follies

Adam Robert Lewis sits down (virtually) with Welsh actress and national treasure, Di Botcher. In this episode, Di talks frankly about her incredible career and life on and off screen.

From Port Talbot, Di was a member of West Glamorgan Youth Theatre. After drama school Di gained her Equity card in the 1980s and has worked as an actress ever since, appearing on the West End stage as well as many landmark productions from the National Theatre and The Royal Shakespeare Company. 

From Shakespeare to Little Britain, Di has shown the world that she is versatile, hilariously funny and easily becomes extended family to her audience.

Di has played many beloved characters on screen such as Vanessa in Belonging, Auntie Brenda in Stella and currently plays   Jan Jennings in Casualty as well as appearing in cult classic Twin Town, Downton Abbey and Sherlock.

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Whether it's good times or bum times it's still fun to sit around and talk about this song that can often steal the show. I'm Still Here is a song that's been covered by dozens of artists, but how does it work in the show Follies? Alex Stuive joins Kyle to explain the references and how the music in addition to the lyrics makes this one of Sondheim's best.

Follow Alex on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexStuive
Commission Alex by emailing him at: ajstuive@gmail.com

An example of Milton Babbitt. This is his Three Compositions: https://youtu.be/_wmvX_RVvjk

You Must Remember This is a podcast hosted by Karina Longworth. Here's the episode about Yvonne De Carlo: http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/episodes/2018/11/12/yvonne-de-carlo-the-seduced-episode-5

Can That Boy Foxtrot! - a cut song from Follies: https://youtu.be/IMMYBcRLA8c

Brother Can You Spare a Dime? - An example of Yip Harburg's lyrics. Sung by Bing Crosby: https://youtu.be/0I8-CbJYGMA

Pick Yourself Up - An example of Dorothy Fields's lyrics. Sung by Ginger Rogers: https://youtu.be/AGUsRGuZb6k

Stormy Weather - An example of Harold Arlen's music. (Sondheim's second favourite composer.) Sung by Lena Horne: https://youtu.be/TPgnj5upihQ

A radio episode of Amos 'n' Andy from 1944: https://youtu.be/y45KLiINuC8

A radio episode of Major Bowes' Amateur Hour from 1939: https://youtu.be/bUzt0ofscjQ

Eartha Kitt singing I'm Still Here at the Olivier Awards: https://youtu.be/j3RQwTNgplY

Barbra Streisand singing I'm Still Here: https://youtu.be/MrxOIeySlqQ

The I'm Still Here scene from the movie Postcards From the Edge: https://youtu.be/g_bbF4K90HA

Elaine Stritch talking about and then singing I'm Still Here: https://youtu.be/--u0kxITaBU

You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat, by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo

We are using three productions to frame our discussion of Follies.

The original Broadway cast starring Alexis Smith, John McMartin, Dorothy Collins, Gene Nelson, and Yvonne De Carlo (1971)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2xj4Pi7

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/33zmfDm

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WwbksB

The original West End cast starring Diana Rigg, Daniel Massey, Julia McKenzie, David Healy, and Dolores Gray (1987)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: Not available unfortunately.

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Un7RKl

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2wqrTvs

The London revival starring Peter Forbes, Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast, and Tracie Bennett (2017)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2Qz2Pt2

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Unetbu

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UplKrd

Our sponsor this week are:

1. Alberta Podcast Network - https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com - The Network promotes and supports Alberta-made podcasts, and connects their audiences with Alberta-based businesses and organizations.
   The podcast featured this week was Kyle and Dave vs The Machine - https://kdvstm.transistor.fm - A podcast where a sentient machine forces Kyle and Dave to watch films in order to prevent the apocalypse.
2. ATB Goodness Grows - atb.com/covid-19/community - an initiative that motivates Albertans to bring joyful moments to others.

Send feedback to puttingittogetherpodcast@gmail.com

Putting It Together is a proud member of The Alberta Podcast Network: Locally grown. Community supported. Here's their link again: https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com

Recorded by Media Lab YYC. Media Lab is a production company. They help you tell your story. They do this by assisting in the creation of videos and podcasts. Find more information at: http://medialabyyc.com

Keep up to date with Putting It Together by following its social media channels.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/puttingittogetherpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sondheimpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sondheimpodcast

It's Sally's turn to lie about herself. Christine Chen returns to discuss where Sally's headspace is currently at in the show and whether she was ever happy with Buddy.

Christine's Blog: https://acrossthearch.wordpress.com
Christine's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AcrossTheArch

Christine's podcast, Bottomless Broadway: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bottomless-broadway/id1457465060

You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat, by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo

We are using three productions to frame our discussion of Follies.

The original Broadway cast starring Alexis Smith, John McMartin, Dorothy Collins, Gene Nelson, and Yvonne De Carlo (1971)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2xj4Pi7

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/33zmfDm

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WwbksB

The original West End cast starring Diana Rigg, Daniel Massey, Julia McKenzie, David Healy, and Dolores Gray (1987)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: Not available unfortunately.

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Un7RKl

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2wqrTvs

The London revival starring Peter Forbes, Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast, and Tracie Bennett (2017)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2Qz2Pt2

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Unetbu

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UplKrd

Our sponsor this week are:

1. World on Fire - https://cbc.ca/worldonfire -  University of Alberta fire guy Mike Flannigan and the CBC’s Adrienne Lamb talk with the people studying, fighting and living wildfires in places like Australia, California and Canada.
2. Alberta Podcast Network - https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com - The Network promotes and supports Alberta-made podcasts, and connects their audiences with Alberta-based businesses and organizations.
   The podcast featured this week was That's a Thing?! - https://thatsathing.transistor.fm - A sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20..

Send feedback to puttingittogetherpodcast@gmail.com

Putting It Together is a proud member of The Alberta Podcast Network: Locally grown. Community supported. Here's their link again: https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com

Recorded by Media Lab YYC. Media Lab is a production company. They help you tell your story. They do this by assisting in the creation of videos and podcasts. Find more information at: http://medialabyyc.com

Keep up to date with Putting It Together by following its social media channels.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/puttingittogetherpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sondheimpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sondheimpodcast

Country House is a song that was written specifically for the 1987 London version of Follies. Does it add to the show? Or is it simply an interesting curiosity? Adrianna Boris returns to help Kyle decide.

If you want to learn more about Cincinnati Music Theatre you can go here: http://cincinnatimusictheatre.org

You can follow Adrianna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrswillshakes/
Or Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrswillshakes/

The Julie Andrews and Stephen Collins version of Country House: https://youtu.be/QTbTNwkcIoQ

You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat, by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo

We are using three productions to frame our discussion of Follies.

The original Broadway cast starring Alexis Smith, John McMartin, Dorothy Collins, Gene Nelson, and Yvonne De Carlo (1971)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2xj4Pi7

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/33zmfDm

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WwbksB

The original West End cast starring Diana Rigg, Daniel Massey, Julia McKenzie, David Healy, and Dolores Gray (1987)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: Not available unfortunately.

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Un7RKl

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2wqrTvs

The London revival starring Peter Forbes, Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast, and Tracie Bennett (2017)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2Qz2Pt2

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Unetbu

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UplKrd

Our sponsor this week are:

1. Storylines  - https://www.wifta.ca - Storylines highlights some of our province’s most successful women in film and television, both behind the camera and in front of it.
2. Alberta Podcast Network - https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com - The Network promotes and supports Alberta-made podcasts, and connects their audiences with Alberta-based businesses and organizations.
   The podcast featured this week was Kyle and Dave vs The Machine - https://kdvstm.transistor.fm - A podcast where a sentient machine forces Kyle and Dave to watch films in order to prevent the apocalypse.

Send feedback to puttingittogetherpodcast@gmail.com

Putting It Together is a proud member of The Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. Here's their link again: https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com

Recorded by Media Lab YYC. Media Lab is a production company. They help you tell your story. They do this by assisting in the creation of videos and podcasts. Find more information at: http://medialabyyc.com

Keep up to date with Putting It Together by following its social media channels.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/puttingittogetherpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sondheimpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sondheimpodcast

Ben must confront the decisions he's made, but is he being truthful? Anna Hulkower and Tim Kov (hosts of My Little Tonys) return to the show to unpack the subtext of this song and delight in the Sondheim wordplay.

You can listen to My Little Tonys here: https://www.mylittletonyspodcast.com
You can also follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mylittletonys
Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mylittletonys/

Check out Tim's workshops by send a DM to his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_male_gaze/

Mandy Patinkin singing The Road You Didn't Take: https://youtu.be/bvHplu1PulY

A Carrie and Mr. Big scene from season 2 of Sex and the City: https://youtu.be/kkT1nAV_CYo

John McMartin singing this song at Sondheim 80th Birthday: https://youtu.be/luydh4zUry4

You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat, by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo

We are using three productions to frame our discussion of Follies.

The original Broadway cast starring Alexis Smith, John McMartin, Dorothy Collins, Gene Nelson, and Yvonne De Carlo (1971)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2xj4Pi7

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/33zmfDm

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WwbksB

The original West End cast starring Diana Rigg, Daniel Massey, Julia McKenzie, David Healy, and Dolores Gray (1987)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: Not available unfortunately.

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Un7RKl

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2wqrTvs

The London revival starring Peter Forbes, Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast, and Tracie Bennett (2017)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2Qz2Pt2

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Unetbu

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UplKrd

Our sponsor this week are:

1. World on Fire - https://cbc.ca/worldonfire -  University of Alberta fire guy Mike Flannigan and the CBC’s Adrienne Lamb talk with the people studying, fighting and living wildfires in places like Australia, California and Canada.
2. Pod Power - APN's new partner program where our advertising partners can donate their ad spots to amplify independent, nonprofit, and community podcasters.
   This week we highlighted Overdue Finds - https://www.epl.ca/podcast/ - Bryce Crittenden and Caroline Land host conversations about books, movies, music, pop culture and other great things happening in Edmonton. 

Send feedback to puttingittogetherpodcast@gmail.com

Putting It Together is a proud member of The Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. Here's their link again: https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com

Recorded by Media Lab YYC. Media Lab is a production company. They help you tell your story. They do this by assisting in the creation of videos and podcasts. Find more information at: http://medialabyyc.com

Keep up to date with Putting It Together by following its social media channels.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/puttingittogetherpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sondheimpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sondheimpodcast

Couples kissing, French women reminiscing, and Broadway dames schlepping. Jonathan Chisolm returns to discuss a triplet of songs that showcase Sondheim's mastery of pastiche.

The petition from Camille A. Brown: https://www.weseeyouwat.com

Jonathan's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Grune123

Instagram: @jschisolm22

Twitter: @jschisolm22

Facebook: @jschisolm22

Tiny Tim singing Tiptoe Through the Tulips: https://youtu.be/zcSlcNfThUA

Hugh Grant's performance of Rain on the Roof from Paddington 2: https://youtu.be/reyeX6ajeUw

I've a Shooting Box in Scotland as sung by Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire: https://youtu.be/dglL1gSabjc

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries as sung by Rudy Vallee: https://youtu.be/mc6RS9e3Dhw

You can purchase Stephen Sondheim's first book of lyrics, Finishing the Hat, by going here: https://amzn.to/2LB9ZJo

We are using three productions to frame our discussion of Follies.

The original Broadway cast starring Alexis Smith, John McMartin, Dorothy Collins, Gene Nelson, and Yvonne De Carlo (1971)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2xj4Pi7

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/33zmfDm

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WwbksB

The original West End cast starring Diana Rigg, Daniel Massey, Julia McKenzie, David Healy, and Dolores Gray (1987)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: Not available unfortunately.

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Un7RKl

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2wqrTvs

The London revival starring Peter Forbes, Imelda Staunton, Janie Dee, Philip Quast, and Tracie Bennett (2017)

You can listen to it on Apple Music: https://apple.co/2Qz2Pt2

Or listen to it on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Unetbu

Or buy it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UplKrd

Our sponsor this week are:

1. Park Power - https://parkpower.ca -  Choose a local provider that shares it profits with awesome local non-profits.
2. The Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. - https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com - The Alberta Podcast Network promotes and supports Alberta-made podcasts, and connects their audiences with Alberta-based businesses and organizations.
   The podcast featured this week was Read-Along - http://readalongpod.blogspot.com - Taking you on a journey through a good book, one chapter at a time.

Send feedback to puttingittogetherpodcast@gmail.com

Putting It Together is a proud member of The Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. Here's their link again: https://www.albertapodcastnetwork.com

Recorded by Media Lab YYC. Media Lab is a production company. They help you tell your story. They do this by assisting in the creation of videos and podcasts. Find more information at: http://medialabyyc.com

Keep up to date with Putting It Together by following its social media channels.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/puttingittogetherpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sondheimpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sondheimpodcast

Continuing our celebration of his 90th birthday, we delve into the later work of Stephen Sondheim—composer-lyricist of some of the most well-regarded and inventive musical theatre ever made.

To mark his 90th birthday, we delve into the work of Stephen Sondheim—composer-lyricist of some of the most well-regarded and inventive musical theatre ever made.

We pay tribute to the legendary Broadway producer-director Hal Prince who has died at the age of 91 after a long career that broke records and rules. His Broadway directing credits include Cabaret, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera and six productions with Stephen Sondheim. We talk about Hal Prince's extraordinary impact on Broadway with arts administrator and writer Howard Sherman and Sonya Suares, artistic director of theatre company Watch This.