In this episode, freelance artists and founders of ContemporaryMusicalTheatre.com David Sisco and Laura Josepher discuss contemporary musical theater----what the term means and includes, as well as examples from Broadway, off-Broadway, and their site. We also talk about the song "Changing My Major" from Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori's 2015 Broadway musical Fun Home.

In this episode, I share outtakes from three previous episodes with guests Gregory Jacobs-Roseman, Michael Boyd, and EllaRose Chary. I also talk about the song "Telephone Wire" from Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori's 2015 Broadway musical Fun Home.

In this episode, composer and librettist Rachel Peters discusses the songs of Cole Porter--looking at the darkness in happy songs and how two things can be true at once. We also talk about the song "So in Love" from Cole Porter and Bella and Samuel Spewack's 1948 musical Kiss Me Kate.

In this episode, arts educator Aliza Greenberg discusses Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the ways in which it is and isn't a musical for kids. We also talk about the song "It's Time" from the 1996 musical Big: The Musical.

In this episode, writer and director Michael Boyd discusses Tom O'Horgan, Helen Miller, and Eve Merriam's 1971 musical Inner City, the story behind this short-lived musical, most likely the first Broadway musical with a score by two women, as well as a look some of the songs. We also talk about the song "Hushaby/My Mother Said" from Inner City.

In this episode, performer and creator Victoria Gordon discusses Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's 1966 television musical Evening Primrose, looking at the contradictions of art vs. capitalism and inside vs. outside and at Charles and Ella's relationship. We also talk about the song "Storybook" from Frank Wildhorn and Nan Knighton's The Scarlet Pimpernel, specifically Linda Eder's version.

In this episode, writer and musician Kirk Hamilton discusses Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical Hamilton, looking at the character of Eliza, how the show's visual elements work with the score, and the songs "Non-Stop" and "The Reynolds Pamphlet." We also talk about the songs "You'll Be Back," "What Comes Next?" and "I Know Him" from Hamilton.

In this episode, Warren Hoffman, author of The Great White Way: Race and the Broadway Musical, discusses his book, specifically whiteness and white identity in musical theater, in preparation for the book's second edition. We also talk about the song "Love Can't Happen" by Maury Yeston from the musical Grand Hotel. 

In this episode, composer and lyricist and theatrical producer Gregory Jacobs-Roseman discusses the musicals of composer and lyricist Jerry Herman. We also talk about the song "The Best of Times" from Herman's La Cage aux Folles. 

In this episode, seven of this season's guests--Mark Falconer, Anika Chapin, James Ballard, Jessica Fleitman, John Verderber, Marcus Scott, and BethAnn Cohen--return to discuss the topics from the season and listener-submitted questions and comments.