Theatre-tangential and non-theatre related streaming recommendations

Summary

BroadwayRadio Podcast Episode Summary Episode Title: Theatre-tangential and Non-Theatre Related Streaming Recommendations
Release Date: December 27, 2024
Host: BroadwayRadio
Description: Broadway's Premier Podcasts

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of BroadwayRadio, hosts Matt and Grace delve into a curated list of streaming recommendations that, while not exclusively theater-related, embody the spirit and creativity of theatrical productions. Perfect for listeners looking to unwind during the holiday season, the episode offers a blend of films and series that capture dramatic flair, musicality, and compelling storytelling.

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Streaming Recommendations

1. Juror Number 2

Speaker: Grace
Timestamp: [01:09]
Grace introduces Juror Number 2, directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Jonathan Abrams. She highlights its departure from Eastwood's previous work, stating:

"If you were a fan of that show. Yes. If you were a fan of that show, it's nothing like it. And if you didn't like the show at all, it's nothing like it. So you should absolutely watch it. It's on HBO Max."
— Grace [01:09]

Juror Number 2 is a thriller-crime film praised for its intense narrative and strong performances, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre.

2. Anna and the Apocalypse

Speaker: Matt
Timestamp: [02:28]
Matt recommends Anna and the Apocalypse, a unique blend of horror, apocalypse, and musical elements set during Christmas. He describes it as:

"It is absolutely incredible... It forces Anna and her friends to fight Slash and sing their way to survival. The film doesn't really star anybody that you probably have ever heard of, but it's delightful. It's fun, it's silly, but it also is very much a zombie movie."
— Matt [02:28]

Available on AMC Plus, Shudder, and other streaming platforms, this 2017 British film offers a fresh take on the zombie apocalypse genre with its musical twists.

3. The Penguin (HBO Max Series)

Speaker: Grace
Timestamp: [03:14]
Grace spotlights The Penguin, a series providing a villain origin story for the iconic Batman character. She emphasizes its high production value and stellar cast:

"It is so well directed and written and very eerie. It feels like I'm watching like a period piece on, like, you know, Mafia, whatever... Kristen Meglioti... she is stupendous. And it's just so evident, her theater training."
— Grace [03:14]

This series is a must-watch for fans of character-driven narratives and those interested in the darker facets of the Batman universe.

4. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1965 Version)

Speaker: Matt
Timestamp: [06:30]
Matt nostalgically recommends the 1965 adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, starring Leslie Ann Warren and Stuart Damon:

"Playing Anna is Ella Hunt... It is delightful, and I love it. It's a piece of my childhood, and I think it's a great version of this story of Cinderella. The Broadway version is fairly different... Douglas Carter Bean wrote the book and just kind of redid things a lot for a more modern sensibility."
— Matt [06:30]

Available on BroadwayHD, this classic rendition remains a favorite for its charming performances and timeless storytelling.

5. Criterion Channel Selections

Speaker: Grace
Timestamp: [08:34]
Grace advocates for the Criterion Channel, highlighting its diverse library that includes musicals, comedies, and cult classics:

"I decided to invest in the Criterion channel... There are like a subsect of like musicals and they might be ones and then like Mel Brooks comedies, things like that. I really recommend it."
— Grace [08:34]

She mentions notable films such as Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie on Netflix, Crybaby with Johnny Depp, and Don't Look Back featuring Bob Dylan, making it a treasure trove for cinephiles.

6. Hamlet 2

Speaker: Matt
Timestamp: [10:31]
Matt introduces Hamlet 2, a comedy that satirizes theatrical productions, featuring Steve Coogan and Amy Poehler:

"It follows a recovering alcoholic, failed actor who becomes a high school teacher... It is absurd. But it's also funny and it has a great cast."
— Matt [10:31]

Streaming on Max, this 2008 film is appreciated for its humor and commentary on the struggles of artistic expression.

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Conclusion

Matt and Grace wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to explore these diverse streaming options, each offering a unique blend of theatrical essence and cinematic excellence. They invite audience interaction through social media, asking listeners to share their streaming experiences and recommendations.

"Check out all of those, let us know what you're streaming on social media... All right, everybody, have a wonderful Friday, a wonderful weekend, and we'll be back to talk to you next week."
— Matt [12:58]

This episode serves as a valuable guide for theater enthusiasts seeking captivating content beyond the stage, ensuring a delightful streaming experience during the holiday season.

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Key Takeaways:

• Diverse Selections: From musical zombie apocalypses to classic fairy tales and villain origin stories.
• Quality Recommendations: Focused on films and series with strong narratives, exceptional performances, and theatrical elements.
• Accessible Platforms: All recommendations are available across various streaming services, catering to different viewing preferences.
• Engaged Hosts: Matt and Grace provide insightful commentary and personal anecdotes, enhancing the listener's experience.

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Notable Quotes:

• Grace at [01:09]: "If you were a fan of that show... you should absolutely watch it. It's on HBO Max."
• Matt at [02:28]: "It is absolutely incredible... It is fun, it's smart, and it's a musical set in Christmas."
• Grace at [03:14]: "Kristen Meglioti... she is stupendous. And it's just so evident, her theater training."
• Matt at [06:30]: "It's a piece of my childhood, and I think it's a great version of this story of Cinderella."

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For more detailed discussions and updates on Broadway and beyond, tune into BroadwayRadio, your premier destination for all things theater and entertainment.

Transcript

[Grace]

Foreign.

[Matt]

Hello, everybody. We are coming to you on Friday, December 27th. I hope that not only was your Christmas the beginning of Hanukkah, but also, most importantly, Boxing Day was fantastic. But, Grace, people are kind of like, this is the time of year when people kind of settle in and they don't know what day it is. They don't really always leave the house. They maybe don't change out of their pajamas and they just kind of sit in front of the TV and veg and relax and chill from the long year that they've had and get ready for the next year coming up. So today we wanted to recommend some things that, like, aren't theater, but kind of feel like theater that they can.

[Unknown]

Watch on streaming services.

[Matt]

Before we get into, like, what your recommendations are, like, what is something that you are looking forward to streaming over the next week or so that doesn't have to be theater related at all, but what is something that you like is on your list? You have to catch up on and watch.

[Grace]

You know, there are a lot of new releases that are coming out on streaming right now just in time for, like, the holiday times. So I've watched a couple of new movies like Anora. I've got Wild Robot on my list. Like, I have quite a few new releases that are just, like, coming to streaming right now. I just finished Juror Number 2. Juror Number 2, directed by Clint Eastwood, probably gonna be his last film, is written by Jonathan Abrams, who wrote the Heart of Rock and Roll. So if you were a fan of that show. Yes. If you were a fan of that show, it's nothing like it. And if you didn't like the show at all, it's nothing like it. So you should absolutely watch it. It's on hbo, Max. If you like Thriller, crime, it's supposed to be great. Yeah, it's good. It's really good. And so I was texting his wife literally yesterday, being like, what. What a crazy year he's had. But, yeah, so just. Just saying, people have range.

[Matt]

Apparently. So. Yeah. And his wife is one of my good friend's college roommates, so I. I had not heard that. I'll have to bring that up when.

[Unknown]

I see her next, but.

[Matt]

All right, I'm going to kick us off.

[Unknown]

And because this is still the holiday.

[Matt]

Season, I'm going to recommend something that is a. Like, I know people like Die Hard's a Christmas movie. Yeah, we can argue about that. Whatever. I'm fine with that.

[Unknown]

But this is one that is very.

[Matt]

Much a horror apocalyptic thing that is not only clearly a Christmas movie, but it's also a musical.

[Unknown]

And this is the 2017 British film.

[Matt]

Anna and the Apocalypse. It is absolutely incredible.

[Unknown]

It is streaming on a number of streaming services.

[Matt]

You can get it on, like, AMC plus and Shudder, which are their sister things, but you can also rent or buy it, you know, wherever. You know, itunes, prime video, all of those things. I have AMC plus, so that's where I watched it or watch it now. I've watched it in the past. I think it used to be on Netflix, but there's a small little town called Little Haven, and it is hit.

[Unknown]

By a zombie apocalypse on Christmas, and.

[Matt]

It forces Anna and her friends to fight Slash and sing their way to survival. The film doesn't really star anybody that.

[Unknown]

You probably have ever heard of, but.

[Matt]

Playing Anna is Ella Hunt.

[Unknown]

At one point, Grace, she was her, who I heard was going to be.

[Matt]

Playing Daisy Buchanan in the art version in the Florence and the Machine version of Gatsby that played in Cambridge earlier this year. So that show is expected to be going to London. So because Ella is British, she's from London. I wonder if maybe she joins the.

[Unknown]

Production over there because they are doing some significant recasting.

[Matt]

So maybe this can give you a little bit of an insight into some really exciting casting coming up. But nonetheless, Anne and the Apocalypse is delightful. It's fun, it's silly, but it also is very much a zombie movie. It's kind of like a Shaun of the Dead zombie movie or maybe Zombieland even, where it's not super blood and gutsy and it's not like jump scare kind of thing. But it's fun, it's smart, and it's.

[Unknown]

A musical and it's set in Christmas.

[Matt]

So what's not to love? All right, Grace, what do you have that is theater? Ish, but not exactly theater?

[Grace]

This is not theater at all. This is the Penguin series on HBO Max. It is based on Kristen Miliotti.

[Matt]

Kristen Miliotti is a theater person. That counts.

[Grace]

Exactly. So what it is is kind of like a villain origin story for the Penguin villain character that is in the Batman series. And you don't have to know anything about DC Comics or Batman to care. It is so well directed and written and very eerie. And it feels like I'm watching like a period piece on, like, you know, Mafia, whatever, which I really love anyways. You know, that's HBO Max's bread and butter for my television at least. But Kristen Meglioti, who we all know and love from once, who was robbed of A Tony Award. She's spectacular. She's good in everything she does. The last thing I saw her in on stage was Lazarus Downtown, the David Bowie musical with Michael C. Hall. The day that Bowie died, I believe. So. It's just a crazy thing, but she is stupendous. And it's just so evident, her theater training. There's one episode in particular that feels like it's her own play, it's her own piece, and it's just really stunning. And just the entire cast is. And you can also read all of their theater credits. You can tell that these people are so well vetted from the stage because of how good they are on scenes. And it's just. It's just fantastic. So I think something that's not theater, that's theater to me, is the Penguin.

[Unknown]

All right.

[Matt]

I am going to go wildly different. I'm going to go back to something that is far more theater than that is. And I'm going to go and take you over to Broadway HD where they have what I think is the quintessential version.

[Unknown]

I know there are many other versions.

[Matt]

And depending how old you are, you might like other versions better, but to.

[Unknown]

Me, I grew up on the 1965.

[Matt]

Version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella that.

[Unknown]

Starred Leslie Ann Warren as Cinderella and.

[Matt]

Stuart Damon as the prince. It is streaming on Broadway HD.

[Unknown]

Of course, the original version of this was from 1957 and starred Julie Andrews.

[Matt]

In the late 90s. 1997, you had the Brandy and Whitney Houston version.

[Unknown]

And then, of course, it eventually turned.

[Matt]

Into multiple stage productions. Most obviously the one with Laura Asnes and Santino Fontana that played on Broadway. But this was my mom's favorite. So, like, I grew up watching this. It had incredible cast. Ginger Rogers and Walter Pidgeon as the queen and King, Celeste Holm, the original.

[Unknown]

Ado Annie from Oklahoma, as the fairy godmother, Jo Van Fleet, Pat Carroll, Barbara.

[Matt]

Ruak as the stepmother and stepsisters respectively.

[Unknown]

It's delightful and I love it. And I still watch it every year.

[Matt]

Or two, and I just really love it. It's a piece of my childhood, and I think it's a great version of.

[Unknown]

This story of Cinderella. The Broadway version is fairly different.

[Matt]

Like, they changed quite a bit about it because both of the TV versions of it, I think, were only an hour long, so you had to pad, obviously, the Broadway version, but they also rearrange the story. Douglas Carter Bean wrote the book and just kind of redid things a lot.

[Unknown]

For a more modern sensibility.

[Matt]

But the original one not the original.

[Unknown]

One, the second one, the Stuart Damon.

[Matt]

Leslie Ann Warren version is one of my favorite memories growing up.

[Unknown]

That is theater related. And you can watch it on Broadway hd.

[Matt]

All right, Grace, what else is on.

[Unknown]

Your to stream list?

[Grace]

This is so stupid. But do you count, Matt, do you personally count streaming TV, like through YouTube TV, which is basically cable, as streaming TV? Because that's what I do every day. But I don't even know if that really counts. Okay, great.

[Matt]

Because you can stream it, so it's fine. Yeah.

[Grace]

What I have done is I decided to invest in the Criterion channel. And if you go to the Criterion channel, it has like a subsect of like musicals and they might be ones and then like Mel Brooks comedies, things like that. Like there might be things that you have just never had on your radar before. And I really recommend it. There's also the Maria Callas film starring Angelina Jolie is coming out on Netflix. That's going to be one that I think all of us need to watch for awards considerations. But also it's going to be that sneaky little kind of musical that comes out of nowhere that I think that people are going to want to pay attention to come awards season.

[Matt]

And of course we have Masterclass, which is also a Maria Callas thing. So even though this is not like.

[Unknown]

Coming from a play, it definitely feels.

[Matt]

Informed by some things that we have.

[Unknown]

Seen on stage before.

[Grace]

There's a lot of like origin pieces on Criterion as well. Like you've got the Crybaby original with Johnny Depp, you've got some John Waters picks here. And if you, I mean, if you watch my little video talking about oh Mary and things like that, like you should absolutely be watching Polyester. Also the Don't Look Back Bob Dylan movie is on there. And if you're prepping for the other Bob Dylan movie and no, I'm not talking about Girl from the North Country. I think that you're going to, to watch that as well.

[Matt]

Yeah, the, the, the Timmy Shalam one that's coming up now. Be very good. T sh. Yeah, the criterion collection is like 11 bucks a month if you subscribe to it that way. And it does come with a 14 day free trial. The last thing on my list is. Is insane. Like it's, it's just one of the craziest movies that I'm kind of surprised. Like it certainly has its fans, but.

[Unknown]

I'm kind of surprised it never became.

[Matt]

A bigger cult classic than it is. And maybe I'm just. It's under my radar but it is a movie that came out in 2008 that stars Steve Coogan, Katherine Keener, Amy Poehler, David Arquette, Skyler Astin, Phoebe Stroll. Do you know what movie I'm talking about, Grace?

[Grace]

Are you talking about Hamlet too?

[Matt]

I am talking about Hamlet too. Hamlet 2.

[Unknown]

What did you just.

[Matt]

Did you just what?

[Grace]

I just love that you're always talking about Hamlet too.

[Matt]

Have I talked about it before?

[Grace]

Yes, we've talked about this. No, no, I just mean casually in the sense of like we were making fun of like there was like a musical moment in another thing and you're like, it reminds me of Hamlet too. And I was like, yes, because one time Steve Coogan was a client of mine at James Purse and all I could think of was like, I just love you. And Hamlet too.

[Matt]

Rock me, sexy Jesus. Yeah, so this is a movie that.

[Unknown]

Is available to stream on Max as well.

[Matt]

So if you wanted to watch the.

[Unknown]

Penguin and then this.

[Matt]

It is available on Max, but it.

[Unknown]

Follows a recovering alcoholic, failed actor who.

[Matt]

Becomes a high school teacher. And he's terrible. He's a theater teacher. He's terrible. He does these crazy adaptations. Like the last one they did was they did a musical adaptation of Erin Brockovich.

[Unknown]

Why?

[Matt]

But then he all of a sudden.

[Unknown]

Gets a ton of new students because.

[Matt]

It'S like the only class that was available as an elective. So it's just weird. It's bonkers. It is crazy. It is dumb. But it is very funny.

[Unknown]

It is a.

[Matt]

It is a musical. Like Hamlet 2 is what they do. That's a musical.

[Unknown]

So there are songs in there.

[Matt]

But it is absolutely crazy. It is absurd. But it's also funny and it has a great cast. Like Elizabeth Shue is in there as well. Nat Faxon, Oscar winner Nat Faxon is.

[Unknown]

In it as well.

[Matt]

So just a really incredible cast of goofy people. And it is something that I think for theater fans especially, you will appreciate if you have a sense of humor that is kind of like that early to late aughts, goofy, maybe a little bit cringy comedy. All right, Anything else on your list, Grace?

[Grace]

No, that'll do it for me.

[Matt]

Yeah, I think those are some. A very wide range of things that we could possibly recommend for you. So check out all of those, let us know what you're streaming on social media. Send us screenshots of whatever theater related stuff you are watching at Broadway Radio. All right, everybody, have a wonderful Friday, a wonderful weekend, and we'll be back to talk to you next week.