Broadway Breakdown

"He has a story to tell..." It came to Broadway touted as the next ANGELS IN AMERICA. And yet...not every gay man was into it. Then it won the Tony...and some people still weren't into it. But does that make something "Problematic"?? Friend of the pod Robbie Rozelle comes back to the Breakdown to discuss THE INHERITANCE. Matt and Robbie spend an epic amount of time on this epic two-parter and conv...

"We all lead such elaborate lives..." It's sexy! It's dangerous! It's Disney! It's AIDA!!! Broadway music director Will Van Dyke (Pretty Woman, The Heart of Rock n Roll) comes on the Breakdown to discuss with Matt the first Broadway Disney musical "for adults." The two also discuss casting, fashion shows, and duty. TAKE ME IN!!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This...

"Thank you, baby. Thank you for listening..." Welcome back to Problematic(?)! And ooooh boy do we have a DOOZY! Alum of the pod, Marcus Scott, returns to discuss SLAVE PLAY. The show that angered, excited and confused many theatergoers. Matt and Marcus get into the weeds of SLAVE PLAY's 12 Tony nominations and 0 wins, what intimacy is, and whether your truth is *the* truth. Also AMERICAN FICTION....

Confident and Uninformed. That's the way to make predictions for Tony nominations THIS early. Breakdown alum Dylan MacDowell (DRAMA) returns to go through every possible candidate for this year's Tony Awards. And Matt spills some tea about exactly *what* Broadway thinks about some of its offerings... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This is a public episode. If you wo...

"This bird is singing..." Sally Mayes has been there and back and she can sing all about it to you! A Tony nominee for SHE LOVES ME with multiple awards under her belt, Sally stop by the pod to talk about her upcoming concert series (link for tix below), as well as how her Broadway debut as a swing lead to her winning a Theatre World Award, the 1994 Tonys, and naked actors getting reprimanded by p...

"Turn it off..." Hello! Our name is Broadway Breakdown. And we would like to share with you a Tony winning show. It has so many awesome parts. You simply won't believe how much this show has angered crowds. That's right...it's THE BOOK OF MORMON. The Broadway phenomenon from the creators of SOUTH PARK and AVENUE Q that swept the world, wowed critics...and has come back around for a reckoning from...

"The heat is on..." To cover a giant show with giant controversy...you need a giant episode. Yup: it's MISS SAIGON. James Seol (COME FROM AWAY, KPOP) makes his Breakdown debut to discuss the last of the British mega-musicals with Matt. The two discuss a LOT: a mutual belief that Chris is the show's villain, how Kim is actually a survivalist genius and how for a show with so much sex, MISS SAIGON m...

"What's your damage?" CONTENT WARNING: This episode covers a show that contains and discusses suicide, sexual assault, and mental illness. Please listen with caution. We're venturing back to Off-Broadway with the musical that launched a thousand nodes and a million TikTok accounts...we're talking HEATHERS, y'all. The musical based on the classic cult 80's film has a dedicated fanbase...and plenty...

"If I loved you..." Oh Boy. It's the one listeners of BREAKDOWN have been waiting for. It's Matt's favorite musical. It's perhaps the most famous "problematic" musical. That's right...it's CAROUSEL, BABY!! Theatre critic Juan A. Ramirez (Theatrely, The New York Times) joins the pod to discuss all things Rodgers and Hammerstein. Juan and Matt discuss the show's horniness, debate the merits of the 2...

"All we see is sky for forever..." STORY TIME! Due to reasons, Broadway Breakdown is covering DEAR EVAN HANSEN in two parts...with the second part coming sometime between now and later. Journalist and podcaster Ruthie Fierberg (Why We Theater) joins the Breakdown to lay out her reasonings as to why DEAR EVAN HANSEN is NOT problematic (with no question mark!) The two also discuss grief, depression,...

"I'll never fall in love again..." It's turkey lurkey TIME, people! Guncle of the Pod Adam Elsberry returns to talk about one of the hottest shows of the 1960's: PROMISES, PROMISES. Based on the Oscar-winning film THE APARTMENT, it's a show that got HAMILTON level reviews...and wasn't heard from again for a very long time. Matt and Adam discuss the difference between 1962 and 1968, being in love a...

"...you are a fundamentally evil person..." CONTENT WARNING: Before listening, be advised that this episode discusses a play that deals with troubling subject matter (primarily sexual abuse and suicide). The Breakdown is discussing perhaps the most complex and troubling play NYC has seen in years: DOWNSTATE, by Pulizter Prize winning playwright Bruce Norris (CLYBOURNE PARK). Joined by Etai Benson...

"Shall I tell you what I think of you...?" It's the first Rodgers and Hammerstein on Broadway Breakdown! And NOT the one you think! Corey Lubowich (Team Starkid) makes his Breakdown debut to discuss the much loved and much debated R&H classic THE KING AND I. Matt and Corey discuss the joint gumption and prejudice of the show's main characters, the sloppiness of Tuptim, and the Tesori/Hwang inverse...

"It's time to dance..." Welcome back to Broadway Breakdown!! And our new series Problematic(?) covering shows that at some point in their legacy have been met with controversy or backlash. Matt is joined by Breakdown legend Ali Gordon to talk about a lighthearted musical that somehow made a few people angry...THE PROM. And no, not because of the on-air kiss. The two discuss the show's tone, questi...

"But first: let's stretch." Before launching into our new season of "Problematic(?)" Broadway Breakdown returns with a warm up episode. Rob Schneider (Behind the Curtain) joins the pod to talk with Matt about the upcoming Broadway season, shows that are rumored to come in, Matt's thoughts on HELL'S KITCHEN and how sweetness is killing creativity. Let's DISH! New episodes of "Problematic (?)" begin...

"Are you *actually* calling Gloria Steinem a skank?" Hey Kids!! Broadway Breakdown isn't TOTALLY back yet. BUT! To tide you over: here's an amazing conversation with Tony nominee Heather Hach, book writer for LEGALLY BLONDE and co-screenwriter of the 2003 FREAKY FRIDAY. Matt and Heather discuss how Heather got into writing, the challenges of adapting a beloved movie into a musical, and Heather's n...

"You're in a tough chapter...but the book is long." Whoo boy. It's the big one. The play that we've been waiting for: SIGNIFICANT OTHER. Guncle of the Pod Adam Elsberry returns to dive deep into one of the most painfully personal plays Matt has ever witnessed. The two discuss the complex friendships between gay men and straight women, plus the magnificence of Gideon Glick's performance and unloadi...

"96,000..." Lights up on the Broadway debut of one of musical theatre's biggest names: Lin-Manuel Miranda. Yup, we're talking IN THE HEIGHTS baby!!!! After Matt *just* said he couldn't find anyone to cover this show, along comes Broadway's Philippe Arroyo (& JULIET, ALADDIN) swopping in and making an iconic episode with Matt. The two discuss Lin's score that's almost entirely "no skips," questions...

"Die, Vampire..." It's two guys on a podcast talking about a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical...it's a snake, it's a vortex, it's a Full Tilt Original Musical! It's TITLE OF SHOW! Social Media Icon Tyler Joseph Ellis stops by the Breakdown to discuss with Matt all things Theatre Nerdom, Gay Friendships and Full Throated Belting. Plus, Matt drags a whole bun...

"Life is pandemonium..." THE BIG MOVE IS BACK! With a brand new episode covering the musical that brought William Finn back to the Broadway and held the longest run at the Circle in the Square Theatre. That's right: SPELLING BEE! Broadway cast member Todd Buonopone (also CINDERELLA and GREASE) stop by the Breakdown to spill with Matt secrets from the Broadway production, how he got the job and wha...

"I want it that way..." A special treat for our Breakdown-ers!! & JULIET's Tony nominated orchestrator/arranger/music director Dominic Fallacaro stops by the pod to chat with Matt about the secrets and insights of Broadway's latest hit. The two also discuss Dominic's instant crash course on Broadway and the benefits of having time when creating. Take a listen!!! Learn more about your ad choices. V...

"For the mothers, the fathers, and the children of the world..." Surprise, Girlfriend!! It's a special episode! Matt gets to talk about his *other* favorite musical this season: TITANIQUE! Songstress and Celine lover Courtney Bassett (TITANIQUE, GREAT COMET) stops by the Breakdown to discuss with Matt the joys of performing the most ingeniously silly show in NYC as well as the tricks to being Celi...

And Just like That...Pudding Season was over. The Tonys happened!! And they...weren't a sh*t show?? Matt is tired, y'all but he's still gonna go through all of your Hot Takes (and some weird personal questions) about this year's Tony Awards. The winners, the performances, the DIVAS. It's a moment! And the moment is us. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BroadwayBreakdown Learn more about your ad cho...

"And the award goes to..." We're coming to the end of Pudding Season y'all!! Good Judy Jonathan Hoover (aka Inappropriate Patti) stops by to make some final Tony Award predictions with Matt. Matt also spills some tea after having attended the Drama Desk, Theatre World and Drama League Awards. Who's hot, who's tepid and who doesn't understand when to stop the running joke. Take a listen! For more M...

"It's an honor just to be ignored..." Friend of the pod and Network Ben Rimalower (Giants in the Sky) comes back to discuss with Matt their most egregious snubs in Tony history. Everyone knows two big ones for Matt...but there are a few that Matt and Ben disagree on!!!! Plus they discuss Forbidden Broadway, Patti Lupone's thoughts on women and which Tony nominated star left us too soon. JOIN IN! L...