BroadwayRadio – This Week on Broadway for November 23, 2025: Chess, Spelling Bees, and Buzzy New Musicals

Date: November 23, 2025
Panel: James Marino (host), Peter Filichia, Michael Portantiere, Jan Simpson
Main Theme: This episode explores several notable Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, centering on the much-anticipated Broadway revival of Chess, with reviews and discussion of Little Bear Ridge Road, the 20th anniversary production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York, Tom Hanks’ new play This World of Tomorrow, the London transfer of Oedipus, Sweet Smell of Success in concert, and the cult favorite The Baker’s Wife. The panelists share frank, lively, and informed critiques, and celebrate standout performances throughout the current theatre scene.

Panel Introductions and Show Tune of the Day

• Show Tune: “Fran and Janie” from Is There Life After High School?
  • Peter Filichia highlights its “nostalgic and bittersweet” vibe, explaining its aptness due to many high school reunions occurring around Thanksgiving.
    • [02:00] “[It’s] both nostalgic and bittersweet and real. … Craig Carnelia was so underrated and we’ll hear more about him a little later.” — Peter Filichia

Chess: The Broadway ‘Revisal’ in The Spotlight

Context

• Panel Impressions: The group discusses the perennial attempt to salvage the show’s book, outstanding vocal performances, and the production’s overall value.

Peter Filichia’s Take [06:23]

• Admits to having seen Chess on “three continents.”
• Critiques the book: “There’ll never be a good book for Chess. … The political machinations made no sense to me at all.”
• Praises the music and performances, especially Lea Michele: “It’s just amazing to me how it seems that singing to her seems as natural as speaking or breathing out and breathing in.”
• Notes casting:
  • Aaron Tveit (“very good… certainly impressed by Nicholas Christopher as well”)
  • Bryce Pinkham as the narrator
• Observes the inconsistent use of accents and suggests “trips to the restrooms during the book scenes may be well advised.”

Jan Simpson’s View [09:28]

• First-time viewer of Chess: compares it in scale to an Encores! concert, with “orchestra on stage, very minimal set, very few costume changes.”
• Big fan of Bryce Pinkham’s performance.
• Finds Danny Strong’s new book overly meta, crowded with political jokes, “self-referential comments,” and gratuitous use of profanity:
  • “[W]henever Strong runs out of what he thinks are funny things to say, he has the character say ‘fuck.’ And that just really annoys me.”
• Likes the singing and choreography, but “I don’t get what all the fuss was about.”

Michael Portantiere’s Thoughts [11:31]

• The music is the enduring draw: “Some of us love it so much we’re willing to put up with these ridiculous books that keep getting written.”
• Prefers previous versions with little to no dialogue (e.g., Actors Fund and Royal Albert Hall concerts).
• Bemoans the book’s inconsistent tone—lurching from dramatic nuclear war references to “childish jokes about this ‘Cold War musical.’”
• On performances: “The seeming effortlessness of Lea Michele’s singing applies equally to Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher.”
• Criticizes the obvious reshuffling of “Someone Else’s Story” late in the show to give Michele a showpiece moment.

James Marino’s Final Word [17:15]

• “Every time Lea Michele opened her mouth, I was thinking, she’s going to win the Tony.”
• “Word of mouth on the street is that it’s not great. But you have to go see these performances.” Grosses are “pretty solid.”
• “Trips to the restrooms during the book scenes may be well advised.” — Peter Filichia [09:25]

Notable Moment:

• [09:30] Jan’s first time seeing Chess: “Oh my god.” — Michael Portantiere

Little Bear Ridge Road: Broadway Debut for Samuel D. Hunter

Jan Simpson [20:23]

• Summary: Two lonely relatives sheltering together in rural Idaho during COVID, coping with grief and broken family bonds. Laurie Metcalf and Micah Stock star.
• “A play about two very solitary, very lonely people trying to make a connection and trying to figure out what is possible to forgive.”
• Praises its quiet depth despite a jokey start.

Michael Portantiere [23:43]

• Less enthusiastic; finds some actions unrealistic (esp. one character scrolling on his phone during a love confession).
• Appreciates the acting but is “not as convinced by the realism.”

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – 20th Anniversary Revisal

Michael Portantiere [28:19]

• Notes this is a transfer from Kennedy Center with several original cast members carrying over.
• Calls it “a total crowd pleaser … audience response is just rapturous.”
• Praises new cast members, especially Justin Cooley and Jasmine Amy Rogers.
• Mentions modern tweaks (Mitch Mahoney now a laid-off gym owner instead of ex-con).
• Calls it “very, very high on the list of shows I’d recommend.”

Peter Filichia [32:55]

• Calls the intimate Off-Broadway setting ideal, with the audience size matching the small-town bee feel.
• Not his favorite William Finn score, but “the laughs come furiously fast.”

Jan Simpson [35:00]

• Commends the ensemble’s versatility: “They were able to claim the roles for themselves.”
• Minor criticism: not keen on all the new “meta” material.
• Observes a trend toward unit sets/smaller bands/orchestra on stage.

Notable Quotes

• “[T]his is really where it belongs.” – Peter Filichia [32:55]

Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York: Quiet New Musical Sensation

Peter Filichia [40:38]

• Raves about the songwriting team’s “terrific musical," comparing their career boost to those of other writers.
• Story: British youth arrives for his father’s NYC wedding, paired with his jaded future aunt; “a lot of surprises along the way.”
• Mixed on the set: “Bizarre beyond belief … If there’s any show that ever called for projections, this is it. … It’s gray!”

Jan Simpson [45:35]

• Loves the clever set, which uses suitcases evocative of both the skyline and emotional baggage.
• Appreciates the absence of video projections.
• “The show made me fall in love with New York again.”

Michael Portantiere [49:00]

• Connections to recently experiencing NYC as a tourist; “Sam Tutty is absolutely adorable.”
• Wishes the show were trimmed and a bit shorter.
• Strongly positive on the chemistry of the leads; ambivalent on set color but overall charmed by the show.
• Unusual, non-cliché ending appreciated: “It was absolutely perfect.”

Producer note:

• Celebrates the risk-taking of the producers (“not based on any IP … totally original").

Notable Quotes

• “My big problem with the show had everything to do with the set.” — Peter Filichia [40:38]
• “[S]how made me fall in love with New York again.” — Jan Simpson [47:44]

This World of Tomorrow at The Shed (Tom Hanks & Kelly O’Hara)

Jan Simpson [57:40]

• Summarizes this new play by and starring Tom Hanks, with Kelly O’Hara: time-travel love story set at the 1939 World’s Fair.
• “Very sweet show. … People going for Tom Hanks will be pleased and more.”
• Praises O’Hara’s “most natural, seemingly effortless performance.”
• “I thought here they [projections] were used really, really well.” [58:50]

Peter Filichia [62:45]

• Finds the plot “predictable and obvious,” though concedes “Kelly O’Hara is magnificent.”
• Suggests the sets are under-imagined (future scenes look like present day).
• Points out Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s “ultra professional” supporting turn.
• “Go to the website and put your name in the waiting list because that’s what it’s going to have to be.” [65:58]

Oedipus at Studio 54 – London Transfer

Michael Portantiere [67:23]

• Praises the tension and use of a digital clock “counting down … and when it does, you can kind of hear in the audience …”
• Mark Strong and Leslie Manville deliver “magnificent” performances—with Manville nearly stealing the show.
• Conflicted about keeping Greek names in a modern context: “I just didn’t get it.”

Jan Simpson [72:39]

• Loved the production, especially Leslie Manville and seeing Greek tragedy on Broadway.
• The clock both tracks election results and the play’s revelation.
• Focused perhaps too much on how the adaptation mapped onto the original myth.
• “If you’re not a Greek theater nerd … you’re able to just enjoy it because this is, I think, really a magnificent production.”

MasterVoices: Sweet Smell of Success in Concert [78:01]

Michael Portantiere

• Excellent use of the large chorus as a Greek chorus.
• Strong cast: Ali Louis Bourzgui, Raúl Esparza (miscast as J.J.), Lizzy McAlpine, Noah J. Ricketts.
• “Raúl’s singing is as intense and fabulous as ever, but I didn’t think that kind of voice really worked so well for J.J.”

The Baker’s Wife at Classic Stage Company

Jan Simpson [84:09]

• Unfamiliar going in, finds it “a really charming production.”
• Scott Bakula and Ariana DeBose praised; production “makes us feel as though we’re all in the village.”
• “The plot’s a little silly, but the music was lovely and I thought the production was charming.”

Michael Portantiere [88:03]

• Admires Schwartz’s score but “cannot stand the book of The Baker’s Wife.”
• Faults the portrayal of townsfolk as “ridiculous caricatures.”
• “Ariadna DeBose … wonderful as Geneviève … but a contemporary feel that did not jibe with the others.”
• Draws a parallel to Chess: “Great, great, great scores, but very, very problematic … books.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [09:25] "Trips to the restrooms during the book scenes may be well advised." — Peter Filichia on Chess
• [11:28] "The fuss is about the music." — Michael Portantiere on Chess
• [45:35] “I was totally charmed. … The show made me fall in love with New York again.” — Jan Simpson on Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York
• [67:23] “The performances are absolutely magnificent.” — Michael Portantiere on Oedipus
• [72:39] “I really was very happy that I got to see this production and got to see these two incredibly strong performances.” – Jan Simpson on Oedipus

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Chess Review: 06:23–19:27
• Little Bear Ridge Road: 20:23–27:38
• 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: 28:19–39:12
• Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York: 40:38–56:22
• This World of Tomorrow (Tom Hanks): 57:40–66:57
• Oedipus: 67:23–77:39
• Sweet Smell of Success in concert: 78:01–83:39
• The Baker’s Wife: 84:09–93:20

Final Thoughts

• Chess: Worth seeing for the performances; the book remains deeply flawed, but the vocalists thrill.
• Little Bear Ridge Road: A moving, quiet, acting showcase; reactions split on authenticity of interactions.
• Spelling Bee: Extended run, cast earns raves, and the production’s intimacy is widely praised.
• Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York: Surprising, endearing, likely Broadway sleeper. Divides the panel on set design but united in performance praise.
• This World of Tomorrow: Tom Hanks’ play is "sweet," if predictable; Kelly O’Hara is, as ever, superb.
• Oedipus: High-tension, star-driven modern classic, with inventive staging.
• Sweet Smell of Success concert: Musical gains new dramatic focus via MasterVoices.
• The Baker’s Wife: Glorious music undercut by a weak book, but strong leads and charming CSC staging.

For More

• Full show notes, links to ticket info, and more at BroadwayRadio.com.
• [96:05] “Please, please go see both of these shows and please get both of the cast albums.” — Michael Portantiere on Spelling Bee and Cake

Episode closes with musical moments from Spelling Bee and “New York” from Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York.

Happy Thanksgiving from the BroadwayRadio team!