36 Questions
| 36 Questions | |
|---|---|
| A Podcast Musical | |
 by Two-Up Productions | |
| Music | Chris Litter and Ellen Winter |
| Lyrics | Chris Littler and Ellen Winter |
| Premiere | June 14, 2017 (Teaser) |
| Productions | 2017 Original Podcast Cast |
36 Questions is a 2017 podcast musical by Two-Up Productions with music and lyrics by Chris Littler and Ellen Winter,[1] with sound design by Joel Raabe. It follows the story of an estranged husband and wife trying to reconnect over the 36 Questions That Lead to Love, which were a part of a psychological study that explores intimacy.[2] Released in three 50-minute acts, the three episodes were released by Two-Up Productions on July 10, July 24, and August 7, respectively, and it stars Jonathan Groff and Jessie Shelton.[3]
Notable Casts
| Character | Original Cast
Recording 2017 |
YouTube Cast
Recording 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Judith Ford (Natalie Cook) | Jessie Shelton | Gracie Butterfield |
| Jase Conolly | Jonathan Groff | Matt Wangermann |
| Cooper Conolly | Johnny Merindana | Unknown |
Musical Numbers
| Act I | Act II | Act III |
|---|---|---|
| 1. "Hear Me Out" – Judith
2. "One Thing" – Jase and Judith 3. "Natalie Cook" – Judith and Jase 4. "Judith Ford" – Jase 5. "For the Record" – Jase and Judith |
6. "We Both" – Jase and Judith
7. "Our Word" – Judith 8. "A Better Version" – Judith 9. "Reality" – Jase |
10. "Answer 36" – Judith
11. "Listen Back" – Jase 12. "Attachment" – Jase 13. "The Truth" – Jase and Judith |
Characters
- Judith Ford (Natalie Cook) - Jase's estranged wife, who lied about her name when she met Jase, using the name Natalie Cook, which she used throughout the two years of their relationship. Despite lying about her identity, she loves Jase and attempts to save their relationship by using the 36 Questions.
- Jase Connolly - Judith's estranged husband, who was under the impression that Judith was called Natalie Cook for their entire relationship. After finding out that 'Natalie' was actually called Judith and had faked her identity for the entirety of their relationship, he leaves without saying goodbye, leaving his wedding ring on the kitchen counter and going to his childhood home. He has two mothers and a brother.
- Cooper Connolly - Cooper is Jase and his ex-wife, Lisa's, son. He appears in the last scene between the songs "Attachment" and "The Truth" when Jase and Judith agree to meet up with each other at a restaurant. Cooper only has a speaking role and serves as physical proof of the rift between the two caused by time.
- Henry - A duck that Jase grew an attachment for.
Plot
Act I
The Musical starts as Judith Ford records herself discussing how she has been lying to her estranged husband for the duration of their relationship and leaving her phone charger at a Denny's. She then slips a letter to a mail slot of the house and calling out her husband who she suspects is staying at his childhood home and at the other side of the door. (Hear Me Out) Judith, thinking Jase is at the other side of the door and is playing a game, talks to him as if they do not know each other; how she wants to know where her husband is, the strides she went through to be able to get to where she is right now and how she wants him to hear her out. Jase opens the door, only letting her in because of how she was complaining about the mosquitos are "eating her alive". As she comes inside the house, she gets hit by a tarp and hears different sounds coming from the inside: a drill, a duck quacking and Jase talking to a person named Henry. Judith asks who he was talking to and Jase sneers back asking, "Why you are even here?” She dodges the question and asks about the duck. Jase, upset, remarks about Judith's faults; tracking his location and her dishonesty within their marriage. Attempting to defuse the situation, she shows to him a few items. He responds by threatening her with a drill. They bicker and fight for some time, mentioning Henry.
Act II
After the first recording got cut, Judith opens the new recording. She mentions that about 8 minutes have passed since the last one and the events that occurred within that time period.
Act III
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Production
Skip Bronkie and Zack Akers of Two-Up Productions, the same company behind Limetown, approached Littler and Winter with the parameters of the plot.[4][5] Littler and Winter dismissed the podcast trope of having an external narrator early in the production process, deciding instead to loop the two singers’ voices into harmonies to avoid the need for a chorus.[6] In place of a narrator, each episode exists as a series of voice memos that Judith records on her phone.
Film adaptation
In August 2020, it was announced that Netflix and Chernin Entertainment will adapt the podcast into a feature film, with Brett Haley to direct.[7]
References
- ^ "Chris Littler | 36 Questions - The Podcast Musical (Writer + Composer)". Chris Littler. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ Jones, Daniel (January 9, 2015). "The 36 Questions That Lead to Love (Published 2015)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- ^ Locker, Melissa (2017-08-02). "Move over Hamilton – it's time for 36 Questions, the first ever musical podcast". The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
- ^ Fierberg, Ruthie (August 6, 2017). "How Two Unknown Composers Got Jonathan Groff to Star in Their Podcast Musical". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- ^ Quah, Nicholas (2017-07-07). "36 Questions Defines the Concept of the Podcast Musical". Vulture. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
- ^ Soloski, Alexis (July 21, 2017). "This Podcast Is a Love Story, for Your Ears Only (Published 2017)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (August 5, 2020). "Netflix, Chernin And Automatik Team On Adaptation Of Popular Podcast 36 Questions With Brett Haley On Board To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 15, 2021.