Broadway Breakdown

Full Episode Here: The Broadway Breakdown Green Room

INTRODUCING! The debut of the Broadway Breakdown FANTASY DRAFT! It’s like Fantasy Football. Except without the pesky football. And without a cash prize. Just all of your opinions on what we picked.

Breakdown regulars Adam Elsberry (@adamels), Margaret Hall (@itsmargarethall), Rob W. Schneider (@robwschneider) and newcomer Steve Tipton (@stevetiptonnyc) all stop by the Green Room for a new Round Table. Drafting the Tony winners for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical!!! Who gets Patti in Gypsy? Did someone choose Mary Martin in South Pacific? And what of Diahann Carroll in No Strings or Barbara Harris in The Apple Tree? FIND OUT!!! .

Let us know YOUR Fantasy Draft Picks as well!

Categories:

One and Done (One nomination/One win. Nothing else)

Second Wins (Second win in THIS category, not overall)

Singularly Anointed (Only actress out of many to win for this role)

Contentious

Untouched/Iconic

Soap Box

Final Girl (The performance you just can’t NOT pick)

Matt is a fancy Drama Desk voter now, which means he has to see a LOT more shows! It’s quiet on Broadway right now, so Matt’s been seeing a whole bunch of Off-Broadway productions and he’s coming back early on the Breakdown to do a Summer Review Wrap Up! Followed up by a talk with Matt Rodin (@whoismattrodin) about his new site theater.games and how it’s combining fun and education for theater lovers everywhere!!!

Broadway Breakdown Links:

* The Broadway Breakdown Green Room (Patreon!)

* Broadway Breakdown: Discord

* Broadway Breakdown: Substack

* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube

02:32 - A Walk on the Moon

08:40 -An American Daughter

14:36 - Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo

22:47 - The Winter’s Tale

26:58 - The Circuit

28:28 - The Pass

32:55 - Disruption

36:06 - Are You Mad at Me?

38:53 - The Maids

42:05- The Saviors

46:24 - Birthright

52:50 - Talk w/ Matt Rodin

While you’re waiting for Broadway Breakdown to come back in full, enjoy this crossover bonus episode of Matt on the podcast Behind the Awards. Once again talking all things Fall Broadway!!!

New episodes will be coming again before you know it, but until that happens check into the Broadway Breakdown Green Room and submit your question’s for our first exclusive Q&A! Plus some other updates about how Matt’s Drama Desk voter-ship will effect the podcast.

Join the Green Room and Submit Your Questions Here!

Broadway Breakdown: Discord

It’s our first Patreon exclusive!!!! Take a listen and decide if you want to get inside the Broadway Breakdown Green Room:

Join Us Here!

Friends of the pod Robbie Rozelle (@divarobbie), Rachael Anderson and Will Anderson (@the_theater_lovers) have come along to compile a list (with some help of other Breakdown friends) of the top 50 opening numbers in musical theater history and rank them! It’s messy. It’s analytical. In short: what you’ve come to expect from Broadway Breakdown.

Welcome to the Green Room, kidz ;)

WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of mental health and su*cide. Caution before listening.

And with that, Matt’s Picks has come to a close with the final choice: NEXT TO NORMAL. Former guest Brian Nash (@brianjnash) returns to discuss the Tony/Pulitzer winning musical and many (though not nearly ALL) of its intricacies: mental health, complex relationship dynamics, and banging music. The two also discuss differences between the Broadway and London productions, fandoms, and how to perfect a Broadway diva imitation. Have a good August! @mattkoplik

JOIN THE PATREON!

Become a Company Member of The Broadway Breakdown Green Room for early episodes and exclusive content!

Important Links:

* Broadway Breakdown: Discord

* Broadway Breakdown: Substack

* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube

Listener Discussion Questions:

“How do you feel NEXT TO NORMAL handles mental health and treatment? What would you say is its attitude towards medication and therapy?”

“How would you describe the character of Gabe and is agency in the musical?”

“Does this show need danger in its performances in order to fully register with audiences?”

“It’s a new old world and we are FINALLY here!!”

After years of playing the overture for listeners, Matt is FINALLY getting the chance to do a deep dive on what--he believes--is the best musical theatre score of the 21st century: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. And who better to discuss this romantic, sumptuous show with than Guncle Adam Elsberry (@adamels) ?

Together, Matt and Adam discuss the show’s complicated storyline, casting woes, and why sometimes the more information we get, the worse it is. AIUTAMI!

AND! Join our new PATREON right here: The Broadway Breakdown Green Room !!!

Other Important Links:

* Broadway Breakdown Discord

* Broadway Breakdown: Substack

* Broadway Breakdown Youtube

Listener Discussion Questions:

“What is the difference between a sexual connection and a romantic one? Can. the two be confused?”

“Does PIAZZA create a contradictory concept of Clara’s mental capacity, or is it intentionally vague?”

“Do you find the ending-along with Margaret’s “Fable”-to be an optimistic or pessimistic finale?”

2 more weeks before we go dark for the month. And once you’ve finished listening to the news…GO TO OUR BRAND NEW PATREON!

* Broadway Breakdown PATREON LINK!!! WOOHOO!!!

Other Important Links:

* Broadway Breakdown Discord

* Broadway Breakdown: Substack

* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube

Listener Discussion Questions:

“What kind of content would you wanna see on the Patreon?”

“Will you be able to handle a full month of no Deep Dives and Reviews??”

“I’m coming to the cottage.”

Whether that line means something to or not, you should pay attention: HEATED RIVALRY is one of the best, if not THE best, new musical playing in New York. Smart, stupid, sexy, sassy, with a load of well crafted musical theater songs, Matt is taken aback by just how much he loves this tiny show than can.

Important Links:

* Broadway Breakdown Discord: Join the group!

* Broadway Breakdown Substack

* Broadway Breakdown Youtube!

Time Stamps:

* 0:00 – Introduction, Apple Podcast review, and episode setup

* 5:20 – Spoiler-free reaction: Why Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Parody Musical is an unexpected triumph and Matt’s overall recommendation

* 11:45 – Story breakdown: From the TV series and novels to the musical adaptation (spoiler discussion begins)

* 22:15 – Performances: Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jimin Moon, Ryann Redmond, Cherry Torres, Ryan Duncan, the ensemble, and standout comedic moments

* 29:45 – Writing: Dylan Marcaurele’s book, score, lyrics, adaptation choices, audience participation, and why the parody works beyond fan service

* 35:15 – Design: The McKittrick staging, Off-Broadway aesthetic, and why the production value fits the material

* 37:45 – Overall thoughts: Final recommendation and the future of the podcast

The 2025-2026 Broadway season may be over, but there are still lessons to learn as we plunge into the 2026-2027 season. And that’s why we have Sean Nyberg with us! Sean, a longtime fan of the Breakdown, makes his podcast debut to discuss his first season as a producer: what he’s learned, what he’s cherished, and what he and Matt both want listeners to consider as the new Broadway season comes round. Take a listen!

Important Links:

Broadway Breakdown: Discord

Broadway Breakdown: Substack

Broadway Breakdown: Youtube

Listener Questions:

“Do you think just because a show is successful elsewhere, it has to come to Broadway?”

“How else can producers set expectations for paying audiences during previews?”

“What do you think will be the big Broadway event of this upcoming season?”