Well friends, after four years of Corner of the Sky, this podcast is going on indefinite hiatus. But to leave on a high note, we’ve got a full game show episode! Moisés Chiullán, Brian Hamilton, David Loehr, Jean MacDonald, and Shelly Brisbin are competing in a custom version of Random Pursuit that’s ALL musicals.

Also, this episode includes a mini-game: try to count how many times Quinn makes a mistake! It turns out that Random Pursuit is a deceptively complicated game to keep track of, and Erika Ensign actually has superpowers.

Quinn Rose with Brian Hamilton, Moisés Chiullán, David J. Loehr, Shelly Brisbin and Jean MacDonald

Show Notes & Links

Check out the delightful Random Pursuit on the Incomparable Game Show

Yoni Weiss talks the charmingly dysfunctional family of Falsettos.

Highlights: masculinity, borrowing synagogue chairs, Chip Zien, high school productions of Elegies, maturation, regression, lesbians, family.

"Falsettos"

Quinn Rose with Yoni Weiss

Referenced Works

Falsettos [Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

Yoni's Website

Margaret Hall talks the “most controversial musical ever,” Assassins.

Highlights: flashpoint memories, Assassins Creed, Kidz Bop, shoulder devil, 9/11, John Weidman, empathy.

Content warning: discussion of gun violence.

"Assassins"

Quinn Rose with Margaret Hall

Referenced Works

Assassins [Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

Margaret's Classes (including a Sondheim intensive!)

Margaret's Book (Gemignani)

Margaret's Newsletter

Aaron Roberts talks the depressingly universal Follies.

Highlights: no one can stop my musical theater enthusiasm, nostalgia, the gayest musical without any homosexuality in it, summer camp, ghosts, Michael Bennett, Pirates of the Caribbean.

"Follies"

Quinn Rose with Aaron Roberts

Referenced Works

Follies [Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

Track-by-Track Breakdown: How Do You Make Sondheim Sound Disco for Losing My Mind?

Philip Michaels talks the persistent classic Guys & Dolls.

Highlights: all in one place (except for Cuba), undercover cop, hijinks, female agency, Tom Hooper, revivals, Frank Sinatra.

"Guys & Dolls"

Quinn Rose with Philip Michaels

Referenced Works

Guys & Dolls [Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

Holly Sansom talks the infectiously optimistic show The Prom.

Highlights: The Drowsy Chaperone, seeing theater for work, TV performances, girls kissing, we’re all lesbians, cringing, Glee.

"The Prom"

Quinn Rose with Holly Sansom

Referenced Works

The Prom [Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

Thesis On Joan

Corner of the Sky: The Drowsy Chaperone

Kat Largent talks the always-evolving classic Cinderella.

Highlights: Whitney Houston, musicals as popular music, revivals, award eligibility, casting movie musicals, onstage quick changes, basic but beautiful.

"Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella"

Quinn Rose with Kat Largent

Referenced Works

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella [Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

Stanley Rose talks the charming satire/homage Something Rotten.

Highlights: Christian Borle, write what you know, the Black Death!, simple entertainment, fact checking with Mom, humming the songs.

"Something Rotten!"

Quinn Rose with Stanley Rose

Referenced Works

Something Rotten! [Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

Musical Theater Newsletter

Hard to Be the Bard Music Video

when characters in musicals transition from speaking to singing

Upstart Crow

Kerri Kearse talks the “drum circle for the Lord” and/or musical Godspell.

Highlights: directorial freedom, Christian rock, belting about the Lord, baby George Salazar, Marianne Williamson, race in casting, parables, Jesus Christ Superstar, earnestness.

"Godspell"

Quinn Rose with Kerri Kearse

Referenced Works

Godspell [Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

Support this podcast and get the bonus gameshow episode

Theater history newsletter

Emily Clark talks the pointillist musical Sunday in the Park with George.

Highlights: Bounce, autobiographical musicals, putting it together, universal (or not), historical inaccuracy, Pulitzer Prizes, Mandy Patinkin.

"Sunday in the Park with George"

Quinn Rose with Emily Clark

Referenced Works

Sunday in the Park with George [Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

Stealing Focus on YouTube

Emily on Twitter

Stealing Focus on Facebook

Jhanelle Benton talks the unflinching rock musical Jagged Little Pill.

Highlights: Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, being overly attached to the cast, interpretative dance, fluid movement, Elizabeth Stanley, gushing about the ensemble, Christmas letters, jukebox musicals.

Content warning: discussion of sexual assault and drug abuse.

"Jagged Little Pill"

Quinn Rose with Jhanelle Benton

Referenced Works

Jagged Little Pill [Amazon]

Show Notes & Links