The Magic of Disney on Broadway
Feb. 16: It's a big world after all for Disney Theatricals. This week, Playbill Radio goes around the world with Ron Kollen, Disney's answer to the Flying Dutchmen. It's his job to put Beauty and the Beast in Japan, The Lion King in South Africa, The Hunchback of Notre Dame in Germany and dozens of other productions in dozens of cities. He tells stories of how Disney has formed alliances with local talent for the translations, design and casting. We also get the inside story from two cast members of local productions in England and France who helped bring Disney's timeless stories to life in new lands.
"The Magic of Disney on Broadway" debuts at 7 PM ET Monday, February 16 with repeats scheduled for (all times ET) 3 PM Tuesday, February 17; 10 PM Friday, February 20; 2 PM Saturday, February 21.
Center Stage
Feb. 17: Rodgers and Hammerstein had so many memorable hits that its easy to forget their handful of short runs and near-misses. One of their least-known musicals was Allegro, written in 1947 between Carousel and South Pacific. Experimental in subject and form, Allegro now has a first-class all-star studio cast album featuring Audra McDonald, Norbert Leo Butz, Laura Benanti and this week's guest, Judy Kuhn. She and host Robert Viagas escort listeners through this landmark album that restores the innovative original fragmented structure of the score and the unison speaking chorus.
Each week's new "Center Stage" show debuts at 7 PM ET Tuesday, with repeats scheduled for (all times ET) 2 AM Wednesday, Feb. 18; 11 PM Wednesday, Feb. 18; 2 PM Thursday, Feb. 19; 11 AM Saturday, Feb. 21; 4 PM Sunday, Feb. 22.
Edited versions of the "Center Stage" programs are available as podcasts. Composer Spotlight
Feb. 19: Part two of our Composer Spotlight on the songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, taking them from The King and I and Me and Juliet, to Flower Drum Song and The Sound of Music.
Each week's "Composer Spotlight" debuts at 7 PM (ET) Thursday, with repeats scheduled for: (all times are ET) 2 AM Friday, Feb. 20; 11 PM Friday, Feb. 20; 10 PM Sunday, Feb. 22; 2 PM Monday, Feb. 23.
"Theater Talk" on Playbill Radio
Feb. 21: This week's "Theater Talk" features an interview with Garry Hynes and Marie Mullen, the director and star of The Cripple of Inishman, Martin McDonagh's funny, heart–wrenching comedy/drama about life in a small Irish village when it becomes the location for a Hollywood movie. Hynes, the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Director, and Mullen, a Tony-winning actress, also discuss their early years as struggling theatre artists in their native country of Ireland.
Each week's "Theater Talk" show debuts at 7 PM (ET) Saturday, with repeats scheduled for: (all times are ET) 11 PM Monday, Feb. 23; 2 PM Tuesday, Feb. 24.
This weekend's programming features Sutton Foster at 11 AM Saturday, Feb. 14 and 4 PM Sunday, Feb. 15; part one of a Rodgers & Hammerstein Tribute at 8 PM Sunday, Feb. 15 and 2 PM Monday, Feb. 16; and "Theater Talk" at 7 PM Saturday, Feb. 14, 11 PM Monday, Feb. 16 and 2 PM Tuesday, Feb. 17.
