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Today on Broadway: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
00:19:30
‘Take Me Out’ playwright Richard Greenberg dies, Rudin to produce new Laurie Metcalf Broadway show, Grace’s ‘Death Becomes Her’ screening Since 2016, “Today on Broadway” has been the first and only daily podcast recapping the top theatre headlines ever...
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- [00:02]
Matt Tammanini
Welcome to Today on Broadway for Tuesday, July 8, 2025. I'm Broadway Radio's Matt Tammanini and I'm.
- [00:07]
Grace Auke
Tell Me on a Sunday podcast, Grace Auke.
- [00:09]
Matt Tammanini
Grace, after we record, you are running out to the Nighthawk Cinema in Brooklyn. Which one is it again? Is it Prospect Park?
- [00:17]
Grace Auke
This is the Prospect park location which is just around the corner from Dog Day Afternoon Hot dogs where I will be getting a pre show meal.
- [00:25]
Matt Tammanini
Very good. We're going to talk about your next screening that'll be happening next Monday. But by the time you hear this, it'll already be over. But you're getting ready to run out and do this screening for Buena Vista Social Club. But we'll talk about your next one that'll be happening next week. At the end of the episode, I will remind people that we have a new Patreon schedule that we released last week. You've already heard this week's episode or this month's episode of Some Like It Pop. On Monday, I did the first conversation of our best show you've seen this month series that'll be coming out to you later this month. And there was nobody I could have started that series with better than Kate Ranking who just wrapped up a 37 day, 38 show trek across not only these United States, but the entire Northern hemisphere as they also spent some time in London. So if you want to hear that and everything that we have going on in Patreon, head over to patreon.com broadwayradio or broadwayradio.com patreon now. Unfortunately, Grace, we have to start today's episode with the sad news of the passing of the Tony winning playwright, Richard Greenberg. Richard won the Tony Award for Take Me out but was also nominated for his show the Assembled Parties, was Pulitzer Prize finalist for both Take Me out and Three Days of Rain. Also had a number of other Broadway credits including things like Eastern Standard, Dance of Death, the Violet Hour, A Naked Girl on the Appian Way, did a new book for Pal Joey, wrote the play the American Plan, did the stage adaptation for Breakfast at Tiffany's, wrote Our Mother's Brief Affair and a number of other shows. Also worked in television as well. Richard Greenberg obviously has been an important part of the American theatrical canon since the show, since he started writing shows, but especially with Take Me out that kind of broke through not only on a theatrical standpoint but also just on a cultural standpoint. Obviously this most recent Broadway revival won a ton of awards, so we saw many, many people who reacted on social media, including Dennis O' Hare, who starred in the original production of Take Me out. And, you know, just a really sad news to learn because Richard was only 67 years old. So obviously our hearts go out to everybody who not only knew him personally, but who has been moved by his stories and his shows over the years. Grace?
- [03:01]
Grace Auke
Yeah, I know that we're. It's such a hard thing, obviously, when someone passes. But I think that what I really love seeing from the community aspect is people talking about their collaborations with some of these artists and being able to learn more about their way of life. I always wish that we did that more so when people were around. But I'm also very grateful that people are sharing so much of those collaborations online.
- [03:24]
Matt Tammanini
That is not the only major news that we had on Monday. Well, that is very sad. This one is going to be very complicated for a lot of people because yesterday it was announced that Samuel D. Hunter will make his Broadway playwriting debut later this year with his play called Little Bear Ridge Road, and it will star Lori Metcalf along with a number of other folks who have been in the Steppenwolf world premiere production previously. Joe Mantello will direct. All of those things sound great. Here's where it gets complicated, though. It is being produced by Scott Rudin, who, as we know, has been kind of Persona non grata, at least publicly in theatrical circles since a lot of very damaging stories came out about him in the aftermath of COVID and in MeToo. And while those stories were not necessarily sexual in nature, like a lot of the MeToo stuff was, they still constituted abuse in many different ways, verbal, physical, emotional, psychological. And Scott Rudin will come back to Broadway at least as a named producer. As we've talked about before, a lot of people believe that he has been pulling the strings behind a number of productions in the past, but he's going to be back on Broadway as the lead producer, along with Barry Diller, for this production of an acclaimed playwright with one of our great actors who has worked with Scott Roon many, many times over the years. So excited to see this show, excited for Samuel D. Hunter, excited for Laurie Metcalf to be back on Broadway. But I think that this is probably, at least in this initial announcement, Grace, going to be overshadowed by the fact that Scott Rudin is the man behind the scenes pulling the strings here.
- [05:12]
Grace Auke
Yeah, that's hard. It's really hard. I think we're getting into a position as like a community where these things are going to start to kind of roll through. I mean, it started with the Conversation around paradise squ of it all and, you know, like, the merits of that. And then of course, you know, it was tough, right? So I think that everyone is always wanting to put everyone's best foot forward and hope that there is change, especially when it comes to abusive behavior. And there was a statement by them that implied that he was doing the work to make those changes. I think all we can ever hope is that that is met with truth and that that does happen. And, and to your point, like when we, you know, reward, you know, a slap on the wrist and time away, like, does that equal acknowledgment of harm? All those things. Right? So I think that it's just, I truly want for people to change and do better and be better collaborators because people that obviously are very well respected, like Joe Mantello, like Laurie Metcalf, like all of these different players are putting their name on the line essentially with the welcoming of this individual that has been so impactful in the Broadway community that I hope that it is for naught.
- [06:27]
Matt Tammanini
Yeah, we want the best. Anytime we see something like this, whether it is an actor, a producer, a writer who has gone through similar issues and similar accusations, if they do come back in a way as large as this is, we hope that that means that there has been some sort of restitution personally with, with the people that were impacted and that there is some sort of growth so that the situations that led to the separation, so to speak, in the first place, do not happen again. All right, Grace, you have a Q and A to do here in a few hours, so I want you to save your voice and I will take care about telling the folks about our sponsor for today, surfshark. All right, I was never good at either math or science in school. I was much more of an English and history history guy. But here's a quick science fact for you. Your digital footprint is just as traceable as your carbon one. And unless you're using a vpn, your data's basically waving at advertisers, inviting them to bombard you with all of the weird pop up ads on websites, weird social media stuff, the creepy banners that seem to be following you wherever you go online. Well, this is where today's sponsor comes in. Our friends@Surfshark VPN. As someone who spends nearly every waking hour online looking up all types of random, sometimes nerdy things, I don't want trackers profiling me based on what I read, whether it's for personal stuff or for work. So that's why surfshark is great. It encrypts my connection so my data is safe even when I'm digging into some really niche topics on public WI fi, at a hotel, in an airport, on a cruise ship, wherever I might be. And for those of us who have weird nerdy interests that go beyond the borders of the United States, surfshark helps bypass region blocks as well. I've streamed theater, live, captures sporting events, baking shows from around the world and around the country that I wouldn't be able to watch just by using the streaming services that I have at home. All I have to do is switch my virtual location via surfshark and bam. I'm able to watch what I want. So it's time to take control of your online security. Try Surfshark risk free today and enjoy their 30 day money back guarantee. Go to surfshark.com tob for four extra months of Surfshark. That's code tobirfshark.com URL and code can be found in our show Notes.
- [08:58]
Grace Auke
All.
- [08:58]
Matt Tammanini
Right, Grace, let's talk about this week's theatrical schedule. There's not a ton going on, but we do have a few Off Broadway shows that are making their first previews and then a number of things that are closing. We're going to start over at the Irish Rep on Wednesday, July 9th with their latest revival of the Conor McPherson play the Weir. The show is directed by Kirian O'Reilly and stars Dan Butler, Sean Gormley, Johnny Hopkins, John Keating and Sarah Street. The show is scheduled to run through August 31st. This is one of the classics from Irish Rep. They have done versions of this in 2013, 2015. They did it digitally in 2020 during COVID but this will be the first time it'll be back on their stages in a decade. So get your tickets to see that. Then on Thursday we have two shows beginning previews. The one that I am most excited about and I'm hoping I get a chance to come up and see is Ginger Twinsies, the Parent Trap parody Legally Speaking by Kevin Zak. It is going to be running at the Orpheum Theater and has a wonderful cast including Russell Daniels, Anissa Folds, who's been a guest here on Broadway Redo before Jimmy Ray Bennett, Lakeisha May, Grace Ryder, Philip Taratul, Mitch Wood, Matthew Wilkus and others. And one of the things that they have done wonderfully is talk about the fact that they have a member of the original cast of the film version of the Parent Trap, Elaine Hendricks on the producing team. I saw that she is going to be hosting a Meredith Blake lookalike contest, which is great marketing. Grace. We've talked a lot about commercial off Broadway theater. This to me, without any big stars, feels like a show that should run off Broadway for a long time. This feels with knowing nothing about the score or the script or anything, but this feels like at least the spiritual era parent to Titanic off Broadway.
- [11:04]
Grace Auke
You know, I think that every show that has existed in that theater has had the exact same sentiment. I think it's, it's. It truly is an ebb and flow of what's hitting. Is the price right? Is the word of mouth good? You know, it's a hundred different things because I totally agree with you. I also would argue that the last two shows that were in that theater space had the same thought as well. So I'm hopeful for it too. Listen, I'm a huge Meredith Blake, Stan. Elaine Hendricks is like God's gift. I saw her in Glass house one time and I, like almost fainted. So I do have my costume picked out for set event and I'm going next week, thank God. But I think that, like, you just have to hope that all those things are hitting together and hope that it's funny. And here's the thing, Kevin, Zach, that cast, those are all comics. Those are all genuine sketch comedians that understand the assignment. So if all of those stars are aligning, I am hopeful that the word of mouth that people are going to see off Broadway theater during the summer, which is always difficult. I'm hopeful for it. I want those things to succeed because I think it also gives birth to other things, like in the Omar category of like, this is just silly. This is silly, but it's well written. It's silly, but it's well acted. You know what I mean? And so I'm excited for that possibility with this show specifically.
- [12:24]
Matt Tammanini
Remind me that you mentioned the shows that had been at the orphan before. I know one was Big gay jamboree, was bimbo of the Apocalypse. Next. What was the next show there?
- [12:34]
Grace Auke
Well, no, no, no, I don't think that that one was there. It was Jonathan Larson project and like.
- [12:39]
Matt Tammanini
Oh, oh, oh, oh, I see. Yeah, not the same vibe, but.
- [12:42]
Grace Auke
No, no, no. But I think that, you know, the, the, the initial thought is, wouldn't this be nice to run for a long time? Like, these are really, really fantastic creators. These are excellent, you know, collaborators, producers, and talent in that space. And what feels like, okay, this is a slam dunk concept that just didn't. That weren't able to. To you know what, for whatever reason, like, there's a hundred factors. I'm not going to blame one, you know, because I was hopeful for both. But yeah, I think that, I think that that's the conceit here is that we're all, you know, attempting to like, remind people that, hey, like as a reminder, like, don't freak out, like if you don't have $285 for, for a premium orchestra seat to a show that's ending in three weeks or what have you, have you thought about going downtown? Like, have you, have you looked? And so, and also, like, do you like laughing? Yes, of course. So like so many of the people that are in that show specifically have excellent TikTok followings because they understand sketch comedy. So like, does that translate to in person buys? I am hopeful.
- [13:51]
Matt Tammanini
Of course you're hopeful. That's, that's what you do as a day job. So that would definitely be nice for you. So.
- [13:56]
Grace Auke
Well, I think that people often. Sorry, like on this though, like, I think that I think people often conflate big following on social media equals because this is a different thing. And I'm not projecting onto this particular company at all, by the way. But like, it's just to note that I think a lot of times people think there's an expectation that if someone has a large social following in some regard that that will equal people showing up for them. And what I always try to argue is like, have you looked at the audience demographic of where those followers are? Because if they're all across the United States, they might enjoy their content because they don't live in New York City and aren't able to go to those things. So that's their entertainment, right? Like, or do they have a good audience base when they do live shows in New York City? If so, that'll translate. So I think that it's a different convers conversation, but I think that we're often reductive of, oh well, that they wanted this person in because they're an influencer. And I'm like, I don't think those are different. Like, those are different things. Like that person might be a content creator. They happen to be incredibly talented and a lot of people follow them, but that doesn't mean that they're like influential in getting butts in seats. Like, it's very different. So yeah, I mean, as you all know, like there are Tony Award winning actors that continue to bring butts in seats that don't have half the Instagram following as person over B. Do you Know what I mean?
- [15:18]
Matt Tammanini
Yeah. Jonathan Groff has no social media. He's doing fine on getting people to show up at his shows.
- [15:23]
Grace Auke
Exactly.
- [15:23]
Matt Tammanini
Yeah, exactly. Absolutely. All right. The other show that is beginning performances off Broadway on Thursday is the new jukebox musical Rolling Thunder. It'll be playing at New World Stages, where it will officially open on July 24. It is written by journalist, writer Bryce Hallett and is directed by Kenneth Ferrone. The cast has some really interesting names. It'll feature Drew Becker, Cassidy Pope, who just finished up the run of Titanique that we mentioned a second ago, Justin Matthews Sargent, Daniel Yearwood, Courtney Carter and others. This has a really interesting plot description, or I guess, show description. It is part rock concert, part documentary, and tells heartfelt stories of young soldiers caught in the Vietnam War and the galvanizing protest movement that sought to end it. It features more than 20 iconic rock songs from the era. A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall all along the Watchtower Born To Be Wild, Black Magic Woman, Gimme Shelter, Eve of Destruction, Killing Me Softly With His Song We've Gotta get out of this Place. Bridge Over Troubled Water. So this will be interesting to see what happens. Some incredible, incredible voices in there. Like, Cassidy Pope is a pop singer. Like, she came to fame on the Voice. Justin Matthew Sargent is one of the best theater rock singers that there is. So would it be interesting to see what this one is like when it begins performances? Then on Sunday, we have a number of closings. Unfortunately, of course, Boop will be wrapping up its run on Broadway. Then Off Broadway, Low country from the Atlantic Theater Company will be finishing up. And then I guess, like, this is one of my favorite shows, but I guess I've been saying it wrong. I've been saying it mocking and all, like maybe like a French production, like a French pronunciation, because it is kind of expressionistic. But people are saying all, yeah, like, I. I've been doing the hard C. So I don't know, maybe I heard it somewhere or maybe I just made it up in my head. But nonetheless, the New York Theater Company production of that show will be wrapping up on Sunday as well. And then, Grace, we did find out one of our favorite Off Broadway theater companies, out of the Box theatrics, is going to be moving to a new home. For its next season, the Off Broadway Theater Company will be Moving from Theater 154 on Christopher street over to what is formerly known as Playhouse 46th beginning in 2026. So hopefully that means. I don't know. I don't know. If the size is bigger or the location is better. But either way, great things for them. We love their stuff. But Grace, I mentioned you are doing Buena Vista Social Club just in a couple hours after we finish recording the the screening at Nighthawk. For that one next week you have one that is going to be very exciting. So tell us all about what is going to be happening on July 14th at Nighthawk.
- [18:14]
Grace Auke
I'm really excited that I'm partnering again with Nighthawk for the stage and screen series about death Becomes Her. Not only are we screening the film, but we're also doing a pre show Q and A with their head properties master and a member of the ensemble. So we're going to talk about, you know, the translation to the show and how they're very different entities but they also like help support one another. But I think especially when it comes to the props and the, for lack of a better word, magic and illusion of the show, but also how it feels to perform in that ensemble that carries a hundred different roles and might be doing some acrobatics and what that entails to help tell the story. I'm thrilled to do this again with Nighthawk, but also this one's going to be one that you want to come see. And the fact that tickets are already half sold out as we're speaking about it for the first time is kind of crazy.
- [19:01]
Matt Tammanini
Dan, you didn't even like, you didn't even promote it yet.
- [19:04]
Grace Auke
We haven't even announced it yet.
- [19:06]
Matt Tammanini
Yeah, amazing. Amazing. So get your tickets now. I'll have a link in the show notes. All right everybody, that's all that we have for today. Thanks for listening to Today on Broadway. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram broadwayradio. And if you wanna hear everything from broadwayradio, head over to patreon.com broadwayradio Grace, where can people find you?
- [19:20]
Grace Auke
You can find me at graceaki.
- [19:22]
Matt Tammanini
All right, everybody, have a wonderful Tuesday. We'll be back to talk to you tomorrow.