The Broadway Ginger Podcast

In his first London show since you-know-what disrupted everything last year, Ryan Anderson has found himself in the right role at the right time. Join us as host Sally Fuller chats with Anderson about leading the Charing Cross Theatre production of Pippin as the prince himself. Anderson recollects the show’s pandemic beginnings, meeting Stephen Schwartz, and so much more in this insightful conversation! Visit TheBroadwayGinger.com to see production shots and a montage from the show!

Her fans up til now have known her as a singer-songwriter, but when Dear Evan Hansen hits movie theatres in September, we will get to see a whole new side of Liz Kate. Making her feature film debut as a new character named Gemma, Liz tells host Sally Fuller that the emotions were so real during the process that she and her castmates cried even in callbacks for the film. Join us as Liz takes us back through how she landed the role, what she learned from working with Ben Platt, and so much more! Check out our show notes for bonus content on TheBroadwayGinger.com.

The Alliance Theatre’s upcoming world premiere of Darlin’ Cory has brought Sugarland frontman Kristian Bush and prolific playwright/novelist Phillip DePoy together to write an Appalachian myth a la Hadestown. Bush and DePoy sat down with host Sally Fuller a few days before starting rehearsals with the whole company to rewind a bit and share in-depth about how they created a brand new musical during the pandemic. Listen to music from Darlin' Cory and check out photos on TheBroadwayGinger.com.

Michael Perrie Jr. was that kid in youth theatre: The one who lived for a laugh and always had to learn the hard way. Fast-forward 18ish years, and his comedic daring has made him not only a successful performer but a gifted composer/lyricist/librettist as well. Join us for this trip down memory lane in which both Perrie and host Sally Fuller revisit some of their summer theatre camp days, favorite interviews, and more. Check out our show notes with some photos from these shows we're talking about on TheBroadwayGinger.com! Our favs: A Christmas Carol, Into the Woods, Legally Blonde, Les Miserables, Matilda, Baayork Lee, A Chorus Line, City Springs Theatre, The King and I, South Pacific

Today marks our very first local theatre review! Last week, host Sally Fuller (and Thomas “the Bearded Man” Fuller) got to see City Springs Theatre Company’s Into the Woods live and in-person (starring BGP guest Terry Burrell), and she's recorded her take for BGP subscribers. We have an excerpt here, and we are taking this opportunity to announce the launch of the BGP Patreon where you can support our show and hear full-length bonus episodes like this one! (Hot cakes and tears ahead...) Visit TheBroadwayGinger.com for some photos and videos of the performance as well! Mentions: Terry Burrell, Jeff McKerley

This might be the first ever podcast episode about a musical about a podcast. Between various engagements playing Buddy Holly/everyone in Million Dollar Quartet, multi-talented performer and writer Michael Perrie, Jr. found a way to blend his love of both podcasts and musicals in his show My Favorite Podcast, a musical based on My Favorite Murder. For our fourth installment of the New Works Series, host Sally Fuller gets a new theatre BFF as she and Perrie discuss the art of writing comedy, the inexplicable magic of seeing your favorite musical for the first time, and much more. Listen to "Little Georgia Jewish Murder Girl," an exclusive track from the musical, at the end! Photos and videos on TheBroadwayGinger.com.

As this episode coincides with the USA's Independence Day observance, it seems fitting to feature a musical about the quintessential American experience of traveling across the world to make a new life. Spencer Williams' musical For Tonight is getting a concept recording at the end of the month, and this milestone holds significance for not only him but his ancestors as well. Host Sally Fuller sits down with Williams to discuss the fascinating backstory that turned a few paragraphs of a journal into a large-scale musical. After the conversation, stick around to hear an exclusive release of the song, "Wait for the Morn" from For Tonight, sung in authentic Welsh accents by West End actors Dale Evans and Simon Gordon! And be sure to check out our show notes for some bonus photos and videos on TheBroadwayGinger.com. Episode mentions: New York Musical Theatre Festival, Goodspeed Musicals, Michigan State University, Isle of Man, New York Theatre Barn, Queensbury Theatre, Joseph Purdue, Shenelle Salsido, West End, Yeston Griffiths, Blair Russell, Simon Gordon, Dale Evans, Amy Di Bartolomeo

The second chapter in our New Works Series features hip hop music video creator-turned-musical theatre video producer, Darius Frye. His company Stage-to-Screen imagines what a film version of a given musical would look like and creates a taste of it using an iconic song from the show. With just a week to go before they release their second season of clips, host Sally Fuller caught up with Frye to learn more about the unique company and to premiere their version of "God Help the Outcasts" ahead of its release. Visit TheBroadwayGinger.com to watch the video and to see highlights from Stage-to-Screen's first season. Mentions: The Origin, Anthony Ramos, AMDA, Jocelyn Sanchez, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Carrie the musical, Newsies, Grease, Dear Evan Hansen, Anastasia the musical, Six the musical, In the Heights, Hamilton, Into the Woods, Matilda

Today's episode marks the beginning of a new mini-series from the BGP, the "New Works Series." Writers and producers from around the world will come on the show to chat with host Sally Fuller about the musical theatre projects they are spearheading, and as a special bonus, each New Works episode will feature an exclusive premiere of songs from said projects. So to kick off this series, check out my chat with London-based singer/songwriter/musical theatre writer Danielle Morgan about her upcoming musical Vengeance: The Demise of Oscar Wilde! And be sure to visit TheBroadwayGinger.com to see our show notes with some sights to go with these sounds. Mentions: Regis Centre, Alexandra Theatre, John Merrigan

This might be my first Broadway interview that hardly centers around Broadway- or even entertainment- at all. Terron Brooks is known for his starring role in NBC's miniseries The Temptations where he played Eddie Kendricks, as well as star turns in The Lion King and Hairspray, but he's also in the business of inspiration. With a passion for living authentically and a contagiously hopeful spirit, Terron is always dreaming impossible dreams no matter what his circumstances are. Come be inspired with us today! {And watch performances from Terron in our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com} Mentions: Paul Milliken, Honest Answers with Terron Brooks, The Lion King, Hairspray, "The Soul of Broadway," The Man of La Mancha, The Phantom of the Opera, Annie, The Pantages Theatre, The Temptations

The hardest part of producing an episode is having to cut awesome material. So I'm excited to share with you some deleted scenes that didn't quite make it into the show, but are too good to let go! Today you'll get to hear a deeper dive into the concept musical from Laura, some free acting coaching from Terry Burrell, an honest look at the difficulty of being on Broadway from Paige Faure, and more. Visit TheBroadwayGinger.com to check out today's show notes!

When actors whirl off-stage for a quick-change, Teale Dvornik makes theatre magic happen. Teale has been a dresser on Broadway for the past six years, and ever the entrepreneur, she has grown a side business as a blogger/social media influencer with a niche in opening the stage door to give followers a glimpse behind the scenes on Broadway. Join host Sally Fuller as Teale "The Backstage Blonde" reveals how she glamorized an unglamorous job, how working in tech on Broadway is like getting into the Mafia, and more. Find the show notes with pictures and more on TheBroadwayGinger.com! Mentions: Wicked, Aladdin, The Prom, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, the Radio City Rockettes

Remember when celebrity after celebrity cycled through the Broadway production of Cinderella in the principle roles? If you saw it in the summer of 2014, you would have caught the one stretch of the run in which Ella was played by one of Broadway's own triple threat performers in her first title role on Broadway, Paige Faure. Join host Sally Fuller as she chats with Faure about what it's like to perform with celebrities like Daniel Radcliffe, how lead actors can set the tone for a cast, and how a dash of luck and helping friends out can land you a Broadway dream. Please rate and subscribe to our show and check out our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com! Episode mentions: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, North Springs High School, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Princess Leia, Douglas Carter Beane, Mark Brokaw, Josh Rhodes, Laura Osnes, Honeymoon in Vegas, Bullets Over Broadway, Nene Leakes, William Ivey Long, Oklahoma!, Miss Saigon, Gypsy Robe Ceremony, Ruthie Ann Miles, Fran Drescher, Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter, Darren Criss, Nick Jonas, Steve Wilson, Marin Mazzie, Zach Braff, Namaste on Stage

From a dancer and soloist in a 1970s Ashton Springer musical tour to Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway, Terry Burrell's career has been exciting, to say the least. Her joy very audibly bubbles over as she tells story after story from her Broadway career, with a focus on her experience in the original Broadway cast of Into the Woods. Listen as the star pulls back the curtain on the Sondheim show and beyond, including memories from understudying two roles, being on Broadway in Dreamgirls with her sister, and changing her name to be taken more seriously. Be sure to check out our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for some sights to go with the sounds from today's episode, including backstage pictures from Dreamgirls, Into the Woods, and more! Our favs: Theatrical Outfit, Into the Woods, Eubie, Ashton Springer, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Dreamgirls, Deborah Burrell, Jennifer Holliday, Michael Peters, Michael Jackson, Michael Bennett, James Lapine, Chip Zien, Joanna Gleason, Phylicia Rashad, Lauren Mitchell, Joy Franz, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Carolyn Marlow, La Jolla, Grimms’ Fairy Tales, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Stephen Sondheim, Ethel, Ethel Waters, Paul Gemignani, Bernadette Peters, August Wilson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, The Cosby Show, Jonathan Tunic, Robert Westenberg

Ever wonder what a performer is thinking as they sing an opening number for the millionth time? Or what it might be like to sing a love song to a co-star they hate? Songwriter Alexander S. Bermange has taken those concepts to an extreme in his musical revue I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical, now streaming through May 12, 2021 on KingsHeadTheatre.com. Today Bermange joins the BGP fam to share how a background in musical theatre and comedy led him to create a love letter to musicals that "takes the mickey out" of it in an endearing way. And as a special bonus to this episode, you can hear one of the songs from the show at the end of this episode, so stick around after the interview! Also, make sure to check out our show notes for more videos from the performance on TheBroadwayGinger.com. Mentions: King's Head Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cameron Mackintosh, Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber, A Chorus Line, Michael Bennett, Charlotte O’Rourke, The West End, Mamma Mia!, Lucas Rush, Luke Bayer, Charlotte Anne Steen

The Phantom of the Opera is known for its pristine vocals and breathtaking spectacle, but it took a rocky road to achieve its status. Listen as we dive into how Andrew Lloyd Webber went through three different lyricists and three Phantoms before finding the right men for the jobs (not without hurting some feelings) on our way to concluding our conversation about the biggest hit in the British Invasion era of Broadway. Click here for this week's show notes, including exclusive videos of Paul Milliken himself as a child playing The Phantom of the Opera on the piano! Our favs: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sarah Brightman, Hal Prince, Cameron Mackintosh, Michael Crawford, Hello, Dolly!, Steve Harley, Gerard Butler, Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, Gaston Leroux, The Fox Theatre, The Guardian, Mark Billington, Steve Barton, Charles Hart, Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick “Fritz” Loewe, My Fair Lady, Richard Stilgoe, Frank Rich, New York Times, Lon Chaney, Cats, Starlight Express, Maria Bjornson, Into the Woods, Bernadette Peters, Derrick Davis, Julia Udine, Jordan Craig, “Prima Donna,” Hercules, Les Miserables, Good Day Atlanta, Fox 5, Emmy Awards, Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables, Ozzy Osbourne, Pink Floyd, The Band’s Visit

If you're a fan of both monster movies and musicals, there is no better day than when you discover your favorite monster story is also a Broadway musical. After this impossibly wonderful moment, Emmy Award-winner Paul Milliken spent years of his childhood dressing up as, acting out, and of course incessantly playing music from The Phantom of the Opera. Go behind the mask with Milliken and host Sally Fuller this week as they kick off Season 3 to revisit Phantom's songs, fangirl over Michael Crawford, and try to count just how many people were fired from Phantom before it took us all by storm. Check out some videos and more content on TheBroadwayGinger.com! Mentions: Muncie Civic Theatre, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sarah Brightman, Hal Prince, Cameron Mackintosh, Starlight Express, South Pacific, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lon Chaney, Herbert Lom, Claude Rains, Hammer Film Studios, Gaston Leroux, Derrick Davis, Love Never Dies, Michael Crawford, Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, Actors’ Equity Association, Colm Wilkinson, Les Miserables, Lea Salonga, Miss Saigon, Claire Moore, Nev Campbell, Rebecca Luker, Nicole Fosse, Good Day Atlanta, Fox 5, Emmy Awards, Ball State, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Andrew Durand, Nick Arapoglou, Mamma Mia!, Aurora Theatre, Party of Five, Scream

There are few experiences that bring people together quite like sharing moments of live theatre. In today's episode, host Sally Fuller continues her conversation with special guest Craig A. Meyer to revisit some of the best performances he saw during his 20 years as a Tony Awards voter. Yes, the words "Audra" and "Norbert" are said, and we discover that though Sally and Craig saw the same show a couple months apart, they witnessed very different versions of John Larroquette. Check out our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for bonus content, and be sure to rate and subscribe wherever you listen! Mentions: Elton John, Remember When Rock Was Young, The Tony Awards, Cabaret, Joel Grey, Alan Cumming, Ragtime, Audra McDonald, Carousel, Masterclass, Maria Callas, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter, John Larroquette, Anything Goes, Sutton Foster, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Patti LuPone, Lincoln Center, Norbert Leo Butz, Douglas Sills, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Big Fish, Wicked, Catch me if You Can, Larry Blank, Rachelle Rak, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, SAG/AFTRA, The Phantom of the Opera, The Lightning Thief, Rob Rokicki, Aaron Tveit, Beautiful, My Fair Lady, 42nd Street

One minute you're an outspoken Actors' Equity Association member, and the next you're a councilor shaking things up in AEA and voting for the Tony Awards. That is, if you're Craig A. Meyer. Today, host Sally Fuller is joined by the triple-threat whose mile-long resume includes Broadway, Disney, and a 20-year stint as a Tony voter. Dive in with us as Meyer reveals how he ended up touring the world as "Almost Elton John," why he did not vote for The Lion King to win Best Musical, and what it takes to tell a great story on stage. Check out our show notes for bonus content on TheBroadwayGinger.com! Mentions: Sir Elton John, Remember When Rock Was Young: The Elton John Tribute, Actor’s Equity Association, George Ives, ActorsEquity.org, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart, Jekyll & Hyde, Frank Wildhorn, Leslie Bricusse, Robert Cuccioli, Audra McDonald, Ragtime, Marin Mazzie, The Lion King, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Douglas Sills, Barry Manilow, Ken Welch, Mitsie Welch, The Carol Burnett Show, Tony Awards, Marge Champion, Gower Champion, Legally Blonde, Victor/Victoria, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Sutton Foster, Mark Rylance, The Color Purple, Peter and the Starcatcher, David Yazbek, Susan Lucci, Stephen Schwartz, Wicked, Avenue Q, The Gershwin Theatre

What better way to wrap up a series name-dropping Alan Menken than to highlight his Tony Awards win? Though he had Oscars and Grammys already, the Disney and Broadway composer had to wait until 2012 to get his Tony. And that, of course, was for Newsies. Join us as we continue the Newsies conversation we began last week, learn how Menken feels about new Disney composers coming along, and how much of a fansie Ashley is. Be sure to visit our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for bonus Newsies content!  Sponsored by Skillshare. Click here for 40% off your annual membership! Our favs: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Tony Awards, Jeremy Jordan, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Kara Lindsay, Once, Bonnie and Clyde, Laura Osnes, Judy Kuhn, Harold Prince, High School Musical, Enchanted, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Little Mermaid, Tim Rice, Hercules, Mary Poppins

It was a flop in movie theatres and a smash on Broadway. Disney’s Newsies has always held a mystic charisma that even the grumpiest critics (you know who you are) admit to appreciating. Join host Sally Fuller and guest Ashley Elliott on today’s deep dive to uncover how Alan Menken's cult classic film became the hottest ticket on Broadway. Spoiler alert: It’s a lot of work mixed with some uncanny luck. Check out our show notes for bonus Fansie content: TheBroadwayGinger.com.  Sponsored by Skillshare. Click here for 40% off your annual membership! Our favs: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas, Tangled, Howard Ashman, A Christmas Carol, King David, Sister Act, Home on the Range, Der Glockner von Notre Dame, Golden Raspberry “Razzie” Awards, Christian Bale, Ann Margaret, Kenny Ortega, Joseph Pulitzer, David Moscow, Bill Pullman, Max Casella, Paper Mill Playhouse, Harvey Fierstein, Jack Feldman, Jeff Calhoun, Christopher Gattelli, Occupy Wall Street, Thomas Schumacher, Jeremy Jordan, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Ben Fankhauser, Kara Lindsay, Stephanie Stiles, Ben Tyler Cook. Off-topic mentions: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Live, Frozen, Julie and the Phantoms, High School Musical, Tuck Everlasting, Bonnie and Clyde, Frank Wildhorn, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jekyll and Hyde, The Lord of the Rings,

20 episodes already?! My, how time flies! Today we dive into the whole new world of composer Alan Menken, Disney songwriter extraordinaire, an EGOT winner, and the heart and soul of the Disney Renaissance. Join host Sally Fuller with a triumphant return from Ashley Elliott as they take a walk through Alan Menken’s early career with an emphasis on Disney’s Broadway debut Beauty and the Beast. Click here to check out the show notes and watch the OBC perform a medley on the Tony Awards ‘94. Sponsored by Skillshare. Click here for 40% off your annual membership! Mentions: Disney, Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors, Sesame Street, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Frank Rich, Linda Woolverton, Terrence Mann, Susan Egan, Hercules, Kerry Butler, Andrea McArdle, Christy Carlson Romano, Andrew Keenan Bolger, Nick Jonas, Donny Osmond, Tim Rice, Aladdin, Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael Eisner, Robert Jess Roth, Stephen Sondheim, A Grand Night for Singing, Passion.  Local theatre shoutout: Horizon Theatre in Atlanta, GA

That moment when you’re preparing your second audition for a musical and realize you’ll be singing for the show’s legendary composer himself… No pressure. Actor Hunter Ryan Herdlicka had that exact experience on his way to landing the role of Henrik in the 2009 Broadway revival of A Little Night Music, by Stephen Sondheim. Join host Sally Fuller and Herdlicka for a chat about all things Night Music- what it was like to work with true Broadway legends, how he learned to play an instrument in four weeks, and how he came out of the experience with a dear friend, Elaine Stritch. Visit our website for today's show notes including videos of the performances mentioned, addendums, and some photos from A Little Night Music.  Sponsored by Skillshare. Click here for 40% off your annual membership! Mentions: George Washington, Hamilton, Christopher Jackson, Lea Salonga, Miss Saigon, Aladdin, Mulan, Marni Nixon, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Ellen Marlow, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Elaine Stritch, Ramona Mallory, Victoria Mallory, Mark Lambert, Candide, Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 30 Rock, Cafe Carlyle

Step into the exciting party scene of 1930s Berlin with a racy M.C. as your tour guide through the lens of the seedy Kit Kat Klub. With dancing to do and interesting people to meet, what could possibly break the cycle of fun? Such is the backdrop of Cabaret, one of Producer/Director Harold "Hal" Prince's most innovative musicals. Not only does this piece tell a chilling story of a world-changing time, but it introduces the first ever "concept musical." Join host Sally Fuller with guest host Laura Carman as they explore how this piece stole Academy Awards from the greatest film of all time, discuss why Prince won't do revivals, and reveal why Alan Cumming won't talk to Sally again. Be sure to check out our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for some bonus content! Mentions: Spring Awakening, Company, Alfred Hitchcock, Hamilton, Follies, Bernadette Peters, Lotte Lenya, Alan Cumming, Christopher Isherwood, Goodbye to Berlin, I am a Camera, John Van Druten, Ron Field, Joel Grey, Jill Haworth, Judi Dench, John Kander and Fred Ebb, Boris Aronson, Rob Marshall, Sam Mendes, Spy Kids, Susan Stroman

We pick up our conversation about Broadway’s most influential creator with a deep dive into one of his most enduring musicals. With the unmistakably Harold Prince trademark of a theme-based plot, our chosen deep dive is Fiddler on the Roof, the last musical of Broadway’s Golden Age. Host Sally Fuller is again joined by Laura Carman to discuss what makes a religious story about “a small town and their small issues” Broadway’s most internationally beloved musical. Be sure to check out our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for bonus videos and episode extras!  Mentions: Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Bock, Joseph Stein, The Little Mermaid, Sholem Alecheim, Jerome Robbins, Cameron Mackintosh, Boris Aronson, Zero Mostel, Nathan Lane, Fred Coe, Mark Chagall, The Sound of Music, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Bea Arthur, The Golden Girls, Mame, Angela Lansbury, House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC), Ratatouille, TikTok, Bridgerton.

How do you get to be the most influential Broadway mogul in the history of the American theatre and set an unbreakable record of Tony Award wins? Insatiable passion and luck. Meet director/producer Harold “Hal” Prince, who spent 64 years shaping our beloved art form into what it is now. Host Sally Fuller and guest host/Hal Prince aficionado Laura Carman dive into Prince’s young beginnings and path to Broadway as the BGP's way of wishing the legend a posthumous “Happy 93rd birthday.” Check out our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for bonus videos, further reading, and more! Episode Mentions: Into the Woods, Toni Morrison, George Abbott, Robert Griffith, Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick,  Cameron Mackintosh, Freddy Coe, Boris Aronson, Damn Yankees, The Pajama Game, Fiorello!, Pulitzer Prize for Drama

In the conclusion of our Stephen Schwartz spotlight, we explore what makes him a keeper in the American musical theatre landscape, making the bold statement that of all his work, Wicked will, in fact, be his lasting legacy. Guest host Madison Garrett joins host Sally Fuller to deep dive into the backstories and journey of what Schwartz has called "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Oz.” Be sure to check out our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for some bonus videos and even more to the crazy story behind Avenue Q’s producers securing their Tony Award over Wicked! Episode Mentions: Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Stephanie J. Block, Joel Grey, Robert Morse, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Norbert Leo Butz, Fred and Adele Astaire Award, Chita Rivera, Jeremy Jordan, Newsies, Carole Shelley, Robin Hood, Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress, Michele Federer, Wayne Cilento, A Chorus Line, Dancing With the Stars, Winnie Holzman, Caroline, or Change, Avenue Q, Taboo, Barbra Streisand, Hamilton, The Fox Theatre in Atlanta and Missouri, Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Local theatre shout-out: Musical Theater Heritage in Kansas City, MO

Join us! We’re kicking off a new series, “Name-Dropping Broadway,” highlighting the people who have built Broadway through the years. We start with a composer/lyricist we affectionately call “the gateway drug to musical theatre,” whose career opened with Godspell, had an 11 o’clock number at Wicked, and is still going strong. Host Sally Fuller and special guest host Madison Garrett take a look at the young beginnings of Stephen Schwartz’s career through the lens of his most “extraordinary” piece- Pippin. Check out the show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for bonus videos and general theatre nerdery! Mentions: Center for Puppetry Arts, Ben Vereen, Bob Fosse, John Rubinstein, Matthew James Thomas, Terrence Mann, Jonathan Freeman, Ann Reinking, Tim Curry, Elle Crawford, Jerry Orbach, Clive Barnes, PATINA MILLER, Pippin Australia, Miss Saigon, The Heat is On, Disney, Pocahontas, The Prince of Egypt, Enchanted, The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Sally sits down with Broadway stars Isabella Russo and Luca Padovan to talk all things Junior Theater Festival in anticipation of Atlanta’s online JTF extravaganza, coming up 1/15-17. This pair shared the stage in SCHOOL OF ROCK and have been best friends ever since! And when it comes to the annual JTF, Isabella and Luca's performances and social media updates are a staple. Join us to kick off our second season with this chat about JTF adjudications, a surreal Pasek and Paul moment, RATATOUILLE the musical, and more! Make sure to check out the show notes at TheBroadwayGinger.com for some bonus performance videos of our special guests, and visit juniortheaterfestival.com for more info on upcoming events. Mentions: iTheatrics, Timothy Allen McDonald, James and the Giant Peach, The Greatest Showman, Matilda, Six, Mean Girls, The Prom, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Ratatouille

Christmas songs and Broadway songs have to be the two most delightful genres. And when they are mixed, in the words of Ashley, "It's chef's kiss!" Did you know that many popular songs of the season were written by Broadway composers? Many of the tunes were originally from musicals, though not always Christmas-themed ones. Today we take a deep dive into those Christmas songs from our Broadway guys. Join us as we compare The Sound of Music era to Narnia, learn how to holiday-ify a regular song, and coin the term "Marketing Magicians." Be sure to check out our show notes for recommendations for streaming theatre this season, bonus videos, and a chance to take our listener survey before the end of the year! // Local theatre shout-outs: Aurora Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre, Alliance Theatre Mentions: Robert Goulet, Carol Lawrence, Frank Loesser, Guys and Dolls, Neptune’s Daughter, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Holiday Inn, Irving Berlin, Bing Crosby, “Mr. Les Mis Himself” Colm Wilkinson, Jerry Herman, Mame, Angela Lansbury - “The Grandmother of Broadway,” Lucille Ball, I Love Lucy, Hello, Dolly!, Meredith Wilson, The Music Man, Unsinkable Molly Brown, Here’s Love, Miracle on 34th Street, 1491 the musical, Meet Me in St. Louis, Judy Garland, Vincente Minnelli, Liza Minnelli, Craig A. Meyer, The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews, West Side Story, The Garry Moore Show, Jeremy Aggers

WE’RE BACK! We may have dramatically ended Season 1 last week, but we’ve returned to talk more theatre and more jazz hands. Today we go off the grid with a little break from musical deep dives to talk about “how to theatre” (as Ashley so eloquently put it). Join us as we share stories about our best and most embarrassing celebrity encounters, coin the term “for the love of Sondheim,” and discuss theatregoing strategies (spoiler alert: the phrase “bathroom tour” is said). Check out the show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for even more content and a link to take our listener survey! Mentions: BroadwayWorld.com, Wicked, Clifton Hall, “The Bear Skit” (bless), Terrence Mann, The Addams Family, Bebe Neuwirth, Nathan Lane, Krysta Rodriguez (remember, the actress Ashley would murder to see?), Wesley Taylor, Pippin, Matthew James Thomas, Aaron Tveit, Moulin Rouge!, Jodi Benson, The Little Mermaid.

The American Musical Theatre was built on great songwriters whose names can't be said without their partners'. Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music, and Cinderella might as well be credited to one hyphenated name, Rodgers-and-Hammerstein. Today we take a look at some equally inseparable duos with an emphasis on Lerner & Loewe and one of their masterpieces, Camelot. Join us as we learn about the battle of the Richards (Burton and Harris), how much the Tonys committee snubbed the original show, and why Camelot seems to be universal homeschooler sewing music.  Check out our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for some bonus Broadway videos and fun facts! ...while you’re there, take a look at our survey and let us know what you think of the BGP! Local theatre spotlight: Georgia Ensemble Theatre in Roswell, GA MENTIONS: Camelot, Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick “Fritz” Loewe, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter, Dame Julie Andrews, The Once and Future King, Richard Burton, Robert Goulet, Roddy McDowall, Richard Harris, Jack Warner, Warner Bros., Roger Ebert, Michael Lerner. OFF-TOPIC MENTIONS: James Bond, Sean Connery, Mission Impossible, Jason Bourne, Smash, Jeremy Jordan, Katharine McPhee, My Fair Lady, Brigadoon, Gene Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Boy Meets World, Toy Story 2, That Darn Cat, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Rex Harrison, Forrest Gump, StarKid, Darren Criss, The Sword in the Stone, Carol Channing, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Harry Potter, Oliver Reed, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Lyndsay Ricketson, Alliance Theatre

When Lionel Bart penned one of the greatest British musicals of all time, he had no reason to think his first hit would be his last. Join us as we delve into the success of Oliver! and the bizarre trajectory of its author in this week’s episode about one-hit-wonder composers. Along the way, we discover a burlesque Robin Hood musical was a real thing, a future pop star was in the original cast of Oliver!, and Ashley has a strong Pavlovian response to hearing the album. Check out TheBroadwayGinger.com for some elaboration on the episode including Oliver! videos of the amazing Patti LuPone, and while you're there, take a few minutes to take our listener survey! Local theatre spotlight: The Pumphouse Players in Cartersville, GA Mentions: Oliver!, Lionel Bart, Ron Moody, Jack Wild, Phil Collins, Danny Sewell, Michael Caine, Davy Jones, Patti LuPone, Eric Rodgers, The West End, Blitz!, Twang!!, Mark Lester, Roger Ebert, Rowan Atkinson, Kerry Ellis. Off-topic mentions: The Music Man, Meredith Wilson, Mitch Leigh, The Man of La Mancha, Richard Kiley, The King and I, Joe Darion, The Monkees, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats, Matthew Morrison, Sean Connery, From Russia with Love, Mark Steyn, Kathe Green. 

The Pulitzer Prize for Drama almost always goes to a critically-acclaimed straight play by someone really serious like Eugene O’Neill or August Wilson, but on rare occasions, it goes to a musical. Only ten musicals have ever won. So today we take a look at some of those select few and take a deep dive into a huge favorite of ours, Next to Normal. Join us as we try to get through a whole episode without giggling every time the name “Aaron Tveit” is said. Check out our show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com to watch Next to Normal videos including the recent Stars in the House reunion. And while you're there, take a few minutes to take our listener survey! Local theatre shout-out: The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA Our favs: "Tveiter-tots,"  Next to Normal, Aaron Tveit, Alice Ripley, J. Robert Spencer, Jennifer Damiano, Louis Hobson, Adam Chanler-Berat, Ben Brantley, Helen Hayes Awards, Tony Awards, Feeling Electric, Norbert Leo Butz, Sherie Rene Scott. Off-topic mentions: Arthur Miller, August Wilson, Of Thee I Sing, South Pacific, Rodgers and Hammerstein, The Fox Theatre, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Walter Kerr, Rent (Ashley’s favorite show), Side Show, Emily Skinner, Spiderman: Turn off the Dark, The Sound of Music, Peter and the Starcatcher, Amelie, Philippa Soo, the Les Miserables movie, Grease Live!, Dear Evan Hansen, The Last Five Years, The Arena Stage, 30 Rock, Billy Elliot, Stockard Channing, Pal Joey, Ben Platt, Tuck Everlasting, The Color Purple

There are few better moments for theatre people than discovering our favorite songwriting team has written more than just that one hit show we love (looking at you, Lin-Manuel Miranda). In today’s episode, Sally and Ashley discuss when they have experienced such moments with Lin himself, Andrew Lippa, and Tom Jones/Harvey Schmidt of The Fantasticks. Join us for an Audra McDonald fangirl sesh as we deep dive into Jones and Schmidt’s lesser-known but awesome 110 in the Shade. Visit our show notes for bonus videos of Audra, plus more fun facts for theatre nerds on TheBroadwayGinger.com. And while you're there, take a few minutes to take our listener survey! Local theatre shout-out: Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square  Relevant favs: The Fantasticks, Audra McDonald, Steve Kazee, Gower Champion, Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt, Inga Swenson, Lesley Ann Warren, Scooter Teague, John Cullum, Richard Horton, David Merrick, Greencastle Indiana's Putnam County Playhouse. Off-topic mentions: Hamilton, 21 Chump Street, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andrew Lippa, A Little Princess, The Wild Party, Josh Groban, Chess the musical (or “Checkers” as Ashley said), Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Damn Yankees, Carol Channing, Barbra Streisand, Michael Maguire (tbh we’re still trying to find what happened to him, and listen to our first episode for our Michael Maguire rant), The Alliance Theatre, The Prom musical, James Corden, Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Phantom of the Opera, Sierra Boggess, Will Chase, Theatrical Outfit.

Musical theatre has a history of big, splashy, high-kicking casts, and that's what many people think when they hear the word "musical." The increasing trend for writers wanting to tell a poignant, dramatic story (and producers wanting to pay fewer actors) is to use a tiny cast of six or fewer to narrow the focus without getting distracted by glitter. In today's episode, we examine tiny-cast shows with a deep dive into one of Ashley's favorites, Daddy Long Legs. We debate the title, discuss why every straight play should be a musical (except The Crucible), postulate that Megan McGinnis is likely an Enneagram 6, and Sally tries to keep Ashley from reciting the entire libretto. For bonus videos consisting mostly of Megan McGinnis being radiantly perfect, check out the show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com. And while you're there, take a few minutes to take our listener survey! Local theatre shout-out: Stage Door Players in Dunwoody, GA  Ourfavs: Pumphouse Players, Stage Door Players, 110 in the Shade, Lord of the Rings the musical, The Story of My Life, Our Buddy Ben Brantley, Will Chase, Malcolm Gets, Emma, Paul Gordon, John Caird, Megan McGinnis, Adam Halpin, The Last Five Years, Jane Austen's Emma, Next to Normal, Suzi Bass Awards, Chase Peacock, Legacy Theatre.  Other mentions: St. James Theatre, Frozen, American Idiot, BroadwayHD (where you can stream Megan and her husband Adam in DLL!).

Is there anything quite like community theatres? They offer the unique chance for average locals to form the most diverse casts imaginable, where a city council member and accountant get to perform a very ok but entertaining version of "Brush up Your Shakespeare" from Kiss Me, Kate. They comfortingly present classics but tend to perform those same classics over and over again. Due to overexposure to wildly overdone musicals in community theatres (looking at you, Seussical), Sally and Ashley now have the Community Theatre Formula down to a jazz-handed science. In today’s episode, we take a deep dive into Little Shop of Horrors, compare it to VeggieTales, and discover Sally’s parents’ one irreconcilable difference in their 44-year marriage revolves around The Sound of Music.  Our favs: Junior Theatre Festival (where we saw way too many Seussical performances), Pumphouse Players, Howard Ashman, the Disney+ documentary Howard, Alan Menken, Larry Boy and the Rumor Weed, Cameron Mackintosh, Kerry Butler, Douglas Sills, The Scarlet Pimpernel musical (we managed to make that relevant again), Cathy Rigby, Pocahontas, Tim Rice, Stephen Schwartz, Jodi Benson (Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Doria in Smile) Other mentions: Aaron Carter, Kevin Chamberlain, Tangled, Ellen Greene, Hunter Foster (yes, Sutton Foster’s brother), Anthony Rapp, Rent Local theatre shout-out: Act 1, Inc. in Cartersville, GA For bonus videos including Douglas Sills schooling all of us with his pipes, check out the show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com. 

The only thing more exciting than a Disney movie is a Disney Broadway musical. While the House of Mouse gave the people what they wanted via Broadway mounts of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Frozen, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, and Newsies, did you know there are Disney shows that have been performed in regional theatres around the world and still haven’t made it to Broadway? Today’s episode sees Sally and Ashley take a deep dive into one such show, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Neither of us has any chill whatsoever, as we deliver love letters to “the hunch of dame," bring the BGP “full frontal Hugo,” and make a case for why Terrence Mann MUST play Frollo whenever it comes to Broadway. Mentions: DISNEY, The Goodman Theatre, Mary Zimmerman, Alliance Theatre, Mulan, High School Musical, Hercules, Alan Menken, David Zippel, Krysta Rodriguez, The Public Theatre, Patrick Page, Michael Arden, La Jolla Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Hamilton, Terrence Mann, aka, T-Dog, Little Women the musical, Les Miserables. Local theatre shout-out: The Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville, GA Check out the show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for some bonus content including videos of Michael Arden, the cast of Germany's Der Glöckner von Notre Dame, and more!

We all know there's no distance that can get between theatre fans and shows they love. From skipping prom to road-tripping across the state, we have all gone to creative lengths for the love of theatre. Today we discuss the miles we’ve traveled to see some favorite musicals (and the times our parents have fought ushers for programs). Join us as we take a deep dive into Little Women, Ashley building a case for why it is worth listening to, and Sally building a case for why it’s worth skipping (like prom). Mentions: Musical Theater Heritage, George Harter, Sutton Foster, Megan McGinnis, Christian Borle, Laura Benanti, Daddy Long Legs Local theatre shout-out: Elm Street Cultural Arts Village in Woodstock, GA Check out the show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com for some bonus content including videos of Little Women, Sutton Foster, Megan McGinnis, and more. 

In our second episode, two former homeschoolers go back to school. Or home. Or wherever theatre education can be found. Our trip down memory lane reveals that Sally starred in an in-the-round, living room production of The Little Mermaid as a child, and Ashley’s homeschool group might or might not have rehearsed an original play in a friend’s pool. Ashley gets an excuse to gush about the wonder that is Cathy Rigby as we take a deep dive into Broadway's Peter Pan.  Mentions: Mary Martin, Cathy Rigby, Cyril Ritchard, Peter Pan Live!, Allison Williams, Christopher Walken (bless his heart), Christian Borle, Michael Park, Newsies, the Tony Awards. Local theatre shout-out: The Atlanta Lyric Theatre in Marietta, GA.  Check out the show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com to watch some videos we mentioned about Peter Pan, Cathy Rigby, and some hilarious stage mishaps. We'll also include some pics of Sally and Ashley's earliest theatre experience, just for fun.

In our debut episode, we share our first introductions to the theatre world to discover that Sally fell in LOVE with The Scarlet Pimpernel as a child, and Ashley went full homeschooler on her Phantom of the Opera obsession by reading the book first. After making our case for why Les Mis=Aladdin, we take a deep dive into Les Miserables with a constructive dump on the 2012 movie. We talked really excitedly about a bunch of Broadway people we love, and we don’t want you to miss their names due to our fangirl speed, so here’s a list of our favs: Colm Wilkinson, Lea Salonga, Aaron Tveit, Terrence Mann, Michael Maguire, and Frances Ruffelle. Oh, and Hadley-freaking-Fraser.  Local theatre shout-out: The Pumphouse Players in Cartersville, GA.  Check out the show notes on TheBroadwayGinger.com to watch some videos we mentioned about Les Miserables, Robert Preston, and the 1987 Tony Awards. 

Join theatre nerds Sally and Ashley as they take a deep dive into a musical every Monday, discussing everything from the plot to fun facts about the original cast. Spoiler alert: their first episode on October 5 will be about their early theatre obsessions and will center around Les Miserables. Here’s a sneak peek at that conversation!