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Welcome to a slightly delayed episode of last week on Broadway. Now for Tuesday, March 17th. Happy St. Patrick's Day 2026. I'm Broadway Radio's Matt Tammanini. I was out of town from Thursday through Monday morning, so I did not have an opportunity to record while I was gone. So I'm going to catch you up on everything that we missed over the past week, including the highly anticipated Broadway opening of Every Brilliant Thing, starring Daniel Radcliffe. I will get to all of those reviews here momentarily. We've also have a ton of news and we will look at everything happening in this week's theatrical schedule. But before we get started, I did want to let you know that our show today is sponsored by our friends over at Gusto, our favorite online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. I will talk about them a little bit later on in the show, but as I said last Thursday over at the Hudson Theater, the Broadway premiere of Duncan McMillan and John Donahoe's One Person show every Brilliant Thing officially opened. Starring Tony Award winner Daniel Radcliffe, it is directed by Jeremy Heron and Mickmillin, it is an intimate one person show that also involves the audience quite a bit about a man who looks back at his life and the glimmers of hope that carried him along the way. The show is told through a list of every wonderful, beautiful and delightful thing big, small and everything in between that makes life worth living. As of recording time, the review aggregator site Did They like it? Has collected 17 reviews, 11 were positive, five were mixed and one was negative. Helen Shaw, the new full time chief theater critic of the New York Times, was positive on the show, saying, Radcliffe doesn't just do away with a fourth wall, he manages to expand his magical aren't people wonderful optimism to include the whole orchestra, mezzanine and balcony. Sarah Holdren of Vulture was also positive, saying he's a human ping pong ball, a fizzing sparkler, a genuinely effervescent, generous and curious individual whose dynamic is less former star of $35 billion media franchise and more adorable nerd who just asked you to the they Might Be show? This is why Sarah Holden is my favorite critic. At the same time, his charm isn't hapless or floppy. It's given crispness and integrity by a quick brain and an apparently sound heart. Adam Feldman of Timeout New York was mixed, giving the show three out of five stars. He said primo tickets for every brilliant thing cost more than $400, and if you don't mind spending top dollar on a dime thin show, this one won't disappoint. It's diverting and at times even touching. But appealing though he is, there may be better things on which to spend that money than 70 minutes of Radcliffe doing crowd work. The one negative review does come from Robert Hoffler of the Rep, who as longtime listeners will know has quickly descended to the bottom of my critics rankings list, surpassing the post Johnny Oleksinski, who last fall seemingly started to actually talk sense, still in a very post ish way, but actually had some pretty good criticism. Hoffler generally doesn't, but he said this kind of audience participation happens dozens of times throughout the play, with theatergoers playing Radcliffe's father, teacher, girlfriend, wife, bridesmaids, etc. All of them just happen to be sitting in the front row on the stage. There's applause for all these amateur performances. I've never understood why people applaud the performances of amateurs when they pay to see professional actors. This is Broadway, after all. Much worse are the dozens of theatergoers who pre curtain have been handed cards with words printed on them. These words are the very brilliant things of the show's title, and people in the audience shout them whenever Radcliffe calls a specific number, for example, when he shouts 1, someone obediently shouts ice cream. Other numerals provoke such twee responses as a much needed sneeze and wearing a cape. Many of these responses are inaudible, even though some theatergoers voices sound amplified. I have not seen this show in any incarnation, let alone this one, but I am finding it more and more frustrating to hear critics who have clearly lost whatever joy they had for theater, lost whatever whimsy they had in their lives, and write reviews that say more about them as individuals than it actually does about the piece itself. Of course, as critics, we want to say whether a show worked for us and and give the reasons why it did or it did not. But if we're going to allow him to like or dislike something, you know, regardless of our own personal opinions, he he should probably give the other people that were in the audience at the same time as him that respect as well, chiding them for applauding for amateur performances. It's a nice thing to do for somebody who was put on a spot, even though it's not something that they do on a regular basis. Calling things twee is such a dismissive pejorative, I just don't get it. But nonetheless, let's wrap up with a positive and this one comes to us from Greg Evans of Deadline saying, quote, every brilliant thing is unsparing and clear eyed in its presentation of the realities of depression and suicide, yet glows with a hopeful, life affirming aura that convincingly depicts the value of struggle in the beauty in tenacity. Now I will say that our own Grace Aki has written a lovely piece reflecting on every brilliant thing over at her substack, so I will have a link to that in the show notes if you want to read her thoughts as well. All right, let's dive into the news and the biggest news around Broadway last week was the announcement of who will be taking over the role of Mary Todd Lincoln in Mary. Following the run of John Cameron Mitchell and beginning performances at the Lyceum theater on Tuesday, April 28th will be the one and only Maya Rudolph, star of Saturday Night Live and Bridesmaids. And if you watched the Oscars on Sunday night, she not only had a big role in the 15th anniversary reunion of the Bridesmaids cast on stage, but her husband slash partner Paul Thomas Anderson won three Oscars. So big week for the Rudolph Anderson family. As of now, we don't know who will be playing opposite her, but I can only imagine what type of shenanigans she will be able to get up to in this role. My friend Janie and I who lives in Nashville, we will both be in New York at the same time the week after she begins performances. So we are going to see her adding another Mary to my ever growing list. So great casting as always from everybody over at oh Mary. And if you missed the Oscars or if you saw some of the stuff at the Oscars, you're like, you know what, I should watch that. Especially because there was a number of theater performers and theater creators and theater related projects that won Oscars. I'll have a link in the show notes from my day job pointing you to where you can stream all of the Oscar winners. The other big news in and around New York City was the announcement that this fall New York City center will hold its gala production and it will be in the Heights. Now, you might be thinking, in the Heights. That's so recent. Why would they do a gala performance of a show that was just on Broadway five years ago? Funnily enough, it began performances on Broadway in 2008. Remember, it had an Off Broadway run even before that, dating back to 2007. It played the Eugene O' Neill Theater center in 2005. So this is like 21 years of in the Heights in the theater Zeitgeist. So it's incredible that we're going to get an incredible gala performance of one of my top five favorite shows of all time. But it's also kind of bonkers that, like, it is actually appropriate to be doing this now, nearly two decades after its first premiere, the show will begin performances on October 28th. That's the night of the gala and will play through November 8th. I will be finding my way to get over to City center to see that one. This production will be directed by Daveed Mendizabal, who is the associate artistic director at Berkeley Rep but is also represented off Broadway currently, which I am also getting an opportunity to see here in a month or so. But this is incredible. I cannot wait to see who they cast for this. And I know like some people don't love the gala, City center encores performances, making a transfer to Broadway, but I would not be mad about this one. Now, when we had talked about the announcement of the upcoming principal cast of Schmigadoon on Broadway, we had noted the fact that Fred Armisen's role from the TV show the Reverend wasn't announced. Well, we found out who would be taking over that role when it comes to Broadway on April 4th over the Nederlander Theater. And it is star of stage and screen Malik Panchali, who was on the show 30 Rock but has been on Broadway. And it's only a play in grand horizons. And this was a part that was created by Kevin delagula when the show played the Kennedy Center Rest in Peace a few years ago. But Pancholi will be joining the cast of Alex Brightman, Sarah Chase, Anna Gasteyer, Ann Harada, Brad Oscar, Isabel McCullough, and many, many more. So I think he's a perfect addition to this kind of show and looking forward to checking that one out later this spring. In news that honestly shocks and bewilders me, it was announced on Monday that Kissimmee, Florida's own Michael James Scott grew up just a little bit away from where I'm talking to you from right now. Will end his run in Aladdin on Sunday, May 3, having played just shy of 4,000 performances as the Genie across four companies on three continents. I've previously talked with Michael James Scott about his time in Aladdin here on Broadway Radio, so you can go back and find that in the archives if you want. He originally joined the company of Aladdin as the Genie standby during the pre Broadway engagement in Toronto in 2013. He remained in that position on Broadway through the opening of 2014. He originated the role in the Australian production and he's also led the West End production and the North American tour. Just an absolutely incredible run for Michael and congratulations to him. Now let's go Off Broadway and start with the announcement of this year's 20th anniversary edition of the Off Broadway Alliances 20 at 20 we've talked about this in the past. Now this is somewhat in the same vein of Broadway Week and Off Broadway Week, but it does come with a little bit of a twist. How it works is that from March 23 through April 12 there are going to be 28 Off Broadway productions that will participate in 20 at 20. This means that 20 minutes prior to a curtain for any of these shows, plays, musicals, events, performances, whatever, if you are at the show's box office, you can get $20 tickets for whatever they have left, whatever they haven't sold. So it's a great opportunity to see shows that you might not have been able to just because of the price being a little bit exclusionary. There are some great shows in here that I would certainly recommend. Things like Burnout, Paradise Hotel, Heartbreak, Monte Cristo, Music City, the Play that Goes Wrong, Red Bull's Titus Andronicus starring Patrick Page and more. So I'll have the link to where you can get all the information about 20 at 20 in the show notes. Last week we also found out about two more shows joining the Audible Theater and Together Theater Company's season coming up. We'd already talked about the fact that Hugh Jackman and Ella Beatty would be bringing back sexual misconduct of the middle classes to to the Audible Theater tonight beginning tonight on March 17th. The other two shows joining that season will be Tom Noonan's what Happened Was as well as Ella Hickson's Newborn what Happened Was will run from April 14th through June 14th. This will be the first major revival of the play, which also spawned a film adaptation. The revival will star Cecily Strong and Corey Stoll about two co workers meeting for a first date in a one bedroom New York City apartment. Cecily Strong and Corey stroll absolutely incredible Love that. And then Newborn is three monologues penned by Ella Hickson with performances by Mariana Gallas, Zepita Moafi and Hugh Jackman himself. If you want more information on that, head over to audibletheater.com or check out the show Notes Sticking Off Broadway Yesterday the Cherry Lynn Theater announced that Claire Barron's yous Got Older Was would extend its run off Broadway. It was originally scheduled to close on March 29th. It already extended before performances began on April 12th. It'll now add two more weeks to play through April 26th. In wrapping up this Off Broadway News section heading up to New World Stages, last week it was announced that Zan Baruby, who opened the second national tour of six as Anne Boleyn, she will take over as the new Heather Chandler and Heathers at New World Stages. She will replace Peyton List, who will end her run on Sunday, April 26, and then Baruby will take over the role the next night on Monday, April 27. Alright, let's take a real quick break from the news to talk about our sponsor for this week, Gusto. Now, as I have talked about before, I have my own llc, but I am not exactly the most financially or administratively inclined individual, so a lot of those things go over my head and either I stumble through trying to figure out how to do it, have to pay someone else to do it for me, or just bury my head in the sand and just don't do it at all. However, when I work with clients that use Gusto, everything is so painless and so easy. I feel like I get a little bit of a reprieve from having to wear all of the different hats that a business owner does. Now I've never been on the administrative side of Gusto, but I can tell you from my side of having worked with them for years with numerous clients and it makes my life so much easier. So I'm sure that all of the effort that Gusto puts in to things on my end they do tenfold for the people that are actually paying them for their service. Now Gusto is online payroll and benefit software built for small businesses. It's all in one remote, friendly and incredibly easy to use so you can pay, hire onboard and support your team from anywhere. They take care of all of the administrative and payroll stuff that eats up so much of your schedule as a business owner that you don't get to do the things that you actually started the business to do. They take care of payroll, tax filing, simple direct deposits, health benefits, workers comp 401ks all of those things that you want to offer to your employees, but you're not exactly sure how. And then if there is something that you want to do that you don't exactly know how to do it, you get direct access to certified HR experts that help walk you through all of the most difficult HR situations. And let's be honest, in today's day and age, especially with remote work, there are a lot of them. So try gusto today@gusto.com Broadway and get three months free when you run your first payroll. That's three months of free payroll@gusto.com Broadway one more time gusto.com Broadway. All right, let's get into this week's theatrical schedule and it starts tonight downtown at the New York Theatre Workshop with the opening of the new musical My Joy Is Heavy. Created and performed by our beloved Banksons. It was directed by the incredible Rachel Chapkin and choreographed by Steph Paul. As is true with all of the Banksons show, this is a musical memoir. This one dives deeply into the unexpected joys and humor that are forged in the wake of loss. Love the Banksons. Love everything I've ever seen them in and cannot wait to hear all about this one. I already mentioned earlier in the show that Audible Theater is bringing back sexual misconduct of the middle classes with Ella Beatty and Hugh Jackman. It played last year to very well received critical praise. It is currently on sale through April 30 at the Minetta Lane Theater. Also beginning performances on Tuesday night is the aforementioned Red Bull Theater Company production of Titus Andronicus starring the great Patrick Page, directed by Jesse Berger, is currently on schedule to play at the Pershing Square Signature center through April 19th. Then on Wednesday we have not one but two different Broadway shows beginning performances. The first will happen over at the Hel Hayes Theater from Second Stage Theater Company and it is the long awaited Broadway premiere of Gina Gianfredo's play Becky Shaw. It is directed by Tripp Coleman because Tripp Coleman directs every good play apparently and it stars Patrick Ball, Madeline Brewer, Alden Ironreich, Linda Amand and Lauren Patton. An absolutely incredible cast of stars of both stage and screen. Really looking forward to hearing all about this one and hopefully have an opportunity to see it when I'm in town this spring. Then over at the Broadhurst Theater will be the very first Broadway performance of Cats Colon the Jellicoe Ball. Of course, this is the iconic musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics based on T.S. eliot's book of poems, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. It is directed by Zylon Levingston and Bill Rauch, choreographed by Omari Wills and Arturo Lyons, and has just such an interesting, dynamic cast of folks from the theater world, from the dance world, from the ballroom world. The one that I don't think we've talked about nearly enough is the fact that Ken Ard is playing DJ Griddlebone. And while that's not the most famous cat in the Jellicle world, it's awesome because Ken Ard originated the role of Macavity in the original Broadway cast of Cats. So that is absolutely incredible that you may or may not be familiar with. In the cast are Primo, the Ballerino, Bryson, Battle Baby Byrne, Andre de Shields, Sydney James Harcourt, Temperance Chastity Moore, Nora Shell, Emma Sophia and more. Look, this is going to be the show of the season in terms of like all of the buzz. Think of Sunset last season. This is going to be the one you have to see, so make sure that you get tickets. But if you thought Becky Shaw and Cat's the Jellicoe Ball beginning performances on Wednesday night was enough to satiate you on a Wednesday, hold on my friends, because over at New York City center they will begin performances of the encore's production of Michael, John LaChiusa and George Wolf's the Wild Party. It'll run for two weeks through March 29 and has just an incredible cast including Jelani Aladdin, Jordan, donica Claiborne, Elder K.J. hip and steel, Andrew Kober, Leslie Margarita, Evan Tyrone Martin, Betsy Morgan, Megan Murphy, Tanya Pinkins, who was in the original cast of this show. She played Kate that'll be played by Adrienne Warren. Also in the cast are the incredible Jasmine, Amy Rogers, Maya Rowe and more. So as always, anything on course is worth seeing. So recommend that then Playwrights Horizons will also begin performances on a new show called no Singing in the Navy and it is written by Milo Kramer and directed by Asin Sillic. Then on Thursday we'll be back on Broadway with another show. Beginning performances. This will happen over the James Earl Jones Theater. It is the play written by Lindsey Ferrantino based on the documentary directed by David Singleton. Both the documentary and this play are called the fear of 13. David Cromer, one of the best in the business, does direct this production and it is headlined by two heavy hitting Hollywood stars, two time Academy Award winner Adrien Brody as well as Tessa Thompson. Also in the cast are the likes of Eddie Cooper, Ephraim Sykes and more. This one is currently slated to run through July 12th. I've heard it's fantastic after its run in London. Don't know a whole lot about it, but it does deal with a real life situation about a man on death row. So can't wait to hear all about this one. Also on Thursday we have Broadway openings. We will handle them alphabetically. The first is Monte Cristo, a new musical, a new adaptation of Alexander Dumas beloved iconic novel. It features a book and lyrics by Peter Kelly and music by Steven Weiner with choreography by Marcus Santana and direction by Peter Flynn. The cast includes such names as Sierra Boggess, Kate Fitzgerald, Adam Jacobs, Norm Lewis, Eliseo Roman, Danny Rutigliano, Daniel Yearwood, Karen Ziemba and more. This is such a good book. The movie version is incredible as well, so if you have a chance to check this one out, you should do so before April 5th. Then also happening Off Broadway but in a much more intimate way we will have the opening night for the Jesse Tyler Ferguson led production of J. Press and Allen's play True. It also costars Charlotte Damboit and is directed by Rob Ashford. It is playing at the uber intimate 90 seat performance space at House of the Redeemer. Look, this is something like Jesse Tyler Ferguson has not done in many, many, many years. Having an opportunity to see him and Charlotte Dambois, to be quite honest with you, in such an intimate space in such an incredible underseen play is something you should definitely check out. Then on Friday we have two shows beginning performances Off Broadway. First is the second incarnation of the dance show Gotta Dance which celebrates some of the most iconic choreography in Broadway history that will take place over at stage 42 and then down at the Dr. 2 theater will be the first performance of Heartbreak Hotel. This is from the New Zealand Theater Company EBKM. It is a comedy about grief. Karen McCracken plays a woman navigating heartbreak and Simon Leary plays all of the men in her life in this funny and moving show that is studded with lo fi covers of classic breakup songs, bad dates and attempted fresh starts. And then we have one show beginning previews and four shows closing on Sunday. The one beginning previews is Seagull Colon True Story written by Ellie Rarey and created and directed by Alexander Molochenkoff. It is both autobiographical and political satire using the works and themes of the iconic Chekhov classic the Seagull. The cast is led by one of my favorites, Gus Burney, so anytime she is in something it is definitely worth seeing. And then the show's closing Off Broadway are marcel on the train from classic stage company, the monsters from Manhattan theater club, the office of musical parody parody off broadway at the jerry orbach theater and the reservoir from the atlantic theater company. All right, everybody, that is all that I have for you today. Thank you so much as always for supporting Broadway radio. If you want more Broadway radio, head over to patreon.com broadwayradio thanks again for listening. This has been Matt tamanini and I'll talk to you soon.