Musical Minutes with John and John
By John McKeever/John Norine, Jr.
Musical Minutes with John and JohnMay 17, 2023
Season 6 Finale: Sunday in the Park With George
The Johns end Season 6 of the podcast with a show very near and dear to their hearts in Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George". They talk about the narrative devices found within, their views on Bernadette Peters, which is the "best" version of the show, and so much more. John N. gushes... but what else is new?
This isn't the end! Season 7 will be coming this summer! What would you like to hear the Johns talk about? How's the new format working out for you? Let us know!
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
The Phantom of the Opera
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
Bring it On
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
Matilda
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
Once
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
Newsies
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
Songs For A New World
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
Groundhog Day: The Musical
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
Heathers: The Musical
Every so often, we like to take a look at a show that isn't a "Big Broadway Hit" and try and contextualize it in the larger scheme. This week, the Johns look at the 2014 Off-Broadway show "Heathers: The Musical" and discuss how it moved the needle on the zeitgeist of Broadway material, while also being a very... complex show.
Music, lyrics, and book by Lawrence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy
Based on the 1989 movie "Heathers", screenplay by Daniel Waters
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
Me and Juliet
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
Brigadoon
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
Anastasia
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
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (February Flop #4)
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
Mack and Mabel (February Flops #3)
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
The Baker's Wife (February Flop #2)
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
Season 6 Premiere: Pipe Dreams (February Flop #1)
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
Season 5 Finale: Into the Woods
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
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
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
The Apple Tree
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
Two Gentlemen of Verona
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
The Prom
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
Interview with Stage Manager Kelsey Tippins
This week, John and John sit down with Stage Manager Kelsey Tippins, who is fresh off the first national tour of "The Prom", and she talked about tour life, how one becomes a stage manager, and some of the more interesting venues around the country.
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
Discussion: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Best Song
Join John and John as they have a lengthy discussion about the "best" song written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein during their collaboration. As with our last show, the categories are set, (almost) every show is represented, and opinions fly like ravens in the night!
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
Shrek
Travel with the Johns to a mystical land of ogres, princesses, dragons, fairy tale creatures... and way too many fart jokes. The duo talks about the 2008 musical "Shrek" and discusses some of the more memorable moments, their thoughts on the pacing of the show, and how they managed to get the stars they did.
Music by Jeanine Tessori
Book and Lyrics by David-Lindsay Aibaire
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
Ain't Too Proud
On the heels of last week's interview with Brian Binion, John and John talk about the musical "Ain't Too Proud" and talk (yet again) about their feelings on jukebox musicals, the source material of the show, and the concept of narration, and John N. takes some time to talk about a person whose name should be much more commonly known - even amongst theatre aficionados.
Music and Lyrics by The Temptations
Book by Dominique Morisseau
Based on the book "The Temptations" by Otis WIlliams
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
Interview with actor Brian Binion
This week the Johns talk a bit with actor Brian Binion, who is currently a swing on the National Tour of "Ain't Too Proud". We hear how Brian found his opportunities in breaking into Broadway, his experiences working on a Cruise show, and get some great stories from his time as an ensemble member on Broadway with "The Lion King".
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
A Strange Loop
John and John take some time to talk about the current hit musical "A Strange Loop", discuss the script's construction, their thoughts on the unity of the score and ensemble writing and hypothesize about the emotional toll of this show.
Music, book, and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson
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
Damn Yankees
This week, the Johns try and swing for the fences with the 1950s hit, "Damn Yankees". The pair talk about their love of the score, the dawning of the age of Fosse and Verdon, and how this show ends up having a lot of heart for having the devil as a character.
Music by Richard Adler
Lyrics by Jerry Ross
Book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop
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
Mean Girls
The Johns continue their dive into "Mean Girls" with an episode about the show; for the first time in a while, they significantly differ in their opinions! The duo discusses their thoughts on the music, the writing team of Fey and Richmond, and how this show tries to be a lot more than it needs to be.
Music by Jeff Richmond
Lyrics by Nell Benjamin
Book by Tina Fey
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
Interview with pianist Beth Grimmett-Tankersley
John and John sit down to talk to collaborative pianist Beth Grimmett-Tankersley, who currently plays Keys 1 and is the conductor swing for the US tour of "Mean Girls". The three talk about tour life, how Beth got her start in touring musicals, and so much more!
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
Annie Get Your Gun
For this week's episode, John and John discuss the 1946 musical "Annie Get Your Gun". They discuss the appropriateness of the show (in the 1940s and today) discuss their feelings about "There's No Business Like Show Business" and the orchestrations (which were done by committee), and John N. has an existential crisis?
Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin
Book by Dorothy and Herbert Fields
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
Seussical
John and John muddle their way through the Jungle of Nool to try and figure out why "Seussical" existed on the Broadway stage. It's a challenge even for John N, the official "defender of the realm" on this pod for Ahrens and Flaherty.
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Music and book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
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
Carousel
John and John spend some time with the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit musical "Carousel" - John N. talks about what this show means to him (hint - it may or may not be one of his all-time favorites), and the pair talk about their interpretation and presentation with the show's troubling content. Then dive into the music - which both have exceptionally strong feelings about.
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on the play "Lilliom" by Ferenc Molnar
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
Interview with Caitlin Molloy - Wig Supervisor, Moulin Rouge!
Find the episode on your favorite podcast app or by going to 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 norine62.wixsite.com/musicalminutes
School of Rock
John and John try to "stick it to the man" by talking about 2015's "School of Rock"... which makes Andrew Lloyd Webber the man? Anyway... the pair discuss the transition from movie to musical, the puffery of the "new" music, and give Webber a LITTLE credit for some stuff.
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Book by Julian Fellowes
Based on the movie "School of Rock" directed by Richard Linklater
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
Season 5 premiere: Little Shop of Horrors
Season 5 is here! John and John kick things off with a discussion on the 1982 cult classic "Little Shop of Horrors". The pair discuss the intimacy of the show's scale, what works, what doesn't, and the role of camp in music theater.
Music by Alan Menken
Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman
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
Firebringer
I don't wanna do the work today. Biut the podcast must go on! John and John switch it up for the Season 4 Finale and talk about one of their favorite shows from the Team StarKid catalog: Firebringer! Now, to be fair, this is not a "Broadway" show. It's not meant to be - but the duo loves it nonetheless. And you can watch a 100% legal video on YouTube! (Go ahead... we'll wait....)
https://youtu.be/ZmVuNlu0LCk
I know, right?? John and John talk about the role of language in modern theater, give a little bit of background on Team StarKid, and talk about how shows like this are important to the theatrical genre as a whole.
Music and lyrics by Meredith Stepien and Mark Swiderski
Book by Matt Lang, Nick Lang, and Brian Holden
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
Rock of Ages
Forget Paradise City, John and John are going to take you on a Journey, but leave your Guns and Roses at home because this will involve your Twisted Sister... (ok, that's quite enough of that)
John and John talk about the jukebox musical "Rock of Ages" and talk about the mining of nostalgia, commercial vs artistic (again), and the standards that should be met when producing a show such as this.
Music by lots of bands
Lyrics by those same bands (mostly)
Book by Chris D'Arenzo
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
Beauty and the Beast
It's a tale as old as time, so why not talk about it? John and John discuss the show that started the Broadway/Disney collaboration in "Disney's Beauty and the Beast". They talk about commercialism vs artistic merit, how to portray the fantastical on stage, and the importance of lyricist Howard Ashman to the process.
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Book by Linda Woolverton
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
Avenue Q
The sun is shining, and it's a lovely day on Musical Minutes. John and John talk about the 2003 hit musical "Avenue Q" and talk about the difficulties in casting the show, the line between social commentary and entertainment, and once again harp on and on about orchestrations. Plus John N. talks about one of his favorite performers in Stephanie D'Abruzzo.
Music and lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez
Book by Jeff Whitty
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
The Music Man
I'll tell you, my friends - we've got trouble. Right here... on this podcast.
John and John talk about Meredith Wilson's treasured classic "The Music Man" and discuss their love for the music despite its complications, their admiration for Robert Preston and Barbara Cook, and dive deep into the weeds about orchestrations once more.
Music, book, and lyrics by Meredith Wilson
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
Hamilton
Well, the time has come, and the Johns can't avoid this show any longer.
The pair talk about the culturally iconic 2015 show "Hamilton". The pair discuss their first reactions to the show, how the show is a representation of historical fiction, and how much the property has ingrained itself into the 21st-century cultural lexicon.
Music, book, and lyrics by Lin Manuel Miranda
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
Pal Joey
John and John talk about one of John M's favorite properties in "Pal Joey". The duo talks about the comparisons between the Rogers/Hart collaboration and the Rogers/Hammerstein team, the idea of how music history doesn't ever fit in neat boxes, and look at the staying power of this show.
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Book by John O'Hara
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
Moulin Rouge
John and John head down to 19th century Paris to talk about the current hit on Broadway "Moulin Rouge". The talk about the role of entertainment in artistic endeavors in the theater sphere, and how success is not just about "art" but can also be a fun spectacle. Plus, they marvel at how many songs they just managed to cram in this show.
Music by... a lot of people
Lyrics by... even more people
Book by John Logan (who is just one person)
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
Kiss of the Spider Woman
For this week's episode, John and John talk about Kander and Ebb's work "Kiss of the Spider Woman. The Johns share their thoughts on how this show fits within the greater Kander and Ebb legacy, how the drive for authentic representation deserves more than lip service and some of the more problematic issues with this show.
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
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
Company
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
Fun Home
Representation matters - but that's just the beginning of the story!
John and John sit down this week to talk about the musical adaptation of Alison Bechdel's coming of age graphic novel, "Fun Home". The pair discuss how this show is important not only for its representation, but how it's amazingly successful in presenting that representation in a realistic, sincere, and nuanced way. Also, John and John talk about how the show is indicative of the changing styles of Broadway, its technical elements, and how this influenced their view of composer Jeanine Tesori.
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics and book by Lisa Kron
Based on the graphic novel "Fun Home" by Alison Bechdel
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
Fiorello!
John and John delve into the politics of New York City with their talk on the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "Fiorello!". The Johns talk about how sympathetic characters create a drive for the audience to care, and how that can make the mundane more special. There is also talk about the music of Bock and Harnick, and how Barbara Cook saved one of the songs from continuing a disturbing trend on Broadway.
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Book by Jerome Weidman and George Abbott
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
February Flops 4: Candide
John and John end the 2022 edition of February Flops with a show that they genuinely want to love - Leonard Bernstein's Candide. The pair talk about the show's existence in both the Broadway and Opera worlds, their love for the music (especially the overture), and how sometimes the revision process doesn't make anything much better.
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Richard Wilbur, John Latouche, Dorothy Parker, Lillian Hellman, Leonard Bernstein, Felicia Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim
Book by Lillian Helman, revised by Richard Wilbur
Based on the novella “Candide” by Voltaire
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
February Flops 3: Rocky the Musical
For the penultimate episode of the 2022 edition of February Flops, John delve into the depths of the movie-turned-musical and spend some time on "Rocky: The Musical" - a show that John N wanted to work and John M thought might make a great play. The two also discuss the weight of Ahrens and Flaherty and how this show might impact their legacy.
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Book by Thomas Meehan
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