Episode 5: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

12/13/16 • 39 min

This episode finds out how The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee developed from an off-off-off-Broadway improv show to the beloved, hilarious and quirky Broadway hit. Through conversations with the show's conceiver, actors, producer, and iconic director James Lapine, we'll find out how the show survived a condemned East Village theater, found its footing at Barrington Stage, and then captured the hearts of New York audiences off-Broadway at Second Stage before making it to Broadway at Circle in the Square.

This season is sponsored by TodayTix. To get $15 off your first purchase, download the app or visit TodayTix.com and use the promo code "BACKSTORY". Follow us on Twitter @bwaybackstory and go to TodayTix.com/BroadwayBackstory for more info.

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Episode 4: The Secret Garden

This episode finds out how The Secret Garden developed from the classic 1911 children's book to one of the most beloved American musicals of the 1990s. Through conversations with the show's creators, producers, and Tony-winning child star Daisy Eagan, we'll find out how the show survived a 'disastrous' out of town tryout and overcame unfavorable reviews to become the long-running family-favorite hit. This season is sponsored by TodayTix. To get $15 off your first purchase, download the app or visit TodayTix.com and use the promo code "BACKSTORY". Follow us on Twitter @bwaybackstory and go to TodayTix.com/BroadwayBackstory for more info.

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Episode 6: Deaf West's Spring Awakening

This episode finds out how the stunning re-imagining of the groundbreaking musical Spring Awakening began as a ten day workshop, was developed at a 99-seat theater near LA’s Skid Row, quickly transferred to famed regional theater in Beverly Hills, and ultimately landed on Broadway, all in a little over a year. Through conversations with the show’s original creators, director, producers and stars, we’ll find out how this “little show that could” made the unlikely journey from West Coast workshop to beloved Broadway revival.