'Ragtime' Music and Stagecraft | The BSB Podcast

Exclusive Interview: Duncan McRae and Jeff Pitts of 'They Will Kill You'

They Will Kill You is the kind of horror-action film that kicks down the door, splashes blood across the walls, and dares you not to have fun. Director Kirill Sokolov's vision is crystal clear, as audiences follow Asia Reaves, a former convict who takes a housekeeping job in a creepy New York apartment building. However, it isn't long until she discovers that its residents are hiding a deadly secret.  The film thrives on its chaotic energy, blending outrageous violence with sharp humor and a fast-moving plot. And perhaps, most importantly, a certain kind of sound... We had a chance to sit down with two of the sound geniuses from Formosa Group, who worked on They Will Kill You, Duncan McRae (re-recording mixer) and Jeff Pitts (supervising sound editor)! In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, McRae and Pitts discuss the art of sound design and what it took to bring this particular project to life. Using genres such as anime and 1970s Kung Fu films, these explore how sound not only delivers a narrative but also becomes an integral part of the story. Which scenes and elements proved to be a particularly difficult aspect of They Will Kill You? And just what is it about the film that drew these two in right away? Check out this exciting interview to learn all these answers and more! Find the video of this podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BoxSeatBabes] For more entertainment coverage, visit BSB Insider [https://www.bsbinsider.com/] Follow us on social media @bsb.insider or check out our Linktree [https://linktr.ee/bsb.insider]!

Exclusive Interview: Milika Cheree and Stephanie Wahl of Meadow Brook Theatre's 'Always a Bridesmaid'

There are friendships, there are wedding parties, and then there are the women of Always a Bridesmaid, a group so committed to their friendship that they seem permanently trapped in a cycle of bouquets, bridesmaid dresses, and wedding cake. This show from Jones Hope Wooten proves that while fashions change, hairstyles evolve, and romantic relationships come and go, true friends will always be there to stand beside you at the altar, whether you like it or not. Always a Bridesmaid recently arrived at Meadow Brook Theatre, and we had the absolute pleasure of chatting with two of the cast members from this show, Milika Cheree and Stephanie Wahl! In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Stephanie Wahl and Milika Cheree discuss what it's like to return to Meadow Brook Theater for the closing show of this current season! As a straight show brimming with comedy, these two talk about what it's like switching it up from a musical to being on stage with a stellar cast of women. What has been the best part of being a part of this production? Give this interview a listen to find out! Find the video of this podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BoxSeatBabes] For more entertainment coverage, visit BSB Insider [https://www.bsbinsider.com/] Follow us on social media @bsb.insider or check out our Linktree [https://linktr.ee/bsb.insider]!

'Chess' Music and Stagecraft | The BSB Podcast

If musical theatre is a game of strategy, then Chess is the intermezzo move. It is the rare musical whose score is so dazzling that it has survived productions that often struggled to match its energy. While directors, producers, and dramaturgs have spent decades trying to solve this puzzle, the music itself has never been the problem. From its thunderous opening chords to its soaring power ballads, the score combines pop sophistication with theatrical sweep in a way few musicals have managed before or since. Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA fame, with lyrics by Tim Rice, Chess sounds as though the arena concert and the Broadway stage had been locked in a room together and somehow emerged as equals.  In this episode of the BSB Podcasts, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko discuss the music and score, along with the set, of this recent Broadway revival. Staged as a concert in many ways, with the band right there on stage with the actors, how does this most recent staging of Chess work for the show? Which songs were standouts, and what performances fell a little flat? And perhaps most importantly, is Chess a checkmate? There's so much to talk about this Tony-nominated musical, so join us as we finish our conversation about this Broadway show! Find the video of this podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BoxSeatBabes] For more entertainment coverage, visit BSB Insider [https://www.bsbinsider.com/] Follow us on social media @bsb.insider or check out our Linktree [https://linktr.ee/bsb.insider]!

'Chess' Story and Characters | The BSB Podcast

Few musicals have enjoyed a reputation as gloriously complicated as Chess. For decades, it has occupied a peculiar place in Broadway lore: too beloved to be forgotten, too messy to be universally embraced. Its long-awaited Broadway revival finally gives audiences another chance to witness a show that has spent nearly forty years trying to win a match against its own reputation. Set amid the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War, Chess transforms an international chess tournament into a battlefield of egos, ideologies, and romantic entanglements. In lesser hands, a musical about competitive chess might sound about as exciting as watching paint dry on a Soviet apartment block. And yet, there's something special happening eight times a week at the Imperial Theatre. The stage, or chessboard, is set, and this Broadway show is ready to check the king! In this episode of the BSB Podcast, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko talk about the story and characters of Chess, which is a feat unto itself. With the show being more of a staged musical concert, how does the story translate to this latest revival? When a Queen is stuck between two impossible Kings, who will come out on top? And when it comes to love, does anyone truly win? You'll have to give this episode a listen to find out all those answers and more! Find the video of this podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BoxSeatBabes] For more entertainment coverage, visit BSB Insider [https://www.bsbinsider.com/] Follow us on social media @bsb.insider or check out our Linktree [https://linktr.ee/bsb.insider]!

Exclusive Interview: Adam Wager & Celeste Blanch of Avon Players' 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder'

A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder proves that murder can be surprisingly charming when wrapped in wit, elegance, and a perfectly tailored Edwardian suit. The musical follows Monty Navarro, an ambitious young man who discovers he is ninth in line to a noble title and decides that waiting for fate to do its work is simply inefficient. What follows is a delightfully absurd parade of accidents, disguises, and increasingly creative murders as Monty works his way up the family tree. We had the pleasure of speaking with the fast-talking Monty, or at least the actor behind him, Adam Wager, and fellow cast member, Celeste Blanch, about their time in this Avon Players production! In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Wager and Blanch talk about what drew them to A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder at Avon Players! How is this local Michigan playhouse bringing the world of Monty Navarro to life on stage? How has this show challenged these actors, and what is their favorite song from the production? Check out this interview to learn all these answers and more! Find the video of this podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BoxSeatBabes] For more entertainment coverage, visit BSB Insider [https://www.bsbinsider.com/] Follow us on social media @bsb.insider or check out our Linktree [https://linktr.ee/bsb.insider]!