26 Best Theatre History Podcasts

1. Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

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Home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare materials. Advancing knowledge and the arts. Discover it all at www.folger.edu. Shakespeare turns up in the most interesting places—not just literature and the stage, but science and social history as well. Our 'Shakespeare Unlimited' podcast explores the fascinating and varied connections between Shakespeare, his works, and the world around us.more Host Barbara Bogaev
Producer/Network Folger Shakespeare Library
Email ****@folger.edu
Estimated Monthly Listeners 10k-50k
Recent Guest Lauren Gunderson
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 1.1KFacebook 129.8KTwitter 29.2KInstagram 58.8K Avg Length 35 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact Get access to full database of 2.7M podcastsCreate podcast lists, export in spreadsheet or CSV file with email contacts and start your podcast outreach in minutes.Sign Up for Free with Email Continue with Google

2. Broadway Breakdown

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Matt Koplik is the most opinionated, foul-mouthed, and passionate theatre geek with access to a mic. Every week, Matt and a guest explore Broadway history by diving into the careers of the artists who shaped it. Whether discussing Sondheim and Sweeney or Herman and Dolly, Matt is sure to give you fun facts, deep analysis, and lots of four letter words. Tune in!! bwaybreakdown.substack.commore Host Matt Koplik
Email ****@yahoo.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 10k-50k
Recent Guest Casey Balsham
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 442Twitter 31 Avg Length 92 min Format Extended Get Email Contact

3. A Musical Theatre Podcast

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Conversations revealing the cultural and emotional impact of our favorite musicals in theatre history.On each episode of 'A Musical Theatre Podcast,' Jeff welcomes a special guest to explore one musical from theatre history. Together they get to the heart of the show's cultural and emotional impact by looking at its creators, context, and storytelling. Always fun and heartfelt, this is the podcast to celebrate the humanity of our musical theatre art form.more Host Jeffrey Scott Parsons
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Recent Guests Shannon Lewis, Rachel Potter +5 more
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 190Twitter 424Instagram 3.7K Avg Length 66 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

4. BROADWAY NATION

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A lively and opinionated cultural history of the Broadway Musical that tells the extraordinary story of how Immigrants, Jews, Queers, African-Americans and other outcasts invented the Broadway Musical, and how they changed America in the process.In Season One, host David Armstrong traces the evolution of American Musical Theater from its birth at the dawn of the 20th Century, through its mid-century 'Golden Age', and right up to its current 21st Century renaissance; and also explore how musicals have reflected and shaped our world -- especially in regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, ..more Host David Armstrong
Producer/Network Broadway Podcast Network
Email ****@davidarmstrongproductions.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Recent Guest David Hein
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 136Facebook 737Twitter 459Instagram 1.4K Avg Length 41 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

5. The History Of European Theatre

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A podcast tracing the development of theatre from ancient Greece to the present day through the places and people who made theatre happen. More than just dates and lists of plays we'll learn about the social. political and historical context that fostered the creation of dramatic art.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.more Host Philip Rowe
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Recent Guests Stephen Unwin, Robert Crighton
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 78Facebook 7.4KTwitter 268 Avg Length 40 min Format Long form Since May 2020 Get Email Contact

6. The Untold Stories of Broadway

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Jennifer Ashley Tepper's Untold Stories of Broadway book series is now a podcast! In each episode, the secrets and mysteries of a different Broadway theater will be explored by Tepper and two special guests with connections to that theater from different decades. From the Broadhurst to the Nederlander, from actors to stagehands, from ghost stories to opening nights, from the 1940s to today, expect to discover all kinds of fun and fascinating tales about the theaters at the heart of New York City and everyone who has called them home. A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network.more Producer/Network Broadway Podcast Network
Email ****@bpn.fm
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 44 Avg Length 27 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

7. Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia

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Bringing you the best stories from the deep and fascinating history of theater in the city of Philadelphia. This is the podcast for all lovers of theater, students of history - or anyone who enjoys great stories with lots of drama!more Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Recent Guest Abigail Adams
Apple Reviews 26Twitter 699 Avg Length 44 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

8. Anything Goes

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Take a trip backstage with Broadway's best exclusive interviews with the leading creators of musical theatre. Based on the popular 1980s radio series produced and hosted by award-winning director and producer, Paul Lazarus, ANYTHING GOES is a celebration of storytelling through song, past, present and future. Now available in 30-minute segments. Hundreds of episodes featuring show-stopping interviews with composers, lyricists, book writers, directors and performing legends from the Broadway stage. A treasure trove of rare and famous songs performed by the original singers as well as th..more Host Paul Lazarus
Producer/Network Broadway Podcast Network
Email ****@wdprods.org
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Recent Guests Tom Jones, Maury Yeston
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 22Facebook 9.8KTwitter 2.5KInstagram 17.3K Avg Length 34 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

9. Closing Night

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Step into the captivating world of Broadway musicals with Closing Night, a theater history podcast unraveling the short lives of musicals and play on Broadway. In Season 1, we explored the turbulent history of the Marquis Theatre, one of Broadway's youngest venues, beginning with the controversial demolitions that birthed its legacy. For Season 2, the focus shifts to some infamous productions that closed before actually opening on Broadway. Relive the excitement and at times artistic chaos that almost brought these musicals to Broadway and what led up to their closing night...more Host Patrick Oliver Jones
Producer/Network Broadway Podcast Network
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Recent Guest David Henry Hwang
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 18Facebook 367Twitter 2.5KInstagram 678 Avg Length 45 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

10. Stages of Justice

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Stages of Justice takes you inside the world of theatre in the criminal justice system. For over fifty years, theatre companies have undertaken powerful creative projects at the heart of the British justice system, but because this work often takes place behind prison walls its impact is seldom seen by wider audiences. Through interviews with artists, prison staff, justice experts, and people with lived experience of incarceration we uncover the histories of these distinctive arts practices and examine how performance is navigating the contemporary crisis in our prisons...more Recent Guests Paula Harriott, Professor Rosalind Crone +2 more
Apple Reviews 15 Avg Length 35 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

11. Today in Theatre History, presented by Playbill

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Snack-sized episodes to give you your theatre history fix, brought to you every morning by Playbill and the Broadway Podcast Network. Hosted by Mark Peikert.
Producer/Network Broadway Podcast Network
Email ****@broadwaypodcastnetwork.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 14Facebook 9.8KTwitter 2.5KInstagram 17.3K Avg Length 9 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

12. The Dr. Broadway Podcast

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Welcome to the Dr. Broadway Podcast!  The Musical Theatre History podcast where a couple of doctors sit around and talk about Broadway!  Your hosts, Dr. Kristin Stultz Pressley & Dr. Tracey Brent-Chessum provide episodes on Broadway shows that are currently touring in the United States, and provide context episodes on the broad history of musical theatre and its development. Episodes are designed to give you the information you need to enhance your theatre going experience! We are Educating Theatregoers & Enhancing Theatregoing!Get in touch at Hosts Dr. Kristin Stultz Pressley, Dr. Tracey Brent
Producer/Network Dr. Kristin Stultz Pressley & Dr. Tracey Brent-Chessum
Email ****@drbroadway.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 14 Avg Length 55 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

13. Staged Right: The Podcast Edition

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A YouTube/podcast series exploring the history of musical theatre.Created and voiced by Kevin Morris.Video episodes available on www.youtube.com/@StagedRightTo share your support 'Staged Right' in a flexible, affordable way, please consider a contribution via either Patreon or Ko-Fi.Patreon: https://patreon.com/StagedRightKo-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/StagedRightmore Producer/Network Kevin Morris
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Recent Guest Robert Kaplow
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 14 Avg Length 35 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

14. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays

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Written drama has existed in Scotland since the sixteenth century. This is its story.A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is a new podcast from journalist and critic Fergus Morgan, charting the story of Scottish drama from the sixteenth century to today.Over six episodes - plus a panel discussion recording - the podcast will travel from pre-Reformation Scotland to the present day, alighting on seminal plays along the way including A Satire Of The Three Estates, Men Should Weep, Losing Venice, Passing Places, and Black Watch and discussing their significance in the extraordinary, ongo..more Producer/Network Fergus Morgan
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Reviews 12 Avg Length 41 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

15. Neuse Little Podcast

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Come listen to the history of Neuse Little Theatre as well as onstage/backstage stories from the people who were there. We look forward to bringing new content and helping folks learn a little more about the theater while maybe taking a walk down memory lane. We hope you enjoy it. Credits are: Host & Creator: Matt Gore Producer: Meta Toole Music by: Cody Walker @CodyWalkerFTG - (episodes 1-75) Kathi Nixonmore Producer/Network Neuse Little Theatre
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Recent Guest Rob Goodwin
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 12Facebook 5.9KTwitter 235Instagram 1.5K Avg Length 41 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

16. Euripides, Eumenides: A Theatre History Podcast

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The Theatre History podcast that doesn't take itself too seriously. For each episode, Aaron Odom hosts a guest from the worldwide theatre community to talk about a bizarre, fascinating and humorous story from theatre history. One catch, the guest has no idea what they'll be discussing.Plus, guests return to the program to share 'Theatre Horror Stories,' moments when theatre artists maintain that old adage: 'The show must go on.' From events an audience might never realize affected the show to the wheels falling off a production completely, these stories just make for great listening.more Host Aaron Odom
Email ****@tridenttheatre.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Recent Guest Zach Schneider
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 11Instagram 251 Avg Length 71 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

17. Beyond Shakespeare

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From the earliest drama in English, to the closing of the theatres in 1642, there was a hell of a lot of drama produced - and a lot of it wasn't by Shakespeare. Apart from a few noble exceptions these plays are often passed over, ignored or simply unknown. This podcast presents full audio productions of the plays, fragmentary and extant, that shaped the theatrical world that shaped our dramatic history.more Host Robert Crighton
Producer/Network Beyond Shakespeare
Email ****@yahoo.co.uk
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 11 Avg Length 29 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

18. black theatre history podcast

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black theatre stories, people, & histories: in 30 minutes or less.
Producer/Network kb saine
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 9 Avg Length 162 min Format Extended Get Email Contact

19. Talking Musical History

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Join us as we strike the chords of your favorite musicals, throughout the various eras of space and time. Breaking the fourth wall to bring you deep into the narrative we cover the landmark performances, history, philosophy, music, and pageantry of the best musicals to grace stage and screen. Kevin Skye Werner and Chris Anderson are Musical enthusiasts, who hold degrees in that area from Eastern Michigan University (near University of Michigan in Ann Arbor), as we will take you through the spotlights and playbooks of the musicals that we grew up with...more Producer/Network That's Not Canon Productions
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 9Facebook 3.2KTwitter 337Instagram 726 Avg Length 44 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

20. Home Chat: The Noël Coward Podcast

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The Noël Coward Foundation burrows through theatre history via the plays of one of the UK's most prolific writers.
Host James Harvey
Email ****@alanbrodie.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 8 Avg Length 32 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

21. The History of Musical Theatre Podcast

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If you are a musical nerd this is the place for you.Each season covers one musical or concept in detail giving you a complete history of the glorious art of musical theatreWebsite: outofthewingsmedia.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/outofthewingsmedia/more Producer/Network Remington Adeney Campbell
Email ****@hotmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 4.3/5Apple Reviews 5Twitter 424Instagram 30 Avg Length 39 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

22. Twice Nightly: The Theatre Podcast

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Join Maria Lovelady & Michael Alan-Bailey as they chat about all things Variety theatre, from the beginnings of music hall to modern day cabaret. Each week, the duo interview a special show-business guest from all walks of the industry to explore the rich history of British theatre. Whether you're a boffin of the bard or you've only just started treading your (pointe) shoes on the boards, Maria & Michael have got you covered. Brought to you by Frame This Presents...more Producer/Network Maria Lovelady & Michael Alan-Bailey
Email ****@live.co.uk
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Reviews 4Facebook 303Twitter 356 Avg Length 62 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

23. Pocket Dramaturg: A Theatre History Podcast

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Pocket Dramaturg is a theatre podcast dedicated to uncovering forgotten stories and illuminating the voices and moments that have shaped theatrical history.
Host Ricky Ortega
Email ****@gmail.com
Apple Reviews 1 Avg Length 54 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

24. NYT Antics

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Join us as we dive into the rich and vibrant history of the National Youth Theater. Each episode, we bring you captivating stories from directors, actors, and leadership who have been part of NYT's journey through the years. Don't miss out—subscribe today and stay tuned for all things NYT!more Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 1 Avg Length 35 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

25. The Pageant Wagon Podcast

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The Pageant Wagon Podcast is dedicated to the history of medieval and early modern theatre. Each episode features in-depth conversations with leading historians, literary scholars, and performance specialists who share insights from their latest research and publications. From Latin plays and mystery cycles to courtly entertainments and secular performance traditions, the podcast explores how theatre functioned across medieval and early modern Europe.Thumbnail image courtesy of Heather Mitchell-Buck.more Email ****@gmail.com
Apple Rating 5/5 Avg Length 40 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

26. The Theatre History Podcast

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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.more Producer/Network Michael Lueger
Email ****@theatrehistorypodcast.net
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 4.3/5Apple Reviews 15Facebook 294Twitter 4.8K Avg Length 41 min Format Long form Get Email Contact