Corner of the Sky

Well friends, after four years of Corner of the Sky, this podcast is going on indefinite hiatus. But to leave on a high note, we’ve got a full game show episode! Moisés Chiullán, Brian Hamilton, David Loehr, Jean MacDonald, and Shelly Brisbin are competing in a custom version of Random Pursuit that’s ALL musicals. Also, this episode includes a mini-game: try to count how many times Quinn makes a mistake! It turns out that Random Pursuit is a deceptively complicated game to keep track of, and Erika Ensign actually has superpowers. Quinn Rose with Brian Hamilton, Moisés Chiullán, David J. Loehr, Shelly Brisbin and Jean MacDonald Show Notes & Links Check out the delightful Random Pursuit on the Incomparable Game Show

Yoni Weiss talks the charmingly dysfunctional family of Falsettos. Highlights: masculinity, borrowing synagogue chairs, Chip Zien, high school productions of Elegies, maturation, regression, lesbians, family. "Falsettos" Quinn Rose with Yoni Weiss Referenced Works Falsettos [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Yoni's Website

Margaret Hall talks the “most controversial musical ever,” Assassins. Highlights: flashpoint memories, Assassins Creed, Kidz Bop, shoulder devil, 9/11, John Weidman, empathy. Content warning: discussion of gun violence. "Assassins" Quinn Rose with Margaret Hall Referenced Works Assassins [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Margaret's Classes (including a Sondheim intensive!) Margaret's Book (Gemignani) Margaret's Newsletter

Aaron Roberts talks the depressingly universal Follies. Highlights: no one can stop my musical theater enthusiasm, nostalgia, the gayest musical without any homosexuality in it, summer camp, ghosts, Michael Bennett, Pirates of the Caribbean. "Follies" Quinn Rose with Aaron Roberts Referenced Works Follies [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Track-by-Track Breakdown: How Do You Make Sondheim Sound Disco for Losing My Mind?

Philip Michaels talks the persistent classic Guys & Dolls. Highlights: all in one place (except for Cuba), undercover cop, hijinks, female agency, Tom Hooper, revivals, Frank Sinatra. "Guys & Dolls" Quinn Rose with Philip Michaels Referenced Works Guys & Dolls [Amazon] Show Notes & Links

Holly Sansom talks the infectiously optimistic show The Prom. Highlights: The Drowsy Chaperone, seeing theater for work, TV performances, girls kissing, we’re all lesbians, cringing, Glee. "The Prom" Quinn Rose with Holly Sansom Referenced Works The Prom [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Thesis On Joan Corner of the Sky: The Drowsy Chaperone

Kat Largent talks the always-evolving classic Cinderella. Highlights: Whitney Houston, musicals as popular music, revivals, award eligibility, casting movie musicals, onstage quick changes, basic but beautiful. "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" Quinn Rose with Kat Largent Referenced Works Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella [Amazon] Show Notes & Links

Stanley Rose talks the charming satire/homage Something Rotten. Highlights: Christian Borle, write what you know, the Black Death!, simple entertainment, fact checking with Mom, humming the songs. "Something Rotten!" Quinn Rose with Stanley Rose Referenced Works Something Rotten! [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Musical Theater Newsletter Hard to Be the Bard Music Video when characters in musicals transition from speaking to singing Upstart Crow

Kerri Kearse talks the “drum circle for the Lord” and/or musical Godspell. Highlights: directorial freedom, Christian rock, belting about the Lord, baby George Salazar, Marianne Williamson, race in casting, parables, Jesus Christ Superstar, earnestness. "Godspell" Quinn Rose with Kerri Kearse Referenced Works Godspell [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Support this podcast and get the bonus gameshow episode Theater history newsletter

Emily Clark talks the pointillist musical Sunday in the Park with George. Highlights: Bounce, autobiographical musicals, putting it together, universal (or not), historical inaccuracy, Pulitzer Prizes, Mandy Patinkin. "Sunday in the Park with George" Quinn Rose with Emily Clark Referenced Works Sunday in the Park with George [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Stealing Focus on YouTube Emily on Twitter Stealing Focus on Facebook

Jhanelle Benton talks the unflinching rock musical Jagged Little Pill. Highlights: Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, being overly attached to the cast, interpretative dance, fluid movement, Elizabeth Stanley, gushing about the ensemble, Christmas letters, jukebox musicals. Content warning: discussion of sexual assault and drug abuse. "Jagged Little Pill" Quinn Rose with Jhanelle Benton Referenced Works Jagged Little Pill [Amazon] Show Notes & Links

Emily Lewis talks the warm-hearted and delicious She Loves Me. Highlights: Alabama, Hungarian writers, theater with teenagers, lack of communication, interesting dances, uninteresting dances, ice cream, lonely hearts. "She Loves Me" Quinn Rose with Emily Lewis Referenced Works She Loves Me [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Musicals Madness Final Round

Jason Snell talks the deceptively complex The King and I. Highlights: childhood, Yul Brynner, dresses, orientalism, they fixed some of the orientalism, complex characters, too-long songs, b-sides from The Sound of Music, etc, etc, etc. "The King and I" Quinn Rose with Jason Snell Referenced Works The King and I [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Musicals Madness Final Four Jason on Twitter

Allison Truj talks the alternately nihilistic and uplifting Company. Highlights: Little Women (2019), Marriage Story (2019), cautionary tales, fish pants, aging poorly, Patti LuPone, getting broken up with at the intermission of Phantom of the Opera. "Company" Quinn Rose with Allison Truj Referenced Works Company [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Musicals Madness Round 3 Listen to our accompanying Co-Op episode by becoming an Incomparable Member Truj on Twitter Most Important Meal

Lisa Schmeiser talks the flamboyant and doomed world of Cabaret. Highlights: Schitt’s Creek, Chicago, Berlin as a character, the rise of fascism, acting like you’re bad at acting, stunt casting, ambiguity. "Cabaret" Quinn Rose with Lisa Schmeiser Referenced Works Cabaret [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Musicals Madness Round 2 Lisa on Twitter

Javier Matusevich talks Starkid and Twisted. Highlights: Wicked, Cruella de Vil, Aladdin sucks, 1001 Nights, college students, in-jokes, making fun of what you love. "Twisted" Quinn Rose with Javier Matusevich Referenced Works Twisted [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Musicals Madness Bracket! Javier on Twitter 10 Disney Characters Who are Actually Raging F***boys (strong language) The Actors Fund Chicago Theatre Workers Relief Fund New York Theatre Workshop Financial Resources

Annette Wierstra talks international sensation Six. Highlights: young writers, short shows, Edmonton, tours, rewriting the narrative, amazing dancers, big Eliza Hamilton energy. "Six" Quinn Rose with Annette Wierstra Sponsors Mezzanine Theater Diary: Keep track of every show you see with Mezzanine. Mezzanine’s database covers over thirty years of Broadway history and is growing all the time, and can be used for tours or regional productions through easy manual entries. It’s currently available for free in the iPhone and iPad app stores. Referenced Works Six [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Annette on Twitter Earp Chirp Agents of SMOOCH

Lauren Pokedoff talks the optimistic classic Hello Dolly. Highlights: watching a whole Tony season, Bette Midler, sleeping on the street for tickets, strong women, Barbra Streisand, spectacle. "Hello Dolly" Quinn Rose with Lauren Pokedoff Referenced Works Hello Dolly [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Lauren on Twitter Lauren on Instagram

Brian Hamilton talks the fever dream that is Cats (both the stage and film versions). Highlights: Personally victimized by Cats (2019), fully filmed Broadway performances, breaking the fourth wall, dance musicals, poetry, T.S. Eliot, JaSOn DEruloooo, offensive horniness. "Cats" Quinn Rose with Brian Hamilton Referenced Works Cats (1998) [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Brian Hamilton on Twitter "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" with Brian Hamilton "Spring Awakening" with Brian Hamilton

Highlights: dream casting, hope to theater kids, low budget costumes, Disney cleans up New York, it’s a metaphor, Susan Egan, gushing about Belle, toxic masculinity, 4D movies, drunk composer promises. "Beauty and the Beast" Quinn Rose with Felicia Fitzpatrick Referenced Works Beauty and the Beast [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Listener Survey Low Budget Beasts