BroadwayRadio: Today on Broadway – Monday, Sept. 15, 2025

Hosts: Matt Tamanini & Grace Aki
Date: September 15, 2025
Podcast: BroadwayRadio

Episode Overview

This episode dives into an action-packed week in New York theatre, with major casting news, a new cast album announcement, details on the extension of Broadway's production tax credit, and a preview of coming openings on and off Broadway. The hosts, Matt Tamanini and Grace Aki, provide sharp commentary—a blend of excitement and analysis—on why these developments matter for theatre lovers and professionals alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Updates from the Podcast Network ([00:30]–[01:30])

• Recap of recent podcast content, including:
  • Jan Simpson’s deep dive into Street Scene (1929 Pulitzer winner).
  • Matt’s interview with Mickey Jo about all things Evita, the Andrew Lloyd Webber & Jamie Lloyd feud, and London theatre tidbits (available on Patreon).

2. Casting News: Classic Stage Company’s The Baker’s Wife ([01:30]–[03:25])

• Full cast announced for upcoming The Baker’s Wife revival, led by Ariana DeBose and Scott Bakula.
• Standout supporting cast includes:
  • Arnie Burton, Robert Cuccioli, Alma Cuervo, Kevin Del Aguila, Bill English, Samantha Gershman, Nathan Lee Graham, Judy Kuhn, Kelly Lester ("Tony nominee Julia Lester's mother"), Sally Murphy, Manu Narayan, Kevin William Paul, Will Roland—among others.
• Trend highlighted: Revivals at CSC are consistently assembling “phenomenal groups of talent.”

Quote:

“I was already excited about this show because how often do you get to see The Baker’s Wife done…in a big, fancy New York production? But adding folks like…Judy Kuhn, who I love, Nathan Lee Graham…This is just a phenomenal group of talent…”
—Matt ([02:32])

Grace’s take:

• CSC is “crushing it,” picking thoughtfully chosen musicals that don’t always become high-profile Broadway revivals but are “worthy musicals to do in the city.”
• Special note on theatrical family connections: Kelly Lester (in this show), Julia Lester (previous CSC headliner), and their father recently in Cabaret.

3. The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation: New Cast Album & “We Are the Griswolds” Single ([03:25]–[06:32])

• Instead of a Broadway run announcement, Ken Davenport’s production released the first single from the upcoming cast album, featuring Santino Fontana.
• The album also features Carrie Butler, Livy Marcus, Nathan Levy, Jennifer Cody, Alan H. Green, Andy Grotelueschen (as Cousin Eddie).
• Writers David Rossmer & Steve Rosen issued a cheeky, self-deprecating press release.

Quote:

“We don’t want to hype it up too much, but it might be the funniest, most tuneful score ever written for a musical and the second funniest, most tuneful score ever written for a play. It makes Hamilton look like Carrie…”
—Rossmer & Rosen ([05:17])

• Discussion of concept album importance:
  • Cast albums are “crucial for keeping American theater alive,” not just for marketing but also for preservation and future licensing ([06:32]).
  • Reference to how past shows (Merrily We Roll Along, Jesus Christ Superstar, etc.) owe success to cast/concept albums.

4. Broadway Tax Credit Extension ([07:54]–[12:02])

• Philip Boroff (Broadway Journal) reports the New York Empire State Development Fund will extend the Broadway production tax credit into October 2025 (from September 15 to October 20).
• Makes current and soon-to-open shows like Liberation, Little Bear Ridge Road, Chess, and The Queen of Versailles eligible.

Quote:

“These credits will subsidize 25% of most production costs, up to $3 million for Broadway shows, $350,000 Off-Broadway. So this is a huge boon for those shows specifically.”
—Matt ([08:30])

• Importance: Can “literally” affect what is possible on stage in terms of cast size, design, and ticket pricing.

5. This Week’s Theatrical Schedule ([12:02]–[20:40])

Monday: New York Theatre Workshop’s Saturday Church ([12:02]–[14:33])

• Official opening of musical based on the indie film; features a book by Damon Cardassis & James I, music by Sia and Honey Dejon.
• Story of Ulysses, a queer New York teen, straddling worlds of faith, family, and LGBTQ sanctuary.
• Cast highlights: J. Harrison Ghee, Jaquina Kalukango, Kristolyn Lloyd, and The Voice’s Bryson Battle.

Grace: “I haven’t been excited about a new musical like Downtown in this kind of capacity in a second…” ([14:10])

Tuesday: Broadway Revival of Art ([14:33])

• First Broadway revival of Yasmina Reza’s play, starring Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, Neil Patrick Harris; directed by Scott Ellis at the Music Box.
• Matt jokes: “Three newcomers…who hopefully will have careers after this.”

Tuesday: Off-Broadway Openings ([15:00])

• Weather Girl at St. Ann’s Warehouse: Satirical, climate-focused dark comedy, produced by Fleabag / Baby Reindeer team.
• When the Hurly Burly’s Done at The Public: Performed in Ukrainian with English subtitles; examines a 1920 theatre troupe from war-torn Kyiv.

Wednesday: Irish Rep’s The Honey Trap ([16:40])

• New play set in 1979 Belfast and years later, exploring legacy of The Troubles.

Thursday: Mexodus Opens Off-Broadway ([17:15])

• Hip-hop musical about the “underground railroad that went south,” telling migration stories across the Rio Grande.

Saturday: Notable Off-Broadway Previews ([17:30])

• Dylan Mulvaney’s The Least Problematic Woman in the World at Lucille Lortel—one-woman show on self-discovery and fame, set to run through Nov 30.
• We're at Cherry Lane Theater—set on Y2K New Year’s Eve; ages 18+; “star-crossed lovers and a quarrel at midnight.”

Sunday: Final Week of Cabaret Revival ([18:50])

• Reminder: The Broadway revival wraps up a week early.

6. Additional Theater News ([19:20]–[21:29])

• The Flea will produce a rare revival of John Patrick Shanley’s Italian American Reconciliation (Oct. 3–26), directed by Austin Pendleton, starring Mary Testa and Wade McCollum.
• Announcement for Bigfoot! (a new musical comedy by Amber Ruffin, David A. Schmoll, Kevin Scoretta), coming to City Center Off-Broadway in February.
  • Premise: Set in the bizarre town of “Mud Dirt”; themes of paranoia, small-town politics, and youth.

Quote:

“I love Amber Ruffin…her voice is so specific and unique that we need it on Broadway.”
—Matt ([20:47])

Grace: “She understands comedy in a really contemporary, progressive way. I look forward to more people trusting her with books…” ([21:14])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “CSC continues to do what I think people expect often out of…the encores of the world. They are crushing it.”
  —Grace ([02:54])

• “So much of the reason for cast albums is… preservation. That is a crucial part of keeping the American theater alive…”
  —Grace ([06:32])

• “This is a huge boon for those shows specifically…”
  —Matt ([08:30])

• “It trickles down to the audience…It definitely has a material impact on what we see on Broadway and Off Broadway.”
  —Matt ([12:02])

• “It’s just cool. I haven’t been excited about a new musical like Downtown in this kind of capacity in a second.”
  —Grace ([14:10])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:30] – Episode kickoff & recent podcast recaps
• [01:30] – The Baker’s Wife full cast announcements and CSC praise
• [03:25] – The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation album single & cast details
• [05:17] – Quote from Rossmer & Rosen’s (tongue-in-cheek) press release
• [06:32] – The necessity of cast albums for theatrical preservation
• [07:54] – Details on the Broadway production tax credit extension
• [12:02] – Theatre schedule rundown: Saturday Church, Art, Weather Girl, The Honey Trap, and more
• [19:20] – Additional news: Italian American Reconciliation, Bigfoot! musical
• [21:10] – Praise for Amber Ruffin
• [21:54] – Closing remarks

Tone and Style

The tone is lively, knowledgeable, and slightly irreverent—full of in-jokes, rapid theatre news recaps, and genuine affection for the art form ("crushing it," "phenomenal group of talent," "this one's bonkers but exciting"). Both hosts balance industry savvy with a fan’s excitement, making the analysis sharp yet accessible.

This episode is an essential listen—or, thanks to this summary, an essential read—for anyone tracking the pulse of New York theatre’s busiest fall in recent memory.