Putting It Together

If the Stars Were Mine with Claybourne Elder

05 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Claybourne Elder joins the podcast to discuss his latest album If the Stars Were Mine. Plus, he reveals where he feels the spirit of Sondheim to this ...

Anyone Can Whistle: A Sondheim Journey with Laurent Ziliani

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In honour of Sondheim's birthday this is a conversation with Laurent Ziliani about his new album Anyone Can Whistle: A Sondheim Journey which is a dee...

Saturday Night with Christine Chen

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Saturday Nights turns into Sunday Afternoons. Christine Chen joins Kyle to continue the discussion about Sondheim first show that was shelved for five...

Saturday Night with Eric Henwood-Greer

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What would have happened had Saturday Night come out in the mid-1950s? Eric Henwood-Greer joins Kyle to discuss that and other matter related to a you...

Wicked: For Good and Blue Moon – Sondheim Adjacent

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month a quick discussion on two recent film. First, the mega blockbuster Wicked: For Good. Second, the small character piece Blue Moon.Send feedb...

An update about the podcast and me

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just an update about me (Kyle) and what to expect from the podcast over the next year. Send feedback to [email protected] up to d...

Sweeney Todd: Behind the Bloody Musical Masterpiece with Rick Pender

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rick Pender returns to discuss his latest book Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: Behind the Bloody Musical Masterpiece.Purchase the book by clicking he...

Dainty June and Her Farmboys with Christine Chen

20 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This song is probably the only time in Gypsy where June gets to have a showstopper of a performance. Christine Chen returns to give her thoughts on wh...

Gypsy: 2024 Broadway Cast Recording with Music Director Andy Einhorn

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Between a matinee and evening performance, musical director Andy Einhorn talked with Kyle about his relationship with Audra McDonald, revivals, and th...

Out of Myself – Songs of Peter Foley (with Kate Chisholm)

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Foley was an accomplished composer/lyricist and mentee of Stephen Sondheim. The New Yorker praised Foley for his “gift for sinuous, haunting m...

Finale – Passion (with Matt Koplik)

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Death, love, and letters. What more could you want in a finale? Matt Koplik returns to discuss Fosca and Giorgio's journey through the musical and how...

Loving You – Passion (with Dimitris Dimopoulos)

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fosca lays it out plainly. She will live and die for Giorgio. Dimitris Dimopoulos joins Kyle to discuss choices, asking Sondheim a question, and missi...

No One Has Ever Loved Me – Passion (with Mike Meaney)

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Giorgio finally realizes what love is. Mike Meaney joins Kyle to discuss letter, realizations, and duels. Follow Mike on Instagram.Send feedback to pu...

Farewell Letter – Passion (with Charlotte LeMay)

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An amalgam of three previously heard songs, Farewell Letter shows how Giorgio has changed. Charlotte LeMay returns to discuss all the messiness of rel...

Soldier's Gossip 2 / Transition 4 / Forty Days – Passion (with Alex Asp)

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Beyond allowing for costume and scene changes are there thematic reasons for the transitions in Passion? Alex Asp returns to offer insight into three ...

Sunrise Letter / Is This What You Call Love? – Passion (with Tyler Joseph Ellis)

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All Giorgio wanted to do was sit underneath a tree and read about how Clara is getting grey hairs. Instead he's being watch by Fosca and he must relea...

Sondheim in Portuguese with Gustavo Brunetti – Sondheim Adjacent

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's it like to watch Sweeney Todd in Portuguese? Gustavo Brunetti joins Kyle to discuss his experience seeing two different productions, and what t...

Soldier's Gossip 1 / Flashback – Passion (with Shannon Migliore)

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to get some backstory! Shannon Migliore returns to pick apart the lengthly Flashback sequence from Passion which explains Fosca, and very we...

I Wish I Could Forget You – Passion (with Jim Cullen)

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who hasn't forced the person they're obsessing over to write them a love letter? Jim Cullen returns to discuss the operatic (sorry, Sondheim) nature o...

Transition 2 / Trio (Fifth Letter) / Transition 3 – Passion (with Will C. White)

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A devastating letter bookended by transitions. Will C. White returns to discuss rhapsodies, epistolary works, and trains.Check out Will's website.Send...

Garden Sequence – Passion (with Anne Slovin)

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

They hear drums, we hear music. Anne Slovin joins Kyle to discuss the meaning of that quote as well as the complicated nature of the entire Garden Seq...

Liaisons II: All Things Bright and Beautiful album with Anthony de Mare

22 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Liaisons Project, conceived by Anthony de Mare, is a landmark commissioning and concert project based on the songs of Stephen Sondheim. The origin...

I Read and Transition 1 – Passion (with Eric Henwood-Greer)

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is the introduction of Fosca into the narrative. Eric Henwood-Greer joins Kyle to discuss how this song sets up a lot of the drama that will unfo...

First, Second, Third, and Fourth Letter – Passion (with Brian Holcomb)

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you make letter writing interesting theatrically? Brain Holcomb returns to explain the importance of these notes and how they help inform the r...

Happiness – Passion (with Christine Chen)

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The show opens with a naked couple in bed singing about how happy they are. Obviously that means everything will turn out great. Christine Chen return...

Ari Axelrod on " "A Place for Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway" – Sondheim Adjacent

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Broadway musical as we know it would not exist without the generations of Jewish songwriters who brought not only their talent but their heritage ...

Passione d'amore with Joel DeCandio

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sondheim was inspired to create a musical because of this movie. Joel DeCandio returns to discuss the differences and many similarities between this a...

Fosca – the novel by Iginio Ugo Tarchetti (with Michael Vecchio)

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The story of Passion starts over a hundred years before the musical debuted on Broadway. In this episode Kyle talks with Michael Vecchio about what wa...

Sondheim Database with Alex Asp

19 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alex Asp returns to discuss his Sondheim Database project, along with some data he's collected about the shows!Follow Alex on Instagram here: https://...

Another thought on Unworthy of Your Love with Gail Leondar-Wright

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gail Leondar-Wright joins Kyle to offer some further insight into the song Unworthy of Your Love.Find out more at the Talking Sondheim website: https:...

Assassins Finale with Margaret Hall

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We've reached the end of Assassins. What does it say about America as a whole, not to mention the American Dream™? Luckily, Margaret Hall wrote her ...

Something Just Broke – Assassins (with Micah Mooney)

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Feels appropriate doesn't it? Micah Mooney returns to discuss a song that was added to the show for the first London production, and has stayed ever s...

Another National Anthem – Assassins (with Charlotte LeMay)

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do we think the other national anthem actually sounds like? Charlotte LeMay returns to offer opinions on why Samuel Byck should be the main chara...

Samuel Byck monologue – Assassins (with Reid Orphan)

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we don't talk about a song, but rather a scene. Reid Orphan joins the podcast to discuss how Samuel Byck has been depicted and how it can be...

The Ballad of Guiteau – Assassins (with Shannon Migliore)

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us on our cakewalk up the gallows. Shannon Migliore joins the podcast to explain what the real Charles Guiteau was like and how Sondheim uses his...

Unworthy of Your Love – Assassins (with Chris Brown)

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two people, who never met in real life, join together to sing a 1970s love ballad. Chris Brown returns to discuss how this song plays differently if y...

The Ballad of Czolgosz – Assassins (with Alex Asp)

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You're telling me that "work your way to the head of the line" was a metaphor! Alex Asp returns to discuss the next "successful" assassin, President M...

Sondheim at the Piano with Joel DeCandio – Sondheim Adjacent

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joel DeCandio returns to the podcast to discuss the themes of Sondheim and his latest show that you can see live at the Green Room 42.Joel's Instagram...

The Gun Song – Assassins (with David Kincannon)

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After seeing a couple of historical events we get a song about the idea of a gun. David Kincannon joins for the first time to discuss how this song wo...

How I Saved Roosevelt – Assassins (with Steve Bell)

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It seems like Roosevelt was saved by a lot of people. Who is correct? Steve Bell returns to discuss the real history of this event, John Philip Sousa,...

The Ballad of Booth – Assassins (with Eric Matthew Richardson)

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The assassin pioneer is the first person investigated in the show. Eric Matthew Richardson returns to discuss John Wilkes Booth, how he changed Americ...

Everybody's Got the Right – Assassins (with Isaac Bartels)

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kicking off our season on Assassins guest Isaac Bartels discusses how it got made, how provocative it still remains, and how the opening song sets the...

Assassins trailer

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This coming Wednesday we being our mini-series on the songs of Assassins. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dick Tracy (the movie) with Josh Shelton

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

An in-depth discussion on the making of the movie Dick Tracy and the impact its left. Josh Shelton joins Kyle to offer his thoughts as a filmmaker and...

Back in Business – Dick Tracy (with Christine Chen)

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ain't it grand? Christine Chen returns to discuss the last song from Dick Tracy and what makes it unique within the score. Christine's Blog: https://a...

What Can You Lose – Dick Tracy (with Lucas Rougeux)

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you have Mandy Patinkin in your movie it should be the law that you have him sing. Lucas Rougeux returns to discuss longing, unrequited love, and d...

Dissonant Tonality with Micah Mooney – Sondheim Adjacent

30 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A recent book entitled Here For the Hearing was published which featured different articles about musical theatre. Drew Nobile wrote about Sondheim's ...

Sooner or Later – Dick Tracy (with Witti Repartee)

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The song that won Sondheim his Oscar. It's used to show Dick Tracy's prowess, but is also a yearning song from Breathless herself. Witti Repartee retu...

Live Alone and Like It – Dick Tracy (with Alex Asp)

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From the radio plays the crooner hit "Live Alone and Like It." But is it possible this song is really talking about Dick Tracy himself? Or The Kid? Or...

More – Dick Tracy (with Cooper Williams)

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I thought diamonds were a girl's best friend? Apparently it's more! Cooper Williams joins Kyle to discuss how the theme of this song runs through the ...

Dick Tracy trailer

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This coming Wednesday we being our mini-series on the songs of Dick Tracy. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Here We Are listen along – Sondheim Adjacent

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Let's talk about the recent release of Here We Are on streaming!Send feedback to [email protected] up to date with Putting It Tog...

Into the Woods (the movie) with Luke Crichton

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The movie version of Into the Woods came out in 2014. While it did well financially, and even picked up a couple of Oscar nominations, fans of the sta...

All the Into the Woods Cast Recordings with Chris Brown

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There's been quite a few cast recordings of Into the Woods. Chris Brown (not that one) joins Kyle to discuss the ones that most people could listen to...

Children Will Listen and Finale – Into the Woods (with Ben Malone)

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While "Children Will Listen" has been used as a standalone song since the original production premiered, it's part of the entire finale of Into the Wo...

No One is Alone – Into the Woods (with Charlotte LeMay)

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How can a song whose message is "no one is alone" feel so lonely? Charlotte LeMay returns to dig into the complicated emotions that run through this s...

Pennies From Heaven (movie) with Will C. White – Sondheim Adjacent

31 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bernadette Peters co-starred in the movie Pennies From Heaven. In this Sondheim Adjacent episode Will C. White returns to discuss if this is a success...

No More – Into the Woods (with Ryan Mardesich)

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is the Baker going to run away from his problems or stay and face them? Ryan Mardesich returns to discuss how this song contains some good fatherly ad...

Witch's Lament – Into the Woods (with Shoshana Greenberg)

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Witch is very upset and expresses her raw nerves through song. Shoshana Greenberg returns to discuss how this song is a prelude to "Children Will ...

Your Fault / Last Midnight – Into the Woods (with Matt Koplik)

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

So whose fault is it? Matt Koplik returns to discuss how the idea of blame is explored in the two songs "Your Fault" and "Last Midnight." Plus they ge...

Any Moment / Moments in the Woods – Into the Woods (with Jim Cullen)

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wouldn't it be good if life were only moments? Well, Jim Cullen discusses with Kyle if it would be or not and how Sondheim uses lyrics and musical the...

Life With Mikey – Sondheim Adjacent

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

James Lapine's second film was Life With Mikey which starred Michael J. Fox. Kyle discusses how he's seen this movie poster for years and what his exp...

So Happy – Into the Woods (with Tommy Iafrate)

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We're back after our intermission! Act 2 of Into the Woods makes us believe that our characters are living their happily ever afters. But lyrically an...

The Bean Theme with Steve Bell

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There's a recurring melody throughout the score of Into the Woods which has been referred to as The Bean Theme. Steve Bell returns to go through every...

Evening Primrose with Mario Mendez

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While not his most popular project, the music of Evening Primrose seems to have grown in popularity over the last few years. Mario Mendez joins Kyle t...

Two Sundays with James Pinneri

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The two times "Sunday" appears in Sunday in the Park with George the lyrics are the same but the intention is different. James Pinneri returns to disc...

Ever After – Into the Woods (with Durra Leung)

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At the end of Act 1 the characters believe they will be living happily ever after. As upbeat as this song is, does it have some foreshadowing about th...

Harmony (with Alex Asp) – Sondheim Adjacent

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chip Zien is well known for his role as the Baker in Into the Woods. But he's currently getting great reviews for his performance in Harmony. Alex Asp...

On the Steps of the Palace – Into the Woods (with Tara Hutchison)

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Here we are stuck in the goo. Tara Hutchison returns to discuss Cinderella and how she might be the most important character from the show.We are usin...

The Mexican Sweeney Todd (with Sixto Montesinos)

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A translated version of Sweeney Todd has been met with excitement in Mexico. It just won their version of the Tony Award for Best Musical. Sixto Monte...

Stay With Me – Into the Woods (with Lucas Rougeux)

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With a shriek we're brought into a mournful song where a mother pleads with their daughter not to leave them. Lucas Rougeux returns to discuss the nee...

The 10 Best Sondheim Songs – 1976 to 1985 (Sondheim Adjacent)

31 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As a bonus this month Kyle lists what he thinks are the 10 best songs Sondheim wrote from 1976 to 1985.Send feedback to puttingittogetherpodcast@gmail...

It Takes Two – Into the Woods (with Will C. White)

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We thought one was enough, but it's not true! Will White returns to discuss Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, and the wonderful moment they share in the wood...

Agony – Into the Woods (with Tyler Joseph Ellis)

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Agony! Misery! Woe! All words that DON'T describe this week's guest Tyler Joseph Ellis. He joins Kyle to discuss princes, comedy songs, and (perhaps) ...

Giants in the Sky – Into the Woods (with Erik Stadnik)

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There's a lot of interpretations on what this song means. Maybe they're all correct? Erik Stadnik returns to discuss the metaphor and the legacy of "G...

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels OBC with Jonathan Chisolm – Sondheim Adjacent

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Joanna Gleason plays a supporting role in the 2004 Broadway production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Jonathan Chisolm returns to discuss how she uses he...

First and Second Midnight – Into the Woods (with Sam Herriman)

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One midnight gone! Sam Herriman returns to discuss why it's so important to have "First Midnight" in the show. Kyle describes the way the song "Second...

A Very Nice Prince – Into the Woods (with Christine Chen)

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

More of a conversation than a song. In this we see the different between a character who makes decisions fast and one who has a hard time making a sin...

I Know Things Now – Into the Woods (with Shannon Dohar)

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It is good to know things, right? Shannon Dohar returns to offer her insight into Little Red's realization that she's been forced to grow up quicker t...

Our Little World – Into the Woods (with Matt Steele)

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our Little World is a song written for the original London cast of Into the Woods. Matt Steele joins Kyle to talk about Rapunzel, mothers, and hair.Yo...

I Guess This Is Goodbye / Maybe They're Magic – Into the Woods (with Nathan Beary Blustein)

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I Guess This is Goodbye is a short song about saying goodbye to your best cow. Maybe They're Magic explicitly shows the difference in worldview betwee...

Hello, Little Girl – Into the Woods (with Isy Abraham-Raveson)

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The subtext might not be that hard to pick up on. Isy returns to offer her thoughts on the metaphor of violence and sex when it comes to wolves preyin...

Here We Are first thoughts with Will C. White and Colm Molloy – Sondheim Adjacent

20 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

[Apologies for Kyle's audio, somehow only his audio got corrupted.] After twice seeing Sondheim's last show, Here We Are, Kyle talks to Will C. White ...

Cinderella at the Grave – Into the Woods (with James Pinneri)

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It might be a short song but that doesn't mean there isn't stuff to talk about. James Pinneri joins Kyle to discuss the character of Cinderella, the d...

Alex Lacamoire talks producing the Sweeney Todd album

13 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Alex Lacamoire is the music supervisor and co-producer of the lates Sweeney Todd cast album. It's been a dream of his for decades to get a chance to...

Prologue – Into the Woods (with Kevin Quillinan)

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The musical Into the Woods opens with an intense 14 minute long song that introduces all the characters and details what each of their wishes are. Kev...

The Fairy Tales of Into the Woods

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before we get into the individual songs of Into the Woods, Kyle takes you through a quick history of fairy tales and then reads four of the stories fe...

Into the Woods – Trailer

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A trailer for our upcoming season focusing on Into the Woods. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Sondheim! The Birthday Concert – Sondheim Adjacent

30 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sondheim celebrated his 80th birthday with a star studded event that was filmed for a PBS special. Listen to Kyle's thoughts as he watches the special...

The Wild Party with Matt Koplik – Sondheim Adjacent

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's the sweaty, sexy version of The Wild Party! Somehow there were two musicals released in the same year but John LaChiusa's version was on Broadway...

All the Sunday in the Park recordings with Durra Leung

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There have been quite a few major productions of Sunday in the Park with George. Currently only three of those are widely available. Durra Leung joins...

Sunday – Sunday in the Park with George (with Charlie LeMay)

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The song "Sunday" is used twice in the show. It's both the Act 1 and Act 2 closer. Even though the words don't change the actions of the characters do...

Move On – Sunday in the Park with George (with Shoshana Greenberg)

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For many this is one of the best songs Sondheim ever wrote. Shoshana Greenberg returns to discuss the importance of this song for both George and Dot....

Lesson #8 – Sunday in the Park with George (with Jake Nielsen)

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

George finally learns his lesson by reading Dot's grammar book. Jake Nielsen returns to discuss how uniquely this song is structured and why you need ...

"Encounter at Farpoint" Star Trek: The Next Generation with Ryan Mardesich – Sondheim Adjacent

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brent Spiner was part of Sunday in the Park with George. Then he'd be part of the huge revival of Star Trek playing the role of Data. Ryan Mardesich j...

Children and Art – Sunday in the Park with George (with Tara Hutchison)

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Could this be the most important song of the show? Tara Hutchison joins the show to discuss the meaning behind children AND art rather than children O...