Monkeys and Playbills

Oct 04 2024 46 ep. 61 mins 6

Monkeys and Playbills Podcast artwork

Hosts Paul De Gurse and Jillian Willems take a look at Broadway shows that had 100 performances or fewer before closing.

Arts Music TV & Film

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Almost Famous

Oct 04 2024 52 mins

Grow out your hair, open those collared shirts, and burn them bras, ladies: we’re going back to the 1970s with Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous!” Adapted from the 2000 movie of the same name, this adaptation features book and lyrics by Crowe with music by Tom Kitt. Paul and Jill squeeze into their tour van to ponder: what makes a good movie adaptation? How many headlights ar

Lempicka

Sep 15 2024 67 mins

We’re back, baby! Join Paul and Jill for a scholarly study of 2024’s “Lempicka,” starring Eden Espinosa as the titular painter. Not to paint this show with a broad brush, but Paul and Jill found it a bit sketchy. Why were there “Suicide Squad-esque” place subtitles? Can there be two musicals about painters? And can sad men chill for like, a second? We got MERCH y’al

Cats (2019)

Mar 10 2024 76 mins

Everyone's favourite musical theatre nerds are coming to you live and in-person! Join us for a saucy late-night show where we dive in to one of musical theatre’s greatest embarrassments: 2019's Cats, in all its human-fingered/CGI/Jason Derulo glory. We got MERCH y’all! Visit Spring to check out our mugs, t-shirts, hoodies and more! Instagram: @monkeysandplaybillspod Email: mo

Bad Cinderella with Nelson Bettencourt

Jun 19 2023 79 mins

Hear ye, hear ye! You’re invited to a royal ball - and we hear it’s “Bad.” It’s Bad Cinderella, y’all! Paul, Jill, and returning guest Nelson Bettencourt huddle in the town square, wondering: didn’t this composer do some better stuff first? Is one “bad” for having internalized misogyny? And why don’t we just officially rename this “Carmello Cast” already?

The Wild Party with Peter Fernandes

Jun 12 2023 90 mins

This week, we’re inviting very special guest Peter Fernandes to a “Wild Party”! Michael John LaChiusa’s “Wild Party”, to be specific. Paul, Jill, and Peter huddle in the corner, whispering furtively: did you hear what Mandy Patinkin did? What ever happened to that bright Australian upstart who played Queenie? And wait, are we sure we’re talking about the right “Wi

TRAILER: Tales of the Great Transfiguration

From award-winning writer Ben Townsley, Tales of the Great Transfiguration explores an event that swept through the city of Providence, RI, transforming people into anything and everything. An expectant father transformed into a silverback gorilla. A husband erupted into 45 million dollars in cash. A lighthouse turned into a - well, we won't spoil it for you. The Great Transfigura

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

Feb 26 2023 79 mins

Paul, Jill, and our live audience of dedicated Playbills are swinging through the streets of New York City with our first-ever live episode! We’re sharpening our Spidey senses for a look at 2011’s “Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark”. Paul, Jill, and our rogues gallery demand answers! Why is there reference to a Greek goddess? Do The Edge’s friends just get to call him “The

Merrily We Roll Along

Feb 10 2023 70 mins

Welcome to the show (ba ba-da da)! We’re travelling backwards in time with 1981’s Merrily We Roll Along, with music by up-and-coming Broadway nobody Stephen Sondheim. Paul and Jill provide important answers, followed by questions such as: where does one get a sweatshirt showing their narrative significance? Why does Hal Prince loves bleachers so much? And why the heck hasn’t

Closed but No Cigar: Phantom, Beetlejuice, and 1776

We’re exploring three shows bidding adieu to the Great White Way: Beetlejuice, Phantom of the Opera, and 1776! It’s the ghost with the most, the phantom with the fandom, and… the lesser-known founding fathers musical. Paul, Jill, and Daph ask deep, though-provoking questions such as: is it easy to receive vocal coaching through layers of brick? Should Sherman Edwards sue Lin

The Threepenny Opera with Debbie Patterson

Dec 20 2022 48 mins

We’re travelling way, way, WAY back in time to the 1930s with Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera! This week, we’re joined by Sick + Twisted Theatre’s Debbie Patterson, to talk all things Verfremdungseffekt. Paul, Jill, and Debbie puzzle over such questions as: why does Brecht hate applause? What other sneaky show tunes was the Chairman of the Board tricke