Theatre in a Box Trivia Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Theatre in a Box Trivia Podcast

We have taken the Theatre in a Box Musical Theatre Board Game and morphed it into a trivia podcast.

Our very special guest quiz master is Karen Oliver, author of How To Fail At Showbiz & Survive.

www.howtofailatshowbizandsurvive.com

karenolivervocalist.com

There are four rounds of questions for this episode:

Round 1. Musicals with Something in Common

Round 2. Alphatheatrical - Letter P

Round 3. Vague Musical Synopsis

Round 4. Our Featured Musical - Mamma Mia! (Karen's choice)

Website: www.theatreinabox.com.au

Use the promo code 'Podcast' to get a 10% discount on the Theatre in a Box musical theatre party board game.

Game Creator: Brenton Crewes, Flynn Crewes, Paul Morrison.

Podcast Host: Paul Morrison

Theme music provided by Jacob Morrison.

Welcome to the Theatre in a Box Trivia Podcast!

We have taken the Theatre in a Box Musical Theatre Board Game and morphed it into a trivia podcast.

There are four rounds of questions for this episode:

Round 1. Musical Theatre Covers

Round 2. Alphatheatrical - Letter A

Round 3. General Knowledge

Round 4. Our Featured Musical - Hairspray

Website: https://theatreinabox.com.au/

Use the promo code 'Podcast' to get a 10% discount on the Theatre in a Box musical theatre party board game.

Game Creator: Brenton Crewes, Flynn Crewes, Paul Morrison.

Podcast Host: Paul Morrison

Theme music provided by Jacob Morrison.

As a preamble to this episode I wanted to mention that it was recorded before the issues that arose within the Performing Arts community last week, with a lot of productions being postponed of closing down. One of those productions is ‘Tell Me On A Sunday’ with D2 Productions starring Nikole Music. Nikole is my guest in today’s episode, and we discuss the Top 5 Break Up Songs in Musical Theatre. The performing arts space is doing it tough at the moment. One thing I’ve recognised In the 25 years that I’ve been involved with musical theatre is that we are a wonderful community who always look out for each other. We are all in this together. Fantastix as a company was set up to help people put on a show. Since there are no shows at the moment, I still wanted to fulfil my commitment to musical theatre and produce a podcast episode every fortnight.

I did consider not releasing episode 33 but Nikole was such a wonderful guest, the conversation was great and the top 5 Break Up Songs make up a stellar list. The music is amazing!

Look out for each other. The performing arts industry will rise above this and we will all emerge victorious. I have no doubt about that.

Nikole’s top 5

1. Still Hurting – Last Five Years
2. I’m Here – The Color Purple
3. Get Out & Stay Out – 9 to 5
4. Burn – Hamilton
5. Tell Me On A Sunday – Tell Me On a Sunday

 Paul’s Top 5

1. Take Back Your Mink – Guys & Dolls
2. Gonna Wash That Man – South Pacific
3. Serious – Legally Blonde
4. Still Hurting – Last 5 Years
5. Get Out & Stay Out – 9 to 5
   • 5b. Somebody Kill Me – The Wedding Singer

FANTASTIX BITS IN THE INTERVIEW

• The podcast must go on
• Which Aussie animal was Nikole in her Kindergarten play?
• Vulnerability of one woman shows
• D2 raw performance production style
• Women in theatre
• Singing in the car, everyone does it
• What is it about watching someone performing a breakup song?
• Have you ever experienced being part of an audience that gave a standing ovation mid song? Nikole has and tells us about it
• Which big risk earns the no 1 position in Nikole’s count down?
• I’m not crying, you’re crying
• Nikole’s Social Media Poll insights
• That towel dance!
• Has Paul put a Guys and Dolls song in EVERY episode so far??????
• Have you ever been stuck in a lift? Did you know there is a musical about that?
• Lovely symmetry with the fast five and top five
• Remember to subscribe to all your local theatre groups newsletters so you are the first to know when you can get back into a theatre near you!

SHOW NOTES

Stephanie J Block – Get Out and Stay Out (9 to 5)

D2 Productions

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There have been many, many people who have gifted the world wonderful music. Some of these people have been immortalised in a musical.

Paul speaks with Emilie Lawson, who is playing Carole King in Miranda Musical Society’s Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, about the Top 5 Musicals Based on Real People.

Emilie’s Top 5

1. Jersey Boys
2. Beautiful
3. Evita
4. The Boy From Oz
5. Funny Girl

Paul’s Top 5

1. Barnum
2. The Boy From Oz
3. Beautiful
4. Catch Me If You Can
5. Mack & Mabel

FANTASTIX BITS IN THE INTERVIEW

• The great roles Emilie had in High School
• Which community group blew Emilie’s socks off?
• Quadruple threat alert!
• Caveat for this countdown, both countdowns include shows Emilie and Paul have seen.
• How Babs performance makes us forget Fanny Brice
• When you think of Boy from Oz do you think of Peter Allen, Hugh Jackman, Todd McKenney or maybe even Gavin Leahy?
• Emilie’s personal family history influences one of her choices…..is it Tenterfield, The Bronx, Argentina or New Jersey?
• Allllll those Carole King songs you just didn’t realise were even Carole King songs!
• Which show ranks at No 1 in another countdown?
• Differences between biopics and jukebox musicals.
• Which number 1 is becoming available to amateur groups soon?
• Would you call PT Barnum a quadruple (sing, dance, act, circus skills) or quintuple threat (sing, dance, act, circus and businessman skills)?
• Emilie and Paul make a bunch of assumptions about a predetermined reaction to seeing Hamilton!!
• Whose life do you think would make a great musical. Elton John? Judy Garland? Freddie Mercury? Michael Hutchins?

SHOW NOTES

For tickets Beautiful The Carole King Story with Miranda Musical Society: http://www.mirandamusicalsociety.com.au/

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Iconic Dances in musical theatre. Episode 31 proved to be our most difficult countdown yet!

Luckily, I’ve teamed up with Michael Osborne to discuss this very subjective topic. Michael is currently appearing as Cosmo Brown in Rockdale Musical Society’s Singin’ in the Rain – which on its own contains four iconic dances.

Let the countdown begin. And 5-6-7-8…

Michael’s Top 5 Iconic Dances

1. Good Mornin’ – Singin’ in the Rain
2. Gym Dance – West Side Story
3. One – A Chorus Line
4. All That Jazz – Chicago
5. The Club - In The Heights

Paul’s Top 5 Iconic Dances

1. Cell Block Tango – Chicago
2. Singin’ in the Rain – Singin’ in the Rain
3. Step in Time – Mary Poppins
4. Prologue – West Side Story
5. We’re in the Money – 42nd Street

Honourable Mentions - Michael

• Opening Audition Scene – 42nd Street
• Jellicle Ball – Cats
• All of Kinky Boots
• Hand Jive – Grease

Honourable Mentions – Paul

• One – A Chorus Line
• Anything Goes – Anything Goes
• I Got Rhythm – Crazy for You
• Hey Big Spender – Sweet Charity

FANTASTIX BITS IN THE INTERVIEW

• The music in this one is a CRACKER! Worth a listen for that alone
• Other than a musical theatre upbringing what else do Paul and Michael have in common?
• More about Whimsical Productions
• It’s been 12 years between drinks for Michael in his current role, how is it different this time?
• It took a specific criteria for Michael to help narrow this top 5 down! We love his well thought out countdown.
• Paul struggled too……..lots of honourable mentions in this episode
• Does recent modern dance have that same ICONIC flavour of the old musicals
• F O S S E – say no more!
• Could you say, that all the opening and closing numbers have the BEST dance numbers?
• Who else loves the fly on the wall look at musical theatre that Chicago gives you?
• Will anyone say KICK LINE in this episode?
• West Side Story spoiler alert…. someone dies! Gasp!
• Any dance performed in stiletto boots has got to rate a mention!
• Which dance still rates in pop culture today?
• Paul sneaks in a 5b
• Is it even a musical without DANCE?
• Will the dance numbers from shows like Hamilton or Kinky Boots eventually rate on a Top 5 list at some stage in the future or will the old favourites stand the test of time when it comes to iconic dance numbers?
• Which past podcast episode guest would Michael like to sing a duet with?
• This episode was a true challenge….which iconic dance scene would have made YOUR top 5?

SHOW NOTES

For tickets to Rockdale Musical Society’s Singin’ in the Rain - http://www.rockdalemusicalsociety.com/

Lift Off! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50v-m4yUewI

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Welcome to a new year of Fantastic Fantastix. Another choc-full calendar of production essentials awaits us all…

For the first episode (Episode 30) of Fantastic Fantastix of 2020 I want to stick to my promise to have a 360’ look at musical theatre. So, I thought I’d go ‘behind the scenes’ and speak with writer, composer and lyricist Jye Bryant about the top 5 tips for writing and staging a new musical. His has written and collaborated on many productions including Things I Could Never Tell Steven, Captain Moonlite, Sempre Libera, Gold Digger Nights, Adam & Steve and The Velveteen Rabbit. He also has many other projects in the works which we discuss in the interview including True Blue.

As an Author, Writing & Staging A New Musical by Jye Bryant is an instructional manual for anyone eager to create and premiere their own original piece of musical theatre.

It is filled with useful tricks, tips and templates designed to reduce the workload for creators and producers alike.

Top 5 Tips for Writing & Staging a New Musical.

1. Is this something I can sell?
2. Stage the Show (in an affordable way)
3. Workshopping
4. Acknowledge what you don’t know & collaborate
5. Make sure the story has a song.

FANTASTIX BITS IN THE INTERVIEW

• Does fear factor as an obstacle for getting new material out here in Australia?
• Spoiler – you never meet Steven
• Can a totally minimalist show really work?
• Quirky Australian history you never knew explored in musicals
• The validating nature of seeing our culture portrayed on stage
• Are you part of the new generation of leaders in Australian Musical Theatre?
• To have successful BIG Aussie musicals we need BIG community support
• Are too many movies being adapted into musicals, just because they were a hit? Apologies to Ghost fans.
• You don’t always need to sing; dialogue has its place in musicals.
• Know what you don’t know
• Strengthen yourself emotionally before workshops, you need real raw feedback
• Grab the book for great budgeting tips
• Remember there are levels of staging a show from script in hand to “helicopters”!
• The one thing you need to do from the moment you start the project
• Get people invested in the process of your project as early as you can
• Checklists and templates and resources oh my!
• Even Elmo came to Jye to find out how to write a musical!
• If you love a good list and a blooper then this podcast is for you.
• The difference between loving a celebrity and wanting to DO a show with them
• It’s not one big job it’s millions of little jobs. Just eat the elephant…

SHOW NOTES

More about on his website Jye Bryant and on YouTube

Get the book here

Facebook Page Writing & Staging a New Musical

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'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

Obviously, this house did not belong to a fan of musical theatre. There are so many songs from Musical Theatre that get you in the mood for Christmas.

Because this is our Festive Fantastic Fantastix – I wanted to get a very special Christmas guest. They say behind every successful man is an exhausted woman and for Santa Claus – this is no different.

Welcome to our Festive Fantastic Fantastix…Mrs Claus.

Mrs Claus

1. We Need a Little Christmas
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
3. White Christmas
4. It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas
5. Baby It’s Cold Outside

Paul’s Top 5

1. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
2. We Need a Little Christmas
3. Surabaya Santa
4. Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher
5. Twelve Days to Christmas

FANTASTIX BITS IN THE INTERVIEW

• What is Christmas Eve like in the Claus house?
• How Mrs Claus’ is like a Cabinet Member supporting the leader of a nation
• Mrs Claus teaches us how the naughty and nice list REALLY works
• How naughty boys grow into nice boys
• The Christmas song in a non-Christmas musical that makes both lists
• How can wishing someone dead possibly be a Christmas song Paul?
• The song that came from Mrs Claus’ bad week and a night on the eggnog
• The song taken with a grain of snow!
• The Muppets cover that Paul approves of
• What frustrates Santa
• The post-Christmas rituals of Mr and Mrs Claus
• Remember the children will pick up on your vibe
• There’s Something Weird in Santa’s Beard
• What is Mrs Claus’ favourite musical?
• What might you hear Mrs Claus belt out at Karaoke?
• What does Mrs Claus want for Christmas?

SHOW NOTES

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Shorter episode this week. I am flying solo to count down a very specific Top 5 - Musicals That Are Fantastix But We May Never See On Stage Again.

We have time today for a Top 5 AND some exciting news. The Online Community Theatre Christmas Party is back! All the details are in the podcast, below in the show notes and via this link

Paul’s Top 5

1. Lil Abner
2. Finian’s Rainbow
3. Kiss Me Kate
4. The Pyjama Game
5. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Honourable Mentions

• Annie Get Your Gun
• Brigadoon
• Damn Yankees
• Paint Your Wagon

FANTASTIX BITS IN THE INTERVIEW

• The most rousing dance number in musical theatre
• Porter, R&H, Berlin OH MY
• Does sexism, social relevance and political incorrectness play a factor in these shows disappearing from our stages?
• Can they be enjoyed with due consideration given to the era they were written in?
• OR can they be modernised for future enjoyment?
• Which show on the list makes it to another list (Musical’s with a show within the show)?
• Listen out for Paul’s ‘Fantastix’ Irish accent
• Which comic book didn’t rise to the fandom highs of the likes of Marvel?

Remember you could win a share of the swag of show tickets that’ll be under our Christmas tree at the Online Community Theatre Christmas Party.

WHEN: Wednesday 18th December at 7pm

WHERE: Live in Fantastix Cast and Crew Community (Facebook Group) & simulcast on 90.1NBC FM

WHO: Fantastix Production Essentials Paul Morrison & his ARTSGRAB co-host Michele Lansdown

WHO ELSE: Special guests (announced soon)

WHAT: we’ll be;

🎄talking all things theatre with our special guests

🎄playing some musical theatre tunes

🎄wrapping up 2019 (based on your feedback, see below)

🎄having some festive fun

🎄and of course, giving YOU plenty of chances to WIN!

Here is how to get involved;

1. COMMENT on this post with the 2019 show you enjoyed most
2. Become a member of Fantastix Cast and Crew Community
3. Join us live on 18th December at 7pm

To be in the draw to win Steps 1 & 2 are essential. If you’re already a member of the group, it’s a no brainer 1 step entry.

Be sure to tune in LIVE to maximise your chances to WIN (some prizes will only available for live listeners)

SHOW NOTES

Love Fantastix? Support the show!

Join the conversation in our Fantastix Cast & Crew Community Group on Facebook

Follow our Facebook Page

Leave a rating or review in iTunes

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IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!! Hooray.

The great thing about my birthday is that I get to share it with my twin sister, Julie.

We have thrown some great birthday parties over the years. …And since it was Julie that first encouraged me to join The Regals Musical Society back in 1996 – I thought we should discuss the Top 5 Party Scenes in Musical Theatre.

I have to say it’s a tough category to narrow down to just 5 – but between the two of us, I’m sure we’ll manage.

Happy birthday, Julie!! I hope it’s Fantastic Fantastix…

Julie’s Top 5

1. Til Death Do Us Party – Tickets Please
2. Sadie Hawkin’s Day – Lil Abner
3. Embassy Ball/Ascot – My Fair Lady
4. Gym Scene – West Side Story
5. Blow Gabriel Blow – Anything Goes

Paul’s Top 5

1. Rhythm of Life – Sweet Charity
2. Gym Scene – West Side Story
3. Big Fun – Heathers
4. Dancing Through Life – Wicked
5. High School Prom Scene – Carrie

Honourable Mentions

• Dancing Through Life – Wicked
• Masquerade – Phantom of the Opera
• Be Our Guest – Beauty & The Beast
• High School Dance – Bare
• Clam Bake – Carousel (Dishonourable Mention)

FANTASTIX BITS IN THE INTERVIEW

• What did Paul and Julie dress up as for their Pairs Party?
• How many children were in Cats Julie?
• Who doesn’t want a pancake at 11pm after a performance!?!
• Party scenes = ensemble numbers, there’s no better way to party!
• If you’re gonna party you’ve got to DANCE!
• In which show are you tired before you even dance?
• Which show will Julie continue to rally to have done again? Calling all football teams!
• The 2004 schlock horror musical you need to know about #spoileralert
• Singing in the wings - you’re still part of the party!
• A great party for all the wrong reasons
• How many top 5 matches will the twins have?
• How did they leave out all the band scenes in Rock of Ages?
• Invite Julie to a party – she loves to cook!
• Would you like to hear a Julie and Julie duet?
• Visit our Facebook Page or Group and keep the party going, we know our top 5 only scratched the surface and we’d love to hear from you! Consider it a birthday gift and join the conversation.

SHOW NOTES

13 The Musical

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I just got back from the US after a holiday with the family. I was going through my emails and I saw one that was entitled ‘Love the Podcast’. It was from Blake Erickson. It’s always nice to get positive feedback for the things that you’re doing and there was only one thing to do upon receiving this email – which was to get Blake on the show!

The great thing about Blake is that he brings a wonderful mix of community theatre experience and professional theatre experience. It gave us the chance to discuss the Top 5 Australian Cast Recordings as well as community theatre, professional theatre and theatre in Australia.

About Blake…

Blake has worked throughout Australia, Asia, Britain, and the United States as a writer, actor, and singer. He studied drama and musical theatre at the University of Sydney & The Actor’s Connection New York. In early 2019 Blake co-wrote the new Australian musical The Dismissal, which premiered at the Seymour Centre. Prior to this he appeared in the international tour of Cameron Mackintosh's Les Misérables. For his performance in the title role of the one-man show Pearls Before Swine: An Evening With Orson Welles (Neil Gooding Prod.), Blake won Best Actor at the inaugural Sydney Fringe Festival Awards. Other credits include: CRY-BABY, High Fidelity, Melba, and his acclaimed cabaret Hold Me Closer Logies Dancer (all at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre); Mamma Mia!, the Australia & New Zealand tour of Madiba, Of Thee I Sing at the Sydney Opera House, Grey Gardens, and Sondheim on Sondheim for Squabbalogic.

Blake’s Top 5

1. Jesus Christ Superstar (1992)
2. Muriel’s Wedding (2019)
3. Man of La Mancha (2015 – Squabbalogic)
4. Smoke and Mirrors (2010)
5. Pirates of Penzance (1995)

Honourable Mentions

• Miracle City (The Hayes)
• Priscilla Queen of the Dessert

FANTASTIX BITS IN THE INTERVIEW

• The apprenticeship nature of community theatre
• Are professional performers embarrassed by their community theatre roots?
• Exactly how much can you learn from community theatre?
• Does going pro take the fun out of theatre?
• Do you know your ‘Why?’
• Mr Erickson is very eloquent. The meaning of rubric or zeitgeist can be found in our show notes?
• How Aussie casts and crew put their own unique spin on musical recordings
• Show of hands. Who else can trace back their love of G&S to the 1995 Aussie recording of Pirates?
• After the success of the Greatest Showman, will we see the return of Smoke and Mirrors? Can we smell a 10-year rerun for 2020? We know that symmetry will appeal to Blake!
• You can still buy a copy of #3! See the show notes below
• All those Aussie firsts rockets a ‘terrible’ musical into the runners up place
• #1 was always going to be #1 – it went into the Top 40 Charts
• Some tongue in cheek basic geography for our American listeners
• Daddy versus Papa Bear – get it right, Paul!
• Border control alert for the first Shrek rehearsal
• A gentle reminder that Warlow’s career was made on Australian stages
• The cheers and boos of a memorial service AND a musical!
• Stand by for a fast five question change from comfort food to a death row meal!

SHOW NOTES

Man of La Mancha 

Shrek the Musical 

Rubric & Zeitgeist 

The Dismissal

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