What The Musical – Details, episodes & analysis

Content Warning: family separation

I Can't Wait for this episode on Bright Star! We talk Chelsey's Personal Review Corner, community storytelling, and whole characters at every age. PLUS: JLM will forever be our brightest star.

Theme music by Cullen Vance. 

WtM logo and poster art by Theron, Ink.

Original Broadway cast album: Amazon | iTunes | Spotify

Content Warning: infertility, sexual predation & assault, family loss & death

It Takes Two (episodes) to head Into the Woods! In the second half of this 2-part episode, we talk apathy vs ambivalence, deficit choices, and rejecting narratives. PLUS: JLM could guest-star...and that's the moral of the story!

Theme music by Cullen Vance. 

WtM logo and poster art by Theron, Ink.

Original Broadway cast album: Amazon | iTunes | Spotify

Let's venture Side by Side by Side into Part II on Company! We talk likable narrators, unattractive desperation, and the wonder of adult friendships.  PLUS: JLM as Bobby or JoAnne? We'll drink to that.

Theme music by Cullen Vance.

Our favorite versions of "Being Alive:"
- Bernadette Peters (link)
- Ramin Karimloo (link)
- Norm Lewis (link)
- Putting It Together quintet (link)

Bell rings, door chimes, let's talk Company! In the first half of this 2-part episode, we talk breaking gender norms, affectionate but loveless marriages, and the lie of the biological clock.

Theme music by Cullen Vance.

2006 Broadway cast recording: Amazon | iTunes | Spotify

I'm Not Afraid of Anything, especially not this episode on Songs for a New World! We talk JRB's debutante ball, the inescapable male gaze, and letting music do the heavy lifting. PLUS: even a broken JLM watch is right twice a day.

Theme music by Cullen Vance.

World premiere recording: Amazon | iTunes | Spotify

CW: bullying, religion, homicide

Do Me A Favor and turn up this episode on Carrie! We talk literal translations, the troubles with stage telekinesis, and the musical trilogy nobody expected. PLUS: there's just no good segue here, but JLM is always a good topic.

Theme music by Cullen Vance.

Off-Broadway premiere cast album: Amazon | iTunes | Spotify

CW: racism, misogyny

Let's Misbehave--time to dive into Anything Goes! We talk the cheese crackers of musicals, maximum triple threats, and what to do with your available time. PLUS: JLM is the top.

Theme music by Cullen Vance.

2011 New Broadway cast album: Amazon | iTunes | Spotify

Content warning: mentions of bullying, family loss, religion, abusive partners

I Can't Stand Still any longer--we gotta cut Footloose! We talk taking the grunge out of Kenny Loggins, logical fallacies, and sequels that should have been. PLUS: let's get lost in a JLM waltz...

Theme music by Cullen Vance.

Original Broadway cast album: Amazon | iTunes | Spotify

Listening suggestions:
Token Theatre Friends
The Stoop
Code Switch
Two Dope Queens
Punch Up the Jam 

Skull Island can't contain this episode on King Kong! We talk the new dream ballet, screaming about feminism, and literally smashing patriarchy. PLUS: JLM is no stranger to showbiz, so give him a call.

Theme music by Cullen Vance.

Show Notes:
- Performance of "Full Moon Lullaby" for the CBS Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Official video for "Queen of New York"

Content Warnings: mentions of sexual harassment, assault, TB and COVID-19.

Your Song is one of the many we'll hear at the Moulin Rouge! We talk spectacular spectacular, what makes a jukebox musical, and weird narrative structures. PLUS: could JLM can-can?

Theme music by Cullen Vance.

Original Broadway cast album: Amazon | iTunes | Spotify