133 episodes
A Musical Theatre Podcast Jeffrey Scott Parsons
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- Arts
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4.9 • 136 Ratings
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Conversations revealing the cultural and emotional impact of our favorite musicals in theatre history.
On each episode of “A Musical Theatre Podcast,” Jeff welcomes a special guest to explore one musical from theatre history. Together they get to the heart of the show’s cultural and emotional impact by looking at its creators, context, and storytelling. Always fun and heartfelt, this is the podcast to celebrate the humanity of our musical theatre art form.
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Hair with Jordan Dobson
"The musical of a generation! The show that changed musical theatre forever! The last musical to top the pop charts!" There's always plenty of hyperbole surrounding HAIR. This week, we're getting to the heart of it, and you might be surprised by how relatable it feels.
Jordan Dobson (HADESTOWN, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE, BAD CINDERELLA, WEST SIDE STORY) joins us from the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia where he's currently starring in HAIR as Claude. Together, he and Jeff discuss the context of the show, its creators, and its 2024 relevance. Don't worry, there's also plenty of time to discuss astrology and being upstaged by nudity.
Get your tickets now to see Jordan and his talented tribe in HAIR through July 7th at www.sigtheatre.org! You should also definitely follow Jordan on Instagram @jordandobson_
Speaking of tribes, thank you for all your kind messages and comments lately. Keep them coming! Stay up to date with "A Musical Theatre Podcast" on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Be sure to subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive bonus episodes like our recent "Listening Party" with Jayke Workman of THE RINK. We also have great designs on our TeePublic Store that can be put on all kinds of merchandise (including tank tops!!!) The profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Most of all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community!
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BARE with Natalie Wachen
BARE: A POP OPERA was edgy and (dare we say) groundbreaking when it took Los Angeles by storm in 2000. Twelve years following that electric debut, the show was retooled to become BARE: THE MUSICAL. Despite both versions having loyal fans, both were unable to thrive in the New York theatre scene. Still, that hasn't stopped BARE from being one of the most requested titles by our podcast listeners.
This week, we welcome the smart, funny, and glamorous Natalie Wachen (little "wa", big "CHEN"), on her one day off from the Broadway hit MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, for a personal conversation about this unique piece of musical theatre. This episode has it all: evening gown discussions, memories of DEAR EVAN HANSEN tech rehearsals, theatre that will keep you out of hell, and a whole lot of soul baring. (Jeff manages to not cry!)
Follow Natalie on Instagram @happiestactress (a great follow). See her on Broadway in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG until July 7th. merrilyonbroadway.com
If you enjoyed this episode, check out our MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG episode featuring Jennifer Shelton: Broadway Podcast Network - MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG with Jennifer Shelton
The best way to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast" is to give us a nice rating and review! You can also follow us on Instagram, X, and TikTok. For only $1 a month, subscribe to PATREON! to receive a bonus episode and much more! Don't forget our TeePublic Store with great designs for all kinds of merchandise. Profits we receive are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community!
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FOLLIES with Jack Viertel
FOLLIES is a Stephen Sondheim musical about looking in the mirror. What might you see? A theater? Or a parking lot?
Here to discuss this complex show is the very definition of a multi-hyphenate. Jack Viertel is a producer-writer-artistic director who was not only the force behind hit musicals like Smokey Joe's Cafe and The Prom but oversaw twenty years at New York City Center Encores! He's seen more theatre than most of us put together, and today he brings context and life experience to a show filled with, well, context and life experience. Add to that a double helping of "pastiche," and we've got an episode not to be missed!
Order Jack's new book Broadway Melody, filled with ghosts of Broadway past. You can also follow him on X at @jackviertel1.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our COMPANY episode featuring Nikki Renee Daniels and Teri Ralston: Broadway Podcast Network - COMPANY with Nikki Renee Daniels & Teri Ralston
Support "A Musical Theatre Podcast" by giving us a nice review and rating! You can also subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive bonus episodes. For more great content, follow us on Instagram, X, and TikTok. Don't forget our TeePublic Store where our original designs benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community!
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PATREON! Preview- The Tony Awards with Eila Mell & Heather Hitchens
Once a year, we share a PATREON! preview on our main feed to showcase the amazing bonus content you might be missing by not being a subscriber! It may only be April, but today's episode was too good not to share.
In celebration of over 75 years of Tony Awards excellence, the American Theatre Wing recently commissioned the creation of a new book about the biggest awards ceremony in theatre. Here to discuss the book as well as the history of the Tony Awards is the book's writer, Eila Mell, and the CEO of the American Theatre Wing, Heather Hitchens.
These two powerhouse women shed light on the award's history, their favorite Tony Awards memories, and the amazing stories found in the pages of this beautiful, must have book.
To listen to the full, 40-minute conversation, visit PATREON! at patreon.com/amusicalpodcast
The Tony Awards: A Celebration of Excellence in Theatre is available now! Buy it anywhere you order good books.
Follow Eila Mell on Instagram @eilamell
Follow "A Musical Theatre Podcast" on Instagram, X, and TikTok and thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community!
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DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS with Sara Gettelfinger
We have a theme this month! Both of the musicals we're covering this April are powerful examples of "pastiche" in musical theatre. The way the composers of these shows reference styles and works of the past bring depth and context to their stories and characters.
First up, the 2004 musical DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, a show as raucous as it is sophisticated! Here to describe it as, "one of the greatest times of her life," is one of the musical's original stars, Sara Gettelfinger (SEUSSICAL, NINE, and currently WATER FOR ELEPHANTS). Sara joins us from backstage at the Imperial Theatre (where she originated the role of oil money heiress, Jolene Oakes) to share her memories of cast bonding and the joys of "not giving a f**k" in comedy.
You can currently see Sara at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway in WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. Buy tickets by visiting https://waterforelephantsthemusical.com You can also jump on Instagram to see more about the show @w4emusical and Sara herself @saragettelfinger.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our episode on David Yazbek's Tony-winning musical, THE BAND VISIT. Broadway Podcast Network - THE BAND'S VISIT with Marc Ginsburg
Want to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast?" Send a nice rating and review in our direction! You can also join PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive a bonus episode each month. Don't forget about our Instagram, X, and TikTok accounts where we regularly post more great content. And we still have our TeePublic Store, the profits from which we donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS.
As always, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community!
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STEEL PIER with Colden Lamb
STEEL PIER didn't win any of its eleven Tony nominations back in 1997, but it was the winner of our PATREON! poll earlier this year. That's why this week we're dedicating a full episode to this golden-aged, millennial musical. Joining us is STEEL PIER's all-time biggest fan, Colden Lamb. No matter what you might think of this show, it might be time to give it a "second chance."
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out Tony-winner Karen Ziemba in our CONTACT episode: Broadway Podcast Network - CONTACT with Karen Ziemba
Colden's website coldenlamb.com is full of great content including his analysis, STEEL PIER at 25. You can also follow him on Instagram @coldenlamb
Be sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Join us on PATREON! for only $1 a month to receive bonus episodes and participate in voting like the one that created this episode! Don't forget to visit our TeePublic Store where all our profits are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Hello!
Hello! I really like this podcast I never really get to talk to people about musicals, so you can imagine how exited I was to find this podcast! The first podcast I listened to yours was the “Dear Evan Hansen” podcast and I thought it was brilliant. I love that you do this and the fact that this podcast exists for theater nerds like me. I love this podcast and was wondering if it was possible for you to do a “Mean Girls.” I would enjoy you to do a break down of the Original Broadway show and of course this is just a recommendation. But I would hear a break down of “Mean Girls”
Thank You!
- Anna
A pleasure for my guilty pleasure.
I am a behind the scenes nerd. Remember when DVDs had the bonus of all the BTS stuff? I’d watch that first so I had an inside scoop before watching the movie. Alternately, I have always loved musicals, but there was never a bonus DVD offered for the theater. We’ll, now you have it in this podcast. I have been BINGING all these episodes and loving every moment of it! You. Will. Love. It! Come on by, because how the sausage gets made really is the best part! Thanks for all the research you do Jeff, and I’m on my way to listen to another episode!!
DROOD
This is what Rupert Holmes told me about the voting for Datchery, Murderer and lovers back in 2008
Thank him for his interest. I think it's safe to say the majority of the time Datchery is Bazzard, maybe as much as 80%. It's built into the dynamic of the character and the show. The audience does this to give a starring moment to an actor who has mentioned in Act One that he never gets the spotlight. It has nothing to do with logic.
It is easier to tell you who the least likely murderers are, and this generally depends on the performers. John Jasper is rarely voted because he's too obvious. Durdles is a candidate that some productions offer and he almost never gets it. Neville very rare. Puffer not often because the audience likes her too much. Bazzard almost never, but that's because he's usually Datchery.
So the three top candidates are generally Crisparkle, Rosa and Helena. Which varies from production to production. Hip audiences tend to like Crisparkle, especially if he plays the role benign. They also like Rosa especially if she acts very goody-two-shoes and virtuous -- "what me?" Younger audiences go for Helena, because she seems a bit villainous in a good way. We can imagine her doing it. But a strong performer can override the dynamics of the play. It also, as you know, can depend on where the actors are standing in line when the voting takes place. People in the first slots tend to lose ... the last three positions are the "power positions." It is also where the suspect characters are positioned on the stage, The power positions are the first few Stage Right. The positions can also change from show to show.
Lovers are invariably the silliest combinations. Never anything sensible. The audience wants to mismatch the couples as best they can. If the Puffer is a good performer and has not been voted Murderer, then it's very often her with either Durdles, Deputy, Bazzard or Crisparkle. You often get Helena Landless with the same gents, particularly Durdles ... but nowadays you often get the brother and sister, Helena and Neville. Rosa is often paired with Durdles, especially if he seems very lecherous. I never see Jasper and Rosa, Neville and Rosa ...