Matt reviews the 2026 Off-Broadway immersive ‘Phantom of the Opera’ production ‘Masquerade’

Patreon: BroadwayRadio
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For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the episode name.

To purchase tickets to see the show, click here:
https://masqueradenyc.com/

Breaking down the Broadway grosses and major theatre news

Patreon: BroadwayRadio
https://www.patreon.com/broadwayradio

For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the episode name.

1) Last week’s Broadway grosses:
https://www.broadwayleague.com/research/grosses-broadway-nyc/

2) ‘Chess’ to close on Broadway when Lea Michele departs in June
https://deadline.com/2026/05/chess-closing-broadway-lea-michele-1236921116/

3) Louis-Drefus, Janney, Harris to lead ‘Other Desert Cities’ on Broadway
https://deadline.com/2026/05/julia-louis-dreyfus-broadway-other-desert-cities-ed-harris-1236920897/

4) Tony Awards news

Original cast of ‘Book of Mormon’ to perform at the Tonys
https://playbill.com/article/original-stars-of-the-book-of-mormon-will-reunite-for-a-special-performance-at-the-2026-tony-awards

All nominated musicals will perform at the Tonys
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2026/05/21/the-tony-awards-to-feature-showstopping-performances-by-all-of-the-best-musical-and-best-revival-of-a-musical-nominees-452112/20260521cbs02/

Benanti, Burgess to host Act One preshow
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2026/05/20/laura-benanti-and-tituss-burgess-to-host-the-tony-awards-act-one-437115/20260520cbs02/

5) Off-Broadway Alliance Awards announces winners
https://playbill.com/article/mexodus-masquerade-more-win-2026-off-broadway-alliance-awards

6) Show and casting news

Rachel Zegler-led ‘Evita’ announces home and dates
https://playbill.com/article/jamie-lloyd-directed-evita-finds-a-broadway-home

Krysta Rodriguez to join Broadway’s ‘Chicago’ as Roxie Hart
https://playbill.com/article/krysta-rodriguez-will-join-broadway-cast-of-chicago

‘The Housemaid’ being adapted for the stage
https://deadline.com/2026/05/the-housemaid-broadway-1236915118/

‘Two Strangers’ announces national tour
https://deadline.com/2026/05/two-strangers-carry-a-cake-across-new-york-broadway-tour-1236918358/

‘Schmigadoon’ announces national tour
https://deadline.com/2026/05/schmigadoon-broadway-tour-1236917290/

‘Heathers’ announces national tour
https://playbill.com/article/heathers-off-broadway-revival-is-going-on-tour

Matt reviews the 2026 Off-Broadway revival of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’

Patreon: BroadwayRadio
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For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the episode name.

To purchase tickets to see the show, click here:
https://spellingbeenyc.com/

Matt reviews the 2026 Broadway revival of ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’

Patreon: BroadwayRadio
https://www.patreon.com/broadwayradio

For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the episode name.

To purchase tickets to see the show, click here:
https://joeturnerbway.com/

Matt reviews the original Broadway production of ‘Becky Shaw’

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For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the episode name.

To purchase tickets to see the show, click here:
https://2st.com/shows/becky-shaw

Peter Filichia, James Marino, and Michael Portantiere talk about the their takes on the awards season (so far). Reviews include Broken Snow @ Theatre 71, Pippin @ Signature Theater (VA), Well I’ll Let You Go @ Studio Seaview, and Thornton Wilder’s The Emporium @ Classic Stage Company.

“This Week on Broadway” has been coming to you every week since 2009. It is the longest-running running Broadway and theatrical podcast with hundreds of shows giving thousands of reviews and interviews.

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Patreon listeners get This Week on Broadway first, on Sunday afternoon before it is released to the general public on Sunday evening.

Panel:

Peter Filichia | [email protected] | Facebook
PETER FILICHIA is a playwright, journalist, and historian with a number of books. Peter’s new day-by-day desk calendar – A SHOW TUNE FOR TODAY – 366 Songs to Brighten Your Year – is available at finer retailers!

80th Annual Theatre World Awards June 2, 2026 • Longacre Theatre, NYC

Showtune for Today: They Both Reached for the Gun from Chicago: Original Cast Album

Michael Portantiere | [email protected] | Facebook
MICHAEL PORTANTIERE has been a theater journalist for more than 50 years. The founder and editor of CastAlbumReviews.com. He is also a theatrical photographer whose photos have appeared in The New York Times and other publications, and he writes reviews of cabaret shows for NiteLifeExchange.com. Additionally, Michael is known as a producer and director of shows at 54 Below, the Laurie Beechman Theatre, and other venues.

Last Tuesday, May 19: 54 Sings Lerner & Loewe @ 54 Below

Spamilton @ 54 Below

July 1-3: See Michael in 1776! @ Ghostlight Players on Staten Island

James Marino | [email protected] | Facebook
BroadwayStars

Note: This week we had listeners join us while recording. These listeners are Patreon members who support BroadwayRadio. If you would like to join us in the future, become a supporter at Patreon.com/BroadwayRadio.

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Topic: Awards Season

MP: Drama Desk Awards Ceremony @ Town Hall

Drama Desk Awards Find a New Home for 2027 by Andrew Gans
The annual awards celebrate Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway theatre.

2025-2026 Tony Awards Nominations Announced (May 05, 2026)
The Outer Critics Circle Awards (May 11, 2026)
The 70th Drama Desk Awards (May 17, 2026)
The Theatre World Awards (Jun 02, 2026)
79th Annual Tony Awards (Jun 07, 2026

Reviews:

PF: Broken Snow @ Theatre 71, through May 31, 2026
A new play by Ben Andron
Starring Tom Cavanagh, Tony Danza, and Michael Longfellow
Directed by Colin Hanlon

MP: Pippin @ Signature Theater (VA), through July 26, 2026

PF: Well I’ll Let You Go @ Studio Seaview, through June 20, 2026
Written by Bubba Weiler
Directed by Jack Serio

BUBBA WEILER (writer)
Bubba Weiler is a Brooklyn-based playwright and actor. His plays include Well, I’ll Let You Go and The Saviors, which will have its premier production at Atlantic Theater Company this summer directed by Jack Serio. He studied playwriting and acting at Playwrights Horizons Theater School at NYU. He has been in residency at Berkeley Rep’s Groundfloor and Mercury Store. As an actor, he played Scorpius Malfoy in the first American cast of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child on Broadway and was recently seen in Swing State at the Minetta Lane for which his performance was nominated for a Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, and Outer Critics’ Circle Award.

PF: Thornton Wilder’s The Emporium @ Classic Stage Company (CSC) Lynn F. Angelson Theater, through June 7, 2026

News:

The New Dramatists Annual Spring Luncheon, honoring multi-award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, will be held on Tuesday, May 26, in the Broadway Ballroom at the New York Marriott Marquis (1535 Broadway, between 45th and 46th Streets).

Future Episodes:

Peter’s Brainteaser:

In the 1950s and early 1960s, every American with a TV set knew this performer whose Broadway debut happened just over 100 years ago.

David Merrick courted this performer to play a role that would eventually see not one, not two, but three actresses acquire Tonys. But Merrick’s offer was declined.

However, some years before, the performer had a cameo in a film version of a musical that Merrick had co-produced on Broadway.
Who is the performer? What was the role Merrick offered? What was the film of the musical that Merrick had co-sponsored?

Michael’s Musical Moments

PIPPIN AT SIGNATURE THEATRE (VA)

Music Opener:

Music Closer:

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Matt reviews the original Broadway production of ‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’

Patreon: BroadwayRadio
https://www.patreon.com/broadwayradio

For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the episode name.

To purchase tickets to see the show, click here:
https://catsthejellicleball.com/

Matt reviews the original Broadway production of ‘The Balusters’

Patreon: BroadwayRadio
https://www.patreon.com/broadwayradio

For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the episode name.

On Wednesday, May 6, BroadwayRadio’s Matt Tamanini saw “The Balusters” on Broadway. The Manhattan Theatre Club show is nominated for five Tony Awards and is currently playing the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre through June 21.

To purchase tickets to see the show, click here:
https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/shows/2025-26-season/the-balusters/

Breaking down the Broadway grosses for the week ending May 17, 2026

Patreon: BroadwayRadio
https://www.patreon.com/broadwayradio

For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the episode name.

1) Last week’s Broadway grosses:
https://www.broadwayleague.com/research/grosses-broadway-nyc/

‘Every Brilliant Thing,’ ‘Titanique’ announce national tours
https://deadline.com/2026/05/titanique-tour-1236915666/

‘Just in Time’ recoups Broadway investment
https://deadline.com/2026/05/just-in-time-broadway-recoups-capitalization-1236906723/

Krysta Rodriguez to play Roxie in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway
https://www.broadwaynews.com/krysta-rodriguez-to-star-as-roxie-hart-in-broadways-chicago/

2) Closing notices

Beaches: https://deadline.com/2026/05/beaches-broadway-closing-date-1236916461/

Death Becomes Her: https://deadline.com/2026/05/death-becomes-her-broadway-closing-date-1236914353/

3) Show and casting news

‘Book of Mormon’ pushes re-opening back one week
https://playbill.com/article/book-of-mormon-delays-broadway-reopening

Tracee Ellis Ross to take over ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ in July
https://deadline.com/2026/05/tracee-ellis-ross-every-brilliant-thing-broadwsay-1236914325/

‘Warriors’ coming to Broadway in spring 2027
https://www.broadwayjournal.com/p/warriors-to-open-in-spring-2027

Gaten Matarazzo to lead 30th anniversary production of ‘Rent’ in London
https://deadline.com/2026/05/stranger-things-gaten-matarazzo-rent-revival-west-end-1236915236/

Matt reviews the original Broadway production of ‘Titanique’

Patreon: BroadwayRadio
https://www.patreon.com/broadwayradio

For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the episode name.

On Monday, May 4, BroadwayRadio’s Matt Tamanini saw “Titanique” on Broadway. The show is nominated for four Tony Awards and is currently playing the St. James Theatre.

To purchase tickets to see the show, click here:
https://titaniquebroadway.com/

‘Book of Mormon’ return date, Joshua Henry wins Drama League Award, Ledisi joins ‘Wanted’

Every week, Matt Tamanini will bring you the biggest news from across the theatrical landscape and will prepare you for what’s ahead over the next seven days.

Any and all feedback is appreciated:
Matt Tamanini: [email protected] | @BroadwayRadio

For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the episode name.

1) ‘Book of Mormon’ sets return target
https://deadline.com/2026/05/book-of-mormon-broadway-fire-1236883793/

2) Awards update

Drama League Awards announce 2026 winners
https://www.broadwaynews.com/2026-drama-league-award-winners-announced/

John Lithgow to receive Theatre World Lifetime Achievement Award
https://playbill.com/article/john-lithgow-to-receive-john-willis-award-for-lifetime-achievement-in-the-theatre

Off Broadway Alliance Awards announce winners
https://playbill.com/article/mexodus-masquerade-more-earn-off-broadway-alliance-award-nominations

Shows honored with Equity Broadway Chorus Awards nominations
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/CATS-CHESS-RAGTIME-and-SCHMIGADOON-Nominated-For-ACCA-Awards-20260515

3) Show and casting

Ledisi joins upcoming Broadway production of ‘Wanted’
https://deadline.com/2026/05/wanted-broadway-musical-solea-pfeiffer-liisi-lafontaine-1236757771/

Mariska Hargitay extends run in ‘Every Brilliant Thing’
https://deadline.com/2026/05/mariska-hargitay-broadway-every-brilliant-thing-2-1236906064/

Matthew Broderick, Katie Couric, more join ‘Celebrity Autobiography
https://deadline.com/2026/05/celebrity-autobiography-broadway-1236880861/

‘Balusters’ extends again on Broadway
https://playbill.com/article/the-balusters-gets-a-2nd-extension-on-broadway

White replaces Tommy as ‘Imitation of Life’ director
https://playbill.com/article/whitney-white-replaces-liesl-tommy-as-director-of-john-legend-lynn-nottage-musical-imitation-of-life

Glover, Leonard to lead Off-Broadway’s ‘An American Daughter’
https://playbill.com/article/montego-glover-robert-sean-leonard-jean-lichty-will-lead-an-american-daughter-off-broadway

Robin de Jesús to replace Harvey Guillén in ‘Man of La Mancha’ concert
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Robin-de-Jess-Replaces-Harvey-Guilln-in-MAN-OF-LA-MANCHA-LCT-Staged-Concert-20260515

‘The Lost Boys’ to launch national tour in 2028
https://playbill.com/article/the-lost-boys-will-embark-on-north-american-tour-in-2028

4) Monday, May 18: ‘Celebrity Autobiography’ opens on Broadway
https://celebrityautobiography.com/