The BSB Podcast

What is the holiday season without classics such as A Christmas Carol? A haunting story about legacy and the power of kindness from the mind of Charles Dickens is one that people revisit every year, standing the test of time for a variety of reasons. However, have you ever wondered what it would be like to hear this chilling tale from the author himself? If so, then you're in luck, as Birmingham V...

The holiday season is steeped in tradition, with each person having a unique tradition their family follows to bring in good tidings and cheer. For some, it's watching a favorite Christmas film; for others, it's baking cookies with their grandmother, as they've done since they were young children, or cooking meals for and with their families. However, for those patrons of Meadow Brook Theatre, it'...

Not even the Wizard can lie about the impact that Wicked has had, not just on the theater world, but on pop culture altogether. While the Broadway show has always been a powerhouse, something incredible happened when part 1 arrived in theaters last year. The entire world was taken by storm, with the world of Oz becoming a household topic of conversation once again. With a story so dynamic, John M....

Are you already dreaming of a White Christmas? We know that Grosse Pointe Theatre has been, as they are currently in rehearsal for their upcoming production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas The Musical! This stage production of the 1954 Paramount Pictures film is perhaps the perfect way to ring in the holiday season, bringing the story that you know and love to life right in front of your eyes!...

For one night only, Mark Twain stepped onto the stage of The Fisher Theatre and regaled audiences with stories about his life and the state of the country, in what might be the most interesting piece of theater I have seen. While it may be Richard Thomas of The Waltons fame playing a character in this touring production of Mark Twain Tonight!, it feels like Twain himself has been resurrected and b...

Who doesn't love a good old-fashioned romantic comedy? As someone who grew up on the classics like 10 Things I Hate About You, Pretty Woman, and How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days, there's never a wrong time to flick on a rom-com and fall in love with love once again. There's something magical about a story like that, even when it's cheesy, that fills my heart and makes my soul sing. The creatives at th...

What would music sound like if not for quite a few musical icons that completely changed the game? It seems like every decade or so, someone rises in the world of music, shaping what music sounds like and leaving their mark not just on the industry but on the world. Voices like Tina Turner, for example, who revolutionized music, rocketing her to the aptly titled Queen of Rock' n' Roll! With a voic...

We're entering into the most wonderful time of the year as the holiday season is finally upon us! Time to break out the lights, prepare the cookie dough, and crank up the Christmas music, as the holiday magic is awakening around us. Now, if you're anything like my family, Christmas time also means an overwhelming amount of Hallmark holiday movies on our television, each one cheesier than the last....

When was the last time you attended an orchestra performance? Better question is: when was the last time you attended an orchestra performance beachfront while the sun was setting on a gorgeous estate? There was something magical about seeing the Michigan Philharmonic play Broadway hits at Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, MI, as a way to close out the summer. The Edsel and Ele...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the world would not be what it is without the work of William Shakespeare. The playwright not only wrote some of the most recognizable stage pieces, but also fundamentally changed how language was spoken. His words are important, which seems to be one of the threads that weaves its way through International Academy East High School's production of The Bo...

Disney has perfected their brand's magic across the board, and their stage productions are no exception. Stagecrafters is working hard to capture that magic with its current musical, Frozen, on stage at the Baldwin Theatre! That's right, the world of Arendelle has sprung to life on this local Royal Oak theatre, ready to entertain audiences of all ages! Having just crushed their opening weekend, we...

What is it like stepping back into the world (and works) of Dr. Seuss, after growing up reading them? It's surely an interesting experience, as we're able to explore books such as Horton Hears a Who, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Cat in the Hat through the lens of a young adult. Does the work still hold the same magic that it once did? If you ask the cast of Tread the Board Theatre's pro...

It's a race against time to return to the future....or to see Back To The Future: The Musical at The Detroit Opera House before it's gone! This touring production of the Broadway musical explores the classic Robert Zemeckis film through a new lens, adding song and dance to the story we all know and love. It's the music that brings us together today for this podcast...well, that and just about ever...

Where would the world of theatre be without the work of one William Shakespeare? A playwright whose prolific work changed the world in so many incredible ways. The impact he had on the English language is nothing short of exceptional, so much so that his work is still studied in high schools and universities as an essential part of the curriculum. The Detroit Mercy Theatre Company at the Universit...

The musical Chicago is the longest-running show currently still playing on Broadway, having captivated audiences for almost three decades. Telling the perhaps exaggerated real story of women imprisoned for crimes they may or may not have committed, Chicago has stood the test of time. While the show is rather ambitious, Pontiac Theatre IV is up for the challenge and ready to kick off its season wit...

It's about that time of year that we begin to reflect on what is most important in our lives. Something about the closing months of the calendar year makes people feel nostalgic for similar times and look towards those things that make us feel warm and fuzzy inside. For many, this is a time to gather with family and friends to celebrate another year around the sun together. Family and all its good...

If we choose to ignore history, we're doomed to repeat it. That's what has been ingrained in our heads from such a young age, and one of the most important reasons that history is taught in schools. The past serves as a reminder of the good and bad humans have gone through, and of what could happen if we allow similar patterns to recur. It's stories such as that of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl...

Back to the Future is celebrating a monumental occasion with its 40-year anniversary is upon us. For four decades (since the original film premiered in theaters), this Robert Zemeckis trilogy has entertained audiences with the perfect blend of comedy and science fiction. With quite the cult following, it was only a matter of time before a new adaptation or reboot made its way to the public, bringi...

It's not every day that my passion for theater and my love of all things nerdy collide, but in those rare moments that they do, it's something special. When I began my journey covering Broadway for The Cosmic Circus, I started marrying the two, which was difficult when there weren't many shows that met at that junction. However, what began with reviews of Wicked and Beetlejuice has grown into an a...

Beauty and the Beast kicked off Broadway in Detroit's most recent season at The Fisher Theatre, with a musical that brought the film to life! As life-long lovers of this story and the film from our childhood, it was nothing short of magical to see it play out before our eyes. However, how did Beauty and the Beast's music and technical aspects live up to our expectations? In this episode of the Box...

The original Back to the Future film is celebrating its 40th anniversary, a monumental occasion for a movie! It can only feel that much more special knowing that Back to the Future the Musical is flying its DeLorean onto the stage of the Detroit Opera House! We recently spoke with Alyssa Carol, a cast member from the show, about what it's like to travel back in time and step into this iconic story...

There's nothing quite like re-experiencing a film from your childhood in an entirely different way, pushing us to engage with the material through a different lens. As someone who has been a hardcore fan of Disney's animated film Beauty and the Beast, getting the chance to witness this tale as old as time on stage at The Fisher Theatre for the first time ever was nothing short of magical. Broadway...

One of the favorite aspects of theater, and truly the entertainment world as a whole, is the exploration of stories that often get overlooked. As a gay man, I'm constantly looking for stories that are created for and by the LGBTQ+ community. Seeing characters representative of me and my experiences is something that so many of us crave, as representation of any kind is incredibly important. We rec...

Actor Richard Thomas has been a major part of American entertainment for many years, from Broadway to television and movies. Some may know him as John-Boy from the CBS drama series The Waltons; however, in recent years, he's brought Atticus Finch to life in the touring production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Receiving acclaim for so much of his work, Thomas is now bringing an important part of theate...

What makes a Broadway show a classic? How exactly does a musical or play stand the test of time compared to others? The Golden Age of Broadway is filled with so many shows that have stood the test of time, coming back in revivals and local productions to much fanfare. Nicely Theatre Group understands the importance of shows from this Golden Age, bringing to their stage Fiddler on the Roof in all i...