Podcasts by What The Musical

WTM Ep. 62: Darling Grenadine from 2021-03-26T21:59:10

Content Warning: alcoholism

Manhattan is never far away when we sip our way through Darling Grenadine! We talk new musical development, centering off-ce...

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WTM Ep. 61: Cinderella from 2021-02-20T05:06:49

A Lovely Night is only made better by the magic of Cinderella! We talk contemporary casting, love at first sight, and fairy tale revolutions. PLUS: we bet JLM would wal...

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WTM BONUS INTERVAL: Hadestown from 2021-02-05T05:00

Even the prettiest flowers can have a few wilting petals--but in case you want to look past any possible blemishes, we separated all of our Hadestown criticisms into one convenient bonu...

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WTM Ep. 60: Hadestown from 2021-01-15T22:00:08

Hey, Little Songbird, let's venture into the new year with Hadestown! We talk holistic creativity, Chelsey's inner eco-Marxist, and the struggles of love and fulfillmen...

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WTM Ep. 59: The Lion King from 2020-12-31T23:25:07

The Morning Report calls for The Lion King! We talk Julie Taymor Magic (TM), the Hamlet King, and a show that is, truly, for everyone. PLUS: an update on our Broadway K...

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WTM BONUS INTERVAL: Company from 2020-11-13T23:27:12

Yes, we had plenty more to say about Company! Join us for a bonus interval on the most recent revival, the wonder of Matt Doyle, and our modest plea for a record deal.

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WTM Ep. 58: Company, Part II from 2020-11-02T04:58:51

Let's venture Side by Side by Side into Part II on Company! We talk likable narrators, unattractive desperation, and the wonder of adult friendships.  PLUS: JLM as Bobb...

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WTM Ep. 57: Company, Part I from 2020-10-23T21:42:31

Bell rings, door chimes, let's talk Company! In the first half of this 2-part episode, we talk breaking gender norms, affectionate but loveless marriages, and the lie o...

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WTM Ep. 56: Songs for a New World from 2020-09-29T04:09:49

I'm Not Afraid of Anything, especially not this episode on Songs for a New World! We talk JRB's debutante ball, the inescapable male gaze, and letting music do the heav...

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WTM Ep. 55: Carrie: The Musical from 2020-09-08T21:56:29

CW: bullying, religion, homicide

Do Me A Favor and turn up this episode on Carrie! We talk literal translations, the troubles with stage telekinesis, an...

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WTM Ep. 54: Anything Goes from 2020-07-21T04:00

CW: racism, misogyny

Let's Misbehave--time to dive into Anything Goes! We talk the cheese crackers of musicals, maximum triple threats, and what to do w...

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WTM Ep. 53: Footloose from 2020-06-27T14:52:48

Content warning: mentions of bullying, family loss, religion, abusive partners

I Can't Stand Still any longer--we gotta cut Footloose! We talk taking th...

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WTM Ep. 52: King Kong from 2020-05-20T04:20:33

Skull Island can't contain this episode on King Kong! We talk the new dream ballet, screaming about feminism, and literally smashing patriarchy. PLUS: JLM is no stranger to showbiz, so ...

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WTM Ep. 51: Moulin Rouge! the Musical from 2020-04-24T14:34:40

Content Warnings: mentions of sexual harassment, assault, TB and COVID-19.

Your Song is one of the many we'll hear at the Moulin Rouge! We talk spectacu...

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WTM Ep. 50: Newsies from 2020-04-04T20:47:38

The World Will Know when they open our take on Newsies! We talk imagining Santa Fe, little stories entwined with big wealth, and instinctive coordinated dancing. PLUS: ...

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WTM Ep. 49: Come From Away from 2020-03-22T17:17:26

Content warning: 9/11.

Welcome to the Rock, where we fly into Come From Away! We talk with special guest Eric Braman about courageous kindness, fish kis...

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WTM Ep. 48: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers from 2020-03-14T16:32:52

Content Warning: mentions of rape & kidnap.

We Gotta Make It Through the Winter, so let's swing through Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! We talk w...

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WTM Ep. 47: [title of show] from 2020-02-15T22:48:26

What Kind of Girl is She? The kind that does an episode on [title of show], of course! We talk the value in creativity, early internet phenoms, and proposing with music...

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WTM Ep. 46: The Wiz from 2020-01-25T20:37:04

Be A Lion and pounce on this episode about The Wiz! We talk storytelling through genre, otherism in reviews, and casting teenagers. PLUS: a check-in on our favorite magic man, JLM.

...

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WTM Ep.45: Cats from 2020-01-09T15:39:48

Moments of Happiness have arrived in the new year with our episode on Cats! We talk cat nip as plot device, audience consent, and defending a musical more than we could have anticipated...

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WTM Ep. 44: The Phantom of the Opera from 2019-12-24T18:19:04

All I Ask of You is a deep breath before diving into The Phantom of the Opera! We talk bad optics, ear-wormy repetition, and the worst stage mom ever. PLUS: one of the only sighs of rel...

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WTM Ep. 43: Dreamgirls from 2019-12-06T19:43:25

And I Am Telling You it's time for Dreamgirls! We talk powerhouse female leads, non-jukebox Mowtown, and Jennifer Holliday being right. PLUS: Jimmy may fall, but JLM wo...

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WTM Ep. 42: Xanadu from 2019-11-22T05:00

Strange Magic is at play--it's time to roll on into Xanadu! We talk the dangers of roller skates, Chelsey's Charles Isherwood impression, and acrostic poems. PLUS: we a...

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WTM Ep. 41: Little Shop of Horrors from 2019-10-25T17:18:33

Ya Never Know what will happen when we dive into Little Shop of Horrors! We talk the rules of mushroom foraging, life when you're endearingly pathetic, and a suggestion for a climate ac...

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WTM Ep. 40: Be More Chill from 2019-10-11T15:13:24

Do You Wanna Hang? Let's jump into Be More Chill! We welcome special guest Montana to talk catchy lyrics, teenage reality, and the dangers of Mountain Dew. Plus: we'd upgrade to a JLM-v...

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WTM Ep. 39: Natasha, Pierre&The Great Comet of 1812 from 2019-09-21T03:49:27

No One Else understands Tara's love for this show--it's time for Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812! We talk drinking vodka in your 30s, how to make Russian lit exciting, and di...

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WTM Ep. 38: Cambodian Rock Band from 2019-09-05T15:03:16

No need to fight Tooth & Nail--it's time for Cambodian Rock Band! We talk the anti-Miss Saigon, teaching an audience to code switch, and why you should skip Hamilton for now. P...

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WTM Ep. 37: The Color Purple from 2019-08-09T01:01:16

All We've Got To Say is that it's time to discuss The Color Purple! We talk plot squiggles, syncretic spirituality, and rage at Steven Spielberg. PLUS: there's always room for JLM at th...

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WTM Ep. 36: The Last Five Years from 2019-07-19T16:01:50

See, I'm Smiling--it must be time to discuss The Last Five Years! We talk brooding youth, collaborative artistry, and writers getting dangerously autobiographical. Plus: all we want for...

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WTM BONUS INTERVAL: How to Succeed from 2019-07-12T04:00

We had lots to say about How To Succeed... and business! Join us for a bonus interval all about pep talks, Chelsey's Rules for How To Succeed, and baseball metaphors.

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WTM Ep. 35: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying from 2019-07-10T15:25:06

Take a long Coffee Break to discuss How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying! We talk Tara's eventual book, scheming spouses, and coffee drinking alliances. Plus: if there's one...

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WTM Ep. 34: The Tony Awards, Part II from 2019-06-09T16:38:40

Presentation, performance, and personality--it's our second of two episodes on The Tony Awards! We talk award show bingo, underrated gems, and make our best guesses on the 2019 winners. PLUS: wi...

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WTM Ep. 33: The Tony Awards, Part I from 2019-06-08T15:10:31

Happy Holidays, theatre kids--it's time to unwrap The Tony Awards with this first of two episodes before Broadway's biggest night! We talk about The Big Six, opening numbers to lift your spirits...

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WTM Ep. 32: She Loves Me from 2019-05-23T15:31:34

Tonight at Eight (or whenever you listen), dive into She Loves Me! We talk live broadcasts, mustaches we love to hate, and beating vanilla metaphors into the ground. PLUS: 3k and counti...

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WTM Ep. 31: My Fair Lady from 2019-05-03T18:11:08

Wouldn't It Be Loverly to catch up with a new episode? Let's dive into My Fair Lady! We talk code-switching, the Julie Andrews Effect (redux), and emotional Broadway stars. PLUS: JLM Wa...

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WTM Ep. 30: The Band's Visit from 2019-04-05T18:10:33

Something Different happens in this episode on The Band's Visit! We talk unexpected crooning, feeling big-ly, and NEA funding. Plus: a whole new kind of Jesse L. Martin watch.

Th...

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WTM Ep. 29: Chicago from 2019-03-23T15:30:34

When You're Good to Mama, she gives you a new episode on Chicago! This time around, we talk career definers, criminal celebrities, and premeditated dream ballets. Plus, with the revival...

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WTM Ep. 28: The Music Man from 2019-03-08T15:37:50

We need 76 Trombones to welcome in this episode on The Music Man! We talk wholesome con-artists, library dream ballets, why not to give a song to a plot device, and the...

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WTM Ep. 27: 36 Questions from 2019-02-03T18:19:13

One Thing... let's get this one thing straight: this time we're checking out the musical podcast 36 Questions! We talk audio intimacy, Groffsauce, and pet ducks. Plus: ...

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WTM Ep. 26: The Little Mermaid from 2019-01-18T16:47:32

Things get a little salty when we go Under the Sea to chat about The Little Mermaid! We talk mer-blades, under-utilizing great casts, and the hierarchy of Disney princes. PLUS: JLM is b...

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WTM Ep. 25: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum from 2018-12-31T13:45:17

Needing a Comedy Tonight? Then let's check out A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum! We finish our first full year with comic star power, the least Sondheim of Sondheim, and T...

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WTM Ep. 24: Elf the Musical from 2018-12-21T16:52:58

Let's get Sparklejollytwinklejingley for Elf the Musical! We talk boundless optimism, bah-hum-burgers, and being a good person year-round. PLUS: anyone want to fill our stockings with n...

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WTM Ep. 23: Chess from 2018-12-07T05:01

Pity the Child who misses this episode on Chess! We talk genre-swaps, incomplete metaphors, and how The Arbiter is, indisputably, the best. PLUS: a check-in on another Rent alu...

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WTM Ep. 22: A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder from 2018-11-16T16:41:18

I Don't Know What I'd Do Without You, so come with me to check out A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder! We talk ridiculous deaths, punching up, and horrible romantic choices. PLUS: a...

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WTM Ep. 21: Oklahoma! from 2018-11-02T14:57

Oh What A Beautiful Mornin' for a podcast and a stroll through Oklahoma! We talk the OG of OGs, falling over pretty people, and the joy of fence-leaping. PLUS: we're pretty sure the bes...

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WTM BONUS INTERVAL: Sweeney Todd from 2018-10-26T13:00

We had a ton to say about Sweeney Todd and not nearly enough time to cover it all in one episode. Here's a little bonus debate from Tara & Chelsey regarding seeing a playwright within t...

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WTM BONUS INTERVAL: Sweeney Todd from 2018-10-26T13:00

We had a ton to say about Sweeney Todd and not nearly enough time to cover it all in one episode. Here's a little bonus debate from Tara & Chelsey regarding seeing a playwright within t...

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WTM Ep. 20: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street from 2018-10-19T18:19:10

La'ies 'n' gen'tl'men, may I have your attention puh-leeeease? It's time to attend the tale of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street! We talk benign cannibalism, Sondheim gets ...

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WTM Ep. 19: The Sound of Music from 2018-10-05T18:40:53

My Favorite Things include this episode on The Sound of Music! We talk The Julie Andrews Effect, surprise Nazis, and dating advice from Chelsey. Plus, we name the perfect Cpt. von Trapp...

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WTM Ep. 18: Fun Home from 2018-09-24T16:52:46

No need to wait Days and Days--our episode on Fun Home is here now! Guest artist Allison Mickelson joins us to talk about drinking, drawing, and what it's like to play a role multiple t...

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WTM Ep. 17: Spring Awakening from 2018-09-14T15:53:02

All That's Known is it's time for another episode, and we're covering Spring Awakening! We talk teenage angst, stars-before-they-were-stars, and the bitch of living. Plus: it occurs to ...

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WTM Ep. 16: 9 to 5 from 2018-08-31T16:21:22

It's been takin' and no givin' Around Here, but we're finally back with 9 to 5! Start the coffee and wander the office as we talk revenge fantasies, misheard lyrics, and the blessing th...

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WTM Ep. 15: Kiss Me, Kate from 2018-08-10T16:21:59

Wunderbar! Another What the Musical, and this time we take on Cole Porter's classic Kiss Me, Kate! We talk charismatic egomaniacs, throwing flower pots, and surprise gangsters. Plus: a ...

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WTM Ep. 14: A Little Night Music from 2018-07-27T16:16:18

Do you need a podcast Now/Later/Soon? We're here for you with our first Sondheim--A Little Night Music! We talk badass middle-aged women, big thoughts with cellos, and try to keep Chels...

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WTM Ep. 13: Shrek the Musical from 2018-07-13T13:00

What's Up, Duloc? Join us for an unlikely adventure through Shrek the Musical! We talk epically-long walks, fairytale freaks, and Scottish ogres. Plus: rumor has it an exceptional barit...

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WTM Ep. 12: Carousel from 2018-06-29T19:40:42

You'll Never Walk Alone with Tara & Chelsey by your side--let's take a ride with Carousel! We talk dream ballets, anti-anti-heroes, and how much vodka one needs to sit through Clam Bake...

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WTM Ep. 11: Hello, Dolly! from 2018-06-19T16:08:26

Put on your Sunday clothes and some ribbons down your back--it's time for Hello, Dolly! After settling our Tony Award bet, we talk beets, barrel rolls, and Chelsey's worst date. Plus: i...

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WTM Ep. 10: Audra McDonald&Tony Awards 2018 from 2018-06-02T16:06:56

We're doubling-down on an exciting springtime with a trip to see Audra McDonald live AND the upcoming Tony Awards! We talk about Audra, Audra, and more Audra--AND you can play along at home with...

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WTM Ep. 9: Jesus Christ Superstar from 2018-05-18T15:47:39

What's the buzz? We're back with a look at '70s cult classic Jesus Christ Superstar! Turn some water into wine as we travel through this rock disco biblical hippie wonderland. We talk l...

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WTM Ep. 8: Found/Tonight from 2018-04-13T13:00

Mashed-up songs and mashed-up beverages for this week's discussion of "Found/Tonight," created in support of the #MarchForOurLives! We talk revolutionary youth, revolutionary musicals, and Broad...

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WTM Ep. 7: Jekyll&Hyde from 2018-04-02T15:28:09

Drop the facade--it's time to let out our inner demons as we talk Jekyll & Hyde! We talk ego battles, sunken cost metaphors, ridiculous lyrics, and odd endings. Plus: could Jesse L. Mar...

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WTM Ep. 6: Once On This Island from 2018-03-16T16:40:56

Grab yourself a mango and a rum drink, and join us for a tropical adventure to Once On This Island (or, in our case, twice)! We talk storytelling, gender-swapped casting, and Chelsey's ...

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WTM Ep. 5: Once Upon A Mattress from 2018-03-02T16:45:05

After a bit of a break (#theatrelife), we're back!

A fairytale musical loaded with innuendo never hurt anybody... dive in with us as we talk Once Upon A Mattress, Carol Bur...

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WTM Ep. 4: Annie from 2018-01-05T16:06:40

Pour yourself some bathtub gin and tune in to our conversation about Annie. We'll take you on a walk down Easy Street, explore some of the many popular versions of the show, gab about s...

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WTM Ep. 3: Christmas Songs from 2017-12-25T16:16:03

The eggnog may have slowed down getting this episode up, but it's just in time for holiday merriment! Don't let the holidays pass by without your Broadway fix. We talk holiday songs from our fav...

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WTM Ep. 2: You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown from 2017-12-08T13:00

My New Philosophy is that everyone loves the Peanuts crew. This week, we take a lighter turn with You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, give some tips on What Not To Sing A...

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WTM Ep. 1: Parade from 2017-12-06T18:00

Our first episode! We talk about Jason Robert Brown's Parade, give you an update on whether Jesse L. Martin is on Broadway, and try to figure out how this podcasting th...

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