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    History

    BROADWAY NATION

    A lively and opinionated cultural history of the Broadway Musical that tells the extraordinary story of how Immigrants, Jews, Queers, African-Americans and other outcasts invented the Broadway Musical, and how they changed America in the process.In Season One, host David Armstrong traces the evolution of American Musical Theater from its birth at the dawn of the 20th Century, through its mid-century “Golden Age”, and right up to its current 21st Century renaissance; and also explore how musicals have reflected and shaped our world — especially in regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, and equality.

    Advertise

    Copyright: © David Armstrong & Broadway Podcast Network

    • Apple Podcasts
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    Latest Episodes:
    Episode 121: Adapting Broadway to Hollywood: CABARET, part 4 Sep 14, 2023
    Show notes

    This is the fourth and final segment of my recent conversation with author Geoffrey Block regarding his latest book:

    A Fine Romance — Adapting Broadway To Hollywood In the Studio System Era

    This fascinating new book explores the passionate and often rocky relationship between Broadway musicals and the movie studios that brought them to the big screen.

    To accomplish this, Geoffrey Block takes an in-depth look at 12 stage musicals and their film adaptations and on today’s episode we focus on the final musical he covers — CABARET and its many incarnations on page, stage, and film.

    But first we discuss the demise of that Hollywood studio system that was able to produce so many classic movie musicals, why the system fell apart, and what great musicals such as Cabaret were still able to be made after its collapse.

    If you missed the first three episodes in this series you may want to catch up with those before listening to this one

    Geoffrey Block is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music History and Humanities at the University of Puget Sound and the author of eight previous books including Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from Show Boat to Sondheim and Lloyd-Weber and The Richard Rodgers Reader. He is also the editor of Oxford’s acclaimed Broadway Legacies Series.

    Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation!

    This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Patron Club members Anne Welsh, Ruth Oberg, & Ellie Schaffer.

    If you would like to help support the work of Broadway Nation I will information at the end of the podcast about how you too can become a Patron.

    If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you too to become a PATRON!

    For a just $7.00 a month you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast.

    All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.

    If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:

    https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/

    Thank you in advance for your support!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Episode 120: Further Adapting Broadway To Hollywood Sep 07, 2023
    Show notes

    This is the third part of my conversation with author Geoffrey Block regarding his recent book:

    A Fine Romance — Adapting Broadway To Hollywood In the Studio System Era.

    This very interesting new book takes an in-depth look at 12 Broadway stage musicals and their Hollywood movie musical adaptations. And today we discuss two of those shows — West Side Story and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s second to last musical, Flower Drum Song. When compared to their Broadway originals, these are two of the most faithful and complete film versions, but as you will hear, many changes still had to be made in bringing these shows to the screen and Block has captured them all in fascinating detail.

    If you missed the first two segments of this discussion you may want to catch up with those before listening to this one.

    Geoffrey Block is the editor of Oxford’s acclaimed Broadway Legacies Series and the author of eight previous books including Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from Show Boat to Sondheim and Lloyd-Weber and The Richard Rodgers Reader.

    Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation!

    This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Patron Club members Anne Welsh, Ruth Oberg, & Ellie Schaffer.

    If you would like to help support the work of Broadway Nation I will information at the end of the podcast about how you too can become a Patron.

    If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you too to become a PATRON!

    For a just $7.00 a month you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast.

    All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.

    If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:

    https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/

    Thank you in advance for your support!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Episode 119: More Adapting BROADWAY to HOLLYWOOD Aug 31, 2023
    Show notes

    This is the second part of my conversation with author Geoffrey Block regarding his recent book:

    A Fine Romance — Adapting Broadway To Hollywood In the Studio System Era.

    The romance that Geoffrey is referring to to in his title is the sometimes passionate, but often very rocky love affair between Broadway Musicals and the film studios that adapted them into Movie Musicals.

    In this episode we discuss the 1940 stage & 1943 film versions of Cabin In The Sky, the first major film musical to be adapted from an All-Black stage show. And the 1955 Broadway & 1957 Hollywood versions of Cole Porter’s Silk Stockings. A movie that Geoffrey and I are both advocates for.

    Along to way we delve into a number of related topics including the pros and cons of voice dubbing in film musicals, and the numerous, and often ridiculous, changes that were made in these musicals during their transitions to the screen in order to satisfy the censors charged with enforcing the Hollywood production code. We also look at how some of the films got around those restrictions!

    Geoffrey Block is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music History and Humanities at the University of Puget Sound and the author of eight previous books including Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from Show Boat to Sondheim and Lloyd-Weber and The Richard Rodgers Reader. He is also the editor of Oxford’s acclaimed Broadway Legacies Series.

    Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation!

    This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Patron Club members including our Producer Level Patrons PAULA and STEVE REYNOLDS.

    If you would like to help support the work of Broadway Nation I will information at the end of the podcast about how you too can become a Patron.

    If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you too to become a PATRON!

    For a just $7.00 a month you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast.

    All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.

    If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:

    https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/

    Thank you in advance for your support!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Episode 118: Adapting Broadway to Hollywood, part 1 Aug 24, 2023
    Show notes

    This is the first part of my recent conversation with Geoffrey Block whose latest book is titled:

    A Fine Romance — Adapting Broadway To Hollywood In the Studio System Era.

    This fascinating new book explores the sometimes successful, but often very rocky relationship between Broadway musicals and the movie studios that brought them to the big screen. He does this by taking an in-depth look at 12 musicals and their film adaptations. These include very famous and familiar ones such as Show Boat, Oklahoma!, West Side Story, and Cabaret as well as several that are much less often discussed (or even seen!), but are no less interesting, such as The Cat And The Fiddle, Cabin In The Sky, and Flower Drum Song.

    Along the way he analyses exactly how and why these musicals were changed and revised — sometimes in disappointing and controversial ways, at least for fans of the stage versions. And he even suggests that a few of them were actually improved in the process!

    This is my favorite kind of a book — filled with new information and surprising insights, along with some strong opinions as well.

    Geoffrey Block is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music History and Humanities at the University of Puget Sound and the author of nine books including Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from Show Boat to Sondheim and Lloyd-Weber and The Richard Rodgers Reader. He is also the editor of Oxford’s acclaimed Broadway Legacies Series.

    Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation!

    This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Patron Club members including our newest patron Larry Spinelli.

    If you would like to help support the work of Broadway Nation I will information at the end of the podcast about how you too can become a Patron.

    If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you too to become a PATRON!

    For a just $7.00 a month you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast.

    All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.

    If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:

    https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/

    Thank you in advance for your support!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Episode 117: POD SWAP! Broadway Nation meets A Musical Theatre Podcast Aug 17, 2023
    Show notes

    This is a special POD SWAP editions of Broadway Nation!

    Last December it was my great pleasure to be a guest on Jeffrey Scott Parson’s terrific show, A Musical Theatre Podcast, and this week I am thrilled to share that episode with my Broadway Nation audience.

    Think of this “pod swap” as sort of a “Summer Replacement Special.” If you are too young to remember those, then let me fill you in. Back in the heyday of television variety shows, the big prime time series would take a break during the summer months and be replaced by what they called a “summer replacement.” As a kid, I always looked forward to those because they often served as “pilots” for what would become the next hit prime time variety series. So, this week Broadway Nation takes a break and is replaced by A Musical Theatre Podcast.

    On this episode I join Jeffrey Scott Parsons to explore Jerry Herman’s 1961 Broadway debut musical, Milk And Honey, which starred the great Yiddish Theater star Molly Picon, and star of The Most Happy Fella, Robert Weede. This show, which was set in (then) modern-day Israel, had a book by Don Apell, and judging from the script and production photos it featured extensive dance sequences and ballets choreographed by Donald Sadler that showcased a chorus of hunky shirtless male dancers wearing very short shorts, and the musical’s triple-threat co-star, Tommy Rall.

    The success of the show put Jerry Herman firmly on the Broadway map and led directly to him being selected by producer David Merrick to create the score for Hello, Dolly! Jeffrey and I discuss all of that and more!

    As you will hear, there is a tremendous resonance and kinship between our two podcasts. Both Broadway Nation and A Musical Theatre Podcast take deep thoughtful looks inside the history of the Broadway Musical, its shows, and its creators — in a manner that is both critical and celebratory.

    I feel certain that if you enjoy Broadway Nation you will love A Musical Theatre Podcast!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Episode 116: Further Histories of the Musical Theatre Aug 10, 2023
    Show notes

    This is the third and final part of my recent conversation with authors Millie Taylor & Adam Rush about their captivating new book titled, Musical Theatre Histories: Expanding the Narrative.

    As you will hear, Millie and Adam have uncovered new alternative ways of relating the history of the Musical. Instead of just one way of telling that story they have identified multiple thematic histories of the musical theatre, in the US, the UK, and around the world.

    If you missed the first two episodes, you may want to catch up with those before listening to this one.

    Adam Rush is a Senior Lecturer in Musical Theatre at the University of Winchester in the UK and his research has been published in Studies In Musical Theatre and in several edited collections.

    Millie Taylor began her career as a freelance music director and for almost twenty years toured the UK and Europe with a variety of musicals including West Side Story, Little Shop of Horrors, Rocky Horror Show and Sweeney Todd. She is now Professor of Musical Theatre at the University of Winchester, and Special Professor of the Musical at the University of Amsterdam. She is author, co-author or editor of 7 books, including British Pantomime Performance and Singing for Musicals: A Practical Guide.

    If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you too to become a PATRON!

    For a just $7.00 a month you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast.

    All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.

    If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:

    https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/

    Thank you in advance for your support!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Episode 115: More "Histories" of Musical Theatre Aug 03, 2023
    Show notes

    My guests again this week are Millie Taylor & Adam Rush, the authors of a very interesting new book titled, Musical Theatre Histories: Expanding the Narrative.

    This is the second part of our conversation about their unique approach to relating the history of both the American and the British Musical Theatre. They accomplish this through their use of multiple thematic 'histories' that take readers on a series of journeys down both familiar and less traveled paths into the art form's origins, development, and relationships to the media, censorship, gender diversity, and national identity — and those are just topics we talk about today!

    If you missed part one you may want to catch up with that episode before listening to this one.

    Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation!

    This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Broadway Nation Patrons.

    If you would like to help support the work of Broadway Nation I will information at the end of the podcast about how you too can become a Patron.

    If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you too to become a PATRON!

    For a just $7.00 a month you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast.

    All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.

    If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:

    https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/

    Thank you in advance for your support!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Episode 114: Musical Theatre Histories: Expanding The Narrative Jul 27, 2023
    Show notes

    My guests this week are Millie Taylor and Adam Rush, the authors of a very interesting new book titled, Musical Theatre Histories: Expanding the Narrative.

    Musical theatre is often perceived as being either a Broadway based art form, or as having separate histories in London and New York. This new book, however, presents the Musical as neither American nor British, but also both of those, and more!

    Through their use of multiple thematic 'histories', Millie and Adam take readers on a series of journeys that include the art form's European and American origins, African American influences, discussions centering on diversity, national identity, and the globalization of the musical, as well as revivals, censorship, and the relationship of social media to the Musical in the 21st century.

    As you can hear all of that intersects very directly with the focus and subject matter of this podcast so I was, of course, very captivated by the book and very eager to sit down with Mille and Adam and learn more about their unique and fascinating approach to musical theatre history.

    Adam Rush is a Senior Lecturer in Musical Theatre at the University of Winchester in the UK and his research has been published in Studies In Musical Theatre and in several edited collections.

    Millie Taylor began her career as a freelance music director and for almost twenty years toured the UK and Europe with a variety of musicals including West Side Story, Little Shop of Horrors, Rocky Horror Show and Sweeney Todd. She is now Professor of Musical Theatre at the University of Winchester, and Special Professor of the Musical at the University of Amsterdam. She is author, co-author or editor of 7 books, including British Pantomime Performance and Singing for Musicals: A Practical Guide.

    Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation!

    This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Broadway Nation Patron Club members including Producer Level Patron, Tracy Wellans.

    If you would like to help support the work of Broadway Nation I will information at the end of the podcast about how you too can become a Patron.

    If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you too to become a PATRON!

    For a just $7.00 a month you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast.

    All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.

    If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:

    https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/

    Thank you in advance for your support!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Special Encore Episode: DOROTHY FIELDS and the Women Who Invented Broadway! Jul 20, 2023
    Show notes

    Celebrating Dorothy Fields 118th Birthday!

    Women have had a much more significant impact on the Broadway Musical than has generally been reported or acknowledged. In fact, talented, dynamic women have been a major force in the creation and development of the American musical theater from the very beginning and right up to today.

    In this episode my special guest Albert Evans and I will share the often overlooked stories of songwriters and bookwriters Rida Johnson Young, Dorothy Donnelly, Nora Bays, Ann Ronell, Kay Swift, Betty Comden, Bella Spewack, Mary Rodgers, Carolyn Leigh, and especially Dorothy Fields, whose amazing 50-year career stretched from the vaudeville era to the age of rock!

    Special thanks to Billie Wildrick for her voice acting contributions.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Episode 113: How Stephen Sondheim Extended the Range of the American Musical Jul 13, 2023
    Show notes

    This is the third and final part of my conversation with Ben Francis whose amazingly compelling new book is titled Careful the Spell You Cast — How Stephen Sondheim Extended the Range of the American Musical.

    Just like the book, our discussion has been structured around Sondheim’s collaborators. In this episode we discuss his work with George Furth, John Weidman, Hugh Wheeler & James Lapine. And, as always, Sondheim’s mentor and surrogate father Oscar Hammerstein II plays a big role in this conversation as well.

    Along the way nearing everyone of Sondheim’s musicals are discussed including A Little Night Music, Anyone Can Whistle, Assassins, Company, Do I Hear A Waltz?, Follies, Gypsy, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along, Passion, Road Show, Sunday In The Park With George, Sweeney Todd, and West Side Story as well as Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Allegro.

    Ben Francis’ other works include contributions to the Oxford Handbook Of Sondheim Studies, the Oxford Handbook of British Musicals, and the Oxford Handbook of Shakespeare and Music, as well as Christopher Hampton: Dramatic Ironist.

    Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation!

    This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Broadway Nation Patron Club members including our inaugural members Roger Kloresse, Neil Hoyt, and Chris Moad.

    My sincere thanks to all three of you for your loyal support!

    If you would like to help support the work of Broadway Nation I will information at the end of the podcast about how you too can become a Patron.

    If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you too to become a PATRON!

    For a just $7.00 a month you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast.

    All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits.

    If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link:

    https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/

    Thank you in advance for your support!

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


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