Dog Day Afternoon is a new stage adaptation of the landmark 1975 film, itself based on a real-life 1972 bank robbery in Brooklyn that captured national attention. The story was first chronicled in a Life magazine article by P.F. Kluge and Thomas Moore before being adapted into the Oscar-winning screenplay by Frank Pierson. This Broadway production, written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by Rupert Goold, brings the chaotic hostage standoff to the stage with scenic design by David Korins. The cast is led by Jon Bernthal as Sonny, alongside Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jessica Hecht, John Ortiz, and more, reexamining the bizarre and media-fueled spectacle through a theatrical lens.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by guest co-host Joselyn Mujica to unpack this ambitious and often polarizing adaptation. They dive into standout performances, the striking set design, and the show's tonal inconsistencies, while also exploring the complexities of adapting true crime for the stage. The conversation digs into the play's handling of its central relationships, its shifting identity between drama and dark comedy, and the broader question of why this story is being told now.

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CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro / Welcome Joselyn Mujica
13:01 - Setting the Stage
15:16 - Hot Takes
35:27 - Big Feels
54:41 - Should You See It?
58:00 - Outro

*****

SEE DOG DAY AFTERNOON

Get Tickets: https://dogdayafternoon.com/tickets/

*****

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The Queen of Versailles is a new musical based on Lauren Greenfield's 2012 documentary, which follows billionaire couple Jackie and David Siegel as their plans to build the largest private home in America are upended by the 2008 financial crisis. After premiering in Boston in 2024, the production transferred to Broadway's St. James Theatre as one of the most anticipated new shows of the 2025–2026 season. The musical features a score by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Lindsey Ferrentino, and direction by Michael Arden, with a cast led by Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham, alongside a design team that leans fully into the scale and spectacle of the Siegel story.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by guest co-host Brent McCreary, a Broadway industry veteran and live entertainment strategist, to unpack this ambitious new musical. Together, they discuss standout performances (including Sherie Rene Scott who stood by for Kristin), the show's larger-than-life production elements, and what happens when real-life excess meets theatrical storytelling—while also exploring how two different performances in the same role can reshape the audience experience.

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CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro / Welcome Brent McCreary
7:15 - Setting the Stage
8:26 - Critical Darling Thesis
11:17 - Hot Takes
37:33 - Big Feels
43:53 - Should You See It?
48:40 - Outro

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MORE ON THE SHOW

Listen to the Cast Recording: https://tinyurl.com/ybnkma8z

*****

GUEST HOST LOVE

Follow Brent: https://www.instagram.com/crazyforconcerts/

*****

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Giant is a new play by British writer Mark Rosenblatt that explores a pivotal chapter in the life of Roald Dahl. Set in Dahl's family home in the summer of 1983, the story examines the fallout of a widely criticized literary review he published regarding the 1982 Lebanon War. Directed by Nicholas Hytner and featuring scenic and costume design by Bob Crowley, the production transferred from an award-winning run on the West End to Broadway with its original creative team intact. The cast is led by John Lithgow as Dahl, alongside Aya Cash, Elliot Levy, Rachael Stirling, Stella Everett, and David Manis.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by guest host Marissa Rosano, an accomplished vocal coach and longtime friend from their days at Belmont University. They discuss the sparse, symbolic set design and the "monster-like" intensity of Lithgow's performance. The conversation also tackles the play's timely relevance to modern cancel culture, the complex relationship between an artist and their work, and the unsettling parallels between Dahl's public controversies and those of contemporary figures like J.K. Rowling.

*****

CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro / Welcome Marissa Rosano
9:33 - Setting the Stage
11:35 - Hot Takes
28:52 - Big Feels
48:15 - Should You See It?
51:49 - Outro

*****

MORE ON GIANT

Get Tickets: https://gianttheplay.com/ticket-info

*****

SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING

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