Post-Tony Awards in the business…29 shows currently running on Broadway. The 15th Annual Jimmy Awards. Hercules coming to West End 2025. All that and more, let’s get down to business.

In this conversation, Darnelle and Mitch discuss the 15th annual Jimmy Awards, a high school level Tony Awards. They also talk about the reinterpretation of musicals, such as Cats and Company, and the value of learning the history of musical theater. 

They explore the idea of infusing different styles, like ballroom culture, into musicals and the importance of advancing the art form. They also touch on the challenges of updating classic musicals and the impact of gentrification on storytelling. 

The conversation covers various topics related to the arts, including the impact of remakes and new versions of movies, the significance of costume design in films, the erasure of certain actors in marketing campaigns, the challenges faced by artists in the theater industry, the importance of arts education, and the power of storytelling in theater. 

The hosts also discuss the closure of a college in Philadelphia and the implications for arts and culture in the city. They touch on the role of politics in funding for the arts and the need for a well-rounded education that includes the arts. The conversation concludes with a mention of the upcoming production of Disney's Hercules on the West End and the historical trend of shows starting in London before coming to Broadway.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Naming

03:32 The Talent and Level of Performance at the Jimmy Awards

07:44 Reinterpreting Musicals: Bringing New Life to Familiar Stories

13:03 Infusing Ballroom Culture into Musicals

16:11 Challenges of Updating Classic Musicals

24:18 The Impact of Remakes and New Versions of Movies

26:09 Challenges in the Theater Industry

29:17 The Importance of Arts Education

32:28 The Closure of a College and its Implications

35:09 The Role of Politics in Arts Funding

37:25 The Need for a Well-Rounded Education

46:37 The West End as a Tryout Venue for Broadway Shows

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