PODCAST · arts
Monkeys and Playbills
by The Village Conservatory
Hosts Paul De Gurse and Jillian Willems take a look at Broadway shows that had 100 performances or fewer before closing.
Episodes
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Almost Famous
Grow out your hair, open those collared shirts, and burn them bras, ladies: we’re going back to the 1970s with Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous! Adapted from the 2000 movie of the same name, this adaptation features book and lyrics by Crowe with music by Tom Kitt. Paul and Jill squeeze into their…
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Lempicka
We’re back, baby! Join Paul and Jill for a scholarly study of 2024’s Lempicka, starring Eden Espinosa as the titular painter. Not to paint this show with a broad brush, but Paul and Jill found it a bit sketchy. Why were there Suicide Squad-esque place subtitles? Can there be two musicals about...
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Cats (2019)
Everyone's favourite musical theatre nerds are coming to you live and in-person! Join us for a saucy late-night show where we dive in to one of musical theatre’s greatest embarrassments: 2019's Cats, in all its human-fingered/CGI/Jason Derulo glory. We got MERCH y’all! Visit Spring to check out…
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Bad Cinderella with Nelson Bettencourt
Hear ye, hear ye! You’re invited to a royal ball - and we hear it’s “Bad.” It’s Bad Cinderella, y’all! Paul, Jill, and returning guest Nelson Bettencourt huddle in the town square, wondering: didn’t this composer do some better stuff first? Is one “bad” for having internalized misogyny? And why...
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The Wild Party with Peter Fernandes
This week, we’re inviting very special guest Peter Fernandes to a Wild Party! Michael John LaChiusa’s Wild Party, to be specific. Paul, Jill, and Peter huddle in the corner, whispering furtively: did you hear what Mandy Patinkin did? What ever happened to that bright Australian upstart who played...
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TRAILER: Tales of the Great Transfiguration
From award-winning writer Ben Townsley, Tales of the Great Transfiguration explores an event that swept through the city of Providence, RI, transforming people into anything and everything. An expectant father transformed into a silverback gorilla. A husband erupted into 45 million dollars in…
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Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Paul, Jill, and our live audience of dedicated Playbills are swinging through the streets of New York City with our first-ever live episode! We’re sharpening our Spidey senses for a look at 2011’s “Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark”. Paul, Jill, and our rogues gallery demand answers! Why is there...
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Merrily We Roll Along
Welcome to the show (ba ba-da da)! We’re travelling backwards in time with 1981’s Merrily We Roll Along, with music by up-and-coming Broadway nobody Stephen Sondheim. Paul and Jill provide important answers, followed by questions such as: where does one get a sweatshirt showing their narrative...
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Closed but No Cigar: Phantom, Beetlejuice, and 1776
We’re exploring three shows bidding adieu to the Great White Way: Beetlejuice, Phantom of the Opera, and 1776! It’s the ghost with the most, the phantom with the fandom, and… the lesser-known founding fathers musical. Paul, Jill, and Daph ask deep, though-provoking questions such as: is it easy…
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The Threepenny Opera with Debbie Patterson
We’re travelling way, way, WAY back in time to the 1930s with Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera! This week, we’re joined by Sick + Twisted Theatre’s Debbie Patterson, to talk all things Verfremdungseffekt. Paul, Jill, and Debbie puzzle over such questions as: why does Brecht…
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The Rocky Horror Show with Breton Lalama
It’s astounding… time is fleeting… madness has taken control of Monkeys and Playbills! We are joined live in the living room by Breton Lalama (@bretonlikethecrackers) to discuss 1975’s “The Rocky Horror Show!” This occult classic has Jill! Paul! Breton! Dr Scott! asking… who was your sexual...
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The Story of My Life
It’s 2008. The height of the iPod. Hoodies have that weird flap thing in front. Paul makes Daphne include a bit about how The Dark Knight came out this year and that was great. And also, a little two-hander on Broadway makes a tiny splash: this week, we’re talking about Bartram and Hill’s “The...
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Trailer: It Takes Two
Welcome to It Takes Two! On this podcast, we pair five emerging artists with five professional mentors to work together on an informal mentorship process. Over four weeks, pairs will develop and create a performance piece as well as record an interview together to talk about their process.
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Funny Girl
Who are we now? This week, we’re bending the rules just a bit to talk about a very special under-100 performance: the great Beanie Feldstein-Julie Benko-Lea Michele upset of 2022. It’s time to take a look at Funny Girl! Paul, Jill, and Daph examine the drama with opera glasses to ask: whatever...
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Taboo with Tatiana Carnevale
It’s the 80s. Hair is big. Suits are shoulder-padded. And Boy George is running around screwing with all your preconceived notions of gender. Join Paul, Jill, and special guest Tatiana Carnevale as we explore 2004’s Taboo! While head-bobbing to techno, our intrepid hosts find themselves…
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Revive or Die #4
Call us the Necronomicon, because we’re back with another instalment of Revive or Die! This week, Paul and Jill let Producer Daph talk enough to join them in visiting three forgotten musicals of yesteryear: 70, Girls, 70; Home Sweet Homer; and Rockabye Hamlet. Together, these intrepid…
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Diana with Raffie Rosenberg
We’ve got a royal scandal on our hands this week, folks: featuring NYC and Winnipeg’s own Raffie Rosenberg! This princess production was directed by Christopher Ashley with music and lyrics by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro. You know, that guy from Bon Jovi and Memphis. Paul, Jill, and Raffie hold...
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Nick & Nora
Paul and Jill don their fedoras and trenchcoats for a look at 1940s - what? Really? Okay, 1991’s Nick & Nora! This salute to the fast-talking dames and lads of mid-century private detecting was directed by Arthur Laurents (welcome back!) with music by Charles Strouse (welcome back Chuck!) Paul…
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Annie
New year, same us! Paul and Jill gather with aching heads and full hearts to discuss ol’ buddy ol’ pal of the podcast Charles Strouse. The clock is ticking and we have only half an hour to take on Annie: the original plucky young orphan with a heart of gold and infectious optimism. Like, maybe…
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Wonderland with Ali Fulmyk
Paul, Jill, and special guest Ali Fulmyk are heading down the rabbit hole in this week’s look at 2011’s Wonderland! This Christmas Carroll - no? wrong thing? oh well - was directed by Gregory Boyd with music by recurring composer, Frank Wildhorn. Oh, Frankie, we gotta stop meeting like this.…
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Revive or Die #3 with Nelson Bettencourt
Paul and Jill are joined by dear, very real Friend of the Podcast Nelson Bettencourt! Together, they flip through the history books and discover three forgotten musicals from yesteryear: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Hurry, Harry, and Working. Paul, Jill, and Nelson scratch their heads and ponder: does...
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Anyone Can Whistle
We’re heading back to the swinging sixties with this week’s episode: Anyone Can Whistle! (Well, except maybe Fay Apple). Paul and Jill take a look at this oddly titled bomb from some guy no one’s ever heard of, Stephen Sond-heem. Soundheim? Fun Home? Eh, he’ll probably never make it. With the OBC...
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Carrie with Daphne Finlayson
We have a special guest on this week’s episode: the melodious voice, the producer with the mostest, it’s Producer Daph! Who writes the copy for all our episodes! And feels very weird about referring to herself in the third person! Paul, Jill, and Daph are each other’s dates to the prom in this…
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Ghost
We’re resurrecting the podcast with an all new season, starting with 2011’s Ghost! This spectre spectacular stars Caissie Levy and Richard Fleeshman as Demi and Patrick - we mean, Molly and Sam. The show was directed by Matthew Warchus with music by Dave Stewart, Glen Ballard, Bruce Joel Rubin…
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Season Two Announcement
We’re gonna bring the flavour AND show you how. Join us on October 13th for the start of Season Two! We’ve got guests. We’ve got episodes. Coming straight from our homes to your ear boxes!
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Bright Star
As part of our "Ones that Got Away" series, Paul and Jill head back in time - twice - with 2016’s Bright Star! This bluegrass blend of Broadway and banjo comes courtesy of Steve Martin (yeah, that Steve Martin) and Edie Brickell. The show was directed by Walter Bobbie and stars Paul’s new…
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Chess with Julie Lumsden
Paul, Jill, and Julie travel back in time to the height of the Cold War with 1988’s Chess! This first foray into musical theatre is brought to us by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA and Mamma Mia! fame. Bringing the show to life are Judy Kuhn and David Carroll with direction by Trevor...
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Escape to Margaritaville
Paul and Jill take a trip down ol’ Central America way for Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville! This jukebox, palm-frond basking joy ride stars Paul Nolan and Alison Luff, was directed by Christopher Ashley, and features music from the chief Parrothead himself. Paul and Jill mix themselves a...
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Tuck Everlasting with Katie German
Paul, Jill, and special guest Katie German migrate their way down to Treegap, New Hampshire for 2016’s Tuck Everlasting! Based on the novel of the same name, this musical retelling features music by Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen, was directed by Casey Nicholaw, and stars Sarah Charles Lewis as...
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Everyday Rapture
Paul and Jill travel to Topeka, Kansas for this half-Mennonite, all-Sherie Rene Scott musical: Everyday Rapture! This self-described semi-star takes the stage directed by Michael Mayer with music arrangements by Tom Kitt and book co-written with Dick Scanlan. Paul and Jill find themselves...
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Revive or Die #2
This episode of Monkeys and Playbills has everything. Our favourite sci-fi princess. A literal Greek chorus. An absurd amount of tailors. Burgess Meredith. Meta-musicals. And, of course, our first-ever episode with an actual monkey. (Ape. Gorilla. Whatever.) We’re back with another exciting…
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The Scottsboro Boys with Hal Wesley Rogers
Paul and Jill are joined this week by special guest Hal Wesley Rogers to take on 2010’s The Scottsboro Boys! This tour-de-force of real-life events was directed by Susan Stroman, with music by legendary team Kander and Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret). This troupe stars Winnipegger-turned-Broadway…
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The Pirate Queen
Pirates. Irish dancing. Queen Elizabeth I. Recorders. MOM?! This week, Paul and Jill examine the multi-million dollar flop that is Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s The Pirate Queen. This swashbuckling Irish epic stars Stephanie J. Block as Gráinne/Grace O'Malley, with music by the Les...
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Revive or Die
It’s a triple-bill this week on Monkeys and Playbills! We’re taking on three underperforming musicals from days gone by: Galt MacDermot’s Dude; Charles Strouse’s Bring Back Birdie; and Bud Freeman’s Beg, Borrow or Steal! (Is Producer Daphne really annoyed about the lack of an Oxford comma? Yes.…
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Disaster! with Stephanie Sy
Paul, Jill, and special guest Stephanie Sy take on 1970’s schlock and awe with 2016’s Disaster! (exclamation mark!) This send-up of seventies’ disaster movies was directed by Jack Plotnick, written by Seth Rudetsky, and starring anyone who’s ever been to the Tonys. Today’s trifecta of terrible...
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Bonnie and Clyde
Paul and Jill take on the rootin’, tootin’-est couple in history: Frank Wildhorn’s Bonnie and Clyde! This semi-historically accurate love story stars Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan as the titular star-crossed lovers, with direction by Jeff Calhoun and music by Frank Wildhorn. At gunpoint, Jill and...
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Leap of Faith
Join Paul and Jill on their leap into Alan Menken’s 2012 reimagining of the Steve Martin classic! This original revival features music by the Duke of Disney himself, Alan Menken, starring Raul Esparza and directed by Christopher Ashley. This week, Paul and Jill ask themselves: why did Alan Menken...
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Parade with Elliot Lazar: Act II
Did everyone enjoy their intermission? Get some wrapped candies? Hob-nob by the bar? Make after-show plans? Delightful. We’re back with Part II of our take on 1998’s Parade with special guest Elliot Lazar! You already know this from last week, but the show was directed by Hal Prince with music by...
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Parade with Elliot Lazar: Act I
Paul and Jill sit down with star of stage and other stage Elliot Lazar to discuss 1998’s Parade! This based-on-true-events tour de force was directed by theatre’s daddy Hal Prince with music by theatre wunderkind Jason Robert Brown and starring Canadian icon Brent Carver. Big questions for this...
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Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical!
Paul and Jill are heading to Whoville in this week’s exploration of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical! This television adaption of the 2006 musical was directed by Max Webster (stage) and Julia Knowles (film) with music by Mel Marvin and starring Glee’s Matthew Morrison as the titular triple-decker...
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Starmites with Ryan Segal
This week, we’re travelling to Innerspace with special guest Ryan Segal! This interstellar spectacle, this cosmic composition, this show about comic book characters in space, was written by Stuart Ross and Barry Keating, directed by Larry Carpenter, and stars Liz Larsen and Sharon McKnight. It’s...
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Big Fish
We’re gonna make like Burger King and get into a whopper with this week’s musical: Big Fish! (Are we allowed to say that? Don’t sue us.) Big Fish was directed by Susan Stroman, written by John August, music by Andrew Lippa, and starring Norbert Leo Butz. Big questions for Big Fish include: was…
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Side Show
Monkeys and Playbills heads to the circus in this week’s episode on Side Show: directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom and co-starring friend of the podcast, Alice Ripley. We ask the big questions about the big top, like why is this show such a sausage fest? Whatever happened to Robert...
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Lestat
Up next in our inaugural Halloween Spooktacular, we’re taking a look at 2006’s Lestat: directed by Robert Jess Roth; musical staging by Matt West; and with music by Elton John. Talking points for this episode include: was that a wig or real hair? Why are Jill’s cats so precocious? And how did no...
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American Psycho
This week, Paul and Jillian examine 2016's American Psycho: directed by Rupert Goold, choreographed by Lynne Page, and starring Benjamin Walker. Talking points for this episode include: when is it acceptable to do Thriller arms onstage? How much stage blood is too much stage blood? And how good…
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Amelie
Hello and welcome to the first-ever episode of Monkeys and Playbills: the show where hosts Paul De Gurse and Jillian Willems take a look at Broadway musicals that had fewer than 100 performances before closing. First up: 2017’s Amelie, directed by Pam McKinnon, musical staging and choreography by...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hosts Paul De Gurse and Jillian Willems take a look at Broadway shows that had 100 performances or fewer before closing.
HOSTED BY
The Village Conservatory
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Monkeys and Playbills have?
Monkeys and Playbills currently has 46 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Monkeys and Playbills about?
Hosts Paul De Gurse and Jillian Willems take a look at Broadway shows that had 100 performances or fewer before closing.
How often does Monkeys and Playbills release new episodes?
Monkeys and Playbills has 46 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Monkeys and Playbills?
You can listen to Monkeys and Playbills on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Monkeys and Playbills?
Monkeys and Playbills is created and hosted by The Village Conservatory.
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