Rephonic
Artwork for The Theatre History Podcast

The Theatre History Podcast

Michael Lueger
The Crucible Theatre
Colin George
Tedd George
Sheffield
The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window
Latinx Shakespeares
American Scenic Design
Ian Mckellen
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Theatre History
French Revolution
Federal Theatre Project
Hedgerow Theatre
Jasper Deeter
Lorraine Hansberry
A Raisin In the Sun
Greek Drama
West Side Story
Theatre
Latinidad

Performance is an ephemeral thing, so how do we rediscover its history, and what can that teach us about theatre today? The Theatre History Podcast explores these questions through interviews with scholars and artists who are studying theatre's past in order to help shape its future.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes107Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Theatre History Podcast

Latest Episodes

There wasn't a lot that was funny about the Great Depression. With millions out of work and geopolitical turmoil threatening overseas, it might seem like the 1930s were a grim time. But there was still quite a lot of comedy, including in the plays pu... more

Lin-Manuel Miranda has become the most prominent figure of American musical theatre over the past decade. Dr. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner joins us to talk about his book, Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist, and how Miranda's been influenced by... more

Zelda Fichandler was one of the founders of the repertory theatre movement in the United States. Her tireless advocacy for the cause of nonprofit theatre led to a substantial volume of writing, much of which has now been edited by Todd London and pub... more

If you know the name of any theatre from Shakespeare's time, it's probably the Globe. But it's another theatre from that era – the Red Bull - that's the namesake for one of today's preeminent producers of early modern English drama in the United Stat... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Paul Gagliardi
Associate Professor of English at Marquette University; author of All Play and No Work
Marquette University
Episode: Episode 115: All Play and No Work in the Depression w/ Dr. Paul Gagliardi
Daniel Pollack-Pelzner
Professor of English and Theatre at Portland State University; author of the biography Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Education of an Artist
Portland State University
Episode: Episode 114: The Education of Lin-Manuel Miranda w/ Dr. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner
Todd London
Editor of The Long Revolution; former Artistic Director of New Dramatists; former head of the MFA Playwriting Program at the New School
University of Washington (via teaching/production credits) / The Long Revolution (book)
Episode: Episode 113: Todd London on Zelda Fichandler and the History of Nonprofit Theatre in the United States
Dr. Sarah Burdett
Author of The Arms-Bearing Woman and British Theatre in the Age of Revolution, 1789 to 1815
University of Cambridge
Episode: Episode 111: Warning: Armed Women! (w/ Dr. Sarah Burdett)
Dr. Trevor Boffone
A lecturer and author focusing on the intersection of musical theater and social media
University of Houston
Episode: Episode 110: Scrolling TikTok on Broadway w/ Dr. Trevor Boffone
Dr. Ken Elliott
Chair of Visual, Media, and Performing Arts at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Episode: Episode 109: Going "Beyond Ridiculous" with Dr. Ken Elliott
Dr. David Bisaha
Associate professor at Binghamton University and curator of the Theatre History Collection
Binghamton University
Episode: Episode 107: Tracing the Rise of the Professional Scenic Designer w/ Dr. David Bisaha
Dr. Carla Della Gatta
Associate professor of theater at the University of Maryland and author of Latinx Shakespeares.
University of Maryland
Episode: Episode 106: Staging Latinx Shakespeares with Dr. Carla Della Gatta
Fiona Macintosh
Director of the Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama and Professor of Classical Reception at Oxford.
University of Oxford
Episode: Episode 105: The Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama with Professor Fiona Macintosh

Host

Mike Leaguer
Host of The Theatre History Podcast

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • Great history!

    So far the content is great. This is the kind of history I love. I can use this info during my camps. Your guests say uh and um far too many times. One episode was so bad I couldn’t listen. So much for knowing how to speak.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    shoeseller65
    United States4 years ago
  • Great Show!

    Mike hosts fascinating conversations and learned history of theatre!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ncholas C.
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Content quality is praised, with some feedback indicating that guest speaking styles could improve.
The host is noted for facilitating insightful conversations that illuminate lesser-known aspects of theatrical history.
Listeners appreciate the engaging discussions and the exploration of fascinating historical content in theatre.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 114: The Education of Lin-Manuel Miranda w/ Dr. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner
Q: Let's start with your rationale for writing this biography.
The guest explains that the biography aims to present Lin-Manuel Miranda through a 'non-fiction buildings roman' lens, using a coming-of-age framework to trace how early experiences, collaborations, and mentors shaped his development as an artist.
Episode 115: All Play and No Work in the Depression w/ Dr. Paul Gagliardi
Q: Why were productions by O'Neill and Kaufman used to counter perceptions of radicalism, and why focus on middle-class life in those choices?
O'Neill and Kaufman provided mainstream, middle-class perspectives that could align FTP with broader social concerns, while still offering subtle critique of labor, security, and the New Deal's effectiveness.
Episode 115: All Play and No Work in the Depression w/ Dr. Paul Gagliardi
Q: You mention backstage comedies and their function within FTP. What were those and what did they say about working in theatre?
Backstage comedies used self-referential tropes to expose theatre life and labor, often highlighting actors' struggles and the need to protect labor in a time of economic crisis.
Episode 115: All Play and No Work in the Depression w/ Dr. Paul Gagliardi
Q: Could you talk about how the FTP fit into the larger framework of the New Deal and what that word work meant to Americans at the time?
The FTP was part of the second New Deal, under the WPA, created to provide meaningful work with social significance, not just menial tasks, aiming to connect labor to moral value and to support workers during the Depression.
Episode 113: Todd London on Zelda Fichandler and the History of Nonprofit Theatre in the United States
Q: Can you speak to the historical environment Zelda was responding to and how Arena Stage fit into that landscape?
Arena Stage emerged in a post-World War II America where audiences sought more diverse regional theatre; Zelda's approach contrasted with Broadway's commercial model by prioritizing sustained artistic development, community access, and a resident company model that could grow over time rather than sacrifice longevity for quick hits.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Theatre History Podcast

What is The Theatre History Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Through engaging interviews with scholars and artists, insights into theatrical history are shared, revealing how the past informs contemporary theatre practices. Guests discuss various aspects of theatre history, including underappreciated works, the evolution of roles within theatre such as scenic design, and significant movements within the performing arts, particularly focusing on marginalized communities and innovative approaches to storytelling. Content highlights include explorations of gay theatre, the importance of classical performances, and adaptations of classic works, making it likely appealing to listeners who are passionate about the arts and performance history.

Notably, the discussions delve into the societal challenges fa... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Theatre History Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Theatre History Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Theatre History Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Theatre History Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Theatre History Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Theatre History Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Theatre History Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Theatre History Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Theatre History Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Theatre History Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Theatre History Podcast:

1. Up First from NPR
2. Ologies with Alie Ward
3. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
4. Criminal
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of The Theatre History Podcast are there?

The Theatre History Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 107 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Theatre History Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Theatre History Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Theatre History Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Theatre History Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Theatre History Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Theatre History Podcast?

Recent guests on The Theatre History Podcast include:

1. Paul Gagliardi
2. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner
3. Todd London
4. Dr. Sarah Burdett
5. Dr. Trevor Boffone
6. Dr. Ken Elliott
7. Dr. David Bisaha
8. Dr. Carla Della Gatta

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days