Broadway Breakdown Podcast Por Matt Koplik capa

Broadway Breakdown

Broadway Breakdown

De: Matt Koplik
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 Matt Koplik is the most opinionated, foul-mouthed, and passionate theatre geek with access to a mic. Every week, Matt and a guest explore Broadway history by diving into the careers of the artists who shaped it. Whether discussing Sondheim and Sweeney or Herman and Dolly, Matt is sure to give you fun facts, deep analysis, and lots of four letter words. Tune in!!

bwaybreakdown.substack.comMatt Koplik Ciências Sociais Entretenimento e Artes Cênicas
Episódios
  • Deep Dive: WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (w/ Kevin Zak)

    Deep Dive: WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (w/ Kevin Zak)
    Oct 9 2025
    Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Broadway’s Darkest Comedy of MarriageEdward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? isn’t just a play — it’s a three-act battlefield where truth, illusion, and liquor collide. In this episode, host Matt Koplik and returning guest Kevin Zak (Ginger Twinsies) unpack the razor-sharp brilliance of Albee’s 1962 masterpiece, from its iconic opening line (“What a dump!”) to its Pulitzer Prize controversy, unforgettable revivals, and enduring queer resonance.​​Guest: Kevin ZakKevin Zak is an actor, writer, and director currently represented Off-Broadway with his camp send-up Ginger Twinsies, a twisted love letter to The Parent Trap. A Lucille Lortel Award nominee, Kevin brings a mix of pop-culture fluency, theatrical insight, and unapologetic humor that makes him the perfect co-pilot for dissecting Albee’s darkly comic masterpiece.Broadway Breakdown Links:Broadway Breakdown DiscordBroadway Breakdown SubstackBroadway Breakdown (A Cabaret, Now): TixTimestamps0:00 – Intro and Kevin Zak returns2:00 – First encounters with Virginia Woolf (Elizabeth Taylor, “What a dump”)10:00 – Plot breakdown and themes: truth, illusion, and emotional warfare17:00 – Queer subtext, Albee’s glass closet, and The Boys in the Band24:00 – Dream casting: Laurie Metcalf, Catherine O’Hara, Betty White?32:00 – The “games” as comedy rooted in pain40:00 – Honey’s secret backstory and why Albee cut it52:00 – Why the play feels timeless (and why it should always be running)1:00:00 – Comedy actors breaking our hearts: from Elaine May to Melissa McCarthy1:03:00 – Legacy: Pulitzer drama, the 1966 film, and the Hays Code1:06:00 – Virginia Woolf’s LegacyKey People MentionedPlaywright: Edward AlbeeOriginal Broadway Cast: Uta Hagen, Arthur Hill, George Grizzard, Melinda DillonNotable Revivals: Kathleen Turner & Bill Irwin (2005), Tracy Letts & Amy Morton (2012), Laurie Metcalf & Rupert Everett (2020, cut short by COVID)Film Adaptation (1966): Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal, Sandy DennisOther Names Dropped: Elaine Stritch, Imelda Staunton, Carrie Coon, Catherine O’Hara, Betty WhiteResources & LinksWikipedia: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Play)Wikipedia: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Film)Original Broadway Cast Recording (Act I)Original Broadway Cast Recording (Act II)Original Broadway Cast Recording (Act III)1966 Film – Full on YouTubeNY Times 1962 ReviewPulitzer Controversy CoverageThe Politics of Virginia Woolf – SteppenwolfListener Discussion QuestionsDo you see George and Martha as tragic lovers, villains, or both?What performance of Virginia Woolf has left the biggest impression on you?If you could dream-cast a new Broadway revival, who would play George and Martha? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com
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    1 hora e 41 minutos
  • Deep Dive: DREAMGIRLS (Part 2) w/ Jason Veasey

    Deep Dive: DREAMGIRLS (Part 2) w/ Jason Veasey
    Oct 2 2025

    Dreamgirls, Part 2: Revivals, the Film, and the Divas Who Define It

    Broadway Breakdown Links:

    Broadway Breakdown Substack

    Broadway Breakdown Discord

    A Cabaret Now: Tix

    Broadway Breakdown continues its deep dive into Dreamgirls, the musical that reshaped Broadway with its relentless staging, powerhouse vocals, and thinly veiled Motown parallels. In this second installment, host Matt Koplik and returning guest Jason Veasey dig into the show’s complicated afterlife: the Tony Award revival confusion of 1987, the iconic (and inconsistent) 2006 film adaptation, why Broadway hasn’t dared mount a full revival since, and the deeper legacy of Effie, Deena, and Lorrell beyond diva worship.

    Guest IntroductionJason Veasey (@veaseyville) is an actor, singer, and thoughtful theater observer whose stage experience and love of Broadway history make him the perfect partner in unpacking Dreamgirls—from its racial politics to its impossible vocal demands to its cultural staying power.

    Timestamps

    00:00 – Cadillac Car, crossover politics, and race onstage

    06:30 – Jennifer Holliday’s Effie and the impossible standard for Black women on Broadway

    13:00 – The 1987–88 revival confusion and Tony Awards history

    18:30 – Why Dreamgirls hasn’t returned to Broadway

    20:30 – The West End production and the shadow of Michael Bennett’s staging

    23:00 – Film musicals: Chicago vs. Dreamgirls, and what went wrong on screen

    35:00 – “Listen” and the challenges of Act Two

    46:00 – Michelle: the forgotten Dream, or feminist hero in disguise?

    52:00 – Effie’s journey in Act Two and why casting is crucial

    57:00 – Jennifer Hudson’s Oscar, Effie as an “award-bait” role, and the legacy of diva archetypes

    Key People Mentioned

    Creators: Tom Eyen (book/lyrics), Henry Krieger (music), Michael Bennett (director/choreographer)

    Original Cast: Jennifer Holliday (Effie), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Deena), Loretta Devine (Lorrell), Ben Harney (Curtis), Cleavant Derricks (Jimmy), Obba Babatundé (C.C.)

    Later Stars & Film: Lillias White, Audra McDonald, Heather Headley, Kerry Butler, Anika Noni Rose, Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson

    Directors/Choreographers: Michael Bennett, Casey Nicholaw, Rob Marshall (Chicago movie), Bill Condon (Dreamgirls movie)

    Listener Discussion Questions

    With a new Broadway revival of Dreamgirls just announced, do you think this one will finally make it—or will it go the way of past “almosts”?

    Do you see Effie’s Act One or Deena’s Act Two as the true emotional center of the show?

    What works better for you: the relentless theatricality of Bennett’s staging or the glossy Hollywood adaptation?



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com
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    1 hora e 28 minutos
  • Deep Dive: DREAMGIRLS (Part 1) w/ Jason Veasey

    Deep Dive: DREAMGIRLS (Part 1) w/ Jason Veasey
    Sep 25 2025
    Dreamgirls: Broadway’s Motown Epic and the Tony Race of 1982In this two-part deep dive, host Matt Koplik and guest Jason Veasey (Broadway’s A Strange Loop, Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building) revisit Dreamgirls, the groundbreaking 1981 musical that blended Motown-inspired storytelling with Michael Bennett’s cinematic staging. Part One explores the show’s tumultuous development, its powerhouse original cast, and the infamous Tony Awards face-off with Nine.Broadway Breakdown Links to Join:Broadway Broadway Discord: HereBroadway Breakdown Substack: HereTickets to Broadway Breakdown: A Cabaret Now HereGuest: Jason VeaseyJason Veasey (@veaseyville) is a Broadway and television actor best known for originating roles in the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Strange Loop. His screen credits include Only Murders in the Building and the upcoming series Best Medicine. With deep roots in musical theater history and lived experience as a Black performer navigating Broadway, Jason brings sharp insight and heartfelt perspective to this Dreamgirls deep diveTimestamps00:01 – Welcome02:14 – A brisk plot rundown: Effie, Deena, Lorrell, and Curtis Taylor Jr.05:12 – Jason’s first encounters with Dreamgirls in Black cultural memory12:16 – The Actor’s Fund concert: Audra, Lillias, Heather, and the power of divas16:22 – Michael Bennett’s original staging: spectacle, storytelling, and critical pushback27:41 – Early development: Nell Carter, Loretta Devine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and endless workshops43:36 – The 1982 Tony Awards: Dreamgirls vs. Nine, Bennett vs. Tune53:17 – The politics of race, spectacle, and creative control on BroadwayKey People MentionedCreators: Michael Bennett (director/choreographer), Tom Eyen (book/lyrics), Henry Krieger (music)Original Cast: Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, Cleavant Derricks, Ben Harney, Obba BabatundéNotable Later Performers: Audra McDonald, Heather Headley, Lillias White, Beyoncé, Anika Noni Rose, Jennifer HudsonIndustry Figures: Joseph Papp, Bob Avian, Mark Shaiman, Frank RichResources & Links1982 Tony Awards Performance – Jennifer Holliday2001 Actor’s Fund Concert Album“The Story of Dreamgirls” DocumentaryVanity Fair: Dreamgirls, Nine, and the Greatest Face-Off in Tony Award HistoryFrank Rich’s Original NYT Review (1981)Sheryl Lee Ralph Interview ClipListener Discussion QuestionsWhat do you think makes Dreamgirls resonate across generations—even for people who never saw it on stage?How do you feel about Michael Bennett’s use of spectacle: brilliant storytelling or overcompensation?Which Dreamgirls performance (on stage, in concert, or on film) stands out most to you, and why? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com
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    2 horas
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