Broadway Breakdown

Families are tough…especially ones with secrets. Matt reviews the revival of the Tony and Pulitzer nominated play Other Desert Cities. The starry revival is the hottest ticket in town…but is it the best?
Important Links:
* The Broadway Breakdown Green Room: Patreon
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown: Substack
* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube
Listener Questions:
* “Have you ever seen a show that you felt would be immediately improved if actors switched roles?”
* “What, in your opinion, makes a great director?”
* “Can we ever sit with family politics on stage again?”


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com

So much Off-Broadway. Such Theatre. Most Reviews. Matt delves into the Broadway-hopeful musical THE HEART, plus Mona Pirnot’s latest masterpiece I BECAME WE and a few other Off-Broadway productions he came across on his Drama Desk endeavors. Take a peek!
Important Links:
* The Broadway Breakdown Green Room: Patreon
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown: Substack
* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube
Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro
2:40 New Apple review
4:00 I Became We
12:14 Copperfield the Musical
15:36 Aftermath
20:39 The Hairy Ape
28:14 Good Time, Charlie
32:52 We’ll See
38:25 Degenerates
46:06 Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen
52:54 The Heart
Listener Questions:
* “What is the line between a play that’s pushing the envelope and just being tasteless?”
* “Does stage drama have to always be dynamic to be compelling?”
* “When have you watched a show and felt manipulated?”


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com

Spooky Sickness! Ghosts and Corsets! Wigs and Jump Scares! That’s right, we’re talking Moliere and haunted homes.
Matt reviews two plays that are scaring Broadway (in two very different ways): PARANORMAL ACTIVITY and THE IMAGINARY INVALID. Answering questions like: how do you instill fear into a 1200 seat house? Why do conflicting acting styles ruin comedy? Do actors make good directors? Find out!!
Important Links:
* Broadway Breakdown Green Room: Patreon
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown: Substack
* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube
Time Stamps:
00:55 Paranormal Activity
20:55 The Imaginary Invalid
Listener Questions:
“Is it possible to truly scare a Broadway audience for a full length play? When was the last time that happened?”
“Why do modern creatives have trouble translating Moliere?”
“What does it take to make centuries-old pieces succeed?”


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com

So. Mean. Such School. Much Girl.
Matt reviews the latest show at Manhattan Theatre Club: SCHOOL GIRLS or THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY. Spoiler alert: he absolutely loooved it. Matt goes into the brilliance of the performances, the magic of playwright Jocelyn Bioh’s writing, and what exactly he means by “how to use Patina Miller.”
Important Links:
* Broadway Breakdown Green Room: Patreon
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown: Substack
* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube
Listener Questions:
“Can a comedy also make a statement? Should they just try to entertain?”
“What is a character in theater who started hateful and ended sympathetic?”
“What role would you cast Patina Miller in?”


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com

One of the most likable men in theater reviews the latest show by one of the most likable men in Hollywood. And with the assistance of his grandmother! Matt saw BILLY CRYSTAL 860 and discusses the trickiness of being intimate without being revealing, the balancing act of pain and humor, and how Ben Vereen stole Robert Morse’s Tony (according to some). Get a kick out of Sally!
Important Links:
* Broadway Breakdown Green Room: Patreon
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown Substack
* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com