Scene to Song

In this episode, writer John Verderber discusses Rodgers and Hart musicals of the late 1930s and early 1940s, focusing on Babes in Arms, The Boys from Syracuse, and Pal Joey. We also talk about the song " Disneyland " from Howard Ashman and Marvin Hamlisch's 1986 musical Smile. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’...

In this episode, writer Andi Carter discusses Andrew Lloyd Weber's 1981 musical Cats. Andi and I last talked about Cats in episode 32 in December of 2019. He returns to discuss how the new production of Cats: The Jellicle Ball at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York changes, or does not change, how we talk about Cats. There will be some small spoilers for this production. We also talk a...

I’m not releasing a new episode this month, so instead I thought I’d put together a few “Why is This So Good” sections from the first and second seasons to hold us over until the next new episode in August. I’ve included A Strange Loop writer Michael R. Jackson talking about the song "Not Anymore" from the 1973 musical Raisin from episode 4; composer, writer, and director John Grimmett talking abo...

Today is Scene to Song’s 6th anniversary! On June 25, 2018, I released the very first episode, and I thought it would be fun to re-release it so we can all listen to it again without having to go way back in the podcast feed. In this episode, composer Julia Meinwald discusses comedy in musical theater. We also talk about Joe Iconis's song "Jeff." You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a com...

In this episode, writer, composer and director, and the Producing Artistic Director Nick Navari discusses Jason Robert Brown's 2002 off-Broadway musical The Last Five Years, touching on why Jamie and Cathy are together, the form of the show, the film version, and comparisons to Jason Robert Brown's most recent musical, The Connector. We also talk about the song " I Could Be in Love with Someone Li...

In this episode, multi-disciplinary black femme storyteller AriDy Nox discusses how Elphaba and Galinda/Glinda from Wicked are absolutely gay. We also talk about the song " The Spark of Creation " from the 1991 Stephen Schwartz and John Caird musical Children of Eden. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to...

In this episode, podcaster, actor, and playwright/screenwriter Matt Koplik discusses Jeanine Tesori musicals. We also talk about the song " Changing My Major " from the 2015 Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron musical Fun Home. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at  @Sce...

In this episode, home care nurse and educator BethAnn Freed Cohen discusses the bimbo, or ditz, character in Sondheim musicals. We also talk about the song " Glitter and Be Gay " from the 1956 Leonard Bernstein, Richard Wilbur, and Lillian Hellman musical Candide. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a...

In this episode, bookwriter, lyricist, and composer Jason K Purdy discusses neurodivergence and disability representation in Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas's 2005 musical The Light in the Piazza. We also talk about the song " Drift " from the 2023 Rebekah Greer Melocik and Jacob Yandura musical How to Dance in Ohio. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode...

In this episode, theater content creators Will Anderson and Rachael Joyce-Anderson, also known as The Theater Lovers , discuss comedy songs in musical theater. We also talk about the song " Adelaide's Lament " from the 1950 Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling, and Abe Burrows musical Guys and Dolls. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theate...

In this episode, educator and trainer  Christopher Culp discusses class, race, and gender anxiety in Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's 1982 musical Little Shop of Horrors, looking at both the stage musical and the film. We also talk about " Somewhere That's Green " from Little Shop of Horrors. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theat...

In this episode, writer, researcher, and New York City historian Keith Taillon ( @KeithYorkCity ) discusses Leonard Bernstein's New York City, looking at three of his big musicals: On the Town, Wonderful Town, and West Side Story and the neighborhoods that tell their stories. We also talk about the song " I'm Here " from Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray, and Marsha Norman's 2005 musical...

In this episode, six of this season's guests--Caseen Gaines ( Episode 87: Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle, Flournoy Miller, and Aubrey Lyles’s Shuffle Along ), Mike Meaney ( Episode 90: The Lyrics of Yip Harburg ), Christopher Culp ( Episode 100: TV Musical Episodes Part II ), Tammy Tuckey ( Episode 101: David Bryan and Joe DiPietro’s Diana ), BethAnn Cohen ( Episode 95: Five-Year Anniversary Live Show...

In this episode, writer Victoria Myers discusses Mary Rodgers, Marshall Barer, Jay Thompson, and Dean Fuller's 1959 musical Once Upon a Mattress, looking at the comedy in musical theater, female protagonists, and the upcoming Encores! production. We also talk about the song " Just in Time " from Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green's 1956 musical Bells are Ringing. You can write to  scenetos...

In this episode, filmmaker, actress, podcaster, and singer Tammy Tuckey discusses David Bryan and Joe DiPietro's 2021 musical Diana. We also talk about the song " Vivre " from Riccardo Cocciante and Luc Plamondon's 1998 French musical Notre-Dame de Paris. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast...

In this episode, educator and trainer Christopher Culp discusses TV musical episodes, using the first episode on this topic as a jumping off point to include the new Star Trek Strange New Worlds musical episode and relating it to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode and many more. We also talk about the " Tonight (Quintet) " from Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents's 1...

In this episode, performer and producer Andrea Prestinario discusses Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron's 2015 musical Fun Home. We also talk about the song " He Plays the Violin " from Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone's 1969 musical 1776.  You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Insta...

In this episode, composer and lyricist Landon Braverman discusses Michael John LaChiusa and Sybille Pearson's 2012 off-Broadway musical Giant. We also talk about the song " Hello, Darling " from David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori's 2021 musical Kimberly Akimbo.  You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to b...

In this episode, actress, singer, writer, and producer  Victoria Gordon discusses the character of Rose, or Mama Rose, in Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents's 1959 musical Gypsy, looking at the many actors who have played the role. We also talk about the song " Babbette " from Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green's 1978 musical On the Twentieth Century. You can write to  scene...

In this episode, editor and writer Rob Weinert-Kendt discusses the work of the German-born American composer Kurt Weill from The Threepenny Opera to Lost in the Stars. We also talk about the song " In Dahomey " from Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern's 1927 musical Show Boat. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’...

In this episode, nine guests from the past five seasons return to talk about Scene to Song episodes we have loved and if the discussions have changed our thoughts on musical theater in any way. We also talk about the late lyricist Sheldon Harnick and the song “ Telephone Wire ” from Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron's Fun Home. This discussion was held live on Scene to Song’s Facebook page on June 25,...

I wanted to do something fun for Scene to Song’s 5th anniversary. 5 years ago this Sunday, I released the first episode of Scene to Song, a discussion on comedy and musical theater with composer Julia Meinwald. Now, this Sunday, June 25th at 1pm ET, we’ll be doing another live show on the Facebook page. This time, we’ll have guests from across the five seasons to chat about musical theater and the...

In this episode, composer, lyricist, and playwright Jamie Cowperthwait discusses Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul's 2016 musical Dear Evan Hansen and why we love and don't love this musical. We also talk about the song " You Will Be Found " from Dear Evan Hansen. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d l...

In this episode, voice actor and comedian Dominic Frisby discusses podcast musicals, from 36 Questions and Anthem Homunculus to concept albums and Hamilton. We also talk about the song " Kisses on a Postcard " from Terence Frisby, Martin Wheatley, Gordon Clyde, and Dominic Frisby's 2022 podcast musical Kisses on a Postcard .  You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question abou...

In this episode, professor Ashley Pribyl discusses marriage in musical theater, focusing on Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's 1970 musical Company, as well as how marriage was portrayed leading up to Company in musicals such as Allegro and I Do! I Do! We also talk about the song " Marry Me a Little " from Company.  You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an epis...