Theater Wow
@theaterwow.bsky.social
Stories of the theater you haven't heard elsewhere (and a few that maybe you have, but they're worth repeating).
TheaterWow.substack.com
TheaterWow.substack.com
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For me QOV is Stephen Schwartz’s Wise Guys/Road Show/Bounce and I can’t wait to see where the dead lizard goes from here.
For me QOV is Stephen Schwartz’s Wise Guys/Road Show/Bounce and I can’t wait to see where the dead lizard goes from here.
Whatever your thoughts about Queen of Versailles, it did accomplish a Broadway first: a show tune about a dead lizard.
November 25, 2025 at 11:36 PM
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For me QOV is Stephen Schwartz’s Wise Guys/Road Show/Bounce and I can’t wait to see where the dead lizard goes from here.
For me QOV is Stephen Schwartz’s Wise Guys/Road Show/Bounce and I can’t wait to see where the dead lizard goes from here.
Pouring one out for The Queen of Versailles, Broadway 2025’s messy best friend. You were better than you were given credit for.🍷
November 24, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Pouring one out for The Queen of Versailles, Broadway 2025’s messy best friend. You were better than you were given credit for.🍷
Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York
Two Strangers Eat Pizza at a Deli in Brooklyn
Two Strangers See Little Bear Ridge Road then Slam Shots and Contemplate What It All Means Anyway
Two Strangers, Tres Amigos
Stranger Things: Cake
Two Strangers Eat Pizza at a Deli in Brooklyn
Two Strangers See Little Bear Ridge Road then Slam Shots and Contemplate What It All Means Anyway
Two Strangers, Tres Amigos
Stranger Things: Cake
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York
Two Strangers Eat Pizza at a Deli in Brooklyn
Two Strangers See Little Bear Ridge Road then Slam Shots and Contemplate What It All Means Anyway
Two Strangers, Tres Amigos
Stranger Things: Cake
Two Strangers Eat Pizza at a Deli in Brooklyn
Two Strangers See Little Bear Ridge Road then Slam Shots and Contemplate What It All Means Anyway
Two Strangers, Tres Amigos
Stranger Things: Cake
Look, the business takes the time it takes. But to say your teen version of Hamilton won’t be ready for over 2 years when you have a clear and long-standing relationship with LMM? 👀
Hamilton: Teen Edition is now in development! www.broadwayworld.com/article/Conc...
Concord Theatricals Secures HAMILTON Global Licensing Rights; Teen Edition Expected in 2028
Concord Theatricals will take on exclusive worldwide secondary stage licensing rights for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s HAMILTON, expanding the reach of the landmark musical to theaters around the globe.
www.broadwayworld.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Look, the business takes the time it takes. But to say your teen version of Hamilton won’t be ready for over 2 years when you have a clear and long-standing relationship with LMM? 👀
I am desperate for Laurie Metcalf to wander through drinking a Big Gulp.
So I have heard of ideas being in the zeitgeist, but this is a little crazy.
The left is Little Bear Ridge Road. The right is Two Strangers Eat Cake While Walking in New York(-ish).
The left is Little Bear Ridge Road. The right is Two Strangers Eat Cake While Walking in New York(-ish).
November 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I am desperate for Laurie Metcalf to wander through drinking a Big Gulp.
So I have heard of ideas being in the zeitgeist, but this is a little crazy.
The left is Little Bear Ridge Road. The right is Two Strangers Eat Cake While Walking in New York(-ish).
The left is Little Bear Ridge Road. The right is Two Strangers Eat Cake While Walking in New York(-ish).
November 19, 2025 at 6:46 PM
So I have heard of ideas being in the zeitgeist, but this is a little crazy.
The left is Little Bear Ridge Road. The right is Two Strangers Eat Cake While Walking in New York(-ish).
The left is Little Bear Ridge Road. The right is Two Strangers Eat Cake While Walking in New York(-ish).
At the Longacre to see Two Strangers…Cake…New York, and stumbled onto an elevator. I was so shocked to see one in a Broadway house I had to take it. It was just a normal elevator, but somehow I felt like I had stolen fire.
November 19, 2025 at 6:41 PM
At the Longacre to see Two Strangers…Cake…New York, and stumbled onto an elevator. I was so shocked to see one in a Broadway house I had to take it. It was just a normal elevator, but somehow I felt like I had stolen fire.
Peacemaker choreographer Charissa Barton and I talk about her work on the show’s opening credits and the disturbing hidden layers in the moves revealed last week!
“It’s Been There The Whole Time”
Peacemaker Credits choreographer Charissa Barton Talks Peacemaker's Big Reveal
theaterwow.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Peacemaker choreographer Charissa Barton and I talk about her work on the show’s opening credits and the disturbing hidden layers in the moves revealed last week!
The first preview of Joe Locke’s debut on the West End was filled with weight and light.
A WEEK IN THE WEST END: Desolation and Possibility in Samuel D. Hunter's Clarkston
Joe Locke makes his West End debut.
theaterwow.substack.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:18 AM
The first preview of Joe Locke’s debut on the West End was filled with weight and light.
The new theater season begins at NYTW with lush melodies and the story of a queer kid with a wide-open heart.
SATURDAY CHURCH SINGS
Sia, James Ijames, J. Harrison Ghee and company open the new theater season with a mighty Amen.
theaterwow.substack.com
August 30, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The new theater season begins at NYTW with lush melodies and the story of a queer kid with a wide-open heart.
Hey has anyone else been hearing about confusion over rooming at Shiz?
August 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Hey has anyone else been hearing about confusion over rooming at Shiz?
Everything about this piece from @rachelhandler.bsky.social is true and silly and beautiful.
And Just Like That, And Just Like That … Is Dead
And I’m actually really sad about it.
www.vulture.com
August 1, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Everything about this piece from @rachelhandler.bsky.social is true and silly and beautiful.
Thrilled to have my history of Jesus Christ Superstar end up @sojo.net’s cover story!
WHO GETS TO PLAY JESUS? CYNTHIA ERIVO, THAT'S WHO.
Jesus Christ Superstar Comes to the Hollywood Bowl
theaterwow.substack.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Thrilled to have my history of Jesus Christ Superstar end up @sojo.net’s cover story!
A beautiful set of tributes.
The Wit and Wisdom of Richard Greenberg
To give tribute this great American playwright, who died on July 4 at the age of 67, we assembled a party of colleagues, friends, and admirers.
www.americantheatre.org
July 28, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A beautiful set of tributes.
In which theater legend Jules Fisher humors my obsession with the lighting of Gypsy’s overture
"It Brings Tears to My Eyes": How The Overture of Gypsy Made Jules Fisher Want to Work in the Theater
Storied Lighting Designer Jules Fisher talks lighting the new production of Gypsy
theaterwow.substack.com
July 23, 2025 at 5:06 PM
In which theater legend Jules Fisher humors my obsession with the lighting of Gypsy’s overture
Celebrating great work about summer theater from @robkendt.bsky.social, @diepthought.bsky.social, Jennifer Heimlich, @evincentelli.bsky.social, A.A. Cristi, Ruthie Fienberg, and others.
Summer Theater Journalism Round Up
Forget Thanksgiving, it's a horn of plenty out there right now.
theaterwow.substack.com
July 19, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Celebrating great work about summer theater from @robkendt.bsky.social, @diepthought.bsky.social, Jennifer Heimlich, @evincentelli.bsky.social, A.A. Cristi, Ruthie Fienberg, and others.
Some great initial thoughts about the NYT move to bring in a new theater critic from Chris Peterson over at @onstageblog.bsky.social.
Jesse Green’s Legacy & What Comes Next for Theatre Criticism at the New York Times — OnStage Blog
“What kind of theatre critic does the New York Times need in 2025? With Jesse Green reassigned, a new chapter begins.”
www.onstageblog.com
July 16, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Some great initial thoughts about the NYT move to bring in a new theater critic from Chris Peterson over at @onstageblog.bsky.social.
Award-winning gay playwright Duncan Pflaster talks playfulness as resistance, writing in verse, the importance of male nudity, and queer theater today.
"Art is Resistance"
Gay New York City playwright Duncan Pflaster talks making queer theater today.
theaterwow.substack.com
June 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Award-winning gay playwright Duncan Pflaster talks playfulness as resistance, writing in verse, the importance of male nudity, and queer theater today.
“When we started off, we didn’t have a producer, we didn’t have a director, we didn’t have a theater, we didn’t have a commission. We just wrote it for our own enjoyment…That was what we wanted to do with our lives.”
Robert L. Freedman talks A Gentleman’s Guide, and his memoir about writing it.
Robert L. Freedman talks A Gentleman’s Guide, and his memoir about writing it.
"It Wasn't A Broadway Show...Until It Was"
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder writer Robert L. Freedman talks his Tony-winning musical and the "memoir and manual" he's written about it.
theaterwow.substack.com
April 3, 2025 at 2:44 PM
“When we started off, we didn’t have a producer, we didn’t have a director, we didn’t have a theater, we didn’t have a commission. We just wrote it for our own enjoyment…That was what we wanted to do with our lives.”
Robert L. Freedman talks A Gentleman’s Guide, and his memoir about writing it.
Robert L. Freedman talks A Gentleman’s Guide, and his memoir about writing it.
Wow wow wow on both counts!
The Rocky Horror Show is coming back to Broadway, helmed by Oh, Mary! director Sam Pinkleton! www.broadwayworld.com/article/ROCKY-HORRO...
ROCKY HORROR SHOW, OEDIPUS with Mark Strong & Lesley Manville Included in Roundabout's New Season
Roundabout Theatre Company has just announced the 2025-2026 season on Broadway and Off-Broadway, including initial casting. Stars joining the lineup include Kelli O'Hara, Rose Burn, Patrick Page, Mark Strong, Lesley Manville and more. Check out the full season details here.
www.broadwayworld.com
March 6, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Wow wow wow on both counts!
#BroadwayCon hosted a great panel with the social media managers of @lajollaplayhouse.bsky.social, @roundaboutnyc.bsky.social, @papermillplayhouse.bsky.social, TUTS in Houston, The Alley in Houston, and Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, filled with useful ideas and thoughts about their work.
My report:
My report:
“How do I reach me when I was 12?”
Regional theater social media managers talk strategies and their not-so-secret goal to help the theater community grow.
theaterwow.substack.com
February 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
#BroadwayCon hosted a great panel with the social media managers of @lajollaplayhouse.bsky.social, @roundaboutnyc.bsky.social, @papermillplayhouse.bsky.social, TUTS in Houston, The Alley in Houston, and Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, filled with useful ideas and thoughts about their work.
My report:
My report:
This is such a great list. Thank you, @feldmanadam.bsky.social!
This has taken a lot of time, but I'm happy to share this curated list of current Off-Off Broadway shows. There are 21 shows here and I'll be updating on the regular. Take a look! Off-Off is theater's R&D department and it's where the wild thing are. www.timeout.com/newyork/thea...
Off-Off Broadway shows in New York City right now
Venture beyond Broadway for a different stage experience
www.timeout.com
February 12, 2025 at 9:17 PM
This is such a great list. Thank you, @feldmanadam.bsky.social!
I love this term.
Picked up a very useful portmanteau word from the critic Jonathan Kalb: anticipointment, for the (possibly disproportionate) disappointment you feel when you’ve (perhaps too eagerly) anticipated something (or have been over-sold on it).
February 12, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I love this term.
I had the great pleasure of listening to Doug Wright and other playwrights talk about their work at #BroadwayCon. Wright’s comments on adapting Little Mermaid and Grey Gardens were hilarious and wonderful.
"Gay Men 40-60 and Girls 8-12 Have a Lot in Common"
Doug Wright talks the "ferocity" required to adapt Grey Gardens and The Little Mermaid
theaterwow.substack.com
February 11, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I had the great pleasure of listening to Doug Wright and other playwrights talk about their work at #BroadwayCon. Wright’s comments on adapting Little Mermaid and Grey Gardens were hilarious and wonderful.