Carefully Taught: Teaching Musical Theatre with Matty and Kikau

In this episode, Matty and Kikau have a follow up conversation with Aaron Brown about his recent recommendation Cowboy Carter. The blending of genres and exploring of styles that Queen B does with this album is surprisingly connected to conversations Matty has been having with his musical theatre students.

Matty and Kikau catch up on what they've been working on, including Kikau's production of Urinetown at University of the Arts and Matty Sabbatical writing project Burn Ban: A Horror Musical. They also discuss their feelings about the state of summer theatre and a little Disneyland. Carefully Taught is a podcast to create a community of sharing amongst musical theatre educators. Make sure to follow us @carefullytaughtpodcast! Music provided by Joshua Hegg follow him @joshhegg23

Matty (@teague.miller) and Kikau (@kikautown) get caught up on what is happening!  Kikau talks about directing his first show at UARTS and Matty updates Kikau on sabbatical life.  They talk about the senior showcase landscape, and debrief about Matty's recent family trip to Disneyland! Follow Carefully Taught on Instagram @CarefullyTaughtPodcast!

Kikau and Matty discuss Musical Theatre Education and Social Justice in Theatre with multi-hyphenate artist and teacher Rose Van Dyne (@Rose_Van_Dyne).  Rose is currently in the final semester of her MFA at the Boston Conservatory, and serves as the administrative assistant to the Musical Theatre Educators Alliance.  She served on the music team of the post COVID remounting of Waitress on Broadway, and appeared as several different roles in the recent Broadway revival of 1776.  She also presented at the 2023 International MTEA conference in New York City. Click this link for Rose's recommendation!  http://www.aapacnyc.org/uploads/1/3/5/7/135720209/aapac_report_2018-2019_final.pdf

Matty and Kikau sit down with two of the most popular Musical Theatre TikTokers @BroadwayBob and @Theatreislife.  They discuss TikTok, Musical Theatre TikTok and ideas about how to use TikTok in our pedagogy! Do you use TikTok in the classroom?  Email us at carefullytaughtpodcast@gmail.com and tell us about it! Music provided by Joshua Hegg

Matty and Kikau look at the world of Musical Theatre TikTok, and have conversations about how this technology can be used in our classrooms. Jessica Humphrey (@jmhumphrey1) from Texas Christian University talks about ways she uses TikTok in the classroom.   Co-creator of Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, Daniel Mertzlufft (@danieljmertzlufft), discusses his relationship with the app and ways it can be shaping the future of Musical Theatre. Don't forget to follow Matty, the musical theatre professor, on TikTok (@Teaguemill)! Music provided by Joshua Hegg 

Matty and Kikau talk to Broadway producer Sally Cade Holmes!  You can follow Sally Cade on TikTok @sally.cade SALLY CADE HOLMES is a two time Tony Award-winning producer and thought leader committed to making challenging and innovative entertainment with broad appeal. She believes that brave, accessible, social justice-minded storytelling will make the world a better place. Her Broadway producing credits include Hadestown (Tony Award), The Inheritance (Tony Award / GLAAD Media Award), Terrence McNally’s Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Tony nomination), and Anastasia. Her Off-Broadway credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Drama Desk, Drama League & Outer Critics Circle Awards) and Puffs. Past credits include Nubia (featuring the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race), Boy Gets Violent (Ars Nova's AntFest), Summer Valley Fair (New York Musical Theatre Festival), Ryan J. Haddad's Hi, Are You Single (2015 Hot! Festival and 2016 Under The Radar) and Here’s Hoover (directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers). Music provided by Joshua Hegg

Matty and Kikau sit down with the creators of the new must see Off-Broadway musical BETWEEN THE LINES, including New York Times Best Selling Author Jodi Picoult (@jodipicoult), the composer/lyricists Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson (@samselanderson), and co-writer Timothy Allen McDonald (@timmcdonaldnyc).  Between the Lines opens for a limited engagement beginning June 14th at 2nd Stage's Tony Kiser Theater.  For more information visit www.betweenthelinesmusical.com. Picoult is best known as a prolific novelist.  She is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-eight novels, including Wish You Were Here, The Book of Two Ways, A Spark of Light, Small Great Things, Leaving Time, The Storyteller, Lone Wolf, Sing You Home, House Rules, Handle with Care, Change of Heart, and My Sister's Keeper, and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page. Samsel and Anderson met in 2010 in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater writing workshop. Since then, they’ve gone on to work with Disney Animation, Tony Award winner producer Daryl Roth, and many major studios in Hollywood. They are both classically trained musicians who share a passion for female forward stories, comedy, and true storytelling through song.  Composers and lyricists for Disney's Olaf's Frozen Adventure and Apple TV's Central Park. McDonald is an award winning playwright who wrote Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, and Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach.  He is also the co-founder of iTheatrics and the creator of Music Theatre International's Education Division. Music Provided by Joshua Hegg.  For More information visit JoshuaHeggMusic.com

When Kaitlin Hopkins created the Musical Theatre BFA at Texas State in 2009, no one could have guessed that in just a few short years Texas State would become one of the most recognized names in Musical Theatre Education.  Matty and Kikau sit down for an inspiring conversation with one of most exciting individuals in the Musical Theatre Education landscape.  They talk about her goals, how she has done what she's done, growing up in a rehearsal room with Tennessee Williams and, of course, Bat Boy. To learn more about Kaitlin visit https://www.kaitlinhopkins.net/.   To learn more about her organization Living Mental Wellness, visit https://www.livingmentalwellness.com/

Matty and Kikau have an in depth conversation with three College Audition Coaches who are currently working with high school students on the college audition process.  What are the pros and cons about auditions?  What exactly do college audition coaches do?  And what are these coaches hearing from students looking at applying to musical theatre training programs? Drew Boudreau (@collauditionpro) from College Audition Pros, Laura Enstall (@auditionwell) from Audition Well, and Leo Ash Evens (@musicaltheatrecollegeauditions) from Musical Theatre College Auditions. Music provided by Joshua Hegg.  For more information visit JoshuaHeggMusic.com Please rate and review on your favorite podcast app!!

It's semester two y'all! We are so excited to get back to work. Matty and Kikau talk about the new semester, Broadway musicals, the West Side Story movie, and the MTEA annual conference. Matty's recommendation today is another podcast called "My Favorite Flop."  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-favorite-flop/id1546767941 Thank you for listening, following, and sharing! Send us a message at carefullytaughtpodcast@gmail.com and like and follow us @carefullytaughtpodcast on instagram! 

Kikau and Matty sit down with Cal State Fullerton Assistant Professor Marty Austin Lamar (He/Him).    Marty (@MartyAustinLamar) graduated from the Florida A&M University’s School of Business and Industry and furthered his education at the University of Florida where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA) in acting with an emphasis in Musical Theatre performance and technique.  Marty recently served as Musical Theatre program co-ordinator at Howard University, the only HBU with a Musical Theatre BFA.  Marty has been featured on stages throughout the United States and abroad. Some of Marty’s Theatrical Credits include: The Amen Corner (Brother Davis), Shakespeare Theatre Company; Little Shop of Horrors (Voice of Audrey II), Constellation Theatre; SPUNK (Folkman 2); ELF (Mr. Greenway), Olney Theatre; On the Brink (Storyteller), The Kennedy Center; Let Freedom Ring Concert (Dr. King), The Kennedy Center; Choir Boy (Headmaster), The Studio Theatre; Five Guys Named Moe (Big Moe); Ragtime (The Attorney, Ensemble), Portland Center Stage; Miss Ever’s Boy’s (Hodman), Off-Broadway; Big River (Jim), Mill Mountain Theatre; Hairspray (Seaweed), Weathervane Theatre; College: The Musical (Jay) Hippodrome Theatre; Lysistrata (Phaedrias) Athens, Greece; Dreamgirls (James “Thunder” Early) The Essential Theatre; Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope (Preacher, Lead), The Essential Theatre; CROWNS (Male), The Essential Theatre; The Exonerated (David), McGuire Blackbox; La Traviata (Barone), Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Marty is a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association. Marty was recently nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. For more information visit www.mtdpa.org Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @carefullytaughtpodcast Music provided by JoshuaHeggMusic.com

On our final episode of the semester, we interview Katie O'Halloran (she/her) and Vinh Nguyen (he/him).  Katie is a Dublin-based, interdisciplinary director and creator from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her work celebrates theatricality, examines the materiality and effects of borders and confines, and prioritises a thorough probing of the text. She fuses her love of analyzing language with detailed vocal and physical work, as she firmly believes that “actors write with their bodies”. She holds a BFA (Hons) in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory (concentrations in Directing, Acting, Songwriting) and an MFA (Distinction) in Directing from The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art. Vinh is a multi-faceted theatre maker, educator, and EDI consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area/Ohlone Native Land. He has performed with companies such as 42nd Street Moon, San Jose Stage, Bay Area Musicals, Cabrillo Stage, and Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre. During his time in San Diego to pursue his graduate studies, Vinh performed in concerts with The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego Symphony, and Kristin Chenoweth at the Music Box Theatre.                 As a director, Vinh aims to critically examine and reinterpret the American Musical Theatre cannon for a modern audience. He is also invested in and has contributed to the creation of new works that spotlight BIPOC voices and diverse cultural experiences. Selected world premieres include: Mr. Holland's Opus (by BD Wong and Wayne Baker), Gold: The Midas Musical (by Min Kahng for Bay Area Children's Theatre), and The Emeryville Horror (Same Boat Theatre Collective, the Bay Area's first & only environmental justice theatre company). Vinh will be directing the musical Company for South Bay Musical Theatre and the musical Allegiance for Palo Alto Players this upcoming season.                Vinh is a passionate advocate and consultant for the causes of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and anti-racism in the theatre, having contributed to EDI efforts of companies such as: South Bay Musical Theatre, Hillbarn Theatre, 42nd Street Moon, and Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory. He is the Manager of Youth and Family Programs at Montalvo Arts Center and an adjunct professor at his alma mater, San Jose State University. Vinh received an MFA in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University. Membership includes: the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society (SDC), Equity Membership Candidate Program (EMC), and the Musical Theatre Educators' Alliance (MTEA).

On today's episode, we interview Mundo Ballejos Jr. (he/him) and Kyle Montgomery (he/him). Mundo is one of Matty's students at Chico State and Kyle is one semester away from an MFA in Musical Theatre at San Diego State University. Both are interested in careers as musical theatre teachers. The future of MT Education is BRIGHT! 

With only two episodes left this semester, Matty and Kikau touch base on how things are going and a handful of other current event topics.   Music Provided by Joshua Hegg ------------------------------------------ For more information about Alice Ripley's apology and denial, visit the link below- https://pagesix.com/2021/08/20/alice-ripley-apologizes-denies-vile-accusations-of-grooming/ For more information about "grooming" and how it's spoken about, visit the link below- https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/what-is-grooming-sexual-abuse-1199141/ For more information about The Morning Show visit- https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-morning-show/umc.cmc.25tn3v8ku4b39tr6ccgb8nl6m For more information about Squid Game- https://www.netflix.com/title/81040344

This is part 2 of the two-part Best Friends Series Jacob Brent (@jacobbrentstagram) is the Musical Theatre Coordinator at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Jacob is best known for his portrayal of Mr. Mistoffelees in the Broadway, London and Video productions of CATS. He is the only performer to have appeared in all three and the only actor to perform in both of the record-breaking performances of the longest running Broadway and West End show. We discuss musical theatre, Disney, and friendship.  Jacob's recommendation is a website called Course Workload Estimator 2.0.  Follow us on Instagram @carefullytaughtpodcast Music provided by JoshuaHeggMusic.com

(Apologies for the sound issues. We are attempting to fix and repost asap)  The AMAZING Khalia Davis (she/her) is a guest on our show today! Here is a link to her website. She is the Artistic Director of Bay Area Children's Theatre (BACT) and a director and playwright and is so inspiring. She led the premiere of A Kids Play About Racism, based on a kids book about racism by Jelani Memory, creating a new hybrid between live theatrical storytelling and film. This work brought together over 40 theater producing partners and was viewed on Broadway on Demand nearly 80,000 times. Past BACT directing credits: award-nominated world premiere, She Persisted the Musical, based on the popular children’s book by Chelsea Clinton, Frog and Toad, Judy Moody and Stink and the Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt. NYC directing credits: Atlantic for Kids, NYCCT, Disney Theatrical Group. What a joy she is! Recommended Resources: Woke Kindergarten and Teaching Artistry with Courtney J. Boddie  Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @carefullytaughtpodcast Music provided by JoshuaHeggMusic.com

Matty continues to weigh the pros and cons of directing Legally Blonde, and reaches a conclusion (what?!  No part 3?!?!). --- Guests include Broadway's Nikki Snelson (@nikkisnelsonaugh), CSU Chico Student Gaby Saxon (@gaby.saxon) and Megan Glynn Zollinger (@megan.glynn.zollinger). --- Plus, as always we share a recommended resource to enhance your musical theatre classroom.  This week's recommendation is Instagram follow @katieohallorandirects. --- Music for Carefully Taught is provided by JoshuaHeggmusic.com

Matty wrestles with his 2021-2022 Directing assignment and talks to some colleagues about their point of view.   Plus, as always we share a Recommended Resource to enhance your Musical Theatre teaching. Guests Include:  Tim Espinosa (@timespinosaoffical), Lauren Haughton Gillis (@laurenhaughton) and Shavanna Caulder (@shaviexo) Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @carefullytaughtpodcast Music provided by JoshuaHeggMusic.com

Kikau and Matty sit down with Carnegie Mellon Associate Professor Rick Edinger (he/they).   Rick (@redingernyc) is an accomplished music director, vocal coach, pianist, and actor, and is on the forefront of anti-racist Musical Theatre training.  As an actor, appearing in the 2004 Tony nominated Broadway revival of Pacific Overtures (dir. Amon Miyamoto) and the Broadway benefit concert production of Children and Art: A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim on the Eve of his 75th Birthday (dir. Richard Maltby, Jr.).  Edinger has also worked as a collaborative pianist with Broadway performers and singers from the Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Los Angeles Opera, San Francisco Opera, and more. As a vocal coach in New York for over 10 years, Edinger’s former and current clients have performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, on national/ international tours, and in regional houses across the globe.  Edinger also proudly co-chairs the CMU School of Drama’s Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion committee with colleague, Professor Tomé Cousin. www.rickedinger.com --- This week's Recommended Resource is from Rick and is MTDPA. Music, Theater, and Dance Professionals in the Academy (MTDPA) strives to support arts education professionals of the Global Majority to transform pedagogy, develop artistic scholarship, and cultivate leadership acumen in academic institutions.  For more information visit www.mtdpa.org Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @carefullytaughtpodcast Music provided by JoshuaHeggMusic.com