Musical Theatre Podcast | Episode 6 Opening Numbers
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Episode 6 of the Take Me To The World Musical Theatre Podcast is all about opening numbers in musicals. I talk about overtures, prologues, preludes, and other types of opening numbers in musicals.
Where to Listen to Episode 6?
If you haven’t heard it yet you can listen to Episode 6 on Podcasts.com
Listen and subscribe to the Take Me To The World Musical Theatre Podcast on the following websites/apps
Audible
Deezer
iTunes
PodBean
Podcasts.com
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Resources – Music
This has links to the cast recordings/soundtracks that I mentioned in this podcast, as well as to some musical playlists.
It’s Broadway, Bitch – Deezer Playlist. This has over 1700 songs from different musicals. Albums are listed in random order. Some songs contain strong language and subject matter; listener discretion is advised.
Sounds of Broadway. This is an online radio station with over 4600 songs from 560 different musicals. The station also has a great weekly podcast about musicals.
Cabaret (1998 New Broadway Cast)
A Chorus Line (2006 New Broadway Cast)
Fela! (2010 Original Broadway Cast)
Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast)
Hamilton (2015 Original Broadway Cast)
Into the Woods (1988 Original Broadway Cast)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1970 Original Studio Cast)
The Last Five Years (2005 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812 (2017 Original Broadway Cast)
Next to Normal (2009 Original Broadway Cast)
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 Original London Cast)
Rent (1996 Original Broadway Cast – Highlights)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979 Original Broadway Cast)
Resources – Videos
These are links on Just Watch (unless stated otherwise) for any musicals mentioned in the episode that have a movie adaption or a proshot/filmed live on stage version. Nonmusical movies that exist for these shows may be listed as well.
Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008 Filmed Stage Movie). Since this is a filmed stage version it has the original opening number “Tune-Up #1.”
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973 movie)
Hairspray (2007 Movie)
Into the Woods (1991 Filmed Stage Movie)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007 Movie). This is the movie version that cuts out the original Prologue opening song from the musical, but the story still makes sense.
Resources – Websites and Apps
Reddit Musicals and Reddit Musical Theatre. Both subreddits are great places to learn about musicals, get tips (if you’re a performer), and to get recommendations on shows to check out.
Broadway Musical Home. This is a great website with a list of over 300 musicals. The Rights page has information on where to get the rights to put on a variety of musicals. Concord Theatricals and Musical Theatre International are the two main companies to license musicals.
Playbill has a listing for shows (musicals and plays) in New York, London and National Tours.
Today Tix has an App for both iOS and Android. You can use the app to buy cheap, same-day tickets for shows in several cities like New York, London, and more. I’ve used this app in London and highly recommend it.
Use the Code JGZYL to save £10 (or $10) on your first order with Today Tix.
Hamilton. This is the official website where you can get tickets for all current/upcoming productions of Hamilton.
The Phantom of the Opera. This is the official website where you can get tickets for all current/upcoming productions of The Phantom of the Opera.
What do you think about Opening Numbers? What’s your favourite opening number from a musical?