Grace Aki (3:51)

I mean, I was very excited by this Oedipus. Like, I love Mr. Strong. I think he's like one of the greatest stage actors of our time. And this is one that I had heard so much about on the West End that I'm excited that it is coming here. We've been talking about this Rocky Horror rumor forever with Roundabout. And I just want to remind you, they did do a hell of a job with Cabaret. And like, I was obsessed that that was at the 54. So I think that this just makes sense. I'm curious who that Frank N. Furter is going to. But you know, I've heard in the past Michael Shannon. I've heard a lot of different actors, but I don't know. Like, I've got no. No wherewithal on. On this one. But I am very curious. But I'm obsessed that it's Sam Pinkleton. Maybe we'll get a call. Escola Magenta.

Matt Tammini (4:36)

That would be amazing. Here's. Here's the thing. Our friend Ashley Hufford, when I was talking about this with her, she said the rumor. She has no confirmation of this, but I will just say the rumor she heard and doesn't quite actually believe is that Frank N. Furter is somebody that you and I talked about on this show following the Oscars about wearing a very condiment colored suit. I don't believe that I would. I find that impossible to believe. But who knows, maybe that should be interesting. One thing I do want to mention about the Todd Haymes Theater, though, when we see Fallen Angels there in the spring, that will be after the Todd Haymes Theater shut down for eight months. Starting in August of this year, they are going to do a major renovation of pretty much all of the the areas in that theater. They're going to do a complete gut of the restrooms. They're going to replace the seating. They're going to make more accessible seating throughout the venue. So that'll be great to have a kind of a refurbished Todd Hames after it got a new name as well. So I'm very excited about that. That will happen effectively after the Penzance musical closes in that space. Real quick, let's talk about some things happening Off Broadway from Roundabout. A new play by Rajeev Joseph called Archduke is going into the Laura Palace Theater. It is going to be directed by Darko Tresnik and it will star Patrick Page. Hopefully he is able to walk by this fall when he is doing that. Also at the pel's next winner will be Alex Lin's play Chinese Republicans, directed by Cha Yoo. All right, Grace, let's take a real quick break to talk about our sponsor for this week. Factor as the weather gets nicer, I don't know what it's like wherever all of you listeners are, but it is starting to get really, really nice here in Orlando. So as things are getting nicer, I'm wanting to be outside more. I'm wanting to be away from home more. I'm wanting to do things more. I want to be in the sun and on a beach somewhere. That means one I want I'm not going to want to spend a whole lot of time cooking food. But also I want to make sure I'm eating food that's good for me so I can actually get out into the sun and not feel super conscious about feeling bloated and all of those things that happen when you don't eat well. Fortunately, Factor is here to make sure that you are covered in all aspects of your diet. They have chef made gourmet meals every single week that are dietitian approved. And what's even better is that even if you are on the go, you can take them with you, throw them in the microwave, you are ready to eat a hot and delicious meal in just two minutes.

Grace Aki (7:22)

That's the thing. There's always a variety. Like I never get the same thing twice with Factor, which is what I really love because I need variety, especially when I'm unable to run to the grocery store to meal prep all that stuff I don't have time for it. And the fact that these meals are ready to eat in two minutes saves me so much time. And they're super nutritious. You've got so many different levels of keto. There's dietary restrictions, there's protein, plus there's calorie smart. There are all these different preferences that you can go to too. So it's not just one size fit all. They have an array of options. Also, they've got snacks. The fact that I am living off of these breakfast smoothies, it's changed my life. The smoothies are amazing. The little breakfast add ons, you name it, they've got it. And you can reach your goals with the ingredients that you can actually trust with the convenience that you cannot beat.

Matt Tammini (8:06)

So eat smart with Factor. Get started@Factor meals.com Factor podcast and use code Factor podcast to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. That's Code Factor podcast@factormeals.com Factorpodcast and get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box. All right, Chris, I've got a bunch of little show and casting nuggets. Nothing that jumps out as like, oh, big breaking news. But if there's anything that you want to talk about, please feel free to jump in. We already knew that Playwrights Horizons would be presenting the world premiere of Ryan J. Haddad's new solo show, Hold Me in the Water. Now we know when it is going to happen and who is going to be directing it. Danny Sharon will direct the show that will begin performances Off Broadway at the Judy on April 10th and is currently scheduled to run through May 4th. In Hold Me in the Water, Ryan finds himself ready for the romance of his dreams with someone he's only just met. As their connection grows, he learns that new heights of joy can bring deep insecurities to the surface. Also sticking off Broadway yesterday we found out that Norm Lewis is going to be doing a new Off Broadway revival of a very rarely seen show called Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. The show, by Loni Elder III, will begin performances on April 11 and is currently scheduled to play through May 18. It is going to run at the Theater at Saint Clements with Clifton Turner Davis at the helm. The play is set in 1950s New York and it centers on a widowed father, a barber who used to be a vaudeville performer whose life is thrown into turmoil when his daughter's longstanding resentments come to a head as his two sons criminal enterprise unravels. Lewis will be joined in the company by Jeremiah Packer, Calvin M. Thompson and Bryce Michael Wood. Grace, I know for me and maybe for you as well, one of the highlights of this season is not happening on Broadway but is said happening. I don't even know if I think it's technically off Broadway, but it's out in Brooklyn. That is at the Brooklyn Academy of Music where the Andrew Scott led production of Vanya will be happening. Well, we now know who is going to be understudying Andrew Scott and that is a tough task in a one person show, especially one like this where it is a iconic show starring somebody who is a beloved star of stage and screen. But Mariana Gaylis will be taking on that responsibility when the show Begins performances on March 11th. It is currently running through May 11th as it's already been extended. I feel like this is something Grace that like that is such a tough responsibility to do. It's like trying to understudy Phoebe Waller Bridge in Fleabag. Like how do you do that when you know everybody is coming to see that person? That takes a lot of guts and a lot of confidence to take on that gig.

Grace Aki (11:03)

Yeah, I agree. It's, it's kind of like, you know, when Mike Birbiglia was doing the new one and then people kept commenting, okay, if Mike's out, what happens? And he did this really funny thing where he asked people to send in their self tapes as Mike Birbiglia. Obviously it's not something that you can do here, but it's really tough. And so I commend anybody that is stepping into those shoes. I mean it's hard enough when you're like covering for in a list celebrity in any show but when it's like also the subject matter is indicative of that person. It's just, it's, it's a total, it's, it's totally different.

Matt Tammini (11:36)

So I cannot imagine when you take to Free a Mockingbird to Broadway, who do you want to be your understudy?

Grace Aki (11:44)

Oh my gosh. You know, people are going to be clamoring to, to be my standby. I think it only makes sense, you know, for it to be someone obviously Mike Birbiglia because he knows how to do that so well. He could very much play a young Japane American woman from the South. It just, I think brand wise it makes sense for him. But we'll have to obviously discuss it closer to time.

Matt Tammini (12:07)

Yeah, I mean he would have to audition obviously. That goes without saying at this point.

Grace Aki (12:11)

Yeah. Stephanie Hsu is what I'm trying to say. Stephanie Hsu is going to do it.

Matt Tammini (12:14)

So it's fine. Even better. Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu. Yes. Perfect. All right. We had previously talked about this Grease parody, Vape, which is going to be having a performance at Town hall on Tuesday on March 11th. We talked about all the great stars who are going to be in it. Kerry Butler, Ann Harada, Jackie Hoffman, Aisha Jackson, Joel Perez, Jelani Remy. Now we know a few others who are going to be stepping into the show. They include Rachel Dratch as the teen angel and Amy Spanger as Marty. This just seems so much fun. I hope that we not only get a lot of videos from this performance, but also have a few more opportunities to see it in the future. And then finally, Grace. Ah. I'm so mad that this is happening the week before for I am in town because I got an invitation to this and I'm not gonna be able to go. But the AMAS Musical Theater and AMAS Musical Theater Lab will be doing a developmental reading of a new musical called Dubbo championship wrestling on March 24th and 25th. Former Broadway radio guest Will Nunziata is going to be directing that, but the cast is incredible. Stacy Bono, who I loved from when I saw Sweeney Todd at Barrow street, she was fantastic. Natalie Joy Johnson, David Joseph Berg, Suzy Mosher, Anneliese Scarpacci, Marty Thomas and Cole Thompson. Just absolutely fantastic group. It is written by Daniel Cullen and James Cullen. It is a musical that follows an angry high schooler who picks the wrong fight at school and is sent back to her rural hometown where she faces a battle for her struggling family business, Dubbo Championship Wrestling. Grace, as wrestling fans, like this feels like a musical that we should like. They should have waited for both of us to be there to see this reading.

Grace Aki (14:01)

Yeah. But Monday Night Raw is at MSG this coming Monday. And I'm just saying.

Matt Tammini (14:06)

Is it?

Grace Aki (14:07)

Yes, it is. And I really want to be there. It is Dorian Gray's first preview, but you never know.

Matt Tammini (14:15)

You never know. You never know. Awesome. That's amazing. Yeah, that's. That is theater. That is certainly theater. All right, let's wrap up the show today with a feel good recommendation. And this one comes from. From the View. But a ton of Disney on Broadway stars did a special performance in honor of Women's History Month, International Women's Day and Theater in Our Schools Month. The performance featured a ton of Disney on Broadway alums, a ton of women including Sonia Balsara, Ashley Brown, Anju Cloud, Bonita Hamilton, Ariel Jacobs, Pearl Quezzi, Kara Lindsay, Courtney Reed, and Kissy Simmons. They did the song Anything can happen for Mary Poppins. So obviously Ashley Brown originated that role on Broadway. So that is very, very cool. So head over to the show notes, check out that. And I'm probably playing a little bit of it under me talking right now.

Unknown Singer (15:08)

Anything can happen if you let it.

Matt Tammini (15:19)

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 broadwayrading. You can follow me on Instagram at bwwmatt. Grace, where can people find you?

Grace Aki (15:26)

You can find me at graceaki.

Matt Tammini (15:28)

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

Unknown Singer (15:34)

Open different doors you may find a.

Matt Tammini (15:37)

You there that you never knew was.

Unknown Singer (15:40)

Yours Anything can happen raise the curtain things you thought impossible will soon seem certain Though at first it may sound clownish See the world more upside downish Turn it on its head then hero and it Anything can happen if you let it if you reach for the stars when you get all the stars but we found a hole if you reach for the heaven get the stars thrown in the stars thrown in Anything can happen if you let it Life is out there waiting so go and get it grab it by the collar seated by the scrub Once you started living life you just can't get it all Anything can happen is official. You can choose a super for the superficial Sally for the way we're steering Obstacles are disappearing go and chase your dreams you won't regret it is anything can happen anything can happen Anything can happen if you let me.

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