Episode 38: Jason Robert Brown, Broadway Composer-Lyricist

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with Broadway composer-lyricist Jason Robert Brown, about his writing process, his work in musical theatre and on the solo stage, and his composer-lyricist wife Georgia Stitt.

Jason will be in St. Louis for his solo show on March 15, 2019 at the Grandel Theatre, presented by The Ready Room.

Here is Jason's song "Hope," discussed in the interview.

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.

               

Episode 37: Orchestrator Charlie Rosen, on Be More Chill and his Broadway Big Band

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with Charlie Rosen, composer, performer, and orchestrator, about Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band, his 8-Bit Big Band, and his work as music supervisor and orchestrator for Be More Chill. Charlie has also orchestrated and played in quite a few Broadway and off Broadway shows.

Here are two videos we discuss in the podcast, Charlie's Broadway Big Band playing his arrangement of the Candide overture, and also Super Mario Bros. Live with George Salazar and Charlie's 8-Bit Big Band.

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with Be More Chill songwriter Joe Iconis.

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with actor Katlyn Carlson about being in Be More Chill.

Click here for the Stage Grok interview with Be More Chill producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper.

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.

               

Episode 36: Producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper, Be More Chill

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk again with Jennifer Ashley Tepper, author, historian, and Broadway producer, about Be More Chill, which she's producing. Jen has worked on the Broadway shows [title of show], Godspell, The Performers, and Macbeth. She also co-produced Hit List, the live concert version of the fictional musical from Smash. She has worked on other projects with Ars Nova, National Alliance for Musical Theatre, The Producing Office, PBS, The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Second Stage, The York Theatre, and the Tony Awards.

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with Be More Chill songwriter Joe Iconis.

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with actor Katlyn Carlson about being in Be More Chill.

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with Be More Chill orchestrator and music supervisor Charlie Rosen.

Click Here for the 2015 Stage Grok interview with Jen about 54 Below.

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.

               

Episode 35: Actor Katlyn Carlson, Chloe in Be More Chill

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with actor Katlyn Carlson, who plays Chloe in the Broadway musical Be More Chill, about the show and the incredible reception it has received around the world.

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with Be More Chill songwriter Joe Iconis.

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with Be More Chill orchestrator and music supervisor Charlie Rosen.

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with Be More Chill producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.

               

Episode 34: Composer-Lyricist Joe Iconis on BE MORE CHILL

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with composer-lyricist Joe Iconis, about his writing process, and about his show Be More Chill and the incredible reception it has received.

Photo credit: Stephanie Wessels

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with actor Katlyn Carlson about being in Be More Chill.

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with Be More Chill producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper

Click Here for the Stage Grok interview with Be More Chill orchestrator and music supervisor Charlie Rosen.

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.

               

Episode 33: Lyricist-Bookwriter Greg Kotis on Urinetown and Yeast Nation

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with lyricist and bookwriter Greg Kotis, about his shows Urinetown and Yeast Nation. Kotis and his writing partner Mark Hollmann most recently were part of the writing team for a stage musical adaptation of The Sting.

Greg Kotis

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.

               

Episode 32: Actor Thom Sesma

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with actor Thom Sesma, about his career and about stepping into the title role in the new, immersive, off Broadway production of Sweeney Todd. He has appeared in many shows on and off Broadway, as well as several productions at the The Rep here in St. Louis.

Thom Sesma

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.

               

Episode 31: Composer-Lyricist Bobby Cronin

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with musical theatre composer-lyricist Bobby Cronin, about his projects and the life of a theatre writer. His shows include Mary and Max, Till Death Do Us Part, Welcome to My Life, The Cover, Till Soon, Anne, Alone in the US, Daybreak, and A Christmas Carol. You can buy sheet music of his songs online.

Here's a link to a New York Times article about a song Bobby wrote with Broadway producer Jordan Roth, which Bobby mentions in our interview.

Bobby Cronin

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.

               

Episode 30: The Kirkpatrick Brothers on Writing Something Rotten

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick about conceiving and writing the Broadway musical Something Rotten, now on tour, coming to the Fox Theatre in St. Louis on Feb. 7.

Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.

               

Episode 29: Broadway Bookwriter-Lyricist Tom Jones on Celebration

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with Broadway playwright-lyricist Tom Jones (The Fantasticks, 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, Philemon, etc.), about his show Celebration and his 2016 revision, produced by New Line Theatre.

STAGE GROK host Scott Miller is the artistic director of New Line Theatre in St. Louis, and the author of six books on musical theatre, nine musicals, and the musical theatre blog The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre. Opening and closing theme music: Overture from Cry-Baby the Musical by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line Theatre's 2012 production. Used by permission. Logo designed by Matt Reedy. Stage Grok is available on iTunes.