Jim and Tomic's Musical Theatre Happy Hour

Get ready for some sycophantic Jim and Tomic as we buckle up and ‘Ride the Cyclone.’ The cast recording for this incredible show by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell has just dropped and we couldn’t wait to talk about it. We talk through the fascinatingly diverse characters, the meaning of life and what this show means for the future of musical theatre! Support the Show ➤ Ride the Cyclone (World Premiere Cast Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES Feel free to take part in the new drinking game of ‘How many times does Jimi say that’s so smart?’ Check out this great montage of moments from the Chicago production which gives you a great idea of the amazing production design and how fricking cool Karnak is! The team did a really interesting interview at the Guggenheim prior to their production at MCC! If you’re looking for a very succinct timeline of this production from Victoria to Cast Recording then check out superfan Sam’s video here! Tom waits If you’re looking for a bit of a cool kind of crazy then check out this number from Tom Waits’ ‘The Black Rider’ PERFORM THIS SHOW! As the cogs of live theatre start to turn again why not bring this to your theatre company as a potential option? If you’re in the UK click here, and if you’re in the US click here! Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Or come join us on the discord! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time to ride on those wild geese as we fly into Austria to talk all about potentially the world’s most famous musical, ‘The Sound of Music.’ We try and pull apart why it’s so popular while discussing the real Von Trapp family, the tonal differences between the film and stage show , why Maria is a lesbian icon and discover the best musical theatre themed Hallowe’en costume. Support the Show ➤ The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES A very good place to start is this wonderful video of Julie Andrews meeting the real Maria Von Trapp! Out of the myriad of documentaries about the Sound of Music that are out there, we thoroughly recommend this one presented by Sue Perkins. For a totally different perspective on the show (and some other great insight into gender and feminism in the musical theatre!) check out Stacy Wolf’s fascinatingly enjoyable book ‘A Problem Like Maria.’ She worked on it for months and came out with an incredible performance. Here’s Lady Gaga singing a medley of the songs at the Oscars. Let’s cringe together with Tommy’s first in-person YouTube appearance! Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Or come join us on the discord! A Carnival Quiz QuestionAs far as we know, this is the only musical based (kind of) on a roller coaster. What show? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dear Faithful Listeners, this is going to be a good podcast, and here’s why: we’re having an open and honest discussion about the smash hit contemporary musical, ‘Dear Evan Hansen.’ This show has been extremely divisive among its audiences and we try to pick apart why that is in this week’s episode. We talk about some of the changes we would make to the show, how it compares to shows like ‘Next to Normal’ and ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ and discuss how it has impacted the musical theatre community for good! Support the Show ➤ Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES CW for this episode: suicidal ideation / mental health issues If you want to dive further into some of the poetry then we thoroiughly recommend checking out the ‘Dear Evan Hansen: Through the Window’ book! And speaking of books, we have an extremely rare musical-to-book adaptation which gives some new insights into Connor’s life. There is some great comparison to be made with this show and ‘Next to Normal’ - check out our episode on that show! if you’re looking for some great mental health storytelling then you NEED to check out Crazy Ex-Girlfriend for some of the best portrayal of this that exists! Our nerd-dom goes so far as to reading academic writing on musical theatre such as this one on Evan Hansen’s fandom! Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Or come join us on the discord! BIG NEWS! We will be celebrating our 100th episode by recording a LIVE Happy Hour with you! Come and join the party online on the 1st May at 2pm PST/5pm EST/10pm GMT etc.! We've got some big announcements and big giveaways so tweet us your questions and favourite moments using #100HappyHours to be in with a chance of winning!No Quiz Question! Just stick the 1st of May in your calendars! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All aboard Hades express (no not the train, the boat this time!) as we join Dionysus and Xanthias on their descent into the underworld in search of the saviour of art in Stephen Sondheim’s ‘The Frogs'. It’s been a while since Jimi and Tommy butted heads but it is alive and well in this episode! Euripedes v. Aeschylus; Shaw v Shakespeare; and now Jimi v. Tommy! They talk about the legitimacy of Greek theatre today, whether or not the 2004 was an improvement and debate if this show should ever be performed again. Who will win?! Tune in to find out… Support the Show ➤ The Frogs (2004 Broadway Cast Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES First of all Jimi would like to apologise for the audio difficulties with this episode! Just wanted to get into that 'under the River Styx' vibe... If you’re interested in finding out more about Greek theatre then we are not the people to come to obviously. But here’s a fantastic BBC documentary about Ancient Greek comedy that will do much better. Aeneid Saying that if you’re looking for a good translation of the Aeneid (for some reason) Jimi can’t recommend the Robert Fitzgerald one enough. It’s worth listening to the Library of Congress recording to hear some of the songs that didn’t make it into the 2004 production - also because that way you get to sample Evening Primrose too… Here’s a really cool interview from some creatives who have worked with or just love The Frogs for Sondheim’s 90th birthday celebrations last year. Jimi’s journey into intertextuality has obviously only just begun but this is a good place to start if you want to join him! Tommy can’t recommend ‘The Ground on Which I Stand’ enough. Go read. Now. BIG NEWS! We will be celebrating our 100th episode by recording a LIVE Happy Hour with you! Come and join the party online on the 24th April at 2pm PST/5pm EST/10pm GMT etc.! We've got some big announcements and big giveaways so tweet us your questions and favourite moments using #100HappyHours to be in with a chance of winning! Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Or come join us on the discord! A (Weird) Romantic Quatement Looking for love? Have we got the show for you. We’re developing a dating app named after our next show. It pares you with another performer who has played the exact same character in this show. Just here these rave reviews from our two happy couples… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a terrifying craze creeping up on your children, no - it’s not pool, it’s ‘Reefer Madness!’ Whether you’re a fan of the green stuff or not, this musical is an incredible send-up of B-Movies and American politics and has some stonking star turns in its movie adaptation. We talk all about Kristen Bell’s dancing chops, whether this show should be performed in high schools and give some home truths about the world of weed. Support the Show ➤ Reefer Madness (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack & Original Los Angeles Cast Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES We can’t recommend the film adaptation of Reefer Madness enough! If you haven’t seen it - get that sorted! If you’re a real fan then you should probably check out the source material for the musical. Jimi recommends the colorized version for some extra spice. Father Ted was very much a revolutionary comedy show in the UK. They have incredible commentary on how protest culture can create its own furore with The Passion of St. Tibulus What’s harder, trading a blue chicken for a Biggoron Sword? Or a paperclip for a house? This guy tells one side of the argument here. If you’re interested in seeing Kristen Bell’s dancing chops check out this clip from the movie featuring Neve Campbell of all people! Also if you want to see a wonderful side of Kristen Bell check out her Hot Ones interview (then fall into the YouTube hole of Hot Ones videos) Ana Gesteyer truly has some pipes. Here’s her singing her rendition of ‘One Mint Julep.’ Jimi made too many references in this episode. Here is episode one of The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo. Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Or come join us on the discord! A Meryl-ly Quiz Question As far as we can tell, Meryl Streep’s turn as the Witch in the movie version of Sondheim’s Into The Woods was her second role in one of Steve’s shows. What was the first? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How DID they build Titanic? Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s 1998 Tony Award winning musical showcases a deeply emotional story with a sensational score. In this episode we discuss why the Titanic tragedy is SUCH a sensation, how they pull off sailing and sinking a ship in various productions of the musical and work out which monumental historic events we could see on a Broadway stage in the future. Support the Show ➤ Titanic: A New Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES If you’re interested in hearing more about the behind-the-scenes of this show then check out Yeston and Stone’s companion book! The amount of study that has been done into the Titanic and the lives of the people who survived and perished aboard is as immense as the ship herself. If you’re interested in seeing some footage from the original production - including those straight lines - check out the press reel! Here’s an incredible video of the opening featuring some of the original cast members, backed by a full symphony orchestra and 250-person choir - as it should be! If you’re interested in finding out a bit more about the history of the Titanic, check out this fab Scottish history podcast - A Wee Bit Gothic! Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Or come join us on the discord! A Directorial Quiz Question The original theatrical director of this stage musical would go on to direct not only it’s movie adaptation, but also such great hits as Paul Blart Mall Cop 2. What show? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the cult musical everyone loves to hate! Featuring Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, rollerskates and cartoon fish - it could only be Xanadu! This time we’re chatting all about the musical that started the Razzies. But we work out if it is actually as bad as everyone says it is? We also check out the stage musical adaptation and try to determine which is better! Along the way we discuss viral marketing, musical mashups and the importance of wearing a glitzy scarf. What’s not to love?! Support the Podcast ➤ Xanadu (Original Broadway Cast Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES If you’ve only read the reviews and have decided not to watch the original Xanadu movie, then think again. It’s pure, unadulterated joy. Do it. Do it now. If you’re not convinced why not check out this classic cheesy 80s trailer? This documentary from the anniversary puts a lot of the film’s complicated legacy into perspective. In a fun addition to the stage adaptation we have Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman play the ‘villains’ of the piece! Here they are in action at Bryant Park. You can see here how the creatives involved in the adaptation are not fans of the movie… Xanadu had a fascinating Tony campaign starring the notorious Cubby Bernstein - checkout this ep starring Nathan Lane! Do you think it would fly today? Spelling Bee and [title of show] had similar funky YouTube marketing campaigns. Have a gander! Do you miss this? Can we start some kind of social media campaign to make Kenny Ortega bring To Wong Foo to the stage and for him to bring Jimi on as a dramaturg? Thanks. Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Or come join us on the discord! A Coincidental Quatement It was a complete accident that this musical and a film with the exact same name and premise premiered the same year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time to talk about the show that put the UK on the Musical Theatre Map - ‘Oliver!’ It’s the story of the orphan boy who asked for more and was sent on a journey that would change his life forever. In this episode we talk all about Lionel Bart’s fascinating journey to writing the show, discuss the incredible movie adaptation and how it compares to the stage show, the incredible influence this musical had on other UK musicals in the future, and Jimi cracks Tommy, whatever that means… Support the Podcast ➤ Oliver! (1994 West End Revival Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES If you haven’t seen the incredible movie adaptation of ‘Oliver!’ then you simply MUST! What do you think about the character portrayals of Fagin and Nancy? Let us know! You might know Rachel Tucker from her stint as Elphaba or starring in Come From Away, but did you know she got started by not winning the search for the next Nancy - ‘I’d Do Anything’? It would be obscene of us not to mention the ULTIMATE Oliver Twist adaptation - ‘Oliver and Co.’ What’s better, this or ‘Consider Yourself’? No I’m being serious, it has Bette Midler as a poodle. Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Or come join us on the discord! An Open-Ended Quatement This show has (at least) three things in common with ‘Singin’ in the Rain.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and Tomic get classical! This time we’re checking out Dave Malloy’s Lincoln Centre special - ‘Preludes'.’ Set in the hypnotised mind of big-handed composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, this is a show that is comfortably nestled in the fringes of contemporary musical theatre. We deep dive on Art’s (purposeful capital letter) representation in musical theatre, why this show didn’t sit well with a lot of the people who saw it and unsurprisingly we do some fanboying over Dave Malloy. Support the Show ➤ Preludes (Original Cast Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES If you fancy pulling apart the weird idiosyncrasies of the English language in the UK look no further than the Map Men! Normally we would just recommend the cast recording but to get the full picture of ‘Preludes’ you’ll want to get your hands on this libretto! Here’s a great interview with the hue-some twosome behind this show! We didn’t chat too much about it on the ep but Joseph Keckler who plays Rach’s best friend Chaliapin is a bit of a vocal god… Is this show one of your Rice Krispie Treats? Let us know! Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Or come join us on the discord! A Poppin’ Quiz Question The film version of this musical very nearly turned into a Mary Poppins reunion. Serendipitously, fate pulled both Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke out of the running for their respective roles. What show? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support the Show ➤ Seeing as it’s the holiday season we thought it was the perfect time to talk about one of the newsest festive institutions: ‘Elf: the Musical.’ As we explore The Story of Buddy the Elf and his efforts to save Christmas they rate all the differences between the musical and the film, Jimi paints a picture about the insane Arena tour in the UK and we wonder if Warner Bros. Theatricals will be able to take on Disney Theatrical Group in the fight for Corporate Broadway! Elf: the Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES Check out the outlandish Arena production from the UK. What do you think? Too much? Just right? Let us know! And for something a bit different how about this Japanese production? What are some international productions that you love? If you’re intrigued by Jimi’s lustings why not check out our Newsies episode? There’s plenty there. Here’s a peek at Warner Bros. Theatricals next outing: Dave the Musical! What do you think about the idea of Christmas becoming an American holiday? Let us know your thoughts! We have MERCH! You asked for it, and we listened. We’ve only got a couple of designs up there just now, but stay tuned for more! If you’re an illustrator please get in touch! Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Or come hop on to the discord! A Handy Quiz Question If the subject of this musical played basketball for the NBA, he’d be in the top five for basketball players with the largest hands. What show? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support the Show ➤ Did you know black is this year’s pink? A giant hat is blowing in from the west, it can only be the untold story of the witches of Oz - ‘Wicked.’ Crank up your time dragons as this one’s a doozy! We talk all about the differences from the source material, Jimi unleashes his inner ‘Wicked’ fangirl much to Tommy’s chagrine, we work out if it’s actually an incredibly written show and have a deep discussion about gatekeeping in musical theatre. Thank goodness, it’s Wicked! Wicked (Original Broadway Cast Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES To honour Sentimental Man and all those (usually creepy) old mentor here is an incredible cabaret song. If you’re a big Wicked fan then we recommend the following literature: ‘The Grimmerie’ The Wicked Years series by Gregory Maguire - ‘The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,’ ‘Son of a Witch,’ ‘A Lion Among Men,’ and ‘Out of Oz’ ‘Changed For Good’ by Stacy Wolf Billy Eichner knows how to be a screaming fan better than anyone, you gays!  This is Jimi’s only opportunity to show off some if his favourite Elphaba moments. Here’s Alexia Khadime, Rachel Tucker and Willemijn Verkaik. Ana Gasteyer is also an incredible Elphie. Here she is giving us a low key Wicked performance.  Here’s yet another sensational Elphie, Eden Espinosa, talking about the issues behind riffing on riffs. Come and join the celebration! We’re having our second livestream on Sunday 20th December - let’s muddle through 2020 somehow together. Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support the Show ➤ It’s time to put on a little bit of mascara and throw your wigs to the ground as we’re heading to French Riviera to join Georges and Albin in ‘La Cage Aux Folles.’ Tackling our third Jerry Herman, we decide how it measures up to his other big hitters. We also discuss the interesting origins of the show and what it might have been, and have a classic Jim and Tomic conversation about queer representation in musical theatre! La Cage Aux Folles (New Broadway Cast Recording) iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES If you’ve not seen The Birdcage with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane it’s a wonderful accompaniment to the musical! Gene Hackman in drag, who knew!? Jimi thoroughly recommends Arthur Laurents’ book ‘Mainly on Directing’ for some insightful, yet catty storytelling from the director of many seminal musicals. What do you think? Was Herman pulling a Sondheim with the Cocktail Counterpoint? Was he successful? Should Frank Wildhorn be quaking? Too many questions. Kelsey Grammar opinions or not, Douglas Hodge gave a stellar performance in the 2010 revival. Here’s a great discussion about Bio Queens in the modern drag industry from China Deathcrash. Did you join us for our first ever livestream at the end of October? If you missed it then you can catch up over on Tommy’s channel here! We had SO much fun doing it. Maybe we’ll do it again…..  [significant ellipses] Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! A Quiz Question From Outer Space On the eighth of april 2010, NASA played a song from this musical as the “wakeup call” on the international space station. What show? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hurry! Hop onto the bed cause it's about to take off as we fly into wartime Britain and join Eglentine Price and her chosen family in the magical 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks.' An absolute Disney classic and our first out-and-out musical film discussion, this time we are chatting all about what makes this film so different from its counterpart 'Mary Poppins,' Tommy geeks out over the incredible visual effects used in the film and we both posit our ideas of what the stage adaptation is going to look like. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Original Movie Soundtrack) iTunes / Spotify Support the Show ➤ SHOW NOTES Did Andrew Lloyd Webber get arrested for having an illicit early performance of ‘Cinderella’? Who can say… There is SO much cut material from the released cut of Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Here’s some for you! Emelius Browne professes his love for Eglentine Eglentine sings to her magic broom ‘A Step in the Right Direction’ Eglentine sings ‘Nobody’s Problems’ Disney+ has some absolutely incredible documentaries. Why not check out ‘The Boys’ for the fascinating story of the Sherman Brothers who wrote the music for ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ or check out ‘Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2’ for some behind the scenes discussion about how musical movies are made. Honestly though, would you buy a ‘Lovely Bit of String’ t-shirt? Let Jimi know and he’ll make it… Any discussion of Angela Lansbury will always yield a screening of the greatest video of all time that Tommy refuses to watch. He’s missing out. Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! Another Sondheim Quiz Question Both Stephen Sondheim and Jerry Herman have worked on partial musical adaptations of the source material for this musical. What show? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support the Show ➤ Welcome to Jimi and Tommy’s Karaoke Dance Party! Are podcasts more like onions or parfait? One of the many deep, philosophical questions we pose as we talk all about everyone’s favourite ogre in ‘Shrek The Musical.’ Find out who does a better Scottish accent - the American or the Scotsman, and tune into discussions all about the differences between the musical and the film, the improvements made for the touring version and Jimi poses an impossible question… Shrek The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Amazon / iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES The late, great Regis Philbin never got to do his star turn as Shrek on a Broadway stage but he certainly did on national television! If you’ve never seen the movie but have stumbled upon the musical then we implore to you watch the source content and let us know what you think in comparison to the show.  Also worth checking out the pro-shot of the show to see its incarnation before it went on tour featuring the old dragon number! ‘Shrek Retold’ is an incredible fan project where the entire film is re-created by the people who love it most. For some tasty hate comments check out Tommy’s video where he reacts to the Shrek musical pro-shot! We are so happy that they redid the dragon for the tour. Which number do you prefer? John Tartaglia is a superhero and there’s just no question to it. He plays three tracks in the one show! Insanity. Where do you stand on the whole original v. adaptation v. jukebox conversation? Let us know! Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! A Backup Quiz Question This musical was in development concurrently with another popular musical franchise as a “backup plan” in the event the production company could not secure appropriate rights. Thankfully, the production company decided to finish both movies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support the Show ➤ Get ready to swallow this down - Jimi and Tommy are chatting all about Alanis Morissette’s venture onto Broadway: ‘Jagged Little Pill.’ This jukebox musical with an original book was one of the last shows to premiere on Broadway before the shutdown so it’s time we give it its due diligence and examine its impact before everything stopped! We discuss where this show sits in the musical theatre canon as a jukebox show, work out whether the critique on the book is valid or not and pull apart some of the themes this show brings up that so many others are afraid to do. Thank U for listening! Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Amazon / iTunes / Spotify SHOW NOTES Apparently the listener ship of Jim and Tomic’s Musical Theatre Happy Hour needs to swot up on their 90s cult classics - check out Dogma now! If you’ve never listened to the iconic Jagged Little Pill album by Alanis Morissette then it is 100% worthwhile. There’s also a great interview on Spotify of her and Glen Ballard going through the writing process for the album. Where do you think Jagged Little Pill sits in the Jukebox Musical canon? And then what about the full musical theatre songbook as a whole? Let us know! To find out more about the creative process here is a great interview with the cast at this year’s BroadwayCon! If you listen very carefully you can hear Tommy and I talking about Cats downstairs. To get a vibe of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s incredible choreographic style have a gander at some of his work here! Regardless of your opinions of the show you can’t deny that Heather Lang is an incredible asset! Here’s a cool mini documentary featuring her talking about her experience before Jagged Little Pill. The staging of this show is pretty cool. Here’s a rare quiet moment involving a swingset! What do you think? Would Jagged Little Pill and the Healy family fit right into a musical TV series? Let us know! Remember you can come chat to us about the episode on Twitter and Instagram @jimandtomic! Or if you wanna pop OFF then jump into our email inbox at jimandtomic@gmail.com! A Quiz Question and Kelly The late great talk show host and TV personality Regis Philbin sat in makeup for THREE HOURS to play this musical’s title character even though he was never cast in the role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices