Last Week on Broadway: Monday, March 2, 2026

Host: Matt Tamnini (BroadwayRadio)
Date: March 2, 2026
Main Theme:
A comprehensive roundup of the latest news, notable castings, and exciting upcoming events from Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, and other theater scenes, with a special look ahead at what’s happening in the coming week.

1. Major Broadway News and Cast Announcements

Moulin Rouge! The Musical’s High-Profile Closing Months

• Moulin Rouge will end its Broadway run on July 26, 2026, but not without significant buzz before its final curtain.
• Kelsey Watts, best known from Six the Musical, is taking over as Satine for the show's final months.
• In a headline-making move, Megan Thee Stallion (three-time Grammy winner) will play the role of Zidler for an eight-week run, March 24 to May 17, 2026—the first female-identifying performer in the role originated by Danny Burstein.
• Discussion about possible updates to the character ("Zidler" vs. “Harold Zidler”), gender/pronoun shifts, and speculation that Megan might add one of her hit songs during curtain call:

  “I have zero doubt in my mind that however they decide to approach this, Megan Thee Stallion’s costumes will be unbelievable…” (Matt, 02:10)

• Bob the Drag Queen ends his run as Zidler on March 22.

Major UK Casting: Jonathan Groff at the Royal Shakespeare Company

• Jonathan Groff (Hamilton, Glee) will debut at the RSC as Rosalind in an all-male As You Like It (Sept 26–Nov 7) under Daniel Evans.
• Joins a legacy of extraordinary actors—Peggy Ashcroft, Maggie Smith, Vanessa Redgrave.
• Fasayo Akanede (Heartstopper) joins as Celia.

• “We are in the era of Groff coming back to the stage… the more we can get Groff on stage, I think that the theatrical world is the better for it.” (Matt, 04:28)

TLC Jukebox Musical - CrazySexyCool

• Exclusive from People: Lead casting for CrazySexyCool, the TLC musical coming to Arena Stage, DC (June 12–Aug 9).
  • T-Boz: Holly Gabrielle Conway (Limpeka, Tina, first Black woman Katherine Howard in Six)
  • Left Eye: Jade Milan (Hell’s Kitchen, The Lion King)
  • Chilli: Stoney B. Woods (Book of Mormon, Emmy nominee)
• Kwame Kwei-Armah writes and directs; Chloe O. Davis choreographs.

• “This cast seems like it has a really good mix of young, up-and-coming musical theater talents…” (Matt, 05:12)

2. Off-Broadway Updates

Sexual Conduct of the Middle Classes Remount

• Audible is bringing back Hannah Moskovich’s Sexual Conduct of the Middle Classes (Ella Beatty & Hugh Jackman) at Minetta Lane (Mar 17–Apr 20).
• Quarter of seats are $35 via TodayTix or box office, supported by Hugh Jackman's company.

The Reservoir Extended

• Atlantic Theater’s The Reservoir extended through Mar 22.
• Starry cast: Noah Galvin, Carolyn Aaron, Heidi Armbruster, Peter Maloney, Mary Beth Peil, Matthew Saldivar, Chip Zien, and more.

True - A Super-Intimate Capote Drama

• True by J. Presson Allen (dir. Rob Ashford): Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Truman Capote and Charlotte D’Amboise join production at House of the Redeemer’s 99-seat library (Mar–Apr 12).

• “This seems like this is going to be an absolutely unbelievable experience…” (Matt, 09:45)

Other Off-Broadway News

• Blood: A Vampire Pop Opera at Theater555 opens Tuesday (extended through May 10).
  • “Transforms the classic vampire tale into an ultra contemporary theatrical extravaganza.”
• Burnout Paradise at Astor Place opens Thursday, Mar 5.
  • “One of the most wild experiences you can have… people doing random challenges while running on treadmills.”
• What We Did Before Our Moth Days (Wallace Shawn, dir. André Gregory, starring Hope Davis, Maria Dizzia, John Early, Josh Hamilton) at Greenwich House Theater opens Thursday, running through May 10, in rep with The Fever.

3. Streaming, Regional, and Tour Highlights

Broadway Streaming

• Jeff Ross’s Take a Banana for the Ride (from Broadway) hits Netflix on March 24.

Regional Highlight: Orlando

• Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts gets a limited run of Into the Woods (July 31–Aug 2), starring Jodi Benson as the Witch.

• “Jodi Benson doesn’t do much theater in New York anymore. I couldn’t tell you the last time she did, but she’s still got it… I cannot wait to see one of my favorite shows with this absolute legend.” (Matt, 08:11)

Touring

• Hell’s Kitchen tour stop at Walt Disney Theater in Orlando (Mar 3–8). Matt will provide a review episode later in the week.

4. Broadway Happenings This Week

New Broadway Previews

• Death of a Salesman at the Winter Garden (dir. Joe Mantello)
  • Nathan Lane (Willy Loman), Laurie Metcalf (Linda), Christopher Abbott (Biff), Ben Ehlers (Happy), K. Todd Freeman, Jonathan Cake, Michael Benjamin Washington, Tasha Lawrence, Jake Silberman.
  • Produced by Scott Rudin—host calls out Rudin’s history of misconduct.

  • “Of course, it is important to mention that this one is being produced by Scott Rudin…” (Matt, 10:33)

Upcoming Closings:

• On Broadway: All Out and Bug
• Off Broadway: The Dinosaurs (Playwrights Horizons); The Waterfall (WP Theater)

5. Upcoming Special Podcast Episodes

• Interview with Cost & Mayer (Off-Broadway dance show 11 to Midnight)—noted as social media favorites.
• Crossover/fan episode with Ashley Hufford, discussing favorite Hadestown replacement casts:

  “Ashley and I spoke for an hour on Hadestown replacements… all the people we have loved seeing in Hadestown productions around the country and around the world.” (Matt, 12:58)

Memorable Quotes

• “You would think they were going to kind of ride into the sunset on that announcement… but they are certainly not just going to let the last few months of Moulin Rouge go uncelebrated.” (Matt, 02:45)
• “The more we can get Groff on stage, I think the theatrical world is the better for it.” (Matt, 04:28)
• “This seems like this is going to be an absolutely unbelievable experience.” (Matt, 09:45)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:01–04:00] Moulin Rouge! Closing, Megan Thee Stallion casting, Zidler speculation
• [04:00–06:30] UK news: Jonathan Groff in As You Like It; TLC musical casting
• [06:30–08:30] Off-Broadway updates: Sexual Conduct…, The Reservoir, True
• [08:30–09:30] Regional spotlight: Into the Woods with Jodi Benson
• [09:30–12:00] Off-Broadway openings: Blood, Burnout Paradise, Wallace Shawn plays
• [12:00–14:00] Broadway revival: Death of a Salesman previews
• [14:00–16:00] Tour updates: Hell’s Kitchen, Shows closing
• [16:00–17:30] Upcoming podcast episodes: Cost & Mayer interview, Hadestown fan draft

Episode Tone and Style

Matt delivers the week’s news with genuine enthusiasm, detail, and a conversational style. He highlights casting excitement, historical context, and personal anticipation for events, often adding thoughtful industry context and critical awareness (notably around Scott Rudin’s production involvement).