MusicalTalk

Michael Gordon Shapiro continues coverage of the Hollywood Fringe with a chat with Laura Wiley, a multi-faceted entertainer and producer of musical parodies.

Michael Gordon Shapiro begins a series of interviews exploring creative life at the Hollywood Fringe and chats with festival co-founder Ben Hill and musical theatre director Janet Miller.

It’s time for songs, stories and insights into the life, works and legacy of Stephen Foster, in the second part of our look into the life of this mid Victorian American song writing giant. And once again, you can enjoy the some more of his best works in brand new recordings featuring Jonathan on piano and David singing – but no banjo on their knees!

In a special two part edition of MusicalTalk, join Jonathan, David, Nick and Thos as the look at the life, works and legacy of Stephen Foster, the father of the popular song and godfather of musical theatre.  And in a special treat, hear some of his best songs in brand new recordings featuring Jonathan on piano and David singing.  It’s a real treat and will make your doo-dah doo-dah day!

Nick has never seen Fiddler on the Roof - so he and Dom went off to the Playhouse Theatre to see the Trevor Nunn directed production from the Menier Chocolate Factory starring Andy Nyman and Judy Kuhn.  Heat their thoughts...

Nick talks to Jon Robyns and Hugh Wooldridge about the massive celebration of rock musicals coming up on May 12th to the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith - The best of Rock Musicals.   David Herzog talks to Blake Klein from Pint of Wine Theatre about "Queen of the Mist," a Michael John LaChuisa musical about the first person to successfully go over Niagara Falls in a barrel in 1901 and Michael Shapiro provides another instalment of his development diary of The Bully Problem. 

Antonia sits with Nick to discuss the 2019 Olivier Awards along with mourning Crazy Ex Girlfriend's departure from the airwaves.  We also hear the next instalment in Mike Shapiro's development audio diary for his musical - The Bully Problem. 

Join Nick and Andrew as they share their thoughts on Waitress - playing at the Adelphi Theatre and also hear the first entry in a developer diary from Mike Shapiro on his musical: The Bully Problem.

In the second of a two part run, David Herzog chats to…well, practically everyone involved…about the wonderful new pieces of musical theatre writing presented by the RCA at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Legacy Series - A Mother’s Song and The Book of Names. So cross the Atlantic and enjoy this enthusiastic and insightful episode about two inspiring shows.

In the first of a two part run, Thos and Michael Gordon Shapiro cast an impressed eye (or four) over the excellent annual presentations by the amazing Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  In particular, they have a lively and forensic discussion about the RCS’s three 2018 offerings – the Scottish Premiere of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and the fabulous pieces of thematically linked new musical theatre writing, Legacy – A Mother’s Song and Legacy – The Book of Names.  A legacy to be proud of!

In this special episode of MusicalTalk - Nick talk to old presenter and composer Andy Abrams and Carrie Hope Fletcher about Andy's musical of BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER that was recently showcased at The Other Palace MT Fest.   We then hear from David and April Herzog's discussion with Demitri Lampra who is playing Don in the UK Tour of Kinky Boots.   Talk about old friends and new! 

Join Thos and Colm as they talk about what it takes actually to put on a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – a real insider’s view of the nuts and bolts of what’s involved.  And hear about six shows you could have seen, including (ironically) the smash hit, Six – the girl band musical about the wives of Henry VIII – where you take the ruff with the smooth!

This week we revisit Come From Away as Nick chats to the cast members - and those whom the cast members portrayed - at a press event for the musical held at the beautiful Canadian Embassy in London.  Hear from Rachel Tucker, Mary Doherty, Cat Simmons, Clive Carter and the show's composing and lyricist team Irene Sankoff and David Hein.   Come From Away is playing at the Pheonix Theatre in London.    

It’s a bumper episode discussing six very different shows, featuring five songs, with four guests, and three musicals about to open in two different cities, hosted by the one and only (at least, we hope there’s only one) Thos!  Learn about an innovative production of fringe-favourite, Ordinary Days, as well as two brand new shows, the Limit and Botox or Bust, all opening very shortly in March - and enjoy song after song after song (after song after song) in this tune filled fiesta! 

Nick chats to Chris Hocking - principal of The Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick, West London about the school's history, heritage and vision.   Following that - Nick and Rachael talk about Come From Away - now playing at London's Pheonix Theatre.  

Episode 605: Propping Up the Barnum. What a year it’s been for PT Barnum!  With a blockbuster musical film about his life, The Greatest Showman, and a London revival of the original 1980 Cy Coleman musical show, Barnum, his enviable show business legend lives on. But did the London production walk the tightrope between success and failure?  Join Thos and Colm to find out more and see if they give it a (Tom) thumbs up or (Tom) thumb their nose!

Nick and Rachael talk about the reaction that the news that Les Miserables is to change forever has caused amongst theatre fans and why they think it's not a bad thing...  They then talk about why Everybody's Talking abut Jamie didn't live up to the hype for them and then end the discussion talking about the UK Tour of West End singer - Ramin Karimloo. 

Nick, Antonia and Mike sit down to discuss their thoughts on the Mary Poppins sequel. 

Nick and Antonia discuss the massive amount of shows coming to London and beyond in 2019.  2019 promises to be an exciting year - with new shows such as Only Fools and Horses, Dear Evan Hansen and the returns of classics such as Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Doo-daa.  

David Herzog returns to bring us belated holiday cheer from the cast of "Cinderella" at Venue Cymru in North Wales. Hold David's terrified American hand as he embarks into the popular British world that is pantomime.