The BSB Podcast

The examination of the human condition and the factors that make up a person that are front and center in Ridgedale Players' production of Fun Home. While this in-depth look at what makes up a human is largely due to the incredible source material of queer cartoonist Alison Bechdel, magic is created on stage in the staple theatre in Troy, Michigan, as they bring it to life.

Ahead of Fun Home's opening night, we sat down with one of the show's stars, Alan Neuwirth. Playing the patriarch of the Bechdel family, Neuwirth's Bruce is the emotional lynchpin of the show. In this interview, Neuwirth speaks on the themes of sexuality and mental illness, and the impact both have on a family. He describes where he draws from to play a role like Bruce and what he hopes audiences take away from a powerful show such as Fun Home. Enjoy!

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Everyone remembers their first time. It's unforgettable, isn't it? The awkward energy as you are surrounded by more experienced people just looking for a good time and showing the virgins how to do it. There's no denying that seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show live with a shadow cast is a life-changing experience that you definitely have to see to believe.  It's something that both hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko have not participated in until the recent showing of the cult classic at The Fisher Theatre! In honor of the 49th anniversary of the film, Broadway in Detroit threw a proper Rocky Horror party with all the bells and whistles people have come to expect from a production such as this!

Joining our Box Seat Babes in this episode of The Cosmic Curtain is special guest Kylie Wieand, who has attended more screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show than she can count on her hands, serving as our resident expert about all things Rocky Horror. Listen as these three break down all the thrills and chills of the film, how the shadow cast and props add to the experience, and if they would attend another showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. And, of course, they share some of the audience's discussion with the legendary Patricia Quinn, who starred in both the film and the original stage production.

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For more Broadway coverage, visit Box Seat Babes

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Based on a Tony Award-winning Musical, which in turn is based on a graphic novel by Queer cartoonist Alison Bechdel, Fun Home explores one woman's look inwardly at the family dynamics that made her. Family is messy, but so is life, and Fun Home examines how every decision (and every trauma) makes us who we are. This musical pushes away the black-and-white thinking people tend to have grown up with and instead exhumes the morally gray area that the adults in her past firmly existed.

In this Cosmic Circus Broadway interview, Brian Kitson sat down with one of Ridgedale Player's Fun Home stars, Lori Knoth, who is playing Allison Bechdel herself. Knoth discusses her love for this story, which began back in New York City, her stance on Queer representation in theater, and how she conveys so many emotions in Fun Home without saying many lines. Enjoy!

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For more Broadway coverage, visit Box Seat Babes

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With the Wicked movie adaptation just around the corner, The Cosmic Curtain host Brian Kitson wanted to revisit the novel and musical to explore what people can expect from the first Wicked movie. Joining him in this Wicked discussion is the incomparable Izzy Friedman, a fellow writer at The Cosmic Circus and Broadway enthusiast. Listen as the duo explores possible storylines that could be expanded upon, essential pieces of the story that need to be included, and why anything with Johnathan Bailey is worth watching. 

Wicked arrives in theaters on November 22! Are you excited about the film? Have you seen the Broadway musical before? What did you think of this episode? Let us know your thoughts on social media @mycosmiccircus and @boxseatbabes!

Wicked the movie stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Johnathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard and many more!

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Find the video of this podcast on YouTube

For more Broadway coverage, visit Box Seat Babes

Follow us on social media @boxseatbabes or visit our Linktree!

MJ the Musical explores Michael Jackson's life through the songs that made him a pop music sensation. Having won four Tony Awards and becoming one of the highest-grossing musicals of all time, it makes perfect sense that MJ The Musical would tour North America!

Ahead of its premiere here in Detroit at The Fisher Theatre as a part of the Broadway in Detroit series of shows, Brian Kitson sat down with one of the show's stars, Devin Bowles, who plays Joe Jackson and Rob in MJ The Musical! In this exclusive Cosmic Circus Broadway interview, Bowles talks about his life journey from football player to Broadway star, what he connected with in this show, and what makes MJ The Musical so special! Enjoy!

For the full video of this interview visit our YouTube channel @CosmicCircusBroadway at https://youtu.be/BHADOmAj1oM?si=-V50M_tBAhwGq2nz

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MJ The Musical is at The Fisher Theatre in Detroit, Michigan from now until November 3, as a part of the Broadway in Detroit 2024-2025 season! This musical is currently in year two of its tour, so catch it when it arrives in a city near you!

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For more Broadway coverage, visit Box Seat Babes

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With Strangers on A Train beginning its run last week, we've sat down with Meadow Brook Theatre's Artistic Director, Travis Walter, along with stars of this play, Ron Williams and Stephen Blackwell! In this interview, the two stars and director discuss why Strangers on a Train felt like the perfect show to begin the season with, what drew them to the project, how some of the character decisions and motivations came to be, and how this production has challenged them all in their respective roles. Enjoy!

Timestamps for this interview:

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Simon Henriques and Skylar Fox wrote The Grown-Ups, which The Ringwald is opening up their 2024-2025 season with!

The show opened this past weekend and runs through November 4, and just before its debut, we were able to sit down with the director of this production of The Grown-Ups, Jennifer Goff! In this exclusive interview, Goff discusses what drew her to wanting to direct this story, which themes stick out to her the most, and the challenges of transitioning an outdoor show to a black box theater. Enjoy!

Timestamps for this interview:

00:00 - Intro

00:34 - How is the rehearsal process going for The Grown-Ups?

01:05 - What is The Grown-Ups about?

02:08 - What drew you to this story? What makes it unique?

05:41 - The show is closing just before the 2024 election, why was this the right time to tell this story?

06:16 - Challenges of bringing this play and story to life on stage?

08:49 - As the director, what's your process bringing your ideas to the stage?

11:40 - What themes in The Grown-Ups resonate with you the most?

12:30 - Outdoor vs indoor shows

14:02 - What do you want audiences to walk away with from The Grown-Ups?

14:35 - Outro

Find the video of this podcast on YouTube

For more Broadway coverage, visit Box Seat Babes

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Ahead of the production's debut on October 25th, Brian Kitson sat down with Krista Schafer, the director of the University of Detroit Mercy's Witch. In this interview, Schafer discusses what drew her to this production, how working with college actors differs from some of her past directorial work, how she's grown in this role, and what themes from Witch resonate with her the most. Enjoy the interview!

Timestamps for this interview: 00:00 - Intro 00:35 - How are rehearsals going so far for Witch? 03:43 - Managing technical aspects of the show as the director 07:35 - About Witch 09:45 - What makes this show unique 13:49 - How as Witch been updated from the original story? 14:25 - Exploring gender and gender roles in Witch 18:23 - Process of bringing a show like this to stage 22:48 - How has Witch challenged you as a director? 25:02 - Themes in this play that resonate the most with you? 27:27 - What's next for you? 29:15 - Outro

Find the video of this podcast on YouTube

For more Broadway coverage, visit Box Seat Babes

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If you're looking for the perfect stage show for Halloween, the University of Detroit Mercy's theatre department has the show for you, as they bring Jen Silverman's Witch to life on their stage! Ahead of the production's debut, I sat down with one of the Witch's cast members, Katherine Mutschler, a senior at the university. In this interview, Mutscheler discusses her role in the play, how this production has pushed her as an actor, what she's most excited for audiences to take away from Witch, and where she sees her future in show business going. Enjoy the interview!

If you're in the Metro Detroit area, grab your tickets for University of Detroit Mercy's Witch, which runs for six shows beginning October 25!

Timestamps for this interview:

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For more Broadway coverage, visit Box Seat Babes

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The second show in Broadway in Detroit's 2024-2025 season, Some Like It Hot is an adaptation of a 1959 film starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe! This musical adaptation is not an exact remake of the film, as it makes some major updates to some of the stories and characters.

Hosts Brian Kitson and RJ Miller-Zelinko were excited to discuss the show and have a fascinating in-depth discussion! Brian and RJ discuss some of the changes, how their personal experience helped to dictate their enjoyment of the show, stand-out performances, and moments from Some Like It Hot, and if they would see it again. Catch Some Like It Hot when it arrives in a city near you!

Timestamps 00:00 - Intros 00:53 - SPOILER warning for Some Like it Hot the musical and the movie discussed in this podcast, and general info about the show. 04:45 - Changes to the ethnicity of some of the characters from the film to POC. 09:30 - Sugar (Marilyn Monroe's character in the 1959 film) and the musical having a more modern approach to her character. 13:30 - Daphne/Jerry (Jack Lemmon's character in the film) and differences from the film. How the musical approaches a trans storyline. 20:18 - The older generation's reaction to the musical's trans aspects. (RJ's mom POV) 23:14 - Comparing this musical to how & Juliet handled a trans character, and audience reactions. 26:47 - Questions for the writers about the approach to the trans storyline. 27:14 - Moulin Rouge and & Juliet and aspects of the Jukebox musical having less of an impact on some audiences than a show like Some Like It Hot does for certain subjects. 28:45 - The crossdressing aspects of the film and shows like Mrs. Doubtfire and using it for comedy.  33:17 - Big band and the music in Some Like It Hot 38:31 - Stand out performers in the show 41:35 - The jokes and humor in the show 45:49 - Weak points 45:00 - The costumes and set 48:20 - Rewatchability of Some Like it Hot the musical 49:45 - Outros

Find the video of this podcast on YouTube

For more Broadway coverage, visit Box Seat Babes

Follow us on social media @boxseatbabes or visit our Linktree!