Épisodes

  • Episode 28 - Backstage at NAMT Part 2 Featuring The King of Harlem, Roja, Wakeman, and Alice Bliss
    Dec 9 2025
    Welcome to Part 2 of our special coverage of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Each year, the NAMT festival shares 45 minute preview performances of 8 new musicals in development. Part 2 of our NAMT coverage features conversations with the writers of 4 of the 8 shows in this year’s festival: The King of Harlem by John-Michael Lyles and David Gomez, Roja by Jaime Lozano and Tommy Newman, Wakeman by Jenn Grinels, and Alice Bliss by Karen Hartman, Jenny Giering, and Adam Gwon. We also share demo recordings of a song from each of these musicals so you can get a taste of the sound of each show. From The King of Harlem you’ll hear “Federico” performed by John-Michael Lyles on vocals and guitar. From Roja you’ll hear, “I Will See You Again (Te Veré Otra Vez)” with music and lyrics by Jaime Lozano and Tommy Newman, featuring Mayelah Barrera. This recording is from the album “Jaime Lozano & The Familia: Songs by an Immigrant Vol. 3” released by Concord Theatricals Recordings. From Wakemen, you’ll hear “The Trio Song” performed by Jenn Grinels, Ari Notartomaso, and Beverly Anderson. And from Alice Bliss, you’ll hear “Prologue/One More” performed by Jenny Giering. One of the most exciting parts of NAMT is that it serves as a hub for musical theatre writers and producers. While we were there, we also ran into and interviewed S. Todd Townsend and Kim Kibly, two of three writers of the musical Big Quarterly. Big Quarterly was a NAMT Recommended Musical. While it was not among the eight musicals selected for the festival, the panelists who reviewed the NAMT submissions were so struck by the work that they published a list of shows they feel should be shared with the musical theatre community. Big Quarterly was on that list. Big Quarterly was developed at Berklee NYC in their Writing and Production for Musical Theatre program, and we also interviewed Dan Marshall, an associate professor who helped develop the show. After that interview, you’ll hear the song “Opening” from Big Quarterly. And finally, we ran into friends of the pod Harrison Bryan and Brandon Zellman, co-creators of Balls: The Monster Catchin’ Musical. After their interview, we’ve included an excerpt of the song “What the World Should Be”, that features the show’s villain, Warlordturtle, performed by Harrison Bryan. If you haven’t already, check out Part 1 to hear interviews with the other NAMT writers, as well as more bonus content from musical theatre creators who were present at the festival. Connect with NAMT: Website: https://namt.org/ Instagram: @namt_org Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h et 7 min
  • Episode 27 - Backstage at NAMT Part 1 featuring FINN, Love is Dead, Soft Magical Tofu Boy(s), and Particle
    Dec 2 2025
    Welcome to a very special episode of Backstage Pass. We recently attended the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 37th Annual Festival of New Musicals in New York City, and have created a podcast experience that will make you feel like you’re right there with us! Each year, the NAMT festival shares 45 minute preview performances of 8 new musicals in development. This episode features conversations with NAMT’s New Works Director Frankie Dailey, and 4 of the 8 shows in this year’s festival: FINN by Chris Nee, Chris Dimond, & Michael Kooman, Love is Dead by Brett Ryback and Jeff Lupino-Esposito, Soft Magical Tofu Boy(s) by Kevin Wong and Particle by Selda Sahin, Autumn Reeser and Derek Gregor. Tune in next week to hear the other 4 shows! We also share demo recordings of a song from each of these musicals so you can get a taste of the music from each show. From FINN you’ll hear “Sparkle and Shine” performed by Zachary Noah Piser. From Love is Dead you’ll hear “Fully Formed” performed by Lana McKissack. From Soft Magical Tofu Boy(s), you’ll hear the song “Invincible” performed by Jonathan Tan. And from Particle you’ll hear "Meet Your Heroes" sung by Gabe Violett. We also interviewed Sonya Hayden and Matthew Lowy who were featured in NAMT’s College Road Trip program, which shines a spotlight on university theatre programs that develop new musicals. Their musical, Taking Off! was recently developed at Michigan State University and an excerpt of the show was performed at the Festival of New Musicals. You can hear their song, “Ready for the World” at the end of the episode performed by Sonya Hayden. Check out Part 2 next week to hear interviews with the other NAMT writers, as well as more bonus content from musical theatre creators who were present at the festival. Connect with Frankie Dailey: Website: www.frankiedailey.com Instagram: @daileyfray Connect with Finn: Instagram: @Finnmusical Connect with Michael Kooman: Instagram: @Michaelkooman Connect with Chris Dimond: Instagram: @dimondvision Connect with Chris Nee: Instagram: @chrisnee4660 Connect with Love is Dead: Website: loveisdeadmusical.com Instagram: @loveisdead.musical Connect with Brent Ryback: Website: www.brettryback.com Instagram: @btryback Connect with Juff Lupino-Esposito: Website: https://www.jeffle.me/ Instagram:@jeffluppinoesposito Connect with Kevin Wong: Website: https://www.kevinwongmusic.com/ Instagram:@kevinywong Connect with Selda Sahin and Derek Gregor: Instagram:@seldaandderek Connect with Autumn Reeser: Website: https://www.autumnreeser.com/ Instagram: @autumn_reeser Connect with Sonya Hayden: Website: sonyahayden.com Instagram: @sonyahayden11 Connect with Matthew Lowy: Website: https://www.matthewlowy.com/ Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h et 2 min
  • Episode 26 - GRAVITY Part 2
    Nov 11 2025
    In this episode, we continue our conversation with Matt Herrero, Joel Chapman, Weston Gaylord, Ken Savage, and Jessia Hoffman about their musical GRAVITY: A Newtonian Musical. When physics prodigy Sophie is accidentally catapulted back in time, her meet-cute with 23 year-old Isaac Newton prevents him from discovering gravity—trapping Sophie in 1666. To return home, Sophie must restore history and navigate the Enlightenment, where Natural Philosophers are the pop stars of their day. Along the way, she encounters historical luminaries such as up-and-comer Edmond Halley, Isaac’s rival Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, and the unknown author Margaret Cavendish, who is embroiled in her own quest for fame and scientific recognition. GRAVITY is a hilarious romantic comedy, smashing together madcap time travel mayhem and delightfully remixed history. This episode features the songs, “Let Us Enlighten You”, performed by Marcus Jamal Paige, Dave Abrams, Nathaniel Rothrock, and Weston Gaylord, as well as “In My Own Time” performed by Taylor Iman Jones and Matt Herrero. Connect with GRAVITY: A Newtonian Musical: Website: www.gravitythemusical.com Instagram: @gravity_musical Connect with Matt Herrero: Website: www.mattherrero.com Instagram: @mattherreromusic Connect with Joel Chapman: Website: https://www.joelchapmanmusic.com Instagram: @joelchapmanmusic Connect with Weston Gaylord: Website: https://www.westongaylord.com/ Instagram: @westongaylord Connect with Ken Savage: Website: https://www.kensavageproductions.com/ Instagram: @krsavage12 Connect with Jessia Hoffman: Website: https://www.jessiahoffman.com/ Instagram: @jessiajessiajessia Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 min
  • Episode 25 - Matt Herrero, Joel Chapman, Weston Gaylord, Ken Savage, and Jessia Hoffman: GRAVITY
    Oct 28 2025
    This episode features a conversation with Matt Herrero, Joel Chapman, Weston Gaylord, Ken Savage, and Jessia Hoffman about their musical GRAVITY: A Newtonian Musical. When physics prodigy Sophie is accidentally catapulted back in time, her meet-cute with 23 year-old Isaac Newton prevents him from discovering gravity—trapping Sophie in 1666. To return home, Sophie must restore history and navigate the Enlightenment, where Natural Philosophers are the pop stars of their day. Along the way, she encounters historical luminaries such as up-and-comer Edmond Halley, Isaac’s rival Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, and the unknown author Margaret Cavendish, who is embroiled in her own quest for fame and scientific recognition. GRAVITY is a hilarious romantic comedy, smashing together madcap time travel mayhem and delightfully remixed history. This episode features the songs, “I Wanna Be Mad” performed by Matt Herrero and “En Route” performed by Taylor Iman Jones and Matt Herrero. Connect with GRAVITY: A Newtonian Musical: Website: www.gravitythemusical.com Instagram: @gravity_musical Connect with Matt Herrero: Website: www.mattherrero.com Instagram: @mattherreromusic Connect with Joel Chapman: Website: https://www.joelchapmanmusic.com Instagram: @joelchapmanmusic Connect with Weston Gaylord: Website: https://www.westongaylord.com/ Instagram: @westongaylord Connect with Ken Savage: Website: https://www.kensavageproductions.com/ Instagram: @krsavage12 Connect with Jessia Hoffman: Website: https://www.jessiahoffman.com/ Instagram: @jessiajessiajessia Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 min
  • Episode 24 - Falling Forward Part 2
    Oct 14 2025
    In this episode we continue our conversation with Karl Amundson and Emily Fink about their new musical: Falling Forward. Falling Forward is about Meghan, a queer 27-year-old sculpture artist who is leaving New York City, moving in with her mom in Michigan and giving up on her artistic aspirations. However, packing her apartment proves to be a noisy affair, as all of Meghan’s belongings-- including a Bong, a Self-Help Book, a Vibrator, a Family Portrait, a smart-device, and more—come to life, forcing Meghan to reckon with her own role in her terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad year. Equal parts memory play, fever-dream, generational satire, and coming-of-age story, Falling Forward follows Meghan as she teeters on the brink of change, searching for certainty in her uncertain world. This episode features the songs “When It Falls” performed by Emily Kristen Morris and “Midwestern Life” performed by PJ Adzima. Connect with Falling Forward Instagram: @fallingforwardmusical Connect with Karl Amundson: Website: https://www.karlamundson.com/ Instagram: @karlamundson Connect with Emily Fink: Website: https://www.emilyfink.net/ Instagram: @emilycelestefink Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 min
  • Episode 23 - Karl Amundson and Emily Fink: Falling Forward
    Sep 30 2025
    This episode features a conversation with Karl Amundson and Emily Fink about their musical: Falling Forward. Falling Forward is about Meghan, a queer 27-year-old sculpture artist who is leaving New York City, moving in with her mom in Michigan and giving up on her artistic aspirations. However, packing her apartment proves to be a noisy affair, as all of Meghan’s belongings-- including a Bong, a Self-Help Book, a Vibrator, a Family Portrait, a smart-device, and more—come to life, forcing Meghan to reckon with her own role in her terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad year. Equal parts memory play, fever-dream, generational satire, and coming-of-age story, Falling Forward follows Meghan as she teeters on the brink of change, searching for certainty in her uncertain world. This episode features the songs “Guru Say!” performed by Karl Amundson, Emily Kristen Morris, Emily Fink, Danny White, and Kimberly Immanuel, as well as “If You’re Smiling” performed by Kimberly Immanuel, Emily Kristen Morris, Karl Amundson, Emily Fink, and Michelle Coben. Connect with Falling Forward Instagram: @fallingforwardmusical Connect with Karl Amundson: Website: https://www.karlamundson.com/ Instagram: @karlamundson Connect with Emily Fink: Website: https://www.emilyfink.net/ Instagram: @emilycelestefink Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 min
  • Episode 22 - Tasha Gordon-Solmon and Faye Chiao: Fountain of You Part 2
    Sep 16 2025
    In this episode we continue our conversation with Tasha Gordon-Solmon and Faye Chiao about their new musical: Fountain of You. We learn more about the journey of the characters and end the episode with a game specifically designed for these writers. When a thirty-something actress is suddenly aged out of the industry, she undergoes a wildly unconventional spa procedure to get her old life back. But it sets her on a whole new path to pursue true power and equality . . . at a cost. Fountain of You is a dark comedy that takes on our preoccupation with youth and beauty, and the system underlying it all, with a pop-infused score and lots of blood. This episode features the songs “Lightheaded” performed by Jason Veasey and “What’s Underneath” performed by Jenni Barber, Lexi Rabadi, Betina Bresnan, and Faye Chiao. Connect with Fountain of You Website: https://fountainofyoumusical.com/ Connect with Tasha Gordon-Solmon: Website: https://www.tashatashatasha.com/ Instagram: @tasheroonies Connect with Faye Chiao: Website: https://www.fayechiao.com/ Instagram: @fayechiao Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 min
  • Episode 21 - Tasha Gordon-Solmon and Faye Chiao: Fountain of You
    Sep 2 2025
    This episode features a conversation with Tasha Gordon-Solmon and Faye Chiao about their new musical: Fountain of You. When a thirty-something actress is suddenly aged out of the industry, she undergoes a wildly unconventional spa procedure to get her old life back. But it sets her on a whole new path to pursue true power and equality . . . at a cost. Fountain of You is a dark comedy that takes on our preoccupation with youth and beauty, and the system underlying it all, with a pop-infused score and lots of blood. This episode features the songs “Simple Steps” performed by Lexi Rabadi, Betina Bresnan, and Faye Chiao as well as “DABDA” performed by Lexi Rabadi, Allie Re, Caitlin Ort, and Jenni Barber. Connect with Fountain of You Website: https://fountainofyoumusical.com/ Connect with Tasha Gordon-Solmon: Website: https://www.tashatashatasha.com/ Instagram: @tasheroonies Connect with Faye Chiao: Website: https://www.fayechiao.com/ Instagram: @fayechiao Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 min