Award-winning duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez lend their expertise to settle disputes about the ending of Pippin, post-show etiquette in community theater, and lots of Sondheim. They also discuss updating 'Company' to the present day, the groundbreaking nature of 'Company', staying true to the original words and music in theater, gateway musicals and childhood experiences, taking a break with ads for 'Baby Geniuses' and 'Tights and Fights', showing support for artists, and a driving and navigation dispute.
Public feedback to performers should be limited to thank yous or compliments.
Unsolicited critique in community theater should be avoided unless specifically asked for.
Understanding the history of musical theater can enhance enjoyment of modern musicals.
Deep dives
Public feedback on performances
Abraham's wife believes it's appropriate to interact with performers and give them feedback, while Abraham thinks critique should be saved for a different and less public time. Abraham is right and public feedback should be limited to thank yous or compliments.
Personal feedback for improvement
Performers should only receive feedback if they ask for it and want to get better. Unsolicited critique in community theater should be avoided unless the performer explicitly seeks opinions from specific individuals.
Jason Robert Brown
A famous letter by Jason Robert Brown demonstrates the importance of being tactful with feedback. He remained silent after watching one of Stephen Sondheim's shows and only shared his thoughts in a private and respectful manner during dinner.
Broadway Musicals Beyond the 90s
A millennial Broadway musical fan is encouraged to give classic musicals from the 40s and 50s a chance, as they can be enjoyed without irony or nostalgia. The experts discuss their own childhood favorite musicals and the joy of experiencing shows from different eras.
Appreciating the History of Musical Theater
The podcast hosts emphasize the importance of understanding the history of musical theater, as all shows are in dialogue with what came before. They encourage millennials to explore older musicals and highlight the influence of past shows on contemporary productions, showing how a broader understanding of the art form can enhance enjoyment of modern musicals.
It's time to clear the docket! This week, we're tackling disputes about the theater, and we have two very special expert witnesses: the award-winning duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez! Between the two of them, they've made some of the most memorable musical theater works of the modern era: Frozen, The Book of Mormon, Avenue Q and so much more. They've come by to lend their expertise to settle disputes about the ending of Pippin, post-show etiquette in community theater, and – of course – lots and lots of Sondheim.