Broadway Breakdown

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 Richie discuss with Matt personal favorites, what they’d hope to have win and ultimately what they think will win. Spoiler alert: it’s not always the same answer. And Matt finally discusses the behind the scenes turmoil that got Ragtime to the stage.

Important Links:
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown: Substack
* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube
* Half Hour w/ Jeff and Richie
Guest Information:
Jeff Malone and Richie Grasso are the co-hosts of the popular podcast Half Hour w/ Jeff and Richie. Together, they review shows On and Off Broadway throughout the theatre season, as well as interview the artists that made it all happen. Their concise and thoughtful insights bring a well-rounded perspective to the theatre discourse, making them perfect regular guests on Broadway Breakdown.
Time Stamps:
0:00:00 -Intro/Updates
0:03:55 -Sound Design of a Play
0:7:05 -Sound Design of a Musical
0:09:55 -Direction of a Musical
0:23:35 -Lighting Design of a Play
0:25:25 -Lighting Design of a Musical
0:32:05 -Direction of a Play
0:39:00 -Costume Design of a Play
0:41:30 -Costume Design of a Musical
0:48:00 -Leading Actress in a Musical
0:57:26 -Orchestrations
1:01:32 -Score
1:16:55 -Scenic Design of a Play
1:21:00 -Scenic Design of a Musical
1:24:25 -Choreography
1:29:50 -Book of a Musical
1:35:50 -Revival of a Play
1:37:00 -Featured Actor in a Play
1:42:00 -Featured Actress in a Musical
1:49:49 -Featured Actress in a Play
1:54:10 -Featured Actor in a Musical
1:59:55 -Play
2:01:10 -Leading Actor in a Musical
2:03:00 -Leading Actor in a Play
2:07:05 -Leading Actress in a Play
2:13:40 -Revival of a Musical
2:20:05 -Musical
Listener Discussion Questions:
“What category are you most confident in predicting this year? What category are you least?”
“How important is it to look at past trends in order to predict future winners?”
“How is PINK gonna do as a host?!?!?!”


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com

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 wins. PLUS! A fun interview with the star and co-creator of Blood/Love Carey Renee Sharp! Check it out!!

Important Links:
* Broadway Breakdown Live: Green Room 42 Tix!
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown: Substack
* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube

Time Stamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - Discussion w/ Robbie Rozelle
1:14:37 - Interview w/ Carey Renee Sharp

Listener Discussion Questions:
“Do you think a Legacy Win is real? Who would you say has won it?”
“Do you think this is a year where nostalgia will be rewarded or uncertain future?”
“Do you determine a revival’s success on the quality of the material being revived?”


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com

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 this year’s nominations reveal about the current state of Broadway. From voter psychology to industry hype cycles to the emotional chaos of awards season itself, the episode balances sharp analysis with genuine love for theater and the people who obsess over it.
Guest InformationAlan Seales is the creator and host of The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales, one of the leading interview podcasts focused on Broadway artists and creatives. Known for thoughtful, actor-centered conversations and deep industry insight, Alan has become a trusted voice within the theater community through years of interviewing performers, writers, directors, and behind-the-scenes creatives across stage and screen.
Important Links
* Broadway DropShop
* Broadway Breakdown Live: The (Slightly Early) Tony Awards Show Tix!
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown: Substack
* Broadway Breakdown Youtube
Listener discussion questions
* Do Tony Awards narratives shape the industry too heavily, or are they simply part of what makes Broadway exciting?
* Which nominated show or performance do you think audiences and voters are responding to for completely different reasons?
* In an increasingly crowded entertainment landscape, what should the Tony Awards prioritize most: artistry, commercial viability, innovation, or cultural impact?


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com

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, what didn’t, and which productions lingered long after curtain call. Along the way, the episode becomes less a definitive “best to worst” list and more a snapshot of a season defined by big swings, divided reactions, and wildly different ideas of what Broadway should be right now.
Important Links
* Broadway Breakdown Live: Green Room 42 Tix!
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown: Substack
* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube
Time Stamps
* 0:00 – Intro + ranking criteria explanation
* 4:27 – #50
* 6:05 – #49
* 9:05 – #48
* 12:57 – #47
* 16:27 – #46
* 18:40 – #45
* 21:51 – #44
* 24:58 – #43
* 27:36 – #42
* 29:37 – #41
* 32:50 – #40
* 36:57 – #39
* 39:33 – #38
* 43:12 – #37
* 44:55 – #36
* 47:06 – #35
* 48:27 – #34
* 50:49 – #33
* 54:36 – #32
* 57:21 – #31
* 58:58 – #30
* 1:00:52 – #29
* 1:03:13 – #28
* 1:05:52 – #27
* 1:09:50 – #26
* 1:11:45 – #25
* 1:13:10 – #24
* 1:16:02 – #23
* 1:22:17 – #22
* 1:27:07 – #21
* 1:29:52 – #20
* 1:32:07 – #19
* 1:35:35 – #18
* 1:41:15 – #17
* 1:42:55 – #16
* 1:48:23 – #15
* 1:50:11 – #14
* 1:52:38 – #13
* 1:56:45 – #12
* 1:59:17 – #11
* 2:02:14 – #10
* 2:04:43 – #9
* 2:07:52 – #8
* 2:10:32 – #7
* 2:14:17 – #6
* 2:16:44 – #5
* 2:19:17 – #4
* 2:22:25 – #3
* 2:25:51 – #2
* 2:27:35 – #1 + final reflections on the season
Listener discussion questions
* “What was your personal favorite show of the 2025/2026 Broadway season—and did critical consensus line up with your own ranking?”
* “Which production do you think will age the best over time, regardless of awards success?”
* “Are there shows this season you admired more than you actually enjoyed—and how do you separate those two reactions?”


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com

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 what they might signal for the winners.
Important Links
* Broadway Breakdown Live: The (Slightly Early) Tony Awards Show Tix!
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown Substack
* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube
Guest InfoRachael Anderson and Will Anderson are avid theater fans and commentators known for their sharp takes and deep engagement with the Broadway community (@thetheaterlovers), bringing both enthusiasm and thoughtful critique to awards season conversations.
Listener Discussion Questions
* “Which nomination (or omission) surprised you the most this year—and why?”
* “Do the nominations reflect the best of the season, or the strongest narratives?”
* “Based on these nominations, which races feel locked—and which are still wide open heading into the ceremony?”


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com