The Unauthorized Critics Circle

Joshua and Dan go to the wood with Fiasco Theatre’s reimagined production of Into the Woods! Before the chime of the last midnight, our hosts discuss ranges of topics from how the show manages the pursuit of happiness to prophesying the inevitable Ivo van Hove production. Tune in to next week's episode when we discuss Dance of the Vampires; specifically, the Broadway production's Closing Night per...

Anyone Can Whistle but no one can make a short episode in this, our first two part episode at the UCC! Discussing both the 2012 Encores production and the 2005 Ravinia Festival production, we pit some of Broadway's greatest stars against each other comparing performances, production choices, and material omissions. A plethora of ideas pervade the show and our hosts as they discuss Mayoresses, Cook...

Anyone Can Whistle but no one can make a short episode in this, our first two part episode at the UCC! Discussing both the 2012 Encores production and the 2005 Ravinia Festival production, we pit some of Broadway's greatest stars against each other comparing performances, production choices, and material omissions. A plethora of ideas pervade the show and our hosts as they discuss Mayoresses, Cook...

Joshua and Dan find themselves at a rare critical crossroads discussing the Broadway production of Something Rotten. As our hosts duel their opinions of the Shakespeare-inspired musical, they go back and forth on the intentions of the show, the dangers of referential humour, and Dan introduces a new take on the pronunciation of "Christian Borle". Tune in to next week's first-ever two part episode...

Joshua and Dan, founding members of the Unauthorized Critics Circle, explore the magic of theatre through similarly unauthorized recordings of various shows.

Joshua and Dan strap themselves in for one of the most electrifying musicals to ever hit Broadway, with this week’s topic being a performance from the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls, recorded in December 1981. As they watch the turbulent journey set to Motown music, they discuss whether Dreamgirls is an American opera, the rise of the director/choreographer, and how religion ruined one of Br...

This week Joshua and Dan take an instructional Master Class on how to be a diva from La Hollywood Divina herself, Faye Dunaway. Topics include: reading at awards shows, vocal abilities and capricious acts, and the domination of great artists. Put away the wire hangers and get out your vocal scores of Tosca as Terrence McNally ensures his version of Maria Callas will never be forgotten. Tune in to...

If you need something to listen to while sailing, this episode's for you! Joshua and Dan tune in from the emergency room in this episode while watching the 2016 Encores! production of William Finn's A New Brain in its opening night performance. In case of any future craniotomies, here are the things we touch upon: Do frogs really have all that much spring within them? Does putting your hands on yo...

Joshua and Dan head back to high school to discuss the Off-Broadway teen cult classic Heathers the Musical. After watching the May 25th 2014 performance, much like the plot, chaos ensues as topics include responsible composing, an unexpected Tony winner, and how many lifeboats are needed to save us all in the wake of destruction? Grab your croquet mallet and prepare your most dangerous riff as the...

Joshua and Dan go around the rink the rink with the oft-forgotten but much beloved Kander and Ebb musical, The Rink. In this episode, while revisiting a 1984 performance with the Original Broadway Cast, discussion topics include: Chita Rivera, dance, and the meaning of life. Liza Minnelli takes a summer vacation. Jason Alexander tries out pilot season in LA. Is Mary Testa the true Forrest Gum...

Joshua and Dan visit a supper club in 19th century Russia to watch the Broadway production of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 in what Dan (and No One Else) calls an "immersive theatrical d'experiencé". At this performance, taking place on the November 16th 2016 show of its Broadway run, there's a standby going on out there somewhere, and Groban isn't here. As Moscow's on the brink of c...

Dan and Joshua visit the Bechdel Funeral Home with the original Broadway cast of Fun Home, reviewing its preview performance on March 29th 2015. Death, lesbians, and Michael Cerveris' wigs dominate their conversation as they dote upon the subtleties of the material; the fabulous performances; and the standard Annies set for tomorrow, the past, and today. Tune in to next week's episode when we disc...

Joshua and Dan travel to Argentina in their auspicious (long) debut episode. Step onto the Casa Rosada with them as they talk about the Los Angeles company of Evita, based on a particular performance from January of 1981. The myriad of topics: Why does this show hate the Bechdel test? Are Perón rallies the ultimate fire hazard? Scott Holmes - where is he? Tune in to next week's episode when we dis...