Scene to Song

In this episode, writer John Verderber discusses Rodgers and Hart musicals of the late 1930s and early 1940s, focusing on Babes in Arms, The Boys from Syracuse, and Pal Joey. We also talk about the song "Disneyland" from Howard Ashman and Marvin Hamlisch's 1986 musical Smile.

In this episode, writer Andi Carter discusses Andrew Lloyd Weber's 1981 musical Cats. Andi and I last talked about Cats in episode 32 in December of 2019. He returns to discuss how the new production of Cats: The Jellicle Ball at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York changes, or does not change, how we talk about Cats. There will be some small spoilers for this production. We also talk about the song "Moonfall" from Rupert Holmes's 1985 musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

I’m not releasing a new episode this month, so instead I thought I’d put together a few “Why is This So Good” sections from the first and second seasons to hold us over until the next new episode in August. I’ve included A Strange Loop writer Michael R. Jackson talking about the song "Not Anymore" from the 1973 musical Raisin from episode 4; composer, writer, and director John Grimmett talking about the song sequence "Montage/Safe/The One I Love" from Michael John LaChiusa's 1993 musical Hello Again from episode 7; and writer John Verderber talking about Stephen Sondheim's song "Someone in a Tree" from his 1976 musical Pacific Overtures from episode 19.

Today is Scene to Song’s 6th anniversary! On June 25, 2018, I released the very first episode, and I thought it would be fun to re-release it so we can all listen to it again without having to go way back in the podcast feed.

In this episode, composer Julia Meinwald discusses comedy in musical theater. We also talk about Joe Iconis's song "Jeff."

In this episode, writer, composer and director, and the Producing Artistic Director Nick Navari discusses Jason Robert Brown's 2002 off-Broadway musical The Last Five Years, touching on why Jamie and Cathy are together, the form of the show, the film version, and comparisons to Jason Robert Brown's most recent musical, The Connector. We also talk about the song "I Could Be in Love with Someone Like You," which was cut from The Last Five Years.

In this episode, multi-disciplinary black femme storyteller AriDy Nox discusses how Elphaba and Galinda/Glinda from Wicked are absolutely gay. We also talk about the song "The Spark of Creation" from the 1991 Stephen Schwartz and John Caird musical Children of Eden.

In this episode, podcaster, actor, and playwright/screenwriter Matt Koplik discusses Jeanine Tesori musicals. We also talk about the song "Changing My Major" from the 2015 Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron musical Fun Home.

"Our Disease" from Kimberly Akimbo

In this episode, home care nurse and educator BethAnn Freed Cohen discusses the bimbo, or ditz, character in Sondheim musicals. We also talk about the song "Glitter and Be Gay" from the 1956 Leonard Bernstein, Richard Wilbur, and Lillian Hellman musical Candide.

In this episode, bookwriter, lyricist, and composer Jason K Purdy discusses neurodivergence and disability representation in Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas's 2005 musical The Light in the Piazza. We also talk about the song "Drift" from the 2023 Rebekah Greer Melocik and Jacob Yandura musical How to Dance in Ohio.

In this episode, theater content creators Will Anderson and Rachael Joyce-Anderson, also known as The Theater Lovers, discuss comedy songs in musical theater. We also talk about the song "Adelaide's Lament" from the 1950 Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling, and Abe Burrows musical Guys and Dolls.

You can write to [email protected] with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on X/Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.