BroadwayRadio Podcast Summary: Today on Broadway – Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025
Release Date: August 5, 2025
Hosts: Matt Tamminini & Grace Locke
Introduction and Weekend Recap
Matt Tamminini opens the episode by welcoming listeners to "Today on Broadway" for August 5, 2025. He reflects humorously on Grace Locke's weekend activities at SummerSlam, comparing her experience to a "professional wrestling match."
Grace Locke shares her exhausting yet magical weekend at MetLife Stadium during the two-night SummerSlam event. She describes performing at the American Dream Mall and candidly mentions her struggle with a sore voice post-event.
“[00:28] Grace Locke: ...it was really magical. As you can hear, I had a horrible time. No, I can't. I will talk about it, but I have no voice.”
Matt adds that despite her exhaustion, they exchanged texts and TikToks during the show, setting the stage for a deeper discussion later in the episode.
Hollywood Bowl’s Jesus Christ Superstar Takes the Spotlight
The conversation shifts to the standout event of the weekend: the multi-night production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl. Both hosts express admiration for the performances, particularly highlighting Cynthia Erivo, Adam Lambert, and Philippa Soo.
Matt emphasizes the widespread acclaim on social media and the unique casting twist involving John Stamos filling in for Josh Gad, who recovered from COVID-19 by the third night.
“[02:45] Matt Tamminini: ...Cynthia and Adam especially did was incredible. And I don't think that there's really any chance of, like, this production transferring to Broadway...”
Grace concurs, noting the rare unanimous praise within the theater community and the excitement it brings for future revivals.
“[03:11] Grace Locke: ...the entire theater community goes, yep, great job. A. Okay. It's not often where there's kind of a unanimous love of.”
Matt further praises Erivo’s performance, acknowledging her as a brilliant choice for the role and expressing a desire to see the production live in a different format.
“[03:44] Matt Tamminini: ...every single thing that I've seen from her is perfect.”
The hosts conclude their discussion by encouraging listeners to check out the available clips and social media highlights, providing links in the show notes.
This Week’s Theatrical Schedule
Matt outlines the upcoming theatrical events on Broadway, noting a quieter period with fewer openings and closings due to the summer schedule extending into Labor Day.
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Jeff Ross’s One-Man Show: "Take a Banana for the Road"
- Venue: Nederlander Theater
- Dates: Begins August 5th through September 28th
- Described as a storytelling-focused performance, diverging from Ross’s typical comedic style.
- Creative Team: Written by Jeff Ross, directed by Steven Kessler, with dramaturgy by Seth Barish and creative consultancy by Jeff Calhoun.
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Hamilton’s 10th Anniversary Celebrations
- Venue: Richard Rodgers Theater
- Dates: Ongoing throughout the month with special performances.
- Highlights: Citywide scavenger hunt and other celebratory events.
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"Ava the Secret Conversations"
- Venue: New World Stages
- Dates: Opening night on Thursday, August 8th, until September 14th
- Synopsis: Starring and written by Elizabeth Misgovern, the play portrays Ava Gardner’s life through dialogues with journalist Peter Evans.
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Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in Central Park
- Venue: Delacorte Theater
- Dates: First performance on Thursday, August 8th
- Cast Includes: Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lupita Nyong'o, Sandra Oh, and more.
- Director: Sahim Ali
- Note: This production marks the year's free Shakespeare in the Park.
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Off Broadway Closing: "Delaria"
- Venue: Dr. 2 Theater
- Dates: Concluding Friday, August 9th
- Details: A new play by Julia Randall, directed by Alex Keegan, praised on social media for its engaging performances.
Show and Casting News
Matt delves into recent casting announcements and upcoming productions:
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"Punch" by James Graham
- Venue: Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
- Dates: Performances begin September 9th, opening September 29th
- Casting Highlights: Two-time Tony Award winner Victoria Clark joins the ensemble alongside Camilo Cano, Flavia, Will Harrison, Sam Robards, and Lucy Taylor.
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"Waiting for Godot" Starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Wolff
- Venue: Hudson Theater
- Dates: September 13th through January 4th
- Additional Cast: Brandon J. Durden joins the iconic Beckett play, directed by Jamie Lloyd.
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Jordan Tannehill’s "Prince F" Return Engagement
- Venue: Studio Seaview
- Dates: September 11th to October 25th
- Notes: Directed by Shayak Misha Chowdhury, the play is returning for a six-week commercial run following its acclaimed Off Broadway stint.
Additional Updates:
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Chicago's "Chicago" Musical:
- Cast Additions: Bianca Maraquin returns as Velma Kelly, Tam Mutu as Billy Flynn, and Jacqueline B. Arnold as Matron Mama Morton.
- Venue: Ambassador Theater
- Dates: Performances commence Monday, August 11th.
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"44 the Musical"
- Venue: Daryl Roth Theatre
- Dates: October 14th, limited eight-week run
- Synopsis: A satirical musical comedy likely centered around Barack Obama, following sold-out runs in Chicago and Los Angeles.
SummerSlam Highlights and Reflections on Live Entertainment
Grace Locke shares her fascination with professional wrestling as a form of live entertainment, drawing parallels to theater through storytelling, character development, and audience engagement. She praises the innovative use of technology in WWE, such as meta glasses, which enhance viewer experience by providing unique perspectives during performances.
“[16:21] Grace Locke: ...the way other communities and globally have really maximized the fact that they continue to sell out arenas.”
She expresses a desire for the theater community to adopt similar technological innovations to enrich performances and audience interaction.
Matt Tamminini analyzes the evolution of Kayfabe—the art of maintaining the illusion that professional wrestling is unscripted. He discusses the recent twist with Seth Rollins at SummerSlam, where a staged return blurred the lines between reality and performance, reflecting a new direction in wrestling storytelling.
“[19:24] Matt Tamminini: ...the illusion of Kayfabe to have what I thought was the one of the most shocking twists in recent WWE memory with Seth Rollins returning.”
The hosts contemplate the future of live entertainment, emphasizing the importance of narrative structure and audience engagement akin to traditional theater.
Closing Remarks
Matt and Grace wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to follow them on social media platforms and visit their Patreon for more content. Grace briefly mentions her own online presence, inviting fans to connect.
“[21:22] Grace Locke: You can find me at Graceaki.”
Matt thanks the audience for tuning in and signs off until the next episode.
Notable Quotes:
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Grace Locke [00:28]: "So it was really magical. As you can hear, I had a horrible time. No, I can't. I will talk about it, but I have no voice."
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Matt Tamminini [03:44]: "Every single thing that I've seen from her is perfect."
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Grace Locke [16:21]: "...the way other communities and globally have really maximized the fact that they continue to sell out arenas."
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Matt Tamminini [19:24]: "...the illusion of Kayfabe to have what I thought was the one of the most shocking twists in recent WWE memory with Seth Rollins returning."
Conclusion
In this episode of "Today on Broadway," Matt Tamminini and Grace Locke provide a comprehensive overview of the latest happenings in the Broadway and live entertainment scenes. From celebratory milestones and new productions to reflections on the dynamics of live performances like professional wrestling, the hosts deliver insightful commentary enriched with personal experiences and industry knowledge. Whether discussing the artistic prowess of Cynthia Erivo or the evolving storytelling techniques in WWE, the podcast offers valuable perspectives for theater enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.