Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast

This week, Mackenzie is joined by his two amazing co-hosts, Scott Hurst and Maris Lyons, for the first time ever as the trio tackles one of the most divisive musical comedies of the 21st century: The Book of Mormon.In this penultimate episode of Season 6, they dig into why the show still brings audiences to their feet while sparking serious discomfort. From satire and shock comedy to religion, race, and “white savior” narratives, the conversation asks who gets to laugh—and why. They also examine how the show lands in a post-2020 world and whether its hopeful ending actually earns its payoff.All this, and a bold conversation about laughter, unease, and responsibility in musical theatre—because tomorrow is a latter day.Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week, Scott and Mackenzie con their way to the French Riviera as they take on David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. They unpack Scott’s personal history with the show and what it taught him about staging farce. Along the way, they debate whether the show’s characters truly get enough comeuppance for modern audiences and wrestle with how contemporary productions can—and should—address the piece’s more troubling elements, particularly its use of ableism, without losing the engine of the comedy.All this and nothing is too wonderful to be true in this all-new episode!Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week, Maris and Mackenzie have the sun in the morning and the moon at night as they take aim at the sharpshooting musical classic Annie Get Your Gun. Maris shares memories of performing in the show during her youth—while trying to recall which elements were cut or changed from the original version, and which parts of their production didn’t make it into future revivals. The duo also dives into the musical’s problematic ending and how it influences their answer to this podcast’s usual final revival question. Plus, they explore which historical elements hit the mark and which ones wildly miss the target.All this and they say that falling in love is wonderful, it's wonderful, so they say in this all new episode. Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week, Scott and Mackenzie have magic to do and miracle plays to play as they delve into Stephen Schwartz’s coming-of-age musical Pippin. They explore whether audiences are meant to like—or even identify with—the show’s title character, and unpack why Mackenzie ranks the piece in the lower-middle of the Schwartz canon. Plus, Scott shares how he's de-Fosse-ing his own production as he directs Pippin with a fresh perspective.All this and an ordinary kind of woman in this this all new episode!Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week, Mackenzie and Scott sense that something funny’s going on as they dive into Ahrens and Flaherty’s first musical outing, Lucky Stiff. They break down where the film adaptation missed the mark, explore the score to trace hints of the duo’s future brilliance, and reveal which Transformers actress starred in the original Off-Broadway production.All this and six million bucks in diamonds in a heart shaped box in this all new episode!Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week, Mackenzie and Scott are off to the races and the English music hall as they choose their preferred ending in a discussion of the Dickinson musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood. They break down why some songs, like the opening number, work better in a live performance than on the cast album. The duo also debates how to tackle the problematic characters of Neville and Helena Landless in a revival. Plus, they explore and daydream about the potential magic of casting Canadian icon Catherine O'Hara as Princess Puffer.All this and the writing on the wall in this all new episode!Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠

This week, podcast listeners we bid you welcome to our latest episode where Mackenzie, Scott, and special guest Ryan Borochovitz, Co-Artistic Producer of Cup of Hemlock Theatre, discuss the often underrated Sondheim musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Together, they explore the numerous songs that were cut and re-added throughout various productions. They also discuss why Sondheim felt he wasn’t the right fit for the show. Plus, the trio breaks down why none of them feel particularly attached to the Hero and Philia storyline. All of this and everybody ought to have a maid in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week, Mackenzie and Maris are finding new ways to dream as they discussion the Lloyd Webber musical Sunset Boulevard. Together, they delve into the tumultuous creative process behind Sunset Boulevard and its profound impact on the original Norma, Patti LuPone. They debate which Norma solo reigns supreme: "With One Look" or "As If We Never Said Goodbye." Plus, discover why Mackenzie believes the song "The Lady's Paying" missed the mark. All this and eternal youth is worth a little suffering in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠

This week, Mackenzie and Scott are exploring 'King's Dilemma' as they discussion the troublesome musical comedy Victor/Victoria. Together these two unpack why some of the songs from the Oscar nominated film didn't make it into the stage show. They explore why the keys to the songs didn't quite sit right with either Julie Andrews or audiences. Plus hear how these two find correlations between this musical comedy and the Tony winning musical La Cage Aux Folles! All this and Paris by Night in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠

This week, Mackenzie, Scott, and special guest John Rocha are breaking out their blank page or canvas to celebrate a milestone 75th episode with a discussion of the Sondheim and Lapine musical Sunday in the Park with George. Together, they explore how the piece reflects Sondheim's relationship with his former collaborator, Hal Prince. Discover the plot point Bernadette Peters insisted on changing before signing on to the show, and which actor from the hit TV comedy Cheers was almost part of the original Broadway production! All this and a malfunctioning Chromolume #7 in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠

This week, Mackenzie and Scott are ‘putting their minds to it’ as they honor the late, great three-time Tony winner Hinton Battle with a discussion of the super soul musical The Wiz. Together these two unpack why Scott prefers the more uptempo numbers of this show compared to the ballads. They explore the innovative marketing campaign that saved the original Broadway production. Plus hear what other classic texts or films they think deserve a reinterpretation/reinvention! All this and in your own way, be a lion in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠

This week Mackenzie and Scott are coming up to the laband seeing what's on the slab as they discuss the spooktacular cult hit musical The Rocky Horror Show. Together these two unpack what makes the song 'Time Warp' such an audience favourite. They explore how Tim Curry created his iconic performance of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Plus hear all about Scott's experiences seeing the film version and how one occasion resulted in a run in with the police! All this and It's just a jump to the left and then a step to the right in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠

This Friday on Before the Downbeat it's the premiere episode of season 6. For this episode Mackenzie and Maris are seeking to solve a problem like Maria as they discuss this final Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. Together these two yodellers discuss the impact the iconic film adaptation has had on the revivals of the stage show. They breakdown why the song 'Something Good' is a much better love duet for the Captain and Maria compared to their original song 'An Ordinary Couple'. Plus find out which alternate title for the show they wouldn't have been opposed to. All this and a few of our favourite things in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Twitter

This Friday on Before the Downbeat while Autumn is away Mackenzie and audio magician and returning guest Teni Brant break out their comic book collections and discuss the mishandled rock super hero musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark! Hear these two debate the character of Arachne and if she is necessary. They breakdown down the creative choices of this musical and what characters from the comics translated best from page to stage. Plus hear about Teni's design concepts for his version of this musical. All of this and a rant against the wall crawler by J. Jonah Jameson on this Friday's all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. Facebook Instagram Twitter

This week on Before the Downbeat, Mackenzie and Scott are looking on the bright side of life as they discuss the musical comedy Spamalot! Together Mackenzie and Scott explore the Pythons' mixed reactions to this piece that some of them dubbed Python light. They debate the Fisch Schlapping Song. Plus they examine where the balance is between substantive theatre material and light theatrical fare. All of this and some debate over the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow in this all new episode! Plus don't forget the season 5 feedback survey! This time around you can win a $50.00 Amazon gift certificate and 2 1 hour virtual acting classes with Scott! Here's the link...https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/76ZWD7J Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This week on Before the Downbeat, Mackenzie and Scott are throwing out books by Norman Mailer and discussing the musical A New Brain! Together Mackenzie and Scott explore William Finn's fascination with the last name Delli-Bovi as he also used it in March of the Falsettos too. They debate the characterization of Gordon's mother Mimi. Plus discover if Mackenzie has found an appreciation for this musical after going into this episode knowing nothing about this piece All of this and some time and music in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This week on Before the Downbeat, Mackenzie and Scott celebrating that the best of time is now by discussing the musical La Cage aux Folles! Together these two explore the generational divisions between the creative team that caused much friction during the creation process of this musical. They debate if Jean-Michel's big number "With Anne on My Arm" is deep and complex. Plus discover why Scott is not a fan of the opening number "We Are What We Are". All of this and a green Givenchy gown in the loo in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This week on Before the Downbeat, Mackenzie and Scott are heading out to prince's ball and along the way they discuss the musical Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella! Together these two explore why this particular fairy tale has sparked so many musical adaptations. They debate which names for the step sisters they prefer across the various versions of this piece. Plus discover which of the added trunk songs from other Rodgers and Hammerstein shows they think fits best with this piece. All of this and a world that is full of zanies and fools who don’t believe in sensible rules in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This week on Before the Downbeat, Mackenzie and Scott are certain to meet in the bedroom, the parlor or even the street the alluring Aurora with her velvet cape as they discuss the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman! Together these two explore surprising amount of Canadian connections this musical has. They debate whether or not the critics should have attended and reviewed that very first workshop performance. Plus they imagine what a version of this musical would have been like with Sondheim tackling it. All of this and the the final reel of Flame of St. Petersburg in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This week on Before the Downbeat, Mackenzie and Scott are opening up their eyes and looking at what god has done as they discuss the musical The Color Purple! Scott and Mackenzie explore whether or not the character of Mister is redeemed by the end. They debate if the musical went far enough in portraying the queer relationships that are present in the source material. Plus discover if Scott and Mackenzie think this musical needed an overture. All of this and a blade of corn in this all new episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Twitter