BroadwayRadio – Today on Broadway: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025

Hosts: Matt Tammanini and Grace Aki
Date: October 22, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Today on Broadway offers an inside look at the latest happenings in the Broadway world, focusing on critical labor developments with the Broadway musicians’ union, surprising casting news in major productions, a deep dive into box office grosses, and noteworthy Off-Broadway updates. Matt and Grace deliver the news with their signature mix of enthusiasm and industry insight, offering listeners context, personal reflections, and sharp observations on the state of the theater scene.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Spotlight Interview & Little Shop of Horrors Production

• [00:38] Matt recaps his interview with Broadway veteran Ruby Lewis, recently starring as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at Riverside Theater, Vero Beach, FL.
  • Ruby discusses:
    • Crafting her own take on Audrey’s voice.
    • The excitement and surprise of playing Audrey when she thought she'd aged out of the role.
  • Matt highlights Nicholas Ward’s performance as Audrey II’s voice and strongly recommends the production.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Everybody in the cast was great. … Everything was fantastic in that production. I highly recommend, if you’re anywhere near it, to head over to Vero and check it out.” — Matt [01:18]

2. Broadway Musicians Union (Local 802) Mediation and Strike Threat

• [01:40] Local 802, AFM—the Broadway musicians’ union—is negotiating with the Broadway League. Mediation is scheduled for October 22.
  • President Bob Sutman warns that without a new contract by Thursday morning, members are prepared to strike immediately.
  • Strike would only affect Broadway theaters on production contracts, not nonprofit venues (e.g., Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout, Lincoln Center Theater).
• Matt notes the seriousness of the situation and draws parallels to the recent Actors’ Equity resolution.
• Notable Quote:
  • “…if we do not have a new contract by Thursday morning, we are prepared to strike immediately. We are hopeful that we can reach an agreement.” — (Quoting Bob Sutman) [02:15]

3. Chicago’s Surprising New Casting

• [03:47] Major casting news:
  • Kate Baldwin (two-time Tony nominee) to play Roxie Hart starting November 10.
  • Alex Newell (Tony Award winner) joins as Matron Mama Morton one week later.
• Matt expresses continued surprise at Chicago’s ever-evolving cast:
  • “…I will never ever understand how Chicago does its castings because they have so many people coming in from so many different areas… But for whatever reason, they all seem to work.” [04:20]
• This excitement comes ahead of the show’s 30th anniversary.
• Grace describes the theatrical community’s loud reaction:
  • “Everyone that I was around when I saw that announcement screamed so I think that that is positive. But yeah, it's pretty insane. Great stuff.” — Grace [05:33]

4. Broadway Box Office Grosses & Chess Phenomenon

• [05:43] Recap of last week’s grosses:
  • 32 shows, grossing $38.19 million—a 3% dip due to the prior week’s holiday.
  • Attendance rose by ~1,100 to 277,744; average ticket price dropped 4% to $137.50.
  • Top grossers: Hamilton, Wicked, The Lion King, Waiting for Godot, Art.
  • Chess makes a remarkable debut with $1.2 million over just 4 performances (extrapolated to ~$2.4 million over a full week).
• Matt draws a comparison with Merrily We Roll Along’s redemption story and wonders if Chess could enjoy a similar trajectory.
• Full-capacity standouts: Ragtime, Chess, Oh, Mary, Waiting for Godot, Wicked, and others.
• [08:51] Matt asks Grace what’s driving Chess’s popularity: Is it Lea Michele and Aaron Tveit, or audience curiosity?
  • Grace attributes it to star power (especially Tveit’s loyal fanbase and Michele’s Funny Girl resurgence) and curiosity about a lesser-known show presented with powerful performances.
  • Notable Quote:
    “…with this incredible cast and all the amazing footage they've been putting out, I'm dying to go…” — Grace [11:55]

5. Off-Broadway Updates & Recommendations

• [10:06] Slam Frank extends through November 16 at Asylum NYC. Co-creator Andrew Fox remains in the cast.
  • Audience reactions have been “gobsmacked…in both good and bad ways.”
• [10:58] Heathers the Musical releases a music video for “Freeze Your Brain” with Casey Likes and Lorna Courtney, filmed in a real 7-Eleven.
• [11:30] Previews for City Center Encores’ production of Bat Boy begin October 29 at Lincoln Center, with cast videos featured in the show notes.
  • Grace won’t be able to attend due to scheduling but expresses her “bucket list” desire to see it.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Union Situation:
  “Hopefully we have a good resolution like we did with Actors Equity. But this is becoming more real now that there is a much more hard and fast deadline that 802 has put on the table.” — Matt [02:50]
• On Chicago’s Casting Odds:
  “Every single casting announcement they have is a surprise to me. But for whatever reason, they all seem to work so incredibly excited for Kate and Alex.” — Matt [04:28]
• On Chess’s Enthusiasm:
  “I actually think they have a lot to gain from the fact that people don’t know the show…so why not go see it with some impactful, incredible performances And I think that's what's happening here. It’s curiosity.” — Grace [09:16]
• On Slam Frank: “…gobsmacked is certainly a word that I would use to describe their reactions in both good and bad ways.” — Matt [10:18]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Ruby Lewis Interview & Little Shop recap: [00:38]
• Local 802 Union Mediation & Strike Threat: [01:40]
• Chicago’s New Casting (Kate Baldwin & Alex Newell): [03:47]
• Broadway Box Office & Chess Success: [05:43]
• Grace Analyzes Chess Fan Base: [08:51]
• Slam Frank Off-Broadway News: [10:06]
• Heathers Musical Video Release: [10:58]
• Bat Boy Previews and Grace's Connection: [11:30]

Closing Thoughts

The October 22, 2025, episode of Today on Broadway offered a whirlwind tour of the current Broadway landscape, blending major labor news with headline-making casting announcements and box office surprises. The energetic interplay between Matt and Grace, along with their focus on both industry mechanics and theatrical fandom, makes this a must-listen for anyone seeking to stay informed and entertained by the latest from Broadway.