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My Showtunes Origin Story

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Hosted by Katie Cass

Playlist

[03:30] Good Morning — Singin’ in the Rain (one of the first musicals she remembers seeing)
[06:10] Dites-Moi — South Pacific (sang it as a kindergartner)
[08:10] Part of Your World — The Little Mermaid (her first big solo, third grade)
[12:30] You Can’t Win — The Wiz (movie version; her favorite song from the film)
[18:00] Welcome to the 60’s — Hairspray (her favorite musical)
[19:50] I Just Want to Be a Star — Nunsense (played Sister Robert Anne in Madison and Virginia)
[23:45] One Night Only — Dreamgirls (1981 original cast; Sheryl Lee Ralph)
[28:00] There Are Worse Things I Could Do — Grease (Stockard Channing)
[33:30] Little Girls — Annie (Carol Burnett)
[34:45] Seasons of Love — Rent
[42:00] Spring — Bare: A Pop Opera (performed at the Bartell in Madison)
[43:10] Forever — Shrek the Musical (performed in Verona with VACT)
[45:30] Fabulous, Baby! — Sister Act (saw it on Broadway with Patina Miller; performed with VACT)
[49:30] Feed Me (Git It) — Little Shop of Horrors (one of the first movie musicals she saw)
[53:50] Poor Unfortunate Souls — The Little Mermaid (full circle: Ariel as a third grader, Ursula as an adult)
[59:10] Dancing Queen — Mamma Mia! (her disco-band Madison moment)

Transcript

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[01:03] meeting in June.
[01:05] If a person is both a participating member and a listener sponsor, they must run as a participating
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[07:32] Thanks for watching!
[08:21] Thanks for watching!
[08:59] Hi friends, you are listening to WORT 89.9 FM Madison.
[10:19] My name is Katie and I am a new host on Better Living Through Showtoons.
[10:25] So I'll be here on the second Sunday of the month at two o'clock, playing my favorite
[10:33] showtoons.
[10:34] Today, my little playlist, I decided to pick songs that really encouraged me to love musical
[10:42] theater, some of the first musicals that I ever heard of or saw.
[10:46] And then also I picked some songs from shows that I've had the pleasure of performing in.
[10:53] So some of these songs I've performed on stage, I've performed with groups in regional theater,
[11:00] in high school, in elementary school, all that kind of stuff.
[11:03] So just kind of giving you a taste of where I'm coming from.
[11:08] And I hope that you have fun listening.
[11:12] If you have any requests, you can find me on Instagram.
[11:17] My handle is at Ms. Katie Cass.
[11:21] And let me know what you think or what you want to hear.
[11:25] And I can put it on my next set list.
[11:29] So for those first songs you heard, you heard Good Morning from Singing in the Rain, which
[11:36] is one of the first musicals I ever remember seeing.
[11:39] And during that musical interlude, I can picture the choreography.
[11:43] I don't know if any of you can do that.
[11:45] And then the second song was Dite Moi from South Pacific, which was one of the first
[11:49] songs I ever sang as a kindergartner at Lindbergh Elementary here in Madison with my kindergarten
[11:56] teacher, Mrs. Pierce.
[11:58] She picked that song out for me.
[12:00] And then you heard Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid, which was my first big
[12:04] solo in third grade.
[12:07] So here's another song that I learned my music teacher from, Hawthorne, Ms. Celeste Vercran.
[12:13] She introduced us to The Wiz, which is one of my favorite musicals.
[12:18] She showed us the movie version with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
[12:22] So this was my favorite song from that movie.
[12:28] And I will play it for you right now.
[14:15] At a very early age, I had to choose between the convent and the life upon the state.
[19:59] So when Reverend Mother said we're putting on a show, I must tell you, I was thrilled
[20:04] to death.
[20:05] I couldn't wait to go.
[20:08] To my surprise, Reverend Mother didn't see what is so obvious.
[20:15] The stage was meant for me.
[20:17] Money and fame, I don't desire.
[20:20] I only want a sparkle.
[20:23] I'm not here to start a fire, yes.
[20:26] I don't care if you're rich or famous, I just want the nun who's in this show.
[21:12] They were really green.
[21:14] They didn't know a chorus line from a chorus queen.
[21:18] They didn't realize in the chorus line.
[21:22] Never get to strut your stuff, you're never really shy.
[21:49] I just want to be a star from the musical Nonsense.
[22:43] That was a fun one to get to play.
[22:45] I've actually played that a couple times, Sister Robert Ann here in Madison and at
[22:50] a dinner theater in Virginia.
[22:52] So that was a blast right before that.
[22:55] You heard Welcome to the 60s from my favorite musical, which is Hairspray.
[23:02] I've always dreamed of playing Tracy Turnblad.
[23:05] Sadly, that has never happened and now I've kind of aged out, but as soon as they do
[23:10] the senior geriatric version of that somewhere, my resume will be going in.
[23:17] And then, of course, you heard You Can't Win from the Wiz.
[23:20] This next song is from a musical that I didn't discover until I was in high school
[23:26] when I was at Madison East High School in Show Choir.
[23:29] It is from the musical Dreamgirls, which has become one of my favorite musicals and
[23:35] movie musicals starring all those pop stars that we know, Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson.
[23:42] But this one is my favorite from the soundtrack because it starts out slow
[23:49] and then gives you that fun dance vibe.
[23:52] So this one is One Night Only from Dreamgirls Musical.
[28:05] I bet you recognize that song from Grease.
[33:18] My mom introduced me to that song.
[33:20] I think she knows every song from that soundtrack when she was in high school.
[33:26] Her and her friend Liz used to act it out, you know, all the fun songs from there.
[33:30] So that song always makes me or that show always makes me smile.
[33:34] And Sucker Channing, just killing it on that ballad.
[33:38] Before that, you heard Carol Burnett doing Little Girls from Annie.
[33:43] I mean, who's better than Carol Burnett?
[33:44] I've listened to so many different versions of that song.
[33:48] There's been so many redos of that show.
[33:51] And Carol Burnett still is top for me.
[33:54] And then before that, you heard One Night Only, which I had introduced from Dreamgirls.
[34:01] And that was the original cast from 1981.
[34:05] And Cheryl Lee Ralph, who you might know nowadays from her Abbott Elementary stardom.
[34:14] So that's always fun to see them continue on and do all these new things
[34:18] She's such an amazing performer.
[34:21] The next song I'm going to play is really special to me.
[34:23] When I was in high school, this show was super popular and we did some songs from it in show choir.
[34:29] But when I moved to New York, I worked at a piano bar called The Duplex in the West Village.
[34:35] And this was a song that we always sang and people always wanted to hear.
[34:40] And it just is such a great song.
[34:43] And that show is so wonderful.
[34:45] And this is such a great message.
[34:50] 25,000 moments old, dear
[35:13] 125,600 minutes
[35:17] How do you measure?
[35:20] Measure a year
[35:24] In sunsets, in midnights, in coming shifts
[35:30] In miles in
[35:31] Ranchos, small children, another day
[42:00] But by now you need to get your eyes
[42:02] This is not even much
[42:52] You learned something valuable today?
[42:54] Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way.
[43:00] You got something to add?
[43:03] I'm no princess
[43:06] But he wants me
[43:10] No great beauty
[43:12] But he wants me
[43:14] Say what?
[43:15] No one ever
[43:16] That was Forever from Shrek the Musical.
[44:22] So much fun.
[44:24] I got to do that in Verona at VACT.
[44:27] And the boy who played the donkey is now making his Broadway debut in The Outsiders.
[44:37] So congratulations, Caleb.
[44:40] That's so exciting to see people that you've worked with just accomplish their dreams.
[44:44] And, you know, he's a fabulous performer.
[44:46] And I'm just so proud of him.
[44:48] So that's fun.
[44:49] Before that, you heard Spring, which is a funny little song from Bear, a pop opera,
[44:55] which I got the chance to do at the Bartel here in Madison.
[44:59] It's a wonderful place to see theater.
[45:01] So I highly recommend seeing shows there.
[45:04] And before that, Seasons of Love from Rent.
[45:08] The next tune that I have up for you is from Sister Act the Musical, which is super fun.
[45:16] Got to see it on Broadway with Patina Miller and got to do this at VACT as well.
[45:22] And super, just lots of fun music, just like the movie What You Remember,
[45:28] all the fun scenes and all the craziness that ensues.
[45:31] So this one is the song that Sister Mary Clarence, who is Dolores before she becomes a nun,
[45:41] and she's talking about how fabulous she is.
[45:44] And yes, she is.
[46:31] See, a spotlight shines to be dressed to the 99s and ready to win.
[47:13] Wave is happening.
[47:14] New York, Vegas, Pittsburgh.
[47:16] Oh, now we're talking big Taurus Van Cartier.
[47:23] Look at my boobs up here and they look back there.
[47:32] Just stand back and clap your back for my autumn.
[49:32] Does it have to be human?
[49:34] Sing!
[49:35] Does it have to be mine?
[49:36] What am I supposed to get?
[49:38] Feed me, Seymour.
[49:41] Feed me all night long.
[49:45] That's right, boy.
[49:46] Feed me all night long.
[49:58] Cause if you feed me, Seymour.
[50:07] And Audrey too, let's face it.
[50:08] How am I supposed to keep on feeding you, kill people?
[50:11] I'll make it worth your while.
[50:14] You're a plant, an inanimate object.
[50:17] Does this look inanimate to you, punk?
[50:19] If I can talk and I can move, who's to say I can't do anything I want?
[50:24] Like what?
[50:25] Like deliver, pal.
[50:27] Like see you can everything your secret, greasy, hard desires.
[50:32] I could Cadillac car, own dot com, however you mean it.
[50:48] I have nothing to kill a girl.
[51:55] How about that Audrey?
[51:58] Think it over.
[51:59] There must be someone you could 86 real quiet like.
[52:03] And get me some lunch.
[52:05] How's about a room at the Ritz?
[52:08] Well, I had to justify.
[52:30] I mean, that's not a very nice thing to say.
[52:40] But it's true, isn't it?
[52:41] No.
[52:42] I don't know anybody who deserves to get chopped up and fed to a hungry plant.
[52:47] Sure you do.
[52:48] Stupid woman.
[52:51] Christ, what a freaking scatter brain.
[52:52] I'm sorry, Dom.
[52:55] Get the hell in there and pick up the goddamn sweater, you dizzy cow.
[52:58] Your stupid head won't be screwed up.
[53:01] The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself.
[53:54] Can you do that?
[53:56] My dear sweet.
[53:59] That's what I do.
[54:01] It's what I live for.
[54:03] To help unfortunate merfolk like yourself.
[54:08] So is with no one else to turn to.
[54:14] I admit that in the past I've been a nasty.
[54:17] They weren't kidding when they called me well a witch.
[54:20] But you'll find that nowadays I've mended all my ways.
[54:24] Repented seen the light and made a switch.
[54:29] And I fortunately know a little magic.
[54:33] It's a talent that I always have possessed.
[54:36] And dear lately please don't laugh.
[54:38] I use it on behalf of the miserable, lonely and depressed.
[54:45] Poor unfortunate soul in need.
[54:51] This one longing to be thinner.
[54:53] That one wants to get the girl and do I help them?
[54:56] Yes indeed.
[54:58] Those poor unfortunate souls.
[55:01] So sad.
[55:02] So true.
[55:04] They come flocking to my cold and prying spells.
[55:06] Ursula please and I help them.
[55:09] Yes I do.
[55:10] Now it's happened once or twice.
[55:13] Someone couldn't pay the price.
[55:15] And I'm afraid I had to rake them across the girls.
[55:19] Yes I've had the odd complaints.
[55:21] But on the whole I've been a saint.
[55:25] To those poor unfortunate souls.
[55:33] Have we got a deal?
[55:35] If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again.
[55:39] But life's fully in it.
[55:51] There is one more thing.
[55:54] We haven't discussed the subject of payment.
[55:56] But I don't have.
[55:57] I'm not as just a token really.
[56:00] A trifle.
[56:02] What I want from you is.
[56:06] But without my voice, how can I?
[56:08] You'll have your looks.
[56:11] Pretty face.
[56:12] And don't underestimate the importance of a body language.
[56:19] The men up there don't like a lot of blabber.
[56:21] They think a girl who gossips is a whore.
[56:24] Get on land it's much referred for.
[56:26] Ladies not to say a word.
[56:27] And after all dear, what is idol proud of for?
[56:30] Come on then.
[56:31] Not all men impressed with compensation.
[56:34] Two gentlemen avoided when they cared.
[56:36] But they don't inform on a lady who's withdrawn.
[56:40] It's she who holds her tongue who gets a man.
[56:42] Come on you poor unfortunate soul.
[56:46] Go ahead.
[56:48] Make your choice.
[56:49] I'm a very busy woman.
[56:51] And I haven't got all day.
[56:52] It won't cost much.
[56:54] Just your voice.
[56:55] Your poor unfortunate soul.
[56:58] It's sad.
[56:59] If you want to cross a bridge my sweet, you've got to pay the toll.
[57:03] Take a gulp and take a breath and go ahead and sign the scroll.
[57:06] Flot some jets and now I've got her boys.
[57:09] The boss is on a roll.
[57:11] This poor unfortunate soul.
[57:16] Lucas and Brutal, the wings of the Caspian Sea.
[57:30] That brings us class like a second.
[57:32] That's laryngitis, not the shade to me.
[57:37] That's sea.
[57:39] Those poor unfortunate souls from the Little Mermaid.
[58:41] I know I already played a Little Mermaid song.
[58:43] But that one, I had like a full circle moment
[58:46] when I went from singing Ariel as a third grader
[58:49] to singing Ursula as an adult.
[58:52] So it was pretty fun.
[58:53] Before that was Feed Me from Little Shop of Horrors,
[58:56] which was one of the first movie musicals
[58:58] I remember seeing as well.
[59:00] And next up is kind of my Madison moment
[59:07] where now I get to live my disco fantasy
[59:10] through singing with V05 in Madison here as a disco band.
[59:15] So Dancing Queen seems appropriate from Mamma Mia.
[59:18] And that is all the time I have for you today
[59:20] on Better Living Through Show Tunes.
[59:22] Next up is On the Horizon.
[59:24] Thanks for listening and I'll hear you.
[59:28] See you all those things in a month.
[61:22] A participating member is anyone who has donated at least $40
[61:25] in the 12 month period prior to the application deadline.
[61:29] A participating member is anyone who has voluntarily performed
[61:32] at least five hours of work in each of three consecutive months
[61:36] within the 12 month period ending three months prior
[61:39] to the annual meeting in June.
[61:41] If a person is both a participating member
[61:44] and a listener sponsor, they must run as a participating member.
[61:47] Financial acumen, computer literacy,
[61:50] and the willingness to work within a dynamic group
[61:52] to help shape this great state.

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