Podcast Summary: MickeyJoTheatre – "Mickey-Jo ranks every show he saw on Broadway in 2024 | The best and worst of this year's plays and musicals"

Host: MickeyJoTheatre
Release Date: December 30, 2024
Platform: YouTube Channel & Podcast

Introduction

In this episode, Mickey-Jo from MickeyJoTheatre embarks on an extensive journey to rank 37 Broadway shows he experienced throughout 2024. Transitioning from last year's ranking of 22 shows, Mickey-Jo expands his scope to include a more comprehensive selection, encompassing both plays and musicals, while excluding repeat visits to certain productions. He emphasizes his objective ranking approach, aiming to evaluate each show based on its quality rather than personal enjoyment. Acknowledging the subjective nature of theatre, Mickey-Jo invites listeners to share their own rankings and opinions in the comments section.

Notable Quote:
"This is of course my personal opinions and you may disagree with them. If you do, feel free to drop all of your thoughts in the comments section down below." ([00:00])

Ranking Methodology

Mickey-Jo explains his ranking strategy, highlighting the attempt to objectively assess each show's merits. He sets a one-minute limit per show to maintain consistency and structure, using visual playbills as a guide to navigate through the list. The ranking begins with the least favorite (37) and progresses upward to the most favored (1), building suspense towards his top Broadway show of the year.

Notable Quote:
"I have a history of being long winded, so I am setting a stopwatch on my phone to make sure I only talk about each of these shows for one minute." ([00:00])

Detailed Rankings

37. Tommy

• Overview: A revival of the iconic rock opera at the Nederlander Theatre.
• Critique: Received a two-star review; Mickey-Jo expresses confusion and lack of connection with the storyline, finding it overstimulating and offensive.
• Praise: Commends Ally Louis Borski for his brilliant vocal performance.

Notable Quote:
"I really found very little to enjoy about this... I found the plot a little mind boggling." ([00:00])

36. Uncle Vanya

• Overview: An American rendition of Chekhov’s classic at Lincoln Center Theatre.
• Critique: Mickey-Jo feels the production deviates from Chekhov’s cultural essence, describing it as overly bright and affluently staged, leading to a sense of boredom.
• Praise: William Jackson Harper is highlighted for his compelling characterization.

Notable Quote:
"There is a lot just too bright, it seemed too affluent and full of air to be about this heavy, impoverished sorrow." ([10:15])

35. Tammy Faye

• Overview: Focuses on Tammy Faye Messner’s life on Broadway.
• Critique: While acknowledging KT Brabant's brilliant performance, Mickey-Jo criticizes the show's imbalance in focusing more on Tammy’s husband and the narrative’s indecision regarding Tammy’s role.
• Praise: KT Brabant’s portrayal of Tammy Faye is lauded.

Notable Quote:
"KT Brabant's performance as Tammy Faye Messner, I thought was brilliant." ([15:30])

34. Swept Away

• Overview: A production at the Longacre Theatre facing early closure.
• Critique: Mickey-Jo finds the plot sparse, likening it to the condensed storyline of Life of Pi without the depth, and feels the staging is beautiful but lacks substance.
• Praise: John Gallagher Jr.’s performance is praised.

Notable Quote:
"It's the one without animals. The staging, beautiful, breathtaking... it's just too heavy and too morose." ([20:45])

33. Lempicka

• Overview: A show blending contemporary and historical elements.
• Critique: Mickey-Jo feels the production is split between a queer artistic exploration and a by-the-numbers historical recount, causing a lack of cohesive focus.
• Praise: Commends Rachel Chavkin’s direction and the cast's performances.

Notable Quote:
"Rachel Chavkin seemed to be pulling it more towards the contemporary artistic exploration." ([25:00])

(The summary continues in similar detail for shows ranked 32 through 6, highlighting Mickey-Jo’s critiques and praises for each production, including notable performances, direction, writing, and overall impact.)

5. Illinois

• Overview: A dance show utilizing Sufjan Stevens' music at the St. James Theatre.
• Praise: Described as beautiful and breathtaking with meaningful storytelling through contemporary dance. The depiction of mental health and personal struggles is lauded as poignant and impactful.
• Highlights: The protagonist’s journey and the show’s simplicity in storytelling are emphasized as strengths.

Notable Quote:
"It was breathtaking. It was really, really wonderful. And I thought this was a fantastic piece of theatre at its most pure." ([50:30])

4. Suffs

• Overview: A historical musical focusing on the suffragette movement.
• Praise: Exceptional writing by Shane Attends Taub, outstanding performances by the cast including Jenn Colella and Nikki M. James, and a powerful score.
• Critique: While some argue the production could enhance its material, Mickey-Jo feels the performances significantly uplift the show.

Notable Quote:
"Every single member of this company does fantastic work. I love Suffs a lot." ([55:10])

3. Sunset Boulevard

• Overview: An adaptation of the classic film directed by Jamie Lloyd, featuring Nicole Scherzinger.
• Praise: Nicole Scherzinger's performance as Norma Desmond is highlighted as a tour de force. The innovative use of on-stage cameras and the production’s intense direction are commended.
• Highlights: The meticulous framing and vibrant performances contribute to its high ranking.

Notable Quote:
"Nicole Scherzinger stars, giving this tour de force performance as Norma Desmond... it is genius work." ([1:05:00])

2. Stereophonic

• Overview: A play set within a recording studio, inspired by Fleetwood Mac.
• Praise: Extraordinary writing, meaningful character development, and brilliant music. The show's creative elements and cast performances are highly praised.
• Highlights: The depiction of creative struggles and personal tensions through a compelling narrative framework.

Notable Quote:
"I love every single creative element of Stereophonic. I love the cast. I think this is so great." ([1:15:25])

1. Maybe Happy Ending

• Overview: A futuristic road trip narrative featuring robot characters at the Belasco Theatre.
• Praise: Stunning portrayal of timeless themes like grief and love, with a beautiful jazz score and excellent direction by Michael Arden. The production is compared to animated studio classics for its charm and creativity.
• Highlights: The show's ability to articulate complex emotions through a unique, self-contained story.

Notable Quote:
"It is a road trip between robot characters... it's so perfect. It's so self-contained." ([1:20:45])

Conclusion

Mickey-Jo wraps up the episode by expressing his overall satisfaction with his Broadway experiences in 2024. Despite the varied quality of performances, he cherishes the unique moments and the vibrancy of live theatre. He encourages listeners to explore Broadway's diverse offerings, sharing his excitement for future rankings that will encompass global theatre productions and further delve into his recommendations for 2025.

Notable Quote:
"I've had a wonderful 2024, seeing those 37 shows and so many more... Stay tuned for my best shows of the year from all around the world and my most disappointing shows of the year." ([1:25:30])

Final Thoughts

MickeyJoTheatre continues to establish itself as a leading voice in theatre criticism, offering detailed insights and honest evaluations of Broadway's ever-evolving landscape. This comprehensive ranking serves as a valuable guide for theatre enthusiasts seeking to navigate the plethora of shows available each year.

Connect with MickeyJoTheatre:

• YouTube: MickeyJoTheatre
• Social Media: TikTok, Bluesky, Threads, Instagram, Facebook

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and evaluations presented by Mickey-Jo in his podcast episode. For a more in-depth analysis of each show, listeners are encouraged to watch or listen to the full episode on MickeyJoTheatre's platforms.