Best Ben Sherwood Podcasts (2023)

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 102: Celebrity Pregnancy on the 18th-century London Stage with Dr. Chelsea Phillips 1:32:15

11M ago1:32:15

1:32:15

The eighteenth century was obsessed with celebrities, and, like our own time, the fans of the 1700s were fascinated by famous actress' pregnancies. Dr. Chelsea Phillips joins us to talk about how she explores the emergence of this aspect of 18th-century fan culture in her new book, Carrying All Before Her: Celebrity Pregnancy and the London Stage, …

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 101: Visiting the Museum of Broadway with Ben West 35:59

11M ago35:59

35:59

Broadway has a long and complex history, and in November of 2022 a new museum is opening that will allow visitors to explore that history. Curator Ben West joins us to introduce the Museum of Broadway and explain how it's bringing the theatrical past to life.

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 100: Examining Robert E. Sherwood's "There Shall Be No Night" with Dr. Thomas F. Connolly 27:02

1y ago27:02

27:02

For anyone who's been following the news in 2022, a play about an Eastern European country's heroic resistance in the face of Russian invasion might sound timely. But as Dr. Thomas F. Connolly shows in this week's discussion of Robert E. Sherwood's "There Shall Be No Night," timeliness can be a tricky subject, perhaps especially in the context of l…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 99: Exploding the Canon with Classix 1:01:52

1y ago1:01:52

1:01:52

The Classix project is working to, as they put it, “explode the classical canon through an exploration of Black performance history and dramatic works by Black writers.” Two members of the Classix team – director Dominique Rider and dramaturg Arminda Thomas – join us to talk about their work and how they’re sharing essential works from Black theatr…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 98: Marking 100 Years of "Abie's Irish Rose" with Eric Grode 28:37

1+ y ago28:37

28:37

It was the biggest hit on Broadway one hundred years ago – and yet it’s largely forgotten today. Eric Grode joins us to talk about his recent New York Times article marking the centenary of Abie’s Irish Rose, the hit comedy that, though it was riddled with stereotypes and reviled by critics, seemed like it just might be popular enough to run foreve…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 97 - Discovering Kunqu with Dr. Dongshin Chang 43:10

1+ y ago43:10

43:10

Kunqu is one of the cultural treasures of Chinese theatre. Today we're fortunate to be joined by Dr. Dongshin Chang, an expert on the art form. Dongshin will introduce us to the fascinating and musical world of kunqu.

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 96: The End of Her Own Rainbow: Dr. Kim F. Hall Introduces Us to the Life and Work of Ntozake Shange 51:14

1+ y ago51:14

51:14

The recent Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf reflects a growing appreciation for a Black writer whose work gives voice to those who have been oppressed and marginalized because of their race and gender. But who was Shange, and what more do her theatrical works …

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Timothy B. Schmit- (The Eagles, Poco) On Playing with Ringo, Joining The Eagles, The time he met John 22:27

1+ y ago22:27

22:27

Timothy B. Schmit, bassist of The Eagles, chats his new album , "Day By Day," the influence of The Band, CSN. The process of writing songs for The Eagles, the time he met all 4 Beatles and the genius of Beach Boys compared to The Beatles.By Doug Kolk & Ben Don Sherwood

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 95 - Going Beyond Shakespeare with Rob Crighton 50:32

1+ y ago50:32

50:32

Shakespeare looms large over both the American and British theatre scenes. But his outsize influence means that we’ve long neglected a dizzying array of fascinating and brilliant theatre written by other early modern England dramatists. Rob Crighton and the Beyond Shakespeare Company are working to remedy this, and Rob joins us for this episode to …

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Chris Carraba - (Dashboard Confessional) A student of Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon 1:26

1+ y ago1:26

1:26

Chris Carraba of Dashboard Confessional talks the new album, his influence from Paul Simon, Dylan, Leonard Cohen and of course, The Beatles and George in particular. He also talks about his love for The Cure and Robert Smith.By Doug Kolk & Ben Don Sherwood

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 94: A Theatre for the Oppressed? Dr. Amy Richlin on Slavery and Plautus 1:01:09

1+ y ago1:01:09

1:01:09

The ancient Roman comedies of Plautus have inspired playwrights from Shakespeare to Sondheim. But they've also been seen as grim reminders of the oftentimes horrifying world of ancient Rome, where violence and slavery were commonplace. Dr. Amy Richlin joins us to talk about her book Slave Theater in the Roman Republic, which explores how Plautus's …

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 93: Brava! American Women Make Theater, with Dr. Melissa Barton 27:44

1+ y ago27:44

27:44

The roles played by women in theatre in the United States have been varied, from playwrights and performers to critics and members of the audience. Now the Beinecke Library at Yale University is sharing some of the stories of these women in an exhibit called Brava! Women Make American Theater, which runs through July 3, 2022. Today we’re joined by …

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 92: Lady Romeo: Learning About 19th-Century Actress Charlotte Cushman with Tana Wojczuk 25:12

1+ y ago25:12

25:12

Charlotte Cushman was a fascinating figure in 19th-century American theatre: in addition to being the first female celebrity actress on the American stage, she was also a trailblazer who embraced her identity as a lesbian and made a name for herself in a male-dominated industry. Tana Wojczuk joins us to talk about Cushman, who's the subject of her …

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 91: Passing into History: Dr. Megan Sanborn Jones on Pageants and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 25:03

1+ y ago25:03

25:03

Performance has always been a key part of the spiritual life of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. One of the most notable Mormon theatrical events of the last few decades have been the pageants that depict stories from the Bible and the Book of Mormon. However, as Dr. Megan Sanborn Jones discusses in this 2018 interview, the era of p…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 90: Reappraising the Legacy of Ernie McClintock with Dr. Ibby Cizmar 26:04

1+ y ago26:04

26:04

Developing approaches to theatre that fit the needs and experiences of performers of color, particularly Black artists, has long been a pressing concern for the American stage. Actor training has been dominated by Eurocentric approaches based on theorists such as Stanislavsky, which are geared towards a repertoire that’s heavy with White authors su…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 89 - The History of Method Acting with Isaac Butler 36:00

1+ y ago36:00

36:00

How did "Method" acting come to be? Isaac Butler joins us to talk about the history of this acting style and his book The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act.

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 88 - Learning About the History - and Future - of Stand-up Comedy with Dr. Rachel Blackburn 36:39

1+ y ago36:39

36:39

Stand-up comedy has long been associated with White men. But, as Dr. Rachel Blackburn explains in this episode, there’s a long history of women of color performing stand-up. Today, BIPOC comedians are challenging boundaries and raising new issues in ways that are changing the nature of live comedy.

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 87: Hearing the Voices of Women in Yiddish Theatre with Dr. Alyssa Quint and Amanda Miryem-Khaye Seigel 28:48

1+ y ago28:48

28:48

The Yiddish theatre has a long and rich history. But all too often that history focuses on the prominent men who found success on the stage. Now two scholars of Yiddish theatre have launched a new project to correct that historiographical imbalance. It’s called “Women on the Yiddish Stage: Primary Sources,” and it’s part of the Digital Yiddish Thea…

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction) - What he loves about Lennon? George Underrated? The future of Jane 32:42

1+ y ago32:42

32:42

Jane's Addiction, Porno For Pyros Frontman Perry Farrell chats with the guys about his Heaven After Dark concert series, his love for Lennon, why George is underrated and his baby, Lollapalooza.By Doug Kolk & Ben Don Sherwood

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 86: Introducing the University of Pittsburgh's August Wilson Archive With Dr. Sandra Shannon and Bill Daw 24:25

1+ y ago24:25

24:25

Playwright August Wilson's legacy has loomed ever larger over American theatre in the years since his death in 2005. In 2020, the University of Pittsburgh announced that it had acquired his archive and would make it accessible to the public. We're joined by Dr. Sandra Shannon and Bil Daw to discuss the new archive and how Wilson continues to influe…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 85 - Reading the Manuscripts of the Negro Units of the Federal Theatre Project with Dr. Kate Dossett 55:59

1+ y ago55:59

55:59

The so-called "Negro Units" of the Federal Theatre Project are often remembered for productions involving White artists such as Orson Welles. But, as Dr. Kate Dossett reveals in her book "Radical Black Theatre in the New Deal," the story of Black artists and audiences in the FTP was a much more complicated one, in which Black actors and writers fou…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 84: Imagining a New Federal Theatre Project with Corinna Schulenberg and Dr. Elizabeth A. Osborne 49:27

1+ y ago49:27

49:27

The devastation wrought by the covid-19 pandemic has left us all questioning what we should be working towards as we pick up the pieces and try to build a theatre that reflects our changed world, One possible model comes from the past: the Federal Theatre Project, which for a few years in the 1930s offered a national theatre that brought performanc…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 83: Transcribing the Federal Theatre Project with Morgen Stevens-Garmon 10:31

1+ y ago10:31

10:31

The Federal Theatre Project was a landmark of American theatre history whose influence has far outlived its brief existence in the 1930s. There’s probably no bigger trove of information about and material pertaining to the FTP than at the Library of Congress, which holds thousands of the programs and fliers printed to accompany its theatrical produ…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 82: Where the Courtroom Meets the Stage: Dr. Luke McDonagh on Copyright and Drama 55:15

1+ y ago55:15

55:15

The connection between theatre and the law is a deep one that goes back thousands of years. Dr. Luke McDonagh has been tracing this connection in the context of British authors such as Shakespeare, and his new book Performing Copyright: Law, Theatre and Authorship looks at how copyright law affects dramatic works in the United Kingdom.…

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Wesley Schultz (The Lumineers) - The Neil Young Approach? Why he's "A Lennon?" 33:10

1+ y ago33:10

33:10

Wesley Shultz, founder and lead singer of The Lumineers chats about the unorthodox process of making the band's 4th album, "Brightside." Why his songwriting took a Neil Young approach, admiration for Springsteen and why he's "a Lennon?"By Doug Kolk & Ben Don Sherwood

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Tom DeLonge (Blink 182) - Why Angels & Airwaves when you have Blink 182? Lennon's UFO sighting 16:06

2y ago16:06

16:06

Tom Delonge, co-founder and former member of pop-punk band, Blink 182 discusses the new Angels & Airwaves album, the lack of Beatles in his life, John Lennon's UFO sighting, and why form side project bands when Blink 182 exists?By Doug Kolk & Ben Don Sherwood

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam) - Back Together with The Band 23:10

2y ago23:10

23:10

Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam discusses in the studio with Pearl Jam, his new album and influences, back together with the band, why it took so long to play Eddie's Ohana Festival, giving Robert Plant the tour of Montana and The Beatles influence in late 70's punk.By Doug Kolk & Ben Don Sherwood

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 81: “Simultaneously Unhinged and Fantastical in Every Possible Way”: Margaret Hall Introduces Us to the History of Theatrical Merchandise 39:31

2y ago39:31

39:31

If you've been to a Broadway show, you've probably seen the merchandise booth. You may even have bought a t-shirt, or a magnet for your fridge. But where did the Broadway merchandise industry come from? Margaret Hall joins us to talk about her recent Theatermania articles chronicling the rise and development of this unique theatrical industry.…

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Andy Summers - (The Police) Tension within "The Police," Jammin w Jimi 31:12

2y ago31:12

31:12

Police guitarist Andy Summers tells us about his new book of short stories titled, "Andy Summers: Fretted and Moaning." Andy uses his mastery of storytelling to give us the dirt on The Police, tell us about an acid trip listening to Beatles', "She's Leaving Home" before it was released. Jamming with Jimi Hendrix and that time George Martin said, No…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 80: Rediscovering Lost Plays with Dr. David McInnis 44:58

2y ago44:58

44:58

We know that over half of the plays produced during Shakespeare's time have since been lost. What might we discover about that era if we knew what those lost plays were about? Dr. Davis McInnis's book "Shakespeare and Lost Plays" explores what we can figure out from the fragmentary evidence that remains.…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 79: Exploring Nuyorican Feminist Performance with Dr. Patricia Herrera 43:57

2y ago43:57

43:57

There are many theatrical movements and institutions that have been marginalized in histories of the American theatre. But there are also individuals and groups who are further marginalized within those movements, such as the role played by women in the development of Nuyorican performance. Dr. Patricia Herrera joins us to talk about these women an…

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet) A Beatles superfan! Why Spandau is no more? 30:11

2y ago30:11

30:11

Founder of Spandau Ballet, Gary Kemp digs deep into his Beatles knowledge while discussing his new solo album, "In Solo." He gives incredible insight into the dynamic of a band and why Spandau Ballet was forced to call it quits.By Doug Kolk & Ben Don Sherwood

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies) - "Macca said what about me?!?" 25:09

2y ago25:09

25:09

Founder, Ed Robertson chats Barenaked Ladies new album, "Tour De Force, recording during covid, his fondness for The Greek Theatre, and shares an awesome story about a Beatles relic he found inside Neil Young's piano bench. Ben had the day off.By Doug Kolk & Ben Don Sherwood

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Dave Keuning (The Killers) - Back in the band? The Lolapalooza curse? Solo work 27:42

2y ago27:42

27:42

The Killers co-founder, Dave Keuning chats about his new solo album, "A Mild Case of Everything," while confirming, he "is back in The Killers." He discusses two new Killers albums on the horizon, why he left, and an answer on touring. His inspiration from David Bowie, his 80's keyboard sound, and George Harrison.…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 78: Peter Schmitz's Adventures in Theatre History 58:48

2+ y ago58:48

58:48

How do we recover and retell the stories of theatrical performance from ages past? That's a question that Peter Schmitz is exploring with his podcast Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia, which delves into the theatrical past of one of America's most important centers of performance.

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 77: Exploring the Imitations of Gertrude Hoffmann with Dr. Sunny Stalter-Pace 31:06

2+ y ago31:06

31:06

"Imitation" is often a dirty word in the arts, but dancer and performer Gertrude Hoffmann was a genius at borrowing and recreating elements of other artists' acts, and in doing so she exposed early 20th-century American audiences to important developments in Modernist art. Dr. Sunn Stalter-Pace joins us to talk about "Imitation Artist," her biograp…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 76: Voyage to the Planet of the Grapes with Pete Marino 23:41

2+ y ago23:41

23:41

Learn how Peter Michael Marino is drawing on the Victorian-era tradition of toy theatre to create a new theatrical epic based on the classic sci-fi movie Planet of the Apes.

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 75: "Our Town" in the 21st Century: Howard Sherman's "Another Day's Begun" 57:03

2+ y ago57:03

57:03

Our Town is one of the classics of the American stage, but how well do we really know this play? Howard Sherman joins us to discuss his new book, Another Day's Begun: Thornton Wilder's Our Town in the 21st Century.

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 74: Discovering Teresa Deevy with Drs. Una Kealy and Kate McCarthy 50:36

2+ y ago50:36

50:36

Teresa Deevy was one of the most frequently-produced Irish playwrights of the 1930s, bringing her unique experience as a Deaf woman playwright in a patriarchal society together with her dramatic skill to create fascinating works such as Katie Roche. But she's been relatively neglected by subsequent generations. Drs. Kate McCarthy and Una Kealy are …

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 73: Introducing the Theatre 2020 Collection with Dr. Eric Colleary 22:29

2+ y ago22:29

22:29

Learn how Dr. Eric Colleary and his colleagues at the Harry Ransom Center are documenting how the tumultuous events of 2020 affected theatre.

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Paul Williams (Songwriter) - The Oscars, Kermit & That Time He Stepped on McCartney's Foot 23:54

2+ y ago23:54

23:54

We speak with Oscar-winning songwriter Paul Williams ("Evergreen," A Star is Born) about being a 6x Academy Award Nominee, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, how he impacted generations by writing "The Rainbow Connection," (The Muppet Movie) stepping on Paul McCartney's foot and John Lennon's "Lost Weekend in LA"…

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Aaron Bruno (AWOLNATION) From Megalithic Symphony to John and Paul 25:07

2+ y ago25:07

25:07

Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION and hit song, "Sail," discuss the 10th Anniversary of his debut album, "Megalithic Symphony," how his earliest influences of Madonna, Prince, and George Michael transitioned into early hip hop, Nirvana and Rage Against The Machine and his take on how no musician can perfect their craft without exploring The Beatles catalog…

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Scarypoolparty - New Music and a look back on American Idol 22:06

2+ y ago22:06

22:06

SCARYPOOLPARTY aka Alejandro Aranda chats with Doug and Ben about the musicality behind his new EP, reflects back on his time on American Idol and the inspiration behind his music.By Doug Kolk & Ben Don Sherwood

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Serj Tankian (System of a Down) - "Can Music Change the World?" 19:58

2+ y ago19:58

19:58

Serj Tankian, frontman for metal band System of a Down discusses his new documentary, "Truth to Power," a film about the power of music and how his message was used to awaken a political revolution. Serge discusses his role in the Armenian Revolution, the parallels between John Lennon and The Beatles influence on his career. Oh, and we can't forget…

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Little Steven Van Zandt (E-Street Band, Disciples of Soul) "Macca To Mecca" 27:03

2+ y ago27:03

27:03

Little Steven Van Zandt (E-Street Band, Disciples of Soul) discusses his Beatles tribute "Macca To Mecca," the difficulties surrounding his famous Cavern Club gig, dinner with Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen after the famous past curfew show in 2012, playing on stage with Paul, back in the studio with Bruce, Sopranos, and much more!…

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Bringin' It Back to..."The Beatles"

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Don McLean (American Pie) - "A Quartet Practiced in The Park?" 20:54

2+ y ago20:54

20:54

Singer-songwriter, Don McLean joins us to chat about his new acapella version of "American Pie," recorded with country band, "Home Free." We discuss the impact of the famous tune on music history and Don's love for The Beatles; where he drew inspiration and the Fab Four conspiracy behind his famous lines, "… And while Lenin read a book on Marx, A q…

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Don't Feed The Trolls

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Episode 114: Blurry Creatures??? 33:52

3y ago33:52

33:52

Update from Nate! He's back with a brand new podcast. He's teamed up with Luke Rodgers (from ep105) to dive down the rabbit hole. Please subscribe to our new show! Here's a taste. blurrycreatures.comBy Don't Feed The Trolls

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 70: Restoring An Alternate Version of Shakespeare’s Works 36:22

4y ago36:22

36:22

Who can forget the timeless moments in Shakespeare’s plays, such as Hamlet’s encounter with the Ghost, Beatrice and Benedick’s playful sparring, or the happy ending to King Lear? If that last example doesn’t ring a bell, it’s because it’s from a different version of the famous tragedy, one that comes from the era known as the Restoration. Coming af…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 69: Tracing the Origins of the Freak Show with Dr. Matt DiCintio 25:31

4y ago25:31

25:31

Popular culture has largely forgotten about the freak show – or has it? The display of so-called “freaks,” human beings with bodies that were perceived as drastically different from what was considered “normal,” was once an incredibly popular form of public entertainment, but one which we now look back on with embarrassment. However, as Dr. Matt Di…

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The Theatre History Podcast

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Episode 68: Learning About Mary Ann Yates with Dr. Elaine McGirr 18:51

4y ago18:51

18:51

Mary Ann Yates is the best actress whom you’ve never heard of. That’s how Dr. Elaine McGirr characterizes this fascinating woman, who rose to stardom on the eighteenth-century British stage and later went on to become the first female manager of a major London theatre. As Elaine explains in this episode, Yates’s time as the reigning queen of the st…

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