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Today on Broadway: Monday, Oct. 20, 2025
00:18:32
Tentative agreement reached to prevent strike, stars assemble for short ‘Good Sex’ run, Lin sings ‘Hamilton’ with Laufey Since 2016, “Today on Broadway” has been the first and only daily podcast recapping the top theatre headlines every Monday through ...
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- [00:02]
A
Welcome to Today on Broadway for Monday, October 20, 2025. I'm Broadway Radio's Matt Tammaneni and I'm.
- [00:07]
B
Tell me on a Sunday podcast, Grace Hockey.
- [00:09]
A
Grace, we are going to dive right in because we got great news over the weekend because it was announced very early on Saturday morning that after a marathon mediation session, Actors Equity association and the Broadway League reached a tentative agreement on the new production contract. The announcement was made very early on Saturday. They apparently negotiated through the night until about 6am and Al Vincent Jr. Actors Equity executive director and the lead negotiator said, quote, this three year agreement saves the Equity League Health Fund while also making strides in our other priorities, including scheduling and physical therapy access. Now, just because an agreement was made, as I said, it is a tentative agreement. It does not become official until it is ratified by the members of Actors Equity Association. They also don't disclose this information publicly so that the members can get those details first, can go through it and decide on if they want to ratify it or not. However, as we have seen pretty much in every one of these situations in the past, once a tentative agreement is agreed upon, the vast majority of the labor membership will approve it. Vincent did say in his statement, quote, now we will bring the deal to our members for ratification and in the meantime, we are putting our full support behind AFM local 802 as they work with the league to reach a deal that averts a strike. Remember, this was a twofold issue here, Grace, with both the actors and stage managers through Equity and then the local 802 musicians also needing to get new agreements with the Broadway League over production contracts. The 802 representative, the President Robert Sutman, was very happy for Actors Equity and said that they will continue to push for a similarly acceptable deal for them. But I know from people I talked to, Grace, that people were nervous about what might happen if a deal didn't get struck and how difficult a strike could be on the industry. So this has to be very relieving for everybody in the Broadway community this weekend.
- [02:19]
B
Yeah, of course, obviously no one wants to strike. Like, the only reason people feel like they have to is because they feel like there's no other choice. Right. And I think that between that and the marches and the protests that are happening, happening, like there's a lot of unrest and like, yeah, injustice in kind of any financial sector of anyone's workplace. You know what I mean? So I was, I was hopeful that some deal would be reached, but I recognize that like in terms of unions, it's still not incredibly strong by comparison to, you know, 101 and 802 and everything else. So I'm curious to see what happens from here. Obviously, like, I'm very supportive of all of these entities, but. Yeah, so I was curious as well what would end up happening. And I'm glad that they were able to reach something. Something.
- [03:04]
A
Yeah, absolutely. Another big announcement came on Friday. And this is an Off Broadway show, but when I say that it's only four performances, but it has really big stars coming together for one night only. Each of the pairs of stars coming together for one night only in a kind of unconventional event. This was first reported by Variety in an exclusive, and it has to do with an Off Broadway show called Good Sex. So there will be a total of eight stars paired up on each of one of four nights. It is going to run from November 5th through November 8th at Brooklyn's Powerhouse Arts, and it'll start on November 5th. We don't yet know the casting for that night, but starting on November 6, Cameron Mitchell and Elliot Page will be paired up. On November 7, it'll be Morgan Spector and Constance Wu. And then on November 8th, it'll be Brandon Flynn and Chris Perfetti. Now, what makes this interesting is, is that before they step on stage, neither of the actors will have ever rehearsed or even read the material before they perform it on stage. And from the way they say it in the press release, they call them unacquainted actors. So these aren't even people that really know each other at all. But what makes this difference from other productions that we've seen in the past that are. That are similar to this is that they won't be alone on stage. With them will be an actual intimacy coordinator. There is a sex scene in this show, and the intimacy coordinator is there to talk them through the process of figuring out what they are comfortable with and how this sex scene will happen on stage. In the press release, it says, quote, each night, two brand new performers tell a story of desire, betrayal, and loneliness. They are strangers, but they are not alone. To help and guide them, they are joined on stage by an intimacy director trained in the art of teaching people how to touch. So you can rest assured that the sex will be safe, it'll be consensual, and it will be good. This is fascinating. I also. I would feel super uncomfortable with that awkwardness that could be in the room because, you know, I hate that. But when so much conversation is had around intimacy directors and intimacy coordinators, and I don't think people really exactly know what that means. Like, they understand the concept of, like, what their job is, but I don't think anyone really knows what they do, the ins and outs of what they do, because we're just not on set, and it's new. So I think this could be really interesting to kind of be educational for the audience, but also be something that could have some really interesting and explosive outcomes on each of the four given Knights grace. Yeah.
- [05:54]
B
It's also, like, respectfully, I don't know, like, the people that buy a ticket. I'm like, why? What are you trying to see? Like, you know what I mean? Like, there's a level of, like, voyeurism that is kind of freaking me out personally. Just as, like, a performer, I think that there's, like, a level of, you know. The reason, one of. One of the many reasons that an intimacy coordinator is so important on a set in any, you know, like, film or theater is because, like, you get that privacy before the product is put out. And without the privacy, is it just performative that you're, you know, putting this out? So I'm curious from an artistic standpoint, what that must feel like for one of the performers and an audience member choosing to go to that. I do agree, though, that, like, put some respect on an intimacy coordinator's name, and hopefully this will be beneficial so that people better understand what those types of things are. But I have to question, like, why? You know what I mean? But I'm certainly excited that this has been employed and someone is doing it.
- [06:59]
A
Yeah. So it comes from Irish novelist and essayist Emily Pine. It actually started during COVID when, according to the press release, quote, touching was a transgressive act, and our bodies were sites of sickness. And Emily kind of, like, developed this as a, quote, love story for a loveless age. It premiered at the Dublin theater festival in 2022 and was funded by the Art Council of Ireland. And it is moving on to other parts of the world, obviously, like I said. I think as I said before and then as you kind of echoed in a much more thoughtful way, like, this kind of makes me uncomfortable. Like, the whole idea of this makes me uncomfortable. But hopefully it's interesting. And who knows, maybe it's not as salacious as some people might think it is, but certainly an interesting project. Another interesting project is one that we've actually seen in New York that is now going to be heading over to la because coming up this December, just a little bit before the holidays, Ben Platt will do a 10 performance run at the Ahmanson Theater. It is being called Ben Platt Live at the Ahmanson. Obviously last year, last season it was Ben Platt Live at the Palace. This will be very similar. I don't know if the set list is going to be the same, but just like it was on Broadway, he will have a star studded set of guest performers that will come and be a part of it when this show plays from December 12th through the 21st at the Ahmanson as part of the Center Theater Group. No idea who it's going to be is going to be participating, but we all remember the stars that he had on Broadway. Cynthia Erivo, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Hudson, Casey Musgrave, Sam Smith, a bunch of Broadway folks I saw I went and he actually had two guests. The night I went or the afternoon I went. It was Mikayla diamond and Shoshana Bean which was awesome. So this will be very cool. If you want tickets I would probably hurry up and jump on those now because I would not be surprised if this is one that sells out very quickly over in la. Alright Grace, let's dive into this week's theatrical schedule and interestingly enough there are no openings, closings or first previews on Broadway this week, but there is a ton happening. I'm going to run through these fairly quickly because there is a lot of them, but I will have the links to all of these shows that I discuss in the show Notes. We will start on Monday night over at MCC where the new play Not Ready for Prime Time officially opens. This is not an MCC production, remind you, but a rental there. This tells the story of the early days of Saturday Night Live. Has some familiar names and faces in it as well including Caitlin Houlihan who is currently able to be seen on only Murders in the Building, Jared Grimes, Taylor Richardson and more. So that should be a fun one there. Then on Wednesday we have the first preview performance for Art of Leaving over at the Pershing Square Signature Center. Not a Signature Theater production as well. It is written by Anne Marilyn Lucas and and following the advice of his eccentric self help guru, 50 something Aaron drops a bombshell on his wife Diana that he wants a divorce. Then coming up on Thursday we have three Off Broadway shows, beginning performances and going through them in alphabetical order. We will start first from the Roundabout Theater Company with a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajeev Joseph with his play Archduke. It is being directed by Tony Award winner Darko Treznik and stars the great Patrick Page in the show and it follows Gavrilo Princip, who is the assassin of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. And this is described as a darkly comic play as only Rajiv Joseph can really do. So that should be a lot of fun. Then downtown at the Classic Stage Company, we have the first performance of, I think the first major New York production of the Baker's Wife, the musical that features a book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. This is directed by Gordon Greenberg. The always phenomenal Scott Bakula and Ariana DeBose lead an incredible cast in this musical that's already been extended. It'll play from October 23rd through December 21st. And then finally also on Thursday, we have the play the Burning Cauldron of Fiery Fire off Broadway from the Vineyard Theater. Written by Anne Washburn and directed by Steve Kossen. It is set somewhere in foggy Northern California where an intentional community tries to to live off the land and keep an unsteady world at bay. Then moving to the weekends, we have the opening night at the Public theater on Friday, October 24th of the solo show from Zoe Kim called Did you'd Eat? It's autobiographical and looks through the many ways that people love. Then also at the Public Theater, just in a different theater, on Friday night we have the first preview performance of the Seat of Our Pants, which is the musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder's the Skin of Our Teeth. This comes from Ethan Lipton and directed by Lee Silverman, currently scheduled to play through November 30, has a phenomenal cast including Damon Duano, Michaela Diamond, Amina Fay, Andy Grian Schuler Hensley, Ruthie Ann Miles and more. This one is very high on my list for November so I'm hoping I will get to check that out. And then Grace Saturday Church, which you worked on, will close at New York Theatre Workshop on Friday night. On Saturday we have the opening night for playing Shylock over at Theater for a new audience. Previews at New York City center will happen for the Off Broadway musical reunions that has another great cast including Brian Fankart, Joanna Glushak, Jelena Kennedy, Courtney Reed, Chip Zion and more. And then another show, Grace, that you did an interview for here on Broadway Radio. Sulphur Bottom will close on Saturday at the Theater center as well. And on Sunday both Ginger Twinsies and Unconditional will close Off Broadway.
- [12:50]
B
I am seeing Ginger Twinsies one last time before it closes. I had such an amazing time and my friends were like I didn't get to see it and I said we should all go back. So I I'm excited that I get to take them this week and I wish them a happy closing.
- [13:04]
A
All right, Grace, this is one. I'm going to need some, some help from you on, from, from you for. So it seems like late last week there were some shortlist announcements made by the Clio Entertainment Awards and AKA the company that you worked for got 11. And the one that is the last one, which I think is the one they saved for the most important thing is in the category of live entertainment, digital, mobile and social media use of influencer and talent. It looks like that close up campaign for Sunset Boulevard that you did was shortlisted for a Clio Award. Explain what that is and how does that, and what does that mean for you?
- [13:48]
B
Oh my God, you're so sweet. No, I was so excited by this. I was really hoping it would get submitted and then it did and then of course it got shortlisted and it's essentially the Clios are, for lack of a better term, like the Tonys of national marketing. I don't know another way to put it, but yes, I think it's been shortlisted. I'm excited for this amazing kind of like influencer campaign moment that I was able to execute in tandem with all of the crew at Sunset Boulevard, specifically their house crew, their company management, obviously Jamie Lloyd, all of the people involved, their marketing director. Like everyone had to give the okay for us to be able to do it. And I had this kind of like directorial vision of how the cameras would be set up and what it would end up executing. And I just wanted to provide people, especially content creators, a content based experience. You know, a lot of times, like people just want to invite influencers and content creators to a show and then just hope for the best. And I was just like, you know, we can't expect people to just like do what they do for a living the way that you want to do it. Like, why not create an atmosphere that is conducive to not only the show, but also what they do for a living. And just because I'm so deeply connected to it, I just thought it was a great opportunity and especially for the cinematic value of the show and what Jamie did, I was very excited to execute this and the fact that it was so well received, I think is just a testament to everybody that helped. So, yeah, I was really, really grateful for it and I'm really, really glad that it is shortlisted because I've never had my work in the marketing space recognized to that level ever. I mean, this is like a national thing, so was very Very grateful for that. And hopefully, you know, whatever happens, happens.
- [15:31]
A
So what's the next step? Is this like the short list?
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B
I don't know.
- [15:36]
A
Okay.
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B
I don't know. I mean, there's like two days after my wedding, there's an LA award ceremony. Best of luck. I don't know. But hopefully something. But who knows if I'll even be alive then?
- [15:51]
A
Still. Very cool. Very cool. All right, I have two recommendations for you. The first one is a video from the upcoming Encore's City center performance of Batboy. It is a preview of the song Mine All Mine, sung by Gabby Karuba and Taylor Trench. What is interesting about this is that this song was not in the original Off Broadway show. It was added for the 2004 West End premiere. So if you've only seen the show in New York and if you've only seen or only heard that original cast album, this is a new song for you. So check that out. And Grace, this is another thing I'm going to need your help with because you actually pointed me in her direction a couple years ago when I was looking for like gift ideas for my niece. It comes from Icelandic singer. Is it Liu Fei Laufey Le Vey. I would never have gotten that from that spelling leve. And she recently had a guest at a concert. It was none other than Lin Manuel Miranda and they sang a duet from Hamilton. For those of us who clearly have no idea who she is, they did Best of Wives and Best of Women, which is like the huge social media viral thing, that trend that's been happening here lately. Who is she and why is she important?
- [17:11]
B
She is an Asian Icelandic singer songwriter who you know, was in classic training since upbringing and has this gorgeous jazz timbre to her voice. She is now a global touring musician. But she's super young. I mean she's like, I think she's in her early 20s and now she's performing on Radio City Music hall and performing with Lemonwell Miranda. And she's just created this kind of like viral sensation, especially during the pandemic when she was just at home performing her songs on the piano for her phone to millions of viewers on TikTok. And I just think she's such a special talent and of course ultimately theater kid dreams. So it makes. It's no surprise to me that she had Lynn on stage with her.
- [17:54]
A
It was so yeah, she was performing at Madison Square Garden. And what's interesting is that Lynn was not the only theater person that joined her the night before. Cause it was a multi night thing at msg. Rachel Zegler was her guest. So certainly lots of theater connections there. So we will have the video of Lynn's performance in the show notes if you want to check that out. All right, everybody, that's all that we have for today. Thanks for listening. Today on Broadway. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Rodrigo. If you want more BroadwayRadio, head over to patreon.com broadwayradio Grace, where can people find you?
- [18:21]
B
You can find me at graceaki.
- [18:22]
A
All right, everybody, have a wonderful Monday, wonderful week. We'll be back to talk to you tomorrow.