Putting It Together - podcast cover

Putting It Together

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.
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Episodes

Rain on the Roof / Ah, Paris! / Broadway Baby – Follies (with Jonathan Chisolm)

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 Through the Tulips : https://youtu.be/zcSlcNfThUA Hugh Grant 's performance of Rain on the Roof from Padd...

Jun 10, 202055 minSeason 7Ep. 4

Waiting For the Girls Upstairs – Follies (with Hugh Summers)

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 Trumpets : https://youtu.be/urIoekUIUBg Vanessa Williams singing Children Will Listen : https://youtu....

Jun 03, 20201 hr 2 minSeason 7Ep. 3

Don't Look At Me – Follies (with Bruno Apresentação)

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://youtu.be/oFVM0UuMT8o (Also, if you haven't seen Brent Barrett and Michael Jeter 's performance at the...

May 27, 202042 minSeason 7Ep. 2

Prologue / Beautiful Girls – Follies (with William C. White)

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 inspirations Will mentioned are: Erik Satie 's Gymnopédies : https://youtu.be/_fuIMye31Gw Maurice Ravel 's...

May 20, 202057 minSeason 7Ep. 1

Season 7 Trailer – Follies

Don't worry! You're not losing your mind. I'm still here. A new season of Putting It Together debuts next Wednesday (May 20) all about the musical Follies! A season where we'll learn how to live, laugh, and love. Because that's Broadway, baby. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

May 13, 20202 min

Being Alive – Company (with Eric Matthew Richardson)

This is what its all been leading to. Being Alive is the culmination of the entire show. Eric Matthew Richardson returns to discuss being held too tight and why Kyle is sitting in his chair. Eric's website : http://www.ericmatthewrichardson.com Twitter : https://twitter.com/TheEMRMusic Multitudes of Amys : https://youtu.be/CAjcuVdOvE4 Happily Ever After : https://youtu.be/bMhS3Rw5cxM Zelda: Ocarina of Time opening credits song: https://youtu.be/F9ohCKS_LUM Adrian Lester 's version of Being Alive...

Apr 08, 20201 hr 24 minSeason 6Ep. 19

"Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Disco Fever Dream" *BONUS EPISODE* (with Joshua Hinck and Scott Wasserman)

You might think that disco and Sondheim don't go together. But Joshua Hinck and Scott Wasserman are two of the collaborators that put together a fusion of Stephen Sondheim's lyrical beauty with the distinctive musical style that defines disco. You can purchase the album Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Fever Dream on iTunes : https://music.apple.com/ca/album/losing-my-mind-a-sondheim-disco-fever-dream/1502000326 Or stream it on Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/album/20usfxMh6yPRcjBRw4oIbp?si=VYqnlV_...

Apr 02, 202040 minSeason 6Ep. 18

The Ballad of Buzz Cola (with Michael Price)

Michael Price is a writer for The Simpsons and the creator of F Is for Family . He joins Kyle to discuss one of the most important (if not THE most important) songs from Stephen Sondheim 's career. The Simpsons is currently airing its 31st season on FOX . You can watch its first 30 seasons on Disney+ - https://www.disneyplus.com F Is for Family will soon be starting its fourth season. You can catch up by watching it on Netflix - https://www.netflix.com/ You can follow Michael on Twitter : https:...

Apr 01, 202049 minSeason 6Ep. 17

The Ladies Who Lunch – Company (with Jonathan Chisolm)

Here's to the crowd that just listens! Jonathan Chisolm returns to discuss Elaine Stritch , Mahler, and the girls who just watch. Plus a great discussion on who has performed this song the best. Jonathan's professional profile : https://www.backstage.com/u/jonathanchisolm-ii/ His Twitter : https://twitter.com/jschisolm22 His Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/jschisolm22 His Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jschisolm22/ You can watch the full Rosie O'Donnell Show livestream here: https://y...

Mar 25, 20201 hr 28 minSeason 6Ep. 16

Barcelona – Company (with Alex Luber)

Is Barcelona an example of masculine apathy, or is Bobby actually trying to find a connection? Alex Lube r joins Kyle to discuss that and some of the other oddities of this song. Alex Luber on Twitter : https://twitter.com/alexluber On Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/alexluber/ Listen to Alex's band Horse & Wells : https://horseandwells.bandcamp.com More info about Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Fever Dream : https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/disco-sondheim-album-losing-my-mind.html Ethel Me...

Mar 18, 202055 minSeason 6Ep. 15

Poor Baby / Tick Tock – Company (with Adrianna Boris)

Maternalistic worries, dance breaks, and hot sex. That about sums up Poor Baby and Tick Tock . Two songs which are intertwined with each other. Adrianna Boris joins Kyle to break it all down as well as tell some stories about Elaine Stritch . 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 Twitter : https://twitter.com/mrswillshakes/ Many of the times Ale...

Mar 11, 20201 hr 13 minSeason 6Ep. 14

Side by Side by Side – Company (with Ashley Pribyl)

Act 2 of Company opens with an ode to vaudeville. Dr. Ashley Pribyl joins Kyle to discuss how this upbeat song is actually incredibly sad. And what do all those numbers mean? Follow Ashley on Twitter : https://twitter.com/pribbleprabble Her professional website from Arizona State University : https://music.asu.edu/content/ashley-pribyl The Sweeney Todd video Kyle mentions is this: https://youtu.be/a4K-9Ekzc2A A short documentary about the Seagram's Building : https://youtu.be/wrmKs1kejtk A short...

Mar 04, 20201 hr 22 minSeason 6Ep. 13

Victoria Gordon – An Interview

Victoria Gordon will be starring in Sondheim on Sunday: A 90th Birthday Salute . Victoria is an acclaimed performer, director, and producer based out of Los Angeles. In this episode she discusses with Kyle her inspirations, her love of Sondheim, and why her concert was always inevitable. Victoria's website : https://www.thevictoriagordon.com Victoria's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thevictoriagordon/ Victoria's Twitter : https://twitter.com/thevictorialive Evan Kinnane performs I Like My...

Feb 26, 202044 minSeason 6Ep. 12

Marry Me a Little – Company (with Darby Turnbull)

How, exactly, do you marry someone a little? That's what Darby Turnbull and Kyle discuss in this last song of Act One. It seems like Bobby's delusions are getting the best of him. Plus the conversation drifts into topics of mental health, Showboat , and stress eating. Darby's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/darby2u/ Neil Patrick Harris singing Marry Me a Little : https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2rghaf The Good Place tries to solve the trolley problem: https://youtu.be/JWb_svTrcOg Make B...

Feb 19, 20201 hr 17 minSeason 6Ep. 11

Getting Married Today – Company (with Hallie Casey)

A wedding day can be stressful. The character Amy decides to sing through her anxiety as fast as she possibly can. Kyle is joined by Hallie Casey to discuss relationships, updated lyrics, and a book written in 1852. Hallie's website : https://halliecasey.wordpress.com The podcast One to Grow On : https://www.onetogrowonpod.com The other very fast song is Guns and Ships from Hamilton : https://youtu.be/WOb8-C6jw0M "Isn't that special?" from the original Church Lady : https://youtu.be/YHyW0N5f7zQ ...

Feb 12, 202059 minSeason 6Ep. 10

Another Hundred People – Company (with Matthew Sampson)

By bus, train, or plane people keep coming to New York. Matthew Sampson joins Kyle to discuss a song that was written for a specific performer but hides a whole lot of meaning to the rest of the show. Matt's website : https://sampsonmusicstudios.com Ravel 's La Valse conducted by none other than Leonard Bernstein : https://youtu.be/Fg2i2NB-i3o 42nd Street as performed at the Tony Awards in 1981, featuring Jerry Orbach : https://youtu.be/75nxUgNabH8 Stephen Sondheim and Steve Reich full 2 hour co...

Feb 05, 20201 hr 4 minSeason 6Ep. 9

Someone Is Waiting – Company (with Federico Tedeschi)

Someone Is Waiting contains foreshadowing for a couple of songs that appear in Company later in the show. Federico Tedeschi returns to explain why this is such an important song. Plus, a formal apology is given for the events of last week. Federico's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/federicotedeschi1/ Lucille Bluth being mean: https://youtu.be/0e_blmI066M You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat , by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo We are using three pr...

Jan 29, 20201 hr 11 minSeason 6Ep. 8

Have I Got a Girl For You – Company (with Matt McClendon)

A bunch of guys try to convince Bobby to tell them about his sexual conquests. But maybe there's more to this song than that? Matt McClendon joins Kyle to discuss the Kamasutra and Sazerac Slings. Listen to the Warped Podcast here: https://shows.pippa.io/warped The Warped Podcast Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/warpedthepodcast/ The Warped Podcast Twitter : https://twitter.com/warpedtrek Matt's personal Twitter : https://twitter.com/HostWarped That weird audio clip in the middle of the epi...

Jan 22, 20201 hr 16 minSeason 6Ep. 7

You Could Drive a Person Crazy – Company (with Christine Chen)

No bulls needed to be coerced in the recording of this podcast. Christine Chen returns to unpack the word "crazy" and discuss if changing the original lyrics of this song was a good idea. 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 Jonathan Groff sining Suddenly, Seymour from Little Shop of Horrors : https://youtu.be/...

Jan 15, 20201 hr 6 minSeason 6Ep. 6

Sorry-Grateful – Company (with Lauren Shippen)

How can you feel sorry and grateful at the same time? I'm sure the Germans have a word for it. Lauren Shippen joins Kyle to discuss this odd feeling along with relationships and vulnerabilities. You can see all that Lauren does by reading her website : https://www.laurenshippen.com You can follow her on Twitter : https://twitter.com/laurenshippen Or Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/laurenshippen/ You can purchase her debut novel, The Infinite Noise , at your local bookstore or right here: h...

Jan 08, 20201 hr 5 minSeason 6Ep. 5

The 10 Best Sondheim Songs Pre-1970

The definitive list of the best songs Stephen Sondheim wrote before 1970. Or, at least, the definitive list until I change my mind. DON'T LOOK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!! Links to episodes where we discuss these songs in full. 10. There's Always a Woman from Anyone Can Whistle : https://share.transistor.fm/s/b0a2fd66 9. Comedy Tonight from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum : https://share.transistor.fm/s/ee2f0597 8. Tonight Quintet from West Side Story : https://share.transist...

Jan 01, 202038 minSeason 6Ep. 4

Tara Young – An Interview

Tara Young was born and raised in Alberta. She dreamed of working in the theatre and by 20 had already had the fortune of dancing on stage with Liza Minnelli . Soon after Susan Stroman selected her to work on Celebration of Sondheim at Carnegie Hall. In this interview you'll hear about her career but more importantly about Tara's life and what she finds the most joy in now. The print interview with Tara mentioned in the podcast: https://www.theatreartlife.com/lifestyle/tara-young-interview-broad...

Dec 25, 201952 minSeason 6Ep. 3

The Little Things You Do Together – Company (with Juan Quibrera)

On this episode Kyle invites on Juan Quibrera to share and swear together. This is the first song to feature the character Joanne. Her observations help to inform the entire show. But there's a lot to unpack with these lyrics about relationships. You can follow Juan on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Juan-Quibrera-Psicoterapeuta-México-DF-235419630133239/ Or Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jpquibrera/ Or email him at: jpquibrera@gmail.com Seasons of Love from Rent : https://youtu.be/I6...

Dec 18, 20191 hr 5 minSeason 6Ep. 2

Company overture – Company (with Eric Matthew Richardson)

Company was the "coming out" of Stephen Sondheim as a composer to be reckoned with. In this episode Eric Matthew Richardson returns to talk about the 1970s, minimalism, and why a show that shouldn't work absolutely does. Eric's website : http://www.ericmatthewrichardson.com Twitter : https://twitter.com/TheEMRMusic Hal Prince discussing Company with Andrew Lloyd Webbe r: https://youtu.be/XF23_ZCQ94Q Stephen Sondheim talking about Company : https://youtu.be/rjO3gXig07E Moondog 's composition Bird...

Dec 11, 20191 hr 30 minSeason 6Ep. 1

Season 6 Trailer – Company

Phone rings, door chimes, etc. This coming Wednesday (December 11) the new season about Company will debut! Here's a sneak peak of what to expect. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dec 07, 20193 minSeason 5Ep. 6

When / Take Me To The World – Evening Primrose (with Erik Stadnik)

Is it possible for Charles and Ella to escape the department store and make a life with each other in this mixed up world we live in? Kyle invites on Erik Stadnik to discuss that further and go in-depth with the last two songs of Evening Primrose. Erik's Twitter : https://twitter.com/sjcAustenite Erik's Prague Blog : http://erikspragueblog.blogspot.com The articles I talk about in the opening to Part 1: https://podnews.net/article/commercial-music-in-podcasts https://musically.com/2019/10/25/sta...

Nov 27, 201953 minSeason 5Ep. 5

If You Can Find Me I'm Here / I Remember – Evening Primrose (with Erik Stadnik)

Evening Primrose was an episode of Stage 67 . It was a collaboration between Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman years before Follies debuted. From it came four songs, a few of which are among the best of Sondheim's career. Erik's Twitter : https://twitter.com/sjcAustenite Erik's Prague Blog : http://erikspragueblog.blogspot.com The articles I talk about in the opening: https://podnews.net/article/commercial-music-in-podcasts https://musically.com/2019/10/25/startup-pex-can-now-scan-apple-podcast...

Nov 20, 20191 hr 14 minSeason 5Ep. 4

Waltzing With a T – Do I Hear a Waltz? Part 3

So much talent and yet what was produced seems so bland. In this final episode of the Do I Hear a Waltz? mini-season, we go through a quick history of the musical, a few of the songs, and then try to put this show into context. Also, where's the T? William C. White has a website you should visit: http://www.willcwhite.com William's Twitter : https://twitter.com/willcwhite William's YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/willcwhite Layan also has a website you should visit: https://www.layanelwaz...

Nov 13, 201932 minSeason 5Ep. 3

The Play, The Movie, and the Musical – Do I Hear a Waltz? Part 2

Do I Hear a Waltz? was actually the third time that Arthur Laurents adapted his original story. It started as a play, became a movie, and then was musicalized. Were any worthwhile? William C. White has a website you should visit: http://www.willcwhite.com William's Twitter : https://twitter.com/willcwhite William's YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/willcwhite Layan also has a website you should visit: https://www.layanelwazani.com Layan's Twitter : https://twitter.com/layanelwazani Layan's ...

Nov 06, 201941 minSeason 5Ep. 2

Richard Rodgers – Do I Hear a Waltz? Part 1

A short history of Richard Rodgers with speculation about what he and Sondheim were feeling before they started their only collaboration. Part 1 of the three episode mini-series on Do I Hear a Waltz? features William C. White and Layan Elwazani along with some old audio clips and lots of great music. William C. White has a website you should visit: http://www.willcwhite.com William's Twitter : https://twitter.com/willcwhite William's YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/willcwhite Layan also h...

Oct 30, 201936 minSeason 5Ep. 1
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