The Unauthorized Critics Circle

Rickatickatung! Co-hosts Joshua and Dan find themselves back in 50s (or is it 60s) New York daddy-o as they snap their way into the turf of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story picture. Guns are tossed and twinks are bruised buddy boy as our hosts touch upon ideographs, triple-threat Mike Faist, and some cold correspondence between Bernstein and Sondheim. Chung! Chung! Tune in to next week's episode...

Moonarooney! Co-hosts Joshua and Dan find themselves back in 50s (or is it 60s) New York daddy-o as they snap their way into the turf of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story picture. Guns are tossed and twinks are bruised buddy boy as our hosts touch upon Leonard Bernstein's anarchy, Tony Kushner’s socialism, and getting stuck with One Hand, One Heart. Chung! Chung! Tune right back in tomorrow to he...

After discovering a promising money-making opportunity over the radio, co-hosts Joshua and Dan reminisce about NBC's recent broadcast of Annie Live! As our co-hosts wait in line outside the Warbucks mansion, praying they're either very progressive or having a particularly bad eyesight day, our hosts pass the time touching upon the pending future of Encores!, Joshua teaching Dan about fan-fiction,...

Happy Birthday to us because today Joshua and Dan discuss Marilyn An American Fable! Many questions occur on our host's way to podcasting stardom, questions that must be asked. Questions include: how many composer/lyricists does it take to screw in a spotlight? Is Marilyn: An American Fable the Diana The Musical of the 80's? Why is the title Marilyn: An American Fable such a tongue twister? So ble...

Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood. Do not let it grieve you. No one leaves for good. 1930-2021

In one of the most egregious instances of absent foresight yet seen on the podcast, Dan lets Joshua dedicate an episode to one of his hyper-fixations and our hosts travel through Monty Python's Spamalot by way of coconut. Dan puts on his special listening earplugs as Joshua rambles on and on and on, and our hosts mull over such diverse elements as Eric Idle’s rocky past with Seussical, Mike Nichol...

You hear it? That mysterious ticking noise? No, that's not your upstairs neighbour learning a time step - Dan and Joshua have cued up Netflix's adaptation of tick, tick... BOOM! As Joshua rocks out to Larson's tunes and Dan buries himself deeper into existential dread, our hosts discuss our director's prodigal status, how Steven Levenson got his groove back, and what makes Jonathan Larson such a c...

Joshua and Dan redefine long journeys in this two part episode covering Titanic. Our hosts barrel through icy waters with their sharp opinions, jagged viewpoints, and cool demeanors. (We are now realizing that your hosts are in fact the iceberg in this podcasting ocean.) Grab a life jacket and climb aboard for one of the most contested episodes in the podcast's history. Lines will be drawn, all ma...

Joshua and Dan redefine long journeys in this two part episode covering Titanic. Our hosts barrel through icy waters with their sharp opinions, jagged viewpoints, and cool demeanors. (We are now realizing that your hosts are in fact the iceberg in this podcasting ocean.) Grab a life jacket and climb aboard for one of the most contested episodes in the podcast's history. Lines will be drawn, all ma...

Joshua and Dan, heartbroken upon learning this week's show is not in fact an autobiographical play about our hosts, watch Neil Simon's classic The Odd Couple anyway. Much like these characters, our hosts jab and prod away as they dreamcast their fantasy productions (including their own), Adele Dazeem-ify some names, and discuss how Neil Simon's plays hold up to a 21st century theatregoing audience...

Daniel and Joshua take a trip to Amsterdam in search of the Real Theatre. The journey is long and arduous, but they are in good hands as they are full of Stew. While in search for truth, conversation topics range from Rock musicals to sweat, from cameras to Colman Domingo. Come along on the search. Find your Real. Tune in to next week's episode when we discuss The Odd Couple; specifically, the Bro...

Hey, kid. You wanna make it big in the press? Stick around us, pal, and you'll hear all the secrets of the trade revealed in Broadway's take on Sweet Smell of Success. Dingy nightclubs, crooked cops and sleazy celebs are a common occurrence in this show's depiction of New York City, and our hosts are sure to take you under their wing as they gossip about the genius of Marvin Hamlisch, the temerity...

Hop on the boat and get your name change ready, on today's episode we're immigrating to the Broadway production of Rags! In what is somehow our most Jewish episode yet, we kvetch about a historic march on TKTS, the legend of Stratas, and Stephen Schwartz' hat box, while of course landing on the question - where did Rags go wrong? Tune in to next week's episode when we discuss Sweet Smell of Succes...

This week Joshua and Dan discuss the show that you’ve all watched with exactly the amount of enthusiasm you felt watching it. Our hosts put on a cuppa and sit down to discuss such important matters to the Crown as topics include who is the most maligned character, star wattage, and why one would record a pro-shot in previews. Thank god neither of our hosts married scorpios. Tune in to next week's...

Joshua and Dan find themselves hiding from creditors at the Minskoff Theatre, where a reclusive Betty Buckley welcomes our hosts to her home on Sunset Boulevard. After attending quite a strange funeral, our hosts get to discussing the Beauty of Buckley, the mundanity of repetition, and the rise and fall of showbiz icon Dippy Kavosh. If you wanna know the real facts... you've come to the right podc...

Yeah, we're doing it. Dan and Joshua's official review of Stephen Chbosky's film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen is as chaotic and turbulent as you are probably expecting it to be. Set your youth perm and tune in - we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording this one. Tune in to next week's episode when we discuss Sunset Boulevard; specifically, the Broadway production's performance...

The podcast gets all sexy pants as your two favorite Populist hosts take over the nation. While the legacy of Andrew Jackson hangs in the balance, topics of extensive important debate are the Rock Icon status of Carol Channing, the importance of responsible portrayals, camp in the frontier, and the dramaturgical significance of Cher! Tune in to next week's episode when we discuss Sunset Boulevard;...

Dan and Joshua spend A Weekend in the Country at the Armfeldt residence, living the lavish European life (liaisons and all) discussing Sondheim's 1973 triumph A Little Night Music. Despite the change of pace offered by director Trevor Nunn's re-envisioning our hosts still have much to go on about, such as Sondheim's use of triplicates, the oft under-appreciated importance of The Miller's Son, and...

Joshua worries about the future and Dan screws the gardener while we discuss Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women. Discussion topics are varied with the conversation billowing from the many phases of Glenda Jackson’s career to John Mantello’s historic Broadway debut. The ghost of Edward Albee looms large haunting our hosts as sides are taken, criticisms are thrown, and dreams are killed. Tune in! Tune...

Alternate title: 'Oopsies: Joshua Apologizes'. Tune in to the next episode when we discuss Three Tall Women; specifically, the Broadway production's performance in April 2018! Contact us: unccpodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @unccpodcast Instagram: @unccpodcast

Despite still recovering from the hangovers from the previous week's party, our hosts stop by the next door neighbour's place and attend Michael John LaChiusa's take on The Wild Party! Although they recognize a lot of familiar faces there also seems to be a different air to the room, which our hosts navigate as they ponder whether Fosse would attend a Wild Party, the intelligence of a Wolfe, and t...

Dan and Joshua are double-dipping the two musical versions of The Wild Party, first swinging by Off-Broadway to mingle among the guests at Andrew Lippa's take! Booze, belting and Bidina Menzel occur as our hosts share info about why we managed to gain two Wild Party adaptations weeks apart from each other, weight the pros and cons of a commitment to source material, and Dan showcases yet another u...

Joshua and Dan head to Atlantic City and you'll just never guess who is there! Hey Nanette, we just watched a show about you. Beth Leavel reacted to applause. Sandy Duncan gave off mischievous airs. Also, the musical has changed since we've seen you Nanette. Tune in to next week's episode when we discuss Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party; specifically, the Off-Broadway press reels recorded in 2000! Co...

On this bonus episode, Joshua and Dan take a journey to the South Pacific to visit some of their favorite dancing Sea men. Joshua realizes the power of Rodgers & Hammerstein. Dan gets lost trying to find words for a favorite show. And the hosts both get sunburn from the glow of this shining jewel of a production. Grab your sunscreen and come on board. The Chichester Festival Theatre production...

It seemed a fairly ordinary night when cohosts Dan and Joshua, two variously-aged messy kids, left Frankenstein Place that late August evening to visit the Circle in the Square Theatre for the Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show. It's true, there were many topics touched upon on the drive over, such as the accumulation of expectations, Lea DeLaria's prowess, and the dangers of those who impe...