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.

               

Episode 28: Dael Orlandersmith on "Until the Flood"

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with playwright, poet, and actor Dael Orlandersmith, about her brilliant one-woman show Until the Flood, commissioned by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, running through Nov. 6, 2016.

photo by Peter Wochniak

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 27: Neil LaBute, Playwright, Screenwriter, Director

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with playwright, screenwriter, and director Neil LaBute, about his writing process and about the annual LaBute New Theater Festival at St. Louis Actors' Studio.

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 26: Lucy Cashion on ERA and Trash Macbeth

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with Lucy Cashion, educator and artistic director of Equally Represented Arts (ERA), a theatre company in St. Louis, about the process of creating their critically acclaimed devised work Trash Macbeth. Lucy is an assistant professor of fine and performing arts at St. Louis University.

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 25: Broadway actor Ann Harada

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with New York actor Ann Harada about her career (Avenue Q, Seussical, Cinderella, 9 to 5, Les Miz, M. Butterfly, etc.), about her craft as an actor, and about race and the American theatre in 2016.

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 24: Danny Ginges and Philip Foxman, on their rock musical Atomic

On this episode of STAGE GROK, I talk with lyricist-bookwriter Danny Ginges and composer-lyricist Philip Foxman, about their rock musical Atomic, which debuted in Australia, then moved to off Broadway, and then was produced by two regional theatres in 2016, Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, Michigan, and then New Line Theatre in St. Louis. Danny and Philip talk about the creation and development of Atomic, on the phone from Sydney, Australia, where they live.

Danny Ginges (left) and Philip Foxman

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.