Musicals Magazine Podcast Musicals Magazine

For this Musicals Magazine Podcast, Edward Seckerson meets Christine Allado, fresh from lending her shining soprano to the Old Friends celebrating Stephen Sondheim at London’s Gielgud Theatre. Some may remember her opposite Rob Houchen in the TV documentary The Making of a Classic, chronicling the genesis of West Side Story, but onstage the Filipino actress is best known as Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds – and sometimes Eliza – in Hamilton, and Tzipporah in Prince of Egypt. She’s about to give her Julie Jordan in a concert staging of one of the greatest musicals ever written – Carousel. 

For this Musicals Magazine Podcast, Edward Seckerson meets Jack Godfrey, one of the brightest and most engaging talents in the exciting renaissance of new writing, enlivening the West End and beyond. With 42 Balloons – for which he wrote book, music and lyrics – fresh from its inaugural production at the Lowry Manchester and Babies opening at The Other Palace, Godfrey’s insidiously memorable hooks are ear-worming their way into all Musical Theatre enthusiasts’ consciousness. Godfrey writes pop songs with heart, soul, and zing. Can anyone wait for what comes next? 

For this Musicals Magazine Podcast, Edward Seckerson meets Samantha Barks, who has travelled far since she and Rachel Tucker went head-to-head in a bid to win the role of Nancy in the reality TV show I’d Do Anything. Unforgettably, there was Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years where she and Jonathan Bailey lit up the then St James Theatre with their conspicuous talent. Then came Éponine in Les Misérables both onstage and onscreen, and a Broadway debut as the feisty Vivian in Pretty Woman. Edward Seckerson meets her in her dressing room at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane where Queens Elsa is about to put the freeze on for a lot of adoring little girls. 

For this Musicals Meets Podcast, Sarah Kirkup meets Bronté Barbé and Rebekah Hinds. The pair are playing the title roles in Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder!, an award-winning musical comedy by Jon Brittain and Matthew Floyd Jones, which opens in the West End at the end of May. They have been involved with the show since its initial workshop back in 2022, taking it to the Edinburgh Fringe later that year and then again in 2023, before touring it to Bristol and Manchester. 
They come to Musicals magazine’s headquarters to chat about the show’s upcoming West End debut, and why 2024 is an exciting year for homegrown, grassroots Musical Theatre.    

For this Musicals Magazine Podcast, Edward Seckerson meets Sam Tutty, one of the youngest ever Olivier Award winners for his deeply affecting performance in the London premiere of Pasek and Paul’s Dear Evan Hansen. He journeyed with Evan across the great divide of the Covid pandemic, gathering a huge fan base as he did so. As he opens in the West End as the likeable and hyperactive Dougal in Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), he relives his journey so far – backstage at London’s Criterion Theatre.  

For this Musicals Magazine Podcast, Sarah Kirkup meets Timmika Ramsay, who’s currently starring as Miss Adelaide in Nicholas Hytner’s immersive production of Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre. Ramsay, who previously starred as La Chocolat in Moulin Rouge in the West End, talks about the challenges of following in the footsteps of Marisha Wallace, how she juggles eight shows a week with a small baby, and her determination to make the role her own.  
The musical excerpts of Guys and Dolls are taken from the 2023 London Cast Recording on Broadway Records, starring Marisha Wallace, Daniel Mays, Andrew Richardson, Celinde Schoenmaker and Cedric Neal; the opening and closing musical excerpts featured in this podcast are from the Overture to Gypsy (film version), taken from Jule Styne’s ‘Overtures Vol 2’, courtesy of JAY Records.