Kristen Blodgette is a musical director, musical supervisor, and conductor, known for her many works with Andrew Lloyd Webber since conducting the National Tour of Cats in 1985. Other works include The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Woman in White, Mary Poppins, LoveMusik, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Evita.
Kristen is the first MD we’ve had on the podcast, so I took this opportunity to learn more about the gig and her rise to the top, including . . .
- Her definition of what a Musical Director does.
- How she cold-called the Conductor of A Chorus Line at the theater, during the show, to try to get a meeting (and how it’s a shame that courage comes so easily when we’re young).
- The craft of turning non-singers into singers.
- What she thinks about the shrinking Broadway orchestras, including how Phantom has changed since it began.
- Why she doesn’t write . . . and how that lack-of-desire has made her an even better MD.
Popcorn Falls is a comedy about the small town of Popcorn Falls that shows their struggle to escape bankruptcy by securing a large grant that can only be used if the town produces a play in a week. Led by the Mayor and the local handyman, the enterprising townsfolk try to rise to the challenge and prove that art can save the world. Check it out at: popcornfalls.com
Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway