Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast

Mackenzie Horner
  • 4.0 (7)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY
Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast

Welcome to Before the Downbeat, a podcast hosted by Mackenzie Horner alongside cohosts Scott Hurst and Maris Lyons! Together on a bimonthly basis they will be talking all a musical and its creative team and production history, the host's favourite songs and songs they'd either skip or remove entirely, the show's societal impact and where it stand in our current cultural landscape. Enjoy!

  1. TRAILER

    The Mystery of Edwin Drood Promo

    Next Friday, two kinsmen more than brothers, Mackenzie and Scott, will head into Dickinson London to discuss the musical with multiple endings, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. They’ll explore why singer-songwriter Rupert Holmes saw the unfinished source material as the perfect fit for the stage. The conversation delves into the unique casting choice of using an actress in the leading male role and why it worked so well. Plus, Scott shares behind-the-scenes stories from his time working on this musical. All this and the wages of sin on next Friday's all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    3 min

  2. JAN 31

    78. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

    This week, podcast listeners we bid you welcome to our latest episode where Mackenzie, Scott, and special guest Ryan Borochovitz, Co-Artistic Producer of Cup of Hemlock Theatre, discuss the often underrated Sondheim musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Together, they explore the numerous songs that were cut and re-added throughout various productions. They also discuss why Sondheim felt he wasn’t the right fit for the show. Plus, the trio breaks down why none of them feel particularly attached to the Hero and Philia storyline. All of this and everybody ought to have a maid in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    2h 9m

  3. TRAILER

    A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Promo

    Next week, Scott and Mackenzie will be donning their togas alongside special guest Ryan Borochovitz, Co-Artistic Producer of Cup of Hemlock Theatre, as they delve into the world of Stephen Sondheim's musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The trio will take a deep dive into the ancient Roman plays of playwright Plautus and examine how his works influenced Sondheim, Shevelove, and Gelbart. They’ll also explore the profound impact of lead actor Zero Mostel’s portrayal of Pseudolus had on the shaping of the musical. Plus, Ryan will share his controversial perspective on why Forum is his favourite Sondheim musical. All of this and tragedy tomorrow and comedy on next Friday's all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    2 min

  4. JAN 13 · BONUS

    Bonus Episode- Wicked Movie Review

    Fellow Ozians, the wait is over! The much-anticipated review of the movie musical that's defying gravity, Wicked, is finally here. Join host Mackenzie and special guest Jessica Maxwell as they delve into their thoughts on this dazzling adaptation. Hear these longtime friends sing the praises of the film's leading ladies, and how Ariana Grande-Butera exceeded their expectations. They uncover the clever Easter eggs director Jon M. Chu sprinkled throughout the film for eagle-eyed fans to discover. Plus, they share what they're most excited to see in the highly anticipated sequel, Wicked: For Good. All of this and a trip to the Ozdust Ballroom in this all new episode! Head over to our YouTube page to watch the video version of this podcast.

    1h 12m

  5. 12/20/2024

    77. Sunset Boulevard

    This week, Mackenzie and Maris are finding new ways to dream as they discussion the Lloyd Webber musical Sunset Boulevard. Together, they delve into the tumultuous creative process behind Sunset Boulevard and its profound impact on the original Norma, Patti LuPone. They debate which Norma solo reigns supreme: "With One Look" or "As If We Never Said Goodbye." Plus, discover why Mackenzie believes the song "The Lady's Paying" missed the mark. All this and eternal youth is worth a little suffering in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠

    2h 3m

  6. TRAILER

    Sunset Boulevard Promo

    Next week Mackenzie and Maris are getting ready for their close ups as they discuss the film noir musical Sunset Boulevard. Hear Maris and Mackenzie explore the concepts of ageism in the entertainment industry and when you could be too old to play Norma. They make the tough decision who was the better Norma between Patti LuPone and Glenn Close. Plus, Maris gives her review of the most recent revival production starring  Nicole Scherzinger. All of this and many rewrites of the Salome screenplay on next Friday's all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    2 min

  7. 12/06/2024

    76. Victor/Victoria

    This week, Mackenzie and Scott are exploring 'King's Dilemma' as they discussion the troublesome musical comedy Victor/Victoria. Together these two unpack why some of the songs from the Oscar nominated film didn't make it into the stage show. They explore why the keys to the songs didn't quite sit right with either Julie Andrews or audiences. Plus hear how these two find correlations between this musical comedy and the Tony winning musical La Cage Aux Folles! All this and Paris by Night in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠

    2h 4m

  8. TRAILER

    Victor/Victoria Promo

    Next week Mackenzie and Scott are jetting off to the night clubs of Paris, France as they discuss the musical comedy Victor/Victoria. Hear Scott and Mackenzie explore the score as they decipher the differences between Mancini and Wildhorn's compositions. They give their lists of who they think would work in leading this musical in a revival. Plus, discover the Tony Award drama that surrounds this show. All of this and Paris makes us horny on next Friday's all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    2 min
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4
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Welcome to Before the Downbeat, a podcast hosted by Mackenzie Horner alongside cohosts Scott Hurst and Maris Lyons! Together on a bimonthly basis they will be talking all a musical and its creative team and production history, the host's favourite songs and songs they'd either skip or remove entirely, the show's societal impact and where it stand in our current cultural landscape. Enjoy!

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