Celebrating 100 Episodes with a Green Hero SHREK!

Send us Fan MailPour yourself a glass of swamp water and join us for our monumental 100th episode celebration! We're marking this milestone by diving deep into the surprisingly profound world of Shrek the Musical, a show that beneath its green exterior contains powerful messages about self-acceptance and celebrating differences.As we reflect on reaching 100 episodes (how did that happen?!), we share some of our fondest podcast memories and the musicals that have meant the most to us along this journey. We couldn't have made it this far without our incredible listeners who continue to support our musical theatre obsession week after week.Before tackling our main ogre-sized topic, we dish some exciting musical theatre news including updates on Matilda's UK tour, Faye Tozer's casting in the new West End production Diamonds and Dust, and the return of both Beetlejuice and Chess to Broadway (with the latter featuring Aaron Tveit and Lea Michele!).Our Shrek deep-dive explores the fascinating history of the show's development, from its expensive Broadway premiere to its more successful scaled-down tours. We unpack the brilliant work of composer Jeanine Tesori (the most prolific female theatrical composer in history) and lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire, examining how they transformed a beloved animated film into a heartfelt musical. Musical theatre nerds will delight in our thorough analysis of the clever Broadway references hidden throughout Shrek's score, from Wicked to Les Misérables. We also examine the surprisingly rich meaning behind seemingly silly lyrics in songs like "Don't Let Me Go," which reference everything from Southern soul food to the original Siamese twins!At its heart, though, Shrek reminds us to "let our freak flag fly" – a message that resonates deeply with both of us and explains why this seemingly simple show has secured a special place in musical theatre history. Whether you're a devoted fan or a Shrek skeptic, we're confident you'll gain a new appreciation for the layers of this onion-like musical masterpiece.Have you seen Shrek the Musical? Share your thoughts with us on social media – we'd love to know which character you connect with most or which song from the show speaks to you! End of MLLSupport the showDon't forget to rate us, share with your friends and follow us on our social media channels.