Broadway Breakdown – Episode Summary

Episode Overview

Episode Title: Updated Tony Eligibility, Broadway Casting, and New Shows...OH MY!
Podcast/Host: Broadway Breakdown, hosted by Matt Koplik
Date: February 26, 2026

Matt Koplik returns with a "nugget" episode catching listeners up on recent, rapid-fire Broadway news, Tony eligibility updates, major Broadway casting changes, and hotly anticipated upcoming shows. The episode’s tone is energetic, profane, and deeply opinionated, with Matt’s signature blend of humor and rigorous theater geek analysis. He previews upcoming deep dives and miniseries for the podcast, then moves into a detailed rundown of the latest developments on stage and behind the scenes.

Upcoming Podcast Plans & Deep Dives

• Miniseries Announcements
  • A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Marcel on the Train at Classic Stage Company, with interviews from Ethan Slater, the design team, director, and producers.

    "The idea is, over the course of four or five episodes, to give you guys some insight into: someone has an idea for a play—how do they get it made?" – Matt [03:10]

  • A second miniseries is teased, focused on a Broadway show celebrating an anniversary, with original cast interviews.
• Deep Dives Coming Soon
  • All That Jazz (with guest Allie Gordon)
  • The Light in the Piazza
  • She Loves Me
  • Next to Normal

Listener Reviews & Philosophy

Timestamps: [06:40] – [09:24]

Matt reads aloud two five-star podcast reviews, highlighting what listeners value: the community feel, his critical approach, and the demand for thoughtful analysis.

• Memorable Quote:

  "Matt's big rule is...you can't just say, 'I don't like it.' And that's a great place to start when thinking critically about any art form." – Listener review [07:51]

• Matt reiterates his goal to never let the podcast get "stuck, stagnant, or plateau."

Major Broadway News Highlights

Tony Eligibility Rulings

Timestamps: [10:10] – [12:45]

• Marjorie Prime, Oedipus, and Bug all eligible for Best Revival; playwrights eligible too.
  • Notable debate: Is Oedipus a "revival" despite a new script? Tonys say yes, echoing Olivier Awards.

    "If you're ever in doubt of something that's a London transfer, look at the Oliviers and see how they decided it." — Matt [11:35]

• All actors in Marjorie Prime deemed "Featured" rather than "Lead."
  • Room now in "Lead Actress in a Play"—Matt predicts Susanna Flood (Liberation) and Carrie Coon become strong contenders.

New Plays and Casting Announcements

Timestamps: [12:45] – [18:16]

• The Ballisters:

  • Anika Noni Rose replaces Renée Elise Goldsberry in the new David Lindsay-Abaire play.

    "We're not mad about it because Anika is awesome. You all know how I feel about Anika Noni Rose." – Matt [13:51]

• Fear of Thirteen:

  • Adrien Brody leads this adaptation of a UK play/documentary at the James Earl Jones Theatre, spring 2026.
  • David Cromer directs a new production with Tessa Thompson co-starring.

    “A play premieres in London, comes to New York with a new production...it hasn’t happened in a minute, but this used to happen a lot and often to great success.” – Matt [15:09]

Encores! Wild Party Casting

Timestamps: [18:16] – [23:40]

• Full cast announced: Jordan Donica (Burrs), Jelani Aladdin (Black), Tonya Pinkins (Dolores), Lesli Margherita (Mae).
• Deep dive on the Wild Party score and its challenging material.
  • Discussion of racial themes, original blackface staging, and whether this new cast will include it.

    “This Wild Party definitely has some dynamics...it’s very unapologetic about race relations…it’s very disturbing. There is full-on blackface in the Wild Party.” – Matt [21:10]

• Wild Party is “not perfect, but it’s exceptional work and has so much...meat on the bone. There’s so much to chew on.”
• Colorful commentary on what the score feels like:

  “He [Adam Elsbury] describes the LaChiusa ‘Wild Party’ score as like the musical equivalent of grinding your genitals on the couch—you just feel like you’re in heat the whole time.” – Matt [20:28]

Rocky Horror & Schmigadoon! Casting

Timestamps: [23:40] – [31:09]

• Rocky Horror Show: Notable cast includes Amber Gray (Riff Raff), MJ Rodriguez (Magenta), Juliette Lewis (Columbia), Andrew Durand (Brad), Stephanie Hsu (Janet), Rachel Dratch (Narrator), Harvey Guillén (Eddie/Dr. Scott), Josh Rivera (Rocky).

  • Praise for the "phenomenally weird" and specific casting, expecting multiple Tony nominations if well-received.

• Schmigadoon! (Stage adaptation)

  • Featured performers: Mackenzie Kurtz, Anna Gasteyer, Ann Harada, Isabelle McCalla, Max Clayton, Brad Oscar.
  • Matt is skeptical of the TV show and hopes the stage incarnation has more nuanced musical theatre commentary.

    “I watched the first two or three episodes. I didn’t laugh once. And I just never felt that Schmigadoon understood...the sexual politics of Golden Age musicals.” – Matt [28:44]

More Casting News & Rumors

Timestamps: [31:09] – [36:20]

• Titanique:
  • Melissa Barrera (Rose), John Riddle (Cal, returning), Leighton Williams (Iceberg Bitch).
    • Praise for John Riddle returning, speculation about Anna Kendrick and Matthew Morrison nearly joining the cast.
• Much Ado About Nothing (Jamie Lloyd, West End transfer): Tom Hiddleston & Hayley Atwell coming to Broadway, rumored for the Winter Garden Theater.
• Evita (Rachel Zegler, Jamie Lloyd): Possibly set for the Winter Garden, but rumors are fluid.
• Paddington The Musical: Likely to land at the Hirschfeld, possibly the St. James depending on other closures.
• Galileo (Raúl Esparza): Opening at the Shubert Theatre in the fall; prior Berkeley Rep reactions mixed.

  "Galileo does not come into Broadway with a lot of good word of mouth from Berkeley Rep...open mind, at arm's length, guys." – Matt [35:38]

Industry Resources & Recommendations

Timestamps: [38:00] – [39:24]

• BroadwayScorecard.com
  • New review aggregator modeled after Metacritic; gives weighted critical and audience scoring for Broadway/Off-Broadway shows.

    “It’s on a scale of 0–100...certain weight to different publications...also includes percentage audience approval...I think this is a really good site.” – Matt [38:46]

Upcoming Live Show & Finale

Timestamps: [39:24] – [42:00]

• Reminder: Sondheim-Webber: A Birthday Threesome at Green Room 42 – March 6, 7pm, featuring Amy Jo Jackson and Todd Buonopane, with “a mini recreation of an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that I have recently discovered and I find very insane…with puppets!...and some trivia.” [40:17]
• Standard plugs for Substack, Discord, and podcast reviews.

Notable/Quotable Moments

• “The Wild Party score is so fucking genius. This show is dangerous and sexy and violent and harsh…and can be disturbing sometimes. But it’s also very painful.” – Matt [19:13]
• On casting Rocky Horror: “What you want in Rocky Horror is…you don’t want people who could blend in in a showcase. You want people who are a little bit freaks.” – Matt [24:41]
• “Schmigadoon will be interesting to see on stage, but I've been very vocal that I haven't cared for the TV series…they didn't really understand the sexual politics of Golden Age musicals.” – Matt [28:36]
• “Everyone should just be thrilled John [Riddle] gets to do it. Let us be glad, let us be grateful.” – Matt [35:25]
• “Galileo…open mind, at arm’s length, guys. That’s what we say.” – Matt [35:40]

Key Takeaways

• This “mini” episode packs a full rundown of current Broadway headlines.
• Several new shows, notable castings, and Tony eligibility updates are rolling out as Tony season approaches.
• Matt is bullish on some new productions and skeptical about others, especially adaptations or revivals with casting surprises.
• Multiple deep-dives and mini-series are coming to the podcast this spring, covering everything from behind-the-scenes process to critical history.
• New online resources are helping theater lovers keep tabs on critical and audience consensus.

Listeners looking for in-depth context and sharp theatrical commentary will find this episode a thorough, energetic catch-up ahead of another packed Broadway season.