Broadway Breakdown

"I'm wild again, beguiled again..." WE BACK and with a whole new series! Starting off with PAL JOEY: the classy Rodgers/Hart musical that made Broadway go "...this character's kind of a dick, right?" New guest Ben RImalower (PATTI ISSUES, CAST OFFS) joins the Breakdown to discuss subtly sexy lyrics, Ben's obsession with Patti, and the origin of the word "Stereotype." ZIP, BABY! Learn more about yo...

"Welcome to our house on Maple Avenue..." It's the END of TESORI HOUR! And we're closing out with a big one...FUN HOME! The show that gets Jeanine her much deserved Tony and an official placement in the Broadway firmament. Composer Julia Meinwald (PREGNANCY PACT) comes by the Breakdown to discuss with Matt this exceptional work of musical theatre. The two also discuss the importance of finding the...

"I am on my way..." Who doesn't want to look like a million different movie stars? It's VIOLET everyone! Writer Eli Cohen (THE CHOSEN ONE) stops by the Breakdown to discuss with Matt the musical that should've launched Jeanine Tesori into the Broadway stratosphere, but took 17 years to finally make it. The two also discuss crying in the theatre, parents, and how Matt intends to troll the Marvel fa...

"I've always been a morning person..." It's big, it's green, it's gassy...it's SHREK! We continue Tesori Hour with Jeanine's biggest, crassest musical yet with frequent collaborator David Lindsay-Abaire. Musical theatre writer Timothy Huang (AMERICAN MORNING, THE VIEW FROM HERE) stops by the Breakdown to talk with Matt about finding love through flatulence, knowing what kind of show you are, and t...

"There is only underwater..." It wouldn't be Breakdown without some twists and turns! Acclaimed playwright and journalist Marcus Scott (TUMBLEWEED, CHERRY BOMB, FIDELIO at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) stops by the Breakdown to discuss one of the dramatic masterpieces of the 21st Century: CAROLINE, OR CHANGE. However, due to timing, Marcus is only available for 2/3 of the episode, so Matt has to...

"Only in New York..." WELCOME BACK!!!! It's a brand new year and we got a brand new series: TESORI HOUR, covering the 5 Broadway musicals of Tony winning composer Jeanine Tesori. First up: THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Writer Jessie Field (Charlotte Lucas is 27 and Not Dead) joins the Breakdown to discuss with Matt the zany 20's comedy that's also Jeanine's Broadway musical theatre debut. The two also...

"History's about to get overthrown..." Divorced, beheaded, LIVE!! It's the final episode of The British Invasion and we're covering the most recent British import to dominated Broadway: SIX. Katie Johantgen (@katiejoyofosho) joins the Breakdown to discuss with Matt all things Tudors, marriage, and pop music! Plus, Matt's final ranking of the covered British shows and an announcement for the next s...

"We are REVOLTING!" It's Loud, it's Quiet, it's Naughty, it's the Smell of Rebellion...it's MATILDA! The musical critics loved and American audiences...didn't really. Fellow podcaster Marc Tumminelli (LITTLE ME) comes on the Breakdown to talk with Matt about the British antidote to ANNIE. The two also talk about the downside of falling in love with a show through a cast recording, having too many...

"Like electricity..." Boys doing Ballet?! What's next, a British musical coming to Broadway and winning 10 Tony Awards? Yes ma''am because this week it's BILLY ELLIOT! Original cast member and one part of the Broadway Husbands Stephen Hanna (BILLY ELLIOT, HELLO DOLLY, ON THE TOWN) visits the Breakdown to discuss with Matt all things dancing, dead mums, and Thatcherism. The two also discuss the wei...

"What have we learned this week...?" Things get pensive and classy get this week with the Tony-winning hit THE HISTORY BOYS. Podcast alum James Crichton (UNKNOWN SOLDIER, ACTORS: ON PROCESS) returns to the Breakdown to discuss with Matt the '06 super-smash. The two also discuss the difference between being "intelligent" and being "clever," the purpose of Broadway Breakdown, and why gaining knowled...

"I don't wanna talk..." Spangles, jumpsuits and long-lost fathers...it's MAMMA MIA, henny! Casting director Kate Lumpkin comes aboard the Breakdown to discuss with Matt the jukebox musical that made ABBA cool again and Meryl Streep an international movie star! The two also discuss the power of being at the right place at the right time, gender norms and the power of owning your sexual past. DOES Y...

"Eternal youth is worth a little suffering..." It's big, it's bold, it's BACK! The British Invasion comes to a crashing halt with the landing of the Desmond Mansion, bankrupting a billion dollar production company and causing multiple leading ladies to claw at Andrew Lloyd Webber's throat. That's right...it's SUNSET BOULEVARD. Friend of the Pod Justin Mendoza (BOOK OF MORMON, WICKED) comes back to...

"Did you hear the story of the Johnstone twins...?" It ran for over 20 years on the West End...and for 2 on Broadway. It's about class, murder, and...Marilyn Monroe? Just roll with it! Fellow podcaster Kyle Marshall (PUTTING IT TOGETHER) joins the Breakdown to talk about the British sensation that barely made a blip across the pond. The two also discuss overusing similes, avoiding your fate, and t...

"Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world..." It's the longest running Broadway production. The ultimate "Mask4Mask" musical. The show that's kept classic sopranos employed for over 30 years. It's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA! That's right: the most enduring Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is here to be discussed and debated. Long-time friend Sofia Christensen joins the Breakdown to talk with Matt...

"Do you hear the people sing?" C'est le gros chien: LES MISÉRABLES! Aka LES MIZ! The epic 3 hour pop-opera is given the epic Breakdown treatment with the grand return of our dearly loved Sutton Lee Seymour(@suttonleeseymour)!! Matt and Sutton get Parisian as they discuss the worldwide phenomenon and its impact on theatre kids everywhere. The two also discuss ruining your life over carbs, that time...

"The sun has got his hat on!" It's the revival NO ONE saw coming! Yes, we're talking about the smash musical comedy ME AND MY GIRL! Fellow Broadway podcasters Kristina Miller-Weston and Bobby Traversa (MY FAVORITE FLOP) come on the Breakdown to discuss the 30's West End musical that found a second, richer life in the 1980's and went up against some major heavyweights! The three also discuss the we...

"All these DOORS!" It's a gut-busting, pants-dropping, door-slamming night at the theatre! It has violence! It has alcohol! It has SARDINES! We're talking about the all-time classic farce NOISES OFF! Breakdown Friend Adam Elsberry (@adamels) returns to discuss with Matt the joys of British comedy, censorship on the London stage, and the kitty cat joke that's almost too risque for television. Join...

"Jellicles can and Jellicles do." You know it, you hate it, you love it, you secretly know at least two songs from it...it's CATS! Good friend and Sastress Amanda Lee Hawkins (@imamandahawkins) comes on the Breakdown to explore with Matt this feline fever dream that somehow ran for decades around the world. The two also discuss how horniness overrides most emotions, the song in CATS that no one ex...

"What's On?" If we're talking British imports, then we gotta talk about the West End's ultimate incubator for Broadway transfers: The Royal National Theatre!! Specifically, 4 BIG, IMPORTANT, SEXY PLAYS from the National. Breakdown Regular Ali Gordon (@msalicenutting) helps Matt tackle the first National play to come to Broadway(ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD), the first to become a sensation...

"What's new, Buenos Aires?" Things are HEATING UP with the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice Belt-A-Thon...EVITA! Even though the sung through "rock opera" is the team's follow up to their controversial SUPERSTAR, EVITA truly marks the team's arrival on the theatre scene...and their invasion of Broadway. Guest and Patti Lupone impressionist Jonathan Hoover (@inappropriatepatti ) joins Matt to discuss t...

"Please Sir, I want some more..." Welcome to the NEWEST series on Broadway Breakdown: The British Invasion, covering imports from the West End to our beloved Broadway! First up: OLIVER! Exclamation Point! The British Wave didn't start with this adaptation from the Charles Dickens novel, but it sure got its momentum from it. Guest Margaret Hall (GEMIGNANI) comes on to discuss with Matt the dark fam...

"Look at it, LOOK AT IT!" Guest/Alum of the Pod Jimmy Larkin (@letshearitforthechoice) closes out the Sondheim Series with ROAD SHOW(aka BOUNCE, aka WISE GUYS)! The two discuss why it took almost 20 years for the show to make it to NYC, lawsuits, and why writing a musical about incest may NOT be a great idea Plus! Matt reveals his official ranking of all the Sondheim musicals AND an announcement o...

IN THE HEIGHTS came out in theaters this week! What did Matt think? More importantly what did our resident movie musical critic, Matt's Mom, think?! Can a light entertainment be deep? Is it possible to have TOO many good ideas? And how are we all misusing hyperboles? FIND OUT! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this...

"Brek-kek-kek-kek!" Stephen Sondheim, Susan Stroman, and Nathan Lane...how could it lose? Well, we're gonna find out EXACTLY how. Breakdown Legend Ali Gordon comes aboard the River Styx to discuss with Matt the last new Sondheim score to hit Broadway...THE FROGS! And Ali is our Frogs expert because the bitch has actually SEEN the damn show! What a treat! The two discuss their time at theatre camp,...

"Everybody's got the right to be happy..." It took 13 years... but it got to Broadway and won some Tonys, to boot! That's right. We're talking ASSASSINS! This week, Matt is joined by musical artist Erin Markey to discuss the political-LSD-vaudeville and all the hang ups that go with it. The two also discuss Erin's experience performing as Squeaky Fromme at City Center, the importance of wigs, and...