BroadwayRadio Podcast Summary: Today on Broadway – Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Host: Matt Tammaneni
Guest Co-Host: Tony Grace
Exclusive Patreon Episode Preview
Matt Tammaneni kicked off the episode by teasing an upcoming Patreon-exclusive episode. He announced, “...we will have another very special Sunday evening Patreon exclusive episode coming up in the feed...” (00:37). This episode will feature an in-depth conversation with Oliver Roth, who is preparing to produce the London and West End debut of Samuel D. Hunter's play, "Clarkston". The discussion promises to delve into the complexities of production, especially coordinating schedules with Joe Locke, a stage and screen favorite. Matt encouraged listeners to join at least the resident tier on Patreon to gain exclusive insights into the production process and the broader theater landscape.
Upcoming Off Broadway Production: "Queens"
The podcast highlighted exciting casting news for "Queens", a play by Pulitzer Prize winner Martina Mayo. Scheduled to premiere at the Manhattan Theater Club Off Broadway on October 14th, the play boasts a stellar cast including Brooke Bloom, Anna Chlumsky, Charlene Cruz, Marin Ireland, Julia Lester, Nadine Malouf, Andrea Siklowski, and Nicole Villamil. Matt described the play as focusing on a young Ukrainian woman's search for her mother in Queens, exploring the difficult choices faced by immigrant women across generations. He noted, “If you've seen it Off Broadway already, you will obviously recognize quite a bit of it, but it will not be the exact same show that you had previously seen in New York.” (02:10), emphasizing that Martina Mayo has significantly revised the script, offering a fresh experience even for returning audiences.
Tony expressed his enthusiasm: “Martina is one of my favorite playwrights of this time period, so I'm very excited to have.” (03:03). He also highlighted Anna Chlumsky's versatile performance history, pointing out her roles from "Veep" to "Broadway", and praised her consistent delivery in both drama and comedy.
National Tour of "The Notebook" Cast Announced
The episode provided casting details for the upcoming national tour of "The Notebook" musical, set to launch in September at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio. Matt outlined the principal cast:
- Older Allie: Sharon Catherine Brown
- Older Noah: Bo Gravett
- Middle Allie: Alicia Desslero
- Middle Noah: Ken Wolfe Clark
- Younger Allie: Chloe Cheers
- Younger Noah: Kyle Mangold
He discussed the casting decision to maintain the racial distinctions seen on Broadway, noting, “All of the Allys are played by black women. All of the Noahs are played by white men.” (04:45) While acknowledging his disappointment, Matt understood the creative team's rationale: “I really felt like that was a smart choice by the creative team on Broadway.” (04:57), suggesting practical considerations influenced the casting strategy.
Tony added, “The whole like tour scenario is just so different these days.” (05:34), reflecting on the evolving nature of Broadway productions and touring logistics.
Broadway Grosses Update
Transitioning to financials, Matt reported last week's Broadway grosses, stating, “grosses were actually up by 3%. They came in at $33,847,950 with total attendance coming in at 257,595 people.” (04:00) The average ticket price saw an increase to $131.40. Notably, "Sunset Boulevard" led the earnings in its final week with $2,481,018 (04:20), followed by heavyweights like "Wicked" ($2.4M), "The Lion King" ($2.2M), and "Hamilton" ($2.19M). Shows like "Death Becomes Her," "Aladdin," "MJ," and "Stranger Things" also maintained robust performances, all grossing over a million dollars.
Despite the closure of "Boop", Broadway maintained a strong financial standing, with no shows below $620,000, demonstrating resilience in the theater scene. Matt highlighted, “John Proctor... came in at $681,000, which is actually above where it was before the Tony Awards.” (06:00), indicating sustained interest post-awards buzz.
Disney's New "Cinderella" Limited Series
Disney announced a new limited series adaptation of Rodham Hammerstein's "Cinderella", uniquely narrated from the perspective of the fairy godparents. Matt expressed curiosity and concern, remarking, “I don't know what this means just because. I don't know... why not just do something original if you want to do it from the fairy godparents perspective...” (09:00). The series is penned by Rachel Shugart, produced by Skydance Television and Concord Originals, with potential involvement from Jennifer Lopez's production company.
Tony provided insight into the industry's trend: “People really like reusing IP. I cannot stop them. They will continue to do so.” (10:00) While acknowledging the predictability, he noted, “We are unfortunately, incredibly... saturated with reuse of IP to the point where now things feel new because we've regurgitated so many of them so much.” (10:20), expressing a desire for innovative storytelling but understanding the commercial motivations behind such adaptations.
Matt added, “This will not be the only R and H adaptation that we see on television.” (11:17), pointing out the proliferation of Rodham Hammerstein adaptations, including a modern take on "Oklahoma" by John Lee Hancock and Becca Brunstetter, writer of "The Notebook" on Broadway.
Off Broadway Encore Premiere of "Pen Pals"
The podcast announced the Off Broadway encore premiere of "Pen Pals", set to reopen on August 15th at the Dr. 2 Theater. The production features a rotating cast of talented actresses, including:
- Kathleen Chalfont & Ellen McLaughlin
- Nancy McKeon & Gail Weiner
- Michelle Clooney & Megan Fellowes
- Kate Burton & Pauletta Pearson Washington
- Sharon Lawrence & Maureen McCormick
- Sharna Burgess & Paige Davis
- Katherine Curtin & Marcia Cross
- Emily Skinner & Donna Lynn Champlin
Matt noted the excitement around the rotating cast format and encouraged listeners to check the show notes for specific performance dates. (07:30)
Goodspeed Musicals' Cancellation of "Mrs. Santa Claus"
In disappointing news, Goodspeed Musicals announced the cancellation or postponement of the world premiere of "Mrs. Santa Claus", a musical based on the Jerry Herman television movie starring Angela Lansbury. Originally slated to begin performances on November 14th, it will be replaced by a new production of "White Christmas". Matt expressed hope for the future of "Mrs. Santa Claus", stating, “Hopefully this does eventually make it to the stage because this is kind of one of those seminal things...” (09:45).
World Premiere of "Mythic" Rock Musical
The podcast revealed the casting for the world premiere of "Mythic", a new rock musical inspired by the Greek myth of Persephone, reimagined with modern twists. Directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, the show features:
- Anneliese Scarpachi as Persephone
- Julius Thomas III as Hades
- Savvy Jackson as Aphrodite
- Mamie Paris as Demeter
- Michael Park as Zeus
Matt described "Mythic" as “six meets Hadestown”, blending classical mythology with contemporary music and themes. The production is set to debut on September 20th in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tony shared his excitement about the show, saying, “I've heard the music of it, so I'm very excited by that.” (15:23), and praised the excellent cast, confident in its Broadway aspirations.
Broadway HD to Stream "Bat out of Hell"
Broadway HD announced plans to film the current UK TV touring production of the "Bat out of Hell" musical, a collaboration between Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman. Filming is scheduled for the following Thursday, with the stream set to debut later in the fall. Matt highlighted the significance of this production, eager for broader audiences to experience the high-energy musical through Broadway HD’s platform. (15:50)
"Hamilton" 10th Anniversary $10 Lottery Tickets
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, "Hamilton" is offering two special performances on August 6th at the Richard Rogers Theater featuring a $10 lottery for tickets. Matt enthusiastically shared his plans to enter the lottery: “I am going to enter. And if I win, I'm more than happy to buy a plane ticket to fly up and see this, Grace.” (16:00). He commended the show's commitment to accessibility despite its financial success, noting, “They have always been committed to this ham for ham idea and for rushes in general and for lotteries.” (16:30).
Tony echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the streamlined lottery process: “I think it's very smart that the way that you have to enter this lottery is through their app.” (17:20). He encouraged listeners to participate, highlighting the security measures in place to ensure fairness.
Closing Remarks
Matt wrapped up the episode by thanking listeners and encouraging them to follow BroadwayRadio on social media and Patreon for more exclusive content. Both hosts expressed their excitement for upcoming shows and events, demonstrating their passion and dedication to the Broadway community.
For more details on any of the topics discussed, including casting schedules and how to enter lotteries, listeners are encouraged to check the show notes or visit BroadwayRadio’s official website and Patreon page.