It feels like Broadway is rediscovering the incredible work of Stephen Sondheim over the past few years, as one musical after another finds a home in New York City once again. From the gender-swapped Company and the more recent revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Sondheim's easily identifiable music and lyrics are being experienced by a new generation of theater lovers. This Broadway season sees the return of the classic Gypsy, a musical retelling of burlesque dancer Gypy Rose Lee's life, starring Audra McDonald and Joy Woods. Gypsy has that quintessential classical Broadway feel, however this revival features a few crucial changes that fundamentally shift the story in interesting ways for modern audiences. We caught Gypsy on our most recent trip to NYC and couldn't wait to share our thoughts!

In this episode of the Box Seat Babes podcast, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko discuss the story and characters that drive the narrative of this Broadway revival of Gypsy. Which storylines meant the most to both of them? Were there any characters that stood out amongst the rest? How well has Gypsy translated from early Stephen Sondheim to now? You can find all those answers and so much more in this episode of our podcast! You can catch Gypsy at the the Majestic Theatre, currently running through August, so get your tickets now and witness theatrical magic!

Hello! Do you have a minute to talk about our lord and savior, The Book of Mormon? No, not the actual book, but the wildly successful Broadway musical that has been a staple in the New York theatre scene since 2011! The Book of Mormon continues to delight audiences of all walks of life, with a satirical look at the power of religion and the community that stems from it. The national touring production recently stopped at The Fisher Theatre as the penultimate show of the 2024-2025 Broadway in Detroit season, bringing down the house with roarious laughter.

In this second episode of our The Book of Mormon discussion, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko move on from the story and characters to talk about their highlights from the music and technical side of the show. With songs that pay homage to Broadway shows of decades past, each with a distinct sound, which ones stood out to them? How did they feel the staging and costumes helped to deliver the story? There's so much to break down, all of which you can find in this most recent Box Seat Babes podcast episode!

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The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The Book of Mormon arrived on Detroit's doorstep last week, ringing the bell of The Fisher Theatre, hoping to spread the word of how incredible this show is. There's truly nothing like this comedy on there, as The Book of Mormon explores the power of community and relationships through unbelievable satire from the minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park. As the penultimate show of the 2024-2025 Broadway in Detroit season, this show was a must-see for us here at Box Seat Babes!

In this episode of The Box Seat Babes podcast, hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko break down what audiences can expect from the story and characters of the North American touring production of The Book of Mormon! What are their general thoughts on the narrative of the show? Which characters and actors stand out to them? How do they feel the show balances the approach to comedy and religion? All those answers and more are in this first part of their The Book of Mormon discussion!

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Growing older is just an aspect of life that everyone has to come to terms with; however, growing up is something entirely different. Maturity can come with age, but other factors force adolescents to grow up faster than they should have to, trading their innocence for the reality of whatever situation they're living through. We see this all too often today with the state of the world, and it's a significant influence in Simon Henriques and Skylar Fox's play The Grown Ups. Developed during the most recent global pandemic, The Grown Ups explores a group of camp counselors who are forced to mature rapidly as the world falls apart. This thought-provoking show is arriving soon at the University of Detroit Mercy's Theatre Company, closing out their season with yet another incredible performance. Ahead of its premiere, we spoke with the show's director, Andrew Papa, and one of the cast members, Gavin Rapuzzi.

In this exclusive Box Seat Babes interview, Papa and Rapuzzi discuss the importance of a show such as The Grown Ups, especially in a world with mounting strife and tension. Papa explores some of the creative choices made to remain faithful to the original play, which was made to be performed around a campfire outside. At the same time, Rapuzzi speaks on what drew him to this role and how he's developed the character of Lukas from the page to the rehearsal room. Together, these two paint a picture of why this was the right time to tell this story and how UofD Mercy is working hard to provide a unique theatrical experience!

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What would you do if you were face to face with your mortality? It's an interesting concept that most don't like to think about, as facing the possibility of your death is terrifying. However, if you're anything like Kimberly Levaco, you will squeeze as much joy as possible out of whatever time is left on this Earth. In the Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo, audiences follow the story of a 16-year-old who's aging four times as rapidly due to a disorder, confronting a variety of uncomfortable realities in life. The story is rich, but there's so much to appreciate about this musical, which has recently made its way into Michigan as a part of the current Broadway in Detroit season! So, of course, we had to explore the other aspects of Kimberly Akimbo in our most recent discussion!

In this episode of the Box Seat Babes podcast, host Brian Kitson and special guest Ryann Ferguson move on from breaking down the story within this story to focus on the music and technical side of this exciting musical! Which songs did they get stuck in their heads? How would they describe the genre of the music, and did it add any intrinsic value to the show? How exactly did the costumes and sets capture that '90s feel? All those answers and more lie within this exciting podcast episode! And don't miss Kimberly Akimbo, which is currently touring across North America!

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Stephen Sondheim is a household name for theater nerds like us, giving audiences some of Broadway's most recognizable and prolific pieces. Works, such as Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Company, Gypsy, Sunset Blouvard, have stood the test of time, returning to Broadway many times over for audiences to enjoy. However, it's an earlier piece in Sondheim's collection, although still well known in its own right, that Stagecrafters is bringing to their stages, with a production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum! Classified as a musical farce, this show has something for everyone, from hysterical laughs to impressive musical numbers. Ahead of its premiere on Stagecrafters' main stage, we spoke with two cast members of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Jeff Weiner and Edmond Guay!

In this exclusive Box Seat Babes interview, these two hilarious actors talk about their time on this production and why they were drawn to it. One of the actors has a long history with this show, while the other is relatively new to it, and both approaches provide particular challenges. How does the show come together from early rehearsals to days before the production? How do Weiner and Guay bring these characters to life? Listen in to this exciting interview to find out!

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Friends, family, community —in whatever form it comes—is one of the most important things a person can develop in their life. It is having a group of people who are there for you through thick and thin, giving their unconditional support regardless of your choices. The sisterhood that sits at the center of Birmingham Village Players' production of Steel Magnolias is a bond that can't be broken, although it's tested through acts of loss and life. There's only one final weekend of performances of this show, so to close out our production coverage, we have one final interview with Bridget Hillyer, who plays Shelby!

In this exclusive Box Seat Babes interview, Bridget Hillyer explores what drew her to Steel Magnolias, what it was like bringing this character to life (hint: it takes a lot of homework to learn the accent), and why it's important to tell stories like this. What has been the most challenging part of starring in a show like this? Where does she draw inspiration for Shelby and her health issues from and how does she translate the struggle on stage? Listen to this interview to find out all those answers and more!

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When the global pandemic hit just a few years ago, the world came to a standstill. Everything stopped, leaving people frozen in place through necessity and fear. Broadway was no exception, with theaters closing and remaining empty month after month. When society began to open again, people flocked to the theater, welcomed by fan-favorite shows and newcomers, such as the newest kid on the block, Kimberly Akimbo. This musical tells the story of a young girl who is aging four times as fast as her classmates, exploring topics of morality and what kind of life someone should lead, arriving at the perfect time with a message that many needed to hear. While Kimberly Akimbo has moved on from Broadway, it's currently touring North America and arrived last week on Broadway in Detroit.

In this episode of the Box Seat Babes podcast, host Brian Kitson is joined by a special guest, Ryann Ferguson, to discuss the story and characters within Kimberly Akimbo. There are so many threads weaving through this musical, with characters you love and love to hate. Does Kimberly ever get her family vacation? How does she get involved in her Aunt Debra's crazy schemes? And most importantly, how does someone faced with their own mortality come to terms with what little life they have left? Listen as these two break down what stood out about the narrative in this show, as well as which characters they were drawn to!

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Friendship is one of the most important bonds we can form throughout our lives. Whether we find our people at a young age or not until later in life, it's the family we develop along the way that provides so many of us with the strength we need to face difficulties. This bond is front and center in Vanities the Musical, which is making its Michigan Premiere at Meadow Brook Theatre! Before its previews, we sat down to talk to the cast, Caroline Moulios, Em Hadick, and Katherine Alexis Thomas, about their experience in Vanities the Musical!

In this exclusive Box Seat Babes interview, all three cast members talk about what drew them to this musical and how it has challenged them as actors. From a show that only features three people to a story that spans decades and life experiences, there are plenty of ways Vanities has pushed Moulios, Hadick, and Thomas in their craft, although all of them are up to the task! Also, discover which themes speak to each one of them the most and how they feel the musical enhances the show. The chemistry amongst these three is intoxicating, making us even more excited to see Meadow Brook Theatre's production of Vanities The Musical! Watch and discover that energy for yourself!

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Our time in Bikini Bottom is almost over, as the Bloomfield Players are in the closing weekend of their production of The Spongebob Musical. As the saying goes, don't be sad that it's over, smile because it happened! It's difficult not to smile profusely when you see a musical such as this one, as it's brimming with laughter, hope, and good vibes...even if there is impending doom looming over Spongebob and his friends. Wrapping up our coverage of the current show from Bloomfield Players, we have one more interview, this time with the yellow sponge himself, Adam Wager!

In this exclusive Box Seat Babes interview, Adam Wager talks about his time on this production of The Spongebob Musical! Wager discusses what drew him to this project, how working with his children has been exciting and enriching in so many ways, how his role has challenged him as an actor, and what themes speak to him. What are his thoughts on the music of the show? Listen to this interview to find out!

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