Broadway Breakdown

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, they explore the play’s nonlinear structure, its daring tonal shifts, and nuanced depiction of predatory relationships, violation, and survival. From its acclaimed 1997 premiere to its long overdue 2022 Broadway debut, this conversation examines why Vogel’s play remains as urgent—and as debated—as ever.
Important Broadway Breakdown Links
Sondheim. Webber. Koplik. A Birthday Threesome: Tix
Broadway Breakdown: Discord
Broadway Breakdown : Substack
Margaret Hall: Website
Margaret Hall is a theater journalist and critic whose work has appeared in Playbill and beyond. Known for her thoughtful analysis and deep knowledge of contemporary theater, Margaret brings both scholarly rigor and emotional intelligence to this discussion—making her an ideal guide through Vogel’s intricate, memory-driven script and its evolving cultural context.

Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and why How I Learned to Drive still sparks conversation 05:12 – Paula Vogel’s background and the play’s 1997 premiere 12:45 – Plot overview: Li’l Bit, Uncle Peck, and the mechanics of memory 22:30 – The Greek Chorus device and Vogel’s nonlinear structure 31:18 – Tone, humor, and discomfort: why the play feels dangerous 41:07 – Original Off-Broadway production and early critical response 58:34 – The 2022 Broadway revival: returning cast and creative team 1:10:21 – Tony Awards recognition and contemporary reception 1:18:46 – Directorial interpretation and performance nuance 1:27:05 – The play in the #MeToo era: shifting audience lenses 1:36:40 – Legacy, pedagogy, and why the play continues to be produced 1:45:12 – Final thoughts: is this a “masterpiece,” and what does that mean?

Key people mentioned
Paula Vogel – Playwright
Mark Brokaw – Original Off-Broadway and Broadway revival director
Mary-Louise Parker – Original Li’l Bit (1997)
David Morse – Original Uncle Peck (1997)
Johanna Day – Greek Chorus (original production)
Norbert Leo Butz – Uncle Peck (2012)

Listener discussion questions
How does Vogel’s use of a nonlinear structure affect the audience’s response to Li’l Bit and Uncle Peck, as opposed to If the play were presented in chronological order?
Is it important for an audience to not always be comfortable? What play can you think of that lured an audience in with difficult subject matter?
How has How I Learned to Drive shifted your perception (if it has at all) on survival?
As always, join the conversation on Substack and in the Broadway Breakdown Discord—and let us know where this play ranks in your personal American theater canon.


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

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 evolve—and why it remains one of the most politically urgent musicals ever written.
Important Broadway Breakdown LinksTom Pecinka's 54 Below Show: Tix
Sondheim. Webber. Koplik. A BIrthday Threesome: Tix
Broadway Breakdown Discord
Broadway Breakdown: Substack
Guest IntroductionTom Pecinka is a theater performer, writer, and cultural commentator with a sharp eye for how classic works are reinterpreted across generations. A longtime friend of the podcast, Tom brings both historical context and contemporary perspective to a show that refuses to sit comfortably in the past.
Timestamps00:00 – Picking up where Part 1 left off05:10 – The 1972 Cabaret film and Bob Fosse’s vision14:30 – What the movie changes—and why it works23:45 – The evolution of the Emcee across productions34:20 – Major Broadway and international revivals45:50 – Minimalism, immersion, and modern staging trends57:10 – Political urgency and historical parallels1:08:30 – Why Cabaret keeps coming back1:18:00 – Final thoughts and Part 2 wrap-up
Listener Discussion Questions
Do productions of Cabaret go too far pushing the barriers of immersive theater? Should it go back to a more traditional presentation? Why or why not?
How has the meaning of Cabaret changed in different political eras?
Does the film version of Cabaret distort the show's global perception? Or is it a definitive interpretation?


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

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 Cabaret refuses to sit still—and why that’s exactly the point.
Guest IntroductionTom Pecinka is a Tony–nominated actor best known for his acclaimed turn in Stereophonic, with additional stage credits spanning theater, film and TV. A thoughtful theater brain with a deep appreciation for gritty material, Tom brings an actor’s perspective to Cabaret—especially when it comes to performance style, character psychology, and what makes a revival feel urgent (or not).
Timestamps05:00 – Experiencing the latest revival: immersion, spectacle, and fatigue14:30 – Plot overview and historical context of Weimar Berlin18:45 – What is a “concept musical,” and why Cabaret changed everything27:45 – Kander & Ebb, Hal Prince, and writing the score with Liza Minnelli in mind36:30 – The Emcee as symbol: Nazi threat, victim, puppet, provocateur41:00 – The Sam Mendes revolution and the rise of immersive Cabaret47:00 – The impossible role of Sally Bowles (talented? delusional? both?)53:30 – “Cabaret” (the song): Elsie, denial, and choosing the wrong moral59:30 – Queerness, Cliff Bradshaw, and playing house in a collapsing world1:06:00 – Revivals, retreads, and whether Cabaret can reinvent itself again
Key people mentioned
John Kander & Fred Ebb (composers/lyricists)
Joe Masteroff (book writer)
Hal Prince (original director/producer)
Christopher Isherwood (source material)
Jill Haworth (original Broadway Sally Bowles)
Joel Grey (original Emcee)
Liza Minnelli (film Sally Bowles)
Bob Fosse (film director/choreographer)
Alan Cumming (Sam Mendes revival Emcee)
Natasha Richardson, Michelle Williams, Emma Stone, Jessie Buckley, Gayle Rankin (notable Sally Bowles)
Eddie Redmayne (recent Emcee)
Sam Mendes & Rob Marshall (1998 revival directors)
Listener Discussion Questions
Do you prefer a Sally Bowles who is secretly talented or openly unraveling—and why?
Has Cabaret reached the limit of reinvention, or is there still a version we haven’t seen yet?
Should revivals aim to shock audiences anew, or simply let great material speak for itself?


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 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 Woods and a genuinely joyful new musical, this episode digs into what’s working on the West End right now, what isn’t, and what might (or should) make the leap across the Atlantic.
Important Broadway Breakdown Links
Sondheim. Webber. Koplik: A Birthday Threesome - Link for Tix
Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel
Broadway Breakdown Substack
Timestamps
* 00:00–09:30 — Housekeeping & live show announcements; framing the London trip
* 09:30–25:30 — Starlight Express
* Plot refresher and campy, queer-forward energy
* 25:30–45:00 — A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong
* How this version expands the “Goes Wrong” formula
* Comedy structure, recurring gags, and British vs. American humor sensibilities
* 45:00–1:05:00 — The Playboy of the Western World (National Theatre)
* Plot overview and why this “comedy” plays thorny and uneven
* Thoughts on tone, pacing, and adaptation scale
* 1:05:00–1:40:00 — Into the Woods (Bridge Theatre)
* Comparisons to the recent Broadway revival and the original production
* Where spectacle elevates the show—and where transitions slow it down
* 1:40:00–End — Paddington: The Musical
* Why this was Matt’s top show of the trip
Listener discussion questions
* Which of these London productions feels most primed for a Broadway transfer—and what would need to change for it to succeed with U.S. audiences?
* When reviving a well-known musical (Into the Woods, Starlight Express), do you prefer bold reinterpretation or a cleaner, “trust the text” approach?
* Is there a difference between theatre that’s “important” and theatre that’s simply joyful—and do we undervalue the latter?


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

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 narrative momentum, question voter behavior, and debate what actually wins awards versus what deserves to.
Broadway Breakdown Links
Broadway Breakdown Discord
Broadway Breakdown Substack
Timestamps00:00 – Welcome & ground rules for premature Tony takes05:10 – Best Musical: early frontrunners and dark horses15:40 – Best Revival: nostalgia vs. reinvention24:30 – Lead Actor & Actress races begin to form36:00 – Featured categories and scene-stealing performances45:20 – Director, score, and design categories55:10 – Critical buzz vs. box office reality1:03:30 – Industry narratives, snubs, and voter psychology1:12:00 – What could change everything before nominations1:20:00 – Final hot takes and disclaimers (because it’s January)
Listener discussion questions
Which category do you think is most unpredictable this year—and why?Do you prefer Tony voters reward innovation or execution?What early prediction do you think will age the worst by nomination day?


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