PODCAST · arts
Broadway Breakdown
by Matt Koplik
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
Episodes
-
Patreon Preview: JUKEBOX THAT MUSICAL Lady Gaga w/ Ali Gordon and John Wascavage
Fame, humanity...DEMONS?!?!? We’re reviving Jukebox That Musical!! And who better to bring it back than Bio Mother John Wascavage and Podmother Ali Gordon? Matt, John and Ali go through the catalogue of Lady Gaga (thanks to your votes) and come up with a bonkers musical that’s part social...
-
Matt’s London Trip (aka WE’RE BACK!)
Matt went to London and saw 8 shows. Also…we’re back!!!! Take a journey as Matt struggles to travel anywhere and wipes himself out seeing more shows than he had days in England. Important Links: * Broadway Breakdown Discord: Join Here * Broadway Breakdown Green Room (Patreon): Join Here *…
more -
Patreon Preview: FANTASY DRAFT (Best Actress in a Musical Tony Winners)
Full Episode Here: The Broadway Breakdown Green Room INTRODUCING! The debut of the Broadway Breakdown FANTASY DRAFT! It’s like Fantasy Football. Except without the pesky football. And without a cash prize. Just all of your opinions on what we picked. Breakdown regulars Adam Elsberry (@adamels),...
-
Matt Reviews: Summer Drama Desk Shows & theater.games w/ Matt Rodin!
Matt is a fancy Drama Desk voter now, which means he has to see a LOT more shows! It’s quiet on Broadway right now, so Matt’s been seeing a whole bunch of Off-Broadway productions and he’s coming back early on the Breakdown to do a Summer Review Wrap Up! Followed up by a talk with Matt Rodin...
-
BONUS: Matt on Behind the Awards
While you’re waiting for Broadway Breakdown to come back in full, enjoy this crossover bonus episode of Matt on the podcast Behind the Awards. Once again talking all things Fall Broadway!!! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...
-
Submit Your Q's for Matt's A's (get your mind out of the gutter!)
New episodes will be coming again before you know it, but until that happens check into the Broadway Breakdown Green Room and submit your question’s for our first exclusive Q&A! Plus some other updates about how Matt’s Drama Desk voter-ship will effect the podcast. Join the Green Room and Submit...
-
Patreon Preview: The Top 50 Opening Numbers
It’s our first Patreon exclusive!!!! Take a listen and decide if you want to get inside the Broadway Breakdown Green Room: Join Us Here! Friends of the pod Robbie Rozelle (@divarobbie), Rachael Anderson and Will Anderson (@the_theater_lovers) have come along to compile a list (with some help of...
-
Deep Dive: NEXT TO NORMAL w/ Brian Nash
WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of mental health and su*cide. Caution before listening. And with that, Matt’s Picks has come to a close with the final choice: NEXT TO NORMAL. Former guest Brian Nash (@brianjnash) returns to discuss the Tony/Pulitzer winning musical and many (though…
more -
Deep Dive: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA w/ Adam Elsberry
“It’s a new old world and we are FINALLY here!!” After years of playing the overture for listeners, Matt is FINALLY getting the chance to do a deep dive on what--he believes--is the best musical theatre score of the 21st century: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. And who better to discuss this romantic,...
-
Broadway Breakdown: Some News
2 more weeks before we go dark for the month. And once you’ve finished listening to the news…GO TO OUR BRAND NEW PATREON! * Broadway Breakdown PATREON LINK!!! WOOHOO!!! Other Important Links: * Broadway Breakdown Discord * Broadway Breakdown: Substack * Broadway Breakdown: Youtube Listener...
-
Matt Reviews: HEATED RIVALRY THE (UNAUTHORIZED) PARODY MUSICAL
“I’m coming to the cottage.” Whether that line means something to or not, you should pay attention: HEATED RIVALRY is one of the best, if not THE best, new musical playing in New York. Smart, stupid, sexy, sassy, with a load of well crafted musical theater songs, Matt is taken aback by just how...
-
Lessons from This Broadway Season w/ Sean Nyberg
The 2025-2026 Broadway season may be over, but there are still lessons to learn as we plunge into the 2026-2027 season. And that’s why we have Sean Nyberg with us! Sean, a longtime fan of the Breakdown, makes his podcast debut to discuss his first season as a producer: what he’s learned, what…
more -
"Where are the New Musicals?"
Matt was gonna take a week off but Michael Paulson decided to write an article. Matt goes into the latest NY Times “Doom and Gloom” piece about the state of Broadway musicals and what it gets right…and what it leaves out. Is the Broadway musical doomed? Or is this a turning point? Matt looks at...
-
Deep Dive: SHE LOVES ME w/ Leah Horowitz
Oh boy! We’re back with a good old fashioned Deep Dive. And it just so happens to be on one of the best, most under-appreciated, musicals of all time: SHE LOVES ME! Matt is joined by Broadway actress Leah Horowitz (Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage Aux Folles, Les Miserables) to discuss the...
-
2026 Tony Awards: Recap and Reaction w/ John Wascavage
It was QUITE the Tony telecast ladies and germs. And Matt is here to discuss it all with a longtime friend and backstabbing assailant John Wascavage! Matt and John get into that immediately legendary opening number, winners they were thankful for, and unaware hypocrisy in the theater community....
-
2026 Tony Awards: Final Predictions w/ Richie Grasso and Jeff Malone
It’s finally…almost over. The 79th Annual Tony Awards are in a few days, which means we gotta hunker down and make our FINAL predictions on this year’s winners. Coming back full circle with us is friends of the Breakdown Richie Grasso and Jeff Malone (HALF HOUR w/ JEFF AND RICHIE). Jeff and…
more -
Tony Awards: Then, Now & What to Learn w/ Robbie Rozelle (Bonus Chat w/ Carey Renee Sharp)
Pudding season is almost over. But before we can do final predictions, we need to look back at Tony Awards of the past to make sense of our Tony Awards future. Friend of the pod Robbie Rozelle (@divarobbie) returns to drum up some fun Tony trivia and discuss patterns and evolutions of Tony Award...
-
Making Sense of the 2026 Tonys w/ Alan Seales
Matt is joined by longtime theater podcaster Alan Seales for a wide-ranging conversation attempting to make sense of one of the messiest and most unpredictable Tony seasons in recent memory. Together, they unpack how narratives form, why certain shows over-perform while others stall, and what…
more -
Matt Ranks (almost) Every Show of the 2025/2026 Season
After a full Broadway season of transfers, star vehicles, ambitious new musicals, baffling misfires, and surprise favorites, Matt finally attempts the impossible: ranking (almost) every show from the 2025/2026 season. From major Tony contenders to chaotic curiosities, he revisits what worked…
more -
2026 Tony Awards: Nomination Reactions w/ The Theater Lovers!
Matt is joined by passionate theater voices Rachael Anderson and Will Anderson for an immediate, no-filter reaction to the 2026 Tony Award nominations. From expected frontrunners to shocking omissions, the trio breaks down what the nominations reveal about this season’s shifting narratives—and…
more -
2026 Tony Awards: Big Swings, Loud Pleas and Final Predictions
Matt gathers a panel of trusted Tony obsessives for one last, no-holds-barred conversation before nominations: big swings, chaotic predictions, and the kinds of industry narratives that can quietly shape outcomes. Together, they unpack how momentum, perception, and voter psychology are colliding…
more -
Matt Reviews: THE LOST BOYS
Matt dives into The Lost Boys, the musical adaptation of the cult-favorite film. Matt unpacks its dark, teen-vampire energy and how (or if) it succeeds on stage. He explores the show’s tonal balancing act—camp vs. sincerity, nostalgia vs. reinvention—and whether the material sustains itself as a...
-
Matt Reviews: JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE & THE BALUSTERS
Matt takes on two plays operating at very different registers: a revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone and the sharp, contemporary satire The Balusters. One is a richly layered American classic exploring identity, history, and spiritual belonging; the other, a biting ensemble…
more -
Matt Reviews: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW & THE FEAR OF 13
Matt dives into two wildly different theatrical experiences: The Rocky Horror Show and The Fear of 13. One leans into camp and audience participation, the other a stark, psychological portrait rooted in real-life events. Matt explores how each production navigates tone, performance demands, and...
-
Matt Reviews: PROOF, BECKY SHAW & EVERY BRILLIANT THING
Matt tackles a trio of plays that each grapple—very differently—with intellect, identity, and emotional survival: the revival of Proof, the biting dark comedy Becky Shaw, and the intimate, audience-driven Every Brilliant Thing. From questions of legacy and authorship to razor-sharp social satire...
-
Matt Reviews: BEACHES & FALLEN ANGELS
Matt takes on a double bill of female friendship on Broadway: the champagne-fueled revival of Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels and the long-gestating new musical Beaches. Matt digs into performance highlights, structural issues, and what—if anything—either show has going for it as the Tony Awards race...
-
Matt Reviews: SCHMIGADOON!
Matt takes on the Broadway transfer of Schmigadoon!, unpacking why the stage adaptation works better for him than the original series—while still falling short of greatness. He dives into the show’s Golden Age inspirations, the tension between parody and sincerity, and where the book and score…
more -
Matt Reviews: GIANT, DOG DAY AFTERNOON & DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Matt dives into three very different theatrical experiences: the provocative West End transfer Giant, the uneven stage adaptation of Dog Day Afternoon, and a bold new revival of Death of a Salesman. From thorny questions of artistic responsibility and antisemitism to misjudged tonal shifts and a...
-
Matt Reviews: TITANIQUE
After a beloved and successful Off-Broadway run, Titanique has finally arrived on Broadway at the St. James Theatre. And Matt is here to review it! Exploring whether the delirious parody of Titanic can scale up to a 1,000+ seat Broadway house, Matt also discussed new cast members, updated jokes,...
-
Matt Reviews: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL
Matt delivers a full-throated review of his most anticipated musical production this season: Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Not just a revival of the world-infamous musical Cats, but a ballroom-inspired queer explosion, transferred from the PAC in 2024. After seeing it twice (and once downtown), Matt...
-
Tony Awards 2026: What's Changed w/ Sam Eckmann
As the 2025/2026 barrels towards the finish line, Matt is joined by Breakdown fave Sam Eckmann (Gold Derby) to discuss how this year’s Tony race has changed. From a surprisingly thin Best Musical field to a hyper-competitive Play Revival race, they explore how industry sentiment, voter behavior,...
-
Deep Dive: ALL THAT JAZZ w/ Ali Gordon
Few films blur the line between autobiography and spectacle quite like All That Jazz. In this Deep Dive, Matt is joined by Podmother Ali Gordon to unpack this fever dream of a film that acts as both a harsh backstage look of the world of Broadway and an ever harsher self-portrait of director Bob...
-
Broadway Birthday Q & A
It’s Matt’s birthday (almost), which means it’s time for the annual tradition: handing the mic (metaphorically) over to the listeners. In this wide-ranging, unfiltered Q&A, Matt tackles everything from dream casting do-overs and Broadway flops to industry gossip, personal reflections, and the...
-
Matt Reviews: THE WILD PARTY (Encores)
In this episode, Matt takes on The Wild Party at City Center Encores!, digging into its place in the musical theater canon, how this production stacks up, and whether the piece’s notorious decadence still hits—or just lingers. Important LinkBroadway Breakdown: Substack Broadway Breakdown: Discord...
-
BACKSTAGE PASS: The Future or Marcel on the Train w/ Mitch Marois & Maxwell Beer
Backstage Pass is a special Broadway Breakdown mini-series taking listeners behind the curtain of the Off-Broadway production Marcel on the Train at Classic Stage Company. Across the season, we’ve explored every layer of the process—from producing and writing to design and performance—offering a...
-
BACKSTAGE PASS: Designing Marcel on the Train
Backstage Pass is a special Broadway Breakdown mini-series taking listeners behind the curtain of the Off-Broadway production Marcel on the Train at Classic Stage Company. Across the series, host Matt Koplik sits down with the artists shaping the production—from producers and writers to the...
-
BACKSTAGE PASS: Creating Marcel on the Train w/ Ethan Slater & Marshall Pailet
Series SummaryBackstage Pass is a new mini-series from Broadway Breakdown that pulls back the curtain on the making of a show in real time. In this episode, Matt sits down with the creators of Marcel on the Train—writer/star Ethan Slater and writer/director Marshall Pailet—to explore how the...
-
BACKSTAGE PASS: Premiering Marcel on the Train w/ Jill Rafson
Backstage Pass is a special mini-series from Broadway Breakdown that pulls back the curtain on how a show actually gets made. Across the series, we follow the Off-Broadway premiere of Marcel on the Train—from early conversations and creative development to opening night—through candid…
more -
BACKSTAGE PASS: Producing Marcel on the Train w/ Mitch Marois and Maxwell Beer
Series SummaryWelcome to Backstage Pass, the brand-new mini-series from Broadway Breakdown. Whether it’s analyzing shows from yesteryear or documenting the process as it happens, we’re here to pull back the curtain and give you the inside scoop. First up: the Off-Broadway journey of Marcel on the...
-
Updated Tony Eligibility, Broadway Casting, and New Shows...OH MY!
It’s a bite-sized Broadway Breakdown this week as Matt catches up on some big Broadway news: The Tony Awards Administration releases more eligibility rulings, TITANIQUE, SCHMIGADOON and ROCKY HORROR all announced the rest of their casting…not to mention Encores’ WILD PARTY. Plus The Fear of 13...
-
Deep Dive: HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE w/ Margaret Hall
CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode discusses a play which depicts predatorial relationships, sexual assault, and grooming. In this episode, Matt sits down with Breakdown fam Margaret Hall (Playbill, Gemignani) to unpack Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play How I Learned to Drive. Together…
more -
Deep Dive: CABARET (Part 2) w/ Tom Pecinka
Episode SummaryIn the conclusion of our two-part deep dive into Cabaret, Matt is joined once again by Tom Pecinka to unpack the musical’s legacy, reinventions, and enduring cultural impact. From the iconic 1972 film to radically reimagined revivals, this episode explores how Cabaret continues to...
-
Deep Dive: CABARET (Part 1) w/ Tom Pecinka
In this first installment, Matt and Tony nominee Tom Pecinka (Stereophonic) unpack one of Broadway’s most endlessly reinvented—and debated—musicals: Cabaret. From its roots as a radical concept musical to the ever-evolving interpretations of the Emcee and Sally Bowles, this episode explores why...
-
Matt in London: PADDINGTON, INTO THE WOODS, STARLIGHT EXPRESS & More
Matt takes Broadway Breakdown across the pond with a candid, opinionated rundown of his January London theatre trip—covering big-budget spectacle, prestige revivals, crowd-pleasing comedy, and one very lovable bear. From roller-skating Andrew Lloyd Webber excess to a visually inventive Into the...
-
Tony Awards 2026: A Way Too Early Chat w/ Richie Grasso and Jeff Malone
It’s never too early to argue about the Tonys. In this episode, Matt is joined by Broadway obsessives Richie Grasso and Jeff Malone (Half Hour, Half Hour with Jeff & Richie ) to make wildly premature, deeply passionate predictions about the current season. Together, they size up contenders, clock...
-
Deep Dive: CHICAGO (Movie) w/ Casey Balsham
Matt revisits the Oscar-winning 2002 film adaptation of Chicago to unpack how it cracked the code for movie musicals in the 21st century. Joined by Casey Balsham (podcast It’s Broadway B*tch), the two explore why Chicago’s cinematic choices worked where so many others failed, how the film…
more -
Matt Ranks: The 2025 Theatre Season (mostly)
The year has ended, but the season is still going. So we’re doing what Broadway Breakdown does best…reviewing and ranking!!! Matt saw nearly 30 shows so far this season both Broadway and Off-Broadway and he wants to gather his thoughts on how he feels about them all. Some good, a few great, a...
-
Deep Dive: THE GLASS MENAGERIE w/ Amy Jo Jackson
Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie is one of the most produced and most analyzed plays in the American canon…and now it’s our turn! Matt and guest Amy Jo Jackson explore the play’s autobiographical roots and why memory—not realism—is the engine that drives its enduring emotional power. From...
-
Deep Dive: THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? w/ Robert W. Schneider
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…
more -
Deep Dive: NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 (Part 2) w/ Natalie Walker
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...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
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
HOSTED BY
Matt Koplik
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Broadway Breakdown have?
Broadway Breakdown currently has 348 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Broadway Breakdown about?
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...
How often does Broadway Breakdown release new episodes?
Broadway Breakdown publishes regularly with 348 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Broadway Breakdown?
You can listen to Broadway Breakdown on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Broadway Breakdown?
Broadway Breakdown is created and hosted by Matt Koplik.
URL copied to clipboard!