BroadwayRadio: Today on Broadway – Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Main Theme

This episode focuses on the current state and sustainability of Broadway musicals, reflecting on challenges highlighted in a New York Times article. The hosts discuss rising costs, the difficulties of profitability for new shows, and creative industry initiatives. They also share updates on Off-Broadway productions, upcoming performances and events, and ways audiences are being engaged with unique promotions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Broadway Flea Market Finds

• [00:37] Matt Tamminini checks in with Grace Aki about her Broadway Flea Market experience.
• Grace won a unique souvenir: the largest "bulletin board" poster of F as Olaf from the Frozen first national tour.
  • "It's just a massive piece of like, not particle board, but like, just a big foam core item... I think was probably used in a boardroom at Disney Theatricals at one point. You really can't hang it. I don't know what I'm gonna do with it." (Grace Aki, 01:28)
  • She bought it for $20 and delegated carrying duties to her companion.

The Broadway Musical is in Trouble – NYT Article Deep Dive

• [02:03] Matt Tamminini summarizes Michael Paulson's sobering New York Times article:

  • Key statistics:
    • Of 18 commercial musicals opening last season, none have yet turned a profit.
    • Only three post-pandemic musicals have recouped investments: MJ and & Juliet (jukebox musicals), and Six. All received government financial assistance.
  • Rising Costs:
    • Labor (actors, musicians, creative teams), materials (lumber, steel, technology), theater rent, and vendor fees are all increasing.
  • Ticket Prices:
    • Ticket price increases (average $127 last season) are lagging far behind the rise in production costs (only up 3.25% since 2018-2019).
  • Example Comparison:
    • Something Rotten! (2015) required $14 million to mount; Death Becomes Her (current) with five fewer cast members costs $31.5 million.
  • Industry Implications:
    • Only two new musicals currently confirmed for the upcoming season.
    • There may be just seven new musicals this year compared to 14 last year.
    • Plays are faring better due to limited runs, star power, ticket pricing.
  • Matt's Reflection:
    • "There’s just not enough audience members or money out there to keep going at this number of new shows every season. And the only way to correct it at this point is probably to pull back on the number of productions that come to Broadway that are new musicals every year." (Matt Tamminini, 06:39)

• [06:54] Grace Aki contextualizes:

  • The article's timing coincides with urgent union meetings (Equity and others) about sustainability and decision-making power regarding fees and policy.
  • "Are we working on the ways in which we can provide because we do not ultimately control the entire economy of the United States. Right. But what are within our confines to make possible... what are the working abilities in which we can make this a better streamlined system, I think is the opportunity here for us." (Grace Aki, 07:27)
  • Suggests industry must consider more sustainable and equitable long-term models: possibly more limited runs, better investor payback structures, improved working conditions.
  • "It's a never ending conversation. I don't have all the answers obviously, but... what policies are being put in place... for the sustainability of shows for longer runs." (Grace Aki, 08:36)

• [09:06] Matt Tamminini hopes for creative solutions from Broadway League, Actors’ Equity, and industry stakeholders.

Off-Broadway & Regional Updates

• [09:21] Matt Tamminini covers new reading series and show extensions:
  • Spiritus reading series announced at Doctor 2 Theater.
    • Different celebrated actors (Celia Keenan-Bolger, Dale Orlander Smith, Edie Falco, John Douglas Thompson) will each play Virgil on various nights (see [09:53]).
    • Post-show conversations to explore themes of life, loss, and purpose.
  • Several anticipated Off-Broadway shows have extended their runs:
    • The Baker’s Wife (Classic Stage Company): extended by one week [New dates: through Dec 21].
      • Stars Ariana DeBose, Scott Bakula.
    • House of McQueen: Extended through Nov 2; lead change from Luke Newton to Liam Tamney.
    • Bedlam’s Are the Bennett Girls Okay?: Extended one week through Oct 26.
  • Rebel Girl musical reading at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (Sep 27), about labor activist Elizabeth Gurley Flynn.

Broadway Box Office Opening Events

• [13:15] Grace Aki expresses her enthusiasm for box office kick-off events:

  • Recent Liberation opening featured button giveaways and $19.70 tickets, correlating with the show's 1970 setting.
  • In-person experiences ("Polaroids," giveaways) create buzz and help increase accessibility.
  • "Going to the box office is the cool thing to do, in my opinion. I love getting people to go if they're able to." (Grace Aki, 13:55)

• [14:10] Matt asks about the logistics:

  • Grace: Initiatives depend on ticket inventory, team coordination, and cost-effectiveness.
    • Collateral costs (buttons, coffee, merch) must be justified by resulting sales.
    • In-person programming can be a challenge; success depends on social sharing and word-of-mouth.
    • "If and when you are privy to a moment like this... talk about them online, make sure that you invite a friend. The only way to make sure that they happen in the future is if they are successful." (Grace Aki, 15:19)

Notable Recommendations & Experiences

• [16:21] Matt Tamminini highlights two engaging performance-related experiences:

  • Little Shop of Horrors Music Video (with Major Attaway singing "Mean Green Mother," the film version song): Fun content drop featuring much of the Off-Broadway cast.
  • Broadway After Dark: The Curtain Call Crawl
    • $69 nightlife tour post-show, hosted by a drag queen, with cocktails, Broadway gossip, VIP drag show access.
    • "It sounds like a blast. Sounds like a lot of fun. It is something that I've never heard of anything like this at all." (Matt Tamminini, 17:25)

• [18:39] Grace Aki raises safety and logistics considerations for such events:

  • "There is a safety concern that I often think about just because, you know, New York City, baby. I hope that they are... getting to have that, like, level of protection in doing something like this, because I do think it's cool."

Memorable Quotes

• “It’s just a massive piece of like, not particle board, but like, just a big foam core item that I think was probably used in a boardroom at Disney Theatricals at one point.” – Grace Aki [01:28]
• “He runs through a lot of the things that we have been talking about fairly regularly here, Grace, about how difficult it is not only to get shows mounted on Broadway, but more specifically to get them to profitability.” – Matt Tamminini [02:08]
• “There’s just not enough audience members or money out there to keep going at this number of new shows every season. And the only way to correct it at this point is probably to pull back... that are new musicals every year.” – Matt Tamminini [06:39]
• “Are we working on the ways in which we can provide because we do not ultimately control the entire economy... but what are within our confines to make possible?” – Grace Aki [07:27]
• “If and when you are privy to a moment like this... talk about them online, make sure that you invite a friend. The only way to make sure that they happen in the future is if they are successful.” – Grace Aki [15:19]
• "It sounds like a blast. Sounds like a lot of fun. It is something that I've never heard of anything like this at all." – Matt Tamminini [17:25]

Important Timestamps

• 00:37 — Broadway Flea takeaways (Grace’s Olaf board)
• 02:03 — Summary of NYT article, Broadway’s financial crisis
• 06:54 — Equity/unions context and larger industry questions (Grace)
• 09:21 — Off-Broadway updates & Spiritus reading series
• 13:15 — Box office opening events (Liberation, Chess, etc.)
• 16:21 — Little Shop music video & Broadway After Dark event

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a warm, conversational, and mildly urgent tone, blending personal anecdotes with in-depth industry analysis. The hosts balance sobering realities about Broadway’s challenges with excitement over community events and creative engagement efforts.

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