Joe Turner's Come and Gone is one of August Wilson's most celebrated plays and part of his 10-play American Century Cycle chronicling Black life across the 20th century. First premiering at Yale Repertory Theatre before transferring to Broadway in 1988, the play is set in a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1911 during the Great Migration and follows a community of Black travelers, workers, and dreamers searching for identity, connection, and belonging in the shadow of slavery's aftermath. Widely regarded as one of Wilson's most spiritually rich works, Joe Turner's Come and Gone blends realism, folklore, music, and memory into a meditation on displacement, healing, and the lifelong search for one's "song."

Host Andrew Cole is joined by actor, director, and producer Brett Radek to unpack the current Broadway revival directed by Debbie Allen. The production stars Taraji P. Henson as Bertha Holly, Cedric the Entertainer as Seth Holly, Joshua Boone as Harold Loomis, and Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Bynum Walker. Together, Andrew and Brett discuss the production's emotional power, the muscular beauty of Wilson's writing, the show's exploration of trauma and self-discovery, and why this revival feels both deeply historical and urgently contemporary.

*****

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro / Welcome Brett Radek

12:33 Setting the Stage

14:53 Hot Takes

40:30 Big Feels

48:02 Should You See It?

51:26 Outro

*****

ABOUT THE SHOW

See Joe Turner on Broadway: https://joeturnerbway.com/

*****

GUEST HOST LOVE

Follow Brett on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brettradek/

Follow Out/Play NYC on IG: https://www.instagram.com/outplaynyc

Support Out/Play NYC: https://linktr.ee/outplaynyc

*****

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Beaches is the new Broadway musical adaptation of Iris Rainer Dart's bestselling 1985 novel, which also inspired the beloved 1988 film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey. Tracing the decades-long friendship between aspiring performer C.C. Bloom and the more reserved Bertie White, the story follows the pair from childhood through love, ambition, heartbreak, and the many seasons of life that shape their bond. After previous stage incarnations in Arlington, Chicago, and Calgary, Beaches arrived on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre with a new creative team and a fresh musical adaptation centered more closely on Dart's original novel.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by actor, fitness coach, and entrepreneur Chris Crowthers to unpack the production's Broadway debut and the emotional themes at the heart of the story. Directed by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart, the production stars Jessica Vosk as C.C. Bloom and Kelli Barrett as Bertie White. Together, Andrew and Chris discuss Vosk's star-making performance, the show's visual design, the challenges of adapting such an iconic film for the stage, and this moving meditation on friendship, chosen family, and the rare people who stay beside you through every chapter of life.

*****

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro / Welcome Chris Crowthers

8:09 Setting the Stage

9:39 Hot Takes

28:26 Big Feels

44:45 Should You See It?

51:34 Outro

*****

ABOUT THE SHOW

Visit the Website: https://beachesthemusical.com/

*****

GUEST HOST LOVE

Follow Chris on IG: https://www.instagram.com/mrcrowthers/

Follow Project Weekend on IG: https://www.instagram.com/projectweekendny/

Shop at Project Weekend: https://www.projectweekendny.com/

*****

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Beetlejuice is the musical adaptation of Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic film, which follows the recently deceased Maitlands as they attempt to haunt the new family living in their home with the help of the chaotic and unpredictable Beetlejuice. Featuring a score by Eddie Perfect and a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, the show first opened on Broadway in 2019 before building a passionate fanbase through social media, its national tour, and a devoted younger theater audience. Blending supernatural comedy with emotional depth, the musical centers on Lydia Deetz, a grieving teenager searching for connection in a world that feels increasingly disconnected from her.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by Broadway veteran Shina Ann Morris-Fisher to unpack the most recent Broadway engagement of Beetlejuice at the newly restored Palace Theatre. Directed by Alex Timbers, the production starred Justin Collette as Beetlejuice and Isabella Esler as Lydia Deetz. Together, Andrew and Shina discuss the show's inventive staging, standout performances, massive production numbers, and why Beetlejuice has become one of Broadway's modern cult favorites.

*****

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro / Welcome Shina Ann Morris-Fisher

15:56 Setting the Stage

17:32 Hot Takes

34:35 Big Feels

41:11 Should You See It?

44:05 Theatre Memes

45:59 Road to Schmigadoon!

48:32 Outro

*****

ABOUT THE SHOW

Learn More: https://beetlejuicebroadway.com/

*****

GUEST HOST LOVE

Follow Shina on IG: https://www.instagram.com/shinamorris/

*****

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Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman premiered on Broadway in 1949 and remains one of the defining works of American theater. The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama follows aging salesman Willy Loman as he grapples with fading ambitions, financial pressure, and the increasingly elusive promise of the American Dream. Directed by Joe Mantello, the current Broadway revival stars Nathan Lane alongside Laurie Metcalf, Christopher Abbott, and Ben Ahlers, with scenic design by Chloe Lamford, lighting by Jack Knowles, and original music by Caroline Shaw.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by longtime friend and guest host Anna Pittman to unpack this stark new production. Together they discuss Mantello's stripped-down staging, the standout performances from the cast, and why Death of a Salesman continues to feel so relevant decades after its debut, particularly in its exploration of ambition, identity, success, and the pressure to matter in modern American life.

*****

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro / Welcome Anna Pittman

11:19 Setting the Stage

12:48 Hot Takes

30:24 Big Feels

49:00 Should You See It?

52:19 Outro

*****

GET TICKETS

Death of a Salesman Website: https://salesmanbroadway.com/#ticket-info

*****

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Liberation is a new play by Bess Wohl that examines the promises and contradictions of second-wave feminism through a dual-timeline narrative spanning the 1970s and the present day. Originally developed and produced by Roundabout Theatre Company, the play premiered Off-Broadway in early 2025 before transferring to Broadway in a production directed by Whitney White. Set largely in a community gymnasium in Ohio, the play follows a group of women participating in a consciousness-raising circle while a present-day narrator attempts to piece together the legacy—and limitations—of that movement.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by guest host Amanda "Wheels" Wheeler for a wide-ranging conversation on the play's performances, staging, and thematic resonance. Together, they unpack the show's use of direct address, its shifting portrayal of memory and identity, and the ways it interrogates feminism across generations. The discussion also explores standout character dynamics, the play's handling of race and intersectionality, and how Liberation ultimately functions as both a reflection on progress and a call to action for audiences today.

*****

CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro / Setting the Stage
1:48 - Welcome Amanda Wheeler
10:14 - Hot Takes
25:56 - Big Feels
40:30 - Should You See It?
45:12 - Outro

*****

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW

Liberation Website: https://liberationbway.com/

*****

GUEST HOST LOVE

Visit Wheels' Website: https://www.amandawheeler.com/

Connect on IG: https://www.instagram.com/wheelssnacks

*****

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Dog Day Afternoon is a new stage adaptation of the landmark 1975 film, itself based on a real-life 1972 bank robbery in Brooklyn that captured national attention. The story was first chronicled in a Life magazine article by P.F. Kluge and Thomas Moore before being adapted into the Oscar-winning screenplay by Frank Pierson. This Broadway production, written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by Rupert Goold, brings the chaotic hostage standoff to the stage with scenic design by David Korins. The cast is led by Jon Bernthal as Sonny, alongside Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jessica Hecht, John Ortiz, and more, reexamining the bizarre and media-fueled spectacle through a theatrical lens.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by guest co-host Joselyn Mujica to unpack this ambitious and often polarizing adaptation. They dive into standout performances, the striking set design, and the show's tonal inconsistencies, while also exploring the complexities of adapting true crime for the stage. The conversation digs into the play's handling of its central relationships, its shifting identity between drama and dark comedy, and the broader question of why this story is being told now.

*****

CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro / Welcome Joselyn Mujica
13:01 - Setting the Stage
15:16 - Hot Takes
35:27 - Big Feels
54:41 - Should You See It?
58:00 - Outro

*****

SEE DOG DAY AFTERNOON

Get Tickets: https://dogdayafternoon.com/tickets/

*****

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The Queen of Versailles is a new musical based on Lauren Greenfield's 2012 documentary, which follows billionaire couple Jackie and David Siegel as their plans to build the largest private home in America are upended by the 2008 financial crisis. After premiering in Boston in 2024, the production transferred to Broadway's St. James Theatre as one of the most anticipated new shows of the 2025–2026 season. The musical features a score by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Lindsey Ferrentino, and direction by Michael Arden, with a cast led by Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham, alongside a design team that leans fully into the scale and spectacle of the Siegel story.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by guest co-host Brent McCreary, a Broadway industry veteran and live entertainment strategist, to unpack this ambitious new musical. Together, they discuss standout performances (including Sherie Rene Scott who stood by for Kristin), the show's larger-than-life production elements, and what happens when real-life excess meets theatrical storytelling—while also exploring how two different performances in the same role can reshape the audience experience.

*****

CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro / Welcome Brent McCreary
7:15 - Setting the Stage
8:26 - Critical Darling Thesis
11:17 - Hot Takes
37:33 - Big Feels
43:53 - Should You See It?
48:40 - Outro

*****

MORE ON THE SHOW

Listen to the Cast Recording: https://tinyurl.com/ybnkma8z

*****

GUEST HOST LOVE

Follow Brent: https://www.instagram.com/crazyforconcerts/

*****

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Giant is a new play by British writer Mark Rosenblatt that explores a pivotal chapter in the life of Roald Dahl. Set in Dahl's family home in the summer of 1983, the story examines the fallout of a widely criticized literary review he published regarding the 1982 Lebanon War. Directed by Nicholas Hytner and featuring scenic and costume design by Bob Crowley, the production transferred from an award-winning run on the West End to Broadway with its original creative team intact. The cast is led by John Lithgow as Dahl, alongside Aya Cash, Elliot Levy, Rachael Stirling, Stella Everett, and David Manis.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by guest host Marissa Rosano, an accomplished vocal coach and longtime friend from their days at Belmont University. They discuss the sparse, symbolic set design and the "monster-like" intensity of Lithgow's performance. The conversation also tackles the play's timely relevance to modern cancel culture, the complex relationship between an artist and their work, and the unsettling parallels between Dahl's public controversies and those of contemporary figures like J.K. Rowling.

*****

CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro / Welcome Marissa Rosano
9:33 - Setting the Stage
11:35 - Hot Takes
28:52 - Big Feels
48:15 - Should You See It?
51:49 - Outro

*****

MORE ON GIANT

Get Tickets: https://gianttheplay.com/ticket-info

*****

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