Half Hour with Jeff & Richie (Post-Show Broadway Discussions and Interviews)

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we take a closer look at the upcoming Spring 2026 Broadway season, highlighting new productions, high-profile revivals, and the casting announcements shaping the conversation. We discuss Daniel Radcliffe leading Every Brilliant Thing at the Hudson Theatre, Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf returning in Death of a Salesman at the Winter Garden, and the Broadway arrival...

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we take a deeper dive into the New York City Center Encores! production of High Spirits, the 1964 musical adaptation of Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit with music and lyrics by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray. We explore how the book, score, and central conceit of a haunted marriage land with contemporary audiences, and how this revival frames the piece within Encores!’s m...

In this episode of Half Hour, we discuss the Off-Broadway world premiere of The Monsters, written and directed by Ngozi Anyanwu and presented by Manhattan Theatre Club at New York City Center’s Stage II. We walk through the play’s premise, following Lil as she turns up at the door of her older brother Big, a local MMA fighter, and how their long-delayed reunion becomes a reckoning with old wounds,...

In this episode of Half Hour, we take a deeper dive into the new Broadway revival of CHESS at the Imperial Theatre, examining how the latest book rewrites and the use of a narrator reshape the show’s Cold War love triangle. We look at how the score by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Tim Rice now sits alongside the revised scenes, asking whether the music and storytelling finally feel in sync....

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we take a closer look at the Manhattan Theatre Club production of Bug at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Tracy Letts’ psychological thriller about loneliness, paranoia, and conspiracy thinking. We break down how the plot unfolds in a single motel room, how David Cromer’s direction shapes the tension, and why the story feels especially pointed in today’s political cl...

In this episode of Half Hour, we take a deeper dive into the Broadway production of Marjorie Prime, written by Jordan Harrison and directed by Anne Kauffman at Second Stage Theater’s Hayes Theater. We break down the play’s near-future look at artificial intelligence, how we tell and revise family stories, and what the piece suggests about grief, legacy, and the afterlife. We also discuss what’s wo...

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we look back at the 2025 Broadway and Off-Broadway year, from new works like John Proctor Is the Villain and Buena Vista Social Club to other standout plays and musicals that stayed with us. We revisit memorable actor performances, reflect on the most talked-about Tony Awards moments, and share how listener support helped the show double its audience from 2024 to 20...

In this episode of Half Hour, we unpack Masquerade, the immersive revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera now running in New York City. We break down the concept of the experience, how the story is structured and guided through multiple spaces, and the way the production uses intimacy to bring audiences inside the Paris Opera House. We discuss the interaction between cast and aud...

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we take a deeper dive into the 2025 Off-Broadway revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at New World Stages, directed by Danny Mefford. We unpack the show’s evolution from its original improv-driven concept into a more traditional musical, and how that history informs the current production. We break down the staging and scenic design, the interactive...

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we take a deeper dive into the 2025 Off-Broadway production of A Christmas Carol at Perelman Performing Arts Center, adapted by Jack Thorne and staged by Matthew Warchus and Thomas Caruso. Drawing on our experience with the 2019 Broadway run, we break down how the story, structure, and use of traditional Christmas carols land in this new in-the-round configuration....

In this episode of Half Hour, we take a deeper dive into the 2025 Broadway production of Oedipus at Studio 54, directed by Robert Icke and starring Mark Strong and Lesley Manville. We break down the plot and concept, looking at how the production reframes Sophocles’ tragedy as an election-night political drama and what that does to the story’s sense of inevitability and fate. The conversation cove...

In this episode of Half Hour, we take a closer look at Messy White Gays, the new Off-Broadway play by Drew Droege, directed by Mike Donahue, and set in a Hell’s Kitchen apartment on a disastrous Sunday morning. We unpack the plot and concept, from the premise of Brecken and Caden hiding their throuple mate’s body in a credenza to the show’s use of satire, farce, and niche queer comedy. We also dis...

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we take a deeper dive into the Broadway musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), now playing at the Longacre Theatre. We unpack the show’s rom-com structure, how the title frames the central journey across New York, and where the book and concept land for us. We also examine the contemporary score by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, the production’s direction...

In this episode of "Half Hour", we break down Wicked: For Good, from the expanded plot and character arcs to the performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande under Jon M. Chu’s direction, and how part two of the film plays against the first installment and audience expectations. We also react to the closing announcement for The Queen of Versailles at the St. James Theatre, examining what may ha...

In this episode of “Half Hour,” we take a sharper look at the new Broadway musical The Queen of Versailles at the St. James Theatre, tracing Jackie and David Siegel’s rise, their unfinished Orlando mega-mansion, and the show’s transformation of Lauren Greenfield’s documentary into a full-scale musical. We dig into Stephen Schwartz’s score, Lindsey Ferrentino’s book, and Michael Arden’s staging, as...

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we take a closer look at Meet the Cartozians, Talene Monahon’s new play at Second Stage Theater’s Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center. We trace the dual timelines, from an Armenian American family fighting for legal recognition in the 1920s to a present‑day descendant navigating reality‑TV fame and social media, and how the play uses that str...

In this episode of Half Hour, Jeff and Richie take a close look at the 2025 Broadway revival of Ragtime at Lincoln Center Theater’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, with Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, Brandon Uranowitz, and Colin Donnell leading the cast. They compare Lear deBessonet’s Broadway staging to the earlier New York City Center presentation, weighing the strength of the performances, the impact of...

In this episode of “Half Hour”, the conversation covers dynamic ways to promote school theater, including Brewster High School’s viral TikTok show announcements and the power of student participation. We discuss the early closing of Rob Lake’s Magic with special guests The Muppet, Caissie Levy’s exit from The Lost Boys, and the latest Broadway grosses for the week ending November 9th.  Follow and...

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we cover Liberation at the James Earl Jones Theatre. Bess Wohl’s new play captures complex power dynamics and contemporary questions about equality, anchored by an ensemble cast and Whitney White’s direction. We dig into the production’s treatment of solidarity, feminism, and generational change, examining how moments of vulnerability emerge as agents for progress. ...

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we break down the 2025 City Center Encores revival of Bat Boy: The Musical. The discussion covers creative staging, the cast's performances, standout performances by Kerry Butler and Taylor Trensch, and musical updates that define the production. We reflect on Bat Boy’s continued relevance, its humor, and how the show balances transformation, talent, and energy.  Fo...

In this episode of Half Hour with Jeff & Richie, we share our post-show thoughts on Romy & Michele: The Musical at Stage 42. Laura Bell Bundy and Kara Lindsay lead the cast and bring strong comedic timing, but as we discuss, the show’s energy is often driven more by nostalgia and visual flair than by its score. There’s no shortage of inventive staging or vibrant costumes. Yet, industry reviews and...

In this episode of “Half Hour”, we review the 2025 Broadway revival of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot at the Hudson Theatre. The production features Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, with direction by Jamie Lloyd. We discuss our initial impressions, the impact of casting choices, and the audience’s response. Topics include stunt casting, design details, the play’s themes of waiting and existential...

In this episode of Half Hour with Jeff & Richie, we explore Little Bear Ridge Road, the new Broadway play by Samuel D. Hunter at the Booth Theatre. Featuring Laurie Metcalf and Micah Stock, directed by Joe Mantello, the story follows an aunt and nephew as they navigate family ties, the influence of media, and what it means to be stuck in life. We examine key design choices, notable performances, a...

In this episode of Half Hour, we discuss the 2025 Broadway revival of Art at the Music Box Theatre. Starring Bobby Cannavale, Neil Patrick Harris, and James Corden. Yasmina Reza’s Tony-winning play returns with sharp performances and striking design. We explore the tension between friendship and perception at the heart of the story, and how this new production connects with audiences today.  Follo...

In this Theatre Chat episode of Half Hour with Jeff & Richie, we discuss Broadway’s upcoming revival of Cats: The Jellicle Ball, the stage adaptation of Schmigadoon, and our review of the new movie musical Kiss of the Spider Woman. We also track current Broadway grosses and examine how star casting continues to drive box office trends.  Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...