BroadwayRadio – Today on Broadway: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode, hosted by Matt Tammanini and Grace Aki, dives into the current state of Broadway with a focus on looming union negotiations and strike fears, the extension of shows amidst tough box office conditions, and a heartfelt remembrance of Diane Keaton. The hosts also spark discussion on the intersection of Broadway casting and social media stardom, preview a new musical workshop, and share personal recommendations touching on both new and classic theater.

Main Theme

The episode centers around Broadway’s ongoing resilience amid industry headwinds: union negotiations and possible strike actions, the business realities for shows in the current climate, and how pop culture moments and losses (including the passing of Diane Keaton) ripple through the theater community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. This Week on Broadway: Highlights & Previews

• [00:27–01:50]
  • Chess begins previews at the Imperial Theatre tonight; official opening set for November 16th.
  • Ragtime opens at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater this Thursday (thoughts to come on Patreon after the opening).
  • "Tons happening off-Broadway"—encouragement for listeners in NYC to catch a show.

2. Union Tensions: Looming Strike Authorization

• [01:51–03:31]
  • Actors Equity Association and AFM Local 802 (musicians) are negotiating with the Broadway League.
  • AFM Local 802 members voted (98% in favor) to authorize a strike—doesn’t mean a strike is imminent, but empowers leadership if talks break down.
  • The union claims the League "continues to demand unacceptable wages and reduced jobs and benefits."
    • Quote: "It just means that if the union's leaders determine that a strike is necessary, that the members have approved that to happen." —Matt (02:00)
  • No official word from Actors Equity yet, but a similar authorization vote may be coming.
  • Insight: Strike authorization often serves as leverage to encourage genuine negotiation before stoppages affect audiences and workers.

3. Remembering Diane Keaton

• [03:31–06:42]
  • Diane Keaton passed at 79; remembered for her illustrious film career and Broadway beginnings (member of the original Hair cast, starred in Play It Again, Sam).
  • Grace reflects on Keaton’s personal impact—"a star amongst us, an immortal person"—and her unique place in both theater and cinema.
    • Quote: "The idea that one of the trio in the First Wives Club has left us is just really heartbreaking." —Grace (05:41)
  • Discussion shifts to Keaton’s enduring legacy as a fashion icon, pioneering individuality in style.
    • Quote: "It’s always a recommendation based on Diane... If you can pick out one or two things that you feel great in all the time, buy it in 100 colors… that’s how you establish your own creative style." —Grace (07:00)

4. Show Business: Extensions and Industry Pressures

• [07:30–10:24]
  • Operation Mincemeat extends again at the Golden Theatre, now running through March 2026, suggesting perhaps an even longer run or a dark theater for Tony eligibility season.
  • Matt observes the rarity (but importance) of "mid-level hit" shows sustaining themselves through careful scaling and modest running costs, countering recent analysis on Broadway's financial crunch.
    • Quote: "These small shows can be successful, can run without the huge, huge multinational dollar weekly operating nuts... I’m rooting for this show." —Matt (09:20)

5. Broadway Casting & Social Media Discourse: Trisha Paytas in Beetlejuice

• [10:32–13:30]
  • Social media star Trisha Paytas joins Beetlejuice as Maxine Dean for a limited run.
  • Anticipation of ticket sales surge, but discussion is polarized; Talia Suskower’s critical reaction highlights industry tension over casting influencers.
  • Grace challenges elitism around theater school backgrounds, suggesting morality and ethics should be a focus for criticism, not non-traditional casting.
    • Quote: "People pay to see people they know... It becomes an elitism that I think is exhausting." —Grace (12:38)
  • Matt notes the role is being split—Paytas covers Maxine Dean only, not the full track, amplifying some of the debate’s awkwardness.
    • Quote: "It’s just messy… the whole thing is a little bit messy and it’s become even messier because of the discourse." —Matt (13:25)

6. Spotlight on New Work: 'The Turning' Musical Workshop

• [14:07–16:34]
  • Sneak peek at The Turning, a new musical by Zach Zadak, workshopped with Lola Tung and Jordan Fisher (reunited from Hadestown), Kayla Wilcoxon, Jane Bruce, and others.
  • Set in California’s Sequoia groves, it follows best friends seeking renewal—a production working toward an LA premiere.
  • Personal connection: Grace attended events with the creative team, praising their dedication and backstory.

7. Personal Picks & Sentimental Theater Moments

• [16:34–18:26]
  • Soon (Nick Blaymire’s musical) is upcoming at East Village Basement, with notable cast and a must-watch music video for the song "Waiting."
    • Grace’s personal excitement and urgent recommendation:
      • Quote: "The fact that Nick is doing this a week and a half before my wedding and I am making time to go should tell you everything that you need to know." —Grace (17:20)
  • Anthony Ramos’ emotional reunion with retired Richard Rodgers Theatre doorman Jimmy on The Drew Barrymore Show, highlighting the essential backstage community of Broadway.
    • Quote: "These are the people… that become a part of your life. So it is very clear that Jimmy was very important to Anthony’s early career... I love those kind of sentimental things." —Matt (18:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Strike Authorization Context:
  "It just means that if the union's leaders determine that a strike is necessary, that the members have approved that to happen." —Matt, [02:00]
• On Diane Keaton’s Impact:
  "The idea that one of the trio in the First Wives Club has left us is just really heartbreaking." —Grace, [05:41]
  "She developed her own consistent style... She had a uniform. A lot of people don’t have that anymore." —Grace, [06:46]
• On Broadway’s Changing Business:
  "These small shows can be successful... and I hope that these can be ways to show producers how to be able to sustain shows for longer periods of time..." —Matt, [09:20]
• Influencers on Broadway Discourse:
  "It becomes an elitism that I think is exhausting... People pay to see people that they know." —Grace, [12:38] "It’s just messy… and it’s become even messier because of the discourse." —Matt, [13:25]
• Personal Endorsement:
  "The fact that Nick is doing this a week and a half before my wedding and I am making time to go should tell you everything that you need to know." —Grace, [17:20]
• Heartfelt Moment:
  "These are the people... that become a part of your life. So it is very clear that Jimmy was very important to Anthony’s early career... I love those kind of sentimental things." —Matt, [18:45]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Broadway Previews Week: [00:27–01:50]
• Strike Authorizations & Context: [01:51–03:31]
• Diane Keaton Tribute & Legacy: [03:31–07:30]
• Operation Mincemeat Extension & Industry Realities: [07:30–10:24]
• Trisha Paytas in Beetlejuice & Industry Debate: [10:32–13:30]
• 'The Turning' Workshop Announcement: [14:07–16:34]
• 'Soon' Musical / Video & Anthony Ramos on Drew Barrymore: [16:34–18:26]

Final Thoughts

The episode blends major Broadway labor concerns, the contributions and loss of a cross-medium icon (Diane Keaton), and the day-to-day realities of running, casting, and sustaining shows in today’s climate. With spirited debate on tradition vs. innovation and authentic moments underscoring theater’s unique community, it’s a vibrant snapshot of Broadway’s current heartbeat.