Dystopian trash city à la Mad Max/Sin City? Check.

Big-pharma corporatocracy? Check. 

Unnecessary gore? Plenty.

Alexa Vega from Spy Kids and Anthony Head from Buffy? Check AND check.

Music???? I guess.

There’s nothing much to say about this gothic-rock-musical-horror film (thanks Wikipedia), so hold on for dear life as The Broadway Babies try their darndest to wade through the murky waters of “Repo! The Genetic Opera.” Alex and Daisha get tangled up in the plot of this zany gore-fest and just confused as a whole. Tune into the episode, and don’t forget to tell us what you liked or disliked about the “Repo!” On Facebook or Twitter!   

Cast recording: Amazon | Spotify

Film: YouTube | Amazon | iTunes

  Songs:

• "Legal Assassin," performed by Anthony Stuart Head
• "Zydrate Anatomy," by Terrance Zdunich, Alexa Vega and Paris Hilton
• "Chromaggia," by Sarah Brightman

Music by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich Distributed by Twisted Pictures   Show Notes:

• The struggle is real. 
• “It’s a gift to goths.”
• Alexa Vega's other gig.
• The story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mom who had Münchausen's by proxy...it's kind of morbidly fascinating. 

 

Podcast cover art: David Taylor

Twitter: @bwaybabies Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast

 

On the twenty-first day of the month of September  in an early year of a decade not too long before our own, the human race suddenly encountered a deadly threat to its very existence... and Alex and Daisha are here to talk about it! Join the Broadway Babies as they continue their Spooky Halloween season with a musical about a mean green mother from outer space: "Little Shop of Horrors." Alex and Daisha watch the 1986 cult classic in all its grungy glory and discuss the sheer craftsmanship of Audrey II, the tightness of the plot, and a comparison of the two endings to the story. 

 

Cast recording: Amazon | Spotify

Film: YouTube | Amazon 

  Songs:

• "Little Shop of Horrors” (performed by Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks, and Tisha Campbell)
• "Grow for Me” (Rick Moranis, Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks, and Tisha Campbell)
• "Feed Me (Git It)” (Rick Moranis, Levi Stubbs, Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks, and Tisha Campbell)
• "Suddenly Seymour" (Ellen Greene, Rick Moranis, Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks, and Tisha Campbell)
• "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” (Levi Stubbs and Chorus)

Music by Alan Menken and Lyrics by Howard Ashman Distributed by UMG Recordings Inc.   Show Notes:

• Since we were pressed for time: The story of the Broadway revival’s butchering and fixing.
• Frank Oz recounts the story of the original ending and its re-release.
• "Suddenly Seymour" from the Pasadena Playhouse production on the Late-Late Show. 
• Ellen Greene doing Audrey live at Encores in 2015, get it gurl!
• The Encores version with Audrey II’s actor actually on stage.
• A first look at the new off-Broadway revival
• A cute Groff interview
• Would Gaga be a good Audrey?

 

Podcast cover art: David Taylor

Twitter: @bwaybabies Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast

“There's a hole in the world like a big black pit who are filled with people who are filled with shit, and the vermin of the world inhabit it.” Aaaand on that note, let’s brood our way into the Halloween season with Alex and Daisha! What better way to start off a fresh new batch up episodes than with a Sondheim musical? Hold on to your jugulars, it’s about to get bloody: The Broadway Babies are reviewing the 1979 recording of "Sweeney Todd"! We're are swinging razors, opinions, and of course, the facts surrounding Sondheim’s most popular musical, as we discuss the history of Sweeney, the versatility of the show, and musical elements that make Sweeney so special. So what are you waiting for?! Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd with the Broadway Babies as they take a deep dive into the spooky vengeance musical to end all spooky vengeance musicals. Be sure to let us know your favorite production of Sweeney Todd on Facebook or Twitter!!! 

 

Cast recording: Amazon | Spotify

Film (only the George Hearn version): iTunes | Amazon 

  Songs:

• "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” (performed by Len Cariou and Ensemble)
• "A Little Priest” (Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou)
• "God That’s Good” (Angela Lansbury, Ken Jennings, and Ensemble)
• "Not While I’m Around” (Ken Jennings)
• "Final Sequence” (Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou)

Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim    Record produced by Masterworks Broadway   Show Notes:

• Super cool audio of Sondheim and Hal Prince trying to sell an unfinished Sweeney to backers!
• Sondheim talking about how hard Epiphany was to write

• Sondheim teaches My Friends
• A Sondheim interview about Sweeney!
• Majorly cool playlist of someone who actually analyzed Sweeney Todd if you want something more in depth and theory based 
• Emma Thompson as Lovett 
• Patti doing what she does best 
• One of Daisha’s fave classical sopranos singing Green Finch in concert 

 

Podcast cover art: David Taylor

Twitter: @bwaybabies Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast

I really, really, really wanna zig-a-zig ahhhh (and a new episode!) As you all know by now, Alex and Daisha make their own rules, so it shouldn’t surprise you that they are doing an episode on the not-really-movie-musical movie based on the greatest girl band of all time: "Spice World"! Join the Broadway Babies as they fan-girl over this hilarious, kooky, British movie about a week-in-the-life of the Spice Girls. With all that said, Alex and Daisha have one question for you: Which Spice Girl are you? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter, and tune in until the end of the episode to find out which ones they are. 

 

"Soundtrack": Amazon Prime | Apple Music | Spotify

Film (for purchase only): Amazon

 

Songs:

• "Too Much"
• "Say You'll Be There"
• "Viva Forever"
• "Wannabe"
• "Spice Up Your Life"
• "Lady is a Vamp"

Music all written and performed by the Spice Girls. 

Released by Virgin Records.

 

Show Notes:

• The behind-the-scenes featurette of "Spice World."
• Too Much music video of their personas vs. the Holler video as random queens of the elements 
• The Spice Bus was available on AirBNnB!
• A real thorough Vice story about the transformation of feminism in the '90s through the filter of the Spice Girls' "Girl Power" and its more radical origins.
• Meanwhile, here's another story about the girls' 
• Here's exactly what the dress code was at that London club.
• Megafan Liz West is an angel for this.
• Spice Girls without the spice! Geri | Mel C. & Emma

 

Podcast cover art: David Taylor

Twitter: @bwaybabies Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast

The Broadway Babies are dusting off our VHS tapes and pulling out our Lisa Frank gel pens to tackle this iconic production: The Wonderful World of Disney’s “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella”! Starring Brandy “sittin up in her cellar” Norwood, Whitney “I am your actual boss” Houston, and Bernadette “how can I make this power dynamic less problematic” Peters! Join Alex and Daisha as they sift through this fairy tale's long production history, the behind-the-scenes drama and the optics of color-blind casting, and discuss whether or not this movie was as progressive as it wanted to be at its inception. 

 

Cast recording: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Film: Amazon

 

Songs:

• "Impossible," performed by Whitney Houston
• “My Own Little Corner,” by Brandy Norwood
• “Falling in Love With Love,” by Bernadette Peters
• "Stepsisters' Lament," by Natalie Deselle and Veanne Cox
• "It's Possible," by Brandy and Whitney Houston

Music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

 

Show Notes:

• Shondaland.com's 20th anniversary herstory of the Cinderella film has all the tea, listeners.
• WHY ARE YOU DOWN THERE: This behind-the-scenes video special on Brandy and Whitney's relationship shows more than just the memes.
• Like night and day: Brandy's take on "Roxie" was just bursting with personality, no wonder they waited outside in lights to see her!
• Audra McDonald and Mary Testa's own version of the "Stepsisters' Lament" is its own level of iconic.
• Speaking of the Stepsisters, Veanne Cox might also just have one of the best renditions of "Getting Married Today."
• Veanne has the range: Here she is getting destroyed by Julia Roberts for having two wrong feet with ugly shoes.
• The 1965 version with Ginger Rogers is free via YouTube TV!
• If you would just like the entire movie retold in GIFs

 

Podcast cover art: David Taylor

Twitter: @bwaybabies Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast

The devil took the hindmost with this confusing sorta-sequel to everyone's favorite "opera." Join Alex and Daisha as they strap into this carnival ride of a musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Love Never Dies." The Broadway Babies are up to their usual shenanigans with the additional tasks of detangling this confusing plot, comparing the sequel to "Phantom of the Opera," and giving their final verdict on the 2012 Australian production. Is this musical a dud, or does it need one more new production team in the mix?

 

Cast recording: Amazon | Spotify | Apple Music

Video recording: BroadwayHD | Amazon

Songs:

• "Til I Hear You Sing," performed by Ben Lewis
• "Beneath a Moonless Sky," by Ben Lewis and Anna O'Byrne
• "Dear Old Friend," by Anna O'Byrne, Simon Gleeson, Sharon Millerchip and Maria Mercedes
• "Love Never Dies," by Anna O'Byrne

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Glenn Slater and Charles Hart

Produced by The Really Useful Group Ltd., under exclusive license to Polydor Limited to release.

Show Notes:

• A story of the show for NPR from before it debuted in London. 
• Could "Love Never Dies" come to Broadway? Because the tour did well? Let's guess!
• ALW and The Wizard of Oz ... as he talks to the New York Times about why he thinks the show didn't go well and what he planned next in 2012 (aka a puff piece).
• The show's 'World Tour' website seems pretty dry...but you can get on the waitlist!
• "Like the Phantom himself, this new show lives in anguish, yearning to reveal itself and be loved." 
• Oh boy... ALW loves having popular singers do singles of his big songs. Barbra, this ain't.
• Who is your fave Christine? Sierra and ALW performing the title song!

 

Podcast cover art: David Taylor

Twitter: @bwaybabies Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast

Welcome back, dear friends! This week we're dishing on the 2016 revival of one of the loveliest musicals around the corner, "She Loves Me." Boasting one of the best ensemble casts this side of Hungary, this revival starring podcast fave Laura Benanti and a charming Zachary Levi as sparring coworkers/pen-pal lovers (who don't quite know it yet) is as delicious as sweets from a musical box. So grab a carton of vanilla ice cream and enter the wonderful, ordinary world of Maraczek's Parfumerie. Do call again, won't you?

 

Film: Amazon | BroadwayHD 

Cast recording: Spotify | Apple Music

 

Music

• "Tonight at Eight," performed by Zachary Levi
• "Ilona," by Gavin Creel, Jane Krakowski, Nicholas Barasch and Michael McGrath
• "Dear Friend," by Laura Benanti
• "Try Me," by Nicholas Barasch
• "Bows," by "She Loves Me" company

Licensed by Ghostlight Records Inc. Released by Razor & Tie Recordings via Concord Music Group Inc. 

 

Show Notes

• There are so, so many things to show why Laura Benanti is iconic, but what could be more on-brand than watching her as Fosca from "Passion" in Times Square?
• OK fine, here's this too, her now-annual tradition!
• Sweetheart Jane Krakowski has the most touching story about doing the show as Ilona, and got a whole profile feature on CBS Morning News about it.
• But then here's Jane being iconic with her extra-ness ... which won her a Tony as soon as she first came down the ceiling.
• "Vanilla Ice Cream" is so overdone, but sometimes a soprano really pulls it off at her recital, gurl.
• Barbara Cook. The legend.

 

Podcast cover art: David Taylor

Twitter: @bwaybabies | Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast

Oh, what a little sunlight can do! The Broadway Babies are back from our summer vacation, and we're diving right into the deep end with our next show: Audra McDonald's star turn as doomed jazz singer Billie Holiday in the "musical play" "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill." Originally a Broadway revival in 2014, the show was filmed for a TV movie that aired on HBO in 2016 — and we're here to talk Billie's life story and how its leading lady elevates the play's iffy dialogue and plot. 

 

TV movie available online at HBO.com

Cast recording: Spotify | Amazon | Apple Music

 

Music

• "What a Little Moonlight Can Do"
• "God Bless the Child"
• "Strange Fruit"
• "Deep Song"

All songs performed by Audra McDonald.

Released by PS Classics.

 

Show Notes

• To keep from going into a whole YouTube concert of her, here’s two of Audra’s iconic performances that really show her range and talent, both vocal and acting: ”The Glamorous Life” and “Down With Love”. There will be more to come… 
• She always gives the best Tony speeches, by the way. 
• And the best interviews because she’s just so down to earth but also earth-shatteringly talented...she’s classy, sassy, and just a touch bit ass-y. 
• “All Stars 4” co-winner Monet X Change made a powerful music video of “Strange Fruit” that, let’s say, modernizes the song.
• And last but definitely not least, here’s the real Billie really singing “Strange Fruit” in 1959, the same year the play takes place and the year she died.

 

Podcast cover art: David Taylor

Twitter: @bwaybabies | Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast

OK, lions, now let's get in formation! The Broadway Babies are back from a much-needed summer break to share our thoughts on Disney's latest remake, "The Lion King," which has roared through the box office and left fans of the original divided over the movie's photorealistic yet dulled CGI'd Pridelands, its confusingly changed plot and somewhat questionable vocal talents. 

Show Notes

• Moira Kelly (the original voice of Nala) talks about how hard the voice acting experience is
• Since we do draw a line between "The Jungle Book" and "The Lion King," here's a more detailed comparison about the successes and failures of both movies.
• A really interesting (albeit all about economic theory, so bear with us) video essay take on the financial reasons behind all the recent Disney remakes… spoiler alert: It’s capitalism’s fault!!!

Podcast cover art: David Taylor

Twitter: @bwaybabies Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast

Back to Paris again, dearest listeners, where we tackle our most special show yet: the original production of Stephen Sondheim's personal opus "Sunday in the Park with George." Filled with color and light and based on French painter Georges Seurat's own influential artwork, this musical has left a major impact on us and many other Broadway babies around the world since its debut in 1984. Put down your pastries and your parasols as we sing the praises of Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin, discuss the topsy-turvy energy of its production history and wonder why this show makes us feel such feelings. It's getting orange!

 

DVD: Amazon | Apple Video

Cast recording: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify

 

Music

• “Sunday in the Park with George,” performed by Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin
• “Color and Light,” by Peters and Patinkin
• “Finishing the Hat,” by Patinkin
• “Children and Art,” by Peters
• “Move On,” by Peters and Patinkin
• “Sunday (reprise),” by company, Peters and Patinkin

Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Released by BMG Music Inc.

 

Show Notes

• Again plugging Sondheim’s Hat Box collection of his lyrics from all his major shows: It’s such an eye-opening page turner from “Saturday Night” to “Road Show.”
• Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters reunited to “move on” at a recent Sondheim birthday concert, and it’s as touching as you’d expect
• A-list Actór Jake Gyllenhaal recently starred in a Broadway revival and showed just how skilled a singer he is in a music video of “Finishing the Hat.”
• Also, that production, with Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford, was JUST announced to be transferring to the West End in 2020 ... like, the day after we recorded this...
• Finally, just take this in: Steve performing "Move On" at Michael Bennett's funeral.

 

Podcast cover art: David Taylor

Twitter: @bwaybabies Facebook: Facebook.com/broadwaybabiespodcast