The BSB Podcast

The lights go down, the silence settles in, and somewhere inside Hill House, something is waiting. Shirley Jackson’s chilling tale comes alive onstage in The Haunting of Hill House, a theatrical experience where atmosphere can be as terrifying as the ghosts themselves. With its creaking corridors, unsettling shadows, psychological tension, and ever-growing sense of dread, the play transforms the t...

In theater, there are moments when the lights come up, and a story doesn’t simply unfold; it grabs you by the collar and asks you to look a little closer at what it means to be human. That is the space Human Things inhabits. Now playing Off-Broadway, the production dives into the messy, emotional, and often unpredictable territory of human connection, where vulnerability can be as powerful as any...

Love may be written in ink, but onstage, it comes alive in music, memory, and the passage of time. The Notebook takes a story already etched into popular culture and gives it a heartbeat of its own, turning the sweeping romance of Allie and Noah into an intimate, visually rich theatrical experience. The Notebook is arriving in Detroit as ATG Detroit's season opener, and we had the pleasure of spea...

Before Al Pacino brought Sonny Wortzik to the screen, before Dog Day Afternoon became one of cinema’s most unforgettable crime dramas, a real bank robbery in Brooklyn unfolded, and a story far stranger than anything Hollywood could have invented. In Dog's Day, author Matthew J. Prigge revisits the events of that infamous 1972 standoff, peeling back the layers of a crime that became a cultural phen...

Few musicals understand the assignment quite like MAMMA MIA! It arrives with ABBA hits blazing, sequins practically within arm’s reach, and enough infectious energy to make even the most dignified theatergoer consider dancing in their seat. But beneath the glitter, sunshine, and gloriously tangled romantic escapades is a remarkably well-crafted piece of musical theater, one that knows exactly when...

Broadway has seen plenty of stories about growing up, but few hit quite as hard as The Outsiders. This musical has a rawness that refuses to stay neatly inside the lines. It’s bruising, beautiful, rebellious, and unexpectedly tender, all at once. Set against the rough-and-tumble world of 1960s Tulsa, The Outsiders follows Ponyboy Curtis and his fellow Greasers as they navigate a world divided by c...

Forget the glittering castles and predictable fairy tales. Once on This Island finds its magic somewhere far more unexpected: on a tropical island, beneath a sky ruled by temperamental gods, where love can rival the forces of nature and a simple story can become something breathtaking. With its infectious Caribbean-inspired score, vibrant characters, and storytelling that feels almost as if it is...

In this episode of the BSB Insider Podcast, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko can't wait to discuss the story and characters of the most recent North American touring production of MAMMA MIA! There was something special about this production that they've never seen before, so what was it that stood out about this version of MAMMA MIA!? Whose acting knocked their socks off? Tune in to this e...

There are musicals that entertain you, musicals that move you, and then there’s Come From Away, the rare show that manages to do both while leaving you with an embarrassingly large smile on your face. After one of the darkest days in modern history, a small Newfoundland town opened its doors to thousands of strangers, and what happened next became a story about generosity, friendship, community, a...

What happens when a murder mystery goes spectacularly off the rails? If you’re watching The Play That Goes Wrong, the answer is simple: absolutely everything. With collapsing scenery, misplaced props, questionable detective work, and enough theatrical disasters to make any stage manager reach for a paper bag, this wildly entertaining comedy turns Murphy’s Law into a full-blown art form. At the cen...

60 years of providing quality theater to the Metro Detroit area is no easy feat, and Meadow Brook Theatre is celebrating the monumental occasion spectacularly, with an incredible season of shows! On this episode of the BSB Podcast, artistic director for the theater, Travis Walter, joins host Brian Kitson to break down what it means for both the theater itself and the community at large to celebrat...

What happens when Shakespeare’s most famous heroine decides she’s had quite enough of Romeo? In & Juliet, the answer comes with a killer pop playlist, dazzling choreography, and enough theatrical sparkle to make the Bard himself reach for a pair of sunglasses. Built around the infectious catalog of songwriter Max Martin, & Juliet takes the familiar tragedy of star-crossed lovers and gleefu...

In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Wickson and Mullaly share what it was about this show that made them want to be a part of Come From Away and what audiences can expect from this production! From the challenges of bringing the show to life to the honor of stepping into a real story like this one, these two stars break it all down! Find the video of this podcast on YouTube For more entertain...

In this episode of the BSB Podcast, host Brian Kitson is joined by a special guest, Kylie Wieand, who has been waiting not so patiently for her Romeo to arrive! And by Romeo, we mean for this Broadway musical to arrive in Detroit! Our guest has been so excited to see this story where Juliet isn’t waiting around for Romeo to figure things out. What about this show really stood out to these two? Lis...

In this episode of the BSB Podcast, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko explore what the music and stagecraft of the North American touring production of Kinky Boots add to the show. While the story itself has an easily digestible message of acceptance for all, how does that message speak visually on stage? From colorful costumes to the kinky boots the show is named after, and the music that...

In this episode of the BSB Podcast, hosts RJ Miller-Zelinko and Brian Kitson dive into the story to see what about this musical stands the test of time and what could use a serious upgrade. While the North American touring production of Kinky Boots is largely intact, some liberties have been taken to bring it into the new decade! Overall, does the story still work in the world we currently live in...

In this episode of the BSB Podcast, hosts RJ Miller-Zelinko and Brian Kitson are once again joined by fellow theater lover, Emily Brown, to continue their conversation about the North American Touring Production of The Outsiders! With music from Jamestown Revival that captures the vibes of Tulsa, 1967, do these songs work well with the story presented? What did they add to the overall feel of the...

In this episode of the BSB Podcast, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko are joined by fellow theater lover and honoree Box Seat Babe, Emily Brown! While the two hosts might have seen The Outsiders previously, Brown entered the show with a basic knowledge of what to expect from the Tony Award-winning musical! Having read the book in high school, how did the story transfer to the stage? Compara...

Whether he’s stepping onto the stage or taking on a new creative challenge, Ryan James Monroe brings an infectious energy and an unmistakable enthusiasm to his work. His connection to the legendary 54 Below adds another exciting chapter to his journey, giving him the opportunity to perform in one of New York City’s most celebrated spaces for musical theater and cabaret. It’s a setting where big pe...

In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Emmy-nominated Christopher Gomez discusses what he hoped to achieve sonically in season 2 of Beef. While it is connected in theme, Beef season two is vastly different from the first outing, with a story that needed its own identity. So where do you begin with a story such as this one? Gomez talks about the collaborative approach that the season began with,...

In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Luke Gibleon from Formosa Group talks about what it's like to bring a show such as Avatar: The Last Airbender to live action and how the animated show serves as the blueprint for much of the work he and his team do. Discover how each element came to have its own distinct sound, and how the journey of individual characters shapes the sonic imprint of those e...

We here at BSB Insider are beyond excited for the upcoming 2026-2027 Broadway in Detroit series from ATG Detroit! With a season that's promising glitz and glam, there's so much to appreciate about the six incredible shows coming as part of the main season, and even more to love about the bonus shows arriving in the 313! To share in that excitement, we're joined by ATG Detroit's Amber Rasho, who he...

In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Riley Chu talks about her history with Stagecrafters youth theater and what it's like to step off the stage and behind the scenes! What was her vision for The Wizard of Oz, and how did she and the other directors execute that vision? What pieces of the story did they really want to highlight? What stands out about this story to her? Check out this interview...

  In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Ricky Rojas discusses what it's like to continue returning to Moulin Rouge and how his journey with Santiago has changed since its inception. While using the film as a blueprint, Rojas chats about where he pulls inspiration from to bring Santiago to life on stage. What is it about this character that perhaps general audiences don't know? And if Santiago w...

I couldn't imagine making my Broadway debut at any point in my life, but there's something extra special and nerve-wracking to do so while still in high school. However, today's guest has made it look so easy with a professionalism that speaks to her incredible talent. Lillian Tang took East Lansing by storm with her performance from her high school production of Hello Girls, which won her the Sut...