The Roundtable with Robert Bannon

Pittsburgh CLO, in association with 42nd Parallel Productions, proudly announces the cast of the highly anticipated world premiere of MADAME CLICQUOT: A Revolutionary Musical, an empowering new production based on the extraordinary true story of the woman who revolutionized the champagne industry.

This groundbreaking production will debut exclusively in Pittsburgh from May 29 – June 8, 2025, at the Byham Theater, with a preview performance on May 29 and a Broadway Bound Gala and Opening Night on May 30. Tickets are now available! Call 412-456-6666 or visit PittsburghCLO.org

Brought to life by the dynamic writing duo Lisette Glodowski and Richard C. Walter, and guess what? They are here! This stand-alone engagement at the Byham Theater is made possible through enhancement funding by commercial producer 42nd Parallel Productions. This collaboration enables Pittsburgh CLO’s ongoing commitment to fostering new works and giving Pittsburgh audiences access to the next great musical before it reaches the world stage.

THE STORY

Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, MADAME CLICQUOT: A Revolutionary Musical tells the remarkable true story of a young woman who defied societal expectations to become one of the most powerful forces in the history of champagne. In 1789, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin fled her boarding school as revolution engulfed France. A decade later, an arranged marriage to François Clicquot, the son of her father’s business rival, unexpectedly leads to an innovative partnership in winemaking. But when tragedy strikes, she faces an impossible choice – surrender to fate or risk everything to change the industry forever. With innovation, resilience, and a bold gamble that could make or break her legacy, she takes on the male-dominated world of champagne, transforming the industry and securing her place in history.

A COLLABORATIVE LAUNCH

This premiere is presented in collaboration with female-led 42nd Parallel Productions, this musical comes to Pittsburgh following sold-out concerts and a concept album – marking a crucial step on its Broadway journey.
“This production exemplifies Pittsburgh CLO’s deep commitment to developing new musical,” said Mark Fleischer, Executive Producer, Pittsburgh CLO. “Our collaboration with 42nd Parallel Productions enables us to give MADAME CLICQUOT the world-class debut it deserves—while offering Pittsburgh audiences an exclusive first look at a show poised for Broadway and beyond.”

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A Comedy Legend is here for PRIDE!

Margaret Cho continues to be the must-see comedian-actress: she stars in Hulu's EMMY nominated rom-com movie -"Fire Island" (People’s Choice Award, GLAAD Media Award, Dorian TV & Gotham Award winner) with SNL alum Bowen Yang and with Iliza Shlesinger in Netflix's "Good on Paper." 

Most recently, Margaret starred in Netflix’s “OUTSTANDING: A COMEDY REVOLUTION” docu and in the Disney+ "Prom Pact" movie - watch trailer HERE . Margaret was also part of Netflix's “Stand Out Comedy Special” and "Over The Moon" film with Ken Jeong & Sandra Oh which was nominated for an Academy Award & Golden Globe Award.  And, the cherry on the cake may be her inclusion in VOGUE Magazine’s “9 best female comedians of all-time’ alongside other comedic icons Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner and Wanda Sykes.  

Now, Margaret - the five-time Grammy and Emmy nominated comedian/actress who has been touring North America with her highly successful Live and LIVID! stand-up comedy show has added brand new 2025 dates - on-sale HERE . 

Not enough Margaret for you? In addition to "Prom Pact" on Disney +, ABC’s Dr. Odyssey, HBO Max's "The Flight Attendant" with Kaley Cuoco & Rosie Perez and "Hacks"with Jean Smart, Cho has also appeared on NBC's long-running drama series "Law & Order:SVU" and stunned America by singing her way through season one of the wildly popular break-out hit show The Masked Singer.  Additionally, Margaret was named one of Rolling Stone magazine's 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time (Rolling Stone HERE) while CNN chose her as one of the 50 People Who Changed American Comedy (CNN HERE ). 

A pioneer amongst women in comedy, Margaret doesn’t take anything for granted as she continues to tackle difficult subjects with sensitivity and her razor sharp insight with her takes on addiction, abuse, activism and Asianness. It's all about the politics of disgust and what is disgusting about politics. 

She is a comedy icon, AAPI icon, queer icon, and now she is here with us on The Roundtable!

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We love Pride! We love Queer Artists! We love Rom-Coms! We can not love a Queer Rom Com more & this one is just so freaking GOOD! Max Talisman makes his Roundtable debut to talk his journey to his feature film "Things Like This!"

"Things Like This" marks Max’s debut as a feature filmmaker and is the first release from his production company. The film follows two men named Zack whose unexpected connection forces them to navigate the long-term emotional aftermath of growing up queer. It is a romantic film, but not one defined by fantasy or formula.

Max stars opposite Joey Pollari ("American Crime," "Love, Victor"), Jackie Cruz ("Orange Is the New Black"), Nicholas Hamilton ("It," "Captain Fantastic"), Eric Roberts ("The Dark Knight," "Runaway Train"), and Cara Buono ("Stranger Things," "Mad Men").

Max wrote the script in 2017, after nearly a decade of working in film and television and realizing how infrequently someone like him was invited into the center of the frame. His credits include "Super Dark Times," "Search Party," "Orange Is the New Black," and "The Blacklist,” and while each of these roles contributed to a steady career, they rarely allowed for interiority, desire, or emotional complexity. "Things Like This" was his attempt to shift that dynamic, not only by writing himself into a story that felt lived-in and layered, but by taking ownership of every aspect of how that story would be told.

Max grew up in Washington, D.C., where he first fell in love with performance, onstage, in classrooms, anywhere someone would let him be a little too much. That early love of storytelling eventually led him to film and television, where he built a career across television. But as a queer, plus-size actor, Max quickly realized that the kinds of roles he was offered rarely reflected the full range of who he was. So he started writing. "Things Like This" is his response to years of being told, directly or indirectly, that people like him could be funny or supportive, but not the center of a love story. With this film, and through his production company Malibu, Bro Productions, Max is creating the kind of work he spent years waiting to be invited into.

Make sure to check out "Things Like This" in theatres & coming On-Demand!

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Check out "The Roundtable with Robert Bannon" here on BPN on the daily, on YouTube, Broadway World, and on social media! Like, comment, share, & subscribe!

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There is a brand new World War II documentary called “Why We Dream” that is premiering this month during Tribeca with a premiere screening event on the USS Intrepid on June 6, the 81st anniversary of D-Day.

Directed by Meredith Danluck (“State Like Sleep”) and scored by composers Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg, “Why We Dream” captures the stories, wisdom and warnings of eight WWII veterans as they revisit Normandy, France on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Danluck and her producing team interview the many centenarian veterans in their homes and travel with them to Normandy as they reflect on their experiences in war and the different shapes their lives took because of it.

Meredith is here to tell us all about it! Make sure you check this beautiful film out and witness living history!

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A new immersive theatrical experience created by and featuring original cast members from Sleep No More. Artemis is Burning—a formidable, female-led creative force comprised of industry veterans from film, television, and theater—is bringing The Death of Rasputin to Governors Island beginning later this month.

The Death of Rasputin is no mere play; it is a descent into decadence, a fever-dream of power, prophecy, and betrayal. This debaucherous satire unfolds as a lavish, unholy revel, conjuring the espionage and mysticism that danced at the edges of the Romanov dynasty in its twilight hour. Here, every character claws for dominion, every ambition is laced with poison, and every grasp for power pulls them closer to the abyss.

Ashley Brett Chipman (Creator Co-Director) is haunted by beautifully strange worlds. She has a background in film, dance, installation art and everything whimsical. She has worked in set decorating for film and television for over a decade on projects ranging from M Night Shyamalan “Servant” to Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Stories.” There she has led large teams to create countless visually rich worlds for characters to inhabit. She has an eye for beautiful objects, patterns and color stories
and an ear for music that sets a mesmerizing mood. Working in the film industry has fine-tuned her skills to a bottle rocket speed and expanded her creative network infinitely. Her desire to take her profession to a living and breathing enchanted world with a present audience, along with her never ceasing infatuation with the mystery surrounding Rasputin and Imperial Russia, has inspired her to create The Death of Rasputin.

Hope Youngblood (Creative Producer &Co-Director) is captivated by the
enchantment of immersive experiences. With a background steeped in directing, visual art, and dance, she thrives at the intersection of creativity and audience interaction. Formerly the Resident Director of Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More in Shanghai (2018- 2022), Hope has curated mesmerizing campaigns, photo shoots, music videos and events for prestigious brands such as Valentino Act Collection, TikTok, and Tom Ford.

Her career is a testament to her passion for transporting audiences into fantastical realms. From commanding roles in Sleep No More productions across Boston, New York, and Shanghai, to her collaborations with Davis Freemans Random Scream and Patricia Noworol Dance Theater, Hope is known for crafting immersive worlds that blur the lines between reality and imagination.

For Tickets: https://www.deathofrasputin.com/

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Check out "The Roundtable with Robert Bannon" here on BPN on the daily, on YouTube, Broadway World, and on social media! Like, comment, share, & subscribe!

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The stars were out and the Roundtable has you covered! Our red carpet correspondent Adrienne Garzillo hit up the red carpet at the Drama Desk Awards! She chats with Nicole & Tom from "Sunset Boulevard!" She chats with Debra Messing, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Norm Lewis, the cast of "Operation Mincemeat," and so much more!

We have your front row seat to all the fun at the Drama Desk Awards here on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon!

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Check out "The Roundtable with Robert Bannon" here on BPN on the daily, on YouTube, Broadway World, and on social media! Like, comment, share, & subscribe!

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We are here for this show! We love Jay! We love Stephanie! This is our musr see pick of the summer!

Jay Ellis (Top Gun: Maverick, Insecure) and Stephanie Nur (Lioness, 1883) ignite the stage in this gripping new drama about love, survival, and impossible choices. Discover the electrifying connection between Duke (Ellis), an international hip-hop artist, and Roya (Nur), a fearless Afghan interpreter, who find love in the unlikeliest of places: war-torn Kabul. As their worlds collide, they must navigate cultural divides, make personal sacrifices, and fight for their future in a world determined to keep them apart. Is their bond strong enough to survive?

Don’t miss DUKE & ROYA, the breathtaking play from acclaimed playwright Charles Randolph-Wright, directed by Warren Adams, with a cast that includes Olivier Award winner Noma Dumezweni (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Presumed Innocent) and Dariush Kashani (Oslo, The Band’s Visit). Produced by Tony® winners Laura Ivey and Janet Brenner, Smada Media and Get Lifted Film Co.’s Emmy® and Tony® winner Mike Jackson, Emmy® Award winner Ty Stiklorius, and EGOT winner John Legend.

Witness the power of this 11-week limited engagement production at New York’s historic Lucille Lortel Theatre. A story of love, identity, and resilience, DUKE & ROYA is a spellbinding theatrical event that is as thrilling as it is timely.

For tickets: www.dukeandroya.com

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Check out "The Roundtable with Robert Bannon" here on BPN on the daily, on YouTube, Broadway World, and on social media! Like, comment, share, & subscribe!

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In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Dream Big World Theatre proudly presents the world premiere of CRACKED OPEN, a deeply moving new play written and directed by multi-award-winning playwright Gail Kriegel at Theatre Row. Previews begin May 6, 2025, with opening night on May 20, 2025, and the production will run through June 28, 2025. Tickets are available now at crackedopentheplay.com.

Each May, Mental Health Awareness Month provides an opportunity to amplify conversations around mental health, encourage understanding, and break the stigma that prevents so many from seeking help. At its core, CRACKED OPEN by Gail Kreigel, is a powerful, timely story about a family whose love is tested when their 17-year-old daughter experiences the sudden onset of mental illness. As they struggle to understand her new reality, they must navigate the complexities of treatment, social stigma, and their own fears, ultimately discovering the resilience that binds them together.

With a cast of 11 actors portraying 32 characters, CRACKED OPEN is a story of love, struggle, and the power of family.

Broadway Star Bart Shatto is here to talk about the show. Bart originated the role of Rich in early NYC readings of Cracked Open. Broadway: War Paint, Les Misérables, Hands on a Hardbody, The Civil War, and Dracula. National Tours: Les Misérables, Cats, The Civil War. Off-Broadway: Superhero (Second Stage), Finnegan’s Farewell. TV: “Law & Order,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med,” “Murphy Brown” (Reboot), “Gaspard and Lisa” (Disney Jr.). Regional: La Jolla Playhouse, Papermill Playhouse, Ford’s Theatre, Ogunquit, Alley Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, North Shore Music Theatre, and Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre. Awards: Best Actor Winner for Chicago Indie Film Awards and New York Arthouse Film Festival, Joseph Jefferson nominee, and Connecticut Critics Circle Winner.

CRACKED OPEN will play Tuesday through Saturday at 7:00 PM and Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 PM at Theatre Row, located at 410 West 42nd Street, New York, NY. Tickets are from $42-$94. For tickets and more information, visit crackedopentheplay.com.

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Check out "The Roundtable with Robert Bannon" here on BPN on the daily, on YouTube, Broadway World, and on social media! Like, comment, share, & subscribe!

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Theater for the New City, Crystal Field Executive Director, presents Persephone Palmer Steps Out, a darkly comedic, magical-realism new play about the god-like nature of familial hierarchies, written by Caitlyn Waltermire. Natalie Thomas directs a cast of eight, including Sophie Kelly-Hedrick*, Zuhairah*, Guy Ventoliere*, Alec Febbraro, Diogo de Oliveira, Elizabeth Sherman, Phil Oetiker, and Jessalyn Charles. 

We have the writer Caitlyn Waltermire and director Natalie Thomas here!

Eleven performances will be staged from June 19-July 6, 2025, at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue, New York, NY 10003. *Appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association. AEA Showcase.

Persephone Palmer Steps Out is set during a wintery, sub-zero Summer in the 1990s in a basement apartment hundreds of feet below the ground. This is the home of the Palmer family, headed by the tempestuous and charismatic Connie, whose marriage to the devoted and enabling Herm oversees a fraught dynamic with her fractious stepson Joe. The occasional wandering-ins of Stef, Joe’s girlfriend, and their new friend Paul punctuate the isolated family’s routine, as do the shambolic visits from Connie’s brother Richard and his much-younger wife Lisa. Despite the magical setting of the play, the dynamics between the characters are rooted in realism – except for the fact that Persie, the Palmer's 13-year-old human daughter, is the family's "cat.” Yet as the landscape shifts and Persie begins to bond with some of the new visitors, it appears that some changes may be underway – for better or for worse.

With character archetypes derived from Greek mythology, Persephone Palmer Steps Out is a darkly hilarious exploration of the god-like nature of familial hierarchies, the contingencies of love, conditional acceptance, and the divine, desperate pursuit of control.

The runtime is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. There is no performance on July 4th.

General admission tickets are $20, student and seniors are $15. For tickets, visit: TheaterForTheNewCity.net

Direct ticketing link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35441/production/1238613

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We have trainer, business man, actor, and podcast host Joe Rosko with us today! He is going to kick us all into shape!

Established in 2014, BFTS believes actors are athletes… and need to train like them, too. Offering custom personal training, nutrition planning, and providing the coaching, community, and tools needed to get results, I do need to warn you: side effects include improved confidence and mental health!

With clients all over social media, and seen in 50+ Broadway shows, BFTS is the place to be for fitness!

We wanted to have this chat with Joe about how we can take care of ourselves and others: physical fitness and personal training, mental health, digital wellness, entrepreneurship, and more.

We had a great time chatting all things on this BPN Crossover Event!

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Check out "The Roundtable with Robert Bannon" here on BPN on the daily, on YouTube, Broadway World, and on social media! Like, comment, share, & subscribe!

For more info on Robert- www.RobertBannon.com

Follow Him on IG- @RobertMBannon

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