Scene to Song

In this episode, podcaster Kyle Marshall discusses composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s obsession with moments and dreams in his 1980s musicals through four songs: “Merrily We Roll Along”, “Move On”, “Moments in the Woods”, and "Everybody’s Got the Right." We also talk about the song " Better " from David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori's 2021 musical Kimberly Akimbo.  You can write to  scenetos...

In this episode, director Mike Meaney discusses the lyrics of Yip Harburg, lyrics from the musicals Bloomer Girl, Finian's Rainbow, The Wizard of Oz, and many in between. We also talk about the song " They Couldn't Compare to You" from Cole Porter, Dwight Taylor, and Reginald Lawrence's 1950 musical Out of This World.  You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an ep...

In this episode, theater reviewer and composer/lyricist/librettist Donald H. Sanborn III discusses the musicals of Stephen Schwartz, looking at his whole career but focusing on Wicked. We also talk about the song " No One Mourns the Wicked " from Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's 2003 musical Wicked.  You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about...

In this episode, composer, lyricist, and librettist Timothy Huang discusses song cycles in musical theater, exploring what makes a piece a song cycle as opposed to a revue, concert, or book musical. We also talk about the song " The Butterfly " from Neil Bartram and Brian Hill's 2009 musical The Story of My Life.  You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode...

In this episode, author and journalist Caseen Gaines discusses Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle, Flournoy Miller, and Aubrey Lyles’s 1921 musical Shuffle Along, looking not just at the musical itself but how musicals can get lost to history. We also talk about the song " Skid Row (Downtown) " from the Little Shop of Horrors. Gaines's book When Broadway Was Black comes out February 7, 2023. Learn more and...

In this episode, eight of this season's guests--Eric Matthew Richardson ( Episode 72: Disney Parks Music as Musical Theater ), Emel Greer ( Episode 73: Evil Characters in Musical Theater ), Tammy Tuckey ( Episode 75: Marvin Hamlisch, David Zippel, and Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl ), David Armstrong ( Episode 79: Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O’Donnell, and Thomas Meehan’s Hairspray ), Ilana K...

In this episode, composer/lyricist and theatrical producer Gregory Jacobs-Roseman discusses history in musical theater, looking at how American history is written about through Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone's 1969 musical 1776 and others. We also talk about Jerry Herman's song " Avenue A " from the 1996 TV Movie Mrs. Santa Claus. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or questio...

No new episode this week because I took a break for Thanksgiving. We’ll have a new episode next week, and then we’ll have the annual season finale live show! The date is set for Sunday, December 18th at 1pm Eastern Time, and as usual we’ll have an assortment of guests from this season to chat about musical theater and this season’s episodes. The video will live stream directly to Scene to Song’s F...

In this episode, community-based theatre director, deviser, workshop facilitator, producer, and educator Rose Ginsberg discusses abolition in musical theater and how those ideas are present in the stories of various musicals. We also talk about the song " You're Never Alone " from the 2014 Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman musical The Bridges of Madison County. You can write to  scenetosong@gma...

In this episode, playwright and filmmaker Patrick Flynn discusses musicals whose scores outshine their books, looking at how that happens in different ways in musicals such as Merrily We Roll Along, Hair, In the Heights, and more. We also talk about the song " Rich and Happy " from the original Merrily We Roll Along. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an epis...

In this episode, writer, website developer and podcaster Marc Eliot Stein discusses John O’Hara, Lorenz Hart, and Richard Rodgers's 1940 musical Pal Joey, pondering the enigma of this ever-changing show. We also talk about the song " Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered " from Pal Joey. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or...

In this episode, composer, lyricist, performer, and music educator Kay Clark and bookwriter and playwright Orian Israelsohn discuss Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, and Richard Stilgoe's 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera, looking at the Phantom as an incel . We also talk about the songs " What You Feel " from the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and " You Could Drive a Person Crazy " from ...

In this episode, actor and comedienne Ilana Kresch discusses Jule Styne, Bob Merrill, and Isobel Lennart's 1964 musical Funny Girl looking at how the musical's depiction compares to the real Fanny Brice's life and character. We also talk about the songs " You Are Woman " and " Don't Rain on My Parade " from Funny Girl. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or question about an ep...

In this episode, director, producer, and podcast host David Armstrong discusses Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O’Donnell, and Thomas Meehan's 2002 musical Hairspray on its 20th anniversary. We also talk about the song " Big, Blonde and Beautiful " from Hairspray. 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...

In this episode, lyricist and bookwriter Sam Carner discusses the musical's drive toward comedy. We also talk about the song " That Something Extra Special " from Yip Harburg, Jule Styne, and Nunnally Johnson's 1968 musical Darling of the Day. 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. Follo...

In this episode, composer Paul Nelson discusses the changing role of music in musical theater. We also talk about the song " You'll Be Back " from Lin-Manuel Miranda's 2015 musical Hamilton. 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  @ScenetoSong , on Twitter at  @Sce...

In this episode, multidisciplinary artist Sandy Sahar Gooen discusses the musicals of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, looking closely at their first musical, Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, as the foundation for their later work. We also talk about the song "A Firestorm Consuming Indianapolis" from Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Dennis Green's 1979 musical Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless Y...

In this episode, filmmaker, actress, podcaster, and singer Tammy Tuckey discusses Marvin Hamlisch, David Zippel, and Neil Simon's 1993 musical The Goodbye Girl looking at why we love this musical and what may not work about it. We also talk about the song " If He Really Knew Me " from Marvin Hamlisch, Carole Bayer Sager, and Neil Simon's 1978 musical They're Playing Our Song. You can write to  sce...

In this episode, music director Sean Mayes and Reader in Musical Theatre Dr. Sarah K. Whitfield discuss the Black history of British musical theater from 1900 to 1950, highlighting performances and looking at how one studies musical theater history itself. We also talk about the song " Memories of You " by Eubie Blake and Andy Razaf from Blackbirds of 1930 and is often used in subsequent productio...

In this episode, pianist and singer Emel Greer discusses evil characters in musical theater. We also talk about the song " I'm the Greatest Star " from Isobel Lennart, Jule Styne, and Bob Merrill's 1964 musical Funny Girl. 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  @S...

In this episode, composer and writer Eric Matthew Richardson discusses Disney parks music as musical theater and a bit of history as to how they were constructed that way. We also talk about the Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez's song " The Big Blue World (Reprise) " from their 2007 Disney parks musical Finding Nemo: The Musical. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or qu...

In this episode, composer/lyricist, playwright, voice teacher, and performance scholar  Masi Asare discusses black women in musical theater history, focusing on their vocal performance from the turn of the century to present day. We also talk about the late Micki Grant and her song " Cleanin' Women " from the 1978 musical Working. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question...

In this episode, eight of this season's guests--Janine McGuire (Episode 55: The Musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber), Deborah Blumenthal (Episode 57: Company), Rob Hartmann (Episode 59: Merrily We Roll Along), Danielle Feder (Episode 60: Parade), Amber Savva (Episode 64: Rock Musicals), Robert Lee (Episode 65: Artist Characters in Musical Theater), BethAnn Cohen (Episode 66: Into the Woods), and Victo...

In this episode, Theatre of the Oppressed NYC operations director and podcast host Harrow Sansom discusses fatness in musical theater and how it's portrayed with various musical theater characters and musicals. We also talk about the song " Another Hundred People " from Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's 1970 musical Company. You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question abou...

In this episode, composer/lyricist Daniel Mate discusses composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim and rhyme, looking at various songs of his as we both reflect on our own experiences with Sondheim's work. We also talk about the song " Little Tin Box " from Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Bock, Jerome Weidman, and George Abbott's 1960 musical Fiorello! You can write to  scenetosong@gmail.com  with a comment or qu...