THE LAST SHOW ON EARTH

This is the podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. 

If there was a huge asteroid hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? It can be anything you want - a show you’ve seen before, one that you wish you’d seen, or something you’ve made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?

Our guest this episode is Lucie Jones

Lucie is a singer, musical theatre actress, and model who originates from the village of Pentyrch just outside Cardiff in Wales.

She is an accomplished performer who first came to prominence while competing on The X Factor UK in 2009 (where she was inexplicably somehow beaten by Irish comedy pop duo Jedward...)

Lucie has performed extensively in musicals since then, playing leading roles in Wicked, Ghost, We Will Rock You, Rent, Legally Blonde, Les Miserables and many others.

In 2017 she represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Never Give Up on You" performing in front of a global television audience of 300 million people.

She released a double solo album in 2020 called Lucie Jones: Live at the Adelphi which featured a guest performance from the legendary John Owen-Jones himself (after she appeared as a guest on John's 2019 studio album Spotlight).

Links:

Official website https://www.luciejones.com/

Lucie's X Factor journey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo4h_pxHqvY

Lucie on Eurovision https://eurovision.tv/participant/lucie-jones

Lucie's Live album https://liveherenow.co.uk/products/lucie-jones-live-at-the-adelphi-special-edition-2-cd-exclusive

Lucie and John singing The Prayer on John's Spotlight album https://open.spotify.com/track/3KNli7XKEsPOC3z4fkvuYc?si=dc6bfcc4848a4392

Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music written by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music performed by John Owen-Jones, Alistair Brammer and John Quirk

Recorded & edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

A 2023 John Owen-Jones Associates Production

www.johnowenjones.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. 

If there was a huge asteroid hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? It can be anything you want - a show you’ve seen before, one that you wish you’d seen, or something you’ve made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?

Our guest this episode is Ben Forster

Originally from the North East, Ben has been a stalwart of the West End before winning ITV talent show Superstar and has appeared in shows such as Elf, Thriller Live, The Phantom of the Opera, The Rocky Horror show and of course the worlkd arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Whilst still performing all over the world, Ben has recently moved behind the scenes to become a director and producer. He tells about this and his rise to fame thanks to Superstar and more...

Links:

Ben as Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaUtSE2yWc8

Ben as Phantom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iprAdY4OANI

Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music written by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music performed by John Owen-Jones, Alistair Brammer and John Quirk

Recorded & edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

A 2023 John Owen-Jones Associates Production

www.johnowenjones.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. 

If there was a huge asteroid hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? It can be anything you want - a show you’ve seen before, one that you wish you’d seen, or something you’ve made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?

Our guest this episode is Eva Noblezada

Eva is a two-time Tony nominated actress and singer. She has starred in shows like Les Miserables, Hadestown and, of course, Miss Saigon (a show whcih she did for two years with Alistair. What did she do to deserve THAT??)

She has been seen in films Easter Sunday, Yellow Rose and most recently she voiced the lead role of Sam in movie Luck for Apple TV +.

As well as telling us all about her choice for her last show, she talks to us about pole dancing, beef wellington and being urinated on by a small child. Onstage in front of 1500 people.

Links:

Eva and the Hadestown cast performing 'Wait for Me' on CBS- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUWXu68vKWI

Eva and Alistair singing 'Last Night of the World' at the 2014 Royal Variety Performance- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdPrMlL1E6w

Tickets for Hadestown here. https://www.hadestown.com/

Cocktail bar in New York- Patent Pending - https://www.patentpendingnyc.com/

Restaurant in Cincinatti- Boca - https://www.bocacincinnati.com/

Trailer for Luck - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSG5UX0EQVg

Eva singing 'I'd Give My Life For You' at the 2017 Tony Awards- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7gz7PlFHk8

Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music written by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music performed by John Owen-Jones, Alistair Brammer and John Quirk

Recorded & edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

A 2023 John Owen-Jones Associates Production

www.johnowenjones.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. 

If there was a huge asteroid hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? It can be anything you want - a show you’ve seen before, one that you wish you’d seen, or something you’ve made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?

Our guest this episode is Aaron Tveit

Aaron is an award winning Broadway, TV and film actor who played Enjolras in the movie of Les Miserables, has been seen on TV in Schmigadoon and its upcoming sequel Schmicago, Graceland, Ugly Betty, Gossip Girl, The Good Wife, American Horror Stories and more; in films such as Howl and Ghost Town and as Danny Zuko in Grease: Live for Fox. He has appeared in shows such as Wicked, Assassins, Hairspray, Company and Rent and has created roles in musicals Catch Me if you Can, Next to Normal, and most recently Moulin Rouge - which bagged him a Best Actor in a Musical Tony Award. 

Links:

Aaron's music video for Come What May from Moulin Rouge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFay0SVFxVI

Aaron in Rent at the Hollywood Bowl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ZOx19Pjag

Tickets for Moulin Rouge here. https://moulinrougemusical.com/new-york/home/

Gramaldi's pizzeria. New York. https://www.grimaldispizzeria.com/location/1-front-street-brooklyn/?utm_source=Yelp&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=yelp

Schmigadoon Season 1 trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKG0RodrzVo

Aaron and Alistair in Do You Hear the People Sing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q82twrdr0U

Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music written by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music performed by John Owen-Jones, Alistair Brammer§ and John Quirk

Recorded & edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

A 2023 John Owen-Jones Associates Production

www.johnowenjones.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. 

If there was a huge asteroid hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? It can be anything you want - a show you’ve seen before, one that you wish you’d seen, or something you’ve made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?

Our guest this episode is Michael Ball.

Do we need to write anything here? It's Michael Ball FFS! The King of Musical Theatre!!

Ok if you don't know who he is - here's a brief rundown:

As a stage actor he has won two Best Actor in a Musical Olivier Awards, appeared in West End and Broadway box office hits like Aspects of Love, The Woman in White, The Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, Passion, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sweeney Todd and Les Miserables - in which he created the role of Marius (of course).

On TV he has been a regular presenter of The One Show and This Morning and has appeared too many times to mention elsewhere on telly but highlights (for us) include Toast of London, The Michael Ball Show, Coronation Street and That Day We Sang by Victoria Wood. He has presented loads of radio shows over the years and now has his own regular hugely popular Sunday morning show for BBC Radio 2 which has become a permant fixture of the station's schedule.

As a singer, he has released 21 bestselling solo albums, 5 bestselling albums as part of musical double act Ball and Boe, played concerts all over the world, represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest and hit the top of the singles charts with songs like Love Changes Everything, One Step Out of Time and You'll Never Walk Alone (with Captain Sir Tom Moore)

He has Honoray Doctorates from the University of Plymouth and the University of Surrey and was awarded an OBE in 2015 for Services to the Arts.

He has just released his first novel The Empire - the first in a series of novels set in a fictional Victorian theatre and returns to the West End in a new production of Aspects of Love in 2023.

Links:

Michael in Toast of London https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0Z970HPbcE

Michael Ball on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/2MISUlPFrBMRlIcazbEOUI?si=ChP6gZQbRAaNsOTTR0vwWw

Official website https://www.michaelball.co.uk/

Buy The Empire here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Empire-charming-romantic-Cameron-Mackintosh/dp/1804180548

Buy Aspects of Love tix here: https://ticketing.thelyrictheatre.co.uk/tickets/series/LYAOL01M

Charcoal Fish restaurant, Rose Bay, Sydney https://www.charcoalfish.com/

Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music written by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music performed by John Owen-Jones and John Quirk

Recorded & edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

A 2022 John Owen-Jones Associates Production

www.johnowenjones.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. 

If there was a huge asteroid hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? It can be anything you want - a show you’ve seen before, one that you wish you’d seen, or something you’ve made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?

Our guest this episode is Richard Maltby Jr.

Richard Maltby Jr is an award winning American theatre director and producer, lyricist, and screenwriter.

He conceived and directed the only two musical revues to win the Tony Award for Best Musical: Ain't Misbehavin' and Fosse and is one half of the musical theatre writing partnership Maltby and Shire - who created shows like Starting Here, Starting Now; Baby; Take Flight; Closer Than Ever and Big. 

The son of Richard Maltby Sr, a well-known orchestra leader, he is probably best known to modern musical theatre audiences as the co-lyricist for blockbuster musical Miss Saigon.

He also conceived and directed the Johnny Cash musical Ring of Fire, was director/co-lyricist for the American version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance, was co-bookwriter/lyricist for The Pirate Queen and was most recently represented on Broadway as the director of the new, original musical The Story of My Life by composer/lyricist Neil Bartram and book writer Brian Hill. The list goes on but there isn't room to write it all out here!

He is the recipient of numerous awards that include Tony Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards and Olivier Awards and was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 1977.

Since the 1970s he has constructed the monthly cryptic crossword puzzles for Harper's Magazine.

He is 85 years old - and as busy as ever.

Interesting links:

Alistair Brammer performing in Miss Saigon on the The Royal Variety Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdPrMlL1E6w

The OBC recording of Ain't Misbehavin' https://open.spotify.com/album/2Nitaklr8978vRVrARLz76?si=68wQImv7RQiD7D510RqtIw

Richard Maltby Jr's puzzles in Harper's Magazine https://harpers.org/puzzles/

Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music written by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music performed by John Owen-Jones and John Quirk

Recorded and edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Artwork by Martin Ball, John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

This podcast is a 2022 John Owen-Jones Associates Production

www.johnowenjones.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the theatrical podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. 

If there was a huge meteor hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? It can be anything you want.

A show you’ve seen before, one that you wish you’d seen, or something you’ve made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?

Our guest this episode is Rob Madge.

Rob is an award winning non-binary performer that started their career in theatre at a very young age playing leading child roles in shows like Mary Poppins, Matilda, Oliver, and Les Miserables - most notably playing Gavroche at the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert in 2010 at London's O2 Arena. In fact, Rob had appeared in 4 West End shows before they reached the age of 15!

Since then, Rob has created probably their greatest success to date with the critically acclaimed Off West End Show "My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do)?" The show is a coming of age, autobiographical story that tells the tale of Rob's childhood attempt to stage a full-blown one-person Disney show in their living room, and also explores Madge's uplifting and inspiring discovery that they are non-binary. The show played a hugely successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe and will play a limited run at The Garrick Theatre in London's West End this year.

You can get more info and buy tickets for "My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do)?" here: https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/my-sons-a-queer/

Rob also creates hugely popular and very funny short movies for social media so youshould follow him!

You can follow Rob on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Rob_Madge_02

And on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/robmadge02/

You can buy the script of My Son's A Queer here: https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/rob-madge

You can buy In Their Shoes by Jamie Windust here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/in-their-shoes/jamie-windust/9781787752429

Correction: it was cats in MAUS - not pigs

Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music written by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music performed by John Owen-Jones and John Quirk

Recorded and edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Artwork by Martin Ball, John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

This podcast is a 2022 John Owen-Jones Associates Production

www.johnowenjones.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the theatrical podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. 

If there was a huge meteor hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? It can be anything you want.

A show you’ve seen before, one that you wish you’d seen, or something you’ve made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?

Our guest this episode is Luke Kempner.

Luke Kempner is an impressionist, comedian, actor and presenter who began his career in musical theatre. He and John worked together on the legendary Les Miserables 25th anniversary tour in 2010 before Luke went on to carve out a successful career in comedy.

He has quickly established himself as the UK’s hottest new impressionist for the millennial comedy generation with his contemporary take on pop culture mimicry, amassing over 10 million views online. Combining razor sharp stand-up with incisively accurate imitations of international TV celebrities, social media superstars, fellow comedians, notorious politicians and famous sports names, Luke is also familiar to television audiences with his regular appearances in the BAFTA winning Murder in Successville (BBC3), and as the breakout star of The Imitation Game on ITV1, which led to an appearance on The Royal Variety Performance (ITV1). Luke’s other TV credits include The Last Leg (Channel 4), ITV2’s Stand-Up Sketch Show, Love Island Aftersun and Celebrity Karaoke Club alongside as resident comedian on Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On The Side (Channel 5) for 9 series.

Luke is part of the Spitting Image voice cast (which can be seen on BritBox) and regularly appears as a presenter on BAFTA nominated TV show Steph’s Packed Lunch (Channel 4). He is also a regular at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where he performs stand up to sell out crowds. In 2022 he debuted his latest stand up show Macho Man in Edinburgh to huge acclaim and is currently touring the UK with the show.

Some links mentioned in the chat:

Macho Man tour dates https://www.lukekempner.com/home#live

Murder in Successville info https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_in_Successville

Murder in Successville Episode One https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLtr_Sdfge4

Les Miz 2010 Cast album https://open.spotify.com/album/6YSnbnRXI7YAgn3WjAoksx?si=ObT7aYbdS-yHco6u-4yCYQ

The Only Way is Downton trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWEsNgEd67A

The Imitation Game clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qos_EBrtUOo

Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music written by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music performed by John Owen-Jones and John Quirk

Recorded and edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Artwork by Martin Ball, John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

This podcast is a 2022 John Owen-Jones Associates Production

www.johnowenjones.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the theatrical podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. 

If there was a huge asteroid hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? 

It can be anything you want. A show you’ve seen before, one that you wish you’d seen, or something you’ve made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?

Our guest this episode is Mazz Murray.

Mazz is an accomplished actress and singer who has spent many years occupying leading roles in long running West End musicals. After an incredible 9 year run performing in WWRY she is currently enjoying another long stint in Mamma Mia as Donna - a role she has been playing for over three years. She has also appeared in shows like Chicago, A Girl Called Dusty, Rent, Smokey Joe’s Café, Fame, Only the Lonely, Boogie Nights and Pippin and was recently seen giving a showstopping turn as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard in at the Royal Albert Hall.

Film credits include: Mamma Mia!, Here We Go Again, Santa Claus: The Movie and Hope & Glory.

Television credits include: Footballers’ Wives, The Bill, EastEnders, The Man from Auntie, Eye Spy and The Quest.

During the pandemic she collaborated with The Theatre Cafe to create a theatrically themed cookbook named "...And 5, 6, 7, Eat!" with a portion of sale proceeds going towards the charity Acting for Others. The cookbook is available to buy at www.thetheatrecafe.co.uk

She has worked with some of the greatest names in the industry (and John Owen-Jones) and is part of the rock group Woman. In 2020 the group hit number 1 in the rock charts with their single ‘I’m A Woman’ - which they recorded with the legendary Queen guitarist Brian May - in aid of breast and ovarian cancer charities. 

Mazz released her debut solo album, ‘Midnight Mazz’ in 2018 and has recently released her brand-new album ‘Midnight Mazz - Here We Go Again’ - a collection of ABBA love songs.

Her albums are available at www.theatre-shop.com and www.mazzmurray.com

More info can be found at www.midnightmazz.com www.womantheband.com

Credits:

Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music written by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music performed by John Owen-Jones and John Quirk

Recorded and edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Artwork by Martin Ball, John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

This podcast is a 2022 John Owen-Jones Associates Production

www.johnowenjones.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the theatrical podcast in which we ask a special guest the big, BIG question that nobody ever needed to ask. 

If there was a huge meteor hurtling toward Earth threatening to destroy life as we know it and you could see one more show before you die, what would it be? 

It can be anything you want. A show you’ve seen before, one that you wish you’d seen, or something you’ve made up entirely. What would be YOUR Last Show on Earth?

Our guest this episode is Gary Janetti.

Gary is a bestelling author, sitcom writer, actor, producer, TV personality and one of the creative forces behind TV mega hits Will and Grace and Family Guy.

Gary talked to us in May 2022 just after the release of his second book Start Without Me (I'll Be There in a Minute) - the follow up to his first book Do You Mind If I Cancel? (Things That Still Annoy Me)

which became a New York Times Bestseller. You can follow Gary on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/garyjanetti/?hl=en

Gary is a very busy man and we only had an hour to chat to him therefore some of our usual items had to be dropped, so apologies for that - but it's still a very entertaining chat! Apologies also for the slightly annoying clcking noise that you might sometimes hear - some technical problems with Gary's microphone that were impossible to fix!

Some links mentioned in the chat:

Patti Lupone "mask" video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nQQnwmFHiA

Patti as Evita - 1981 Tony Awards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6NkRBIl8UM

Patti as Evita - 1980 Tony Awards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QtZxxbStjs

Gary Janetti's  Les Miz Flashmob from It's A Brad Brad World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFVG2ZAiurw

Family Guy - Stewie goes to the Psychiatrist (7 minute rant) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQBh_VQywEA

Get tickets for Al's solo concert at the Minack Theatre here: https://www.minack.com/book/217801 and here https://www.minack.com/book/217802

Get tickets for John's solo tour here: https://www.johnowenjones.com/live

Hosted by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Music written by John Owen-Jones and Alisatir Brammer

Music performed by John Owen-Jones and John Quirk

Recorded and edited by John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

Artwork by Martin Ball, John Owen-Jones and Alistair Brammer

This podcast is a 2022 John Owen-Jones Associates Production

www.johnowenjones.com/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.