Scene to Song

Scene to Song Episode 104: Leonard Bernstein's New York City

In this episode, writer, researcher, and New York City historian Keith Taillon (@KeithYorkCity) discusses Leonard Bernstein's New York City, looking at three of his big musicals: On the Town, Wonderful Town, and West Side Story and the neighborhoods that tell their stories. We also talk about the song "I'm Here" from Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray, and Marsha Norman's 2005 musical The Color Purple.

You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on X/Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Opening: New York, New York" from On the Town
"Christopher Street" from Wonderful Town
"Ohio" from Wonderful Town
"Jet Song" from West Side Story
"I'm Here" from The Color Purple

Scene to Song Episode 103: Season 6 Finale

In this episode, six of this season's guests--Caseen Gaines (Episode 87: Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle, Flournoy Miller, and Aubrey Lyles’s Shuffle Along), Mike Meaney (Episode 90: The Lyrics of Yip Harburg), Christopher Culp (Episode 100: TV Musical Episodes Part II), Tammy Tuckey (Episode 101: David Bryan and Joe DiPietro’s Diana), BethAnn Cohen (Episode 95: Five-Year Anniversary Live Show), and Victoria Myers (Episode 102: Mary Rodgers, Marshall Barer, Jay Thompson, and Dean Fuller’s Once Upon a Mattress)--return to discuss the topics from the season and listener questions and comments. We also discuss the song "Home" from the 1975 Charlie Smalls and William F. Brown musical The Wiz.

This discussion was held live on Sunday, December 17th on Scene to Song’s Facebook page, and was recorded for this podcast almost in its entirety. Scene to Song will be going on a brief hiatus to prepare for season seven and will return in early 2024. In the meantime, you can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow us on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on Twitter/X at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.”  And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music you are hearing is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Home" from The Wiz

Scene to Song Episode 102: Mary Rodgers, Marshall Barer, Jay Thompson, and Dean Fuller’s Once Upon a Mattress

In this episode, writer Victoria Myers discusses Mary Rodgers, Marshall Barer, Jay Thompson, and Dean Fuller's 1959 musical Once Upon a Mattress, looking at the comedy in musical theater, female protagonists, and the upcoming Encores! production. We also talk about the song "Just in Time" from Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green's 1956 musical Bells are Ringing.

You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on X/Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Shy" from Once Upon a Mattress
"The Swamps of Home" from Once Upon a Mattress
"Happily Ever After" from Once Upon a Mattress
"Just in Time" from Bells are Ringing

Scene to Song Episode 101: David Bryan and Joe DiPietro’s Diana

In this episode, filmmaker, actress, podcaster, and singer Tammy Tuckey discusses David Bryan and Joe DiPietro's 2021 musical Diana. We also talk about the song "Vivre" from Riccardo Cocciante and Luc Plamondon's 1998 French musical Notre-Dame de Paris.

You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on X/Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Underestimated" from Diana
"Pretty, Pretty Girl" from Diana
"Snap, Click" from Diana
"Secrets and Lies" from Diana
"If (Light the World)" from Diana
"Vivre" from Notre Dame de Paris
"Live for the One I Love" from The Best of Celine Dion

Scene to Song Episode 100: TV Musical Episodes Part II

In this episode, educator and trainer Christopher Culp discusses TV musical episodes, using the first episode on this topic as a jumping off point to include the new Star Trek Strange New Worlds musical episode and relating it to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode and many more. We also talk about the "Tonight (Quintet)" from Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents's 1957 musical West Side Story.

You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on X/Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"We Are One" from Star Trek Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 9: "Subspace Rhapsody"
"I've Got a Theory"/"Bunnies"/"If We're Together" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6, episode 7: "Once More, with Feeling" 
"How Would That Feel" from Star Trek Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 9: "Subspace Rhapsody"
"Tonight (Quintet)" from West Side Story

Scene to Song Episode 99: Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron’s Fun Home

In this episode, performer and producer Andrea Prestinario discusses Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron's 2015 musical Fun Home. We also talk about the song "He Plays the Violin" from Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone's 1969 musical 1776. 

You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on X/Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Days and Days" from Fun Home
"Telephone Wire" from Fun Home
"Maps" from Fun Home
"Edges of the World" from Fun Home
"Ring of Keys" from Fun Home
"He Plays the Violin" from 1776

Scene to Song Episode 98: Michael John LaChiusa and Sybille Pearson’s Giant

In this episode, composer and lyricist Landon Braverman discusses Michael John LaChiusa and Sybille Pearson's 2012 off-Broadway musical Giant. We also talk about the song "Hello, Darling" from David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori's 2021 musical Kimberly Akimbo. 

You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on X/Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Aurelia Dolores" from Giant
"Your Texas" from Giant
"He Wanted a Girl" from Giant
"My Texas" from Giant
"The Desert" from Giant
"Hello, Darling" from Kimberly Akimbo

Scene to Song Episode 97: The Character of Rose in Gypsy

In this episode, actress, singer, writer, and producer Victoria Gordon discusses the character of Rose, or Mama Rose, in Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents's 1959 musical Gypsy, looking at the many actors who have played the role. We also talk about the song "Babbette" from Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green's 1978 musical On the Twentieth Century.

You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on X/Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Everything’s Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy (1959 Original Cast Recording)
"You’ll Never Get Away from Me" from Gypsy (1959 Original Cast Recording)
"Together" from Gypsy (1973 West End Cast Recording)
"Rose’s Turn" from Gypsy (2003 Cast Recording)
"Babbette" from On the Twentieth Century (1978 Original Cast Recording)

YouTube Clips Referenced:
Angela Lansbury in Gypsy
Linda Lavin doing "Rose's Turn"

Scene to Song Episode 96: The Musicals of Kurt Weill

In this episode, editor and writer Rob Weinert-Kendt discusses the work of the German-born American composer Kurt Weill from The Threepenny Opera to Lost in the Stars. We also talk about the song "In Dahomey" from Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern's 1927 musical Show Boat.

You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on X/Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Alabama Song" from Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
"The Ballad of Mack the Knife" from The Threepenny Opera
"Lied der Fennimore (I Am a Poor Relative)" from The Silverlake, A Winter's Tale
"September Song" from Knickerbocker Holiday
"Green Up Time" from Love Life
"Lonely House" from Street Scene
"Hills of Ixopo" from Lost in the Stars
"In Dahomey" from Show Boat

Scene to Song Episode 95: Five-Year Anniversary Live Show

In this episode, nine guests from the past five seasons return to talk about Scene to Song episodes we have loved and if the discussions have changed our thoughts on musical theater in any way. We also talk about the late lyricist Sheldon Harnick and the song “Telephone Wire” from Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron's Fun Home.

This discussion was held live on Scene to Song’s Facebook page on June 25, 2023, and was recorded for this podcast almost in its entirety. Scene to Song is now going back on summer hiatus and will return in early fall.

In the meantime, you can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow us on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. And contribute to the new Patreon. The theme music you are hearing is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Telephone Wire" from Fun Home

Guests:

1. Victoria Gordon (Episode 37: Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's Evening Primrose
2. Deborah Blumenthal (Episode 57: Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Company
3. Tammy Tuckey (Episode 75: Marvin Hamlisch, David Zippel, and Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl)
4. Jessica Fleitman (Episode 15: The Musical My Fair Lady
5. Victoria Myers (Episode 67: The Musical Roles of Bernadette Peters)
6. Orian Israelsohn (Episode 81: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, and Richard Stilgoe’s The Phantom of the Opera, Episode 28: The Bock and Harnick Musicals Fiddler on the Roof and The Rothschilds)
7. Seth Christenfeld (Episode 5: Adaptations in Musical Theater
8. BethAnn Cohen (Episode 66: Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine‘s Into the Woods, Episode 43: TV Musical Episodes, Episode 22: Representations of Judaism in Musical Theater
9. Robert Lee (Episode 65: Artist Characters in Musical Theater)