The BSB Podcast

Turning a beloved cartoon into a Broadway spectacle may seem like an idea that should stay buried treasure at the bottom of the sea; however, The SpongeBob Musical somehow perfectly captures what makes the Nickelodeon series work, and gives audiences even more. Audiences are submerged...I mean, immersed in the brilliantly colorful work of Bikini Bottom, with a musical that highlights this universe...

When you think of the Broadway musical, Maybe Happy Ending, what immediately comes to mind? For some, it could possibly be the touching story of two helperbots finding love and companionship within each other as they journey to Jeju Island. However, if you're like me, one of the most striking aspects of Maybe Happy Ending is its incredible technological feats and impressive staging. The visuals ar...

What do you get when you combine a Helperbot 3 and a Helperbot 5? A slow-burning romance and a thrilling adventure in the form of the Tony Award-winning musical Maybe Happy Ending! Set in a science-fiction world not that far removed from the reality we live in, this musical explores the humanity that exists in all of us. Even if we aren't actually humans...The story of Maybe Happy Ending is rich w...

If you grew up in the early aughts, then there's a good chance you're familiar with the story of Legally Blonde. While Reese Witherspoon was already a movie star in her own right, this film shot her into the stratosphere, making her a household name and forever linking her with the color pink and plenty of sparkle. However, Legally Blonde took on another life when the fabulous magical arrived on t...

What's love, anyways, without a few Hallmark tropes thrown in, amirite? As someone who grew up on romantic comedies, the cheesier the romance, the better the investment. At least when it comes to films, that is. The Planet Ant Home Team is both paying homage to the genre while also pointing just a bit of fun at the pure ridiculousness of it with their current original comedy, How Romantique! We ha...

While I may have only been in fourth grade, the events of 9/11 will always be burned into my mind. That was a moment in American history that fundamentally changed the world, being one of the biggest tragedies of modern times. But out of the darkest of times can come beautiful things, such as the story of Gander, Newfoundland, which serves as the basis for Come From Away. Meadow Brook Theatre is b...

There are some roles and shows that are once-in-a-lifetime theatre experiences, and I think it's safe to say that Next to Normal falls squarely in that category. This musical explores some difficult topics, such as loss, grief, and mental illness, but provides some incredible roles and a stunning narrative that allows actors to showcase their talent. The Players Guild of Dearborn has brought Next...

Everyone has a story to tell, which is just one of the many reasons we should talk with family and friends, so that stories can live on. Memories hold so much power, as that is how people live on forever. While people may pass away, the impact they have on our lives and on the world in general never does. Liberation is a play that honors this, as the main character looks back on an integral moment...

This is a real circle-of-life moment for me, as someone who has been a lover and critic of Broadway and theater in general for quite some time, finally getting to see The Lion King on stage for the first time! I know what you're thinking: how have I been to New York City so many times and have yet to see this classic Broadway musical before? I've been wondering that for years, but finally the time...

There are some conversations that society tends to deem too sensitive or difficult to have, yet they are also among the most important to talk about, one of which is mental health. As a psychologist, it took me years of training to learn how to talk to people about their mental health, but for so many families, it can be a conversation that feels easier to ignore. This is why shows such as Next to...

According to Occam's razor, the simplest answer is most often the correct one, a phrase often repeated by the world's greatest detective. However, it doesn't seem like the mystery at the center of Avon Player's Holmes and Watson is exactly simple; instead, it makes the audience question what is true and what is a lie. With three different people claiming to be Sherlock Holmes, Watson has to figure...

What does home signal to each of us? For some, it's a destination. A physical place where we return after a long day and rest our heads. A dwelling that allows us to recharge with those we love. However, for others, it could indicate a return to our roots. Perhaps long forgotten, but the magnetic pull of where we come from. There are so many layers to just that one word, and Inspired Acting Compan...

I remember being in World History back in high school, and my teacher loved to repeat a single line after each topic: "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Now I know this is a variation of the famous line by Winston Churchill and wasn't something my teacher came up with; however, it has become ingrained in my head. This is one of the reasons that plays such as The Diary...

We count our blessings every day to be able to do what we do and share our passion with theater (and entertainment in general) with all of our readers and listeners, as it has truly been such a highlight of our lives. However, every once in a while, we still have one of those pinch-me moments as we continue on this journey with BSB Insider, as it's hard to believe what has become from such simple...

I remember reading S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders in school and being deeply moved by its core message. The importance of family, but not necessarily the family you were born into, but the friends who become part of your unit along the way. No matter the loss or the trials we go through, our family will be there for us, and together we can get through anything that happens. That strength remains in t...

There's nothing quite like all that jazz, and Broadway has consistently brought the heat since 1996, when Chicago made it's trimpuhant return to New York City. Having found a home at the Ambassador Theatre, Chicago has brought down the house night after night, with one of the most classic Broadway shows that you can still find in the Big Apple. So what is it about this show that keeps bringing peo...

Broadway's Chicago is truly all that jazz, and then some. Since its 1975 debut, this vaudeville-inspired musical has been winking at audiences while picking their pockets of sympathy, certainty, and any lingering faith in the justice system. In a show that turns murder into a media event and the courtroom into a cabaret, audiences are transported to a world as flashy as it is dark, reflective of t...

What would you be willing to risk for the truth? What a powerful question to think about, and for many of us, the answer might be just about anything. The White Rose plunges audiences into the story of two students who dared to defy one of history’s most brutal regimes. Inspired by the real-life resistance movement in Nazi Germany, the drama focuses on those who confront fear and doubt, and the te...

Are you ready for your next mission, agent? Should you choose to accept, we have the perfect assignment for you, one that, if done correctly, might just help us win the war! In your briefing, you'll find instructions to join in on our conversation about the music and stagecraft of this hilarious new Broadway musical, Operation Mincemeat! That's right, we're continuing our discussion of the Tony Aw...

I think it's safe to say that most people want to do good in this world. Growing up, my mother would always tell my siblings and me that one of our only goals in life was to "Do good, shut up, and go home," which ultimately meant we should aspire to do good for those around us and live a life we feel good about. Similar to a doctor's code of honor, she wanted us to do no harm and spread kindness,...

What's life without a little melodrama, amirite? Or I suppose I should be more specific...what is life without a little Southern melodrama in the form of a hilarious comedy? At least, that's what those over at Planet Ant are asking right now, as their production of As I Die and Wheeze! is currently playing in Ant Hall! While the cast and crew just celebrated their opening weekend, we had the pleas...

There are shows that are purely for entertainment, and then there are some that leave us feeling unsettled, like a current moving beneath still water. Kayak is one of those plays that leaves audiences deeply moved and introspective about the world they live in and the people they surround themselves with. As its title suggests, the play becomes a vessel carrying its characters across emotional wat...

So many plays ask big questions about love, identity, or ambition. However, What the Constitution Means to Me asks something even bigger: What does a document written in 1787 actually mean for people living right now? Perhaps this is a question we should ask ourselves more often, but we think about it far too little. Heidi Schreck's work answers this question, though it may be far more personal—an...

If the world of politics is a circus, then The Outsider by Paul Slade Smith is the main stage in the big tent! This fast-paced comedy throws audiences into the chaotic world of campaigning, where image is everything, and honesty is almost a liability.  With razor-sharp dialogue and perfectly timed farce, The Outsider pokes fun at media frenzy, political posturing, and the absurd mechanics of elect...

I've never ridden a train before in my life, unless you count the one at the Detroit Zoo, which seems like something everyone should do at least once in their life. However, if the train ride is anything like that in Murder on the Orient Express, I might think twice before stepping into the stagecoach. Stagecrafters' is bringing Ken Ludwig's adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel to their Main Stag...