BroadwayRadio: Today on Broadway – Friday, Nov. 21, 2025

Episode Overview

On this episode, co-hosts Matt Tammanini and Grace Ake dive into the much-anticipated reviews for the Broadway premiere of Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York, sharing their own reactions to the show. They also discuss the first round of Tony eligibility decisions, notable casting news and extensions, a remarkable announcement from Shayna Taub, Broadway marketing wins at the Clio Entertainment Awards, and a special music recommendation. The episode is warm, conversational, and peppered with both theater industry insights and personal anecdotes.

1. Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York – Review Roundup

[01:09] Main Discussion Begins

• Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York opened the previous night at the Longacre Theatre, following UK runs and an acclaimed West End stint.
• Creative Team & Cast: Book & score by Jim Barn and Kit Buchan; direction & choreography by Tim Jackson; stars Sam Tutty (reprising his UK role) and Christiani Pitts.

Key Critical Responses

• The New York Times’ Laura Collins-Hughes made it a Critics’ Pick:

  “The effervescent new musical comedy... is the most charmingly simple show on Broadway right now. A stellar debut ... This twinkly two hander delivers lavishly on the promise of a rom com, laughter, escape and fantasy... follows the formula of the rom com genre, it also has a welcome comfort with ambiguity and... psychological bombs.”
  — [02:30]

• Jackson McHenry (Vulture) was more mixed:

  “When the show's creators zero in on those feelings, something more specific and wistful than a love story... the piece comes alive. If only it stayed there.”
  — [03:40]

• Johnny Oleksinski (NY Post) also weighed in:

  “The musical comes dangerously close to cloying sentimentality at times, but Dougal’s dry sense of humor and Tudy’s first class delivery prevents the story from ever getting too soupy.” — [04:10]

Matt and Grace’s Takes

• Grace Ake’s Impressions
  [04:45]

  • Grace saw the invited dress; describes the show as “lovingly, surprisingly special.”
  • For romance and comedy fans:

    “It is a darling. And I don’t mean that in an infantilizing way. I mean it in a genuine, warm-hearted, lovely, excellent, nuanced performances from both actors.... What a remarkable, lovely piece on Broadway.”

  • Praises producer Kevin McCollum for picking original, small-cast shows and shouts out stand-by Vincent Michael.

• Matt Tammanini’s Perspective
  [06:33]

  • Agrees with the positivity, finds the show “surprisingly wonderful.”
  • Pushes back on pure rom-com labeling:

    “For like the first act... I got less rom com vibes and more like buddy comedy road trip vibes.... fun, odd couple, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope kind of road trip thing.”

  • He and Grace agree it’s sweet enough to recommend to anyone, not just couples.

• Memorable Moment:
  Grace shares how her friend and show stand-by Vinnie “physically carried my wedding cake... like in the show, across a couple of streets.”
  [07:32]

• On Performances & Writing
  [07:56]

  • Matt: “The performances are great. Sam and Cristiani are both—delightful is the only way... not to infantilize... but they are delightful in the best way, but also deep as well.... I don’t know that I’ve seen a more genuinely funny, adult funny comedy... really sharp writing.”
  • Grace: “It’s remarkably earnest. It’s so genuine... it’s not corny. It’s corny in the moments that you want it to be.... just really perfect.”
    [08:30]

• On the Score

  • Matt: “The songs are good as well. I don’t know that the score is its strongest point, but there were no bad songs... the opening song that Sam Tutty sings... stuck in my head since Sunday.”
    [08:47]

• Awards Outlook

  • Matt predicts it’s “the leader in the clubhouse for the best musical for Tony” based on a thin season, unless overturned by a late contender. [08:55]

2. Tony Awards: First Eligibility Announcements

[09:35] Segment Begins

• Committee announced eligibility rulings for several shows: Call Me Izzy, Mamma Mia, Art, Waiting for Godot, Punch, Ragtime, Liberation, Little Bear, Ridge Road, Queen of Versailles.
• Noteworthy eligibility decisions:
  • Mamma Mia: Christine Sherrill (Donna) eligible for Lead Actress in Musical.
  • Lead categories for Casey Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, Joshua Henry.
  • Leanne Pender (movement director) eligible for Choreography.
  • Susanna Flood in Liberation eligible for Leading Actress in a Play.
  • All other designations largely aligned with opening night credits.

3. Broadway & Off-Broadway News

a. Just in Time Extends; Jonathan Groff’s Exit Announced

[10:56] Segment Begins

• Just in Time at Circle in the Square extended through March 29, 2026—meaning almost a full year.

• Jonathan Groff’s final night: March 29, 2026. Rumors of a high-profile successor abound, but no official announcement yet.

• Matt: “This feels like such an underdog story that this has become such a sensation.... I initially thought maybe this gets six months, and now it’s going to be running for a year.”
  [11:48]

• Grace counters:

  “None of this has to do with Bobby Darin. It all has to do with the box office power of Jonathan Groff. And you underestimate white women, Matt... He has a rabid fan base.... I think that when you build the right vehicle for him, he soars.”

  [12:16]

b. Bridges of Madison County Carnegie Hall Concert Cast Update

[13:31] Segment Begins

• Hunter Foster out; Paul Alexander Nolan steps in for Dec. 15 concert alongside Kelly O’Hara, Steven Pasquale, and Derek Klena.
• Grace: “Oh, no, I’m a Pan fan. You can’t say that, this is too much for me.”
  [14:35]

c. Waiting for Godot Recoups; Quick Box-Office Success

[14:40] Segment Begins

• Waiting for Godot (Keanu Reeves & Alex Winter) recouped $7.5M investment in just eight weeks, first to do so in the 2025-26 season.
• Matt: “No surprise here whatsoever.... When you have someone like Keanu Reeves especially in it, you knew this was going to happen.”
  [14:54]

d. Off-Broadway: Pen Pals Final Extension, New Cast

[15:24] Segment Begins

• Pen Pals at DR2 gets a fourth and final extension, through March 15.
• Upcoming pairings include Paige Davis, Montego Glover, Donna Lynn Champlin, Emily Skinner, Beth Leavel, Randy Graff, Gina Torres, Carmen Cusack, Jodi Benson, Marsha Mitzman Gavin, and in February, Melora Hardin (The Office), with her stage partner TBA.

4. Personal & Somber News: Shayna Taub’s Hiatus from Ragtime

[16:28] Segment Begins

• Shayna Taub (Emma Goldman, Ragtime) announces a leave from January 6–March 29 to process multiple miscarriages and take a mental/physical health break.
• Matt: “This is an incredibly remarkable thing to put out there publicly... our thoughts are with Shayna... to have her be this frank and open... is remarkable and very important.”
  [17:35]

5. Broadway Marketing Wins: CLIO Awards

[18:28] Segment Begins

• Several theater marketing agencies recognized at the Clio Entertainment Awards:
  • AKA NYC: Most wins, including a Silver Clio for “Sunset Boulevard” campaign. Also awarded for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Buena Vista Social Club, Good Night and Good Luck, Ragtime. UK wins for Donmar Warehouse and Paddington.
  • Spotco: Awards for Death Becomes Her, Once Upon a Mattress.
  • Serino Coyne: Win for Museum of Modern Art campaign.
• Matt calls these agencies “the unsung fabric of how we know about Broadway shows.”
• Grace (who works in marketing): “I am a Clio Award-winning human being, yes. I love getting to do things that enhance the art form we all love so much....what a bizarre, wonderful thing to get the week of my wedding.”
  [18:41–19:26]

6. Special Recommendation

[20:00] Segment Begins

• New single: Kennedy Coughlin (current “Jersey” in Hell’s Kitchen tour), produced by Robbie Roselle, releases a mashup of “I’m Not That Girl” and “Defying Gravity” from Wicked (now available on all platforms).

• Matt: “You are probably listening to it right now under my talking.... I’ll have a link to that in the show notes.”

• [21:23] Excerpt of Kennedy Coughlin singing:

  “Don’t dream too far, don’t sight of who you are, don’t remember that rush of joy, it could be that boy, but I’m not that girl.”

7. Notable Quotes & Moments

• Grace on the show’s tone:

  “It’s remarkably earnest....so genuine...corny in the moments you want, blatantly frank when it needs to be. It’s just really perfect.” (08:30)

• Matt on impact:

  “This, to me...is the best thing out there.” (09:15)

• Grace on Jonathan Groff fandom:

  “You underestimate white women, Matt...if you’ve never been a Claymate, you don’t know these fans.” (13:25–13:44)

• Matt on Shayna Taub:

  “To have her be this frank and open...is remarkable and very important as well.” (17:35)

• Grace on her Clio Award:

  “I am a Clio Award-winning human being, yes.” (18:41)

• Matt (closing the segment):

  “Alright, everybody, have a wonderful Friday, a wonderful weekend. We’ll be back to talk to you on Monday.” (21:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:09] Reviews for Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York
• [04:45] Grace’s personal review
• [06:33] Matt’s take and discussion on genre/tone
• [09:35] Tony Awards eligibility announcements
• [10:56] Just in Time extension; Groff’s final date
• [13:31] Bridges of Madison County concert casting change
• [14:40] Waiting for Godot recouping news
• [15:24] Pen Pals extension and casting
• [16:28] Shayna Taub’s leave from Ragtime
• [18:28] Broadway marketing Clio Awards
• [20:00] Kennedy Coughlin/Wicked cover recommendation

Episode Tone & Closing

The show blends critical round-up, personal enthusiasm, and Broadway “inside baseball,” all with a breezy, friendly rapport. Matt and Grace’s conversational style keeps it brisk and insightful—ideal for Broadway fans and theater industry insiders alike.