"I don't know, but it's BRILLIANT!"

Things get weird w/ Daddy Sondheim's next musical about conformity, sanity and the power of a red wig: ANYONE CAN WHISTLE. Broadway historian Jennifer Ashley Tepper (author of the Untold Stories of Broadway Anthology) returns to the pod to discuss this truly whacky musical with Matt as well as the show's troubled process getting produced, including Angela Lansbury shouting in a stairwell, giving audiences the middle finger...and DEATH!!!! We and this pod...we just want to be LOOOOOVED!
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"INTERMISSION!"

We barrel into the 60's with the first Broadway score ENTIRELY written by our boy Stephen Sondheim. Broadway music director and former guest of the pod Patrick Sulken (PRETTY WOMAN, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS)stops by to discuss with Matt how such a successful show had such a disastrous out of town tryout, a score that works even though it doesn't fit the show, and why this musical may not be as dated as some would have you believe. TRAGEDY TOMORROW, COMEDY TONIGHT!
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Impossible? Things are happening EVERY day!!

Alum of the pod Jimmy Larkin (@letshearitforthechoice)joins Matt to interview legendary/award winning music director Paul Bogaev on his illustrious career on Broadway (CHESS, AIDA, SUNSET BOULEVARD). film (CHICAGO, NINE, DREAMGIRLS) and TV (CINDERELLA, ANNIE) including the making of the iconic CINDERELLA starring Brandy, the Tony winning actresses that ALMOST starred in AIDA, and how he turned non-singing movie stars into Broadway Babies!! It's a JUICY and THRILLING bonus episode of the Breakdown!!
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"Children, go play in the alley..."

We close out the Golden Age of Broadway with the iconic GYPSY. Often thought of as the perfect musical, Preston Max Allen (WE ARE THE TIGERS, CARRIE 2) comes on to discuss with Matt the show's brilliant writing, homoerotic undertones and missed opportunities. And Matt goes on to explain why Arthur Laurents was the best and worst thing to happen to GYPSY. Have an egg roll!!
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Welcome to Broadway Breakdown’s first mini-series “A Little Sondheim Music” where we go through the career of Stephen Sondheim.

Friend of the Pod Andres Melendez comes back to dive into the show that gave our Broadway Daddy his Broadway debut...WEST SIDE STORY!

The two discuss how the show has aged, if the movie version is ACTUALLY good, why "I Feel Pretty" is better than Sondheim will admit, and why most revivals fail. KEEP IT COOL, BOY!
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THINGS ARE SHAKING UP HERE!
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"There IS a contest...but she won."

Tim Kov and Anna Hulkower (hosts of MY LITTLE TONYS) join Matt to dissect the numerous Tony wins of legend, icon and bubble bath taker Angela Lansbury! The group also discusses when the Tonys had Gays in the mezzanine, Elizabeth Taylor doing stand up, and that one telecast that had blackface...it's Angie's Turn!
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"The only thing hornier than Bridgerton is the 1982 ANNIE."

Your favorite (or least favorite) redhead is front and center in a new episode of Breakdown! Fan favorite Dani Ticktin Koplik (aka MATT'S MOM) comes on to discuss with the opinionated host the origin, merits and flaws of the musical ANNIE and its subsequent movie versions. Is the the 1982 version too racist? Is the 1999 version too sweet? Is the 2014 version too ashamed it's ANNIE? And who the HECK thought it was a good idea to make all the orphans horny?! WE KNOW YOU'RE GONNA LIKE IT HERE!
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"Was it chaos or was it fun?"

Fellow podcaster Kimberly Cooper Schmidt (BROADWAYSTED, BROADWAY BABY) takes Matt back to his college years when musical theatre was alive and well in Youtube concerts. Matt and Kimberly discuss the Broadway stars who were once Youtube unknowns, drugs in Angela Lansbury's dressing room, and why a great song can never be in a musical. CLAP YOUR HANDS!
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"If anyone could write a musical of WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, it's Maltby and Shire..."

Broadway Producer and Historian Jennifer Ashley Tepper (BE MORE CHILL, The Untold Stories of Broadway Anthology) discusses with Matt her love for the iconic songwriting duo of Richard Maltby Jr and David Shire (BABY, BIG). The two gush over the amazing scores the two have written as well as high school hobbies, what it means to be a dated musical, and why the 80's wasn't as bad a time for Broadway as some think. STARTING HERE!
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com