Today on Broadway: Friday, Dec. 13, 2024

Summary

BroadwayRadio Podcast Summary
Episode: Today on Broadway: Friday, Dec. 13, 2024
Release Date: December 13, 2024
Host: Matt Tammini and Grace Aki

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Introduction and Anecdotes

The episode kicks off with Matt Tammini and Grace Aki engaging in their signature banter, highlighting the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th. Matt humorously mentions going on a cruise, leading Grace to joke about his aversion to boats, a recurring theme in their conversations. This light-hearted exchange sets the tone for an engaging and personable discussion about the latest happenings on Broadway.

Highlight: Patti LuPone Praises "Sunset Boulevard"

[00:46 - 03:33]

A standout moment of the episode is the discussion about legendary Broadway actress Patti LuPone attending a performance of Sunset Boulevard. Matt shares a detailed voice memo from LuPone, where she expresses her enthusiastic approval of the production:

"I loved this production. I thought Nicole and Tom were stunning. I thought Nicole was unbelievable. She broke my heart. She is a force. I thought the cast was fantastic. The lighting, the use of filming was something that I questioned because I don't know where I am. Am I at a movie? Am I at the theater? This worked brilliantly. The whole thing. The whole thing. I was energized when I left the theater. I loved it."
— Patti LuPone [01:22]

Grace adds her admiration, emphasizing the rarity and significance of LuPone's praise given her discerning nature:

"It's always nice when somebody who has originated a role or has, you know, in some capacity been a part of the making of whatever piece that is returning to it is a really lovely thing, especially when you have really great things to say about it."
— Grace Aki [02:46]

This endorsement is particularly meaningful as LuPone originated the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, later succeeded by Glenn Close. Her approval signals a strong affirmation for the current production, potentially attracting more audiences.

Spotlight on "Cult of Love" and Reviews

[03:33 - 09:24]

The conversation shifts to Cult of Love, a new play by Leslie Headland marking her Broadway debut. Directed by Tripp Coleman and hosted at the Helen Hayes Theater until February 2nd, the production boasts an impressive cast including Molly Bernard, Zachary Quinto, Shailene Woodley, and others.

Matt provides an overview of the show's premise, highlighting its exploration of family secrets set against the backdrop of the holiday season. Grace adds that the play thoughtfully handles its themes without intending to alienate the audience:

"It's a genuinely thought out piece that I think that anyone can gravitate towards."
— Grace Aki [04:42]

The hosts delve into critical reviews, noting the overwhelmingly positive reception:

• Jesse Green, New York Times: "Cult of Love, like many unhappy family reunion plays, draws big buckets of humor from the toxic brew of religion and repression, those buckets also draw blood." ([05:00])

• Adam Feldman, Time Out New York: "Larger themes notwithstanding, Cult of Love is mostly concerned with exploring just such complicated smallness with an analytic precision that is tempered by sympathy and humor." ([05:30])

• Greg Evans, Deadline: "Cult of Love boasts an excellent cast that pulls off a family scenario with unexpected freshness." ([05:50])

Though mostly positive, Matt mentions a mixed review from Daniel Daddario, Variety who felt the play dragged in its latter half:

"Cult of Love feels, for lack of a better word, long."
— Daniel Daddario [06:15]

Grace passionately shares her personal admiration for the play:

"I loved this play. I really loved this play. [...] Shailene Woodley. Jesus Christ. The performance that she gives. I can't wait for you to see it, Matt."
— Grace Aki [06:49]

She praises the director and the actors, particularly highlighting Woodley's compelling performance and the show's ability to resonate universally:

"I really think that a lot of people [...] will grasp something. Because everyone comes from somewhere with relationships, and the holidays bring everything to the head."
— Grace Aki [08:15]

Broadway News and Casting Updates

[09:24 - 17:58]

The hosts transition to a series of exciting Broadway news and casting announcements:

1. Little Shop of Horrors

   • New Mr. Mushnik: Reg Rogers, renowned for his comedic talent, will assume the role starting December 23rd. Matt enthusiastically anticipates his performance:

     "Reg Rogers is like, he's just so funny. I think he is going to kill it as Mr. Mushnick."
     — Matt Tammini [09:54]

   • Grace lauds the casting process and the consistent quality of productions:

     "It's always right. It always hits. We're huge fans of the process of the casting, the producing, the people in the theater."
     — Grace Aki [10:19]

2. Wicked and Bedwetter

   • Matt humorously speculates on Sarah Silverman's potential role in Wicked, suggesting she'd embody Dr. Dilliman:

     "She wants to get into the hair and makeup. She wants to don the, like, the whole horns, everything. She wants that so badly."
     — Grace Aki [11:13]

   • The focus then shifts to the Off-Broadway production of Bedwetter, where Shoshana Bean will play Beth Ann, Sarah Silverman's mother. The casting includes Jessica Vosk, now replacing Shoshana Bean in Hell's Kitchen, enhancing anticipation for its February 4th debut in Washington D.C.

3. Anything Goes at Pasadena Playhouse

   • An all-star cast announcement features Wayne Brady as Billy Crocker, BenDeLaCreme as Mrs. Harcourt, and RuPaul's Drag Race star, among others:

     "I just love what they do and I love this casting and I think inspire probably so many other regional theaters."
     — Grace Aki [13:58]

4. Curse of the Starving Class Revival

   • Set to open Off-Broadway on February 4th, the revival features Calista Flockhart, Cooper Hoffman, and Christian Slater, promising a compelling reinterpretation of Sam Shepard's work:

     "This show is from the new group and will begin performances on February 4th. I love Sam Shepard's work, love all of these people."
     — Matt Tammini [15:04]

5. Kiss of the Spider Woman Movie Premiere

   • The film adaptation starring Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23rd:

     "Kiss of the Spider Woman, as you know, Grace, to get purchased and like some distributor will want to purchase it from there."
     — Matt Tammini [16:00]

6. Waitress Streaming on National Theater at Home

   • The Broadway production of Waitress starring Sara Bareilles will be available for streaming on National Theater at Home starting February 14th:

     "You can do that through National Theater at Home beginning on Valentine's Day, February 14th."
     — Matt Tammini [17:30]

Recommendations

[17:58 - 18:06]

To conclude, Matt recommends an acoustic version of "Far Away from Tulsa" from The Outsiders, performed by Brody Grant, Sky, Lakota Lynch, Jonathan Clay, and Zach Chance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show. He directs listeners to the show notes for the video link, encouraging them to enjoy a heartfelt musical performance.

Closing Remarks

[18:06 - 18:07]

Grace reminds listeners of their social media handles and hints at an upcoming interview with Fabian Aloise, the choreographer of Sunset Boulevard, scheduled for the following Monday episode. This interview promises insights into Aloise's creative process and his experiences with various productions.

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Connect with BroadwayRadio:

• Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: BroadwayRadio
• Matt Tammini on Instagram: @bww
• Grace Aki on Instagram: @GraceOckie

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This episode of Today on Broadway encapsulates the vibrant and dynamic nature of Broadway, from star-studded cast announcements to critical endorsements of new productions. Matt and Grace provide listeners with a comprehensive overview of current trends, upcoming shows, and exclusive insights, making it a must-listen for Broadway enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to Today on Broadway for Friday, December. Oh, Grace, It's Friday the 13th. I did not realize. I am going on a cruise today. That is bad. I'm Broadway radio's Matt Tammini, and I'm.

[B]

Not on a boat. Grace Aki.

[A]

I mean, we've seen shows. You've worked on a show about a boat that doesn't really work. We've seen shows together about a boat.

[B]

That doesn't really work. Two boats, Matt. I have worked on two shows about white track on a boat. Do you understand how that feels?

[A]

That's right. And then. And then you and I saw Titanic together, so. Oh, lots of bad.

[B]

I have a brand. You asked me on our Patreon episode, what's my thing? I think my thing is guys on boats.

[A]

That's true. Anyway, we are coming to you late on Thursday because we have waited for the reviews of Cult of Love to come out. We will dive into those in just a minute. But before we get into that, Grace, I am sure that you have heard about this, but just in case you haven't, or people at home haven't, did you hear that Patti LuPone went and saw Sunset Boulevard this week?

[B]

Heard it. I saw it.

[A]

You saw it? Were you there when she was there?

[B]

No, but of all people to film during a show. Not Patty, who exclusively tells you that she doesn't like when people film her.

[A]

Yes, that is true. She sent a voice memo to Frank Dilella, theater journalist. He's been on Broadway radio before. And she said, quote. She went on on Wednesday night. She said, quote, I saw Sunset Boulevard last night. And I went in with trepidation because I have strong feelings about the show. Not what happened to me in the show, but the show, period. Then she goes on to say, I loved this production. I thought Nicole and Tom were stunning. I thought Nicole was unbelievable. She broke my heart. She is a force. I thought the cast was fantastic. The lighting, the use of filming was something that I questioned because I don't know where I am. Am I at a movie? Am I at the theater? This worked brilliantly. The whole thing. The whole thing. I was energized when I left the theater. I loved it. Patty's a tough one to please. And if, you know, she. I buried the lead, I guess, a little bit. She created the role of Norma Desmond. She was the first person to ever play Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, the musical in the world premiere in London. Then LW booted her from the production, was coming to Broadway, and replaced her with Glenn Close. She now has a Pool based off of the settlement that she got out of Andrew Lloyd Webber. And she calls it, like, the Andrew Lloyd Webber Memorial pool in her backyard or something. But I think this is a big deal, right? This is a big deal that she has kind of given her stamp of approval when she very easily and probably most people thought that she wouldn't totally.

[B]

I wonder if she apologized to the cast of Hell's Kitchen on her way over to the Sunset Boulevard. But I. Yeah, yeah. Like, I think that it's always exciting when someone has played the role, because I said this to Betty Buckley, shout out at the opening of Sunset, which is, like, it's. It's a beautiful, classy act to go and support if you can, like, if you feel comfortable. Because also, you might have, like, hey, I can't return to that show. Like, it has baggage for me. You know, it's not always like, oh, I don't want to see them. You know what I mean? But it's always nice when somebody who is. Has our, like, originated a role or has, you know, in some capacity been a part of the making of whatever piece that is returning to it is a really lovely thing, especially when you have really great things to say about it. So I love that.

[A]

All right, let's dive into people who have really lovely things to say about a show and talk about the reviews for Cult of Love. If you don't remember, this is the new show written by Leslie Headland, shockingly her Broadway debut. One of my favorite playwrights. It is directed by Tripp Coleman, and it is coming to us from second stage and is playing the Helen Hayes Theater through February 2nd. Barring any potential extensions, the cast is loaded with stars of stage and screen. I'm normally. I very rarely do this, especially with a cast of more than, like, three or four people. I'm gonna read you everybody's name. Molly Bernard, Roberta Colandrez, Barbie Ferreira, Rebecca Henderson, Christopher Lowell, Zachary Quinto, David Raich, Christopher Sears, Mayor Winningham, and Shailene Woodley Grace. You've seen it. I have Not a family holiday where there are secrets. Like, this is, like, a quintessential American trope for theater, but there's, like, Christmas carols thrown in. Right. Anything else, like, just briefly that they need to know about this show before we dive into the reviews?

[B]

Not at all. And it's also, like, you're not uncovering, like, by the way, this is appropriate. Like, you're. You know what I mean?

[A]

By the way, there in the kkk.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. There's don't, don't worry. There's no jump scares, but it's a genuinely thought out piece that I think that anyone can gravitate towards.

[A]

All right, Grace, we're going to dive into these reviews from Cult of Love, but you have seen the show. I have not. I'm seeing it next week, I think. I hope my schedule is all messed up for next week, but I think I'm going to see it next week. So I'm going to run through these really quickly. They are almost uniformly positive. But then I want to hear your thoughts. I will start with Jesse Green of the New York Times, who did make the show a critics pick, though Cult of Love, like many unhappy family reunion plays, draws big buckets of humor from the toxic brew of religion and repression, those buckets also draw blood. Adam Feldman of Time out in New York gave the show four out of five stars. He said, quote, larger themes notwithstanding, Cult of Love is mostly concerned with exploring just such complicated smallness with an analytic precision that is tempered by sympathy and humor. Headland expertly renders the shifting dramatics and allegiances within the family and couples the gang ups and the ambushes, the protected measures in the defensive thrusts. And Tripp Coleman's second Stage production captures that complexity beautifully. Greg Evans of Deadline also praises director Tripp Coleman, saying, quote, a Second Stage Theater production steered like a fast moving slave by Tripp Coleman, Cult of Love boasts an excellent cast that pulls off a family scenario with unexpected freshness. The one mixed review comes from Daniel Daddario from Variety, saying, quote, the play then moves into a protracted endgame at minutes without an intermission. Cult of Love feels, for lack of a better word, long. Part of it, yes, is that for a while the escalating revelations about the family dynamics come to make us feel pleasurably trapped. But once the drama comes to a head, there is a long journey toward Christmas morning, one in which serial one on one conversations come to feel eventually like what had been a sure footed piece of writing is suddenly dithering toward meaning in the midst of human messiness. Grace, where are you coming down on this one? Most of these are positive. Are you feeling the same vibes as the vast majority of critics?

[B]

I loved this play. I really loved this play. I've. I've been telling everybody to go get your tickets to see it. I think that anybody, if you're still in New York City, you probably, I mean, what, we're at the 12th, all right? So people are starting to make their trips home. If you don't plan on going home. There's probably a reason you should go see this play. It is such effortless but also thoughtful dialogue. I'm obsessed with this play right now. I think that I. I felt like I was. If this is her family or someone she's experienced or a combination of all those things, I felt like I was in genuinely in someone's living room, having to. Just because I've. I've been at holidays with families that I was very uncomfortable by. And it. But it was also. It didn't. It wasn't painful. It was actually cathartic, which I think a lot of these shows are not meant to, you know, put you in this challenging place of like, yeah, I hate my family. It's not that it felt like I was getting to feel some kind of like, oh, thank God. Because I thought I was crazy when this mom said this or when my dad said that or whatever. And I just. I really loved how this was done. I think that Tripp Coleman is just one of those directors that genuinely trusts his actors and just. It was all together. And also Shailene Woodley. Jesus Christ. The performance that she gives. I can't wait for you to see it, Matt. If you know anything about her at all, it is like, wow. She had to dig into some parts that I think of what we know of. Like, I just. I am really floored by her. I watch Big Little Lies every single year. I do a rewatch of the show because I think it's one of the best written pieces of television and acted television we will ever. So that's just me being a little annoying. But her performance in that, I think, is extraordinary. I think her performance in this is an incredible Broadway debut. I love all of it, top to bottom. I really think it's a strong piece. And it's also not like, you know, I'm not out here screaming like, wow, now I'm going back to therapy. I'm already in therapy. I'm living it. It's just great. And I think that a lot of people, whether you come from this, you know, like all white, heteronormative family or not, I think that they will grasp something. Because everyone comes from somewhere with relationships, and the holidays bring everything to the head. And I just think that. I love that people are responding the way that they are. People are very surprised by how much they love this show. And I think that they knock it out of the park in those 100 minutes, and I hope that everybody gets to see it.

[A]

All right, Grace, let's Get into the news and there's nothing like big, but there are a bunch of little things that I'm excited to run through. The hits just keep on coming because Little Shop of Horrors has announced a new actor to step into the role of Mr. Mushnick. And it is one of the funniest people working on Broadway, and that is the great Reg Rogers is going to take over the role beginning on December 23rd. He is going to be playing opposite Sherri, Renee Scott and Nicholas Christopher, along with Major Attaway as The voice of Audrey 2. They don't miss. Like, Reg Rogers is like, he's just so funny. I think he is going to kill it as Mr. Mushnick. So I love this. I've seen this show like three or four times now, Grace, and like, every time my mind is just blown by how great these. Not only how great the cast is, but how great the casting is.

[B]

It is so consistently good and it's all over the place. And I mean that respectfully. Like, I mean that wholeheartedly. Like, I love it. Like, I don't think that anybody would be like, you know, who's probably going to be in this next. This person. But it's always right. It always hits. We're huge fans of the process of the casting, the producing, the people in the theater, the people that are out of theater. Like, it's all top tier, top notch, great stuff. I think this will go down as one of, like, the best productions we have had, like, in this, like, decade because of the care that every single person that touches this show has. And I just, I cannot, I cannot love it more than I do because it's just. It's just top tier.

[A]

Grace, if Sarah Silverman was ever in the Broadway production of Wicked, who do you think she would play?

[B]

If Sarah Silverman were in Wicked, she is without a doubt playing Dr. Dilliman. She wants to get into the hair and makeup. She wants to don the, like, the whole horns, everything. She wants to like. She wants that so badly. I can feel it.

[A]

That is a good answer. However, we are now going to go on our third different Elphaba to play Sarah Silverman's mother. That is because. Coming up for the Washington D.C. arena stages production of the Bedwetter, written by Sarah Silverman, Joshua Harmon and Adam Schlesinger. Shoshana Bean is going to be playing her mother, Beth Ann in the original Off Broadway production. It started with Casey Levy and then she was out for a little bit and Jessica Vosk stepped in. Interestingly enough, Jessica Vosk is now the full time replacement for Shoshana Bean in Hell's Kitchen. She is going to be doing the role when it Begins performances on February 4th in Washington DC. It is currently scheduled to run through March 16th. The rest of the casting will be announced soon. This originally played Off Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company a couple years ago and I will say I did not see either Casey Levy or Jessica Voska in this role. I went and I think I saw it on the very first preview and Casey Levy was out. So I saw Lauren Marcus in that role and I think she just found out she was going on at like noon that day and she was incredible. I've long loved Lauren Marcus, dating back to I think the Jonathan Larson project at 54 below was the first time I saw her. She was incredible. So I don't know if any of the people from that Off Broadway production are going to continue with it. BB Neuwirth was in it. She's obviously busy right now. But Ellen Marie Marsh, Zoe Glick, Ashley Blanchett, Rick Crome and a ton of other people I don't know. But it's interesting that there is an Elphaba to Sarah Silverman's mother pipeline for this show then if we stay out of New York City and head over to the Left coast. Yesterday we got some incredible casting news for the upcoming three performance two nights concert of Anything Goes at the Pasadena Playhouse. We already knew that Jinx Monsoon was playing Reno Sweeney. Well, we just found out who else is going to be in that principal cast. We have Wayne Brady as Billy Crocker, J. Harrison G as lord Evelyn Oakley, RuPaul's Drag Race star, BenDeLaCreme as Mrs. Harcourt, Harvey Guillen as Moonface Martin, Alec Mappa as Eli Whitney and Mike Millen as the Purser. There will be more casting announced, but Grace, this just feels like a fever dream. Casting for Anything Goes.

[B]

Like, is there going to be a time where we don't get like some cuckoo Luku Anything Goes cast in the future? No, I think that everybody's like, let's just do it. Everybody's got like their production is wild. I know that people like have like the, some of the like the Asian problematic stuff that's in the show. I know that Pasadena Playhouse has a history of really amazing Asian representation and I can literally see that here as well, which I really, really appreciate. So I'm very excited. I just, I've never gotten to go to Pasadena Playhouse. I hope that one day I get to because missing their little shop is Actually one of the saddest traumas of my life. And if you know me at all, like, that's insane. But I think about it a lot and so I just love what they do and I love this casting and I think inspire probably so many other regional theaters that maybe some people don't want to admit to, but like they absolutely do. They have the most exciting and progressive casting that I've ever seen and inventive productions. And I just, I hope one day to go.

[A]

All right, we will circle back with our casting roundup and head back to New York City. We already knew that the Off Broadway revival of Sam Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class would star Calista Flockhart, Cooper Hoffman, the son of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Christian Slater. They rounded out the rest of the cast with David Anzuello, the great Kyle Beltran, Jeb Kraeger and Stella Marcus. This show is from the new group and will begin performances on February 4th. I love Sam Shepard's work, love all of these people. So this one should be very exciting. Moving from the theater to the screen. We found out when the world premiere of the upcoming Kiss of the Spider Woman movie will be. We know that it stars Jennifer Lopez and it also includes Diego Luna as well. It is going to premiere next month at the Sundance film festival on January 23rd. It's going to run from January 23rd through February 2nd. The schedule for the films hasn't been announced, but what sucks about this for people like me who could probably try to get a press pass to this, they are only showing this one in person. They have done some online screenings over the past few years. Unfortunately, this one will not be a part of that. Kiss of the Spider Woman. We don't know what that means about when it's going to be released. Films go to Sundance, as you know, Grace, to get purchased and like some distributor will want to purchase it from there. And then we'll figure out when it is actually going to be released. Assuming it gets purchased, which it's got Jennifer Lopez, of course it is. Yeah. We should start to hear reviews about this in just a little over five, six weeks. And then the long winding road of Waitress filmed on Broadway arriving on a streaming service has been announced. Unfortunately, it's not probably a streaming service that you have. The Broadway capture of Waitress starring Sara Bareilles is going to end up on National Theater at Home now. National Theater at Home is a UK based streaming service. However it is available in the US I have the app, but I don't have a subscription on my tv. This is the first ever US capture on the streamer. They often have tons of Shakespeare and stuff from the National Theater. Some great things. I know. Grace, you've done some work with the National Theater in the past, so you know how incredible their catalog is. So if you want to be able to stream Waitress without having to purchase or rent it, you can do that through National Theater at Home beginning on Valentine's Day, February 14th. And then I'm going to wrap up the show with a feel good recommendation. Grace On Wednesday night, Brody Grant, Sky, Lakota lynch and the composers of the Outsiders, Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance performed the song Far Away from Tulsa from the Outsiders on the Jimmy Kimmel show. And I've got that video in the show notes. If you want to check out an even more acoustic version of that song that you are used to seeing on stage, you have the opportunity to do so now. All right everybody, that's all that we have for today. Thanks for listening to Today on Broadway. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Roderadio and follow me on Instagram @bww. Matt Grace, where can people find you?

[B]

You can find me at GraceOckie.

[A]

There will not be an episode of Today on Broadway on Monday. Instead, I will have an interview with the choreographer of Sunset Boulevard, Fabian Aloise. So make sure you check that out. It was a fantastic conversation and he talked about a show that he had previously choreographed that he may or may not be choreographing again when it comes to London this summer.