The BSB Podcast

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...

Having been to New York City quite a few times over the course of the past few years, we've seen quite a few Broadway shows, but there's a special place in our hearts for Suffs the Musical. The story spoke deeply to us, as the musical follows the life of Alice Paul and the other suffragists who fought for women's right to vote at a time when that was seen as radical. While it captures a moment in...

We've all had a celebrity crush before that defined our adolescence. For me, it was Zac Efron in his High School Musical era. I was a young boy who thought he was fooling everyone into thinking he was straight, and yet as I sat on my couch watching HSM for the first time, I was smitten. So in a way, we're all a little like Shelby in I'm Going to Marry You, Tobey Maguire, however, perhaps not to th...

Come From Away is a powerful musical that tells the true story of what happened in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, in the wake of one of the biggest American tragedies in recent years. When U.S. airspace was suddenly closed, 38 planes carrying nearly 7,000 passengers were diverted to this remote Canadian town, instantly doubling its population. What unfolds is a deeply human story about ki...

Come From Away explores the remarkable events that unfolded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A moment when the entire world stood still, leaving thousands of airline passengers stranded in this remote Canadian community. Disconnected from the lives that they've known, what could have been a moment of fear and uncertainty inst...

If you live your life by the motto, Hakuna Matata, you're in the right place, as we're diving back into our conversation about the North American touring production of The Lion King! That's right, we're continuing to explore this incredible Disney musical on its most recent stop at The Detroit Opera House! While we discussed the story and characters in part one, we're looking towards everything el...

Disney is known for its magic, and when it comes to its Broadway musicals, there's nothing quite like it. Over and over again, they've managed to capture their animated films perfectly on stage, perhaps none more so than The Lion King. This long-running musical has charmed families and theatergoers of all ages, bringing the Circle of Life to the stage in NYC and cities across North America. There'...

What do you get when you mix a small town from middle America with a charming con man? The Music Man, of course! Set in River City, Iowa, this classic Broadway musical follows Harold Hill, a smooth-talking fraud who convinces an entire town that their children urgently need a boys’ band, even though they really don't. His plan is simple: collect the money, skip town, and avoid questions like “what...

Who are the Radium Girls? That's an excellent question, and perhaps one we should all be asking ourselves, as the story of these women is not only powerful but essential to know, as it has shaped how some of our world's industries are run. During the early 1900's, women working in factories came into contact with radium by licking the tips of their paintbrushes, as instructed by their bosses. What...

While I'm a lover of horror films, there are some tropes that have been played to death (no pun intended). A dark and stormy night, a demon summoned from a forgotten tome, having to run and open a door while the killer is behind you. However, above all...why must the dog always die in these films?!? Yes, I get it, they are a symbol of everything good and right in the world, so the impact hits like...