Today on Broadway: Friday, Jan. 10, 2025

Summary

BroadwayRadio Podcast Summary: "Today on Broadway: Friday, Jan. 10, 2025"

Release Date: January 10, 2025
Host: Matt Tamineni and Grace Aki

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1. Impact of California Wildfires on Broadway Events

Matt Tamineni opens the episode by addressing the devastating wildfires in California, highlighting their significant impact on the arts community. Several major events have been canceled, including the Wicked tour's performances at the Pantages Theater and Jeremy Jordan's concert in Los Angeles.

Matt Tamineni [00:09]: "Obviously these types of things are nowhere near as important as the lives and the homes of the people who are impacted... our thoughts are with those people and hope that this dies down and comes to a stop sooner rather than later."

He emphasizes the importance of checking event statuses before attending and urges listeners to support affected individuals through mutual aid organizations.

2. Eureka Day Extension and Amber Gray's Departure

The hosts discuss the recent extension of Eureka Day, clarifying details about Amber Gray's role in the production. Initially uncertain, Matt acknowledges a mix-up with sources but confirms that Amber Gray will portray Korina until February 1st before transitioning to Hadestown in London.

Matt Tamineni [00:07]: "Amber Gray will play Korina in the show through February 1st. So if you want to check her out in the show before she heads over to do Hadestown in London, you have until the end of the month."

3. Exciting Casting Updates for Hadestown

A major highlight is the casting news for Hadestown. Two new stars, Merle Dandridge and Daniel Breaker, will join the production starting February 18th.

• Merle Dandridge, renowned for her performance in Once on This Island alongside Hailey Kilgore, will take over the role of Persephone.

  Matt Tamineni [03:56]: "Merle is such a powerful performer and I cannot wait to see her as Persephone."

• Daniel Breaker, a Tony nominee known for his dynamic performances in Hamilton and Once Upon a Mattress, will step into the role of Hermes. Matt praises Breaker's versatility and anticipates his unique portrayal in Hadestown.

  Grace Aki [04:21]: "I'm so excited about this casting... Daniel is a phenomenally nuanced performer."

Both hosts express enthusiasm for seeing these talented actors bring new dimensions to Hadestown.

4. Jonathan Larson Project's Off-Broadway Debut

The podcast covers the forthcoming Off-Broadway debut of the Jonathan Larson Project at the Orpheum Theater, starting previews on Valentine's Day. The production features a stellar cast, including returning performers Adam Chandler Barat, Lauren Marcus, and Andy Mientus, alongside newcomers Taylor Iman Jones and Jason Tamp.

Matt Tamineni [05:58]: "This is a home run in terms of the casting as far as I'm concerned."

Directed by John Simpkins, the show showcases previously unheard songs by Jonathan Larson, curated by Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Matt and Grace commend the dynamic cast and anticipate a successful Off-Broadway run.

5. "42 Balloons" Making Its North American Debut in Chicago

Another exciting announcement is the North American premiere of the new musical "42 Balloons" at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, running from May 24th to June 29th. The musical, which debuted in Manchester, England, narrates the true story of Larry, a truck driver who attempted to fly to Los Angeles using a lawn chair and 42 helium-filled balloons.

Matt Tamineni [06:12]: "This will be very exciting... we will see what happens with 42 Balloons moving forward."

The production team boasts veterans like Kevin McCollum, Andy Barnes, and Wendy Barnes, alongside Sonia Friedman, hinting at a high-quality adaptation. The Chicago Shakespeare Theater is renowned for launching successful shows, including the North American debut of Six.

6. Jeanine Tesori’s Operatic Adaptation of "Grounded" on PBS

The hosts announce that Jeanine Tesori's operatic adaptation of the one-person show "Grounded" will air on PBS's Great Performances at the Met on March 21st. Directed by Michael Mayer, this adaptation transforms the original work by George Brandt—which featured Anne Hathaway—into a rich operatic experience.

Matt Tamineni [06:12]: "This should be very exciting, very interesting."

Featuring mezzo-soprano Emily D'Angelo, the production incorporates advanced technical elements like LED screens, offering viewers a visually and musically captivating performance.

7. Upcoming Performances and Recommendations

Grace Aki shares her excitement for upcoming events, particularly highlighting the 54 Below venue's "54 Sings: Taylor Swift 1989" featuring stars like Tyler Conroy and Cara Rose DiPietro.

Grace Aki [09:04]: "There are so many great opportunities to go see shows right now that you might have missed previously."

She encourages listeners to explore Off-Broadway venues and cabaret spaces, especially amidst a bustling spring Broadway season. Grace cites her anticipation for Caroline Bowman in Sunset Boulevard and urges fans to seize opportunities to experience performances beyond mainstream Broadway shows.

8. Closing Remarks and Social Media Engagement

While the hosts conclude the episode with social media handles and farewell messages, these sections are summarized succinctly as per the podcast's content guidelines.

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Notable Quotes:

• Matt Tamineni [00:09]: "Obviously these types of things are nowhere near as important as the lives and the homes of the people who are impacted."
• Grace Aki [04:21]: "Daniel is a phenomenally nuanced performer and I'm very excited about this casting."
• Matt Tamineni [05:58]: "This is a home run in terms of the casting as far as I'm concerned."
• Grace Aki [09:04]: "There are so many great opportunities to go see shows right now that you might have missed previously."

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This episode of BroadwayRadio's "Today on Broadway" provides a comprehensive overview of current events affecting the Broadway community, significant casting updates, upcoming productions, and recommendations for theater enthusiasts. Hosts Matt Tamineni and Grace Aki deliver insightful commentary, enriched with timely quotes and valuable information catering to both regular Broadway followers and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Matt Tamineni]

Welcome to Today on Broadway for Friday, January 10, 2025 on Broadway Radio's Matt Tamineni.

[Grace Aki]

And I'm telling on the Sunday podcast, Grace Ake.

[Matt Tamineni]

Grace, obviously one of, if not the biggest story in the country over the last few days has been the wildfires in California. A number of arts organizations have responded by canceling their events. I know the Wicked tour canceled its performances at the Pantages Theater. Jeremy Jordan was supposed to have a concert in Los Angeles. He canceled. So are planning on doing something or have tickets to see something in the Southern California area? Please make sure that you check before you head out. Obviously these types of things are nowhere near as important as the lives and the homes of the people who are impacted. I have a friend who she and her wife lost their home. So I am heartbroken for everybody who is having to go through that. And if you are able to please consider contributing to a mutual aid organization or something that can help these people who have been irrevocably impacted by this natural disaster. So our thoughts are with those people and hope that this dies down and comes to a stop sooner rather than later. Before we get into the news, Grace, I want to mention yesterday we talked about the extension for Eureka Day and I said at the time, like, I'm not exactly sure. The Playbill article that I was looking at did not say when Amber Gray was leaving. Our friend Jim Bick from the press room reached out and let me know that it was in the press release, which I didn't look. I looked at the Playbill article instead and it actually did say it in the press release. So they were doing their job. I just didn't do my job to dig down into that. Amber Gray will play Korina in the show through February 1st. So if you want to check her out in the show before she heads over to do Hadestown in London, you have until the end of the month. All right, Grace, some very exciting news happening over at hadestown in the U.S. in addition to the great stuff that is happening in the UK because yesterday they announced two new stars that'll be joining the show beginning on February 18th. One of them I alluded to in the last casting announcement that we had with Hadestown. The other one was a complete shock to me. You remember that when they had announced the fact that Hailey Kilgore, Carlos Valdez and Tom Hewitt would be getting performances on January 14, which is just next Tuesday, I said that one of those people might be reuniting eventually with one of their former Broadway co stars that person was Hailey Kilgore because she will be joined in the production of hadestown beginning on February 18th by Merle Dandridge, who will be taking over the role of Persephone. Of course, those two starred opposite each other in Once on this island on Broadway. But Merle is not the only person who will be joining the company on that day. She'll be joined by Tony nominee and one of the absolute greats. And did we talk about him? No. Jennifer McHugh and I talked about him on our episode of Some Like It Pop. Daniel Breaker will be taking over as Hermes. I think these two castings are tremendous. Merle is such a powerful performer and I cannot wait to see her as Persephone. But I also think Daniel Breaker is a really interesting person to take over Hermes, different than the last few major Hermes castings because obviously we had Andre and we had Lilias and Stephanie Mills, who are like these older, stately figures in the Broadway community. And while Daniel has been a fixture on Broadway for a couple decades now, he is still younger. And I think it is very interesting to see him go from Once Upon a Mattress, where he was essentially the narrator in that show, over to Hadestown, where he's the narrator of this show, but in a very, very different way. But nonetheless super excited for both of these two. I'm going to be seeing that first round of new cast, Hailey, Carlos and Tom in a couple weeks. I guess I'm going to have to go back and see Daniel and Merle in February as well.

[Grace Aki]

Grace, I, you know, I. I love Daniel so much and so many things. I got to see him a couple of years ago in Hamilton when he was coming in. Really great. I just think that he's such a dynamic performer. I think that everyone associates him with comedy and playing Donkey and being in Shrek, and I'm obsessed with that whole thing. But otherwise he's actually a phenomenally nuanced performer and I'm very excited about this casting.

[Matt Tamineni]

Yeah, I think I saw him three times as Burr on Broadway. He's tremendous. And in addition to Shrek, obviously you talked about that is a show that you can stream, I believe, on Netflix. But he's also in Passing Strange, which Spike Lee filmed, and that's available to stream as well. So it's very rare when somebody can be in a pro tape of a Broadway show once, let alone twice. But having two very different roles of Daniel breakers preserved for posterity is very, very fun. All right, Grace, we got some other really cool casting yesterday. We had previously talked about the fact that the Jonathan Larson Project was going to be making its Off Broadway debut starting in February. Previews actually begin on Valentine's Day at the Orpheum Theater. And now know who the stars of the show will be. Some of them were a part of that original 54 below production, and some of them are new to it. Returning to the production are Adam Chandler Barat, Lauren Marcus and Andy Mientus. Joining them will be Taylor Iman Jones and Jason Tamp. Now, this is the show that's being directed by John Simpkins, and it brings together dozens of songs written by Jonathan Larson that had never really seen the light of day before. Either they were unfinished or they were from unproduced musicals, or they were just kind of like pop songs that were one offs that he had written and never really done anything with. And Jennifer Ashley Tepper found them in a box and kind of put this show together. So I loved it when I saw it at 54 below, I will be going back to see it off Broadway. And this is a cast full of absolutely dynamic performers. This is a home run in terms of the casting as far as I'm concerned.

[Grace Aki]

I'm so glad to hear that. I love when that happens. Right. You want everybody to be as excited about the project as casting gets announced and theaters and all that good stuff. So I couldn't agree with you more. I truly have nothing else to add. I'm like, that's it?

[Matt Tamineni]

Yeah. And I think I mentioned this when it was announced that this was the first time I'd ever seen Lauren Marcus. And she's probably the least known name out of this group, but if you're unfamiliar with her, she is. I think she's going to blow you away when you go and see the show. All right. We found out some information about a new show having its North American debut coming up later this spring, but it will not be in New York City. Instead, it'll be over at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. This is a new musical that had its world premiere in Manchester, England, and It is called 42 Balloons. It'll begin performances in the Windy City on May 24th and is currently scheduled to run through June 29th. This is the same theater that you remember where Six made its North American debut. And unsurprisingly, a number of people on the production team that are involved with 42 balloons were also involved with six, including Kevin McCollum, Andy Barnes, and Wendy Barnes. Sonia Friedman is also a part of this production team. So that is obviously very exciting. But 42 Balloons tells a true story of a truck driver named Larry who used a lawn chair and 42 helium filled weather balloons to fly nearly 16,000ft above Los Angeles. I remember this story. This was wild. So it'll be interesting to see with a team like that. I don't think you were doing this just to be like, hey, here's a new quirky little show we're gonna do in Chicago. You are obviously putting together something that you were hoping has a longer life in and around the United States. So we will see what happens with 42 balloons moving forward and then finally some great performances. PBS News and it's not technically theater, but it is opera and it is from a Broadway favorite. And is the Jeanine Tesori's operatic adaptation of the one person show Grounded will air on PBS on Great Performances at the met on Friday, March 21st. Obviously check your local listings for when and where that will be. So Michael Mayer is directing this play. It is based off of a one person show written by George Brandt that originally starred Anne Hathaway at the Public Theater. And then Jeanine Tesori came in to write an opera version. So she wrote the score for the opera here. And this should be very exciting, very interesting. Mezzo soprano Emily D'Angelo will be the star of this. And even though it was a one woman show, there are more people in it. There's a lot of tech heavy things happening with LED screens and all of that stuff. So if you want to see what this show looks like, especially if you saw the one person version off Broadway a number of years ago, check it out on PBS in March. All right. Grace, I, I don't have any recommendations. Do you have anything to throw in there? It's a little quiet for Rex right now.

[Grace Aki]

You know, I know that upcoming because I was, I was checking it out. I know next week 54 below is doing 54 sings. Taylor Swift 1989 and my friend Tyler Conroy starring in that. A couple of other really great people. Cara Rose DiPietro, really great lineup of people. Ethan Carlson, who's also a composer that you may have seen and heard his work on the the webs. But yeah, I think that like you know, looking at the, the concert programming and cabaret scene, especially as we mentioned Robbie show ahead of the very packed spring Broadway season, this is a perfect time for you to go and see something else. Like not even kidding, like if you think you've seen every single show right now, check out these other off Broadway venues, these cabaret spaces because those artists are probably the ones that are currently not starring at a Broadway show right now but they either just came off of one or about to come and do a next one. So that's my recommendation always to if you feel like you've seen it all or if there's one thing that you've had on your bucket list like check out the availabilities. Look, I am busting my butt to go see Caroline Bowman on Sunday in Sunset Boulevard as Norma Desmond. There are so many great opportunities to go see shows right now that you might have missed previously. So check it out.

[Matt Tamineni]

All right, that's all that we have for today. Thanks for listening to Today on Broadway. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Broadway Radio and follow me on Instagram @bww. Matt Grace, where can people find you?

[Grace Aki]

You can find me at graceaki.

[Matt Tamineni]

All right, everybody, have a wonderful Friday, a wonderful weekend. We'll be back to talk to you on Monday.

[Grace Aki]

It.