Best Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow Podcasts (2024)

1
BONUS June Listener Mail Episode!!! 21:42

10h ago21:42

21:42

Marla & John read some listener mail and go off on several random tangents in this very special bonus episode!!!!By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Peg - "Look at Me, I'm Peggy Lee!" 57:40

12h ago57:40

57:40

John & Marla break down the unmitigated disaster that was the Peggy Lee musical. Music by Paul Horner Lyrics by Peggy Lee Book by Peggy Lee (originally by William Luce) Also featuring songs by Johnny Mercer, Joe McCoy, Richard Rodgers and Lieber & Stoller. Directed by Robert Drivas, replaced by Cy Coleman Starring Peggy Lee Opened on Broadway Decem…

1
Sail Away - "A Cruise to Nowhere" 1:10:49

1M ago1:10:49

1:10:49

Special Guest Host Connor McAndrews joins John to discuss this titanic Broadway flop! Music by Nöel Coward Lyrics by Nöel Coward Book by Nöel Coward Direction by Nöel Coward Poster Design by Nöel Coward Casting by Nöel Coward Re-casting by Nöel Coward Starring Elaine Stritch (and some other people). Opened on Broadway October 3, 1961…

1
Bring Back Birdie - "A Gloomy Middle Age" 1:07:16

2M ago1:07:16

1:07:16

John & Marla discuss the short-lived sequel to 'Bye Bye Birdie' in this tribute episode to the late Chita Rivera. Music by Charles Strouse. Lyrics by Lee Adams Book by Michael Stewart Directed, Choreographed (and Conceived!) by Joe Layton Starring Chita Rivera, Donald O'Connor, Maria Karnilova, Marcel Forestieri, Robin Morse, Evan Seplow, Jeb Brown…

1
Flora, The Red Menace - "Milk & Cookies for the Kids!" 1:05:20

4M ago1:05:20

1:05:20

Music by John Kander Lyrics by Fred Ebb Book by George Abbott & Robert Russell Opened on Broadway May 11, 1965By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Pickwick - "What the Dickens?" 1:06:03

6M ago1:06:03

1:06:03

Music by Cyril Orandel Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse Book by Wolf Mankowitz Opened on Broadway October 4, 1965By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Bonus Bitching Episode! 1:07:15

7M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

John & Marla read listener mail, ask each other flop trivia and generally bitch about the Sweeney Todd revival stunt casting.By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
The Woman In White - "Houseguest, Mouse Guest" 1:07:43

7M ago1:07:43

1:07:43

Guest host Connor McAndrews joins Marla AND John to discuss Andrew Lloyd Webber's spooky Victorian flop: THE WOMAN IN WHITE. Spooky Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber Spooky Lyrics by David Zippel Spooky Book by Charlotte Jones Spookily Directed by Trevor Nunn Starring Maria Friedman, Michael Ball, Jill Paice, Adam Brazier & Ron Bohmer. Opened on Broadwa…

1
Grind - "Bomb in a Butter Churn" 1:10:34

8M ago1:10:34

1:10:34

Guest host Connor McAndrews joins John to dissect this '80s flop: GRIND. Music by Larry Grossman Lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh Book by Fay Kanin Directed by Harold Prince Starring Ben Vereen, Leilani Jones, Stubby Kaye & Timothy Nolen. Opened on Broadway April 16, 1985By John Anker Bow with Connor McAndrews

1
I Had A Ball - Part 2 - "You're A Fraud, Freud" 53:15

9M ago53:15

53:15

Connor & John continue their exploration of I Had A Ball. Lots of song clips and more Buddy Hackett impressions. Enchanted Blissville in Old New Kissville.By John Anker Bow with Connor McAndrews

1
I Had A Ball - Part 1 - "Can It Be Possible?" 59:07

9M ago59:07

59:07

Music & Lyrics by Jack Lawrence & Stan Freeman Book by Jerome Chodorov Starring Buddy Hackett Opened on Broadway December 15, 1964By John Anker Bow with Connor McAndrews

1
Listener Mail Special!!! 41:20

10M ago41:20

41:20

Marla & John read listener mail in this very special episode of FLOP OF THE HEAP!!!By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Bad Cinderella - Part 2 - "Wacko Storybook Dumpster Fire" 51:36

10M ago51:36

51:36

Part 2 of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blind stab at teen pop realness.By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Bad Cinderella - Part 1 - "Bibbidi Bobbidi Basic" 1:04:13

10M ago1:04:13

1:04:13

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics by David Zippel Book by Emerald Fennell & Alexis Scheer Opened on Broadway March 23, 2023By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Dear World - Part 2 - "Take the Stitches Out" 56:32

11M ago56:32

56:32

Part 2 of Dear World with guest host Connor McAndrews! Get ready forrrr..... Criticalllll..... Receptionnnnn!!!By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Dear World - Part 1 - "Get Off That Critical List" 1:10:12

12M ago1:10:12

1:10:12

Music & Lyrics by Jerry Herman Book by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee Opened on Broadway February 6, 1969 Guest Host: Connor McAndrewsBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Very Warm For May - "Not So Hot For November" 51:14

1y ago51:14

51:14

Music by Jerome Kern Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Opened on Broadway November 17, 1939By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Starmites - "The Cruelty, Milady; Milady, the Cruelty" 56:04

1y ago56:04

56:04

Music & Lyrics by Barry Keating Book by Stuart Ross & Barry Keating Opened on Broadway April 27, 1989By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Diana- Episode 2- "Jolly Well Done" 35:38

1+ y ago35:38

35:38

By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Diana- Episode 1- "Better Than A Wank" 46:42

1+ y ago46:42

46:42

By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Mack and Mabel - Part 2 1:00:25

1+ y ago1:00:25

1:00:25

Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman Book by Michael Stewart Opened on Broadway October 6, 1974 at the Majestic.By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Mack and Mabel- Part 1 41:57

1+ y ago41:57

41:57

Music and Lyrics- Jerry Herman Book- Michael StewartBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Sherry - "A Lovely Liver's About To Die" 1:05:46

1+ y ago1:05:46

1:05:46

By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Breakfast At Tiffany's - "A Bucket Of Ribs, A Bottle Of Corn" 1:02:52

1+ y ago1:02:52

1:02:52

Breakfast at Tiffany's- 1966 - Majestic Theatre Music/Lyrics- Bob Merrill Book- Edward AlbeeBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Lysistrata Jones- "Give Up Givin' It Up!" 51:53

1+ y ago51:53

51:53

Lysistrata Jones- Walter Kerr- 2011 Music and Lyrics- Lewis Flinn Book- Douglas Carter BeaneBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Subways Are For Sleeping- "Wake up. Get Out. Go up. Cross over." 1:08:55

2y ago1:08:55

1:08:55

By Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Anyone Can Whistle- Part 2 52:31

2+ y ago52:31

52:31

Join John, Marla, and Special Guest, Connor McAndrews on our first Sondheim flop adventure. Find Connor on Insta @connormcandrews and @southphillybarefootcontessa Anyone Can Whistle- 1964- The Majestic Music and Lyrics- Stephen Sondheim Book- Arthur LaurentsBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Anyone Can Whistle- Part 1 47:39

2+ y ago47:39

47:39

Join John, Marla, and Special Guest, Connor McAndrews on our first Sondheim flop adventure. Find Connor on Insta @connormcandrews and @southphillybarefootcontessa Anyone Can Whistle- 1964- The Majestic Music and Lyrics- Stephen Sondheim Book- Arthur LaurentsBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Home Sweet Homer- Was He Guarding or Barding? 1:04:18

2+ y ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Home Sweet Homer- 1976- The Palace Theatre This one's a real Odyssey. Music- Mitch Leigh Lyrics- Charles Burr and Foreman Brown Book- Roland Kibbee and Albert MarreBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Smile - "Where the Hell is my Diaphragm?" 1:05:06

2+ y ago1:05:06

1:05:06

Join John and special guest Marc Tumminelli, as they discuss a pageant of a disaster. If Marla is your least favorite co-host of Flop of the Heap, this is the episode for you! Smile- Lunt- Fontanne- 1986 Book- Howard Ashman Music- Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics- Howard AshmanBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Dance of the Vampires- "I'll Show You Yours, If You Show Me Mine" 1:02:10

2+ y ago1:02:10

1:02:10

The Halloween Special No One Asked For. Dance of the Vampires- The Minskoff Theatre- 2002 Book- David Ives and Michael Kunze Lyrics- Jim Steinman and Don BlackBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Triumph of Love- "Hey Mona Justa Say Cheesa" 54:46

2+ y ago54:46

54:46

How could a musical with so many great actors fail so miserably? Triumph of Love- The Royal Theatre- 1998 Book- James Magruder Composer- Jeffrey Stock Lyrics- Susan BirkenheadBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Legs Diamond- "Let Me See Your Knockers" 1:10:30

3y ago1:10:30

1:10:30

We're serving up a legendary flop this week! What does a flamboyant Australian pop singer have in common with a ruthless New York mobster? Aside from having a pair of legs, probably not much. Legs Diamond- 1988- The Mark Hellinger Theatre Music and Lyrics- Peter Allen Book- Harvey FiersteinBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Raggedy Ann- "You're Sick, Sick, Sick" 1:05:49

3y ago1:05:49

1:05:49

Join us as we explore Raggedy Ann, not the beloved children's' doll, but the brutally panned musical featuring said beloved children's' doll... and lots of death. How did a show written by the man who brought us "C is for Cookie" get so very dark? Let's find out! Raggedy Ann- 1986- Nederlander Theatre Music and Lyrics- Joe Raposo Book- William Gibs…

1
The Rink- “An Emancipated Pain In My Ass” 1:06:58

3y ago1:06:58

1:06:58

Strap on your rollerskates, as we follow Chita Rivera, Liza Minelli, and Jason Alexander on this journey that looks much more like a brutal roller derby match, than a relaxing lap around the rink. The Rink- The Martin Beck Theatre- 1984 Music- John Kander Lyrics- Fred Ebb Book- Terrence McNally

1
Wildcat- “We’d Get the Spanish Flu” 1:03:44

3y ago1:03:44

1:03:44

John and Marla go West to search for Broadway Oil, and find only tar. Find out what made Lucille Ball’s only musical performance so “lame.” Shenanigans ensue. Wildcat- 1960 - Alvin Theatre Music- Cy Coleman Lyrics- Carolyn Leigh Book- N. Richard NashBy Marla Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Taboo- "Did You See the Size of That!?" 1:10:39

3y ago1:10:39

1:10:39

A very special pride episode! Heart on our sleeves, eye shadow in our creases, we take a trip to 1980s London, to meet Boy George and the Blitz Kids. Taboo- 2003- Plymouth Theatre Music and Lyrics- Boy George Book- Mark Davies Markham and Charles BuschBy Mark Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Via Galactica- "Shall We Friend" 1:03:00

3y ago1:03:00

1:03:00

Shall we friend? Shall we, friend? Shall we friend. Shall, we friend. Shall we friend! Shall, we, friend! Fan of Sci-fi? You won't be after this episode. Via Galactica- Uris Theatre- 1972 Music- Galt MacDermot Lyrics- Christopher Gore Book- Christopher Gore and Judith Ross

1
Tenderloin- "Reverend Brock Testifies!!!" 1:00:23

3y ago1:00:23

1:00:23

Tenderloin is on the menu, and it is a bit tough. If you are, both, pious and kick line-adverse, this is the show for you. Tenderloin- 1960- The Richard Rodgers Theatre Music- Jerry Brock Lyrics- Sheldon Harnick Book- George Abbott and Jerome WeidmanBy Mark Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Dance A Little Closer- "Headin' For Armageddon" 57:38

3y ago57:38

57:38

It's the end of the world as we know it!... for the cast and crew of this 1980s flop. Nuclear war has never been less interesting, and singing about it should help, but it doesn't. Take shelter, and give this one a listen. Dance A Little Closer- 1983- Minskoff Theatre Music- Charles Strouse Book and Lyrics- Alan Jay Lerner…

1
The Capeman- "Killer Wants To Go To College" 59:21

3+ y ago59:21

59:21

There's been a murder!... committed by all your favorite theatre critics. Can Paul Simon adeptly write a musical about a gang murder? Would Art have done better? Find out in this "Salsa Sunset Boulevard" of a musical. The Capeman- The Maquis- 1998 Music- Paul Simon Lyrics and Book- Paul Simon and Derek Walcott…

1
Urban Cowboy- "Mr. Striggity-Strong" 54:43

3+ y ago54:43

54:43

Yee-Haw! Flop of the Heap goes Country in this newest episode, as we explore a beer-soaked musical, adapted from a beer-drenched movie, tailored out of a beer-logged Esquire article, that should have stuck to print. Urban Cowboy- 2003- The Broadhurst Theatre Book- Aaron Latham and Phillip Oesterman Music and Lyrics- Jason Robert Brown and Jeff Blum…

1
70, Girls, 70- "Shock Her Off Her Rocker" 1:00:33

3+ y ago1:00:33

1:00:33

Old age can be fun, right? Well, if that's true, 70, Girls, 70 is going to need to make a better case for it. Come listen as John and Mark shuffle their way through this band of medicated minstrels, and emerge having learnt no new life lessons. 70, Girls, 70- The Broadhurst Theatre- 1971 Music- John Kander Lyrics- Fred Ebb Book- Fred Ebb and Norman…

1
BONUS- Cut Out of Town- Prince of Central Park 16:49

3+ y ago16:49

16:49

A compilation of yuk-yuks that didn't make the final cut in our Prince of Central Park episode, along with a special "Critical Reception" that just wasn't Broadway ready.By Mark Alpert and John Anker Bow

1
Prince of Central Park- "Through Cr*p-Colored Glasses" (With Guests, Richard H. Blake and Tony Galde) 1:04:10

3+ y ago1:04:10

1:04:10

A show with a mistreated orphan, drugs, violent gangs, and 80s aerobics, mixed with the pizzazz and flash of a standard, cookie cutter Broadway Musical? What could go wrong? Mark and John, navigate the podcast's first interview, with Broadway stars Richard H. Blake and Tony Galde, and with their guidance, discover what made Prince abdicate its thro…

1
Let 'Em Eat Cake- "Habeas Corpus Rah Rah Rah!" 56:29

3+ y ago56:29

56:29

This weeks episode hits way too close to home, when a fictional president, after losing reelection, uses his followers to perpetrate a fascist coup. How did the Gershwins know? Are they time travelers? Find out this week on Flop of the Heap. Let 'Em Eat Cake- Imperial Theatre- 1933 Music- George Gershwin Lyrics- Ira Gershwin Book- George S. Kaufman…

1
Flahooley- "You Too Can Be A Puppet!" 1:11:39

3+ y ago1:11:39

1:11:39

It's a Christmas Special. Snow is falling! Or are those Flahooley dolls? Come learn a little class consciousness from John, Mark, and the man who wrote "Over the Rainbow" in this very merry, Marxist episode! Flahooley- Broadhurst Theatre- 1951 Music- Sammy Fain Lyrics- E.Y. Harburg Book- E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy Includes music performed by Barba…

1
The Education of HYMAN KAPLA*N- "Sound and Phooey" 51:29

3+ y ago51:29

51:29

The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N has a lot of asterisks, and is obnoxious to type, but it has Tom Bosley. You know...the dad from Happy Days. He's cute. But is he enough to redeem this show? I don't know, come get educated! The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N - 1968- The Alvin Theatre Music and Lyrics- Paul Nassau and Oscar Brand Book- Ben…

1
Chu Chem- "The Kind Kind of War" 56:53

3+ y ago56:53

56:53

What is Chu Chem? Is it the best Chinese-Hebrew musical of all time? Probably, but there weren't many nominees. Is it a delicious little kosher egg roll of a show? Probably not. Will Mark be "right for once" this episode? Yes, but it had to happen eventually. Join as Mark and John present the first episode of our Hanukah double-header. The Educatio…

1
Kelly - "Oh, You Mammoth Suspension!" 1:07:40

3+ y ago1:07:40

1:07:40

KELLY! (Season 1, Ep. 2) Music by Mark "Moose" Charlap Book & Lyrics by Eddie Lawrence Opened February 26, 1965 at the Broadhurst Closed after 1 glorious performance!By Mark Alpert and John Anker Bow

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