BroadwayRadio: Today on Broadway – Thursday, February 6, 2025

Hosted by James Marino

I. News Highlights

A. Remembering David Edward Byrd

BroadwayRadio begins with the somber news of David Edward Byrd’s passing at the age of 83. Byrd was renowned for his iconic poster art for classics such as Godspell, Follies, and Little Shop of Horrors. These pieces have left an indelible mark on Broadway's visual legacy.

“Broadway World brings us the sad news that Broadway poster artist David Edward Byrd passed away at the age of 83. Bird created the poster art for Godspell Follies, Little Shop of Horrors and more. These are all iconic, iconic pieces of art.” [00:04]

Listeners are encouraged to visit Broadway World's page to view Byrd’s celebrated artwork, with a link provided in the show notes for easy access.

B. Lachanze’s Vision for Broadway’s Future

Time magazine features Lachanze, highlighting her innovative approach to promoting Ja Jaw's African Hair Braiding during the 2023 season. Instead of traditional publicity channels, Lachanze directly engaged with her target audience by distributing flyers in Harlem’s black hair salons and hosting intimate dinners with salon owners at the renowned Melba’s restaurant.

“Instead of relying on traditional avenues of theatrical publicity like the New York Times or Playbill, lachange decided to go directly to the audience she wanted to reach.” [02:30]

This grassroots strategy not only fostered a strong community connection but also ensured that the promotion resonated authentically with her intended audience.

C. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Role in Wicked

BroadwayRadio touches on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s humorous consideration of playing a munchkin in Wicked. During a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Miranda explained his interest in the role that delivers a critical line in the play’s opening scene.

“Lin asked director John M. Chu to cast him as a munchkin in Wicked, and then he says it would have been distracting. So during a recent appearance on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Miranda explained that he had his eye on the role…” [04:15]

A YouTube link is provided in the show notes for listeners to watch the full discussion.

D. Stranger Things Broadway Adaptation

Excitement builds around the upcoming Broadway adaptation of Stranger Things. Entertainment Weekly offers an exclusive look into the special effects and new elements being introduced. The first Broadway run showcases a new, gargantuan Mind Flayer, with co-director Justin Mark and playwright Kate Trefry teasing several innovative additions tailored for the stage.

“Stranger Things is having a Broadway adaptation and it's coming soon. Entertainment Weekly had an exclusive look into some of the special effects that are happening.” [04:55]

This adaptation promises to bring the beloved series to life with fresh allusions and state-of-the-art effects.

E. Urinetown at City Center

BroadwayRadio previews Encore City Center’s production of Urinetown, opening on February 6th and running through February 16th. The show features a star-studded cast including Jordan Fisher, Keala Settle, and Rainn Wilson. A first-look video highlights scenes from the opening night, showcasing the vibrant performances and dynamic staging.

“Broadway World also brings us a video of a first look at Urinetown as Urinetown takes the stage at City Center.” [04:45]

Listeners are encouraged to watch the featured video in the show notes to get an early glimpse of this highly anticipated production.

II. Bonus Highlights

• February 6th Birthdays:

  • Spencer Liffe
  • James Gurth
  • Kathy Najimi

• Historical Spotlight:

  • Kelly at the Broadhurst Theater: Opened and closed on February 6, 1965. Despite its brief run, the production, with a book by Edie Lawrence, music by Moose Charlotte, and lyrics by Edie Lawrence, remains a notable footnote in Broadway history.

    “Opening night on February 6, 1965 was also closing night for the infamous production of Kelly at the Broadhurst Theater.” [06:10]

III. In-Depth Review: English at Todd Haynes Theatre

In a standout segment, host James Marino shares a snippet from the previous week's episode of This Week on Broadway, where he, along with Peter, Felicia, and Michael Portantiere, discuss their reactions to the Broadway transfer of the play English at the Todd Haynes Theatre.

A. Overview of English

English revolves around a class of Iranian individuals learning English, exploring the nuances of language and identity. The play skillfully alternates between English spoken with thick Farsi accents and pure Farsi, highlighting the characters' internal and external conflicts.

“The playwright Sanaz Tusi was very smart in doing that. That we switch back and forth from English that we hear as English, but it's really Farsi and English that we hear as broken English, so to speak, with a thick, heavy accent.” [08:03] – Michael Portantiere

B. Cast and Performance

The cast, all making their Broadway debuts, delivers exceptional performances that have garnered attention from theater award nomitors. The ensemble’s chemistry and portrayal of complex characters are particularly lauded.

“The cast is spectacular. They're all making their Broadway debuts and it's going to drive us theater world nominators crazy in determining who gets a prize.” [09:20] – Michael Portantiere

C. Set Design Critique

While the play excels in many areas, the rotating set has been a point of contention among the reviewers. The mechanism, coupled with floor-to-ceiling curtains, often obstructs the audience’s view, detracting from the overall experience.

“The set drove me insane. And the set is rotating... a lot of people are going to miss things, especially because there are curtains from floor to ceiling in the room where the class is.” [09:27] – Michael Portantiere

D. Overall Impression and Anticipated Awards

Despite the set issues, the reviewers unanimously praise English for its intelligent writing, poignant themes, and outstanding performances. They anticipate the play will receive significant recognition and awards in the theater community.

“I think it's gonna get a lot of awards and which it deserves.” [17:06] – Peter

Felicia further emphasizes the play's impact and urges audiences to experience it, even those who typically favor musicals.

“I really love seeing it. And I... I really urge people, you know, maybe people who think they only want to see musicals. When a play is this good, I think if you check it out, you're very likely to be very, very happy.” [10:52]

E. Additional Notes

The discussion also touches on comparisons with other plays like Eureka Day and Cult of Love, alluding to a current streak of excellent non-musical productions on Broadway.

“This was something like the third really excellent play, you know, as opposed to a musical that we've seen on Broadway recently between Eureka Day, Cult of Love and this one.” [10:52] – Felicia

Show Availability: English is running at the Todd Haynes Theatre until March 2nd. Links for tickets and more information are available in the show notes.

IV. Conclusion

James Marino wraps up the episode by reflecting humorously on the Factor Meals advertisements, likening the presenters to the hosts themselves. He also teases future segments, including potential standalone show reviews, and invites listener feedback via their Patreon and official website.

“Does anybody else feel like these Factor ads are little vignettes of Matt and Grace? It's like there's so much subtext.” [06:58]

Listeners are reminded to support BroadwayRadio through Patreon for early access to shows, bonus content, and live listening opportunities.

Stay tuned to BroadwayRadio for more updates, reviews, and in-depth discussions on all things Broadway!