MusicalSplaining is a podcast hosted by filmmaker Kaveh Taherian and writer Angelina Meehan. Each episode, the two hosts are introduced to a different musical and they discuss its plot, themes and production. The podcast was pitched as a show for both musical-lovers and musical-haters. Prior to 2022, the show was hosted by Taherian and Lindsay Ellis.
Overview The format of the show leaned into the divisive nature of musicals, with Ellis or Meehan assuming the role of a musicals fan and Taherian a theatre skeptic. The episodes covered a mixture of classic musicals like The Phantom of the Opera and The King and I, and newer musicals including Frozen and SpongeBob SquarePants.
Ellis and Taherian attended film school together at USC. Ellis stated that she chose Taherian as a co-host because he could balance his performative anger at musicals with a critical tone. The two hosts were sometimes joined by a guest host, which have included Hank Green and fellow YouTuber Jenny Nicholson.
Two months into the podcast, theatres in California shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with OnStage Blog, Ellis described how the hosts had originally planned to tour around the state to see musicals in theatres, but COVID-19 "totally wrecked" those plans. They have since relied on proshoots to watch and review each musical.
The podcast is available via Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, Nebula., and Podchaser.
On December 17, 2021, in "The Lion King" episode, it was announced that the show was going on an indefinite hiatus following Ellis's retirement from online content creation. The show returned on January 18, 2022 with an episode on the film Tick, Tick... Boom! with frequent guest and Ellis's former co-writer Angelina Meehan taking over as the podcast's new co-host.
On November 14, 2023, in the "Gypsy" episode, it was announced that the show would end by the end of the year. The show released the final episode on December 26, 2023.
Episodes Episode no.Musical discussedGuest hostOriginal podcast release date1CatsFebruary 4, 20202FrozenJenny NicholsonFebruary 18, 20203HadestownMarch 3, 20204BeetlejuiceMarch 17, 20205The Phantom of the OperaAngelina MeehanMarch 31, 20206SixMay 5, 20207RentMay 19, 20208The King and IJune 9, 20209American IdiotJune 23, 202010Love Never DiesAngelina MeehanJuly 14, 202011HamiltonHank GreenJuly 28, 202012SpongeBob SquarePantsAugust 19, 202013Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetAngelina MeehanSeptember 9, 202014Ratatouille the MusicalJanuary 5, 202115Moulin Rouge!Angelina MeehanJanuary 19, 202116Repo! The Genetic OperaFebruary 2, 202117The Sound of MusicFebruary 16, 202118The Wizard of OzAntonella InserraMarch 2, 202119O Brother, Where Art Thou?March 16, 202120Om Shanti OmSiddhant AdlakhaApril 20, 202121DescendantsJenny NicholsonMay 4, 202122Phantom of the ParadiseAngelina MeehanMay 18, 202123Willy Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryCharlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)June 1, 202124In the HeightsJune 15, 202125MoanaPrincess WeekesJune 29, 202126Singin' in the RainJuly 13, 202127The Greatest ShowmanJenny NicholsonAugust 3, 202128Muppet Treasure IslandAugust 17, 202129XanaduAugust 31, 202130Mamma Mia! (film)Mamma Mia! Here We Go AgainTodd in the ShadowsSeptember 14, 202131Little Shop of Horrors (musical)Elisa HansenOctober 5, 202132Truth of the Divine (special episode)Abigail ThornOctober 19, 202133WickedPrincess WeekesNovember 9, 202134ChicagoNovember 23, 202135The Lion KingAngelina MeehanDecember 17, 202136Tick, Tick... Boom!January 18, 202237Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatFebruary 1, 202238Into the WoodsFebruary 15, 202239Jekyll & HydeMarch 1, 202240West Side Story (1961 film)West Side Story (2021 film)March 15, 202241Rock of AgesMarch 29, 202242Jesus Christ SuperstarEmily St. JamesLindsay EllisApril 12, 202243Company (2006 revival)Sarah ZedApril 26, 202244All That JazzJosie AzzamMay 10, 202245AnnieMay 24, 202246HairsprayJune 7, 202247Waiting for GuffmanJune 21, 202248ElvisJuly 5, 202249Sunday in the Park with GeorgeJuly 19, 202250The Last Five YearsAugust 2, 202251The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)Lindsay EllisAugust 16, 202252Hair (1979 film)August 30, 202253Amadeus (1984 film)September 13, 202254My Fair Lady (1964 film)September 26, 202255Oklahoma! (2019 revival)October 11, 202256Hello, Dolly! (1969 film)October 25, 202257Mary Poppins (1964 film)November 8, 202258Across the UniverseNovember 22, 202259The Book of Mormon (musical)Hannah HillamDecember 6, 202260The Muppet Christmas CarolDecember 20, 202261Diana: The MusicalMarch 7, 202362Mean GirlsMarch 21, 202363Matilda the Musical (2022 film)April 4, 202364Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812Emily St. JamesApril 18, 202365Shrek The MusicalBig JoelMay 2, 202366Bad CinderellaPrincess WeekesMay 23, 202367Rocketman (2019 film)June 6, 202368Some Like It Hot (2022 musical)June 20, 202369Popstar: Never Stop Never StoppingJuly 18, 202370Cyrano (2021 film)August 1, 202371Fiddler on the Roof (1971 film)Austin WintoryAugust 15, 202372Les MisérablesLindsay EllisSeptember 5, 202373Cinderella (1997 film)Princess WeekesSeptember 19, 202374Aladdin (touring production)October 3, 202375South Park: Bigger, Longer & UncutSteven Ray MorrisOctober 17, 202376Newsies (2017 pro-shoot)October 31, 202377Gypsy (2015 revival)November 14, 202378Notre-Dame de ParisAmal El-MohtarNovember 28, 202379Hedwig and the Angry Inch (film)Lady EmilyDecember 12, 202380Cabaret (musical)Lindsay EllisDecember 26, 2023
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