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

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we look back at the 2025 Broadway and Off-Broadway year, from new works like John Proctor Is the Villain and Buena Vista Social Club to other standout plays and musicals that stayed with us. We revisit memorable actor performances, reflect on the most talked-about Tony Awards moments, and share how listener support helped the show double its audience from 2024 to 2025.

The conversation then turns to 2026, with a look at upcoming productions like Schmigadoon! at the Nederlander Theatre and Cats: The Jellicle Ball at the Broadhurst, as well as new titles and revivals that could shape the next season. We offer predictions, hopes, and a few wishes for where Broadway and Off-Broadway might be headed next, inviting listeners to weigh in on what they are most excited to see.

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In this episode of Half Hour, we unpack Masquerade, the immersive revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera now running in New York City. We break down the concept of the experience, how the story is structured and guided through multiple spaces, and the way the production uses intimacy to bring audiences inside the Paris Opera House.

We discuss the interaction between cast and audience, from guided movement through the building to moments of direct engagement with performers, as well as the sound, orchestrations, and how the familiar score lands in this new format. We also examine Diane Paulus’s direction, the scenic and lighting design by Scott Pask and Ben Stanton, Emilio Sosa’s costumes, and the special effects that define this large-scale immersive environment.

The conversation highlights individual performances by company members such as Clay Singer, Riley Noland, Betsy Morgan, Francisco Javier González, and Tia Karaplis, while reflecting on our experience navigating the show and what this staging suggests about the production's future. 

Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your thoughts on this production in the comments on Spotify, and let us know what you would like us to cover next. If you enjoy these post-show conversations, 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 the 2025 Off-Broadway revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at New World Stages, directed by Danny Mefford. We unpack the show’s evolution from its original improv-driven concept into a more traditional musical, and how that history informs the current production.

We break down the staging and scenic design, the interactive spelling bee format, and the ensemble work from a cast that includes Kevin McHale, Lilli Cooper, Jasmine Amy Rogers, Jason Kravits, Philippe Arroyo, Autumn Best, Leana Rae Concepcion, Justin Cooley, and Matt Manuel. We highlight standout moments, favorite songs, and how this revival balances updated humor with the heart and kindness that have made the musical a longtime favorite.

Richie also reflects on his own past experience performing in an alumni production of Spelling Bee and compares what he saw in 2005 to what is onstage now, noting what has changed and what remains essential to the piece. 

Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your thoughts on this production in the comments on Spotify, and let us know what you would like us to cover next. If you enjoy these post-show conversations, 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 the 2025 Off-Broadway production of A Christmas Carol at Perelman Performing Arts Center, adapted by Jack Thorne and staged by Matthew Warchus and Thomas Caruso. Drawing on our experience with the 2019 Broadway run, we break down how the story, structure, and use of traditional Christmas carols land in this new in-the-round configuration.

We examine the production’s immersive environment, Rob Howell’s scenic design, and the way the playing space reshapes audience engagement with Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey. Performances by Michael Cerveris, Julia Knitel, Crystal Lucas-Perry, and Nancy Opel are closely reviewed, along with standout scene work that underscores the company’s ensemble approach.

We also consider where this version of A Christmas Carol might go after its Off-Broadway run at PAC NYC, and how it fits into the growing landscape of immersive and family-focused holiday revivals. 

Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your thoughts on this production in the comments on Spotify, and let us know what you would like us to cover next. If you enjoy these post-show conversations, 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 the 2025 Broadway production of Oedipus at Studio 54, directed by Robert Icke and starring Mark Strong and Lesley Manville. We break down the plot and concept, looking at how the production reframes Sophocles’ tragedy as an election-night political drama and what that does to the story’s sense of inevitability and fate.

The conversation covers the direction and translation, the use of contemporary political language, and how the staging shapes the tension of the evening. We discuss the scene work, highlight standout moments from Strong and Manville, and consider whether modernizing a classic in this way clarifies or complicates its themes. We also speculate on where this production might go after its New York run and what it suggests about the future of updating Greek tragedy for Broadway audiences. 

Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your thoughts on this production in the comments on Spotify, and let us know what you would like us to cover next. If you enjoy these post-show conversations, follow Half Hour and leave a rating and review so more theater lovers can find the podcast.
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