This week on Before the Downbeat Mackenzie and guest co-host Jillian Robinson are breaking out puppets and discussing the adult musical comedy Avenue Q! Hear these two friends  converse over whether this musical rightful deserved to win the Tony Award for Best Musical over Wicked and why puppets make tackling some of these difficult adult topics easier. Plus hear their pitches for a sequel musical for Avenue Q.     All of this plus a set of new building keys on next Friday's all new episode!   Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. Facebook Instagram Twitter

Before the Downbeat: A Musical Podcast

46. Avenue Q

Next Friday on Before the Downbeat Mackenzie along with guest co-host Jillian Robinson head to New York and discuss the puppet musical comedy Avenue Q! Hear these two friends  debate if all the jokes and comedic elements of the show still fit in towards more PC aware world. They explore the power of puppetry and find out how they'd adapt this musical for a modern audience.     All of this plus a B.A. in English on next Friday's all new episode!   Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. Facebook Instagram Twitter

Avenue Q Promo

This week on Before the Downbeat marks the first in series of episodes where Autumn will be away on a theatre contract. But never fear Autumn and Mackenzie have some great content planned for you in the meantime. So sit back and enjoy as Mackenzie and guest cohost Graeme McClelland do a deep dive review of the latest movie musical to hit the big screen Dear Evan Hansen. Hear these two give their thoughts on Ben Platts casting, why they think this film didn't translate well from stage to screen, and  what they think of the new songs. Plus find out  what simple fixes they would do to help improve the story.   All of this plus an awkward dinner with the Murphy family!   Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. Facebook Instagram Twitter

Dear Evan Hansen Film Review

This week on Before the Downbeat Autumn and Mackenzie are hanging out with the Peanuts gang while starring at the clouds and discussing Snoopy! The Musical! Hear these two reveal their favourite Peanuts character. They explain why this musical while not having the best book still has important messages to impart to both adults and kids. Plus find out how Autumn thinks the upcoming reworking of the book should tackle Peppermint Patty.   All of this plus a manuscript submission to Playbeagle on this Friday's all new episode!   Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. Facebook Instagram Twitter

45. Snoopy! The Musical

Next Friday on Before the Downbeat Autumn and Mackenzie head into the world of the Peanuts and are hanging out by the dog house to discuss Snoopy! The Musical! Hear them debate about how intellectual these children should be and if some songs are too sophisticated for them. They champion the often overlooked character or Peppermint Patty and find out if they think this musical should finally have a Broadway production.     All of this plus dear Woodstock next Friday's all new episode!   Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. Facebook Instagram Twitter

Snoopy! The Musical Promo

The journey continues on the road to Before the Downbeat's holiday movie musical review. Join host Mackenzie as he dives into the official trailer which premiered on Good Morning America. In this review Mackenzie gives his thoughts on the trailer, how this trailer builds on the teaser trailer, and how he thinks the marketing campaign is going thus far. Head over to our YouTube page to watch part 2 of this review where Mackenzie does a shot by shot break down of this trailer.

West Side Story (2021) Official Trailer Review

After a brief hiatus from our regular programming it's the season 4 premiere of Before the Downbeat! So Mackenzie and Autumn along with long time guest of the podcast Lynn defy gravity and take to the western skies to explore the Wizard of Oz prequel musical Wicked! This trio breaks down the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba and if both parties are sincere in their sentiments featured in their final duet 'For Good'. They debate whether or not this musical lives up to the potential the messaging of the show promotes and Mackenzie goes on the defence and makes his case for why Glinda has the best character journey between the two heroines.  All of this plus lunch with kindly goat professor on this Friday's all premiere episode! Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. Facebook Instagram Twitter

44. Wicked

Next Friday it's the season premiere episode of season 4 of Before the Downbeat! So to kick off the season Autumn, Mackenzie and friend of the podcast Lynn Slotkin are heading to the realm of Oz and discussing the musical about happened before Dorothy arrived Wicked! Hear them explore the character of Glinda and if she can trusted. Find out if they think both Glinda and Elphaba have been changed 'For Good'. Plus discover why Lynn is not this musicals biggest fan.     All of this plus a pack of flying monkeys on next Friday's all new episode!   Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. Facebook Instagram Twitter

Wicked Promo

After a fun summer of remastering, live movie musical commentaries, and Schmigadoon reviews we have one more instalment (for now) in our Remastered Episodes project before season 4 begins next week! So journey back to the end of season 1and enjoy our now reedited and remixed instalment of Season 1-Episode 14: Little Shop of Horrors!  Plus do our end of the season 3 survey and you enter your chance to win a prize! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H6LQNR6 Don't forget to leave us a review and share your thoughts on this episode on our social media pages. Follow the links below to reach our pages. Facebook Instagram Twitter

Remastered-Ep.14: Little Shop of Horrors

Enjoy our last instalment (for now) of our episode by episode review miniseries of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this season finale episode, Mackenzie gives his thoughts on whether the show stuck the landing and provided a satisfying conclusion to the season or if there is more to be desired. Also find out if Mackenzie thinks if Keegan-Michael Key's big song lives up to the hype that this season built it up as. Plus he continues to point out the various connections to the golden age musicals that inspired songs of this episode. Enjoy!

Schmigadoon! Ep. 6 Review

Enjoy our latest instalment in our episode by episode review miniseries of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this episode 5, Mackenzie gives his thoughts on whether Jane Krakowski's Countess is necessary or if she is a tragically wasted opportunity and if this penultimate episodes sets audiences up for a gratifying finale. Plus he continues to point out the various connections to the golden age musicals that inspired songs of this episode. Enjoy!

Schmigadoon! Ep. 5 Review

Enjoy our latest instalment in our episode by episode review miniseries of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this episode 4 Mackenzie gives his thoughts on whether this episodes plot should have been split into two episodes and if these new couplings pose a really threat to Josh and Melissa reconciling. Plus he continues to point out the various connections to the golden age musicals that inspired songs of this episode. Enjoy!

Schmigadoon! Ep. 4 Review

Here we are with the next instalment in our episode by episode review miniseries of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this episode 3 Mackenzie gives his thoughts on the character of Florence Menlove and he gives insights on how this episode not only covers a lot of plot points but also shows how it balances the genuine emotions of the characters and cheeky humour to pokes fun at this era of Broadway musicals. Plus he continues to point out the various connections to the golden age musicals that inspired songs of this episode. Enjoy!

Schmigadoon! Ep. 3 Review

Here we are with the next instalment in our episode by episode review miniseries of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this episode 2 Mackenzie gives his thoughts on the characters Betsy and Mayor Menlove and he deep dives into all the easter eggs that can be found in the 'Oklahoma!' inspired basket auction scene. Plus he continues to point out the various connections to the golden age musicals that inspired songs of this episode. Enjoy!

Schmigadoon! Ep. 2 Review

Tune in and enjoy our review of the pilot episode of the new hit musical comedy show 'Schmigadoon!'. In this episode Mackenzie breaks down the various connections to the golden age musicals that inspired this show and he sings the praises of writers who've done a great job laying a solid foundation for the show to build on. Stay tune for more episode reviews!     Plus do our end of the season survey and you enter your chance to win a prize! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H6LQNR6

Schmigadoon! Ep. 1 Review

Welcome to Before the Down Beat. On this podcast we will be talking all about musicals. What are our favourite songs, which songs do we skip, should this musical be revived today. All these topics will give you the most in-depth looks at musical theatre. Enjoy!