OFF 2 BROADWAY

This week, we are SO excited to welcome Vanessa Sears to our virtual studio!

You may know her as Nicola in the Canadian premiere of Kinky Boots, being practically perfect as Mary Poppins, and most recently in her Dora Award winning role in Caroline, Or Change.

Vanessa deep dives into her favourite collaborations, most memorable performances, and how she's staying busy with both activism and arts during the pandemic.

Her energy is infectious, listen now!

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"No Song Left to Save Me" - Steven Page and the cast of Here's What It Takes - q on CBC (Youtube)

"Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher" - Porchside Songs - Vanessa Sears & Beau Dixon - Here and Now Toronto with Gill Deacon (CBC Radio)

"History of Wrong Guys" - Kinky Boots (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"King of the Lost Boys" (From the Apple TV+ Original Series "Little Voice") 

All music tracks used for educational and entertainment purposes only.

The first 10 minutes of a musical are crucial - Opening Numbers can make or break your theatrical experience. So the question is, what makes a good Opening Number?

Tara and Stefania break down the necessary components to starting a show off right, as well as rank their personal favourites.

Let us start your week off right with this new episode!

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"Omigod You Guys" - Legally Blonde the Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Willkommen" - Cabaret (New Broadway Cast Recording)

"Magic to Do" - Pippin (New Broadway Cast Recording)

"Welcome To The Rock" - Come From Away (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Alexander Hamilton" -Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) 

"Opening: I Hope I Get It" - A Chorus Line - 40th Anniversary Celebration (Original Broadway Cast Recording) 

"Circle of Life" - The Lion King (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Company" -Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)

"It's Your Wedding Day" - The Wedding Singer (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Selling Out" - American Psycho The Musical (Youtube)

"Hello!" - The Book Of Mormon (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Beautiful" - Heathers: The Musical (World Premiere Cast Recording)

"Valjean's Soliloquy (Live)" - Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert

"Tradition" - Fiddler on the Roof (2016 Broadway Cast Recording)

"Welcome to the Renaissance" - Something Rotten! (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Side Show: Act I: The Midway: Come Look At the Freaks" - Side Show: Original Cast Recording

"The Greatest Show"  - The Greatest Showman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

"Ex-Wives" - Six: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording)

"Welcome to the Moulin Rouge!" - Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Another Day of Sun" - La La Land (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

"Opening Up" - Waitress (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Platt Brothers' Graduate Together Performance" - XQ America (Youtube)

"Opening: A New World" - Songs for a New World (New York City Center 2018 Encores! Off-Center Cast Recording)

All music tracks used for educational and entertainment purposes only.

This week we are thrilled to welcome Britta Johnson to our virtual studio!

Britta is the inaugural Crescendo Artist with The Musical Stage Company, and has written musicals such as Dr. Silver, Kelly v. Kelly, and the multi Dora award-winning Life After. She shares with us her experience of growing up in a musical family, and shares some insight into the process of writing immersive and unique theatre experiences.

Cult leaders, creative collaborators, and quarantined tango clubs - come along with us for this wild ride! 

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"Poetry" - Life After - The Old Globe (Youtube)

"Dr. Silver is Gone" - Dr. Silver: A Celebration of Life (2018) - The Musical Stage Company (Youtube)

"Eugenia at the Tango Club" - Kelly v. Kelly: An Intoxicating New Canadian Musical (2020) - The Musical Stage Company (Youtube)

"Inner White Girl" - A Strange Loop (Original Cast Recording)

"Suite Two: Edge of the Forest" - The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - In Four Contemporary Suites

"Hear Me Out" - 36 Questions: Songs From Act 1 - EP

"My Love Is Your Love" - Whitney Houston 

All music tracks used for educational and entertainment purposes only.

This week we’re talking about FROZEN!

Part way through the Broadway shutdown, Disney Theatrical Productions made the decision to permanently close one of its three shows, meaning Frozen performed their last show without even knowing it.

We want to celebrate this magical show, filled with perfect casting choices, Swarovski crystals, and new songs made for Broadway.

Hop in and let the storm rage on!
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"Let It Go" - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"What Do You Know About Love?" - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Kristoff Lullaby" - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"I Can't Lose You" - Live With Kelly and Ryan (Youtube)

"For the First Time in Forever (Reprise) - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Hygge" - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"True Love" - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Fixer Upper" - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Love is an Open Door" - Frozen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

"Love is an Open Door" - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Monster" - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Dangerous to Dream" - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Finale/Let It Go" - Frozen:The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Actually" - Octet (Original Cast Recording)

"Eugenia at the Tango Club" - Kelly v. Kelly: An Intoxicating New Canadian Musical (2020) - The Musical Stage Company (Youtube)

All music tracks used for educational and entertainment purposes only.

We’ve turned our favourite segment into a full episode!
This extended time at home has given us the opportunity to deep dive into new cast recordings and revisit old favourite artists. And with these discoveries, we've curated a list of theatre obsessions to bust your COVID boredom.

We hope our lists can fuel some new quarantine content for you - enjoy!

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"Only Us" - Dear Evan Hansen (Youtube)

"Good Old Glory Type Days" - Glory Days: Original Broadway Cast Recording

"Touch Me" - Cast Perform Touch Me Late Night w/Seth Meyers (Youtube)

"Chillin' the Regrets" - Alice By Heart (Original Cast Recording)

"Another Room in Your Head" - Alice By Heart (Original Cast Recording)

"No Song Left to Save Me" - Steven Page and the cast of Here's What It Takes - q on CBC (Youtube) 

"Run Away With Me" - The Mad Ones (Studio Cast Recording) 

"The Mad Ones" - The Mad Ones (Studio Cast Recording) 

"Freedom" - The Mad Ones (Studio Cast Recording) 

"The Boy Is Mine" - Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Season 1, Episode 10 (Music From the Original TV Series)

"American Pie" - Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Season 1, Episode 12 (Music From the Original TV Series)

"I Hope I Get It" - Cast of A Chorus Line performs on 2007 Tony's (Youtube)

"Ring of Keys" - Fun Home Performance Tony Awards 2015 (Youtube)

All music tracks used for educational and entertainment purposes only.

This week, we reached out to our Canadian friendly neighbourhood Spiderman - Jake Epstein!

Jake talks to us about his diverse career in Canadian and American theatre, as well as his solo show, Boy Falls from the Sky, scheduled to hit the off-Mirvish stage next year.

Tara and Stefania deep dive into his experiences, both on stage and on screen, including the nuances of the audition process, developing unique character choreography, and the magic behind translating iconic roles to the stage.

We can't wait to share this interview with you - hop in!
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"Apparently I'm Too Tall" - Famous in NY Video (Youtube) 

"Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind" - Spring Awakening (Original Broadway Cast Recording/2006)

"Take Good Care of My Baby" - Beautiful - The Carole King Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Opening Number - Boy Falls From The Sky" - Living Rooms" Episode 22: Jake Epstein  - TOLive (Youtube)

"Go Now" - Sing Street (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"I'm Still Here" (FOLLIES) from TAKE ME TO THE WORLD: A SONDHEIM 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION" Brodwaycom (Youtube) 

"YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND performed by the worldwide cast of BEAUTIFUL (in quarantine) for The Actors Fund" HMS Media (Youtube) 

All music tracks used for educational and entertainment purposes only.

As promised, we are back this week to break down Season Two of the iconic musical drama, Smash! This season is just as packed with incredible performances, questionable plot choices, and memorable diva moments.  
Tara and Stefania gush over new cast additions and recount their favourite songs from Hit List and Bombshell.

Hop in, because Broadway, here we come!

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“Broadway, Here I Come!” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

“Cut, Print…Moving On.” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

“Ce N’est Pas Ma Faulte” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

“Don’t Forget Me” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

“That’s Life” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)
 

“Public Relations” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)
 

“They Just Keep Moving the Line” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)
 

“Caught In the Storm” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)
 

“I Can’t Let Go” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)
 

“Reach For Me” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)
 

“Don’t Let Me Know” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)
 

“I’m Not Sorry” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

 
“Under Pressure” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

 
“Big Finish” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

 
“The Goodbye Song” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

 
“Rewrite This Story” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

 
“ Heart Shaped Wreckage” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

 
"Caught In the Storm" from Smash's HIT LIST sung by Jeremy Jordan”- Youtube

 
“I Heard Your Voice in a Dream” - SMASH - The Complete Season Two (Music From the TV Series)

 
“Music, Music Everywhere!” - John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch

 
“Something to Hold On To” - Ryan McCartan at JTF 2019 | Between The Lines – Youtube

 
All music tracks used for educational and entertainment purposes only.

In these unprecedented times, we're all turning to TV for comfort. And for Broadway nerds like us, that means... SMASH!

Tara and Stefania have rewatched Season One and are here to break down the infamous musical drama series. While Smash's ratings during its time on TV led to a premature finale, it continues to thrive in the hearts and timelines of its fans.

In our Season One episode, we discuss everything from character development and unnecessary plot lines to iconic moments and Julia's scarves. Almost a decade since its original air date, Smash's musical numbers and scenic design continue to deliver awe-inspiring moments.

We're SO ready for this wild ride, hop in!

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"Let Me Be Your Star" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"Grenade" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"On Lexington & 52nd Street" - The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"Don't Say Yes Until I Finish Talking" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"Let's Be Bad" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"Touch Me" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"The 20th Century Fox Mambo" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"I Never Met A Wolf Who Didn't Love To Howl" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1"

"Haven't Met You Yet" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"Another Op'nin' Another Show" - SMASH Season 1

"Redneck Woman"-The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"Breakaway" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"Second Hand White Baby Grand" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"Don't Forget Me" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"History Is Made At Night" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"Dig Deep" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"Mr. & Mrs. Smith" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"A Thousand And One Nights" -The Music of SMASH The Complete Season 1

"The Higher You Get The Farther The Fall" SMASH Season 1

"Jeremy Jordan - "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" (Broadway Loves Celine Dion)" - Famous In NY Video (Youtube)

All music tracks used for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Tara and Stefania are back this week (at a safe distance) to talk about Broadway's Jagged Little Pill! This original, new-age, rock musical features the songs of Alanis Morisette, set to an interlaced story of drugs, family, pain and healing.

They breakdown the costumes, choreography and musical highlights, while of course, dedicating an exorbitant amount of time to gush about their favourite on-stage faces.

Listen in - we promise You('ll) Learn something new about this modern musical, and keeping you Smiling through this quarantine!

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"Overture" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Smiling" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Wake Up" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Forgiven" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Uninvited" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Lancer's Party (So Pure)" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Ironic" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Unprodigal Daughter" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Perfect" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"No" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Hand in My Pocket" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"You Oughta Know" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Head Over Feet" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"That I Would Be Good" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"You Learn" - Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Smiling" Instagram.com/reneemj

"I Don't Need a Roof" - Big Fish (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"I Don't Need a Roof" -2018 Jimmy Awards Medley #1 (Youtube)

All music tracks used for educational and entertainment purposes only.

We've made you wait for it! Part Two of Hamil-March is here!

There's a million things we haven't discussed, so we're back this week to take a different look at the revolutionary musical. In this episode, we're diving into the on-stage spectacular, nominated for a record-breaking 16 Tony awards.
Hamilton's use of turntables, ensemble choreography, and unique lighting combine to create an experience worthy of the hype. We also breakdown the Toronto cast (the Phillip tour), playing at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Unfortunately, performances have been halted in light of COVID-19, but we hope they’ll be able to finish their run.

Take a listen, you'll feel like you're in the room where it happened.

Click, BOOM.

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"Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Helpless" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Satisfied" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"The Reynolds Pamphlet" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Washington On Your Side" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Cabinet Battle #1" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Hurricane" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Non-Stop" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"My Shot" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"The Room Where It Happens" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Burn" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"One Last Time" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"Guns and Ships" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"What Comes Next?" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"You'll Be Back" - Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

"96,000" - In the Heights Reunion Concert (Yotube)

"Breathe" - In the Heights (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

All music tracks used for educational and entertainment purposes only.