BroadwayRadio Podcast Summary: Today on Broadway – Wednesday, April 30, 2025

BroadwayRadio's "Today on Broadway" podcast, hosted by Matt Tammanini and Grace Hockey, delivered an engaging and information-packed episode on April 30, 2025. The hosts delved into award announcements, casting news, and upcoming productions, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the current Broadway landscape.

Honoring Celia Keenan Bolger with the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award

The episode began with the exciting announcement of the 2025 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award recipient, Celia Keenan Bolger. Matt shared, “[...] the 2025 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award will go to Tony Award winner Celia Keenan Bolger” (02:23). This prestigious award recognizes Bolger’s extensive advocacy through the arts, including co-founding Broadway for Obama in 2012, serving as a field organizer in the 2008 campaign, and establishing the Activist Artist Endowed Scholarship Fund with the late Gavin Creel.

Grace echoed Matt’s admiration, stating, “I think Celia is one of the great people in our community and certainly someone who is deserving from all of the work that she does in so many different areas of public life outside of her role as a performer” (03:03). The American Theatre Wing President and CEO Heather Hitchens lauded Bolger, saying, “Celia's star shines far beyond the Broadway stages, illuminating her peers, passions, and purposes with generosity of spirit, integrity, and compassion” (02:54).

Chita Rivera Awards Nominations Announced

Transitioning to award news, Matt detailed the nominations for the Chita Rivera Awards, which celebrate excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and beyond. Categories included Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Dancer, and Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show. Notable nominees for Outstanding Choreography featured Joshua Brigese for Smash and Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck for Buena Vista Social Club.

In discussing Outstanding Dancer, Grace highlighted a standout moment from Buena Vista Social Club: “There is this beautiful moment that happens in Act 2 [...] when Omara leaves her sister. [...] I sobbed when I first saw that and I cried again the second time I saw it” (05:18). This heartfelt performance underscores the emotional depth and storytelling capabilities of dance in theater.

Broadway Revival of Mamma Mia: Cast Announced

Matt provided updates on the highly anticipated Broadway revival of Mamma Mia, set to open at the Winter Garden Theater on August 14, 2025, after previews begin on August 2. The cast includes:

• Christine Sherrill as Donna
• Amy Weaver as Sophie
• Carly Sokolov as Rosie
• Jaylen Steele as Tanya
• Rob Marnell as Harry
• Jim Newman as Bill
• Victor as Sam
• Grant Reynolds as Sky

Matt expressed enthusiasm for the cast’s integration from the national tour company, noting their deep roots in Mamma Mia and overall experience: “Many of them have deep Mamma Mia roots [...] no one is coming into this without much experience” (06:00). Grace shared her excitement, emphasizing the significance of the revival: “I am excited that all of these performers are going to have the chance to, hello, revive Mamma Mia on Broadway. That’s a big deal” (08:20).

World Premiere of A Wrinkle in Time Musical

The podcast also spotlighted the world premiere of the musical adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., set to begin performances on June 12 with an opening night on June 26. The production boasts a talented cast:

• Amber Gray as Mrs. Whatsit Taylor
• Iman Jones as Meg Murray
• Vicki Lewis as Mrs. Witch Mateo
• Liz Cano as Charles Wallace
• Stacy Sargent as Mrs. Who
• Nicholas Barone as Calvin

Matt highlighted the excitement surrounding the show: “This is one of those shows that I think a lot of people are really excited about. There's a lot of really good theater in Washington, D.C. this summer” (08:33). Grace added her anticipation for the adaptation, particularly intrigued by how the story would translate to the stage: “I've been talking about that Princess Bride for a long time. Now you've got it in my brain that I need to revisit that and what that might look like” (14:21).

West End Cabaret Cast Changes

Shifting focus to the West End, Matt announced new cast members joining the production of Cabaret at the West End, taking over the roles on May 29. The new cast includes:

• Hannah Dodd, known for her role in Bridgerton, as Sally Bowles
• Rob Madge, an Olivier nominee, as the Emcee

Matt expressed excitement over the innovative casting choices: “This casting is great. [...] we are continuing to bring new people in” (11:04). Grace praised the creative decisions, highlighting the unique blend of talent and the show’s milestone of its 1500th performance: “It's very innovative. [...] I think that’s cool. And I think I would hope that we as a community would celebrate those things” (11:04).

Upcoming Musical Adaptation of The Princess Bride

Discussing future projects, Matt and Grace touched on the long-anticipated musical adaptation of The Princess Bride by Smash creators Bob Martin and Rick Ellis. Although specifics remain under wraps, they revealed that David Yazbek, initially attached as the composer, is no longer involved. A new composing team is expected, and a significant workshop is slated for later in the summer to develop the production further.

Grace shared her thoughts on the challenges of adapting beloved films to stage musicals: “A lot of the time, what's not being communicated always is, like, okay, so how could we shift this for, like, written for another actor of this time?” (15:57). The hosts expressed both excitement and apprehension about the adaptation, recognizing the difficulty in capturing the original film’s magic on stage.

Listener Recommendations

Concluding the episode, Matt offered listeners two recommendations:

1. PBS Broadcast of Next to Normal: Featuring Casey Levy, this London production will premiere on PBS on May 9. Matt encouraged listeners to watch this emotional rendition, noting its potential Broadway transfer rumors.

2. Broadway's Pirates the Penzance Musical: With positive reviews and momentum heading into the Tony nominations, Matt suggested checking out highlights to understand the show's appeal.

Grace added her support for these recommendations, particularly emphasizing the opportunity to see acclaimed performers like Casey Levy.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Tammanini (02:54): “Switch from cable Internet to Ziply Fiber and get more of what you love for $65 less per month than cable@ziply.”

• Matt Tammanini (02:54): “Celia's star shines far beyond the Broadway stages, illuminating her peers, passions, and purposes with generosity of spirit, integrity, and compassion.”

• Grace Hockey (05:18): “There is this beautiful moment that happens in Act 2 of Buena Vista Social Club where the dance is quite literally physically integrated into the storytelling of Omara leaving her sister. [...] I sobbed when I first saw that and I cried again the second time I saw it.”

• Grace Hockey (08:20): “I am excited that all of these performers are going to have the chance to, hello, revive Mamma Mia on Broadway. I mean, that's a big deal.”

• Grace Hockey (11:04): “I think that’s cool. And I think I would hope that we as a community would celebrate those things.”

Conclusion

Matt and Grace effectively navigated through a spectrum of Broadway news, from award recognitions to exciting casting announcements and forthcoming productions. Their insightful discussions and shared enthusiasm provided listeners with a vivid snapshot of the Broadway scene as of April 2025, making the episode both informative and enjoyable for theater enthusiasts.

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