This excerpt from our LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (2004) episode starts on the Tonys and then goes places.

Actor/musician Jon Jon Johnson joins Patrick to discuss the critically acclaimed and financially unsuccessful musical about the Hilton Sisters. Topics include: violin, compound 4, theatre kids, and how if you’re going to tackle a complex social issue you’d better have a point-of-view.

This excised portion of Tony Award-winner Daisy Eagan’s wonderful visit to our podcast features a candid discussion about being a child star, having a child, and what you learn along the way.

Helen Hayes Award-winning playwright Stephen Spotswood brings this much-heralded musical episode of this much-heralded television series. Topics include: plot dumps, magic charms, appointment television, and why is Dawn always in trouble?

Charlene and Patrick talk about endings happy, sad, and in between. Also “The Ladies Who Lunch.”

Actress, playwright, and true original Natalie Ann Piegari is here for that day we all knew we’d have to face eventually.

Topics include: Why do people hate CATS? Why shouldn’t they hate CATS? Do you hate CATS? And does CATS pass the Bechdel Test?

We wrap up our three-week ASSASSINS Extravaganza with a discussion of the song added to the show after its 1991 Playwrights Horizons run.

Part II of our three-week ASSASSINS Extravaganza and we go through the second half of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s musical about the dark side of American History. Topics include: “Squeaky” Fromme, Sarah Jane Moore, John Hinkley, and is there such a thing as a sympathetic murderer?

Disclaimer: ASSASSINS is a dark show that deals with dark themes, some of which you may find disturbing. Also the recording features numerous gunshots, some of which I have included in both episodes. If any of these things bother and/or trigger you, I will understand if you take a break and rejoin THE ORIGINAL CAST in August. I hope you enjoy this deep-dive into a show I consider to be one of the best musicals ever written.

Stage manager Karen Currie is here to kick off our three-week ASSASSINS Extravaganza! For Part I, we go through the first half of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s musical about the dark side of American History. Topics include: John Wilkes Booth, Giuseppe Zangara, Leon Czolgosz, and how much attention should one give a terrorist?

Disclaimer: ASSASSINS is a dark show that deals with dark themes, some of which you may find disturbing. Also the recording features numerous gunshots, some of which I have included in both episodes. If any of these things bother and/or trigger you, I will understand if you take a break and rejoin THE ORIGINAL CAST in August. I hope you enjoy this deep-dive into a show I consider to be one of the best musicals ever written.

Kenny and Patrick talk some cast album theory about Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber and his bizarre catalog. Plus the 10 longest-running shows in West End history!

Helen Hayes Award-winner Doug Wilder brings us our third Zeitler! A tiny, dark comedy musical about a serial killer and a cop and the woman the cop loves and the mother of the serial killer and also the cop's mother. Topics include: earnest love, montage theory, and DEATH TO SMOOCHY.

Lee and Patrick commiserate about the worst aspect of show business from both sides of the table.

Arena Stage administrator Lauren R Alexander is here to talk about Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-nominated Broadway debut. Topics include: Anthony Newley, BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL, and the front row v. the back row.

This week we break format for a discussion of the 71st Tony Awards with former guests Roddy Flynn and Kari Ginsburg. And also a special appearance by fan-favorite Bob E Flynn (briefly). Topics include what constitutes set design, the youths, and that Kari & Roddy are going to see NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 without Patrick.

1st June 1967: The Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Avid musical theatre fan Eliot Johnson is here to talk about the “new"(?) Broadway cast recording of this dark comedy classic. Topics include: Alice Ripley, African American trios vs quintets, and the Kardashians.

Bridget and Patrick talk about theatre directing versus film directing versus being an autocratic jerk.

Actor Patricia Hurley Carpenter comes fresh from Olney Theatre productions of MARY POPPINS and SWEENEY TODD to talk about Rodgers & Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning effort. Topics include: racism, hilarity, and the conquering of other countries and peoples based on flags.

We’ve moved to a new studio space and it needed testing. So Patrick found a guest wandering about the place and plopped him in front of the mics.

Despite some initial recording confusion, Patrick and Charlene manage to get into some stuff. They talk women in the arts, dramatic structure, subtext, agency, and occasionally even mention MAN OF LA MANCHA.