25. 9.23 I’m so very excited to bring you an interview with one of the most hard-working and successful writers around. Composer/lyricist for If/Then, High Fidelity, Bring it On, Almost Famous and of course the Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal, Tom was in London for rehearsals for the UK premiere of NtN, and generously gave me some time to chat (from my holiday cottage in France). The interview is preceded by Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary, letting us know their Desert Island Musicals. What ...
Sep 25, 2023•55 min
4.8.23 In this episode I talk to the very talented and long-established writing partners Jake Brunger and Pippa Clearer about their work, which includes The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, and The Great British Bake Off Musical, which made a smash in the West End earlier this year. We talk about community, critics, and the importance of thinking space. Preceded by a new segment where leading writers talk about what would go into their Musical Theatre Room 101… https://www.jakebrunger.co.uk/jake-and...
Aug 04, 2023•55 min
Something a little different for this episode – a roving report on day two of BEAM 2023, the industry showcase featuring extracts from a host of new musicals. This year BEAM took place at the Oxford Playhouse, and I spoke to a number of participants, organisers and presenters about their experience. Some of the audio is sometimes affected by wind noise, as it was a beautifully sunny day and I wanted to capture interviews outside on the pavement. A rookie error, but I hope you can still make out ...
May 30, 2023•46 min
19.5.22 Here’s an interview with the fantastic Darren Clark, who at the time of writing is about to open The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the Southwark Playhouse. We talk about education in Music Theatre, finding your community, and the importance of establishing a brand. We also discuss Darren’s fabulous initiative for new music theatre writing, New Musicals UK. Links below. Musical examples from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Wicker Husband, and Turing . http://www.darrenclarkm...
May 19, 2023•1 hr 15 min
5.4.20 Hey there – here’s an interview with the wonderful Nathan Tysen, one half of Tysen and Miller, and lyricist of Tuck Everlasting, The Burnt Part Boys and Amélie. Music played on this episode includes tracks from the original recordings of Amélie and Fugitive Songs, and Lady of the Sea from Nigel Richards’s album A Shining Truth. Miller & Tysen website Lovewell Institute Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Program at NYU...
Apr 05, 2020•1 hr 14 min
A chat in the time of coronavirus with one of the most knowledgeable and erudite voices in British musical theatre, Jeremy Sams. A director, translator, composer, lyricist, librettist and playwright, Jeremy has worked throughout the entire landscape of straight theatre, musicals and opera. He’s also a dear friend and mentor, and I’m thrilled to be able to share this special conversation with you....
Mar 24, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Hi there! A “new” interview, recorded in February 2013 (!), lost and recently rediscovered, with the lovely and supremely talented Jeff Blumenkrantz. If you don’t know the wonderful Jeff Blumenkrantz Songbook Podcast, seek it out immediately. It was great to come back to this interview and remind myself of Jeff’s grace and wisdom. Please leave a like and even a review on iTunes, and let me know your thoughts. Links: jeffblumenkrantz.com @blumietunes newmusicaltheatre.com contemporarymusicaltheat...
Dec 20, 2017•56 min
Voice of the Musical returns after a long delay! It returns however, with a lovely interview with the honey-voiced Scott Frankel, who with his writing partner Michael Korie has been responsible for some of the most rich and sophisticated Broadway scores of recent times. I met Scott on the eve of the European première of Grey Gardens, which runs until February 6th 2016 at Southwark Playhouse. Scott talks about his musical upbringing, his inspirations, and writing twelve-tone music for Pierre Boul...
Jan 08, 2016•1 hr 3 min
Born in 1928, Charles Strouse composed some of the classic musicals of 60’s and 70’s, Bye Bye Birdie, Applause and of course, Annie, which at the time of writing is previewing in a James Lapine revival at the Palace Theatre on Broadway. He is also the author of several film scores, including Bonnie and Clyde, and many works for the concert hall. Charles was generous enough to give me an interview in January 2012, and talks with enormous warmth about his amazing experiences, of studying with Aaro...
Nov 07, 2012•56 min
I hope you’ve all had a wonderful summer. I can’t tell you how excited I am to present this episode to you. I spoke to Adam Guettel while he was in London performing an evening of his songs, with Musical Director Kimberly Grigsby (Spring Awakening, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark). It’s fair to say that Adam is musical theatre royalty, being the grandson of Richard Rodgers, perhaps the greatest composer of musicals. Stephen Sondheim has been a friend and mentor since Adam’s childhood. Despite the ...
Sep 15, 2012
The fifth and final part of our video podcast looking at the anatomy of ‘Wait a Bit’, from Stiles and Drewe’s Just So.
Jun 24, 2012•10 min
The fourth part of our video podcast looking at the anatomy of ‘Wait a Bit’, from Stiles and Drewe’s Just So.
Jun 24, 2012•8 min
The third part of our video podcast looking at the anatomy of ‘Wait a Bit’, from Stiles and Drewe’s Just So.
Jun 24, 2012•9 min
The second part of our video podcast looking at the anatomy of ‘Wait a Bit’, from Stiles and Drewe’s Just So.
Jun 24, 2012•10 min
The award-winning songwriting team George Stiles and Anthony Drewe have been writing musicals for over twenty years. Their second musical, Just So, is based on the Rudyard Kipling stories, and features one of my favourite numbers, Wait a Bit. In this, the first VotM video podcast, George and Anthony talk about how the song came into being. I hope you’ll enjoy this very personal examination of the anatomy of a song.
Jun 23, 2012•10 min
For our first video podcast, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe kindly agreed to discuss the evolution of the beautiful ballad ‘Wait a Bit’, from Just So The Musical. Here’s a short teaser – watch this space for the full interview.
May 29, 2012•59 sec
Comedian Tim Minchin won a Perrier Award for Best Newcomer, before touring with a symphony orchestra and fronting the inaugural BBC Comedy Prom. The RSC paired him up with Dennis Kelly to write Matilda the Musical, which recently broke Olivier Award history by scooping seven titles. I went to meet Tim in his studio, and https://buycbdproducts.com following ensued. This interview was recorded on 19th December 2011. Warning: sweary podcast....
Apr 26, 2012•54 min
Perhaps the our most venerable British writer, Sandy Wilson began composing for the West End in the late 1940’s. The intimate and delightful pastiche show The Boy Friend became a runaway hit. I speak to Sandy about post-war optimism, Julie Andrews, and whether luck really exists.
Jan 09, 2012•54 min
Coming soon – our interview with Tim Minchin, composer of hit musical ‘Matilda’. (Warning: it’s a little bit sweary)
Dec 25, 2011
One half of acclaimed British songwriting team Stiles and Drewe, George has been composing musicals since he and Anthony met in 1983. This interview is a real treat, not least because we meet George at the piano, from where he gives us many wonderful musical illustrations, charting the evolution of style from Tutankhamun to Betty Blue Eyes. This is an immediate and intimate glimpse into a composer’s process, and I really hope you enjoy it. George and Anthony’s website is a treasure trove of info...
Nov 23, 2011
