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PODCAST

Broadway Breakdown

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.com

arts performing arts

All Episodes

113:49

Deep Dive: THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? w/ Robert W....

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/12/18

Edward Albee’s final play to open on Broadway remains one of the most controversial: The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? In this Deep Dive, Matt and guest Robert W. Schneider unpack its infamous premise and explore why a play so boldly bonkers can be so shockingly rewarding. The two also explore how Albee weaponizes language, social taboos, and why the play’s legacy is still undefined.Robert W. Schneider—director, educator, author, and longtime theater historian—is the perfect sparring partner for this

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97:39

Deep Dive: NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/12/11

Our Deep Dive of Great Comet comes to its conclusion. Actor/singer/diva/Great Comet superfan Natalie Walker remains to dig into the show’s electrifying soundscape, its roots in War and Peace, and how Dave Malloy explodes character, form, and musical vocabulary. Matt and Natalie break down what makes Comet such a singular theatrical experience—structurally, emotionally, and spiritually—and why its legacy continues to glow long after the comet’s tail faded from Broadway.Guest introductionNatalie

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111:52

Matt Reviews: The Queen of Versailles (both of ‘em),...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/12/04

Episode SummaryMatt dives into two major musical events: Broadway’s divisive, new bio-musical The Queen of Versailles and its two different leading ladies, as well as the long-awaited revival of Ragtime. He breaks down the productions’ strengths, stumbles, creative choices, and star performances before welcoming Broadway content creator and author Teale Dvornik for a candid conversation about audience culture, the changing ecosystem around modern theater and her new book History Hiding Around

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73:57

Matt Reviews: WICKED: FOR GOOD w/ Andrew Chappelle

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/11/27

Matt Reviews: Wicked: For Good with Andrew ChappelleMatt is joined by Broadway actor and podcast host Andrew Chappelle for a theater-nerdy breakdown of the hotly anticipated Wicked: For Good. Together, they dig into how Part Two stacks up against Part One, what the film gets right (and very right), and where it stumbles on its way down the Yellow Brick Road. From pacing to performances to the Wizard of Oz tie-ins, this episode explores why Wicked remains one of the most passionately debated

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93:00

Matt Reviews: Oedipus, The Baker’s Wife, Prince...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/11/25

Episode SummaryIn this bonus review episode, Matt tackles four very different productions—Oedipus, The Baker’s Wife, Prince F*ggot, and Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York. From classics, revivals, new works, and small downtown gems, he breaks down what sings, what stumbles, and what you might want to spend your money (or not spend your money) on this season.He also addresses audience questions about ticket pricing, press seats, and the realities of covering an entire Broadway season as a

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92:42

Deep Dive: NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/11/20

Matt and guest Natalie Walker (The Big Gay Jamboree, Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse) blast off into the glittering, vodka-drenched universe of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812—Dave Malloy and Rachel Chavkin’s electro-pop opera spun from a 70-page slice of War and Peace. Together they trace the show’s evolution from Ars Nova experiment to Broadway spectacle, unpack why the score still fries their nervous systems (in the best way), and revisit the tent-era intimacy that made audiences feel

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100:08

Matt Reviews: Punch, Waiting for Godot, ART, Bat Boy...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/11/13

Matt returns with a packed roundup of New York’s latest plays and musicals — from existential despair to gay country catharsis. In this marathon of opinions, he weighs in on everything from Keanu Reeves’ Beckett turn to Matt Rodin’s star power and whether Bat Boy might finally fly again.Resources & LinksBroadway Breakdown, A Cabaret Now: TixBroadway Breakdown: DiscordBroadway Breakdown: Substack🎟️ Telecharge – Broadway TicketsTimestamps00:00 – Intro and theater-season chaos check-in03:30 –

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92:49

Matt Reviews: KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN (2025) w/ Ali...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/11/06

Cinema in the Cell BlockIn this episode, Matt and returning Pod Mother Ali Gordon dive into the latest movie musical: Kiss of the Spider Woman. Adapted from the Tony-winning musical, Spiderwoman follows homosexual window dresser, Molina, and revolutionary Valentin. The two are cellmates in an Argentinian prison at the height of the country’s military controlled government. The two bond as Molina recites his favorite movie musical starring his favorite actress, La Luna, to help distract the two from

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72:16

Deep Dive: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Part 2) w/...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/10/30

Deep Dive: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Part 2)The Gospel of Glam RockIn Part 2 of this Deep Dive, Matt continues to unpack the gender-bending punk musical confessional that is Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Continuing the journey with Matt is writer and composer Preston Max Allen (We Are the Tigers, Caroline).Broadway Breakdown Links:Broadway Breakdown: SubstackBroadway Breakdown: Discord Community“Broadway Breakdown, A Cabaret Now”: TixPreston Max Allen’s Caroline at MCC Theater: TixTimestamps7:20 –

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91:20

Deep Dive: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Part 1) w/...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/10/23

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Part 1): Gender, Glam, and the Birth of a Cult ClassicBroadway Breakdown kicks off its latest deep dive with Hedwig and the Angry Inch—the downtown rock musical that redefined what Broadway could be. Host Matt Koplik and guest Preston Max Allen unpack how John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask’s creation blurred the lines between concert, confession, and theater, tracing its journey from gritty queer clubs to Tony-winning phenomenon. Together, they explore why Hedwig

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87:01

Deep Dive: THE DROWSY CHAPERONE w/ Eli Rallo

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/10/16

This episode dives into the unlikely rise of The Drowsy Chaperone—a show that started as a wedding gag and became one of Broadway’s most beloved meta-musicals. Matt traces its origins, Tony-winning triumph, and enduring legacy, before sitting down with writer and cultural commentator Eli Rallo to unpack why this fizzy 1920s spoof still resonates (and where it might stumble with modern audiences).Eli Rallo is a writer, podcast host, and social media force whose sharp wit and cultural savvy have made

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100:46

Deep Dive: WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (w/ Kevin...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/10/09

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

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87:34

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

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/10/02

Dreamgirls, Part 2: Revivals, the Film, and the Divas Who Define ItBroadway Breakdown Links:Broadway Breakdown SubstackBroadway Breakdown DiscordA Cabaret Now: TixBroadway 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,

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120:00

Deep Dive: DREAMGIRLS (Part 1) w/ Jason Veasey

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/09/25

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

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77:14

Matt Reviews HEATHERS & More

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/09/18

Broadway Breakdown Announcements, Heathers Off-Broadway Return + Ron Fassler on Broadway’s Juiciest Replacement StoriesThis episode kicks off a new season of Broadway Breakdown with some big announcements, followed by a double feature: Matt’s in-depth review of the Heathers revival at New World Stages, followed by a conversation with actor, writer, and historian Ron Fassler about his new book The Show Goes On: Broadway, Hirings, Firings, and Replacements. From high school cliques and camp satire to

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1:20

Broadway Breakdown- New Season!

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/09/15

Broadway Breakdown is back to cut through the surface-level theater chit chat with a new season and some podcast updates! Each week brings something new—reviews of the latest shows, sharp Tony Award predictions, or deep dives into the musicals and plays that shaped Broadway history.This season features explorations of Dreamgirls, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and more—complete with behind-the-scenes drama, cultural context, and plenty of diva energy.Subscribe and join

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71:33

I WAS THERE w/ David Loud

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/07/10

"Behold, the hills of tomorrow..."Get a taste of what's to come with this pilot episode of a new series "I Was There" talking with Broadway artists with long and rich careers, telling us their stories. First up! Conductor/Music Director/Supervisor David Loud! David has worked on such incredible productions as She Loves Me (1993), Ragtime, Master Class as well as having been in the original production of Merrily We Roll Along!! Incredible! Order David Loud's book "Facing the Music" here

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68:04

I WAS THERE w/ David Loud

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/07/10

"Behold, the hills of tomorrow..."Get a taste of what's to come with this pilot episode of a new series "I Was There" talking with Broadway artists with long and rich careers, telling us their stories. First up! Conductor/Music Director/Supervisor David Loud! David has worked on such incredible productions as She Loves Me (1993), Ragtime, Master Class as well as having been in the original production of Merrily We Roll Along!! Incredible! Order David Loud's book "Facing the Music" here

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23:28

Sleep Out: Stage and Screen for Covenant House w/...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/07/03

SURPRISE! Bonus ep! Matt talks with David Hovey about the work happening at Covenant House, as well as the starry event on August 10th Sleep Out: Stage and Screen event. Learn more about Covenant House Here! https://www.covenanthouse.org/Donate to Matt's Fundraising Page Here! https://www.sleepout.org/participants/61110 Learn more about Sleep Out: Stage and Screen Here! https://www.sleepout.org/pages/2509?eventID=1152Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This is a public

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24:58

Sleep Out: Stage and Screen for Covenant House w/...

Broadway Breakdown ·

2025/07/03

SURPRISE! Bonus ep! Matt talks with David Hovey about the work happening at Covenant House, as well as the starry event on August 10th Sleep Out: Stage and Screen event. Learn more about Covenant House Here! https://www.covenanthouse.org/ Donate to Matt's Fundraising Page Here! https://www.sleepout.org/participants/61110 Learn more about Sleep Out: Stage and Screen Here! https://www.sleepout.org/pages/2509?eventID=1152

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439 results

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