Theater History and Mysteries
The deepest dives you can find anywhere into the history and backstory of the great musical productions. Dense content...for people who aren't. And, I’ll never miss an opportunity to pursue any mystery, bizarre coincidence, improbable event, or supernatural suggestion along the way because, in the words of Dirk Gentley, it is all connected.
You can contact me directly at theaterhistorypodcast@gmail.com
Released every other Tuesday.
Music by Jon Bruschke and Andrew Howat, arranged, performed, and recorded by Andrew Howat.
Check out the interview on Musical Theater Radio, episode 404: https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/podcast
Podcasting since 2024 • 32 episodes
Theater History and Mysteries
Latest Episodes
Mitchell's version of the Orpheus story compared to Virgil and Ovid (Hadestown 3/8, episode 32)
The ancient poet Virgil died of a fever with his master work still unfinished…and it was left to his executors to finish the work. The book was the Aeneid, and it would be, in its time, the definitive work on the founding myths and storie...
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1:12:28
The Story of Orpheus -- Virgil vs. Ovid (Hadestown 2/8, episode 31)
The Romans stand at a key moment in human civilization. Starting with roots in Greece, they are looking back at the Trojan war, they are thinking about their gods. They have founded the first university in the western tradition.&nbs...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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59:31
The Greek Mythology behind Hadestown -- Hadestown (1/8, episode 30).
In ancient Rome, there is a poet. What we now call western civilization is just beginning to find its first roots take hold … there’s an academy, and Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle are writing books that will be read for centuries. ...
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41:34
Intermission episode -- Interview with Superteacher Michael Despars (1/1, Epsiode 29)
Normally we release every other Tuesday, but this is our first special episode that uses the more traditional podcasting interview format. This off-week episode comes just in-between Jesus Christ Superstar and Hadestown,...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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52:33
Superstar and the lost Gospel of Judas -- Jesus Christ Superstar (5 of 5; Episode 28)
It is the 4th century AD…Jesus has been dead for at least 300 years but the stories and ideas about him have not. After having been persecuted for decades, and fed to lions in the Coliseum, the Christians are now becoming the dominant rel...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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55:16