Scene to Song

Scene to Song Episode 71: Black Women in Musical Theater History

In this episode, composer/lyricist, playwright, voice teacher, and performance scholar Masi Asare discusses black women in musical theater history, focusing on their vocal performance from the turn of the century to present day. We also talk about the late Micki Grant and her song "Cleanin' Women" from the 1978 musical Working.

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 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 The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
Ma Rainey singing "Don’t Fish in my Sea"
Ethel Waters singing "St. Louis Blues"
Diahann Carroll singing "A Sleepin' Bee" from House of Flowers
Leslie Uggams singing "Being Good" from Hallelujah Baby 
Pat Suzuki singing "From This Moment On" on The Frank Sinatra Show
"I Hate the Bus" from Caroline, or Change
"Dottie and Caroline" from Caroline, or Change
"Cleanin' Women" from Working

Scene to Song Episode 70: Season Four Finale

In this episode, eight of this season's guests--Janine McGuire (Episode 55: The Musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber), Deborah Blumenthal (Episode 57: Company), Rob Hartmann (Episode 59: Merrily We Roll Along), Danielle Feder (Episode 60: Parade), Amber Savva (Episode 64: Rock Musicals), Robert Lee (Episode 65: Artist Characters in Musical Theater), BethAnn Cohen (Episode 66: Into the Woods), and Victoria Myers (Episode 67: The Roles of Bernadette Peters)--return to discuss the topics from the season and listener questions and comments. 

This discussion was held live on Sunday, December 19th 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 five and will return in early 2021. 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.” The theme music you are hearing is by Julia Meinwald.

And a special announcement for 2022! When Scene to Song returns for season 5, it will have an accompanying monthly e-newsletter! You'll get more info about the episodes and guests, a "this month in musical theater history," shout outs to upcoming musicals in development, and more! Sign up now at scenetosong.substack.com to make sure it's in your inbox when we launch in February 2022!

Scene to Song Episode 69: Fatness in Musical Theater

In this episode, Theatre of the Oppressed NYC operations director and podcast host Harrow Sansom discusses fatness in musical theater and how it's portrayed with various musical theater characters and musicals. We also talk about the song "Another Hundred People" from Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's 1970 musical Company.

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. The annual season finale episode, which always features multiple guests from the season, will be streamed live on our Facebook page on Sunday, December 19th at 1pm Eastern. Listeners can submit questions in advance or call in directly to the webcast. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Impossible" from Bella: An American Tall Tale
"Any Little Thing" from The Color Purple
"Beautiful" from It Shoulda Been You
"Pretty Funny" from Dogfight
"Another Hundred People" from Company

Scene to Song Episode 68: Stephen Sondheim and Rhyme

In this episode, composer/lyricist Daniel Mate discusses composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim and rhyme, looking at various songs of his as we both reflect on our own experiences with Sondheim's work. We also talk about the song "Little Tin Box" from Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Bock, Jerome Weidman, and George Abbott's 1960 musical Fiorello!

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 Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Four Black Dragons" from Pacific Overtures
"Chrysanthemum Tea" from Pacific Overtures
"Not a Day Goes By" from Merrily We Roll Along
"The Story of Lucy and Jessie" from Follies
"Ah, But Underneath" from Follies
"Another National Anthem" from Assassins
"Little Tin Box" from Fiorello!

Scene to Song Episode 67: The Musical Roles of Bernadette Peters

In this episode, writer Victoria Myers discusses the musical roles of Bernadette Peters, looking at her career through her varied musical theater characters. We also talk about the song "Friends" sung by Bette Midler.

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 Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Star Tar" from Dames at Sea
"Time Heals Everything" from Mack and Mabel
"Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad Reprise" from Song and Dance
"Some People" from Gypsy (2003)
"Friends" from Bette Midler's The Divine Miss M

Scene to Song Mini Episode: Scene to Song Outtakes

In this mini episode, I share outtakes from previous episodes from seasons three and four with guests Rob Hartmann, Robert Lee, Jason K. Purdy, Heath Saunders, Laura Josepher and David Sisco, and Janine McGuire. No guest this week, but at some point soon there will be two weeks in a row with a regular episode.

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 Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Unexpected Song" from Song and Dance
"Tell Me on a Sunday" from Song and Dance

 

 

Scene to Song Episode 66: Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine‘s Into the Woods

In this episode, nurse and musician BethAnn Freed Cohen discusses Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's 1987 musical Into the Woods, focusing on an accessible moral complexity. We also talk about the song "Moments in the Woods" from Into the Woods.

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 Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"I Know Things Now" from Into the Woods
"Last Midnight" from Into the Woods
"Agony" from Into the Woods
"Moments in the Woods" from Into the Woods
"Lament" from Into the Woods

Scene to Song Episode 65: Artist Characters in Musical Theater

In this episode, lyricist and librettist Robert Lee discusses artist characters in musical theater, looking at shows such as Sunday in the Park with George, Rent, Me and Juliet, and A Strange Loop. We also talk about the song "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie.

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 Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Rent" from Rent
"The Big Black Giant" from Me and Juliet
"A Strange Loop" from A Strange Loop
"Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie


Musicals mentioned in the "Something Wonderful" section:
The First Mouse in Manhattan by Erica Molfetto (words) and William Karras (music)
Echolocation by Sam Norman (words) and Eliza Randall (music)

Scene to Song Episode 64: Rock Musicals

In this episode, actor and producer Amber Savva discusses rock musicals, focusing on Bat out of Hell and other rock jukebox musicals. We also talk about the song "Kiss Me/Ladies and Their Sensitivities/Kiss Me Quartet" from Sweeney Todd.

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 Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Two out of Three Aint Bad" from Bat out of Hell by Meatloaf
"Two out of Three Aint Bad" from Bat out of Hell The Musical Original Cast Recording
"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" from Bat out of Hell The Musical Original Cast Recording
"El Tango de Roxanne" from Moulin Rouge: Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film
"School of Rock (Teacher's Pet)" from School of Rock The Musical
"Kiss Me/Ladies in Their Sensitivities/Kiss Me Quartet" from Sweeney Todd

Scene to Song Episode 63: Latinx Stories and Bilingualism in Musical Theater

In this episode, musician and composer Jaime Lozano discusses Latinx stories and bilingualism in musical theater, focusing on authenticity. We also talk about the song "Move On" from Sunday in the Park with George.

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 Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Born in Puerto Rico" from The Capeman
"Perfidia" from 4 Guys Named Jose
"Move On" from Sunday in the Park with George