BroadwayRadio: This Week on Broadway for September 7, 2025

Episode Theme:
This episode explores the latest buzz and critical impressions on several current and recent New York theater productions, both big and small. Highlights include a detailed review of the hit play Well, I’ll Let You Go at The Space at Irondale, discussion of commemorative productions and anniversaries (from Carmen to Follies in Concert), plus thoughtful examinations of jukebox musicals, classic revivals, and rising playwrights. Notably, the episode maintains a warm, humorous, and discursive tone, blending history, critique, theatre lore, and personal anecdotes.

Main Guests

• James Marino (Host)
• Peter (Playwright, journalist, and historian)
• Felicia (Panelist, minimal speaking this episode)
• Michael Portantiere (Critic and frequent contributor)

Episode Overview

The conversation centers on:

• Excitement surrounding the play Well, I’ll Let You Go and its potential for a commercial transfer
• Carmen's 150th anniversary: various recent performances and personal recollections
• Historic theater events (Follies in Concert, Evita’s original cast, Play On! revival)
• Reviews of plays and musicals currently running or just closed (Rolling Thunder, The Brothers Size, This Is Government, Gallus)
• Notable musical moments, cast albums, and rare performances uncovered
• Theater trivia and the ever-popular brain teaser

Key Discussion Points & Insights

[02:31] Show Tune for Today: “Welcome Christmas” and Thoughts on Holiday Creep

• Peter highlights and half-jokingly justifies early holiday celebrations with a nod to the early appearance of Christmas merchandise each year.
• "Maybe it is a good thing that Christmas comes earlier…because people are nicer at Christmas time." – Peter [03:38]

[04:03] Opera in the Park: Carmen's Anniversary and Production Disappointments

• Peter recounts seeing a scaled-down Carmen in Bryan Park, lamenting the word “production” as misleading due to its minimal setup ("just a piano" and "duets"), but affirms the merit of free public arts.
• Michael connects the string of recent Carmen events with the opera's 150th anniversary, touching on its Broadway musical adaptation, Carmen Jones.

[09:41] Follies in Concert Memories: Anniversaries and Theatre Lore

• Peter recalls the buzz and high ticket price for Follies in Concert at Avery Fisher Hall forty years ago, reminiscing about Sondheim's surprise appearance.
• "A sound came from the pit of my stomach that I have never heard before or since. It was so incredible, to see [Sondheim]..." – Peter [10:50]
• Discussion of legendary performances by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and the serendipity that launched their live act.

[12:34] Original Evita and the Early Careers of Patti LuPone & Mandy Patinkin

• Peter shares firsthand memories of encountering Patti LuPone’s and Mandy Patinkin’s careers just before Evita, including anecdotes about LuPone's time in The Robber Bridegroom.
• "She was well known for that!" – Peter, on LuPone’s fearless stage presence [13:07]
• Both actors were somewhat known—LuPone more so—before their breakout in Evita, which Peter admits he did not predict would be such a massive success for them.

[18:13] Centerpiece: Review of Well, I’ll Let You Go @ The Space at Irondale

[18:31 – 21:33]

• Peter delivers a glowing review for Bubba Weiler’s Well, I’ll Let You Go, directed by Jack Syrio and headlined by a standout performance from Quincy Tyler Bernstein (with Marin Ireland set to take over).
• The play’s immersive staging (audience on either side, mimicking a football field) and intimate size drive demand and exclusivity.
• Plot centers on a woman devastated after her husband's murder, subsequent revelation of his affair with a student, and her refusal to even bury him.
• "It really is quite a freight train that just keeps on accelerating. You find out more and more and more. This is one of those peel an onion plays, you know, little layers…" – Peter [19:30]
• Constance Shulman’s darkly comic turn as a funeral home rep is highlighted.
• The show is largely sold out, but there is a much-mentioned cancellation line for those eager enough.

Cast Change and Buzz

• The rare mid-run replacement of Bernstein with Marin Ireland signals both the show’s power and the cast’s desirability among acclaimed actors.

[23:54] Rolling Thunder at New World Stages: Jukebox Musical Reactions

• Michael reflects that he liked the show better than Peter did, and outlines its premise (Vietnam soldiers, their experiences, and period songs).
• Praises the integration of songs like “Born To Be Wild” and “House of the Rising Sun,” but critiques the use of “Killing Me Softly” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” as ill-suited thematically at the show’s conclusion.
• "To me it’s not okay to just say, well, we’ll put it in anyway because everyone likes the song." – Michael [29:55]
• Projected media elements (newsreel, Cronkite, Nixon) are highlighted as "excellent" and "shocking now to see."

[32:19] The Brothers Size at The Shed: Powerful Storytelling and Riveting Performances

• Peter lauds Tarell Alvin McCraney’s emotionally resonant play about two brothers and their divergent life paths (one industrious, one just released from prison).
• A standout scene explores the elder brother's unjust emotional burdens.
• "One of the most unanimous standing ovations I've ever seen..." – Peter [36:33]
• Arena-style staging, precise direction, and a superb acting ensemble are all credited for the play’s impact.

[37:20] Play On! at Signature Theatre: Rediscovery and Critical History

• Michael follows up on his positive review, noting the history of the show's short 1997 Broadway run (blaming Ben Brantley's negative review, via Andre De Shields).
• "Sometimes a show can be wrecked by bad direction or by the performers not inhabiting the roles..." – Michael [44:38]
• The current Signature production features smart revisions, notably bestowing a positive ending on what was previously a tragic Malvolio subplot.

[47:32] This Is Government at 59E59: Playwriting Debut and Plausible Tension

• Peter reviews Nina Kissinger’s play set in a DC office amidst a health care bill controversy and a bomb threat from a desperate constituent.
• The script is noted as a strong debut with plenty of promise, though not always as tightly wound as it could be.
• "There are moments that are not as tension filled as they could be…But 25 years old and a tremendous achievement…I'm looking forward to seeing what she's going to write next." – Peter [51:23]
• The production supports voter registration on National Voter Registration Day (Sept 16).

[52:55] Gallus at Little Island: A New Diva for a Ludlam Classic

• Michael previews the campy, poignant Ludlam lampoon of Maria Callas, now starring famed countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo in a celebrated cross-casting twist.
• “He likely never imagined a real prima donna in the role…Costanzo embodies extravagance, camp, and diva…” – Michael [54:20]

[57:16] The Sound of Music: Rediscovered Bowls and Hidden von Trapps

• Michael introduces a rare YouTube video of the 2006 Hollywood Bowl production featuring Melissa Errico as Maria, Marni Nixon (the original dubbing voice for the film) as Mother Abbess, John Schneider as Captain, Rachel York, and a young Ben Platt as Friedrich.
• The finds highlight the continuing fascination with stage vs. film differences in The Sound of Music, offering surprises and treats for aficionados.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Peter on Sondheim at Follies in Concert:
  “A sound came from the pit of my stomach that I have never heard before or since…it was so incredible, to see him there…” [10:50]

• Peter on Well, I’ll Let You Go:
  “I think it’ll transfer. This is one of those peel-an-onion plays…The ending does not turn out to be what you thought…” [19:30]

• Michael on Jukebox Musicals:
  “To me it’s not okay to just say, well, we’ll put it in anyway because everyone likes the song.” [29:55]

• Peter on Standing Ovations:
  “One of the most unanimous standing ovations I’ve ever seen…maybe they should be judged by how quickly people stand.” [36:33]

• Michael on Play On! reception:
  “Sometimes a show can be wrecked by bad direction or by the performers not inhabiting the roles…” [44:38]

• Peter on young playwrights:
  “I’m looking forward to seeing what she’s going to write next. And that’s always a nice compliment…” [51:23]

• Michael on rare castings:
  “As soon as I heard about this, I said, well, gosh, I’ve got to get tickets for that…” [54:55] (re: Anthony Roth Costanzo in Gallus)

Musical Moments [63:59]

• Steve Lawrence’s “Small World” (Gypsy pop cover):
  “You can’t do better than this one from a 1960s Steve Lawrence…almost a deliberate parody of the whole notion of pop Latin interpretations of show tunes.” – quoted from Will Friedwald [64:21]

• Bobby Darin’s “All I Need Is the Girl”:
  From a 1960 Pat Boone TV special—Darin swings the Gypsy tune and even adds a little dance.

Episode Extras

• Brain Teaser: This week’s musical trivia involves a 1963–64 season show mentioning the number "51."
• Current and Classic Links: All referenced shows, events, and recordings are included in the show notes for the listener’s further exploration.

Timestamps

[02:31] Show tune for today and Christmas talk
[04:03] Opera in the Park / Carmen
[09:41] Follies in Concert anniversary
[12:34] Early days of LuPone and Patinkin (Evita)
[18:13] Well, I’ll Let You Go review (Irondale)
[23:54] Rolling Thunder review (New World Stages)
[32:19] The Brothers Size review (The Shed)
[37:20] Play On! at Signature Theatre, backstory
[47:32] This Is Government (59E59)
[52:55] Gallus at Little Island preview
[57:16] 2006 Hollywood Bowl The Sound of Music rediscovered
[63:59] Musical Moments: Gypsy pop covers

Tone & Style

The conversation is expert, affable, and occasionally self-deprecating, blending sharp theater analysis with reminiscence, amusing asides, and a deep affection for history and performance. Speakers maintain a knowledgeable, yet accessible style, punctuating reviews with anecdotes, personal tastes, and the odd brain teaser to engage listeners further.

For Further Listening

Check the show notes at broadwayradio.com for:

• Links to each production and video/audio referenced
• Patreon exclusives
• Full episode archives

A must-listen for any Broadway enthusiast, this episode provides a rich, insightful, and highly engaging snapshot of theater today—including both critical consensus and lively disagreement on what’s new, what’s enduring, and what’s coming next.