Cole Porter loved riding big ol' stallions, drugs, Venice, and gay, homosexual, buttsecks. Other times he loved Shakespeare and gangsters. We go high brow and low in Padua this week! - Learn all about how Cole Porter and Bella Spewack wrote their backstage-Shakespearean musical Kiss Me, Kate.
In this special episode, Broadway librettist Dick Scanlan tells us all about how his monster hit musical Thoroughly Modern Millie was born and what's next for it.
“Sally, get that limp d—k out of your mouth and get on stage!!!!” Hair was wild behind the scenes: sex, drugs, dog poo. And this is Broadway, people! - Learn all about how Galt MacDermot, James Rado, Gerome Ragni, Tom O’Horgan, and the original Broadway cast wrote the American tribal love-rock musical Hair.
Will and Caitlin both do the same show. How’d it turn out? Better than Che Guevara’s patent application. (Burn…) - Learn all about how Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote their rock opera Evita, directed by broadway legend Hal Prince.
The 2-headed witch (Will & Caitlin) wants you to remember a balanced breakfast starts with a bowl of Boom Crunch. Now with Rampion! Also, they touch on Frank Rich’s sexuality……. - Learn all about how Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine wrote their epic musical Into the Woods.
Oh, Bob! Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just a sexual criminal who got off easy because the patriarchy validated your megalomania? - Learn all about how Stephen Schwartz and Bob Fosse created their medieval musical Pippin.
Charming social introductions? Expert mandolin instructions? And the elegance of hay and feed. (BTW: Simpsons joke sign: “Sneed’s Seed and Feed, Formerly Chuck’s”) - Learn all about how Jerry Herman and Gower Champion created their match-making musical Hello, Dolly!
Lock the door, light a fire, and get ready to scream with delight from your house at the crest of the Broadview Avenue hill in New Rochelle, New York. Is that a baby in the dirt? I know how to blow things up. - Learn all about how Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty wrote their Edwardian musical Ragtime.
Will and Caitlin give you the ‘t’ on Little Orphant Annie: how she was eaten by goblins, how she got no eyes, and how can she tap dance if she’s been locked in an orphanage her whole life? - Learn all about how Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, and Thomas Meehan wrote their great depression musical Annie.
You’re not a human being, you’re a piece of meat taking space up on the earth. - Learn all about how Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Leonard Bernstein wrote their navy, dance musical On the Town.
“Wa wa, my children are on fire!” Will and Caitlin discuss Dreamgirls but give a preview of Dude. Effie we all got pain! - Learn all about how Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger wrote their backstage musical Dreamgirls, directed by Michael Bennet.
This was a real nice clambake. Until the star people showed up. - Learn all about how Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein wrote their New England musical, Carousel.
Little dog, little dog. It’s diegetic fantasy, family issues, and strippers this week! - Learn all about how Stephen Sondheim, Jule Stein, and Arthur Laurents wrote their maternal musical, Gypsy.
Life Cafe, AZT breaks, and the Cats trailer. Why do you think you don't have to pay rent??? - Learn all about how Jonathan Larson wrote created his Bohemian musical, Rent.
Will & Caitlin get deep into Shingleskanks / Jellicle Balls. Let’s talk Sarah Brightman as Sarah Whitecat, ok???? - Learn about how Andrew Lloyd Webber created TS Eliot’s feline, dance musical Cats, directed by Trevor Nunn.
Theater queens Will Larche and Caitlin Lee Reid pay tribute to Elaine Stritch. Fun fact, the reason “We looooooooooooove you” in the opening is so long is because that’s how long it took the elevator set to go from down to up! - Learn about how Stephen Sondheim and George Furth wrote their concept musical Company, directed by Hal Prince.