So Much Stuff to Sing

Not all megamusicals were big hits -- not on Broadway, at least. This episode, we look at one of the most infamous and enduring of the failed London to Broadway transfers: Chess. The score, by Time Rice, Benny Andersson, and Bjorn Ulvaeus, has endured, however, powered by such pop hits as "Nobody's Side." All clips are from the 1988 Original Broadway Cast Recording of Chess featuring Judy Kuhn and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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The undisputed king of the megamusical, Andrew Lloyd Webber, is back with his biggest hit, and one of the biggest hits in musical theater history: The Phantom of the Opera.

This episode we discuss the title song, our history with the show in general, and the sequel that never really caught on. All clips are from the 1986 Original London Cast Recording of The Phantom of the Opera featuring Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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MAKE IT BIGGER! That was the refrain in the 80s on the West End and Broadway, and we're looking at some of the highlights of the megamusical era in our new miniseries. We begin with the show that arguably started it all -- Andrew Lloyd's Webber's 1981 phenomenon, Cats. Join us, won't you, as we discuss "Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats." All clips are from the 1981 Original London Cast Recording of Cats and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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We conclude our series on seduction songs with a trip down to 2019's Hadestown --written by Anaïs Mitchell and developed and directed by Rachel Chavkin -- to discuss "Hey, Little Songbird."

All clips are from the 2019 Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hadestown featuring Patrick Page as Hades and Eva Noblezada as Eurydice are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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Our seduction song cycle moves to Moscow as we revisit a perennial favorite, Dave Malloy's Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 and one of that show's standout moments -- "Charming."

All clips are from the 2017 original Broadway cast recording of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 featuring Amber Gray as Helene and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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We continue our run of seduction songs with a return to one of the first shows we ever covered: Chicago. This time, we're looking at Billy Flynn's "Razzle Dazzle," a song that's both darker and slower than you may remember.

All clips are from the 1975 original Broadway cast recording of Chicago featuring Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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Hey, big spender! Spend a little time with Erik & Shannon as they begin a new miniseries, featuring songs of seduction. We begin with one of the most blatant come-ons ever staged for Broadway, "Big Spender" from 1966's Sweet Charity.

All clips are from the 1966 original Broadway cast recording of Sweet Charity and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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We conclude our journey through Into the Woods with The Baker's Wife's moving and profound exploration of the meaning of life, "Moments in the Woods."

All clips are from the 1987 original cast recording of Into the Woods featuring Joanna Gleason as the Baker's Wife and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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After a brief break, we are back with our annual Sondheim series featuring the "I know now" songs from Into the Woods. This time, we look at one of the most challenging and daunting songs from the show, Cinderella's big moment "On the Steps of the Palace."

All clips are from the 1987 original cast recording of Into the Woods featuring Kim Crosby as Cinderalla and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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We continue our annual Stephen Sondheim celebration with a discussion of "Giants in the Sky," as we go deeper Into the Woods and look at what our chracters are learning. All clips are from the 1987 original cast recording of Into the Woods featuring Ben Wright and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

Listen to and buy the album on Amazon!

Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify.

Follow the show on Twitter: @somuchstuffpod

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Email the show: [email protected]