Outside the Box is a musical comedy web series that originally premiered in 2011, created by writer-director Bruce Kimmel. After being unavailable online for eight years, the series returned to public attention, showcasing its unique concept of a fictional musical theater company that produces absurd and inappropriate musicals.
The Series
Outside the Box features a very outré musical theater group who create musicals that are, quite simply, wrong in every conceivable way. Each episode features an entirely new cast, save for one recurring character, the director of the group, Stephen Findle. The show is a brilliant parody of musical theater, exploring the worst and most mind-numbing musical adaptations imaginable.
The series was shot on location in New York and Los Angeles, with each episode written and directed by Bruce Kimmel, who also composed the songs, while the Outside The Box theme was created by Grant Geissman, composer of Two-And-A-Half Men and Mike and Molly.
Season two premiered on November 25, 2012, and features six brand new episodes that aired exclusively on BroadwayWorld.com as part of their lineup of original programming.
Euan Morton's Episode
In season two, episode two, Tony nominee Euan Morton gets a call from Stephen Findle, the artistic director of the Outside the Box Theater Company. They're doing a new musical and they want Euan to star. The episode followed the series' established format of presenting a star with an opportunity to appear in an increasingly ridiculous musical production.
Also starring Sami Staitman and Emma Degerstedt, the episode showcased Morton's comedic timing and willingness to participate in the show's signature blend of legitimate musical theater talent applied to completely inappropriate material. Like other episodes in the series, viewers were left to wonder whether Morton would accept the mysterious role and what the proposed musical might be.
At the time of his participation, Morton was already well-established in the musical theater world, with Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for his breakthrough role as Boy George in Taboo, and appearances in numerous other Broadway and Off-Broadway productions including Sondheim on Sondheim.
Featured Performers
Sami Staitman
Sami Staitman is a talented actress and singer from Southern California who has been described as "a blend of Kristin Chenoweth & Reese Witherspoon" with "enormous charisma and great talent, her strong voice giving emotional heart to the songs." She has performed in over 20 musicals at Regional Theatres and Civic Light Operas and was a recurring guest vocalist at Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland Cabaret series.
Emma Degerstedt
Emma Degerstedt is an American television actress and singer of Swedish descent, known for her role as Maris in the Nickelodeon series Unfabulous. She has appeared on stage in various productions including the play 13, where she played Kendra, and a 2003 production of Gypsy where she played "Baby June."
The Creative Team
Bruce Kimmel
Bruce Kimmel is an actor, writer, director, composer, and Grammy-nominated CD producer who created Outside the Box as a vehicle for satirizing the musical theater industry. Since 1993, he has been one of the leading producers of theater music on CD, having produced over one hundred and thirty albums. He was nominated for a Grammy for producing the revival cast album of Hello, Dolly!
Kay Cole
Kay Cole served as choreographer for the series. She is best known as the original Maggie in A Chorus Line, where she delivered one of Broadway's most memorable performances. Her involvement brought legitimate Broadway choreography credentials to the satirical series.
John Boswell
John Boswell served as musical director for the series and was Kay Cole's musical partner on her debut solo album "Souvenir." His involvement ensured that despite the comedic content, the musical elements of the show maintained professional standards.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
The fact that Outside the Box remained unavailable online for eight years before returning to public attention speaks to both the ephemeral nature of early web content and the lasting appeal of quality musical theater satire. The series represented an early example of how established Broadway talent could embrace new digital platforms to experiment with format and content.
By featuring genuine Broadway talent like Euan Morton alongside emerging performers, the series elevated its satirical content beyond simple parody, creating memorable comedy that respected the craft while poking fun at the industry's excesses.
For Euan Morton, the appearance represented his willingness to engage with innovative and experimental content, demonstrating the versatility that would later see him take on diverse roles from Hedwig and the Angry Inch to King George III in Hamilton. His participation helped establish the series' credibility within the Broadway community while showcasing his comedic abilities alongside his well-known dramatic and musical talents.