Call Me Izzy (w/ Nikki Murdock)

Call Me Izzy is a new play by Jamie Wax that arrived on Broadway as the first show in the 25/26 season and a star vehicle for Emmy-winning actress Jean Smart, marking her return to the stage. Set in the American South during the late 1980s, the one-woman play centers on Izzy, a sharp-witted writer whose life has been shaped by quiet compromises and difficult choices. Through humor, poetry, and personal reflection, Izzy gradually reveals the emotional landscape of a marriage marked by control and violence while holding tight to the creative instincts that sustain her.  Host Andrew Cole is joined in this episode by guest co-host Nikki Murdock to unpack this intimate production, discussing Jean Smart's commanding solo performance and the storytelling rhythm of Jamie Wax's script. They explore Sarna Lapine's restrained staging and how the play blends humor, vulnerability, and self-expression to illuminate a deeply personal story while inviting audiences to reflect on the unseen struggles shaping people's lives. ***** CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro / Setting the Stage 1:23 - Welcome Nikki Murdock 6:49 - Hot Takes 21:59 - Big Feels 32:54 - Should You See It? 37:48 - Outro ***** MORE ON CALL ME IZZY Read the Broadway.com Feature: https://www.broadway.com/buzz/205766/jamie-wax-on-call-me-izzy-the-one-woman-show-he-built-from-a-lifetime-of-talking-to-strangers/   Vist the Show Website: https://callmeizzyplay.com/  ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Follow Nikki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkipoppinsrn Follow Nikki on TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/nikkipoppinsrn  ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://open.spotify.com/show/3n4Gr7rDQAJpobM1pb1gDD YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://www.youtube.com/@criticaldarlingpod Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/critical-darling/id1870444384 Instagram - Follow & Connect https://www.instagram.com/criticaldarlingpod?igsh=MWZ0ZWtyeTQzaGwxcg== Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e925c14a-0d59-40f1-856b-b7dc9c32fa09 TikTok - Follow & Connect https://www.tiktok.com/@criticaldarlingpod?_r=1&_t=ZT-93HfSIERtvS