So Much Stuff to Sing

Get ready for some conflict over, of all things, "A Weekend in the Country" from Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince's A Little Night Music as we begin out next arc, focusing on Act 1 finales from Sondheim shows. It's gonna be quite a ride!

All clips are from the 1973 Original Broadway Cast Recording and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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Shannon and Erik conclude their first foray into closing numbers with the final song from Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years "Goodbye Until Tomorrow / I Could Never Rescue You." They talk about beginnings in endings, endings in beginnings, and being young and stupid.

All clips are from the 2015 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (take it up with Shannon!) and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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In this episode we move from the imagined, candy-colored early 60s to the real, tumultuous, "hairy" late 60s.

Shannon and Erik continue their mini-series on closing numbers with "The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In)" from the landmark 1968 musical Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. Yes, that is its full title.

All clips are from the 1968 Broadway Cast Recording and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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But, what if I *want* to stop the beat? Turns out, it can't be done! Join Shannon and Erik as they continue their mini-series on closing number and ride the rocket ship that is "You Can't Stop the Beat" from 2002's Hairspray. Along the way, they talk about integration, staggered breathing, and smashing the patriarchy--all while dancing crazy! (Not really.)

All clips are from the 2002 Broadway Cast Recording and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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Wait...so, are you saying that anything goes? Erik and Shannon find themselves on an ocean liner in the 1930s as they begin their cycle of closing numbers with Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" from the show of the same name. As they try not to sound condescending about a show that is just FUN, they discuss Sutton Foster's vowels, Erik talks about how he stopped worrying and learned to love tap, and Shannon throws serious shade.

All clips are from the 2011 Broadway Cast Recording and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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Next stop, River City, Iowa! Erik and Shannon head to the American Midwest in the the early part of the 20th Century to discuss "Rock Island," the bizarre and wonderful opening number from Meredith Wilson's perennial favorite The Music Man.  Station stops include Erik's origin story, Shannon's love of trains, and a lot of talk of cracker barrels.

All clips are from the Original Broadway Cast Recording and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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Welcome, welcome to Moscow! Erik and Shannon visit Russia during the Napoleonic Wars for Dave Malloy's Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 and its sly, sarcastic opening number, "Prologue." Along the way, they discuss complicated Russian novels, classical sculpture, and "the opera."

All clips are from the Original Cast Recording and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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Erik and Shannon voyage to Anatevka to discuss the opening number to end all opening numbers: "Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof by Bock & Harnick. There is much love for sad dancing, Zero Mostel, and, well, tradition.

All clips are from the Original Broadway Cast Recording and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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Shannon and Erik begin their exploration of opening numbers with a shocking, sexy, and seedy cry of liberation: "All That Jazz," from the Kander & Ebb classic Chicago, touching on Fosse, Verdon, and Chita...always Chita.

All clips are from the Original Broadway Cast Recording, and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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(Apologies for Erik's audio. He has since been rescued from the bottom of the well he recorded from.)

Join Erik and Shannon as they embark on a new podcast about the American musical. In their first episode, they discuss "Our Time" from the Stephen Sondheim classic/flop Merrily We Roll Along. 

All clips are from the Original Broadway Cast Recording, and are used in accordance with the Fair Use Exemption for criticism and commentary.

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