130 episodes
A Musical Theatre Podcast Jeffrey Scott Parsons
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- Arts
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4.9 • 134 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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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.
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KISS ME KATE with Lesli Margherita
In 1949, KISS ME KATE won the first ever Best Musical Tony Award. Now it's 2024... and we still love it! Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita (Broadway's MATILDA, DAMES AT SEA) joins us to celebrate women and Cole Porter (in that order) as we dive headfirst into this silly and often deeply romantic show. Bonus points to those who can recite "We Open in Venice" correctly.
Follow Lesli on Instagram and Twitter/X. Her wisdom knows no bounds.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our Anything Goes episode featuring Broadway Barbara for even more laughs. Broadway Podcast Network - ANYTHING GOES with Barbara Dixon
Don't forget to Rate, Review, and Subscribe to support "A Musical Theatre Podcast." For more great content, you can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X. For only $1 a month, subscribe to PATREON! and receive a bonus episode each month. And don't forget about our TeePublic Store where you can use our designs to make great products, all while supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community.
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NINE with Kim Criswell
NINE surprised Broadway in 1982 when it opened last minute and proved to be a formidable foe to the other big hit of the season, DREAMGIRLS. It was also a musical that couldn't seem to escape drama, whether onstage at the hands of lead character Guido Contini or off. Here this week to discuss the highs and lows of this stylish and somewhat avant-garde musical is original Broadway cast member Kim Criswell (THE FIRST, BABY, THE THREEPENNY OPERA). From last minute costume shopping at a Times Square lingerie shop to wearing Tony-winning couture gowns, Kim spills the T on one of the most memorable musical seasons in Broadway history, and the unforgettable people who made it so.
Learn more about Kim, including her many recordings and upcoming performances by visiting kimcriswell.net.
If you enjoyed this episode, try our past episodes on Michael Bennett's A CHORUS LINE and Tommy Tune's THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES.
Remember the best way to support the show is to rate, review, and share with your friends! You can also subscribe to PATREON! for only $1 a month and receive bonus episodes, including a brand-new DIVAS episode dedicated to Tommy Tune. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for more great content. And take a look at our TeePublic Store, the profits from which we donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community.
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GROUNDHOG DAY with Ste Clough
Happy Groundhog Day! We're celebrating with a special Friday release about, you guessed it, the musical GROUNDHOG DAY. It's a show you've either enjoyed seeing in the West End, on Broadway, in Melbourne, or you missed it. Well, if you think not seeing it means you're getting an early spring this year, you're wrong! Six more weeks of winter for you.
Original West End cast member Ste Clough joins us to discuss the blood, sweat, and tears that went into bringing this surprisingly moving story to the stage. And be sure to listen through to the end of the episode where we have a special visit from listener Michael Lindner, currently appearing alongside original star Andy Karl in the new Australian production!
Follow Ste on Instagram to see his new projects and beautiful family.
If you're in Australia between now and April 2024, visit Michael and the new production of GROUNDHOG DAY by purchasing tickets at groundhogdaymusical.com.au
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to listen to our MATILDA episode with Broadway cast member Cassie Silva (SIX, ROCK OF AGES) at Broadway Podcast Network - MATILDA with Cassie Silva
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X for more great content. Interested in PATREON! and bonus episodes each month? Subscribe for only $1 or write a nice review of the show in February and send it to us at amusicalpodcast@gmail.com to receive a free one-year subscription! Finally, don't forget about our TeePublic Store. Our profits from the designs are donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS each year.
Above all, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
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 ...
I love love love this podcast
Jeff is the kindest, loveliest person. Listening to these conversations feels like a cozy chat with an old friend.