BroadwayRadio Podcast Summary: Today on Broadway – Thursday, April 10, 2025

Presented by BroadwayRadio, Broadway's Premier Podcasts

Host Update and Episode Scheduling

Matt Tammanini opens the episode with a personal update, informing listeners that Grace is unavailable this session as she accompanies a group to see Buena Vista Social Club. He humorously notes, "I believe not 100%, don't quote me on that," suggesting listeners follow Grace on social media for real-time updates (00:27).

Matt announces his temporary absence over the weekend, stating, "We will not have traditional Today on Broadway episodes on Friday or Monday" (00:45). This absence coincides with the Broadway opening of Smash on Thursday night. He expresses uncertainty about handling reviews during his offline period but assures listeners that updates will follow promptly once he's back online. For immediate review rundowns, he directs the audience to didtheylikeit.com and broadwayworld.com.

Upcoming Content and Interviews

Despite his impending unavailability, Matt previews upcoming content:

• Interview with Dane Laffrey: The scenic designer behind Happy Ending. Matt highlights their discussion on Laffrey’s creative process and collaborations with director Michael Arden, noting, "I had a great conversation with him... about working with Michael Arden, who he has done a dozen or so times" (01:30).

• Patreon Exclusives: Matt teases additional content available on Patreon, including his final travelogue episode, "Some Like It Pop", and a theater group chat predicting Tony nominations. He encourages listeners to visit patreon.com/broadwayradio for access (02:10).

Review Spotlight: Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends

A significant portion of the episode delves into Matt’s review of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, which premiered at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater on Tuesday night and is set to run until June 15, with potential extensions.

Production Highlights:

• Direction and Staging: Directed and musically staged by Matthew Bourne, with Cameron McIntosh producing, whose influence is evident throughout the show.

• Cast: Star-studded lineup including Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, Kate Jennings Grant, Bonnie Langford, Beth Leavel, Gavin Lee, Joanna Riding, Kyle Selig, and Jasmine Forsberg (04:50).

Critical Reception:

• Positive Reviews:

  • Jesse Green (The New York Times): Described the show as "gems speaking of the Sondheim songs...," emphasizing the transformative impact of Sondheim's work (05:20).

  • Brittany Samuel (Broadway News): Praised the diverse cast and their ability to infuse "comedy, passion and showmanship" into the performances (05:45).

• Mixed Reviews:

  • Jackson McHenry (Vulture): Critiqued the show's length and lack of completeness, despite acknowledging its intent to celebrate Sondheim's music (06:10).

• Negative Reviews:

  • Matt Winman (AM New York): Called the production a "two and a half hour buffet of greatest hits..." lacking context and cohesion (06:35).

  • Chris Jones (New York Daily News): While highlighting strong performances, he implied that some elements felt disjointed without an overarching narrative (07:00).

Matt’s Perspective:

Contrary to some critics, Matt appreciates the show's structure within the intimate setting of the Samuel J. Friedman Theater. He argues that the familiarity of the audience with Sondheim’s work mitigates the need for extensive contextualization. Matt states, "The performers are tremendous. It is well staged, it is well choreographed, and... a delightful show" (09:15).

Show and Casting News

Matt shares several exciting updates from the Broadway landscape:

1. Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Brokeback Mountain:

   • Premiere Details: Set for North American debut from May 28 to June 28, 2026.

   • Creative Team: Directed by Jonathan Butterell, with original country-western songs by Dan Gillespie Sells.

   • Source Material: Adapted from the novella and film, depicting a romance between two cowboys in the 1960s (09:40).

2. American Repertory Theater's Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York:

   • Premiere Dates: May 20 to June 29.

   • Cast: Stars Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty as the titular strangers.

   • Creative Team: Directed and choreographed by Tim Jackson, written by Jim Barn and Kit Buchan.

   • Synopsis: A romantic comedy following two strangers’ serendipitous adventure through New York City (10:30).

3. Reimagined Production of The Great War and The Great Gatsby:

   • Performance Dates: April 21 and April 22.

   • Director: Michael Mayer.

   • Narrator: John Monsky.

   • Cast: Includes Adam Chandler Barat, Nicholas Christopher, Michaela Diamond, Gracie McGraw, and Diego Andres Rodriguez.

   • Format: A blend of concert, suspense, drama, and romance, featuring rare images and archival film (11:10).

4. Deaf West Theater Company's Elephant Shoes:

   • Premiere Dates: June 4 to June 28, 2026, at the Two River Theater.

   • Creative Team: Book by Evan Menschel, music and lyrics by Caroline Kay, directed and choreographed by Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun.

   • Synopsis: A modern-day Cyrano story incorporating both American Sign Language and Spoken English, focusing on Psy’s invention to bridge communication barriers (12:00).

Insights from Jason Robert Brown

Matt highlights a blog post by Jason Robert Brown on his website, where Brown discusses the various changes made to the Broadway version of one of his musicals over the past five years. Topics include:

• Orchestrations and Lyric Changes: Brown elaborates on adaptations prompted by casting and the decision to set the production in modern times.

• Regional Production Guidelines: He clarifies which changes are permissible for regional theaters and which are not (12:30).

• Musical Adjustments: Includes discussions on key changes and how they impact different cast members, enhancing the performance dynamics (12:45).

Upcoming Recommendations

Matt offers listeners a few exciting recommendations:

1. Disney on Broadway 30th Anniversary Concert:

   • Streaming Date: Saturday, April 12th at 11 AM on YouTube.

   • Cast: Features Rodney Ingram, Kara Lindsay, Kissy Simmons, Michael James Scott, and host Ashley Brown.

   • Content: Celebrates songs from nine Disney on Broadway shows, offering nostalgic performances (13:00).

2. Kelsey Watts’s Heart of Stone:

   • Performance Venue: Lena Horne Theatre.

   • Details: An exclusive video released by Broadway World showcases Watts’s rendition of the song. Matt expresses excitement to see her perform live, despite skipping the online clip to avoid spoilers (13:25).

Listeners are encouraged to visit the Show Notes for direct access to these recommendations (13:45).

Closing Remarks

Matt concludes the episode by thanking listeners and reminding them to follow BroadwayRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. He wishes everyone a wonderful Friday and week ahead, assuring them of more episodes to come despite his temporary hiatus (14:00).

Stay Connected:

• Website: broadwayradio.com
• Patreon: patreon.com/broadwayradio
• Social Media: Follow BroadwayRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Note: Timestamps correspond to the transcript provided and are indicated in parentheses throughout the summary.