"Blue..." The 2025-2026 Broadway season kicks off with icon Jean Smart's one woman show CALL ME IZZY. Plus a production of MACHINAL, which launches the first season of the brand new New York Theatre Company. What did Matt think? Well...take a listen... Join the Broadway Breakdown Substack here! https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com/ Or the Broadway Breakdown Discord Here! https://discord.gg/EhRe3dVr
"And what did YOU think of that performance...?" The 2024-2025 Broadway season has come to a close and with it, the Tony Awards. Daddy of the pod Robert W. Schneider returns to Breakdown to discuss with Matt the highs of the ceremony, debate some winners, and some tea Matt got from the Maybe Happy Ending after party! KICK IT! Wanna join the Broadway Breakdown Substack? The Discord? Links below! https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com/ https://discord.gg/EhRe3dVr
"What I expect...what I want...and what I dream..." The 2025 Tony Awards are ALMOST HERE! This means it's time for a final, FINAL prediction episode with Awards Expert Sam Eckmann (GoldDerby). Unfortunately this has been a chaotic race and thus, Matt and Sam find themselves talking in circles convincing each other of what might happen and what they want to happen. It's fun. It's mess. It's Broadway. Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here! https://discord.gg/RDs2Bz47
"Ever hear about...?" Matt goes through the last couple of decades of winners to debunk and clarify some ol' Tony Awards myths...as well as discover some trends! Take a listen and win your Tony pool! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here: https://discord.gg/RDs2Bz47
BIG NEWS! MATT GOT A NEW MIC! But he isn't quite sure if he's figured it out yet. So be patient this episode. Oh! And Matt went to London again with his mom and sister! Matt's mom joins for the first half to discuss their London adventures as well as the 5 shows they took in while staying in Fitzrovia for the week: -The Comedy About Spies, Oliver!, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, My Neighbour Totoro, and Dear England. It's a fun time! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here! https:...
And episode so long...we have to split it in two! Matt saw Every. Single. Broadway. Show. This. Season. And my God is he gonna do the Lord's work and rank it all for you. Because why the F**K NOT?! Enjoy Part 1! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here! https://discord.gg/UTGVBprYtr
And just like that...we finished! Matt wraps up his *unofficial* ranking of every Broadway show for the 2024-2025 Broadway Season. Was it worth it??? Join the fun at the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here! https://discord.gg/UTGVBprYtr
And a few other shows, actually... Matt saw a whole bunch of stuff. Not just what's in the title. He also saw WONDERFUL TOWN at Encores, the final performance of ZORBA at J2 Spotlight and had a second viewing of DEATH BECOMES HER. It's a lot! Maybe he said some coherent things? Let's see! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here!: https://discord.gg/UTGVBprYtr TIME STAMPS (give or take, based on commercials): Wonderful Town/Zorba: 6:00 Real Women Have Curves: 34:00 Death Becomes Her 2.0/...
"Where's the pudding at?!" The 2025 Tony nominations have arrived! And boy are there THOUGHTS. Joining Matt is Breakdown friends Rachael and Will Anderson aka The Theater Lovers!! Listen to their thoughts on the whole slew of nominations, Taylor Swift lore, and a new series of movies Matt plans to make. Enjoy! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/UTGVBprYtr
'Cause why the f**k not?! Let's be bold and brave with the Tony nominations before the big announcement day! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/bbcbvZau
"This is IT!" Matt saw SOOOO much Broadway this week, he couldn't fit it all into one episode. So, he's chosen to cover LCT's revival of FLOYD COLLINS, Roundabout's revisal of PIRATES and 54 Below's...sorry, Broadway's JUST IN TIME. Listen! Discuss! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here!!! https://discord.gg/bbcbvZau
"And what do YOU think of pudding?" Matt scans the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel to get a sense of what listeners feel are likely to get nominated at the 2025 Tony Awards. And the responses are something!! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here: https://discord.gg/FqnJwJrr
...were they worth it? Matt went and saw GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, STRANGER THINGS, GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK and OTHELLO and talks briefly about all of them, but more importantly what their very existence means for Broadway. Plus! Two Off-Broadway musicals that might've restored his faith. *Might* have. Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here!: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"To quote Taylor Swift..." Matt sees the latest work by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins, PURPOSE, as well as the Broadway premiere of JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN. Was JOHN *actually* Matt's nightmare? Which actor in PURPOSE gave Matt life? Find out!! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"Fade in on a girl..." Matt has returned from SMASH and is here to talk about what he thought did and didn't work about the new Comedy about a Musical! Enjoy! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here! https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"I can do better than that..." Matt goes to see the new comic musical BOOP and has a *lot* of suggestions, plus the first Broadway production of THE LAST 5 YEARS and...well, has thoughts on that as well. Take a listen! (L5Y review starts around 40:00 ) Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel (and the Tony fun) Here: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"OK, now we know..." It's been two months since Matt made some bold predictions for the 2025 Tony nominations. So it's time to make some new ones!! Matt is joined by Richie Grasso and Jeff Maline (Half Hour) to discuss the latest of the season and where everyone sees nominations heading this year. Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"I would give my soul for that..." Matt took a trip back to Encores to see the little-known LOVE LIFE and saw one of the final previews for THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY! What did Matt think of the weird Lerner/Weill show often cited as the "first concept musical"? And did Matt agree or disagree with Jesse Green abut DORIAN GRAY's screens? Let's find out! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
It's Matt's birthday! 35! And now that he's old enough to play Bobby in COMPANY, he's celebrating by doing a Good Ol' Fashioned Q&A. Make sure to join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"We do what we can..." Matt had a nice week of theatre before flying to judge the Florida State Thespian Festival. First: BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB and the Tony chances of Natalie Venetia Belcon. Next: OPERATION MINCEMEAT and whether it's "Too British" or if Matt liked it better on Broadway. For those who don't want spoilers: BUENA VISTA review starts at the top and OPERATION MINCEMEAT review starts around the 35:00/36:00 minute mark! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord and submit questions and co...
Matt took to social media to try something out...what IS the legacy of a Tony winner? Find out! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Here! https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"I wish I was an octopus..." We've come to the end of ANGELS IN AMERICA and, as it happens, Grab Bag!! Friend of the pod Robert W. Schneider (Broadway Bound) stops by the Breakdown to discuss his history with the play, the weirdness of the 1993 Tony Awards, and which character Matt's ex could play. REJOICE! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"You can build me up, you can tear me down..." Oooohhh It's a March BONUS episode! SIX's new Jane Seymour, Kelsie Watts, stops by the Breakdown to do a mini-deep dive on the British pop sensation that's still rocking it on Broadway. Matt and Kelsie talk about the complexity of 16th century womanhood, navigating vocal challenges, and re-introducing yourself to musical theatre. Take a listen! AND JOIN THE BROADWAY BREAKDOWN DISCORD CHANNEL!! Right Here: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"Nothing's lost forever..." We're back with some more ANGELS! Podmother Ali Gordon returns to the Breakdown to discuss with Matt why Joe Pitt is her favorite character, her undying friendship with Matt, and why love needs to be in all dramatic scenes. LET'S DO IT! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"F**k you, I'm a Prophet!" We're wrapping up GRAB BAG with the Big One. A play so big we can't possibly contain it to one episode. So friend Alex Weisman (HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD) comes back to the Breakdown to talk all things ANGELS IN AMERICA. The two also discuss the repetition of history, the privilege of self-preservation and being sexy enough to be cast-able. Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here! https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
"Don't nobody bring me No. Bad. News." We're starting to close out Grab Bag and so we're bringing on a new friend, Kaisha Huguley (@kaishacreates) to come on and discuss the last musical selected: THE WIZ. The Movie, that is. Matt and Kaisha discuss their ties to the movie as well as to The Wizard of Oz lore, plus what makes a movie musical work and why you can't just rely on the talent of your cast. Everybody Rejoice! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here! https://discord.gg/Ef9QkAas...
"Just me...and the trees." Idina Menzel is BACK on BROADWAY baby! In a musical about a tree! And trauma! And stuff. So what did Matt think of it? Find out! TRIGGER WARNING: This musical discusses difficult subject matter like mental health, substance abuse and s*icide. Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here: https://discord.gg/VRdR4bvZ
"It's live!!!" Broadway Breakdown was at BroadwayCon and did another Grab Bag with Miss Sally Bowl. Grey Henson (ELF, MEAN GIRLS) comes along to pick a musical and gab for a whole hour. Which musical? Find out!! Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here: https://discord.gg/VRdR4bvZ
"I see a river..." OH MARY has a new leading lady! Encores has begun its latest season! How do they fare? Matt is here to talk about it. And what makes acting ridiculous so hard. Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here: https://discord.gg/VRdR4bvZ
"Welcome to the Rock..." GRAB BAG continues with the Tony winning Canadian Feel Good Musical COME FROM AWAY. Good friend and gal Lauren Nicole Chapman (FROZEN, KINKY BOOTS) joins the Breakdown to discuss the wonderfulness of intermissionless shows, married life, and the controversial play Matt saw on a second date. Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here! https://discord.gg/VRdR4bvZ
