Explore every episode of the podcast The Third Act
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HADESTOWN: Myths & Melodies | 02 Mar 2026 | 01:26:59 | |
We’re gonna take the long way down to the underground and delve into the myths and stories that make up the world of Anaïs Mitchell’s HADESTOWN. Following an in-depth analysis of the important players, we’ll talk about our favorite songs and how this musical has touched the hearts of so many theatre kids around the globe. REFERENCES: Hadestown Wiki https://hadestown.fandom.com/wiki/Hadestown_Wiki GreekMythology.com https://www.greekmythology.com/ Theoi Greek Mythology The Fates in Greek Mythology (The Collector) https://www.thecollector.com/fates-greek-mythology/ Working on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown Book by Anaïs Mitchell In Conversation with Anaïs Mitchell (Mpls St Paul) https://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/in-conversation-with-anais-mitchell/ #theatre #music #musical #musicaltheatre #broadway #theatrekid hadestown #greek #hades # orpheus # persephone #eurydice #podcast #theatrecouple #love #like #follow #fyp MUSIC: Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song! | |||
| PICKING UP YOUR CUES | 23 Feb 2026 | 00:37:04 | |
Oops, ya dropped em. Better pick em up! We’re trying out a new thing where we bring you a "special" episode each month. Instead of reviewing a specific show, we get to go ravenous on an element of theatre we find delicious. This month, Jared chose the art of picking up your cues. We’ll go as far back as Shakespeare, as far out as Meisner, and cover everything in between. #theatre #music #musical #musicaltheatre #broadway #offbroadway #theatrekid #podcast #theatrecouple #you #almost #maine #sanford #meisner #couples #engaged #pickingupcues #lights #john #lovely #love #like #follow #fyp MUSIC:Thank you Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song!https://pixabay.com/users/music_for_videos-26992513/REFERENCES:New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/theater/reviews/down-east-so-much-love-exciting-and-new.htmlBroadway Worldhttps://www.broadwayworld.com/people/John-Cariani/Bates.eduhttps://www.bates.edu/theater-dance/events/in-conversation-with-john-cariani/Portland Press Heraldhttps://www.pressherald.com/2020/01/16/maine-voices-live-john-cariani-talks-almost-maine-and-the-real-side-of-rural-life/Hudson Valley Shakespearehttps://hvshakespeare.org/American Association of Community Theatrehttps://aact.org/cue#:~:text=1)%20The%20last%20words%20of,(i.e.%20a%20Visual%20Cue).American Shakespeare Centerhttps://americanshakespearecenter.com/2021/08/cue-scripts/Writtenanddirectedbyhanohttps://www.instagram.com/p/DO2sIBNCTPV/?hl=en&img_index=7Theatre Avenue - YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCioVYvGA1E3dNtmhZnJUGlQ | |||
| ALMOST, MAINE: A Scene Study | 16 Feb 2026 | 00:59:37 | |
Brought to you by unemployment, we dive deeper into John Cariani’s play “Almost, Maine” for a closer look at one of its most poignant scenes. The play is about people dealing with one of the scariest things there is, love. We want to spend more time enjoying this work and all the ideas it has to share AND… we want to share it with you!#theatre #music #musical #musicaltheater #broadway #offbraodway #theatrekid #podcast #theatrecouple #you #almost #maine #moosepaddy #couples #engaged #northernlights #lights #john #lovely #love #like #follow #fyp MUSIC:Thank you Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song!https://pixabay.com/users/music_for_videos-26992513/REFERENCES:New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/theater/reviews/down-east-so-much-love-exciting-and-new.htmlBroadway Worldhttps://www.broadwayworld.com/people/John-Cariani/Bates.eduhttps://www.bates.edu/theater-dance/events/in-conversation-with-john-cariani/Portland Press Heraldhttps://www.pressherald.com/2020/01/16/maine-voices-live-john-cariani-talks-almost-maine-and-the-real-side-of-rural-life/Hudson Valley Shakespearehttps://hvshakespeare.org/Theatre Avenue - YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCioVYvGA1E3dNtmhZnJUGlQConcord Theatricalshttps://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/12954/almost-mainehttps://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/teritter/Almost_Maine_Script | |||
| JOHN CARIANI: A Review | 09 Feb 2026 | 00:32:18 | |
As Gracious battles her frog symptoms, Jared introduces the actor, playwright, and all-around-great guy, John Cariani. A little bit of history, some interviews, some stories, and just a smidgeon of goofy. It’s the guy that brought us the play Almost, Maine, it’s… John Cariani! REFERENCES: New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/theater/reviews/down-east-so-much-love-exciting-and-new.html Broadway World https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/John-Cariani/ https://www.bates.edu/theater-dance/events/in-conversation-with-john-cariani/ Portland Press Herald Hudson Valley Shakespeare #theatre #music #musical #musicaltheater #broadway #offbraodway #theatrekid #podcast #theatrecouple #you #almost #maine #moosepaddy #couples #engaged #northernlights #lights #john #lovely #love #like #follow #fyp MUSIC: Thank you Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song! | |||
| ALMOST, MAINE: A Series of Love Vignettes | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:59:52 | |
Jared and Gracious decided that the best way to fight off the chilly weather is to head to Maine (well, almost) and break down some love stories composed by the charming John Cariani, who brilliantly captured some couples who fall head-over-heels for each other, tumble out of love, and ask hard questions in a hysterical fashion. It’s… Almost, Maine. REFERENCES: New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/theater/reviews/down-east-so-much-love-exciting-and-new.html Broadway World: https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/John-Cariani/ https://www.bates.edu/theater-dance/events/in-conversation-with-john-cariani/ Portland Press Herald: Hudson Valley Shakespeare: #theatre #music #musical #musicaltheater #broadway #offbraodway #theatrekid #podcast #theatrecouple #you #almost #maine #moosepaddy #couples #engaged #northernlights #lights #lovely #love #like #follow #fyp MUSIC: Thank you Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song! | |||
| All About the Ingenue: Getting to Know the Faces of The Third Act | 31 May 2025 | 00:49:10 | |
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO JARED AND GRACIOUS! This episode is all about the couple behind the podcast. What’s their theatre background? What are their craziest stage stories? What are their favorite shows? Tune in and get the answers to these questions and more in this episode celebrating the Mattsons’ three-year wedding anniversary! #theatre #music #musical #musicaltheatre #broadway #theatrekid #podcast #theatrecouple #marriage #anniversary #meetcute #love #like #follow #fyp MUSIC: Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song! https://pixabay.com/users/music_for_videos-26992513/ | |||
| YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU: Part 2 | 30 May 2025 | 00:46:20 | |
Hey… we’re back again to talk even more about this play. Come for the drama, stay for the comedy! REFERENCES: Dramatists.com https://www.dramatists.com/pdf/YouCannotTakeItWithYouAlternateVersionChanges.pdf https://georgeskaufman.com/plays/library-of-america-collection/you-cant-take-it-with-you/ https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2019/07/31/427138970/the-most-popular-high-school-plays-and-musicals The New Yorker.com https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/theatre/cant-take-2 Vanity Fair.com https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/11/moss-hart-act-one-broadway?utm_source=chatgpt.com Wikipedia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can%27t_Take_It_with_You_(play) #theatre #music #musical #musicaltheatre #broadway #theatrekid #podcast #theatrecouple #you #youcant #canttake #takeitwithyou #youcanttakeitwithyou #ballet #snakes #grandpa #fireworkstech #love #like #follow #fyp MUSIC: Thank you Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song! | |||
| YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU: Part One | 19 May 2025 | 00:58:18 | |
Jared finishes his rant about the importance of “being specific” and goes on to discuss the hit-play by George Kaufman and Moss Hart (the dream-team). Their American play explores self-fulfillment through the lens of anti-establishment with a twist of romance and a spritz of insanity. You’ll get your fill of ballet practice, snake tanks, candies, and xylophones, with enough firecrackers to light this zany household ablaze for days. Come for the comedy, stay for the drama!REFERENCES:Callboard.comhttps://community.schooltheatre.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=133&MessageKey=c5d44017-ae9f-4356-b0a0-7b08052bf680&CommunityKey=35d3756e-031c-447e-a020-14aeb57718f1&tab=digestviewerDramatists.comhttps://www.dramatists.com/pdf/YouCannotTakeItWithYouAlternateVersionChanges.pdfGeorgeSKaufman.comhttps://georgeskaufman.com/plays/library-of-america-collection/you-cant-take-it-with-you/NPR.orghttps://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2019/07/31/427138970/the-most-popular-high-school-plays-and-musicalsThe New Yorker.comhttps://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/theatre/cant-take-2Vanity Fair.comhttps://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/11/moss-hart-act-one-broadway?utm_source=chatgpt.comWikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can%27t_Take_It_with_You_(play)#theatre #music #musical #musicaltheatre #broadway #theatrekid #podcast #theatrecouple #you #youcant #canttake #takeitwithyou #youcanttakeitwithyou #ballet #snakes #grandpa #fireworkstech #love #like #follow #fyp MUSIC:Thank you Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song!https://pixabay.com/users/music_for_videos-26992513/ | |||
| 36 QUESTIONS, The Musical Podcast: A Review | 07 May 2025 | 01:07:02 | |
In our first-ever “Wild Card” episode, instead of discussing a stage play or musical, we delve into “36 Questions” a PODCAST musical produced by Two-Up Productions. You’ll get an update from our lives, Gracious will give us some background on the musical and its leading players, and Jared will lead us in some laughs as we discuss our favorite moments and how ICONIC this production is! REFERENCES 36 Questions: A Musical Podcast - Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0E7Js81KkQ0CWzfROJh04n 36 Questions: A Musical Podcast - Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/36-questions-the-podcast-musical/id1248086475 The 36 Questions That Lead to Love - NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/style/no-37-big-wedding-or-small.html Two-Up Productions Interview Magazine (Interview w/ the composers) https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/36questions Chris Littler (composer) website https://www.chrislittler.com/36-questions-podcast-musical/ Ellen Winters (composer) website https://ellenwinter.com/36-questions/ Behind the Scenes of 36 Questions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPICkzt0afg WORKING LIST OF MUSICAL PODCASTS, by Chris Littler https://www.chrislittler.com/podcast-musicals-a-working-list-for-the-internet/ #theatre #music #musical #musicaltheatre #broadway #theatrekid #podcast #musicalpodcast #36questions #36questionsthatleadtolove #jonathangroff #theatrecouple #love #like #follow #fyp SHOUTOUT TO: Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song! | |||
| OKLAHOMA!: The Wild Integrated Musical | 21 Apr 2025 | 01:12:39 | |
This episode takes place in the wild frontier of Oklahoma with your favorite slew of bumpkin characters. Gracious plays some games, Jared tells some stories, and our favorite cowboy helps us remember the values and ideas that built up the American spirit. Join us for a rootin'-tootin' good time! REFERENCES Ian McKellan on Acting https://youtu.be/m5CX00i4uZE?si=MdmiK8QizmFsSdip Oklahoma Historical Society https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=OK090 Okhistory.org https://www.okhistory.org/learn/musical3 London Theater Website https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/a-complete-guide-to-all-the-songs-in-oklahoma The Oklahoman Los Ángeles Times Article: Loud Boos. Audible vomiting. How Broadways edgy ‘Oklahoma!’ fared across America https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-10-15/oklahoma-revival-ending-reactions The Georgetowner https://georgetowner.com/articles/2011/07/26/oklahoma-historical-perspective/ Ideasstream.org Cambridge University Press MUSIC Olexey from Pixabay: Music by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/olexy-25300778/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=15013">Olexy</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=15013">Pixabay</a> #theatre #music #musicaltheatre #theatrekid #theatrecouple #wildwildwest #oklahoma #ok #okay #rodgers #hammerstein #cowboy #dreamballet #love #like #follow #fyp | |||
| OUR TOWN: The End | 14 Apr 2025 | 00:52:10 | |
In this second part of our two-part series on Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Gracious and Jared discuss more about the significant themes in the show, and summarize the second and third acts: “Love & Marriage” and “Death & Eternity”. We delve into some history and ask…what did Thornton Wilder think about theater during this time and how was he going to change it? Was Our Town successful in fulfilling its purpose? REFERENCES: “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder (Foreward by Donald Margulies) Published by Harper Perennial: Modern Classics Copyright © 1938, 1965 by the Wilder Family LLC. Forward copyright © 2003 by Donald Marguiles. Afterword copyright © 2003 by Tappan Wilder. “Stella Adler: The Art of Acting” compiled & edited by Howard Kissel Copyright © 2000 by Applause Books Thornton Wilder Family Website https://www.thorntonwilder.com/ “Our Town,” Thornton Wilder Page https://www.thorntonwilder.com/our-town The Thornton Wilder Society, “Our Town” https://www.twildersociety.org/works/our-town/ The birth and life of an American classic: “Our Town” (Pulitzer files) https://www.pulitzer.org/article/birth-and-life-american-classic-our-town Preface to THREE PLAYS, Thornton Wilder https://www.thorntonwilder.com/blog/2021/1/28/preface-to-three-plays-by-thornton-wilder-nbsp ‘In Our Living and Our Dying: Our Town in the 21st Century,’ Thornton Wilder YouTube https://youtu.be/qhnHgz-nw2Y?si=q5c60YS5c9XEYx5n https://soul-serenity-journal-app.vercel.app/ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-costa/prologue License code: F6TRGWCOXZMNZHF2 #theatre #play #straighttheatre #theatrekid #theatrecouple #ourtown #thornton #wilder #love #like #follow #fyp | |||
| OUR TOWN: Daily Life | 07 Apr 2025 | 00:59:12 | |
In this first part of a two-part series on Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Gracious and Jared set the stage–how is Our Town different from the plays that preceded it? We’ll introduce the beloved characters, give some tips on how to act within the style of the play, and take you through the first act of the show. “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder (Foreword by Donald Margulies) Published by Harper Perennial: Modern Classics Copyright © 1938, 1965 by the Wilder Family LLC. Forward copyright © 2003 by Donald Marguiles. Afterword copyright © 2003 by Tappan Wilder. “Stella Adler: The Art of Acting” compiled & edited by Howard Kissel Copyright © 2000 by Applause Books Thornton Wilder Family Website https://www.thorntonwilder.com/ “Our Town,” Thornton Wilder Page https://www.thorntonwilder.com/our-town The Thornton Wilder Society, “Our Town” https://www.twildersociety.org/works/our-town/ The birth and life of an American classic: “Our Town” (Pulitzer files) https://www.pulitzer.org/article/birth-and-life-american-classic-our-town Preface to THREE PLAYS, Thornton Wilder https://www.thorntonwilder.com/blog/2021/1/28/preface-to-three-plays-by-thornton-wilder-nbsp ‘In Our Living and Our Dying: Our Town in the 21st Century,’ Thornton Wilder YouTube https://youtu.be/qhnHgz-nw2Y?si=q5c60YS5c9XEYx5n https://soul-serenity-journal-app.vercel.app/ 240524 duomo wedding by nataliapaultroni -- https://freesound.org/s/741999/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Sound Effect by freesound_community from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=96293">Pixabay Sound Effect by Roger Harding from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=295688">Pixabay Sound Effect by freesound_community from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=27943">Pixabay Sound Effect by freesound_community from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=17862">Pixabay Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-costa/prologue License code: F6TRGWCOXZMNZHF2 #theatre #play #straighttheatre #theatrekid #theatrecouple #ourtown #thornton #wilder #love #like #follow #fyp | |||
| MAMMA MIA: Magic or Meh? | 24 Mar 2025 | 00:59:12 | |
In the second episode of their new podcast, Jared and Gracious boogie their way through the toe-tappin’, hand-clappin’ musical of MAMMA MIA and discuss whether it is actually a *good* musical or just a money machine pushed by powerful producers. It’s fun, it’s energetic, it’s MAMMA MIA!SHOUTOUT TO: Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song!https://pixabay.com/users/music_for_videos...REFERENCES:AZ Central.comhttps://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/arts/2016/12/02/mamma-mia-farewell-tour-gammage-jukebox-musical-classic/94700618/BroadwayWorld.comhttps://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Mark-Thompson/Convocations.Purdue.eduhttps://convocations.purdue.edu/mammamia/CostumeWorldTheatrical.comhttp://www.costumeworldtheatrical.com/mamma-mia/MTIShows.comhttps://www.mtishows.com/marketplace/huntsman-entertainment/mamma-mia-costumesNeirad.orghttps://neirad.org/15646/arts-entertainment/why-mamma-mia-is-the-perfect-movie-musical/Playbill.comhttps://playbill.com/article/as-mamma-mia-enters-its-final-day-we-look-back-at-opening-night-nearly-14-years-ago-com-361831PoconoRecord.comhttps://www.poconorecord.com/story/entertainment/local/2008/07/26/mamma-mia-costume-designer/52323229007/TheGuardian.comhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/27/womenTheList.comhttps://www.thelist.com/233792/the-untold-truth-of-mamma-mia/Vouge.comhttps://www.vogue.com/article/oral-history-of-mamma-miaWikipedia.orghttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamma_Mia!_(musical)YouTube - Mamma Mia Clipshttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mama+mia+musicalYouTube - Mamma Mia Interviewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1JjT1h2vacYouTube - Barter Theater 2016https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE6SEInw-pA#theatre #music #musicaltheatre #theatrekid #theatrecouple #love #like #follow #mammamia #mammamiahereigoagain #donna #sophie | |||
| COMPANY: The Ultimate Concept Musical | 10 Mar 2025 | 00:56:45 | |
In The Third Act’s first ever episode, Gracious and Jared talk about Stephen Sondheim’s monumental musical, ‘Company’. They delve into the background and creation of the musical, what a “concept” musical is, the songs, the characters, and WHY Sondheim chose to write this important piece of theatre. REFERENCES: Playbill https://playbill.com/article/game-changers-the-broadway-musicals-that-shaped-the-art-form-com-216556#:~:text=Company%20is%20the%20ultimate%20concept,one%20moment%20in%20space%2Dtime. Everything Sondheim https://everythingsondheim.org/company/ New York Theatre Guide https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-company-on-broadway Musicals 101 https://www.musicals101.com/1970bway2.htmWikipedia(Concept Musicals)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_musical#:~:text=A%20concept%20musical%20is%20a,way%20for%20bolder%20concept%20musicals. Wikipedia(Company (musical)) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_(musical) PBS ‘Great Performances: Keeping Company With Sondheim’ https://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/keeping-company-with-sondheim-about/13669/ Music Theatre International(Company) https://www.mtishows.com/company Financial Times, ‘Life of a Song,’ (article about ‘Being Alive’) By Lorien Kite https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/being-alive.html SHOUTOUT TO: Music_For_Videos on Pixabay for our theme song! https://pixabay.com/users/music_for_videos-26992513/ #theatre #music #musicaltheatre #straighttheatre #theatrekid #theatrecouple #love #like #follow #fyp | |||