BroadwayRadio: This Week on Broadway – September 14, 2025

Episode Theme: Galas @ Little Island and the Latest in Broadway News, Reviews, and Theater Discourse

Overview

This episode revolves around reviews of recent theatrical productions (including the revival of Charles Ludlam's Galas at Little Island), previews of new works (Saturday Church at New York Theatre Workshop), updates from Broadway and London theater scenes, and lively exchanges on the impact of current events and controversies in the theater community. The hosts—James Marino, Peter Filichia, and Michael Portantiere—offer their insights, opinions, and trademark banter, tailoring the episode for both the passionate Broadway fan and the engaged theater industry follower.

1. Opening Banter and Introductions [01:14–03:43]

• Hosts introduce themselves: James Marino (host/producer), Peter Filichia (playwright, historian, columnist, calendar author), Michael Portantiere (critic, reviewer), with lively shout-outs to chat room participants and BroadwayRadio community contributors.
• Show Tune of the Day (Peter): Explains the 1974 Andrews Sisters musical Over Here!—noting its use of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in a comic plot twist. Peter’s pitch: “If you haven’t got Over Here!, get it.” [02:00–03:43]

2. Minor League Baseball & Broadway Crossovers [03:44–07:43]

• Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs: James quizzes Peter, a known baseball aficionado, about this Pennsylvania AAA team (farm team for the Phillies), sparking a chat-room interlude detailing the origins of the "Pig Iron" moniker.
• Lena Hall at the Iron Pigs: Amusing recollection of Lena Hall singing all verses of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a game, making the crowd “uncomfortable because it goes on and on.” — James [04:47–05:04]
• Minor league teams and nostalgia: Peter laments the trend of generic naming, missing quirky old minor league team names: “It used to be far more interesting when the team said like the Kalamazoo Celery Pickers.” [04:06]

3. Broadway Briefs & Community News [07:43–12:07]

• USA Today Feature: Longtime BroadwayRadio supporter Steve Bell spotlighted, with Michael probing a unique directorial choice in a Little Night Music production Steve directed [08:30–09:31].
• Evita Transfer Gossip: James references a Patreon-exclusive conversation between Matt Tamanini and London theater vlogger Mickey Jo—Evita isn’t likely on Broadway until 2027, possibly due to strained relations between Jamie Lloyd and Andrew Lloyd Webber. “If the London Evita transfers to Broadway in 2027, will Rachel Zegler come with it? We’ll have to see.” — James [11:09]
• Billy Porter & Cabaret: Discussion of skepticism surrounding Billy Porter’s exit from Cabaret due to sepsis. “On the one hand, it’s almost impossible to imagine that anyone would lie about something like that, but if they did, that would be extremely bad karma.” — Michael [12:22–13:18]

4. Industry Controversies: Kristin Chenoweth & Social Media [15:08–19:32]

• Kristin Chenoweth Backlash: James explains how Chenoweth’s social media comment about the assassination of a divisive figure (Charlie Kirk) has caused outrage, and speculates about its potential impact on Queen of Versailles ticket sales.
• Contextualizing Celebrity Statements: Michael recalls Chenoweth’s nuanced public stance during a previous controversy regarding her 700 Club appearance, highlighting the delicate balance performers must strike between personal beliefs and their brand or audience expectations.

5. Chess on Broadway: Anticipation and Ad Campaigns [20:09–28:18]

• "Chess" Kennedy Center & Broadway: Michael revisits his experience at the Kennedy Center’s semi-staged Chess with a Danny Strong book (now transferred to Broadway with some changes). He notes likely updates including Florence (Lea Michele) singing “Someone Else’s Story” [22:21–24:11].
• Ad Saturation: James and Peter report seeing omnipresent digital ads for Chess: “They do not want to fail...because really, how many times has Chess been morphed into this, that, and the other thing?” — Peter [25:35]
• Concert vs. Booked Versions: Michael’s take: “The most successful productions of Chess have been the ones that almost completely eliminate spoken dialogue and just have a few connecting lines...” [26:10]

6. Evita, Masquerade, and Broadway Scheduling [28:18–29:17]

• Why Evita isn’t coming sooner: Matt and Mickey Jo posit that Rice and Lloyd Webber’s full slates (e.g., Masquerade) may delay transfers to avoid internal Broadway competition.

7. Review: GALAS @ Little Island [29:42–38:39]

Galas, Little Island Amphitheater

Michael’s Detailed Review:

• First “run-through” performance: Rained out opening led to a unique dynamic—the cast, led by Anthony Roth Costanzo, seized the spontaneity of real fireworks over Hoboken mid-show. “At one point, Anthony just stopped what he was doing and sat on a couch and looked at the fireworks... The audience just loved it.” — Michael [30:05–31:35]
• The Play: Charles Ludlam’s 1983 “fantasia on Maria Callas”—high camp, intentionally over-the-top.
• Cast Critique: While the cast (with Mary Testa, Carmelita Tropicana, et al.) “overacted” as intended, Michael felt the original Ridiculous Theatrical Company style was not consistently recaptured except for Costanzo: “Anthony Roth Costanzo was absolutely phenomenal... His singing was live and it was really impressive.” [33:28–36:00]
• Production Experiences: Outdoor staging may have accentuated the overplaying, but audience response was overwhelmingly positive.
• Tickets: $25, sold out, runs through September 28. [37:12]

8. Review: Sober Songs @ Theatre Row [39:12–41:42]

Peter’s Analysis:

• Setup: Michael Levin’s musical set in an AA meeting—six young adults in recovery.
• Content/Critique: “It is well-meaning as you would expect it to be... what he can’t do is surprise us.” — Peter [39:12]
• Lyrics: Praises Levin’s lyrical intuition and character-appropriate writing, but faults for forced accents and predictability.
• Attendance: Noted “almost ill attended”—lowest attended show Peter’s ever seen on Broadway/off-Broadway.

9. Broadway Karaoke Night [42:00–47:47]

• Michael’s Night Out: Attended “Sing with the Stars”—a karaoke night typically on the Lower East Side, but this time held in Midtown.
• The “Stars”: While not A-list, they included Amia Gentile (Kinky Boots) and Dylan Klena (Jagged Little Pill).
• Audience & Experience: “Everyone had a fantastic voice...the audience went absolutely nuts” when one singer tackled the Phantom high E.
• Format: Broadway songs interspersed with pop, audience participation via slips, great camaraderie—“It was a lot of fun,” Michael enthused. [42:00–47:47]

10. Preview: Saturday Church @ New York Theatre Workshop [47:51–52:18]

Preliminary Impressions (Full review next week):

• Jay Harrison Gee stars (“in a manner of speaking, Jesus”); show based on a film about a queer-affirmative community in the Village.
• Production details: Book/lyrics by James Ijames (“Iams”, pronounced with silent “J” [52:23]), Damon Cudessa, music by Sia, directed by Whitney White.
• Response: “The audience was so enthusiastic—this one seemed a little quicker than most [standing ovations].” — Peter [51:09]

11. Sweet Charity (Movie) Revisited [53:03–63:57]

Michael’s Take:

• Prompt: Chat room led to a rewatch. “I’ve always described it as a fabulous mess—so many wonderful moments, scenes and songs.”
• New/Notable Scenes: Credits Peter Stone with two brilliant added scenes, including a heartbreaking job agency scene and an emotional marriage license bureau climax.
• Directorial Style: Fosse’s film debut “doesn’t really cohere,” laden with camera tricks: “Really, Bob, how many things can we do at once?” [55:20]
• Real-life Anecdote: Ran into Leroy Reams (featured dancer in the film) minutes after re-watching—a testament to NYC’s Broadway community. [56:44]
• Peter’s Fix: Outlines script and structural flaws with Charity’s ending and proposes a “simple fix.” “It’s so easy to fix everybody else’s show.” — Peter [59:57]

12. Review: House of McQueen [64:36–68:00]

Peter's Review:

• Location: Not an actual mansion, but an industrial theater space on 37th/7th.
• Biographical Musical on Fashion Designer Alexander McQueen:
  • Format/Critique: Relies on “flashback” and well-trodden biographical tropes (difficult childhood, struggle, being gay). “Does any of this sound particularly fresh? No, no.” — Peter [66:21]
  • Writing: Chisa Hutchinson is “strapped by what happened”—lacks surprise or innovation.

13. Broadway Briefings and Upcoming Excitement [79:32–81:22]

• Classic Stage Company News: Excitement over an all-star Baker’s Wife cast announced (Robert Cuccioli, Judy Kuhn, Scott Bakula)—ambitions for a Broadway transfer discussed.
• Community Chatter: More theater gossip, quick plugs for finding contact info and subscribing to BroadwayRadio.

14. Brain Teaser [70:08–71:13]

• Answer: To the previous week’s brainteaser—song mentioning 51 in "110 in the Shade" (the "rain song").
• New Teaser: Which 80s Broadway performer played one role in first musical, four in second, and seven in third?

15. Musical Moments: Carmen & Carmen Jones [71:25–79:32]

Michael Reflects:

• Anniversary: 150th anniversary of Bizet’s Carmen.
• Hammerstein’s Carmen Jones: Adapting the opera for a WWII-era, all-Black cast— Michael praises the “superb” lyrics and contextualizes its historical significance and periodic controversy.
• Video Links: Opening/closer music clips from Carmen Jones: Dorothy Dandridge (dubbed by Marilyn Horne) in “Dat’s Love” and Greg Baker in “Stand Up and Fight.”
• Classic Stage’s 2018 Carmen Jones: Noted as a recent successful revival.

16. Closing Chatter and Notable Quotes [81:22–end]

• Notable moments: Michael delivers the punchline, “You're nothing without me,” a loving coda from City of Angels.
• Hosts wrap up: Thanks to the audience, pointers to show notes, and reminders to subscribe for weekly Broadway wisdom.

Notable Quotes

• On Lena Hall and the Star-Spangled Banner: “...they have a video of everybody in the stands getting really uncomfortable because it goes on and on.” — James [04:54]
• On overacting in Galas at Little Island: “The play is meant to be overacted...it’s just, the way they did it didn’t seem to me that it was quite right. But that's a very subjective opinion.” — Michael [37:28]
• On “Sober Songs”: “[It] is well meaning as you would expect it to be...but what [the writer] can’t do is surprise us.” — Peter [41:01]
• On Broadway's embrace of camp and risk: “Anthony Roth Costanzo was absolutely phenomenal in terms of both his acting—which is not, you know, his, his main thing—and his singing.” — Michael [34:29]
• On Michael's Karaoke Night: “Everyone had a fantastic voice…even did the high note at the end. The audience went absolutely nuts.” — Michael [45:17]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:51] — Show tune of the day (Over Here!, Andrews Sisters)
• [07:43] — Broadway Community News & Steve Bell USA Today feature
• [29:42] — Galas @ Little Island review
• [39:12] — Sober Songs @ Theatre Row review
• [42:00] — Karaoke with Broadway Stars
• [47:51] — Saturday Church preview
• [53:03] — Sweet Charity (movie) rewatch and discussion
• [64:36] — House of McQueen recap
• [70:08] — Brain Teaser
• [71:25] — Carmen Jones history & musical moments

Final Thoughts

This packed episode covers the breadth (and depth) of New York theater, with insightful reviews, historical asides, gossip, and the hosts’ wry, affectionate theater geekery. Highlights include the spontaneous joys—and hazards—of outdoor theater, ongoing discussions about problematic endings and adaptations, and the intersection of Broadway with sports, politics, and pop culture. Whether you’re seeking information, entertainment, or just the sensation of eavesdropping on smart theater fans, this episode is a satisfying listen.