"This show has layers." Fancy Dance Man Joshua Burrage (NEWSIES, CATS, A BRONX TALE) stops by the Breakdown to discuss his deep love of the movie-turned musical-turned Netflix movie musical SHREK. Joshua and Matt also discuss character secrets in CATS, audio issues with Zoom and how to properly showcase Sutton Foster. Take it home, Stephen!!
"If I became a knight...I could STILL be in CATS." John Krause (HADESTOWN, FUN HOME, WICKED) stops by the pod to discuss his newfound fascination and obsession with the CATS movie. And Matt is MORE than happy to discuss all the horniness, uncanny valley-ness, and Judi Dench's leg extension-ness. Also, the two discuss how plot "fixes" can become plot "holes," why some musicals don't work on film and WHO exactly is the Dean of CATS School?
"Who doesn't love a nose douche?" How's isolation going kiddies? We thought so. Matt and John discuss the numerous ways to pass the time while locked in your home plus the moral grey area of bootlegs, Broadway stars who left us for TV, the best series to binge these days and what happened when one of your beloved hosts contracted Corona!!!
"We really underestimated the stupidity and the entitlement of the American people." Matt and John are on lockdown with the rest of NYC. Together, they discuss the Broadway shutdown, ways to pass the time while social distancing, and how to find the silver linings even when you're down.
"Don't. Trick. LANDON." Recorded on Wednesday 03/11, Matt and John discuss the sensual, steamy and Tig Ol' Bitties topic of "CONSENT." Plus a very long dissertation about a Mean Girls' actress's opinions of the stage door. Kisses!
"They're all GAY." Matt and John bemoan the lack of specialty in Broadway these days. Plus the new season of Drag Race, Matt seeing MACK & MABEL, and what's exciting this Broadway season.
"So much beauty in the world." Director/Choreographer Emily Maltby (EVITA, LOLITA MY LOVE, FIRST DAUGHTER SUITE) joins the Breakdown to discuss with Matt her love of the Pulitzer Prize winning, sometimes confusing, always moving musical SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Major topics include what makes a successful production of SUNDAY, which two minor characters Matt thinks are totally f*cking, and what the final scene means. HELLO GEORGE!
"Usually I'm just like, 'You're boring and I hate you.'" TV/Film actor and Professional Gay Trey Gerrald (ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, THE QUEENS PROJECT, YOU'RE THE WORST)stops by the Breakdown to discuss with Matt the legacy, the history and the complete illegality of the world of Broadway Bootlegs. Plus the two discuss some Broadway gossip and make plenty of sexually crude jokes. SORRY ABOUT IT!
"I would like to reiterate how trash people are." An incident at JAGGED LITTLE PILL gets Matt and John talking about the downfall of audience etiquette. Plus, Matt revisits ALADDIN and THE LION KING on Broadway, the pod gets a brand new review and the two dissect the problems with a recent statement made by WEST SIDE STORY.
"Am I creating things for art or for attention?" Matt and John discuss Cameron Dallas in Mean Girls, the TV show that's ruining everything, and even come up with a new word!
"What a wonderful use of oxygen you are." IT'S 2020 AND WE'RE STILL HERE (barely)! Matt reviews MOULIN ROUGE, John reviews the new Disney/Musical Theatre/Life Evaluation Reality Show ENCORE and the two get into the nitty gritty of some Oscar potential flicks. Because we CAN CAN CAN, GIRL!
"You know who's not in Amadeus? Mary-Louise Parker." It's the last episode of 2019!! So ring in the end of the year with one more obsession! Fellow theatre podcaster James Crichton ("Actors: On Process") swings by the pod to discuss his obsession with Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Mary-Louise Parker with Matt. The two also get into such hot topics as: How to get famous actors to do your projects, what Disney film defines you, and what Broadway star has changed their tune about social media. A...
"A hundred people had to sign off on all of these decisions that were made." Matt spills all the Jellicle T after seeing the CATS movie, John discusses the double edged sword of academic pushback and the two gays gush over a brand new, piping hot iTunes Review!! MEOW BITCH!!!
"I don't think prostitutes sound like Linda Eder." Approachable Broadway ingenue Elena Ricardo (MAMMA MIA, BEAUTIFUL) stops by the Breakdown to share her obsession with vocal heavyweight (and semi-Broadway diva) Linda Eder. Elena and Matt discuss Eder's crazy vocal range as well as the difference between confidence and egotism and the ONE musical that gives Elena nightmares. BA-BAM!
PRESENTING BROADWAY BREAKDOWN'S FIRST RADIO PLAY: An excerpt from Matt's series "YOURS, TRULY," specifically the scene in the season finale defending THE LITTLE MERMAID. This episode is brought to you by the "iTunes review challenge" Matt and guest Melanie Brook set for listeners in episode 56. Enjoy! And if you don't, at least it's short! CAST: Matt Koplik (Calvin), Nick Giedris (Narrator), Cassie Levine (Sophie), Nick Prior (Brent), Kate Forristall (Audrey), Tyler Milliron (Sean), Ali Gordon (...
"I can't tell you that it's ANY good. And if someone were to tell me that it was, I would perhaps think a little less of them." MILK!!!! John's back for a good ol' fashioned episode of the Breakdown! The two gays dissect the new CATS trailer, John re-joins the work force and Matt sees JAGGED LITTLE PILL, SLAVE PLAY and THE INHERITANCE. Also, the two ask the biggest question: Who the f*ck is Mike?!?! To avoid spoilers, time frame for discussion on each show is: Jagged Little Pill: 22:00-35:00 Sla...
"The Good, The Bad, and the Ridiculous. That is what I would call Broadwayworld." Internet Musical Theatre Diva Melanie Brook joins the Breakdown to talk with Matt about the infamous, glamorous, garbage fire beauty that is the message board Broadwayworld.com; the two discuss their histories with the website, favorite posters and problematic threads. Also, Matt discusses THE INHERITANCE and Melanie tries to make "#JusticeForBakingItOnBroadway" trend. ALERT THE MODS!!!
"I don't blame myself for not liking her." Broadway Breakdown alum and our favorite Broadway drag queen Sutton Lee Seymour steps in for John as co-host in this HIGHLY opinionated, DEEPLY passionate episode. Sutton reviews the Off-Broadway LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Matt calls out some Broadway bullsh*it and the two dissect the dead fish that is THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE. These gays give opinions that can...what's the word...BURN.
John has thoughts on THE INHERITANCE, Matt has thoughts on the Yiddish FIDDLER, and with the casting announcement for COMPANY, both gays wonder if anyone on Broadway is even listening . HODGE PODGE, KIDZ!
"This story reveals to me that if you wanted to, you could probably murder me and get away with it." John was busy, so Matt scooped up tap dancing cutie pie Kaitlyn Frank (NEWSIES, MY FAIR LADY, WE ARE THE TIGERS)and the two discuss the amazing art of tap dance by deconstructing three amazing clips of Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Ann Miller. And also how Kaitlyn's old tap teacher become Youtube famous only AFTER he hung up his dancing shoes. TAP INTO IT, GIRL! For reference: Gene Kelly SUMMER S...
JOHN'S BACK!!! And we're *pretty* happy about it. Matt and John discuss an article about phone etiquette that gets them PISSED, express the joy they feel from Katrina Lenk GIFS, and the return of "Jukebox That Musical" with "SO EMOTIONAL: A Whitney Houston/Shonda Rhimes Extravangaza." Pas de deux it, bitch!
"Musical theatre didn't start with Dear Evan Hansen, you know." Honorary theatre gay Charlotte Maltby (THE SOUND OF MUSIC) joins the Breakdown to discuss the amazingness of OKLAHOMA, specifically the legendary 1998 London staging w/ mind blowing choreography by Susan Stroman and a shirtless Hugh Jackman! Together, Matt and Charlotte discuss the show's historic legacy, how Hugh Jackman lead them both to a sexual awakening, and their plan to turn the musical into a 70's style sitcom called "Facets...
"I don't think a blonde on Broadway has been that iconic until Taylor Louderman as Regina George." It's 90's Nostalgia Week at the Breakdown with BIG THE MUSICAL. Matt's childhood friend Michael Bello (SUMMER, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, WE ARE THE TIGERS) drops by the pod and the two discuss all of the things they LOVE about this gigantic musical (Fierce dancing teens! Epic music! Slurpee cups!) as well as some plot points that might lead to psychological trauma for its characters(DID they sleep together??...
"It just encapsulates every part of what I love about the musical theatre." It's gay, it's crude, it's BROADWAY! Josh Daniel (THE BOOK OF MORMON) stops by to talk about his obsession with the 6 Tony Nominated/Winning Ladies in Red at Stephen Sondheim's 80th Birthday Concert. He and Matt discuss why no man's d*ck can throw Patti Lupone , why Marin Mazzie's performance makes Matt mad and, more importantly, which diva's performance is the perfect choice for your next "sexy time." GET INTO IT, FISH!...
"You can talk to birds?" Broadway drag queen and Breakdown vet Sutton Lee Seymour returns to discuss everyone's favorite Sondheim morality musical INTO THE WOODS. Matt and Sutton discuss the legendary original cast, deep themes, and why this amazing musical has had so many productions that suck. BEANS!
"F*ck the rest of GYPSY!" Lifelong friend and Comedic Bit-stress Abby Goldfarb (Fiddler on the Roof) joins the pod to talk about her obsession with the epic-ness of 11 O'Clock numbers. Matt and Abby also discuss the night that Ruth Bader Ginsburg came to FIDDLER, the quality of epic sung-through musicals and their new drag name "Patti LuPorn."
"Yop, Queen, Yop!" Broadway Music Director Patrick Sulken (Pretty Woman, Kinky Boots)joins the Breakdown to chat his obsession with the Broadway flop/National Treasure SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL. Matt and Patrick dig deep and discuss the show's troubled history, what Broadway heavyweights can be found in the show's ensemble, and whose performance is CRIMINALLY underrated. Splash, bitch, Splash!
John opens up about his continuous struggle with testicular cancer...and a sexual side effect after his upcoming surgery. PLUS, Matt shares thoughts on 2 recently closed Broadway musicals, describes to John the worst Winona Ryder movie EVER, and the two share the origin story for the podcast's newest running gag.
Musical theatre drag queen star Sutton Lee Seymour chats with Matt and John about drag inspiration, racism in old Hollywood movies, the great Broadway closings of 2019, and what the f*ck is ACTUALLY happening in the CATS movie trailer.
"I wish they gave Tonys for opinions, 'cause I would have 9." Broadway actor/influencer/husband and Special Guest Bret Shuford (The Little Mermaid, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Beauty and the Beast) talks his obsession with DISNEY on BROADWAY. Bret and Matt also discuss a new Disney trend Matt HATES, differentiating between Sierra Boggess' mix and belt, and inducting Matt into the gay mafia.
