"Eternal youth is worth a little suffering..." It's big, it's bold, it's BACK! The British Invasion comes to a crashing halt with the landing of the Desmond Mansion, bankrupting a billion dollar production company and causing multiple leading ladies to claw at Andrew Lloyd Webber's throat. That's right...it's SUNSET BOULEVARD. Friend of the Pod Justin Mendoza (BOOK OF MORMON, WICKED) comes back to the Breakdown to discuss with Matt all things belting, turbans, and dead monkeys. The two also discuss melodrama, camp, and the Judy Kuhn of it All. LET'S HAVE LUNCH, SQUIRREL!

Broadway Breakdown

SUNSET BOULEVARD w/ Justin Mendoza

"Did you hear the story of the Johnstone twins...?" It ran for over 20 years on the West End...and for 2 on Broadway. It's about class, murder, and...Marilyn Monroe? Just roll with it! Fellow podcaster Kyle Marshall (PUTTING IT TOGETHER) joins the Breakdown to talk about the British sensation that barely made a blip across the pond. The two also discuss overusing similes, avoiding your fate, and the double edged sword of adults playing children. SHOES ON THE TABLE!!

BLOOD BROTHERS w/ Kyle Marshall

"Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world..." It's the longest running Broadway production. The ultimate "Mask4Mask" musical. The show that's kept classic sopranos employed for over 30 years. It's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA! That's right: the most enduring Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is here to be discussed and debated. Long-time friend Sofia Christensen joins the Breakdown to talk with Matt about reliving trauma, fangirling over Meg and Carlotta, and why it's best not to ask questions. SING FOR ME!

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA w/ Sofia Christensen

"Do you hear the people sing?" C'est le gros chien: LES MISÉRABLES! Aka LES MIZ! The epic 3 hour pop-opera is given the epic Breakdown treatment with the grand return of our dearly loved Sutton Lee Seymour(@suttonleeseymour)!! Matt and Sutton get Parisian as they discuss the worldwide phenomenon and its impact on theatre kids everywhere. The two also discuss ruining your life over carbs, that time Matt sang in a recording of the show, and how LES MIZ uses repeated melodies correctly. BRING IT HOME, JEAN!

LES MISÉRABLES w/ Sutton Lee Seymour

"The sun has got his hat on!" It's the revival NO ONE saw coming! Yes, we're talking about the smash musical comedy ME AND MY GIRL! Fellow Broadway podcasters Kristina Miller-Weston and Bobby Traversa (MY FAVORITE FLOP) come on the Breakdown to discuss the 30's West End musical that found a second, richer life in the 1980's and went up against some major heavyweights! The three also discuss the weird romances in British aristocracy, the trickiness of doing a star vehicle, and why this extremely fun musical is basically a murder-less Agatha Christie novel. Doing the Lambeth Walk! OI!

ME AND MY GIRL w/ My Favorite Flop

"All these DOORS!" It's a gut-busting, pants-dropping, door-slamming night at the theatre! It has violence! It has alcohol! It has SARDINES! We're talking about the all-time classic farce NOISES OFF! Breakdown Friend Adam Elsberry (@adamels) returns to discuss with Matt the joys of British comedy, censorship on the London stage, and the kitty cat joke that's almost too risque for television. Join in the fun!!!!

NOISES OFF! w/ Adam Elsberry

"Jellicles can and Jellicles do." You know it, you hate it, you love it, you secretly know at least two songs from it...it's CATS! Good friend and Sastress Amanda Lee Hawkins (@imamandahawkins) comes on the Breakdown to explore with Matt this feline fever dream that somehow ran for decades around the world. The two also discuss how horniness overrides most emotions, the song in CATS that no one expected to cry at, and the time Matt shouted Kerry Butler's age at BEETLEJUICE. TOUCH ME!!!!!!

CATS w/ Amanda Lee Hawkins

"What's On?" If we're talking British imports, then we gotta talk about the West End's ultimate incubator for Broadway transfers: The Royal National Theatre!! Specifically, 4 BIG, IMPORTANT, SEXY PLAYS from the National. Breakdown Regular Ali Gordon (@msalicenutting) helps Matt tackle the the first National play to come Broadway (ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD), the first to become a sensation (EQUUS), one of the many unjustly overshadowed(THE PILLOWMAN), and the epic spectacle that made the Tonys question themselves (WAR HORSE). The two also discuss the importance of nonprofit theatre, casting celebrities to do Stoppard, and the Real Housewives. HEADS!

THE NATIONAL THEATRE w/ Ali Gordon

"What's new, Buenos Aires?" Things are HEATING UP with the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice Belt-A-Thon...EVITA! Even though the sung through "rock opera" is the team's follow up to their controversial SUPERSTAR, EVITA truly marks the team's arrival on the theatre scene...and their invasion of Broadway. Guest and Patti Lupone impressionist Jonathan Hoover (@inappropriatepatti ) joins Matt to discuss their favorite actresses who've played the fascist First Lady of Argentina Eva Peron, when Andrew Lloyd Webber used to get weird, and whether this classic musical is ACTUALLY good. DON'T CRY FOR US!!

EVITA w/ Jonathan Hoover

"Please Sir, I want some more..." Welcome to the NEWEST series on Broadway Breakdown: The British Invasion, covering imports from the West End to our beloved Broadway! First up: OLIVER! Exclamation Point! The British Wave didn't start with this adaptation from the Charles Dickens novel, but it sure got its momentum from it. Guest Margaret Hall (GEMIGNANI) comes on to discuss with Matt the dark family entertainment plus its infamous sequel DODGER, the debate of whether the movie is better than the stage show, and why Matt is average. CONSIDER YOURSELF ONE OF US!

OLIVER! w/ Margaret Hall

"Look at it, LOOK AT IT!" Guest/Alum of the Pod Jimmy Larkin (@letshearitforthechoice) closes out the Sondheim Series with ROAD SHOW(aka BOUNCE, aka WISE GUYS)! The two discuss why it took almost 20 years for the show to make it to NYC, lawsuits, and why writing a musical about incest may NOT be a great idea Plus! Matt reveals his official ranking of all the Sondheim musicals AND an announcement on the subject of the next series. BET YOUR LITTLE, TITTY BOY!

ROAD SHOW w/ Jimmy Larkin

IN THE HEIGHTS came out in theaters this week! What did Matt think? More importantly what did our resident movie musical critic, Matt's Mom, think?! Can a light entertainment be deep? Is it possible to have TOO many good ideas? And how are we all misusing hyperboles? FIND OUT!

Reviewing IN THE HEIGHTS (w/ Mom!)

"Brek-kek-kek-kek!" Stephen Sondheim, Susan Stroman, and Nathan Lane...how could it lose? Well, we're gonna find out EXACTLY how. Breakdown Legend Ali Gordon comes aboard the River Styx to discuss with Matt the last new Sondheim score to hit Broadway...THE FROGS! And Ali is our Frogs expert because the bitch has actually SEEN the damn show! What a treat! The two discuss their time at theatre camp, meeting Nathan Lane at the stage door, and whether a show that makes fart jokes has the right to try to teach you a lesson. ALL ABOARD!

THE FROGS w/ Ali Gordon

"Everybody's got the right to be happy..." It took 13 years... but it got to Broadway and won some Tonys, to boot! That's right. We're talking ASSASSINS! This week, Matt is joined by musical artist Erin Markey to discuss the political-LSD-vaudeville and all the hang ups that go with it. The two also discuss Erin's experience performing as Squeaky Fromme at City Center, the importance of wigs, and why Matt is much more basic than originally thought. WE ARE UNWORTHY OF THIS EPISODE!

ASSASSINS w/ Erin Markey

"This is nice, isn't it...?" Special guest Kevin Metzger-Timson (MT Trivia, Tara Rubin Casting) joins Matt to discuss the first fully formed musical Sondheim wrote: SATURDAY NIGHT! Despite being his first, it took almost 50 years to come to New York and even then...never got to Broadway. Matt and Kevin converse over the early mistakes of Sondheim, the insanely stacked cast of the show's NY premiere and SATURDAY NIGHT'S connection to an Oscar-winning actress that Matt has a signed movie poster from. What more do you NEED?!

SATURDAY NIGHT w/ Kevin Metzger-Timson

Matt Koplik and John Wascavage have a deep love for all things Broadway and have no filter. Join them as they discuss the ins and outs of the Broadway theatre scene on Broadway Breakdown: Broadway's filthiest podcast.

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Broadway Breakdown

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