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

Into the Woods, Part II

May 7th, 2021 1h 4m

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. P

Into the Woods, Part I

Apr 30th, 2021 49m 36s

Content Warning: infertility, sexual assault, family loss & death Maybe They're Magic, or maybe it's time to venture Into the Woods! In the first half of this 2-part episodes, we talk the ineffective nature of selfish people, being fluent in an

The Who's Tommy

Apr 2nd, 2021 1h 9m

Content Warning: child abuse, murder, sexual assault, racism, ableism There's an Amazing Journey ahead with The Who's Tommy! We talk rock ballets, setting up idols to fall, and pinball as a metaphor for life. PLUS: is JLM more of a pinball or s

Darling Grenadine

Mar 26th, 2021 58m 53s

Content Warning: alcoholism Manhattan is never far away when we sip our way through Darling Grenadine! We talk new musical development, centering off-center characters, and the best dog in a musical, ever. PLUS: please wave a safely-socially-di

Cinderella

Feb 20th, 2021 46m 8s

A Lovely Night is only made better by the magic of Cinderella! We talk contemporary casting, love at first sight, and fairy tale revolutions. PLUS: we bet JLM would waltz through a lovely night. Theme music by Cullen Vance. WtM logo and poste

BONUS INTERVAL: Hadestown

Feb 5th, 2021 24m 48s

Even the prettiest flowers can have a few wilting petals--but in case you want to look past any possible blemishes, we separated all of our Hadestown criticisms into one convenient bonus episode! (Feel free to look away.)

Hadestown

Jan 15th, 2021 57m 14s

Hey, Little Songbird, let's venture into the new year with Hadestown! We talk holistic creativity, Chelsey's inner eco-Marxist, and the struggles of love and fulfillment. PLUS: another circle around the sun for JLM, and perhaps a circle back to

The Lion King

Dec 31st, 2020 55m 5s

The Morning Report calls for The Lion King! We talk Julie Taymor Magic (TM), the Hamlet King, and a show that is, truly, for everyone. PLUS: an update on our Broadway King, JLM. Theme music by Cullen Vance. Original Broadway cast album: Amazon

WTM BONUS INTERVAL: Company

Nov 13th, 2020 13m 28s

Yes, we had plenty more to say about Company! Join us for a bonus interval on the most recent revival, the wonder of Matt Doyle, and our modest plea for a record deal.

Company, Part II

Nov 2nd, 2020 56m 46s

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

Company, Part I

Oct 23rd, 2020 52m 33s

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 reco

Songs for a New World

Sep 29th, 2020 52m 27s

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 b

Carrie: The Musical

Sep 8th, 2020 1h 31m

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 alw

Anything Goes

Jul 21st, 2020 51m 26s

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 Broadwa

Footloose

Jun 27th, 2020 58m 55s

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: l

King Kong

May 20th, 2020 59m 15s

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: -

Moulin Rouge! the Musical

Apr 24th, 2020 1h 1m

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 J

Newsies

Apr 4th, 2020 1h 2m

The World Will Know when they open our take on Newsies! We talk imagining Santa Fe, little stories entwined with big wealth, and instinctive coordinated dancing. PLUS: In JLM's defense, nobody is on Broadway right now. Theme music by Cullen Van

Come From Away

Mar 22nd, 2020 1h 23m

Content warning: 9/11. Welcome to the Rock, where we fly into Come From Away! We talk with special guest Eric Braman about courageous kindness, fish kisses, and being in love (or just stuck in Newfoundland). PLUS: JLM is our preferred pilot. Th

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Mar 14th, 2020 51m 33s

Content Warning: mentions of rape & kidnap. We Gotta Make It Through the Winter, so let's swing through Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! We talk winning and losing in social dance, Steven King novel-style plots, and vitamin-deficient decision-

[title of show]

Feb 15th, 2020 54m 26s

What Kind of Girl is She? The kind that does an episode on [title of show], of course! We talk the value in creativity, early internet phenoms, and proposing with musical numbers. PLUS: we're still hoping for a voicemail cameo from JLM. Theme m

The Wiz

Jan 25th, 2020 56m 2s

Be A Lion and pounce on this episode about The Wiz! We talk storytelling through genre, otherism in reviews, and casting teenagers. PLUS: a check-in on our favorite magic man, JLM. Theme music by Cullen Vance. Original cast album: Amazon | iT

Cats

Jan 9th, 2020 1h 12m

Moments of Happiness have arrived in the new year with our episode on Cats! We talk cat nip as plot device, audience consent, and defending a musical more than we could have anticipated. PLUS: Happy Birthday, JLM. Theme music by Cullen Vance. O

The Phantom of the Opera

Dec 24th, 2019 1h 24m

All I Ask of You is a deep breath before diving into The Phantom of the Opera! We talk bad optics, ear-wormy repetition, and the worst stage mom ever. PLUS: one of the only sighs of relief we can breathe is that JLM is not in Phantom. Theme mus