesomeorchestra.org Follow David on Twitter : htt...

I'm so content spending time with you! Mackenzie Horner (of the Before the Downbeat podcast) joins Kyle to discuss people lying while singing. But also the interesting way that the lyrics interact with the music in the song Too Many Mornings . You can listen to Before the Downbeat here: https://anchor.fm/beforethedownbeat You can follow the show on Twitter : https://twitter.com/beforedownbeat Or I...

Whether it's good times or bum times it's still fun to sit around and talk about this song that can often steal the show. I'm Still Here is a song that's been covered by dozens of artists, but how does it work in the show Follies ? Alex Stuive joins Kyle to explain the references and how the music in addition to the lyrics makes this one of Sondheim's best. Follow Alex on Twitter : https://twitter...

Is this a throwaway song or does it offer some subtext to the dissolving relationships within the show? Karen Unland returns to discuss weary women and tap numbers. Ella Fitzgerald sings Down in the Depths : https://youtu.be/xHpHOBTSo9Q Susan Egan and Brian d'Arcy James sing Mountain Greenery : https://youtu.be/J9sqOqWLAUo You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat...

It's Sally's turn to lie about herself. Christine Chen returns to discuss where Sally's headspace is currently at in the show and whether she was ever happy with Buddy. 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 You ca...

Country House is a song that was written specifically for the 1987 London version of Follies . Does it add to the show? Or is it simply an interesting curiosity? Adrianna Boris returns to help Kyle decide. If you want to learn more about Cincinnati Music Theatre you can go here: http://cincinnatimusictheatre.org You can follow Adrianna on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mrswillshakes/ Or Twi...

Ben must confront the decisions he's made, but is he being truthful? Anna Hulkower and Tim Kov (hosts of My Little Tonys ) return to the show to unpack the subtext of this song and delight in the Sondheim wordplay. You can listen to My Little Tonys here: https://www.mylittletonyspodcast.com You can also follow them on Twitter : https://twitter.com/mylittletonys Or on Instagram : https://www.instag...

Couples kissing, French women reminiscing, and Broadway dames schlepping. Jonathan Chisolm returns to discuss a triplet of songs that showcase Sondheim's mastery of pastiche. The petition from Camille A. Brown : https://www.weseeyouwat.com Jonathan's YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/Grune123 Instagram : @jschisolm22 Twitter : @jschisolm22 Facebook : @jschisolm22 Tiny Tim singing Tiptoe Throu...

Waiting For the Girls Upstairs is a song packed with plot. Kyle invites on Hugh Summers, a theatre producer in England, to explore both the upstairs and downstairs of this song. Hugh's Twitter : https://twitter.com/HughSummers Kyle mentioned three performances at the beginning of the episode. Adrian Lester singing Being Alive : https://youtu.be/Nb03Ujxld_8 Audra MacDonald singing There Won't Be Tr...

Sally sees her old lover, Ben, and becomes a nervous wreck. Kyle invites on Bruno Apresentação to discuss Sally's first song and how Sondheim is adapted in other countries. You can follow Bruno on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/brunoap00/ Or on Twitter : https://twitter.com/brunoap00 Bruno mention a great (non-Sondheim) show called Grand Hotel , here's the song Table With a View : https://y...

Here they come, those beautiful fools. William C. White returns to the show to discuss Sondheim's influence in writing slow waltzes, the original song that was supposed to open Follies, and try to figure out who Lorelai was. William's website : http://www.willcwhite.com William's Twitter : https://twitter.com/willcwhite William's YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/willcwhite Some of the inspir...