The BSB Podcast

Life seems full of What-ifs, which is something I think about constantly. Not in a way that I'm regretting the decisions I've made up to this moment, but looking more with a fascination of what could have been, if something small had been changed. I know I'm not alone in this, as the idea of what could be is enchanting to think about, since life could look vastly different because of a choice that...

BSB Insider sat down with writer, director, and performer Cece King to discuss her new original play, Redemption Song, premiering at The Broadwater Second Stage as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Set in rural Kentucky, the play follows Joe Malone, a gifted musician returning home after serving time in prison, as he attempts to reconnect with the family he left behind. Through emotionally dr...

I vividly remember reading the novel Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow in college. It was during an English course focused on the American Dream, with a series of books to show us what that really meant throughout the decades. I'm sure plenty of us grew up with the promise that we'd graduate from school, get a job, have a family, and that damn picket fence. This was the idea that our parents were sold, and...

There are some musicals that stay with you long after the curtain closes, haunting you in the best way possible. The music floats in and out of your mind, the story playing in your head repeatedly. The message at the center sticks with you, prompting you to reflect both on the show itself and on what it says about the society you live in. Ragtime at the Lincoln Center is one of those stories that...

It's not every day that you get to see a classic in the theater world. No, I'm not talking about productions of The Sound of Music, West Side Story, or Oklahoma; I'm talking about those plays that have stood the test of time, even if they're rarely produced in today's theater landscape. Take Anton Chekhov, for example. A prolific Russian playwright whose works don't often make it to the stage. Or,...

Much like the rest of the world, we can't seem to stop talking about the Broadway sensation, Hamilton! This iconic musical tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, the American Revolution, and the impact he continues to have on this country. Blending traditional sets and costumes with hip-hop and rap, history (or at least a version of it) unfolds right in front of your eyes! This Lin-Manuel Miranda...

Who doesn't love a date with a brand new show, right? There's something about entering into a show that you know nothing about and being pleasantly surprised by what happens on stage. Here in this part of Michigan, we have so many incredibly talented individuals who are bringing remarkable pieces of art to life on and off the stage. Take Jim Territo, the mind behind the upcoming cabaret show, Be N...

History class rarely includes rap battles, dramatic dance numbers, or a crowd singing about tax policy, but Hamilton somehow makes all three wildly entertaining. Created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical takes the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton and turns it into a fast-paced Broadway phenomenon packed with hip-hop, humor, heartbreak, and enough lyrical speed to make subtitles feel ne...

As someone who began an outlet with my best friend because of our shared love of Broadway and Theatre, I understand the strength of the bonds we form over the course of our lives. Whether it be with family who prove that blood is thicker than water, or the chosen family we gather, there are some relationships that can't be broken, even when life tries to do so. It's a friendship like that that is...

If you're a theater nerd such as myself, and let's be honest, you probably are if you've found your way to this site, then you probably grew up on all the classic movie musicals. Between my mother and grandmother, I've seen most, if not all, of the classics that came on VHS. Each film felt so special that even to this day, when I hear one of the songs, I'm filled with so much nostalgia. That's jus...

Welcome to Gotta Dance! a new show that's a love letter to all the golden age of song and dance from both Broadway and Hollywood! With numbers from some of your favorite shows and films, such as A Chorus Line and West Side Story, this revue is jam-packed with impressive dance moves and that high-energy feel you'll be riding all night! We recently spoke with Gotta Dance! cast member Drew Minard abo...

A Little Night Music is basically what happens when wealthy, overly dramatic people spend a weekend making terrible romantic decisions in the Swedish countryside, but with incredible music and fancy clothes. This musical by Stephen Sondheim follows actresses, lawyers, husbands, wives, and lovers as they flirt, argue, scheme, and accidentally reveal far too much about themselves. Nearly everyone is...

In Hadestown, the band doesn’t sit beside the story; it is the story. Anaïs Mitchell (much like the fates with their tapestry) threads together folk, jazz, blues, and gospel until the music feels less like accompaniment and more like fate itself: seductive, restless, impossible to outrun. Every trombone growl and train-beat rhythm pulls Orpheus and Eurydice deeper underground, proving that in this...

If someone told you that a tragic Greek myth could feel like a smoky jazz concert, a labor protest, and a love story all at once, you might have been skeptical; however, the long-running Broadway musical Hadestown combines all that and more. This genre-defying musical takes the ancient tale of Orpheus and Eurydice and drops it into a gritty, industrial world where gods act like corporate bosses an...

Which classic musical films or Broadway shows did you grow up on? There are always at least a few that define us, theater lovers, sometimes becoming an integral part of our personality. To this day, I still watch The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer at least four times a year, because it fills me with so much joy, from the iconic songs to the impressive dance numbers. Well...

Million Dollar Quartet is what happens when four rock ’n’ roll legends accidentally turn a casual studio hangout into an iconic piece of music history. The musical, from Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, transports audiences to Sun Studio in the mid-1950's, where the epic one-night-only jam session featuring Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins changes the world forever. Thes...

Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train, was one of those novels that strapped readers in and refused to let them go until the final pages. It's one of those gripping psychological thrillers that pulls you into a world of memory, obsession, and deception; a story where you're never quite sure what's real or not. It's intense, twisty, and wild in the best way possible, which honestly makes it perfect...

Few musicals burst onto the stage with as much sparkle, swagger, and sheer life-force as Hello, Dolly! From the moment the curtain rises, it sweeps audiences into a world of bustling streets, brassy melodies, and one woman’s unstoppable charm. At its heart is Dolly Gallagher Levi, a matchmaker who can't help but meddle and is determined to reinvent herself. This time, she isn't just going to give...

If you're a theater nerd like me, there's a good chance that you cut your teeth on some of the most iconic movie musicals ever. I'm talking about The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews, West Side Story with Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno, and even Singin' in the Rain with Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. I would watch these films obsessively and would imitate the impressive dance moves all throughout...

As a child, did you love dinosaurs as so many of us did? I myself was a Barney kid, watching that series obsessively, and eventually worked my way up to the ultimate Dinosaur franchise ever to exist: Jurassic Park. There's something magical and downright terrifying about an amusement park filled with prehistoric creatures, which fascinates the mind and sends shivers down your spine. So, naturally,...

We all love a twisted tale, right? Stories like Wicked, which tell the events leading to The Wizard of Oz through the lens of the Wicked Witch of the West's experiences. There's something so magical to see a story that you've known your entire life differently, especially if we're gaining perspective from the supposed villain of the story. However, what if, instead of looking through a classic vil...

Have you ever wondered what life would be like for a shrimp about to enter their 30th year of life? I know what you're thinking: that's an oddly specific question, but it's one that lies in But They're Shrimp!!!, a new comedy from Katie Della Mora that is currently running at Planet Ant! This coming-of-age story is unlike anything you've ever seen before, yet it carries a universal message we can...

The roaring 20's have never felt so alive as they are in Broadway's The Great Gatsby! This new(ish) musical has brought F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel to the stage in a visually stunning tale of Jay Gatsby and his mission to win Daisy's heart. While everything may look dazzling on the surface, there's something darker brewing between the class system, and danger happens to be around every corner for...

 Stepping into the world of The Great Gatsby is entering a dream of lavish parties that never seem to end, at least that's how it seems on the surface. However, as you look a little deeper, it's a story of two worlds colliding: those born into money (old money) and those who made a name for themselves (new money). At the center is the mysterious figure of Jay Gatsby, the illusion of the American D...

It's not every day we get to speak with someone who not only wrote and directed a show but is also one of the stars, but that changed when Fletcher Michael signed on to Riverside to chat with us about their current production, Did You Charge Your Phone For the End of the World?. Presented by the Infinite Monkey Theater Company, Did You Charge Your Phone For the End of the World? made its premiere...