BroadwayRadio: Today on Broadway

Episode Date: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025
Hosts: Matt Tamanini & Grace Akey

Overview

This episode delivers a packed roundup of major Broadway news, focusing on a surge of notable casting announcements, innovative theatrical approaches, and reactions to both revivals and new works. The hosts, Matt Tamanini and Grace Akey, discuss the impact of star power, the evolving definition of theatre, inclusivity in casting, and ongoing trends with source material adaptations. The tone is conversational, critical, and passionate, aiming to both inform and provoke thought about Broadway’s shifting landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Daniel Radcliffe in "Every Brilliant Thing"

[00:30–02:42]

• Announcement: Daniel Radcliffe will headline the solo show Every Brilliant Thing on Broadway, with a limited run at the Hudson Theater beginning March 12, closing (for now) May 24.

  • The play, by Duncan McMillan and Johnny Donahoe, is known for its uplifting message about finding joy in life’s small moments.
  • Radcliffe’s star power is expected to draw broader audiences.

• Significance: The show, previously successful worldwide and as an HBO special, is considered especially resonant in hard times.

  “This is a show that a lot of people have really clung onto as a, as a kind of a feel good show in really dark times.”
  —Matt Tamanini [01:38]

• Speculation: Matt expects a possible extension if Radcliffe is available, to capitalize on award season buzz.

2. Luke Evans Cast as Frank N. Furter in "The Rocky Horror Show"

[02:42–05:05]

• Announcement: Sam Pinkleton will direct a new Broadway staging of The Rocky Horror Show at Studio 54, opening March 26. Luke Evans, in his Broadway debut, will play Frank N. Furter.

  • Evans’s credits include Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), The Hobbit, and stage roots in London musicals.

• Casting Conversation: Grace raises questions about inclusive representation, given the role’s queer and gender-fluid history. She voices trust in Pinkleton’s approach but curiosity about casting choices.

  “I was really surprised to see a CIS actor cast in this role. I think there were a lot of different conversations happening around a revival of this particular show…inherently queer but never explicitly, but then also in some ways very explicitly.”
  —Grace Akey [04:33]

  • Matt and Grace both acknowledge Pinkleton’s inclusive directing history and anticipate further casting details with interest.

3. "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" Spring Production Details

[05:05–07:58]

• The Debbie Allen-led revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner's Come and Gone will begin previews March 30 at the Barrymore Theatre, with an opening night April 25 and a closing date set for July 12.

  • Cast includes Taraji P. Henson, Cedric the Entertainer, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and Joshua Boone.

• The hosts highlight the growing clarity around spring Broadway schedules as more theaters announce programming.

4. Star-Powered Rotating Cast for "Good Sex"

[07:58–08:33]

• The experimental play Good Sex will feature different celebrity pairings for each performance, who meet for the first time on stage to read the script together.

  • John Cameron Mitchell & Elliot Page, Morgan Spector & Constance Wu, and Chris Perfetti & Brandon Flynn are already announced.
  • The final pairing: Carla Gugino & Arian Moyad (opening Nov 5).

  “It feels a little bit voyeuristic…makes me a little bit uncomfortable with the whole idea of it, but nonetheless, if you’re going to have stars of their magnitude and their talent joining the cast, it should be an interesting production.”
  —Matt Tamanini [08:19]

5. Ian McKellen Headlines "An Arc" in Mixed Reality

[08:33–10:42]

• An Arc, written by Simon Stephens and starring Ian McKellen, is described as a “mixed reality” play at The Shed (Jan 9–Mar 1).

  • Audiences experience the show via headset; actors are not physically present.
  • Director Sarah Francom expressed excitement for breaking live theater boundaries.

• The hosts debate whether this constitutes “true” theatre since it removes live, in-person performer/audience synergy. Matt expresses skepticism about paying stage prices for a headset experience.

  "To me, the magic of theater is being in the room with the performers…none of that is possible. So to me, this is like you’re watching TV in a room with 200 people."
  —Matt Tamanini [10:42]

  "Man, everything's theater at this point. I don't know…sometimes some things are being used liberally, and I don't know."
  —Grace Akey [10:23]

6. "Not Ready for Primetime" Extended Off-Broadway

[10:42–11:49]

• The unauthorized Saturday Night Live origin story, currently at MCC Theatre, is extended through Dec. 7 due to demand.

7. "Alice in Neverland" — Another Classic Mashup Musical

[11:49–14:01]

• A new musical, Alice in Neverland, will get a private industry reading Nov 6–7. It serves as a sequel to Alice in Wonderland and a prequel to Peter Pan.

  • The cast includes Beth Leavel (Queen of Hearts), Jane Bruce (Alice), Akron Watson (James), Jake Peterson (Peter), and Jakira Davis (Tinkerbell).

• Matt is critical of continual adaptations of the same public domain properties, noting the lackluster track record of previous attempts.

  • Grace counters that writers often struggle to get original work produced, and these adaptations are more marketable to producers.

  "It's not that people aren't making them, it's that no one's buying them…all of their original work isn't. That is more telling to me."
  —Grace Akey [13:37]

  "After a rash of, like, bad versions of these types of stories already, I think we could probably put our efforts towards something more original and something more interesting."
  —Matt Tamanini [12:54]

8. Congratulations: Eva Noblezada & Reeve Carney Wedding

[14:01–15:30]

• Celebratory mention of the Hadestown stars tying the knot in New Orleans, with a parade and fellow Broadway alums in attendance. Social media posts from Hadestown and industry friends captured the festivities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is a show that a lot of people have really clung onto as a, as a kind of a feel good show in really dark times.”
  —Matt Tamanini on Every Brilliant Thing [01:38]

• “I was really surprised to see a CIS actor cast in this role…inherently queer but never explicitly, but then also in some ways very explicitly.”
  —Grace Akey on Rocky Horror cast announcement [04:33]

• "To me, the magic of theater is being in the room with the performers…and none of that is possible. So to me, this is like you’re watching TV in a room with 200 people."
  —Matt Tamanini on Mixed Reality An Arc [10:42]

• “It's not that people aren't making them, it's that no one's buying them.”
  —Grace Akey re: public domain adaptations [13:37]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Daniel Radcliffe in Every Brilliant Thing: [00:30–02:42]
• Luke Evans as Frank N. Furter: [02:42–05:05]
• Joe Turner’s Come and Gone Details: [05:05–07:58]
• Good Sex Celebrity Pairings: [07:58–08:33]
• Ian McKellen in Mixed Reality Play: [08:33–10:42]
• Not Ready for Primetime Extension: [10:42–11:49]
• Alice in Neverland Preview: [11:49–14:01]
• Eva Noblezada & Reeve Carney Wedding: [14:01–15:30]

Summary Takeaway

This episode is a lively, opinion-filled reflection of Broadway’s current landscape: star-driven productions, representation debates, experimentation with format and technology, concern over creative recycling versus original work, and continued celebration of the Broadway community’s personal milestones. Listeners walk away informed about major upcoming shows, with nuanced insights on broader industry conversations and an appreciation for Broadway’s evolving interface with audiences and artists alike.