Putting It Together

98

This is a podcast about Stephen Sondheim's entire body of work show by show and song by song. Each week Kyle Marshall invites an expert to discuss a Sondheim song in-depth. Together they discover the humour, how the songs inform character, and any hidden meanings. Most importantly they try to understand the man behind the music, the Shakespeare of our time, as best they can.

Recent Episodes
Episodes loading...
Recent Reviews
  • Pete from Princeton
    God is in the details…
    …and this podcast does not miss a single one of them. I am so glad I’ve discovered Kyle when he was a guest on Broadway Breakdown with Matt Koplik. Kyle’s podcast is so detailed and meticulous—every lyric, every word of Sondheim scores are explored and examined with an array of terrific guests. Bravo! Sidebar: The timbre of Kyle’s voice is engaging, a joy to listen to.
  • Beth (not March)
    Required Listening
    This is the podcast I’ve been looking for my whole life (or at least as long as podcasts have existed). Even as a Sondheim mega-fan, I come away from each episode with new info or a new perspective on the brilliance of his lyrics.
  • Nativenewyorker123
    Gold. Brilliant. THANK YOU
    If you are Sondheim addicted, this is your fix. Such a good podcast. So thorough.
  • BroadwayMusicMan
    I am so glad this podcast exists
    I just discovered this podcast. I listened to the Ann Morrison episode first. This is GOLD for every musical theater professional, appreciator, or fan, for now and for generations to come. Thank you so much for making this.
  • Sue725
    Great insight
    I love learning all the little tidbits of info about Sondheim’s body of work! Kyle presents a well prepared and well articulated analysis of each detail of each of Sondheim’s songs, bit by bit. I love listening to the thought processes and opinions from Kyle and his guests, as they present the work in casual and good spirited conversation.
  • The Spoon Goblin
    Solves Every Sondheim Fan’s Biggest Problem
    If you love the plays of Stephen Sondheim and his collaborators, as I do, it is likely because they are so rich and complex and thought-provoking. Seeing one the first time leaves you fascinated but unsatisfied, with a hunger to understand more, to work out how this intricate tapestry works. How do the scenes in Company connect to each other? How can Sweeney Todd be simultaneously so passionate and so dead inside? What do the repetitive phrases like “know things now,” scattered across Into the Woods like so many magic beans, mean? You want nothing more than to watch and rewatch, to listen and re-listen to the soundtracks, and to discuss these questions endlessly with your friends. Here’s the issue though - if you’re like me, none of your friends know the first thing about Sondheim, and aren’t particularly eager to learn! That’s where Kyle Marshall and his excellent show “Putting it Together” come to your (my) rescue. He gives you the discussions you are longing to have, and he and his wide variety of brilliant guests with intriguing perspectives become the Sondheim fan friends you wish you had. The show is a great listen, the episodes are smooth and contain interesting discussions, and you will leave it “knowing things now [about Sondheim’s body of work] that you never knew before.” Listening to this show has somehow deepened my already Mariana Trench level appreciation for the #1 Maestro of Broadway himself, and it has reminded me how much more meaningful his work has made my life.
  • Doxma33
    For the obsessed Sondheim worshipper
    Count me in. The young “self-described “ expert host is so sincere in his love for the work that it’s positively contagious. This show is for the deep diver, not the casual listener, and it’s a pleasure to find people who feel as I do about The Master. Thrilled to find this dissertation-worthy podcast.
  • Eggplantq
    If you're gonna grind it..
    I was so excited to discover this podcast a few weeks ago. It’s a brilliant conceit, and I hope that someday a podcast follows this model while making use of professional artists, critics and scholars. In the meantime, if you are interested in the ramblings of random millennials - (grad students, bloggers and the odd parochial school teacher) - then this is the podcast for you. As for the interminable host, who describes himself every episode as a “Sondheim expert” without a jot of irony - please, for the love of God, find some resources beyond the lyric books. Try “Sondheim & Co” or any of the books dedicated to the development of the individual shows. If you can’t afford them, try an inter-library loan. I tried my best, but when I hear him relate such absurd insights as “stuffed the dailies in my shoes” having something to do with the film footage and not newspapers, it makes me want to bang my head against my steering wheel during my daily commute. When it got to the point where he was blithely second guessing Sondheim’s use of lieder singers in A Little Night Music, I unsubscribed. One star for having created a podcast you wanted to hear, but your reach has exceeded your grasp.
  • Dr. Bucephalus
    Bravo! Canadian Sondheim Devotees
    My main criticism is that I just discovered this.
  • BlueGershwin24
    Great listen!
    I really appreciate this podcast! The host is great but I wish the guests were composers, playwrights, performers, etc.
  • Hattiehein
    Smart, entertaining, professional
    Thoughtfully executed and smoothly produced.
  • MuniUser
    Shame I waited this long to praise this podcast
    Kyle, my sincerest apologies for waiting until I heard of the news of Sondheim’s passing and listening to your touching memorial to Stephen to say what an amazing gift your podcast has been, made even more poignant by the pandemic of the past two years and counting. Thank you so much for the meticulous, loving way in which you’ve examined the astounding works of this amazing man and continue to do so. Your words are what I needed to hear tonight. They were profound because, as Stephen said, you let it come from you.
  • 142389
    GOD THAT’S GOOD!
    Do you like Sondheim? If so, you had better get on this NOW. This incredible podcast is the deepest of dives into Sondheim’s intricacies and idiosyncrasies. Kyle has some great guests, and really shines light on the incredibly detailed and delightful lyrics that Sondheim gives us. Bravo Kyle!!
  • MNFunky
    This is the pinnacle…
    …of all things Sondheim in the podcast universe. None better. To all of us Sondheimites, this is for our tribe. Love it!
  • jmcalvanah
    Just a few things odd...
    I was SO excited to find a podcast dedicated to Sondheim! Season one was a blast and so informative and season two just had me thrilled, my favorite show of all time-Gypsy- so this was going to be excellent... until the repetition kicked in... and the wrong facts and tidbits. I found myself yelling to no one about the inaccuracies of a show I know inside and out- the thing that bothered me the most was that nobody else caught them while it was airing for correction. Will keep listening- but will be cautious.
  • basso54
    More singers, less non singers
    Your guest tend to a little whiny and white. A singer would give a prospective you don’t seem to possess. I enjoy the format of your podcast, I’ll just fast forward through some of the patter/chatter. Regards
  • Slumlord Millionaire
    Impressive
    Excellent podcast where the host and guest analyze each song of every Sondheim musical
  • amity1976
    Wonderful!
    Podcast gets better and better! A deep dive into every Sondheim show
  • dheineman
    Awesome podcast!
    For fans of musical theatre in general, this is a great podcast. Each guest brings a different perspective which complements Kyle’s steady infusion of insight and analysis. Each episode can stand alone, but there’s a wonderful cumulative effect that builds over the course of a season. Highly recommended.
  • booklover960
    What a journey!
    I love the insight each cohost brings. Thanks for undertaking this task :) Excited for a little night music!
  • Bluffing Sanity
    Great podcast
    This podcast is one of my favorite things in the world right now. It’s extremely well done. If you haven’t been listening, you don’t have to start from the beginning, but you really should go back and listen to everything. It’s well worth your time.
  • JeffSS84
    My New Favorite Podcast
    If you’re a Sondheim fan, you’ll love this! I’ve been a Sondheim fanatic for decades and was ecstatic when I discovered this podcast just a few weeks ago. Turns out, I’m far from being the only person who can talk about Sondheim at great length. Kyle Marshall and his guests provide insight to the music and lyrics of Sondheim’s songs with great humor and I have to say that it’s interesting to hear other viewpoints. I’m thoroughly enjoying this podcast & am now looking forward to each new episode. I look forward to new weekly episodes - it’s been my favorite quarantine activity!
  • 8373david
    Sondheim fan
    Thank you for taking us on this journey through sondheims shows. I’m going through these trying to catch up
  • Brj of Mn
    A must experience
    For all Sondheim lovers this is a must.
  • radical_alex
    Attend the tale of putting it together
    As a Sondheim fanatic this is my jam!
  • Anna Artemis
    Thanks for this!
    I’ve been digging into Sondheim’s work for the first time during quarantine and I just saw the filmed 2006 version of Company with Raul Esparza. I loved it. I’ve been wanting to talk to someone about Sondheim generally and Company in particular but no one in my life is really into musicals. So excited to stumble onto this podcast! In particular the discussion about Sorry Grateful added so much richness to that song for me. Wanted to say thanks :)
  • mrswillshakes
    Required listening for musical theatre fans
    Kyle and his guests offer insightful looks into the works of the musical theatre GOAT, in an unpretentious, conversational way that you’ll find engaging whether you’re a Sondheim fanatic or not!
  • khrysn
    A Must for Any Musical Theater Fans!
    It took me a while to get into Sondheim because his songs and shows can be rather sense, but I love the approach Kyle takes with going through line by line to uncover different meanings, and it gets even more interesting when they're meanings I hadn't considered before! I'm definitely seeing the songs in a new light thanks to this, and the guests are always such interesting people to hear from!
  • Mtgirl24601
    My new fave!
    This is my new favorite podcast. What I love about it is that the hosts take a critical look at the lyrics of a Sondheim show and get into analysis without ever criticizing the work or acting like they know better or know all the answers. The host doesn’t just pretend to know everything he thinks about it and talks through his questions with the guest host. I love that.
  • 'Zonia
    More please
    I love these—I wish there were more. After seeing the new production of WSS in previews (Dec 10, 2019—I live in NYC) I want to hear Kyle’s & his guests’ knowledgable take on it.
  • CheeseyMoosicals
    Sending love from the CHEESEY side
    From one musical podcast to another, this is wonderful and I love listening! Keep being great! 🧀
  • Nancer Green
    Excitement
    The enthusiasm of Madeline and Joel jumps out. Thank you for expanding the sensitivity, complexity, and even spirituality of the beloved artist Sondheim.
  • suzzzanna
    Such a great show for Sondheim fans
    Thanks to Kyle and his guests for putting together this show. A fascinating look into the history and craft of Sondheim musicals.
  • akasharpie
    Sondheim lovers unite!
    I am so excited that I found this podcast. I discovered Stephen Sondheim in high school and he is the reason I fell in love with theatre. Since then, my interest in the man and his work has only grown. I am currently a theatre major in college and this podcast is educational, entertaining, and enlightening. Not only do we get to learn about each show in great detail, but also host Kyle Marshall and a guest break down Sondheim’s complex lyrics and music. For fellow theatre artists or for people that could more Sondheim in their life, this podcast is a must listen.
Similar Podcasts
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.