Down Stage Left Podcast

The fanfiction is back! Logann returns with her favorite thing (and Karen's soul destroying nemesis), the fanfiction! Immerse yourself in a world that doesn't make sense, character who just learned what human dialogue and interaction is, and a cliffhanger that will leave you wondering what will happen for 10 whole seconds! It's back!

Logann is back from another semester and joins the pod to catch up and discuss SLHS' fall play, 12 Angry Men. We talk about it's relevance today, why the all girl version's title is rough, and the judicial system at large. Walk this dramatic path with us this week!

TW: Discussions of depression, death, suicide, and mental health. Karen continues her NYC visit with a play! She saw Harry Potter himself in a (very good) one man show. We talk mental health, depression, death, and how important it is to talk about things and how theatre is a great vehicle for some of these discussions! @downstageleftpc

Karen's trip to NYC continues with a bonus show - Chess! A stalwart of the 80s and another musical that talks about history - Cold War anyone? Julia hangs around and we chat why this show is not super fun to listen to - but the updates have made it fun to watch. Plus, a racy underwear number for Aaron Tveit, what more could you ask for? @downstageleftpc

We're back! After a brief hiatus, Karen is joined by one of her students (Hi, Julia!) to talk her recent travels to NYC. We combine Karen's two favorite things: history and theatre. She takes us on a deep dive of the across the pond transfer, Operation Mincemeat. Based on a true story from WWII, this hilarious, yet poignant, musical does the impossible with 5 actors playing over 83 roles! @downstageleftpc

This week Karen talks the underrated show, Crazy for You! An old school jukebox musical - Gershwin standards anyone! - this show hits on all the musical theatre contrivances. Love at first sight! Mistaken identity! Heroine finds out the Hero lied to her and leaves! Funny side characters who fall in love! It has everything! @downstageleftpc [email protected]

This week we tackle a young people show! Natalie brings Ride the Cyclone to the pod and Karen doesn't get it. We talk why the youth love this show, some unhinged nonsense, and why a creepy doll head is never a good idea. Plus, the all powerful Karnak! @downstageleftpc [email protected]

Natalie is back to discuss a show near and dear to her and Karen. Find out why this classic probably isn't a children's show, why backstories can be fun, and what neither of them remember about the show! @downstageleftpc [email protected]

The kids are back! In honor of March Madness we did our own bracket for musicals. Find out which shows couldn't make the cut and who was the ultimate champion. Let us know if you agree! @downstageleftpc

Karen is joined by students this week to play our version of F*, Marry, Kill. Three shows: which show would you want to be in, sit in the audience, or chuck in the sea forever? Discuss and let us know how our opinions stacked up! @DownstageleftPC [email protected]

It's a new year and we're doing something different! Karen takes us to the Land of Sweets and we discuss Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Why this show endures, the importance of live musicians, and how a hot air balloon can change everything.

We're back! And we're celebrating our 200th episode!!! That's right, Lauren is back! Karen is back! And we're in our bullsh*t once again. We catch up and look back at some of our favorite moments from the pod and what the next 200 eps will hold... let's go!

Happy (almost) New Year! Natalie is back and we discuss resolutions and the shows that dominated the high school theatre scene. Were there any surprises? Nope. Weigh in and let us know what you think! @downstageleftpc [email protected]

We chat the holiday classic, White Christmas. Why did the beloved movie take so long to get made into a stage show? Why do we know all these songs? And really, when can a show have women who do more than play a romantic interest? @downstageleftpc [email protected]

This week Natalie is home and joins the pod as we kick off the holiday season! We talk the definitive version of the Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol. Find out why this movie musical tells the tale but with Muppet magic and bops to boot! @downstageleftpc [email protected]

We're doing a play! Karen walks us through the hilarity that is Noises Off. Find out why we think the 3 acts actually work for this show and why it's still funny so many years after it's debut.

This week we tackle a surprisingly harder than you think show - Seussical! Lauren takes us on this chaos tour and we discuss all things Jojo, too many plotlines, and more!

We switch gears and Karen takes us on a deep dive of the cult classic: Grease 2. Not quite a stage show (Cool Rider, anyone), but definitely a musical - we talk why this movie musical didn't do as well as it's source material, but why the music still hits just right.

This week Karen's soul leaves her body as Lauren delivers another amazing fanfiction find. Gustov! Gustov! It's the love story we never got, but all deserved... Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Karen tackles a heavy hitter - Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate! Find out why Porter's response to Oklahoma was better than RnH's. Why these classic songs made their way from the stage to top 40 and why they endure today! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

This week Lauren deep dives the newish jukebox musical, Jagged Little Pill. This show has everything! Drugs! Gender Identity! SA! Cheating! And more! If there is a societal issue, it's in this musical! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Not all shows are winners - even when they're an RnH property. Hot off the success of Oklahoma, Karen takes us on a deep dive of why this one maybe missed the mark. Domestic abuse? Angels? Fish fry? Find out why this classic didn't quite rise to the occasion.

We take on a heavy hitter (maybe)? Lauren does a deep dive of a show neither of us will ever do: High School Musical: The Musical! Find out why neither Karen nor Lauren likes this musical, why we think the real villains are Troy and Gabriella. And we answer, who the f*ck is Jack Scott? Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

We answer another listener email and talk all things Broadway versus Touring productions, building characters, and why we should have Emily on the pod! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Maybe Happy Ending, take 2! After a slight recording mishap, we're back and Lauren takes us on a deep dive of this Tony winning show. We go down a lot of tangents, talk about fireflies (lightening bugs), and what it means to give something up to hold on to it. Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Buckle up - this is a weird one... Karen skims the surface of this classic musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! How can you make a musical about kidnapping seem romantic? You can't! But damn if those ABC brothers weren't great dancers! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Lauren went to NYC! We continue our summer of theatre abroad and Lauren tells tales of her recent visit to the big apple. Find out why she almost fought an usher and why she loves a mop! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Lauren is back this week and we tackle a fan request: Promises, Promises! Find out why Karen accurately predicted Lauren wouldn't like this show and why it reminds us so much of How to Succeed, but without the wink to the audience. Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

We revisit The Comedy About Spies more in depth this week! It hits all the spy troupes and it's funny! But also the twists! Double crosses! Triple crosses! Here's hoping it comes to Broadway. @downstageleftpc

Logann returns and brings with her a new fanfiction - is it the worst one yet? How fast did Karen's soul leave her body? It's that bad. @downstageleftpc

This week we welcome friend of the pod, Logann, to chat all things Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Is Joseph a good dude? Were his brothers right to throw him down a well? Does this musical/biblical story teach us anything? Let us know! @downstageleftpc

This week Karen is joined by students as they discuss a very youth-oriented show, Dear Evan Hansen. No one is a fan! Find out why they think it's cringe and share your theories on why they did Ben Platt so dirty in the movie. Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

This week Lauren takes us through Young Frankenstein - a musical she finds... meh. When is a show too raunchy? Lauren questions if she's becoming a prude and we talk about why this movie would be better off still just a movie. Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Karen left the country! And came back! We talk Karen's travels to London (with a brief layover in NYC) and the FIVE shows she saw. Why do Asians love Phantom of the Opera? Does Jamie Lloyd only know screens and black underwear? Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

The Tony Awards - Broadways biggest night! But like all award shows - winners are sometimes subjective. Lauren and Karen discuss when the Tonys have gotten it right and when they've been oh so wrong. It really does matter what you're up against... Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

We return to the episode lost when Karen got sick! Lauren takes us on a deep dive of Fun Home! Karen revisits her K College roots, we discuss supermanning, and Lauren cries! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Notice us Jennifer Simard! This week we deep dive Sister Act - and we tangent like crazy. So if you like nuns, dislike gingers, and love a tangent (Grease!) this episode is for you! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

We're into plays right now! Lauren does a deep dive into the magical world of Harry Potter - on stage! Why this show actually needs the 5.5 hour run time and the practical magic of it all!⁠ ⁠ Note: while this podcast digs HP and the Wizarding World, we do not condone, support, or even like JK Rowling even a little. She can take her hate filled agenda and go f*ck herself. Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Sheeee's baaaack! We figured out how to get Lauren back in the studio (by bringing the studio to her!) but didn't figure out sound until a little ways into recording. Fresh off Karen's trip to NYC - we talk about the play John Proctor is the Villain and why this show is pretty perfect. Karen cried! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

This week it's a new host, a new show, and more! Natalie sits in for Lauren as Karen deep dives into her trip to New York and we talk all things Death Becomes Her (notice us Jennifer Simard)! A good movie to stage adaptation that keeps the hilarity from the movie but does it's own thing. Oh, and Karen got Sutton Foster'd.. again. That was rude. That was very f*cking rude.

This week Karen combines her two loves: musical theatre and... MAGIC! And behold, Pippin! She goes over the 4 things Lauren knows about the show and then deep dives this Schwartz classic. Before Wicked... there was Pippin! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Happy Wednesday everyone! Today Lauren takes us on a deep dive of Kimberly Akimbo and essentially spends an hour gushing about why she loves it so much. Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Today Karen takes us on a deep dive of Matilda the Musical! Also... are we starting a Nancy Drew podcast? Either way, we call dibs on the rights for a Nancy Drew musical! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Today Lauren takes us on a deep dive of SIX - a show with all of her favorite things (parts for women! a short run time! all girl band!) while Karen fills in the historical fun facts! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Willkommen! Today we finally get to utilize our German language skills and chat about symbolism, night clubs, and Nazis as we break down Cabaret! Continuing our quest for Eva Noblezada to notice us! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

I hope you're ready for what we have in store for you today; Lauren was so excited to be back on the pod that she thought it was appropriate to terrorize Karen with another fan-fiction!!! Enjoy! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Lauren is BACK! After a months long hiatus she returns! It's been a minute, but Karen takes us on a new quest: Notice us Eva Noblezada! Today we chat (more greek mythology) the musical Hadestown! Do we make it out of this episode? Did you? Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Lauren is still out and Karen and the youths discuss The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical! And, classic American president, Grover Cleveland and his scandalous marriage! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

Another week without Lauren, but not to worry, the youths are here to replace her as younger versions (has Lauren aged out?). We talk Steel Magnolias, a show they were all in, and discuss what it's like to have a breeze of a show run. Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com

We're back everyone! Thank you for your patience... this winter has hit us extra hard. So. Many. Things! Filling in for Lauren (who had car troubles, but lives) is Natalie! Karen deep dives a newer (but almost 20 years old) musical - Legally Blonde! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc [email protected] downstageleftpodcast.com