Matt Tamminini (1:42)

Okay. All right, we will have to wait until this weekend to figure that out. But let's dive into the news, Grace. And we're going to start over at the Booth Theater because yesterday we found out when and where the previously announced Broadway revival of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof would be playing this season. As we know, it is going to star Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle and be directed by Tommy Kail. And it was confirmed that the show will play a 16 week engagement at the Booth Theater beginning on March 31st with an opening night scheduled to be on April 16th. Now what is interesting about this, they have not released the rest of the cast but are friend Ben did some sleuthing and on Telecharge, it seems like Telecharge might have dropped some info before they were supposed to because also in the cast, at least earlier on Monday on Telecharge is Emmy award winner Samira Wiley and the great stage and screen star Jin Ha. If you're unfamiliar with Samira Wiley, she has been on Orange Is the New Black and then won an Emmy for the Handmaid's Tale. Jin Hair has been phenomenal, most recently seen on screen, at least by me in Only Murders in the Building last season and then was off Broadway in the Stephen Sondheim final musical Here We Are. So I don't know if that's gonna be the cast. It sure seems like Telecharge thinks it in is. I had originally heard that Kara Young was going to be in this show in the role that Samira Wiley is playing, but that was probably before Gruesome Playground Injuries was announced that she is doing Off Broadway. So I don't know if that changes. But, but nonetheless, Grace, a lot of people were not looking forward to going back to the Booth Theater and were actively not going to the Booth Theater because of the show that is currently in there. And now they will have an opportunity to do so later this season with a phenomenal all star cast of four incredible, incredible actors.

Grace (3:37)

I mean, I really hope that's the case. You know, I'm a Jinha Stan and Samir Wylie is just one of those talents that I always want on stage just because she's so phenomenal. So this is great news if it's real.

Matt Tamminini (3:50)

Yeah. Don't know for sure until it's confirmed because anything can happen. But as of now, Telecharge has it up on their website and we will have to see what happens from there. Now in news that very well might be lighting up some family group chats, yesterday it was announced that there will be a 25th anniversary concert of the last five years happening at the London Palladium coming up in the spring. And directing and music directing that show will be the one and only Jason Robert Brown. Leading that production will be Tony Award winner Ben Platt and Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler. If you know, you know, maybe Ben's dad and brother might not be on board with this one, but nonetheless it is gonna happen at the London Palladium on March 24th through the 29th. And this is also being produced by Jamie Lambert, who you might remember did another concert anniversary type thing with J earlier this year when they did Songs for a new world. The 30th anniversary concert with Shoshana Bean, Titus Burgess, Jordan Fisher and Joy Woods. Really interesting to me that they are doing this both of these with all American stars. Now obviously Rachel just recently did Evita in London, so she has got some cachet over there. But it is kind of interesting to me that they have had both of these things with nary a British star in them. But you know, Jrb likes revisiting his own work, so he is going to be working on this concert as well. Well, and if you're gonna ask for this score to be sung, well, Ben and Rachel are about as great of voices as you could possibly hope for.

Grace (5:30)

Grace, listen, I know we're all last five years to out, but I have to say this is good and it's juicy and I like it. That's all I want to say.

Matt Tamminini (5:43)

Yeah, like this show is about a messy couple and the family dynamics of this one really kind of makes Shiksa Goddess even, even a little bit more juicy because of all of the drama between Ben's family and Rachel over the past year. So I'm here for it. I think it's hilarious and I'm here for all of the, the meta ness and behind the scenes gossip that I hope comes from it. All right, Grace, as you have been saying, the end of October is nuts for you, especially professionally. So let's dive into this week's theatrical schedule and it starts tonight over at the James Earl Jones Theater where the Broadway transfer of Best Wall's new play Liberation will officially open. It is directed by Whitney White, as it was off Broadway and it is currently scheduled to play through January 11th. The entire off Broadway cast from the critically acclaimed and award winning run has transferred with it, led by Susanna Flood, also featuring Betsy Adam, Audrey Corsa, Kayla Davion, Kristalyn Lloyd, Irene Sofia Lucio, Charlie Thurston and Adina Verson. Grace, earlier this month, I think or maybe at the end of September, you had an opportunity to go and talk to the cast in like the press meet and greet. For folks that didn't see it off Broadway. Without spoiling too much, what do they need to know about Liberation?

Grace (7:10)

I think it's just that like while the title and the cast and you know a lot that seems to be, you know, around the show is like obviously like some heavy subject matter is that there's a lot of joy. It's funny, it's lively, it's poignant. I think that that's my biggest takeaway that especially the company wanted to get out into the world was just to say that, like, don't think that you're going to like a history lesson. You're going to like a great night of theater. And I just, I want to implore everybody that might sometimes get turned off by like, you know, this just seems too heavy for me right now, especially for women and non male entities. Like, I just want to implore you all to choose to go to the theater if you are inclined.

Matt Tamminini (7:58)

Yeah, I often talk about how like, oh, I don't need to see these things that are like ripped from the headlines and not that this is ripped from the heads of it, but like, let's seem a little bit too on the nose. And that is not this. This is ultimately a story about a woman trying to connect with her, with her mother through the things that she did decades ago. And I think that is one of the best plays that I've seen all year and I'm looking forward to it being on Broadway so more people have an opportunity to check it out. Also happening on Tuesday night, tonight over at the Broadhurst Theater, Rob Lake Magic with special guests, the Muppets will begin performances. This is currently scheduled to play through January 18th. It is obviously going to feature magician Rob Lake as well as a number of assistants and he will be aided by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. This is not a Muppets show, this is a Rob Lake show. But the Muppets will be there. So if you want to see Kermit, Miss Piggy making their Broadway debut, you have until January 18th to head over to the Broadhurst. Also tonight over at stage 42, we will have opening night for the new off Broadway musical Romy and Michelle. This one is honestly packed with some phenomenal stars. Even if you have no idea what the IP is, what the property is about, the fact that it's led by Laura Bell Bundy and Kara Lindsay is plenty enough to get me in the theater at least. But you also have other fantastic people like Jordan Kai Burnett, Demaryius R. Copes, Michael Thomas Grant Lauren Zakarin, Jayshawn Jackson and others. So I have not seen a ton of this just because they haven't put out a ton of music or anything from this run. But just that cast alone is enough to at least get me interested and have it on my schedule as I'm currently planning to try to figure out what I have to see in November. Also happening tonight from the Red Bull Theater at Astor Place Theater, we have the first preview performance of Richard ii, adapted and directed by Craig Baldwin. Starring Michael Urie with Grantham Coleman. And anytime Michael Urie is doing anything, it is worth checking out. I love him doing all of these classic shows, Grace, that he has kind of done quite a bit over the year with Red Bull Theater. Then on Wednesday night, we have the first performance for New York City Center's run of Bat Boy the Musical I love. This one is going to be running for two weeks through November 9th. It will star Taylor Trench as the titular Bat Boy. Also featured in the company are Kerry Butler, Gabby Karuba, Andrew Duran, Alan H. Green, John Michael Lyles, Alex Newell, Jacob Ming Trent, Olivia Puckett, Marissa Rosen, Christopher Sieber, Rema Webb, Marissa Jarrett Winoker and others. Just an absolutely dynamite cast. Limited run. This is one of those where I, I don't know, Grace. I don't see this one as having like one of those, oh, this one's got a transfer kind of thing. Thing about it is because Bat Boys doesn't feel like a Broadway musical, so this feels like one. Like, if you really want to see it, you need to make sure that you get to New York City center over the next two weeks.

Grace (11:04)

I couldn't agree more. I think that that's definitely what they want everyone to be doing. And because I think you're right, like, there's no way that all of these, you know, incredible, packed, you know, put together revivals can happen in actual transfers. But that's the point of City center, is to revive these great things for a couple of weeks only. That's why it's so special. So make sure it stays 100%.

Matt Tamminini (11:26)

All right. Speaking of that show that I mentioned earlier, that's at the Booth Theater that some people are refusing to go to. It officially opens on Thursday night and that is Little Bear Ridge Road. It is currently scheduled to play at the booth through February 8th. It is written by Samuel D. Hunter and directed by Joe Mantello. The reason that a lot of people don't want to support the show is because a it's being produced by Scott Rudin and even though it is not grossing very well, it kicked out a show that was doing very well at the Booth in John Proctor is the Villain. But anytime you are looking at a show on Broadway that stars Laurie Metcalfe, it is obviously worth paying attention to. She will star opposite Micah Stock in this show. So we will have reviews for that one when it opens later this week. Also on Thursday will be the first Broadway performance of the new adaptation of Oedipus, obviously originally written by Sophocles with a new adaptation by Robert Eich, who also directs this one. It is going to play at Studio 54 through February 8th. This comes as a transfer from London, and the two stars from that production will be along with it as Oedipus will be Mark Strong. And playing, I guess I won't tell what the relationship is there, but playing Yocasta will be Leslie Manville in her Broadway debut. Which seems wild to me that this is. This is her Broadway debut. But this one has gotten so much great word of mouth after the run that it had in London. If you are interested in this type of thing, I would highly recommend putting it on your list. But I've got to say grace. And you might appreciate this from the marketing standpoint, when I was in town last month or earlier this month, the marketing for this is, I think, has been brilliant. I guess, earmuffs, if there's kids listening. But when I would see advertisements that said, like, Oedipus on Broadway, politics is a motherfucker, how that had not been used before, and maybe it has, but I'd never seen it. But, like, that is just such great marketing that I hope that it pays off. And people are coming to check out this show at Studio 54.

Grace (13:20)

You know, I'm going to tell them because those are my amazing coworkers that is led by Sam McMenamin, Ethan Halpern. There are quite a few people that helped kind of craft the truth is a motherfucker scenario. And I just think it's outstanding. And the fact that, you know, you're catching on. Everyone's catching on. They did, like, kind of like a political advertisement this weekend for people to have their stickers and their buttons ready. Because if you're unfamiliar, this variation has Oedipus as a political candidate. I think it's freaking brilliant. And I'm just, I'm so. I'm so ecstatic that it is as cool as it is. Because when, you know, my amazing coworkers have these concepts, you never know if it's going to make its way to the people. And so I think it has.

Matt Tamminini (14:02)

I did not realize your team was working on that. So that makes it even better. But because I think that is really, really fun.

Jeff Bridges (14:09)

All right.

Matt Tamminini (14:09)

We have, like, five shows beginning performances off Broadway on Thursday. So I'm just gonna run through them very quickly. Of course, every show that I mentioned, I will have links to in the show notes. But Second Stage over at the Signature Center. Remember, Second Stage is doing their shows off Broadway at the Signature Center. Now this one is Meet the Cartosians, written by Tayleen Monahan and directed by David Cromer. Some fantastic people in there Will Brill, Andrea Martin and more. Also off Broadway from Playwrights Horizons is Nazareth Hassan's new play Practice, directed by Kenan Tyler Oliphant. That one will begin on Thursday as well. Then over at the Shed we have the Tom Hanks and Kelly o' Hara play this World of Tomorrow that will begin performances. This is based on Tom Hanks's short stories, so he adapted it along with James Glossman. Tony Award winner Kenny Leon is directing. Additionally in the cast are some amazing folks. Ruben Santiago Hudson, Jo Sanders, Carrie bechet, Donald Weber Jr. And more. So this one plays through December 21st. Great stars. Get over to the Shed. And then finally on Thursday over at Theater555, we have the Off Broadway premiere of Vape, the Grease parody, which just sounds really, really fun. I didn't get to see the little run it had like the concert run it had earlier this year, but it sou like a blast and throwing it on my schedule to see if I can check that one out. Then on Saturday, we have the closing of one of the most buzzed about musicals so far this fall, Mexico. It is Off Broadway at the Manetta Lane Theater From Audible. I've heard great things about this. I'm sad that I won't have an opportunity to see it, but because it's an Audible thing, it will be available to listen to later. And I think that there's a very good chance that we have another life for this show sometime in the future. On Sunday, two Off Broadway openings. The first one is the new play by former Broadway radio guest Drew Droege called Messy White Gaze. It will open at the Duke on 42nd street and then over at New York City center, the Musical Reunions, which has a fantastic cast of Brian Fankart, Joanne Glushek, Chelina Kennedy, Courtney Reed, Daniel Torres, Chip Zion, Janet Aldridge, Keith Lee Grant and Pearl Rhine. If you want more information about those shows, head over to the Show Notes. And then finally, Grace, the play by Tim Blake Nelson, star of the Screens Large and Small. That play, and then There Were More will close on Sunday as well. So what are you doing for this week, Grace? Like, are you hydrating? Are you car bloating? What are you doing to make sure that you get through this week?

Grace (16:46)

Yeah, I'm basically just trying to keep my head above water. I've got Justin Sargent's Halloween concert at the adorable Laurie Beekman Theater there's a beachment. Yeah, there's like, there's quite a few events. A liberation opening. It kind of doesn't stop. So I'm just trying to sleep sometimes.

Matt Tamminini (17:06)

Yeah. Sneak in 15, 20 minute naps as much as humanly possible. Well, you mentioned Justin Sargent's Halloween concert. Earlier this month they did the 10th anniversary I put a Spell on youn performance, which is always a great fundraiser for the Ali Forney center. And it is kind of like the brainchild of Jay Armstrong Johnson, who co stars along with Allison Godleski and Amanda Williams. Whereas the Sanderson sisters now after they've already done this, it happened on October 20th a little over a week ago. And they're going to allow people to stream it from October 31st through November 2nd. Tickets will be $30 and they will benefit the Ali Forney center as well. The in person IRL performance, it brought over $310,000, which is awesome. In addition to Jay Armstrong Johnson, Allison and Amanda, you also have such stars as Laguna Blue, Robin Herder, Corey Jacoma Taylor, iman Jones, Sean McManus, Christa Rodriguez and others. You also had video appearances by Ariana DeBose, Julia Madison, and Jinx Monsoon. So if you want to check this one out, you can purchase tickets@stellartickets.com and then finally, this one's a little selfish because I'm gonna get to see this on tour later this year when it comes through the the Dr. Phillips center for the Performing Arts. But they released a video of Alicia Delarue as Middle Ally singing My Days on the North American tour of the Notebook. So love that. Check it out in the show notes, I had like multiple people send it to me and like say, oh, I get first dibs on your tickets on your extra press ticket when you go. So I'm gonna have to do some sort of rock paper scissors to see who goes with me for that one. 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 want more Broadway radio, head over to patreon.com broadwayradio we did not have a show this past Monday because as I told you, I was out of town doing my grandmother's 90th birthday celebration with 32 of my family members all in one house. It was as amazing as you would think. But in its place, I did have my travelogue episode in the Patreon feed at the mezzanine tier and above. So if you want to hear that. Head over there. Grace. Where can people find you?

Grace (19:24)

You can find me at Graceaki.

Matt Tamminini (19:26)

All right, everybody, have a wonderful Tuesday. We'll be back to talk to you tomorrow.

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