Phone rings, door chimes, in comes... John and John with their newest episode - where they talk about one of Stephen Sondheim's underrated hits in "Company". The pair talk about how this show is better than the sum of its parts, the reliance of the score in the Jonathan Tunick orchestrations, and how completely John Doyle missed the mark in his presentation of the show. John N also gives a report on his recent viewing of the current Broadway revival and how the casting choices made for the production increase the nuance of the show. Also, John N has important thoughts on his Patti LuPone take. Worth it for those alone. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by George Furth Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
On this week's "very special episode" of John and John (overdramatic title provided courtesy of John N.), the pair discuss the longest-running musical in Broadway history, "The Phantom of the Opera". The Johns talk about the cultural impact of the show, their thoughts on the (lack of) character arcs for most of the show's characters, the legacy of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and so much more. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe Book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber Based on the 1909 novel "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
This week, the Johns backflip in to discuss the 2012 musical "Bring It On". Come take a look as they discuss the uniformity of the score, the role and reach of licensing in the life cycle of a Broadway musical, and how this show manages to distinguish itself in some meaningful ways. Music by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda Lyrics by Amanda Green and Lin-Manuel Miranda Book by Jeff Whitty Based on the 2000 film "Bring It On", screenplay by Jessica Bendinger Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
This week, the Johns delve into the world of Roald Dahl and look at the Tim Minchin musical "Matilda". A significant departure from the work of "Groundhog's Day", the duo gets into their thoughts on the fantastical elements of the show, where this property was a bit more successful than the aforementioned "GHD", and delve into the world of thought experiments with: will there ever be a show with children that John M. likes? Music and lyrics by Tim Minchin Book by Dennis Kelly Based on the novel "Matilda" by Roald Dahl Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
It's no secret on this podcast that "band on stage" holds a solid part of the Johns' hearts. This week, the pair discuss the 2012 musical "Once" that not only features the band on stage, but the band as part of the story. John and John give their thoughts on the concept of a "Day in the Life" musical, the score's success on stage and at the Tony Awards, and how some shows are more than the sum of their parts. Music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová Book by Enda Walsh Based on the movie "Once", screenplay by John Carney Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
John and John seize the day in their next show and discuss the 2012 Disney musical "Newsies". They have a few notes about the score, the dichotomy of the dance vs non-dance music, the attempts at authenticity, and the role of dance in the modern musical... well, at least *this* modern musical. Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Jack Feldman Book by Harvey Firestein Based on the 1992 movie "Newsies", screenplay by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
This week, the Johns venture a little bit off the traditional path and delve into the 1995 show, "Songs For A New World". They talk about the through-line that replaces a traditional plot, their thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of Jason Robert Brown's musical output, and how this show encapsulates the concept of Americana in a way that is more appropriate for the subject. Music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
Some weeks, it feels like you're saying the same thing over and over - week after week. With the modern Broadway trend leaning heavily into movie adaptations, it becomes easy to feel like one is in a loop. So, John and John run headfirst and go a little multiverse and talk about "Groundhog Day: The Musical", a movie adaptation that is literally about reliving every day over and over.... The Johns delve deep into this show that they honestly enjoy, but has some apparent flaws: an inconsistent (if occasionally brilliant) score and a sense of humor that can be a bit... dry at times. Music and lyrics by Tim Minchin Book by Danny Rubin Based on the movie "Groundhog Day" by Danny Rubin and Harold Ramis Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
This week the Johns return to the Dynamic Duo of Rogers and Hammerstein and a show, that, while not a flop like "Pipe Dream" - was a rare miss for the team. "Me and Juliet" suffers from too much on the stage and not enough attention off it. John and John give their thoughts on the endurance of the music, the memorability of the characters, and how sometimes even Broadway is a job where you punch a clock. Music by Richard Rogers Lyrics and Book by Oscar Hammerstein II Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
This week the Johns travel to the magical and mystical land of... Scotland. I mean, in this case, it really is! The pair discuss the 1947 musical "Brigadoon" and get into 18th-century Scottish law, how this show is more accurate than "Braveheart", and the appropriateness of the Highland Bagpipe on the Broadway stage. Music by Frederick Loewe Lyrics and book by Alan Jay Lerner Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
Well, after last week with John M. being the voice of reason, we felt it was only fair to let the wind shift slightly and so we started out our non-flops portion of the season with a show that he... does not like. The Johns discuss the 2017 musical "Anastasia" and after maybe the best (at least the most sarcastic) rundown ever, the duo discuss their connections with the show, their thoughts on movie vs show, and take aim at the "villain" of the show. Music by Stephen Flaherty Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens Book by Terrance McNally Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
To end this year's February Flops, the Johns take Leonard Bernstein to task (kinda, sort of) for his 1976 flop "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue". The pair talk about the troubled road this show had on it's way to Broadway due to incessant meddling during its out-of-town tryouts and how aspects of this show remain in other works of Bernstein. And John M. delights in John N. taking shots at his hero. Music by Leonard Bernstein Lyrics and book by Alan Jay Lerner Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
For the third week of February Flops, the Johns take a look at a show that may not have been a flop... had it premiered 20 years earlier. While discussing Jerry Herman's maligned show "Mack and Mabel" - the pair get into the state of Broadway in the 1970s, some of the printed criticism of the show, and the orchestration choices for this misplaced Golden Age musical. Music and lyrics by Jerry Herman Book by Michael Stewart Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
This week, John and John tackle the monolithic (in terms of performance length, not artistic merit) Stephen Schwartz musical "The Baker's Wife". Their share their feelings on the quality of the book, their takeaways from the score, and... wouldn't you know it, that pesky Frank Loesser makes another appearance. Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Book by Joseph Stein Based on the movie of the same name by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
It may be a little late, but we are back! And with another set of February Flops to kick things off! For our first show in the 2023 edition of the Flops, we look at a very rare miss from the titans of the Golden Age - Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, and their show "Pipe Dream". John and John talk about the collaboration between Hammerstein, Rodgers, and author John Steinbeck; how Frank Loesser is tangentially involved; and how would this show fare as populated by the Muppets? Music by Richard Rodgers Lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein Based on the novel "Sweet Thursday" by John Steinbeck Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
Once upon a time.... In a far-off kingdom... There were two podcast hosts. John and John wind down Season 5 (more to come!) by talking about the monolithic "Into the Woods". They debate the role of the role of Narrator/Mysterious Man, the movie vs the stage production, their favorite songs and recordings, and John M has some... feelings about the show's most recognizable theme. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by James Lapine Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
This week, John and John discuss the Disney musical that never made it to Broadway in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". They discuss the representation in the show, the genesis from "Der Glöckner der Notre Dame", the problems this show has and tries to solve, and John N reaffirms his theater crush on Patrick Page. Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Stephen Schwarz Book by James Lapine and Peter Parnell Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
This week, the Johns talk about the 1966 musical "The Apple Tree" and look at how the show works as a series of three separate stories, but comes together under a common umbrella to make a complete show. They also discuss the greatness that is Alan Alda, and briefly get into the debate of cast album vs soundtrack.... well, John N. does; John M. rises above the foolishness. Music by Jerry Bock Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick Book by Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Jerome Coopersmith Based on "The Diaries of Adama nd Eve" by Mark Twain, "The Lady or the Tiger" by Frank R. Stockton, and "Passionella" by Jules Feiffer Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
For this week's episode, John Squared talks about the 1971 production of "Two Gentlemen of Verona", a musical based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare. Listen in as the pair talk about the absurd nature of the material and how it doesn't always make sense, the okay-ness of the resulting material, and where this show sits in the legacy of the rather stacked 1971 Broadway season. Music by Galt MacDermot Lyrics by John Guare Book by John Guare and Mel Shapiro Based on the play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
On the heels of last week's episode with Stage Manager Kelsey Tippins, the Johns talk about the 2018 show "The Prom" - one that John N. seems to desperately want to work on. The pair discuss their love of the music, the framing of the heart of the show, and the "savior" trope that is set up and ultimately subverted by Emma's self-determination. Music by Matthew Sklar Lyrics by Chad Beguelin Book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to https://anchor.fm/musicalminutes Intro and outro music ("BeBop 25") provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com Have a question for John or John? Want to leave feedback or tell us how wrong we are? Email us at musicalminutespodcast@gmail.com For more info on our hosts - please visit https://norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes