On a special bonus episode, Jamie and Rob discuss the fall season on Broadway, including all of the new plays, play revivals, musicals, magic, and special events opening on the Great White Way over the next several months.
SThis week’s music: “Welcome To The Moulin Rouge” from “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”, “The Wrong Man”, Ross Golan, “(Simply) The Best” from “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Original Broadway Cast”, and Alanis Morissette’s, “You Oughta Know.”
Jamie, Rob, and Jennifer kick off season two of The Fabulous Invalid by traveling up to Boston to sit down with star of stage and screen Betty Buckley during the final stop of her run as Dolly Levi in the national tour of “Hello, Dolly!”. Together, they discuss Betty’s illustrious career, what it’s like going on the road at age seventy, and learning new skill sets. We discover the secrets behind Betty’s Tony Award winning turn in “Cats”, and Rob offers a comparison of Thorton Wilder’s play “The Matchmaker” and its musical version, “Hello, Dolly!”.
This week’s music: “Push Da Button” from “The Color Purple”, and Betty Buckley singing, “Knowing When To Leave” from “Promises, Promises”, “Rose’s Turn”, from “Gypsy”, “With One Look”, from “Sunset Blvd.”, “Memory”, from “Cats”, “Hello, Dolly!” from “Hello, Dolly!’, “Old Friend” from “I’m Getting My Act Together”, and “Children Will Listen”, from “Into The Woods”.
On a special summer bonus episode, Jamie and Rob travel up to Garrison, New York to experience the magic of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. After a picnic on the great lawn at Boscobel House and Gardens, and a performance of “Much Ado About Nothing”, they speak with conservatory company member Kayla Coleman, Director of Education and company member Sean McNall, and Artistic Director Davis McCallum, then catch the company’s first-ever musical, “Into the Woods”. Rob also offers a brief history of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival.
This week’s music: From “Into the Woods”, “I Know Things Now”, “Maybe They’re Really Magic”, “Ever After”.
For the season one finale, Jamie, Rob, and Jennifer sit down for an exclusive interview with former First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State, presidential candidate, and Broadway’s biggest fan Hillary Rodham Clinton. They discuss theater and politics (what’s the difference?) and dive deep into Secretary Clinton’s lifelong love of the arts. Then, Jamie gives us a little background on Rob. And that’s a wrap for season one!
This week’s music: “Hair” and “Good Morning, Star Shine” from Hair the New Broadway Cast Recording, “Camelot” from the original cast recording of Camelot, “Overture” from The Band’s Visit, “The Room Where It Happens” from Hamilton, and “Why We Build The Wall” from Hadestown.
On this week’s episode, Rob, Jamie, and Leslie—and a couple of special guests—recap the 2019 Tony Awards live from the O&M “After After Party” at The Carlyle Hotel.
This Week’s Music: “Well Did You Evah” from the film “High Society,” ”Livin’ It Up On Top” and “Wait For Me” from Hadestown, Leslie Kritzer singing “Day-O” and “No Reason” from Beetlejuice, “Just My Imagination” from Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, and “We’ll Take A Glass” from the Tony broadcast.
On this week’s episode, Rob and Jamie are back at Orso for one final time this season. They are joined by actor and producer Tom Hulce who was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the film “Amadeus,” and is the producer of the Broadway hits Spring Awakening, American Idiot, and this season’s 12-time Tony Award-nominated sensation Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations.
This week’s music: “It’s Not About Me” and “Unruly Heart” from The Prom. “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me,” and “Papa Was A Rollin' Stone” all from Ain’t Too Proud: The Life And Times of the Temptations., “Mamma Who Bore Me” and “The Bitch Of Living” from Spring Awakening, and “Poor Little Person” from Henry, Sweet Henry.
On this week’s episode, Rob and Jamie go over Rob’s “Stage Left” 2019 Tony Award predictions of who “should win” vs. who “will win” in each of the 26 Tony Award categories. Agree? Disagree? Let us know on social media!
On this week’s episode, Mr. Wiz himself, André De Shields, joins Jamie and Rob for dinner at Orso Restaurant to discuss his 50 year career as a performing artist during which he has played such seminal roles as The Wiz in “The Wiz,” The Viper in Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Jester in Play On!, Horse in “The Full Monty”, and his current Tony-nominated role as Hermes in Hadestown on Broadway. Take a seat, and learn some lessons from a theatrical legend and master.
This week’s music: André De Shields performing “The Viper’s Drag” from Ain’t Misbehavin’, “Way Down Hadestown” from Hadestown., Stephanie Mills singing “Home” from The Wiz, and André singing “So You Wanted To See The Wizard” from “The Wiz” and “I’m Just A Lucky So And So” from Play On!
On this week’s episode, Rob, and Jamie sit down with Mark Swartz, the Archive Director of The Shubert Archive. Since the mid-'70s, The Shubert Archive has processed and cataloged over one hundred years of theater history, including costume and set designs, scripts, music, publicity materials, photographs, correspondence, business records, and architectural plans. Mark discusses the history of the archive, how things get processed, some of his favorite items, and why the Shubert Organization is truly the heart of Broadway. And, finally, Rob gives us more information on the Shubert brothers and the legendary Shubert Theatre.
On this week’s episode, Rob, Jennifer, Jamie, and guest co-host Jo Ann Venezano sit down with Jennifer Laura Thompson and Michael Park, stars of Dear Evan Hansen. Jo Ann, who won an Audience Rewards contest to come on our show, is a “Super Fan” or “Extreme Theatergoer” as The New Yorker characterized her; she has seen Dear Evan Hansen 45 times and Spring Awakening over 500 hundred times. Michael Park (who joins us for our topics section), Jamie, Rob, and Jennifer talk with Jo Ann about her theatergoing habits. A bit later, we chat with Jennifer Laura Thompson and Michael Park about being with Dear Evan Hansen from the beginning, and what it’s like today in the Murphy household. And, finally, Rob gives us more information on the Audience Rewards program.
This week’s music: “The Heat Is On” from “Miss Saigon: The Definitive Recording”, and from the Original Cast Recording of Dear Evan Hansen: “Waving Through A Window”, “Anybody Have A Map”, "Requiem”, “To Break In A Glove”, and “Finale”.
On this week’s episode, Rob, Jennifer, and Jamie talk to Broadway casting director, Tara Rubin. For over thirty years, Tara has been casting Broadway shows like The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Jersey Boys, Dear Evan Hansen, and this season’s hit Ain’t To Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations. We talk to Tara about how she got her start, what it’s like working on The Phantom of the Opera for so many years, and what makes a good audition. A little bit later, Rob gives us a closer look into the Casting Society of America (the “C.S.A.” you often see after a casting director’s name).
This week’s music: “Putting It Together" from Sunday in the Park with George, “Opening, I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line, “Think of Me” from The Phantom of the Opera, “The Theme from Another World” by Crystal Gayle and Garry Morris and “A Beat Behind” from The Goodbye Girl.
On this week’s episode, Rob and Jamie talk to director extraordinaire, Des McAnuff. Over nearly four decades, Des has directed such smash hits as Big River, The Who’s Tommy, Jersey Boys, and this season’s hit Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations. We talk to Des about directing, running a regional theater, and how you don’t say “no” when Otis Williams asks you to direct a show about his life. Later, Rob gives a closer look into the legendary La Jolla Playhouse.
This week’s music: “Brotherhood of Man, “ “A Secretary Is Not A Toy” from How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying The New Broadway Cast Recording (1995), “The Royal Nonesuch” from Big River, and “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” from Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations.
On this week’s episode, Jamie, Jennifer, and Rob sit down with Tony Award-winning choreographer, Warren Carlyle. Warren talks about his incredible career including his current show Kiss Me, Kate. Before that, we chat about MCC’s Miscast, drawing boundaries, and What the Constitution Means to Me. And a bit later, Rob gives some history on your favorite choreographers.
This week’s music: Eva Noblezada sings “Go The Distance” from “Hercules,” “Yes” from Liza with a Z, Kelli O’Hara singing “So In Love” from Kiss Me Kate, the “Overture” from On The Twentieth Century (New Cast Recording), and Fred Astaire singing “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails,” from the film Top Hat.
On this week’s episode, Jamie and Rob come to you from the Curran Theatre in San Francisco where they caught a production of The Jungle and sat down with playwright Joe Robertson, founding co-artistic director of Good Chance Theatre, which connects people, stories, and cultures with a focus on refugee populations. The Jungle grew out of the seven months Joe Robertson and Joe Murphy spent running a theater in the makeshift refugee and migrant camp in Calais, France. Before they talk to Joe, Jamie and Rob talk about the history of the legendary Curran Theatre, and to close, Rob digs deeper into the history of The Jungle, including a few ways you can help with the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe.
This week, Jamie and Rob are joined by Ted Sperling and John Miller, the music director and artistic advisor, respectively, of the new NYU Broadway Orchestra, a program to train the next generation of pit musicians. Ted is a musical director, supervisor, conductor, arranger, composer, and orchestrator extraordinaire with 15 Broadway credits under his belt, including the current revival of My Fair Lady. John is a legendary bass player, music coordinator, and occasional actor and vocalist who has worked on more than 130 Broadway shows! Before the interview, Jamie and Rob argue about 1776 the musical and a bit later, Rob gives us a little more information about the size and locations of Broadway pit orchestras.
This week’s music: “Opening Doors” from Merrily We Roll Along, the Overture to Gypsy, “Come Follow the Band” from Barnum, and the NYU Broadway Orchestra’s Anything Goes Overture.
This week, Jamie and Rob sit down with Broadway legend Beth Leavel. We discuss her incredible career, including 13 Broadway roles, and her current star turn in The Prom. Beth talks about her first Broadway audition (for Cats), creating new roles, including two written specifically for her, playing “divas,” and what makes Dee Dee Allen tick. Before we chat with Beth, Rob and Jamie talk about a recent trip to Long Island, missed trains, and Into The Woods. And to close, Rob gives an overview of original musicals, like the The Prom, that are based on actual events.
This week’s music: Melissa Errico singing “No More” and “Overture/Audition” from the Original Cast of 42nd Street, Pearl Bailey singing “Before the Parade Passes By” from Hello Dolly, “Tonight Belongs to You” from The Prom, and Beth Leavel singing “It’s Not About Me” from The Prom and “As We Stumble Along” from The Drowsy Chaperone.
This week, Jamie and Rob sit down with self-proclaimed “theater nerd” Ted Chapin, whose knowledge and love of the theater extends well beyond his over 30 year career at The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, the licensing agency, rental library, and music publishing company that oversees the R&H catalogue, and countless others, including Irving Berlin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more. We talk about Ted’s career at R&H, his favorite of their shows, and, of course, his incredible book, “Everything Was Possible”, an account of his time working on the original production of Follies.
This week’s music: The King and I ‘s“Finale to Act 1,” Lincoln Center Theater’s South Pacific, City Center Encore’s production of Pipe Dream “Overture” and “Sweet Thursday,” Liz Callaway singing “The Gentlemen Is A Dope” from Allegro and Alexis Smith singing “Could I Leave You” from Follies.
This week, Jennifer, Jamie, and Rob sit down with Broadway veteran Jose Llana at Orso Restaurant. We discuss Jose’s life and 24-year career in the theater, including his marriage, the 2016 election, his roles in The King and I, Flower Drum Song, and On The Town. We also chat about representation on Broadway, having to tell his Filipina mother he was playing dictator Ferdinand Marcos in Here Lies Love, and the incontrovertible coolness of David Byrne. Before Jose joins us, we discuss our love for Orso, The Big Apple, and how to relax and survive living in the city. Finally, Rob gives us a bit of insight into the wonderful wealth of Filipino performers working on Broadway.
This week’s music: Jose singing “I Have Dreamed” from The King and I, Jose and Lea Salonga singing “You Are Beautiful” from Flower Drum Song, “Stay Up Late” by “The Talking Heads,” Jose Singing “A Perfect Hand” from Here Lies Love, and Ruthie Ann Miles singing “Why Don’t You Love Me” and “Here Lies Love,” from Here Lies Love.
This week, while the ladies are away, Jamie and Rob offer a special “Spring Preview” episode to discuss the upcoming new shows on Broadway, what’s going on in London, Glenn Close, and Jamie’s age.
This week’s music: Tracie Bennett singing “I’m Still Here,” Dorothy Collins and John McMartin sing “Don’t Look At Me,” “Tom, Dick or Harry” from Kiss Me, Kate, “Michael in the Bathroom” from Be More Chill , and “Tradition” from Fiddler on the Roof.
On this week’s show, we sit down with Mary Testa and Ali Stroker, two of the stars of the upcoming Broadway revival of Oklahoma! We discuss what makes this production of Oklahoma! so unique and the enduring legacy of this magnificent show.
This week’s music: Damon Daunno singing “The Surrey With The Fringe On Top,” Nancy Walker singing “I Can Cook Too,” the Annie “Overture,” music from the “Ballet” and the “Final Outro” from the 1999 Royal National Theatre recording of Oklahoma!
