Doug and I do a lot of great musical theatre back-and-forth but really you just need to read this line from Dorothy Rodgers (wife to Richard, mother to Mary) New York Times obituary: "Mrs. Rodgers founded Repairs Inc., an agency that hired craftsmen to repair broken objects, in 1935 and was its head until 1941. In 1945 she patented the Jonny Mop, which was sold by Johnson & Johnson. It was one of several inventions. In 1958 she created the Basically Yours dress pattern for McCall's, and in 1972 she patented the Turn and Learn storybooks, sold by the Ideal Toy Company."
Seriously!
Join us on PATREON to get our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? The latest episode has Caroline Dubberly (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) and Kari Ginsburg (Gypsy, et al.) weighing the merits of everyone's favorite mockumentary about a small-town theatre company and their musical about the history of the small town in which they live that may or may not think dreams are stupid. It's Waiting for Guffman (1996)!
Nicole Hertvik from the incomparable DC Metro Theatre Arts interviews Patrick and Michelle Polera about their new show What She Said which can be seen this Friday at the Kennedy Center's Page-to-Stage Festival.
WHAT SHE SAID performance details here.
Join us on PATREON to get our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? August's episode has Married super-cool duo Lee Liebeskind (Spring Awakening) and Megan Reichelt (The Scarlet Pimpernel) join Patrick and his super-cool ladywife Kelley to talk about The Muppet Movie (1979) the super-coolest movie of all time. Seriously, it's so good you guys.
Heather is a costume designer. So we talked a lot about designing and designers and notes and all that good stuff.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? July's episode has James Finley (The Life) and Charlene V. Smith (Man of La Mancha 1968) talking about the 2007 film Once which is the basis for the 2013 Broadway musical Once. Funny how that works.
Robbie is the A&R Director and in-house designer for Grammy-winning record label Broadway Records. So he has a lot to say about design. Patrick wrote a book about visual literacy. So he has a lot to say about design. Here's some of what they said together.
This episode was recorded at Broadway Records. Go to BroadwayRecords.com to view and shop from their extensive catalog of cast albums, solo albums, and live recordings.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? July's episode has James Finley (The Life) and Charlene V. Smith (Man of La Mancha 1968) talking about the 2007 film Once which is the basis for the 2013 Broadway musical Once. Funny how that works.
Good morning, Mr. & Mrs. America and all the ships at sea. FLASH! Journalist Chris Klimek thinks Superman CHEATED!
Featured recordings: Superman: The Movie - Original Sound Track (1979) • Dragnet - Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (1987)
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? June's episode features Eliza Berkon (Godspell 1973) and Sophie Schulman (Funny Girl) discussing the Spice Girls' feature film Spice World (1997) just in time for summer!
Laura Esti Miller and Patrick talk about seeing the same show 20 years later.
Featured recordings: Miss Saigon - Original London Cast Recording (1989)
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? June's episode features Eliza Berkon (Godspell 1973) and Sophie Schulman (Funny Girl) discussing the Spice Girls' feature film Spice World (1997) just in time for summer!
Anyone who has spent time with myself and Courtney knows that we can talk. And we like to talk about American musical theatre and debate about knows more. (Spoiler alert: I do.)
Ready to put the work in artwork? Check out friend of the podcast Danielle Mohlman’s online interactive series Crafting Your Artistic Handbook. By the end of this six-week class, you’ll have: a set of rituals geared toward ongoing artistic growth, an accountability process designed to help you reach your goals, and a sustainable documentation method designed to grow and change as you do. Register and learn more at bit.ly/originalcastfriend. Use the code ORIGINAL at checkout for 20% off.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? May's episode features Eric Messner (The Who's Tommy) and Emily Zickler (Sweeney Todd, et al.) discussing The Monkees' feature film Head (1968) written by Jack Nicholson. Any more details would make no sense.
Did you know that Jonathan Larson wrote a musical version of George Orwell's 1984? Neither did Patrick. But Robyn did.
Featured recordings: The Jonathan Larson Project - Original Cast (2019)
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? April's episode has perennial favorites Kari Ginsburg (Gypsy, et al.) and Roddy Flynn (Anyone Can Whistle, et al.) talking Yentl (1983), Barbara Streisand's epic story about a woman pretending to be a man so she can study the Talmud and sing alone in the woods with candles.
Get tickets for Tinker Bell by Patrick Flynn now playing at First Stage Milwaukee!!
In a digital age where people are being cast based on their social media following and shows are transferring to Broadway after trending and building their audience online, it's time you learned from leading experts how to effectively promote yourself and your show. At Promote U! you'll get practical, hands-on advice from leading experts on a range of topics, including Creating Your Branding Toolkit, How to Use Social Media to Gain Loyal Fans, Creating a Website That Tells & Sells Your Story, and more! The Original Cast fans can use the code ORIGINAL19 to get your ticket to Promote U for $297 (reg. $597)!
I was very lucky to have the chance to chat with Kurt Peterson who produced Sondheim: A Musical Tribute and was in the original Broadway cast of Follies (1971). Kurt spills some tea on how the first Sondheim tribute came together, talks about his plans for the upcoming 50th anniversary, and what it was like to be in Follies before it was considered a classic of American musical theatre. You can learn more about Kurt and his work at his website: James Williams Productions Dot Com.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? April's episode has perennial favorites Kari Ginsburg (Gypsy, et al.) and Roddy Flynn (Anyone Can Whistle, et al.) talking Yentl (1983), Barbara Streisand's epic story about a woman pretending to be a man so she can study the Talmud and sing alone in the woods with candles.
Get tickets for Tinker Bell by Patrick Flynn now playing at First Stage Milwaukee!!
In a digital age where people are being cast based on their social media following and shows are transferring to Broadway after trending and building their audience online, it's time you learned from leading experts how to effectively promote yourself and your show. At Promote U! you'll get practical, hands-on advice from leading experts on a range of topics, including Creating Your Branding Toolkit, How to Use Social Media to Gain Loyal Fans, Creating a Website That Tells & Sells Your Story, and more! The Original Cast fans can use the code ORIGINAL19 to get your ticket to Promote U for $297 (reg. $597)!
Some musicals have title songs and we cover a bunch: good, bad, and in-between.
Featured recordings: Hello, Dolly! - The Original Broadway Cast Recording (1984) • Mame - Original Broadway Cast (1966) • La Cage Aux Folles - Original Cast Recording (1983)
LIVE SHOW! Sunday, April 14, 12:00pm at the Flying V Awesome-a-Thon in Bethesda, MD! Our theme this time out is "Musicals Based on Comics!" Go to UnknownPenguin.com/Live for more information.
This episode was recorded at Broadway Records. Go to BroadwayRecords.com to view and shop from their extensive catalog of cast albums, solo albums, and live recordings.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? March's episode has Logan Culwell-Block (Little Shop of Horrors 1982) and Kimberly Cooper Schmidt (The Light in the Piazza) talking about The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953), Dr. Suess's movie for everyone who hated piano lessons.
Kimberly and Patrick start out talking about My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center and end up talking about Be More Chill by way of the time Patrick went to an Arctic Monkeys show and Matt Helders wore a Go-Pro.
LIVE SHOW! Sunday, April 14, 12:00pm at the Flying V Awesome-a-Thon in Bethesda, MD! Our theme this time out is "Musicals Based on Comics!" Go to UnknownPenguin.com/Live for more information.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? March's episode has Logan Culwell-Block (Little Shop of Horrors 1982) and Kimberly Cooper Schmidt (The Light in the Piazza) talking about The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953), Dr. Suess's movie for everyone who hated piano lessons.
Golden-age musicals are problematic. Even the ones you don't think are problematic are problematic.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? February's episode features Lauren Halvorsen (The Wild Party) and Kenny Neal (Starlight Express) talking about Bugsy Malone (1976) which is like the Little Rascals doing GoodFellas to the Xanadu soundtrack.
Before it was a Flaherty/Ahrens/McNally musical, Ragtime was a Miloš Forman movie.
And before that, it was a novel by E.L. Doctorow.
And before that, some of the characters were real people.
And before that, some of those real people were real babies.
We don't go back that far.
Featured recordings: Ragtime - Original Broadway Cast Recording (1997)
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? February's episode features Lauren Halvorsen (The Wild Party) and Kenny Neal (Starlight Express) talking about Bugsy Malone (1976) which is like the Little Rascals doing GoodFellas to the Xanadu soundtrack.
Patrick is a guest this week on the wonderful Broadway Baby Podcast talking about Chess (shocker). Here's a snippet of the episode to whet your appetite.
The full episode is available HERE.
Enjoy!
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? January's episode features Beth Amman (Wicked) and Don Mike Mendoza (Hot Mikado ; Do I Hear a Waltz? 1965) talking about the Disney/Rodgers & Hammerstein TV event starring Whitney Houston and Brandy: Cinderella (1997).
Did you know you could major in "Hope Theory?" Did you know "Hope Theory" was a thing? Patrick didn't.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? January's episode features Beth Amman (Wicked) and Don Mike Mendoza (Hot Mikado / Do I Hear a Waltz? 1965) talking about the Disney/Rodgers & Hammerstein TV event starring Whitney Houston and Brandy: Cinderella (1997).
We were all in high school (some of you, statistically, still are), we all did theatre in high school (some of you, statistically, still do), we all had a tap solo sophomore year in Funny Girl that probably should've been cut but we can still do on command 23 years later . . . just me? We talk about all that.
Also parenting.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? December's episode features Emma Jackson (Brigadoon 1990) and Farrell Parker (A Chorus Line 1975) talking about the holiday classic: White Christmas (1954).
Doug Wilder is an actor/director/filmmaker. During his episode about No Way to Treat a Lady, we talked about the idea of self-production and what a double-edged sword it can be.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? November's episode features Peter Boyer (The Fantasticks 1960) and Jenny Male (Urinetown: The Musical) talking about the Marx Brothers' masterpiece: Duck Soup (1933).
Vaughn is the Artistic Director of the Santa Fe Playhouse. During his episode on the GroovyLily musical Striking 12, we discussed two other musicals he wrote/co-wrote: You or Whatever I Can Get and Disco Jesus and the Apostles of Funk, both of which debuted at the Capitol Fringe Festival here in D.C.
Featured recordings:
Striking 12 - The New GrooveLily Musical (2005)
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? November's episode features Peter Boyer (The Fantasticks - 1960) and Jenny Male (Urinetown: The Musical) talking about the Marx Brothers' masterpiece: Duck Soup (1933).
During pianist and music director Elisa Rosman's episode on Falsettos, we discussed what makes a song difficult and/or fun to play. We also cover what an audition is like from the point-of-view of that person at the piano to whom you just handed your sheet music.
Featured recordings: Falsettoland - Original Cast (1990) • Sunday in the Park with George - Original Cast Recording (1984) • The Light in the Piazza - Original Broadway Cast Recording (2005) • The Last Five Years - Original Cast Recording (2002) • My Fair Lady - Original Broadway Cast (1956) • Thoroughly Modern Millie - Original Broadway Cast Recording (2002)
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? November's episode features Peter Boyer (The Fantasticks - 1960) and Jenny Male (Urinetown: The Musical) talking about the Marx Brothers' masterpiece: Duck Soup (1933).
We bid adieu to Adventure Theatre MTC's production of Tinker Bell with Capt. Hook (Peter Boyer) returning in this excised conversation about Shakespeare and musicals. Which comes up a lot on this show.
Featured recordings:
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson - Original Cast Recording (2010)
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? August's episode features Harrison Smith and Bridget Grace Sheaff discussing the most glorious musical Gene Kelly ever appeared in: Xanadu (1980).
Tinker Bell (by Patrick Flynn) is now running at Adventure Theatre MTC. Throughout the run, all our episodes will be related to the production.
Tinker Bell herself is here for a new Intermission about playing more than one role in the same show.
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? August's episode features Harrison Smith and Bridget Grace Sheaff discussing the most glorious musical Gene Kelly ever appeared in: Xanadu (1980).
Tinker Bell (by Patrick Flynn) is now running at Adventure Theatre MTC. Throughout the run, all our episodes will be related to the production.
So here's a re-release of Michael & Patrick's detoured into one of Patrick’s pet peeves: bad lyricism. And it goes there.
Featured recordings:
Girl - Pharrell Williams (2014)
Feeling Strangely Fine - Semisonic (1998)
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys (2005)
Les Misérables - Original Broadway Cast Recording (1987)
The Lion King - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1994)
West Side Story - Original Broadway Cast (1957)
Have you checked out our PATREON? You haven't? Then how are you going to listen to our patrons-only podcast The Original Cast at the Movies? July's episode features Kenny Neal and Michelle Polera talking about The Beatles' first feature A Hard Day's Night (1964).