BroadwayRadio Special Episode: Matt Rodin on Why ‘Beau the Musical’ Is Like Nothing Else in New York

Guest: Matt Rodin (Star of "Beau the Musical")
Host: Matt Tamanini
Date: December 16, 2025

Episode Overview

Main Theme:
This episode features an in-depth conversation with Matt Rodin, the star of Beau the Musical, discussing the show's unique qualities, his personal and artistic journey with the production, and how the experience has shaped him both onstage and off. The discussion also touches on the show's emotional impact, the rare grandfather-grandson relationship at its core, and the creative risks and rewards of Rodin’s broader career as a writer and social commentator.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Emotional Weight of Closing an Eight-Year Journey

[03:38] Matt Tamanini asks:
“How are you feeling, looking towards the last three weeks of Beau after nearly a decade with the project?”

• Rodin’s Response:
  • He is staying present, avoiding getting ahead of himself emotionally.
  • He feels immense gratitude and pride, having witnessed both his growth and the show’s evolution:

    “I’ve gotten to sort of watch in a weird way, like, witness my own growth as the piece has grown... I used to feel like when a show closed, I would feel this sort of wave of sadness... but mostly lately it’s been feeling like closure.” (Rodin, 03:38)

  • Closure, rather than sadness, is the major feeling, a sign of the long, transformative process Beau has been.

Artistic Growth, Self-Acceptance, and “Being Enough”

[05:41] Discussion about personal change over eight years:

• Rodin shares:
  • The journey with Beau coincided with major life changes (e.g., marriage).
  • The show gave him permission to be authentic; he no longer felt pressure to “fit into a box.”
  • Working on the show led him to internalize the belief that “what I have is enough,” influencing all subsequent creative opportunities.
  • He credits the creative team—especially Douglas—for recognizing and encouraging his individuality:

    “They trusted me to do [the show] when I didn’t trust myself…they said, ‘you have more than enough. You have everything that you need in order to do this.’”(Rodin, 06:01)

Bringing Authenticity Onstage Night After Night

[08:11] Exploring the interplay between Matt and his character Ace:

• Rodin emphasizes the freedom to bring his present self each night, meeting the audience exactly where he is.
• Rejects the notion of actors leaving everything at the stage door; he finds richness in blending his daily experiences into each performance:

  “...to sort of just come in with wherever I am and meet the audience where they are. And that experience in itself becomes unique because of all those things sort of happening magically together at once.” (Rodin, 08:43)

The Uncommon, Powerful Core Relationship

[10:31] The rare focus on a grandfather-grandson bond:

• Tamanini and Rodin discuss how uncommon this plot is.
• Rodin notes he sometimes forgets just how unique the familial dynamic is:

  “Love story between an older man and a young man that's familial... that is not what we’re seeing on stage or even on screen very often.” (Rodin, 11:14)

• The immersive, actor-musician, concert-like staging further sets Beau apart:

  “There’s nothing else in New York right now... in the last 2, 5, 10 years that I’ve experienced that is like this.” (Rodin, 11:14)

Audience Intimacy and Emotional Impact

[12:52] The unique venue shapes the audience experience:

• The audience’s reactions are immediate and unavoidable for the cast—sighs, gasps, sniffles are all perceptible.

  “People are feet away from me having a full breakdown in the center of this theater. It is so immediate that you have nowhere to hide.” (Rodin, 13:29)

• The configuration fosters communal experience, with audience members not only connecting to the show, but to each other.

Memory Play Structure and Performance Choices

[16:00] Exploring narrative layers:

• Rodin reflects on the memory play’s duality—sometimes feeling like the narrator and sometimes an internal observer:

  “I have fun, like playing with that... It’s nice to not be in the center of those scenes because I kind of get to be like a secondary watcher.” (Rodin, 16:27)

The Unique Collaboration with Jeb Brown (Bo)

[18:06] The on- and off-stage partnership:

• Jeb Brown, who plays Bo, has been a constant presence and mentor, paralleling the grandfather-grandson dynamic.
• Their rapport is deep and organic; it doesn’t feel like acting:

  “...it doesn’t feel like either of you are acting. It feels like you two are just, like, speaking and just being present with one another, which is, like, the best compliment you can possibly give us...” (Rodin, 19:00)

Breaking Musical Theatre Conventions

[21:32] The actor-musician approach:

• Unlike other actor-musician shows (e.g., John Doyle’s work), Beau does not feel Brechtian or “gimmicky”—the musical numbers unfold like songs performed by a band:

  “We are presenting the songs. It has a different effect on the audience... my job is to perform the song, to be present with the band, present with the music... and trust that the music is landing in the way that it needs to, in the same way that I would if I was playing just like a regular concert gig.” (Rodin, 22:04)

Looking Toward the Future

[23:27] What comes after Beau?

• Rodin is excited and open to new and surprising artistic challenges, relishing variety:

  “...my hope is that it’s different. Like, that’s the thing I like, is I like being pushed and stretched in a way that, like, I haven’t been yet.” (Rodin, 23:46)

Social Media, Visibility, and “The Fourth Wall” Newsletter

[24:54] On the different facets of his career:

• Many fans now know Rodin from his social media and online hosting as much as theater work.
• He values the opportunity to demonstrate his diverse skillset:

  “It’s really, really cool to get to be like, yeah. And also, I do this, and I’m not... it’s not just like, oh, I’m an actor, but it’s like, no, like, I actually... I’ve put in time and energy and care... and they all are very connected.” (Rodin, 25:13)

[26:35] The “Fourth Wall” newsletter and honest commentary:

• Rodin admits to a level of fear when writing candidly about industry controversies but uses that fear as motivation for deeper analysis and empathy.

  “I have found that it’s been so powerful for me... to have the space to, like, untangle the things that I’m experiencing.” (Rodin, 27:12)

The Holiday Spirit and Beau’s Timely Relevance

[29:13] What does Beau the Musical offer during the holidays?

• Despite not being a “holiday show,” Rodin hopes the audience leaves inspired to deepen connections with family:

  “Maybe there’s a story that you haven’t heard or... something about someone in your family that maybe you can learn that you didn’t know before. And if our show can inspire people to... ask that question, I think that that is, that’s a win.” (Rodin, 29:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I’ve gotten to sort of watch... my own growth as the piece has grown.” (Rodin, 03:38)
• “They trusted me to do [the show] when I didn’t trust myself.” (Rodin, 06:01)
• “People are feet away from me having a full breakdown in the center of this theater.” (Rodin, 13:29)
• “It doesn’t feel like either of you are acting. It feels like you two are just, like, speaking and just being present with one another...” (Rodin, 19:00)
• “...the privilege of the space to get to just do the songs as songs is something that I don’t think I... I don’t think anyone in the band takes for granted.” (Rodin, 22:04)
• “Maybe there's a story that you haven't heard... something about someone in your family that maybe you can learn that you didn’t know before. And if our show can inspire people to... ask that question, that’s a win.”
  (Rodin, 29:50)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:38 – Rodin on his emotions ahead of the final weeks of Beau
• 06:01 – Discussing personal and career transformation fueled by the show
• 08:43 – Nightly authenticity and present-moment acting choice
• 11:14 – Uniqueness of the grandfather-grandson story at Beau’s core
• 13:29 – Audience intimacy and shared emotional experience
• 16:27 – Navigating the meta-layers of the memory play structure
• 19:00 – Relationship, mentorship, and non-acting with Jeb Brown
• 22:04 – The actor-musician setup and its freedom
• 23:46 – Looking forward to the next phase of his career
• 25:13 – Interconnections between performance, social media, and writing
• 27:12 – Balancing honesty and vulnerability in his industry commentary
• 29:50 – Holiday resonance and the show’s power to foster deeper family understanding

Final Thoughts

Beau the Musical is revealed not only as a pioneering piece of theater with its rare, moving depiction of a grandfather-grandson relationship and innovative concert-style format, but also as a transformative experience for its star and audiences alike. Matt Rodin’s reflections offer a blend of humility, gratitude, and hope—making this episode an inspiring listen for anyone interested in the evolving world of musical theater and the evolving artist at its heart.