The Eclectic Musical Theatre Playlist EPISODE TWO
A Musical Theatre Playlist to Get You Through The Week!
Thank you for taking the time to read and listen to this episode. I would love you to let me know your thoughts and share any ideas for songs for future episodes. It would also be amazing if you decided to subscribe to The Jason Ward Creative Substack for interviews with creatives, reviews of shows and creative insights. There are articles and podcasts and subscription is currently Free of Charge. Click here to support my work.
Start your week with a fantastic and eclectic selection of musical theatre tunes. These are the songs that I wish would get showcased more often because I believe they show the breadth of musical theatre. And every episode finishes with a big musical theatre sing along moment because we all need more of that in our lives!
Enjoy and please let me know if there are songs or shows that you think should be included or if you have written a show that needs to be on this list!
Many Thanks
Jason
Here’s the link to this week’s music:
APPLE MUSIC
Eclectic Musical Theatre Radio Show - Episode 2
SPOTIFY
Eclectic Musical Theatre Radio Show - Episode 2
EPISODE TWO
The Acceptance Song (feat. Christopher Sieber, Beth Leavel, Brooks Ashmanskis) FROM The Prom (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
The Broadway version of Prom was funny, clever and had great songs delivered by a cast that was to die for. This song was bizarrely cut halfway through from the Netflix movie version in order to make space for a totally unnecessary scene for James Corden and Julie Walters. Enjoy the full length version here and let’s hope the show comes to London soon!
Exile in Gayville - Jaques Spivey FROM A Strange Loop (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
The show that won every award available on Broadway is one of the most unlikeliest hits. Currently playing in London it is great to see musical theatre discussing racism, self loathing, homophobia, body positivity and casual sex with this song, taking us DEEP into the world of Grindr hook ups. If you don’t like it then you could always go back to Anything Goes!
No-One Is Alone - Joe Stilgoe FROM Stilgoe in the Shed. (Song from Into The Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine)
Joe Stilgoe has a rare ability to interpret songs that both honours their original sentiment and gives us a different insight into their possible meaning. This intimate version of the Into the Woods finale becomes a very male torch song that could be a father to a child or a moment of reflection on the mistakes made by an older man during his life.
Funny- Greg Edelman FROM City of Angels (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
A dark, brooding song performed with the right amount of self loathing and macho bravado by Greg Edelman. We’ve all been there when the joke that’s on us is not really that funny. Turn it up and sing along when you’ve had a bad day and need to get all the negativity about - its like a cleanse for your mood!
A Guy That I’d Kinda Into- Stephanie Hsu FROM Be More Chill (Original Two River Theatre Cast Recording)
Teen musicals can be tough because they need enough teen content for the younger audience but enough adult content for grown ups who buy most tickets! Be More Chill hits the perfect balance with a really clever concept and the ability to tackle big emotional issues - and some great rock songs!
Edge of Truth - Brad Standley FROM Goodbye New York (Original Concept Album)
This is a brand new show that has had a concert performance at Feinstein’s as well as a couple of development runs in and around New York. The book is intense, the music is masterful and this performance by Brad Standley whose character is faced with a choice that none of us could ever imagine is immense.
Livin’ It Up On Top - Amber Grey, Andre’ de Shields, Reeve Carney and The Company FROM Hadestown (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Hadestown feels and sounds like no other musical. It has a jazzy folk score and a story based on Greek myth that weaves in political and social justice themes. It has played seasons Off Broadway, on Broadway and in the West End where it is due back in 2024
Just Ask Flowers (Feat Debbie Cortez) FROM Here Lies Love (Original Cast Recording)
After short runs Off Broadway in Seattle and at the National Theatre in London Here Lies Love is playing previews at The Broadway Theatre at the time of writing. It is being lauded for its immersive design by David Korins, its incredible soundtrack/score by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim and the fact that it is the first ever Broadway show to feature a full Filipino cast. Here Lies Love tells the story of the controversial Marcos regime with the incredible Arielle Jacobs leading the show as Imelda Marcos. Lea Salonga will also be in the show as Aurora for selected opening performances and will perform this song which Debbie Cortez sings incredibly in this original cast recording version.
Guns and Ships -Leslie Odom JR, David Diggs and Christopher Jackson FROM Hamilton - An American Musical (The Original Broadway Cast Recording
It is the most unlikely concepts that often lead to the biggest hit shows and Hamilton is no exception. The incredible word play of rap and vital energy of immigrants together with superb musical theatre writing are what makes Hamilton such a smash - and who knew that a show about the founder of a single currency could be so exciting?
Being Alive- Rosalie Craig FROM Company (Original 2019 London Cast Recording)
A musical that works as well with its genders reversed is a helluva show! Rosalie Craig was unbelievably epic in Company. This song takes us from Bobby’s musings on being in love in general to her personal fears about relationships before finally opening into the realisation that we all need love “because alone is alone NOT alive”
Thank you for reading and listening. Please let me know what shows I should be listening to and featuring especially if you have written a new show and would like me to feature your work. You can leave comments below and let’s catch up again next time!
Cheers
Jason