The Original Cast

Did you know that Jonathan Larson wrote a musical version of George Orwell's 1984? Neither did Patrick. But Robyn did.

From the official Broadwaysted podcast, it's writer-man Kevin Jaeger who's here for a Zeitler pop opera about a gay couple in a Catholic boarding school. As you might imagine there is very little conflict or angst and everyone is happy through the whole show and it definitely doesn't end with a GHB overdose suicide during a performance of Romeo and Juliet.

I was very lucky to have the chance to chat with Kurt Peterson who produced Sondheim: A Musical Tribute and was in the original Broadway cast of Follies (1971). Kurt spills some tea on how the first Sondheim tribute came together, talks about his plans for the upcoming 50th anniversary, and what it was like to be in Follies before it was considered a classic of American musical theatre. You can learn more about Kurt and his work at his website: www.JamesWilliamsProductions.com.

Composer/lyricist (and former subject of this podcast), Doug Cohen is here for the first ever Sondheim tribute.

Jeanine Tesori & Tony Kushner's Caroline, or Change opens tomorrow at Astoria Performing Arts Center. Patrick speaks with Dev Bondarin (director and APAC's Artistic Director) and leading actress LaDonna Burns (Caroline) about the show, their process, and why this is a show more people should be doing.

Ken Davenport is a Tony Award-winning producer (Kinky Boots), podcaster, and entrepreneur and he's here to talk about a show that had all the ingredients of a hit but just . . . wasn't. He also tells us one thing he wished everyone knew about producers.

Some musicals have title songs and we cover a bunch: good, bad, and in-between.

Straight from Broadway's Imperial Theatre and Ain't Too Proud it's Joshua Morgan, Patrick's newest brother from another mother, here to talk about the Shakespeare of musical theatre and his classic work.

Kimberly and Patrick start out talking about My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center and end up talking about Be More Chill by way of the time Patrick went to an Arctic Monkeys show and Matt Helders wore a Go-Pro.

Journalist/broadcaster/singer Eliza Berkon is here for a musical another show I can't believe took this long to come up.

Golden-age musicals are problematic. Even the ones you don't think are problematic are problematic.

It's our THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY so we've got a big episode with a big guest talking about a small show that has big ideas about small moments and long songs. Very long songs. So very, very long, these songs.

Before it was a Flaherty/Ahrens/McNally musical, Ragtime was a Miloš Forman movie. And before that, it was a novel by E.L. Doctorow. And before that, some of the characters were real people. And before that, some of those real people were real babies. We don't go back that far.

Rachel is here for a show about exceeding your expectations that maybe doesn't exceed Patrick's expectations (or does it?). Topics include: Challenging roles, Pippin, the joys of singing high, and the unattainable awesomeness of Jessica Vosk. Also Mean Girls.

Composer/lyricist Douglas J. Cohen (No Way to Treat a Lady) and librettist/lyricist/novelist Dan Elish (13) are here for a phone interview with Patrick about the newly released cast album for their show The Evolution of Mann.