BROADWAY NATION Broadway Podcast Network

In this Encore Episode from 2021, author Rick Pender takes us inside the creation of The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia. 
Rick Pender is a longtime member and former chair of the American Theater Critics Association. He first began reviewing theater in 1985 for a public radio station he managed at Northern Kentucky University. He later became the theater critic for CityBeat – Cincinnati’s alternative weekly newspaper -- and eventually became its arts and culture editor. He also often contributed articles to The Sondheim Review, a quarterly magazine that I know many of you remember fondly, and for 12 years, from 2004 to 2016, he served as its managing editor.  His latest venture, The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia, is a 638 page overview of anything and everything related to Sondheim’s work, life and career. 
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 My guest again this week is author BEN WEST who returns for the fourth and final segment of our conversation in regard to his exceptional new book The American Musical – Evolution of an Art Form.
 As you will hear, in today’s episode, we move into what I call the Modern Era of Broadway from the 1970s right up to today and detail the major changes in the way musicals are made over the last 50 years. Our discussion touches on such shows as Hair, Your Own Thing, Rent, The Wiz, Jelly’s Last Jam, Hamilton, The Band’s Visit, and more!
If you missed the previous episodes in this series you may want to go back and catch on that before listening to this one.
Ben West is a musical theatre artist and historian who created the extensive “Timeline Wall” exhibits for the Museum of Broadway that trace the history of the Broadway stage from 1732 to 2021, spotlighting more than 500 productions and 100 artists. He has worked in various capacities on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally and created and directed Unsung Carolyn Leigh for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. He has lectured and spoken at Yale University, University of Michigan, the Dramatists Guild, and the Shubert Organization.
Become a PATRON of Broadway Nation!
This podcast is made possible in part by the generous support of our Patron Club Members, including our Producer Level patrons, Paula & Steve Reynolds.
For just $7.00 a month, you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast. All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgment of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.
If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:
https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/
Thank you in advance for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the third segment of my conversation with author BEN WEST, regarding his new book:
THE AMERICAN MUSICAL — EVOLUTION OF AN ART FORM.
As you will hear this book is a comprehensive history of the American Musical from its origins in the 19th Century right up to the turn to the 21st Century. Along the way Ben West sheds new light on a myriad of shows, authors, directors, and performers including a host of often-overlooked women and African-American artists.
If you missed the previous episodes in this series you may want to go back and catch on that before listening to this one.
Ben West is a musical theatre artist and historian who created the extensive “Timeline Wall” exhibits for the Museum of Broadway that trace the history of the Broadway stage from 1732 to 2021 and spotlight more than 500 productions and 100 artists. He has worked in various capacities on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally, and created and directed Unsung Carolyn Leigh for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. West has lectured and spoken at several institutions including Yale University, University of Michigan, the Dramatists Guild, and the Shubert Organization. He is a recipient of Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award.
Become a PATRON of Broadway Nation!
This podcast is made possible in part by the generous support of our Patron Club Members, including our Producer Level member, Bob Braun.
For just $7.00 a month, you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast. All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgment of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.
If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:
https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/
Thank you in advance for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is the second part of my recent conversation with author BEN WEST, regarding his his exceptionally comprehensive new book: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL — EVOLUTION OF AN ART FORM.
This book traces the American Musical’s creative journey from its 19th Century beginnings through its 20th Century maturation, and on to the turn of the 21st century. Along the way, Ben West sheds new light on a myriad of shows, authors, directors, and performers including a host of often-overlooked women and African-American artists.
If you missed the first episode in this series you may want to go back and catch on that before listening to this one.
As our previous episode ended Ben and I were discussing the revue form, especially the annual revues such as the Ziegfeld Follies and Earl Carroll’s Vanities. Today we pick up conversation with some of the other forms of musical theater that Ben explores in Part Two of his book, a section that he titles Birth Of An Art Form.
Ben West is a musical theatre artist and historian who created the extensive “Timeline Wall” exhibits for the Museum of Broadway that trace the history of the Broadway stage from 1732 to 2021 and spotlight more than 500 productions and 100 artists. He has worked in various capacities on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally, and created and directed Unsung Carolyn Leigh for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. West has lectured and spoken at several institutions including Yale University, University of Michigan, the Dramatists Guild, and the Shubert Organization. He is a recipient of Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award.
Become a PATRON of Broadway Nation!
This podcast is made possible in part by the generous support of our Patron Club Members, including our newest member, Taryn Darr.
For just $7.00 a month, you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast. All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgment of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.
If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:
https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/
Thank you in advance for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is author BEN WEST, who joins me to discuss his exceptional new book: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL — EVOLUTION OF AN ART FORM.
This book is a comprehensive history of the American Musical that traces the form’s creative journey from its 19th Century beginnings through its 20th Century maturation, and on to the turn of the 21st century. Along the way Ben sheds new light on a myriad of authors, directors, and craftspeople who worked on Broadway and beyond.
In a similar way to this podcast, this book actively addresses the form’s often-overlooked female and African-American artists. It also goes beyond the strict boundaries of Broadway to explore such outside influences as minstrelsy, vaudeville, nightclubs, and burlesque as well as the dynamic relationship between the American Musical and and the consciousness of its country that gave it birth.
Ben West is a musical theatre artist and historian who created the extensive “Timeline Wall” exhibits for the Museum of Broadway that trace the history of the Broadway stage from 1732 to 2021 and spotlight more than 500 productions and 100 artists. He has worked in various capacities on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally, and created and directed Unsung Carolyn Leigh for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. West has lectured and spoken at several institutions including Yale University, the University of Michigan, the Dramatists Guild, and the Shubert Organization. He is a recipient of Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award.
Become a PATRON of Broadway Nation!
This podcast is made possible in part by the generous support of our Patron Club Members, including our newest member, Taryn Darr.
For just $7.00 a month, you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact, I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast. All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgment of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.
If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:
https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/
Thank you in advance for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Jack Viertel who joins us to talk about his delightful new novel, Broadway Melody. This is one of a fascinating wave of novels that explore the history of Broadway though a combination of fictional characters and real-life Broadway figures.
Jack Viertel began his theatrical career as a drama critic for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and then worked as a dramaturg at the Mark Taper Forum. This led to him serving three decades as Creative Director and Senior Vice President of Jujamcin Theaters where he oversaw the production of 50 Broadway plays and musicals. Simultaneously, during two of those decades, he also served as the Artistic Director of the New York City Center’s Encores! series, producing 65 musical revivals. And he was a creative force behind a string of blockbuster musicals including Smokey Joe’s Café, Dear Evan Hanson, and Hairspray. He taught musical theater at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Secret Life of The American Musical.
I want to thank all of our Broadway Nation Patron Club members, including our longtime Producer Level patrons, Paula & Steve Reynolds. Their generous support helps to make it possible for me to bring this podcast to you each week. If you would like to support the creation of Broadway Nation, here is the information about how you too can become a patron.
Become a PATRON of Broadway Nation!
For just $7.00 a month, you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast. All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgment of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.
If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:
https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/
Thank you in advance for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices