The moment has finally come for Jeff to recognize he began this entire podcast saying he wasn't a fan of MAMMA MIA! Who better, then, to help him through than the woman who performed the show on Broadway over 4,000 times!? This week we welcome the incredible Judy McLane to talk ABBA and the undeniable power this joyful musical has brought millions of people around the world. We also get a visit from Kim Huber, another Broadway veteran, who is currently preparing to star as "Donna" in MAMMA MIA! ...
Oct 10, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 67
To those convinced the Titanic couldn't sink and the stage musical version would, "You were spectacularly wrong." This week we're discussing the creation, tragedy, and hope within the Tony winning Best Musical TITANIC with the original Broadway Kate McGowen, and now Broadway producer, Jennifer Piech. Join us as we delve into the stress and exhilaration (often happening at the same time) of the creative process and why this tragic event continues to capture our attention over 100 years later. Jef...
Sep 26, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Rodgers and Hammerstein's FLOWER DRUM SONG is a special breed of musical: one that was both revolutionary and problematic at the same time. So what does one do with a piece of history like that? Answer: hire David Henry Hwang. Today we welcome Daniel May, Broadway cast member from the 2002 revival, to discuss this beautiful show that too few have seen. Along the way, we share a touching tribute to Broadway legend Alvin Ing, featuring castmates Jose Llana, Sally Hong, J Elaine Marcos, and Telly L...
Aug 29, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 65
THE PAJAMA GAME is a silly, melodic and "scandalous" musical that has one of the biggest cultural footprints in all of musical theatre! Skeptical? Join us to explore the stars, songs, and union rallies of this now rarely produced classic with actor Jonathan Chisolm as well as the Western Vice President of Actors Equity Association, Doug Carfrae. Pull on those pajamas and enjoy! Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jschisolm22 and Twitter @jschisolm22 and learn more about Actors Equity Association at ht...
Aug 15, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 64
EVITA features one of the most complex musical scores and real-life characters in all of theatre. But how much do we musical fans really know about Eva Duarte de Peron? Joining us this week to talk about this mega musical is Javier Manente, a talented musical theatre performer who just so happens to be born and raised in Argentina, the country she never wanted to see cry. Get ready for a fun conversation that will increase admiration for a fascinating chapter of the world's history. Follow Javie...
Jul 25, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 63
An epic show deserves an epic episode. To honor the groundbreaking musical A CHORUS LINE, we welcome four dancers, all with unique experiences "on the line" to continue the show's legacy of spotlighting what they do for love. Thank you, Caitlin Carter (Original Revival Cast of CHICAGO), Steven Hack (Original Cast of CATS), J Elaine Marcos (Broadway's ANNIE and THE WEDDING SINGER), and Eddie Gutierrez (A CHORUS LINE at City Center) for making this episode funny, touching, educational, and of cour...
Jul 11, 2021•2 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 62
In honor of Pride Month, we're gonna "raise you up" with an inspiring conversation about the hit musical KINKY BOOTS. Longtime cast member Sam Zeller joins us to share his personal stories of how this show has brought about change, his pretty amazing Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein impressions, and what happens when you wear the kinky boots a little too often. To learn more about Sam, check out his website at https://samzeller.com Be sure to follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and TikTok. Subsc...
Jun 27, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 61
It's your one freebie! This very special episode on the importance of Community Theatre was originally intended to only be available on PATREON! ( www.patreon.com/amusicalpodcast ) While the entire conversation is still only available to PATREON! subscribers, this conversation is so touching, we had to make an edited version available to everyone that hasn't yet subscribed. Please enjoy this intimate conversation with Nedra Pace in Jeff's hometown community theatre. For all things to do with the...
Jun 13, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 60
There is no country in the world quite like the United States of America, and there is no musical in theatre history quite like ASSASSINS, a show that manages to be scary, hilarious, critical, and patriotic all at the same time. (Kinda like the USA itself.) Here to discuss it this week is actor, producer, and longtime Sondheim fan Kila Packett. So fire up your grill this Memorial Day weekend and enjoy as we explore these moments in world and theatre history while failing to avoid "assassin puns"...
May 30, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 59
"CAMELOT is not boring!" shouts this week's guest Jenny Lockwood on a daily basis. And you know, this episode proves her correct. Whether exploring the multiple hospital visits in its creation, the relevancy of its themes, or the way it's synonymous with one of history's great American tragedies, this musical is much more than "one brief shining moment." Let's all thank Jenny for convincing Jeff to cover it and enjoy what's left of our lusty month of May! Follow Jenny's love of vegetables and fl...
May 23, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 58
A Musical Theatre Podcast finally has a patreon, and in the grand tradition of classic musicals, we're calling it PATREON! (because you gotta have the exclamation point..) Listen to this mini episode to find out how you can keep the podcast thriving and, as a special thank you, gain access to exclusive content, all for only $1 a month. Join the Patreon Fam today! Join our Patreon fam for only $1 at http://www.patreon.com/amusicalpodcast and don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Twitter We'v...
May 09, 2021•4 min
The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical NEXT TO NORMAL is the perfect way to usher us into Mental Health Awareness Month. It also provides actor Ryan Leslie Fisher with the chance to join us and discuss its groundbreaking tone, his first time seeing it (drunk tears were involved), and his own "next to normal" family. Side note- We recommend you listen while consuming chocolate just like Jeff did while recording it. For more "light" on Mental Health Awareness, visit here Check out Ryan's YouTube chann...
Apr 25, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Not only do we get to celebrate one of the great musicals of the 1990s with someone who ran it, we also get to do it with someone who wrote it! Production Stage Manager Jill Gold and the musical's Tony-winning lyricist David Zippel join us this week to talk about the uber clever CITY OF ANGELS. Between giving much deserved love to stage management teams and sharing in the love that went into creating this complex musical, this episode is guaranteed to get you excited about going back to the thea...
Apr 11, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 56
It's the musical that's on everybody's lips, and it only took 30 years for it to get there. This week we welcome performer, writer, and choreographer Corey Wright to discuss everything from his love of Fosse to meeting John Kander in Peru. In other words, "all the things we hold near and dear to our hearts." It's our episode dedicated to CHICAGO... and all that jazz. Keep up with Corey Wright on Twitter Take one moment to rate and follow "A Musical Theatre Podcast" wherever you may be listening ...
Mar 21, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 55
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is a love letter to musical theatre known for being sweet, goofy, and controversial. Joining us this week to discuss this listener request is someone proud to have been called all of those words at one point or another in his career... publicist extraordinaire Ken Werther! Tune in to enjoy all the little "bluebirds" this creatively original musical provides. To stay in touch with Ken, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Instagram . Take one moment to rate and follow "A Musi...
Mar 07, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 54
This week we're celebrating Black artists in musical theatre, just like the delightful musical PLAY ON! Join us as we welcome original Broadway cast member (and "Beyonce's mom") Yvette Cason to discuss this gone too soon musical that not only introduced teenage Jeff to her incredible talents (this woman can SING!) but also the legendary work of Duke Ellington and many others. *Warning- you may want to take notes, so you'll remember which YouTube rabbit hole to go down first! If you're interested...
Feb 21, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 53
BIG FISH is an American myth of a musical whose audience continues to grow just like the tall tales it celebrates. Joining us this week to discuss all things fathers, sons, and Susan Stroman is her "what if" guy: the original Associate Director for the Broadway production, Jeff Whiting! Together, Jeff and Jeff will take you through the emotional journey of this beautiful story and laugh at all the ridiculousness along the way. PS- Just wait until you hear what Joan Rivers said backstage after th...
Feb 07, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 52
WEST SIDE STORY might be the most important collaboration in all of musical theatre. There's no way to overstate its layers of storytelling and emotional relevance, but in this episode, we sure try. Join Jeff and director/choreographer Hector Guerrero as they celebrate the original artists behind this iconic show, explore what it means to be a "Shark" in a "Jet" world, and laugh at what happens at the end of the play when the gun doesn't work. To learn more about Hector, visit his website www.he...
Jan 24, 2021•1 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 51
We're celebrating our 50th episode this week with never before heard conversations with past guests including Glenn Rosenblum (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF), Ryan O'Connor (SUNSET BOULEVARD), Barbara Dixon (ANYTHING GOES), and Terron Brooks (THE LION KING). We've also got messages from listeners about what they've taken away from our first fifty, and new announcements from Jeff. Celebrate with us and thank you for being part of our podcast family! Take one moment to rate and follow "A Musical Theatre Pod...
Jan 03, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 50
More than likely this New Year's Eve won't see many wild parties, so we're giving you two! In 2000, two different composers were inspired by the same 1920s poem of excess and epiphany and gave birth to two different musicals that shared a title, characters, and theatre season. Broadway star Julia Murney was the leading lady in Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY and has since worked closely with Michael John LaChiusa, who coincidentally wrote his own THE WILD PARTY. She's the ideal guest for this very...
Dec 27, 2020•55 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Deep in December it's nice to remember THE FANTASTICKS, an unusual little show that also happens to be the longest-running musical in the world. Join us as we talk to actress (and off-Broadway Luisa) Madison Claire Parks about musical allegories, musical families, and what it means to own our journeys and follow. ("follow, follow, follow, follow...") Learn about the Redhawk Native American Arts Council HERE ! To find out "much more" about Maddy, visit her website https://madisonclaireparks.com a...
Dec 20, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 48
The history of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA is a testament to taking musical theatre to new places and making the impossible possible. Who better then to discuss this musical than an innovator like musical theatre writer/performer/educator Sadie Bowman! Join us this week as we discuss the parallels and pitfalls of a very famous fairy tale and the way it evolved from 1957 TV creation to a 2013 Broadway revival. Here are the promised links to references in the episode: The Uses of Enchan...
Dec 13, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 47
The creative team of SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK often referred to their musical as a "rock & roll circus drama," but there's no way they knew how accurate a description that would become. This week Jeff is joined by his incredibly talented friend Andrew Madsen to discuss the strangest creative journey that ever got to Broadway, stayed for three years, and still managed to be considered a failure. Get ready to "rise above!" Follow Andrew on Instagram for plenty of eye candy and workout ins...
Dec 06, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Disney’s theatre landmark THE LION KING celebrates the great circle of life in all its ups and downs. This week we welcome recording artist, and Broadway Simba, Terron Brooks to celebrate the circle of life within this stunning show. Who are the artists that brought it to life, and what does it require of its performers to make it one of the longest-running musicals in history? Click here to follow Terron on Facebook and Instagram to see and hear everything he's creating for the world. Take one ...
Nov 29, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 45
It's fun, irreverent, endlessly melodic, and more profound than you might think. HAIRSPRAY is a new classic in musical theatre, and our guest to discuss it this week is Broadway cast member Sabrina Sloan (CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, HAMILTON). We also enjoy a visit with listener Jonathan Chisolm! Get ready for stories galore, followed by an uncontrollable desire to revisit the score. Be sure to follow Sabrina on Instagram at @sabrinasloannyc to listen to some pretty amazing singing and enjoy how incred...
Nov 22, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Wasn't it Oscar Hammerstein II who remarked, "Nothing says musical theatre quite like a quiet board game and the Cold War?" Maybe not, but this week composer Michael Gordon Shapiro joins us to discuss the musical that tried it anyway. Get your ABBA on and join us for a look at the incredibly electric CHESS, a show from the 1980s that shouldn't work, might not work, and yet has a bigger cultural footprint than many shows that do. Take a look at Michael's career by visiting http://mikemusic.com as...
Nov 15, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 43
This week's episode is dedicated to a musical about kids, so we have a guest who happens to be an expert on musical theatre and kids! Julie Cohen Theobald is the Executive Director of the Educational Theatre Association, a non-profit celebrating over 90 years of creating theatre curriculum for kids in their educational settings. Together, we discuss the joys of discovering theatre while being a child and the joys of playing a child in the Peanuts gang musical gem: YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROW...
Nov 08, 2020•58 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Few musicals have left a singular cultural imprint quite like the song "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" from the zany 1949 musical GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES. Whether associated with Carol Channing, Marilyn Monroe, or anyone else, this iconic piece of musical theatre is a fascinating window into our history, both past and present. Join us this week as we welcome Tim and Anna from "My Little Tonys Podcast" to talk about musical theatre, musical films, and the woman whose name you must remember: ...
Nov 01, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 41
MATILDA (aka the rubik's cube) is an intricately crafted show put together by geniuses about a genius. And once you hear this week's guest Cassie Silva (Broadway and 1st National Tour "Mrs Wormwood") explain why, you'll be a believer. Enjoy our journey through the world of Roald Dahl, childhood journals, and "British accents for American audiences." Follow Cassie on Instagram @cassiemsilva for a daily dose of gratitude and fierceness. Take one moment to follow "A Musical Theatre Podcast" whereve...
Oct 25, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 40
The musical CONTACT may be one of the most controversial Tony Award winners of all time, but Karen Ziemba is one of the most gracious and deserving. A musical theatre triple threat with incredible work ethic, true vulnerability, and a dazzling smile, we are honored she joined us this week to discuss the very special show that brought her so much acclaim. Along the way, we talk about her many collaborations with Susan Stroman and the real importance of dance in musical theatre. Take one moment to...
Oct 11, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 39
