"We're gonna be alright..." Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rodgers and Arthur Laurents wrote a musical once and we ALL forgot about it!! Friend of the pod Adam Elsberry (THE WILD PARTY WARS PART 1 and 2)returns to Breakdown to discuss with Matt about what happens when your lead actors are TOO hot, how Sondheim missed the boat, and why the best characters in musicals are all essentially Samantha Jones from Sex & The City.
"I don't know, but it's BRILLIANT!" Things get weird w/ Daddy Sondheim's next musical about conformity, sanity and the power of a red wig: ANYONE CAN WHISTLE. Broadway historian Jennifer Ashley Tepper (author of the Untold Stories of Broadway Anthology) returns to the pod to discuss this truly whacky musical with Matt as well as the show's troubled process getting produced, including Angela Lansbury shouting in a stairwell, giving audiences the middle finger...and DEATH!!!! We and this pod...we ...
"INTERMISSION!" We barrel into the 60's with the first Broadway score ENTIRELY written by our boy Stephen Sondheim. Broadway music director and former guest of the pod Patrick Sulken (PRETTY WOMAN, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS)stops by to discuss with Matt how such a successful show had such a disastrous out of town tryout, a score that works even though it doesn't fit the show, and why this musical may not be as dated as some would have you believe. TRAGEDY TOMORROW, COMEDY TONIGHT!
Impossible? Things are happening EVERY day!! Alum of the pod Jimmy Larkin (@letshearitforthechoice)joins Matt to interview legendary/award winning music director Paul Bogaev on his illustrious career on Broadway (CHESS, AIDA, SUNSET BOULEVARD). film (CHICAGO, NINE, DREAMGIRLS) and TV (CINDERELLA, ANNIE) including the making of the iconic CINDERELLA starring Brandy, the Tony winning actresses that ALMOST starred in AIDA, and how he turned non-singing movie stars into Broadway Babies!! It's a JUIC...
"Children, go play in the alley..." We close out the Golden Age of Broadway with the iconic GYPSY. Often thought of as the perfect musical, Preston Max Allen (WE ARE THE TIGERS, CARRIE 2) comes on to discuss with Matt the show's brilliant writing, homoerotic undertones and missed opportunities. And Matt goes on to explain why Arthur Laurents was the best and worst thing to happen to GYPSY. Have an egg roll!!
Welcome to Broadway Breakdown’s first mini-series “A Little Sondheim Music” where we go through the career of Stephen Sondheim. Friend of the Pod Andres Melendez comes back to dive into the show that gave our Broadway Daddy his Broadway debut...WEST SIDE STORY! The two discuss how the show has aged, if the movie version is ACTUALLY good, why "I Feel Pretty" is better than Sondheim will admit, and why most revivals fail. KEEP IT COOL, BOY!
THINGS ARE SHAKING UP HERE!
"There IS a contest...but she won." Tim Kov and Anna Hulkower (hosts of MY LITTLE TONYS) join Matt to dissect the numerous Tony wins of legend, icon and bubble bath taker Angela Lansbury! The group also discusses when the Tonys had Gays in the mezzanine, Elizabeth Taylor doing stand up, and that one telecast that had blackface...it's Angie's Turn!
"The only thing hornier than Bridgerton is the 1982 ANNIE." Your favorite (or least favorite) redhead is front and center in a new episode of Breakdown! Fan favorite Dani Ticktin Koplik (aka MATT'S MOM) comes on to discuss with the opinionated host the origin, merits and flaws of the musical ANNIE and its subsequent movie versions. Is the the 1982 version too racist? Is the 1999 version too sweet? Is the 2014 version too ashamed it's ANNIE? And who the HECK thought it was a good idea to make all...
"Was it chaos or was it fun?" Fellow podcaster Kimberly Cooper Schmidt (BROADWAYSTED, BROADWAY BABY) takes Matt back to his college years when musical theatre was alive and well in Youtube concerts. Matt and Kimberly discuss the Broadway stars who were once Youtube unknowns, drugs in Angela Lansbury's dressing room, and why a great song can never be in a musical. CLAP YOUR HANDS!
"If anyone could write a musical of WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, it's Maltby and Shire..." Broadway Producer and Historian Jennifer Ashley Tepper (BE MORE CHILL, The Untold Stories of Broadway Anthology) discusses with Matt her love for the iconic songwriting duo of Richard Maltby Jr and David Shire (BABY, BIG). The two gush over the amazing scores the two have written as well as high school hobbies, what it means to be a dated musical, and why the 80's wasn't as bad a time for Broadway as some think. ...
"RUTHLESS is the Gay SAT's" It's our longest episode yet, Henny! Breakdown alum Morgan Reynolds comes back to discuss Matt's newfound love for the Off-Broadway camp fest RUTHLESS, which leads to discussions on Bernadette Peters' career as a producer, the history of gay culture, and why Tina Denmark is the hardest role for a child actor. ARE WE ALL LIT?!
"It's not barbaric when you're a diva." Massive backstage drama, high belting arias, and MURDER! It's SUNSET BOULEVARD, baby! International ingenue Matt Leisy (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, SWEENEY TODD) discusses his obsession with the noir Andrew Lloyd Webber musical and does battle with host Matt about who's a better Norma, when a principal role is actually the worst one in the show, and whether this musical is ACTUALLY good. Ready for you close up?
"What the f*ck is WILL ROGERS FOLLIES about?" Got Milk?? Spencer Glass ("It's the Day of the Show Y'all!") drops by the Breakdown and reminisces with Matt about Broadway in the 90's, including the debut of Laura Benanti, why THE LIFE's Tony performance shows true diversity, and who is Broadway's secret MILF.
"It's sort of the MAGNOLIA of Christmas movies." SURPRISE!!! Just in time for the holidays, Broadway Breakdown has gifted you a special bonus episode with recurring guest Ali Gordon ALL about the Netflix masterpiece/garbage fire that is "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square." Matt and Ali get into EVERYTHING about this movie: the songs, the drama, and characters getting impregnated by Dolly Parton. FEEL THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!
"All of his songs are bops" Look Out! Look Out! Look Out! Look Out! Devin Holloway (SOMETHING ROTTEN, MOTOWN, 42ND STREET) comes to the Breakdown to discuss his obsession with Disney tunesmith and purveyor of childhood dreams Alan Menken! Devin and Matt also discuss which recording of Little Shop is definitive, performing with legends, and the destruction of childhood imagination. ALLEY-OOP!
"How do you silence a woman who's known for her belt?" THE PROM is now on Netflix! And audio issues can't stop Matt from voicing his opinions with his iconic mother by his side. The two discuss the pros and cons of Ryan Murphy's movie adaptation of the stage musical. They also talk about the original Broadway production's secret weapon, why James Corden isn't the enemy, and how a wig can ruin a scene. IT'S TIME TO DANCE!
"I'll eat some breakfast, then change the world." Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee're BACK! Broadway Encyclopedia and Perpetual Opinionated Gay Matt Koplik returns with special guest Jimmy Larkin (aka @letshearitforthechoice)!!! Jimmy stops by to discuss his obsession with the musical landmark HAIRSPRAY. The two also discuss Brandi in Cinderella, dressing up as Dorothy in homemade Wizard of Oz costumes, and why so many musical theatre actors don't like musicals. YOU CAN'T STOP THIS BEAT!
"The last thing you wanna think when someone is having a murderous breakdown is 'This is a bop.'" PART 2!!! Matt and Adam decide ONCE AND FOR ALL: Which is the Better WILD PARTY? And does "best" always mean "favorite"? Can music be enjoyable but not effective? All of these questions (and many more) are answered! Get into it, Toni Collette!
"To quote Uma Thurman on SMASH, 'I'm here to Dig Deep." IT'S A FIRST!!! Broadway Breakdown is doing a Two-Parter Episode!! Matt invites his good Judy Adam Elsberry to figure out once and for all the question that has haunted Broadway chat rooms and frat boy keg parties for years: "Which is the better WILD PARTY?" And the answer is too complicated for just ONE episode! SO WE SPLIT IT INTO TWO!. Part 1 dives into the history of the two musicals and runs through how each version adapts the infamous...
“There's a lot of Gossip Girl in AMADEUS…” The National Theatre just streamed their recent production of AMADEUS, so Matt brought back his close friend (and fellow nerd) Ali Gordon to talk about their deep love for the brilliant play and its even better Oscar-winning film adaptation. The two also discuss film editing that f*cks in the movie, how history's perception makes us see art and the Mozart aria that is SO fierce, even people who hate classical music HAVE to snap their fingers in apprecia...
"Dancing and singing at the same time is really hard." The Broadway Gal Pal with a voice like velvet Lauren Nicole Chapman (FROZEN, KINKY BOOTS) joins the Breakdown to discuss her obsession with SWEET CHARITY. Specifically the 2005 revival w/ Christina Applegate, but also the show in general. She and Matt also discuss their days doing shows together in college, the stress of out-of-town tryouts, and how an open call landed Lauren on Broadway! Get into it, Big Spender! WHILE YOU LISTEN: EMAIL Att...
"HAMILTON is aspiring for us to do exactly what we're doing right now." The hottest ticket on Broadway is in your living room! Matt is joined by his lovely friend Andrew to discuss their love and appreciation for the juggernaut musical HAMILTON, and touch on the difficulties of filming a stage show, Broadway's uneven relationship with race and why representation matters. WHILE YOU LISTEN: EMAIL these three men to demand justice for Breonna Taylor's Murder (Attorney General Daniel Cameron attorne...
"Every single line I could pull out and deconstruct." Broadway Nice Guy Charlie Franklin (TINA, BOOK OF MORMON, BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY) stops by the Breakdown to discuss his obsession with the time travel divorce epic THE LAST 5 YEARS. Together, Matt and Charlie discuss relating to characters, how a performance can completely change a song's presentation, and why the musical is similar to THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.
"It's so different when you're doing a show that you can relate to in such a deep, deep, deep way." Broadway powerhouse Antoine L. Smith (CAROUSEL, MISS SAIGON, THE COLOR PURPLE) comes on the Breakdown discuss with Matt his obsession with the Broadway revival of THE COLOR PURPLE. Having been in the production, Antoine shares the show’s creative process, why the 80’s movie version received backlash, and the distinctions between each award-winning actress who played Shug Avery. WHILE YOU LISTEN: T...
JOHN'S BACK!! Yay...? Matt and John discuss how a bold production brings out the sexual toxicity of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, what you should NEVER compare Broadway Bootlegs to, and how to celebrate birthdays in quarantine. WHILE YOU'RE LISTENING: Take the time to visit bailproject.org, naacp.org, and reclaimtheblock.org and donate. These organizations (and many more) need your attention and support. Stay Safe!
"These girls are heroes and you're rooting for all 10 of them the whole time." Comedian and Professional Gay Tim Murray stops by the pod to discuss his obsession with the 2008 MTV reality show THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT ELLE WOODS, which followed the casting for the new lead in LEGALLY BLONDE on Broadway. Having just hosted a Zoom reunion with the final contestants, Tim discusses with Matt revelations he learned from the reunion, plus getting cursed out by Leslie Kritzer and the stigma of wanting i...
"MEET ME IN ST LOUIS was the foreplay that lead to Liza Minnelli." Tony Award nominee Grey Henson (MEAN GIRLS, THE BOOK OF MORMON) comes onto the Breakdown to discuss his obsession with the 1944 Judy Garland classic MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. Matt and Grey *also* discuss the facets to queer conversations, the magnetism of vulnerability, and why Tammy Blanchard made a 100 Judy Garland impersonators quit drag (probably).
"You are to show stops what Taylor Swift is to boyfriends." Perpetual juvenile Daniel Quadrino (NEWSIES, WICKED, BYE BYE BIRDIE) stops by the Breakdown just 'cause sometimes you need to gab! Some of the many topics he and Matt discuss are on-stage mishaps, when fans cross boundaries and the gender bent role of Daniel's dreams. Snap INTO it, Henny!
"I'm a sucker for a good comedic song done well." Gabe Gibbs (BOOK OF MORMON and creator of the podcast MUSICALS THAT NEVER MADE IT) stops by the Breakdown to discuss his obsession with the only musical that has onstage commentary THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. However, Gabe's never actually SEEN it! Together, Matt and Gabe discuss if someone can be obsessed with a show if they're not sure what it's about, why DROWSY has aged well but THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE has not, and Matt being dumped by someone aft...
