Half Hour with Jeff & Richie (Post-Show Broadway Discussions and Interviews)

In this episode of "Half Hour," we take a deeper dive into the 2026 Broadway and Off-Broadway fall season, breaking down the plots, concepts, and productions behind the year's biggest new openings. We cover new plays like Downstate and Here There Are Blueberries, star revivals including Other Desert Cities, A Few Good Men, and Much Ado About Nothing, new musicals like Wanted and Galileo, and the wave of new Off-Broadway musicals opening this fall. We also flag which long-running Broadway hits are closing soon, so you know what to catch before it's gone.

Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your thoughts on what shows you are excited for in the Spotify comments, and let us know what you would like us to cover next. If you enjoy these discussions, follow Half Hour and leave a rating and review so more theater lovers can find the podcast.
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In this episode of "Half Hour," we take a deeper dive into Paranormal Activity, an original story by Levi Holloway now playing at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre. Directed by Felix Barrett and starring Cher Álvarez and Travis A. Knight as Lou and James, the play uses the film franchise as a launchpad rather than a retelling, building its scares through illusion work, sound design, and staging rather than found footage. We cover the plot, the twist ending, the performances, and the show's chances heading into Tony season.

Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠. Share your thoughts on this production in the Spotify comments, and let us know what you would like us to cover next. If you enjoy these post-show discussions, follow Half Hour and leave a rating and review so more theater lovers can find the podcast.
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What does a Broadway producer actually do? On this Spotlight Series episode of "Half Hour," we sit down with producer Sean Nyberg to find out, covering his shift from law into financing shows, the three-part test he uses before committing to a project, and why even a promising show can't guarantee a hit. We also get into the weekly costs of running a show on Broadway versus the West End, and where Sean thinks family entertainment and star-led theatre are heading next.

Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠YouTube⁠. If you enjoy these discussions, follow “Half Hour” and leave a rating and review so more theater lovers can find the podcast.
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In this episode of "Half Hour," we go deep on Paddington the Musical at the Savoy Theatre, tracing the story from Michael Bond's 1958 book through the film series to its current West End staging. We discuss the book, score, and the production's central design choice — one performer on stage, one voicing the bear — and what that adds to a story about belonging, family, and finding home. We spend time on the cast, including Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Bonnie Langford, Amy Ellen Richardson, Tom Edden, and Brenda Edwards, and on where the show could go next as it heads toward Broadway.

Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. Share your thoughts on this production in the Spotify comments, and let us know what you would like us to cover next. If you enjoy these post-show discussions, follow Half Hour and leave a rating and review so more theater lovers can find the podcast.
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In this Spotlight Series episode of “Half Hour,” we expand the conversation with Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell about his work on The Devil Wears Prada and the process of reimagining a familiar story for the West End stage.

Mitchell discusses joining the project, returning to Elton John’s early demos, and finding the emotional center of the musical through Andy Sachs’ journey. He also breaks down the work behind major stage moments, from transitions and act endings to the fashion-driven visual language of Paris and the Met Ball. The conversation includes his approach to casting Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly and the collaboration behind a production that brings together music, choreography, costumes, design, and storytelling.

We also speak with Mitchell about the future of The Devil Wears Prada, the development of Coyote Ugly, the national tour of BOOP! The Musical, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Broadway Bares, and his hopes for a future Legally Blonde revival.

Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Share your thoughts on this conversation in the Spotify comments: What part of Jerry Mitchell’s creative process stood out to you, and who would you like “Half Hour” to feature next? If you enjoy these discussions, follow “Half Hour” and leave a rating and review so more theater lovers can find the podcast.
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