Matt Koplik is the most opinionated, foul-mouthed, and passionate theatre geek with access to a mic. Every week, Matt and a guest explore Broadway history by diving into the careers of the artists who shaped it. Whether discussing Sondheim and Sweeney or Herman and Dolly, Matt is sure to give you fun facts, deep analysis, and lots of four letter words. Tune in!!
All content for Broadway Breakdown is the property of Matt Koplik and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Matt Koplik is the most opinionated, foul-mouthed, and passionate theatre geek with access to a mic. Every week, Matt and a guest explore Broadway history by diving into the careers of the artists who shaped it. Whether discussing Sondheim and Sweeney or Herman and Dolly, Matt is sure to give you fun facts, deep analysis, and lots of four letter words. Tune in!!
"Behold, the hills of tomorrow..."
Get a taste of what's to come with this pilot episode of a new series "I Was There" talking with Broadway artists with long and rich careers, telling us their stories. First up! Conductor/Music Director/Supervisor David Loud! David has worked on such incredible productions as She Loves Me (1993), Ragtime, Master Class as well as having been in the original production of Merrily We Roll Along!! Incredible!
Order David Loud's book "Facing the Music" here! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Facing-the-Music/David-Loud/9781682451915
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Here! https://discord.gg/Wf8fguRH
Join the Broadway Breakdown Substack Here! https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SURPRISE! Bonus ep! Matt talks with David Hovey about the work happening at Covenant House, as well as the starry event on August 10th Sleep Out: Stage and Screen event.
Learn more about Covenant House Here! https://www.covenanthouse.org/
Donate to Matt's Fundraising Page Here! https://www.sleepout.org/participants/61110
Learn more about Sleep Out: Stage and Screen Here! https://www.sleepout.org/pages/2509?eventID=1152
"Blue..."
The 2025-2026 Broadway season kicks off with icon Jean Smart's one woman show CALL ME IZZY. Plus a production of MACHINAL, which launches the first season of the brand new New York Theatre Company. What did Matt think? Well...take a listen...
Join the Broadway Breakdown Substack here! https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com/
Or the Broadway Breakdown Discord Here! https://discord.gg/EhRe3dVr
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"And what did YOU think of that performance...?"
The 2024-2025 Broadway season has come to a close and with it, the Tony Awards. Daddy of the pod Robert W. Schneider returns to Breakdown to discuss with Matt the highs of the ceremony, debate some winners, and some tea Matt got from the Maybe Happy Ending after party! KICK IT!
Wanna join the Broadway Breakdown Substack? The Discord? Links below!
https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com/
https://discord.gg/EhRe3dVr
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"What I expect...what I want...and what I dream..."
The 2025 Tony Awards are ALMOST HERE! This means it's time for a final, FINAL prediction episode with Awards Expert Sam Eckmann (GoldDerby). Unfortunately this has been a chaotic race and thus, Matt and Sam find themselves talking in circles convincing each other of what might happen and what they want to happen. It's fun. It's mess. It's Broadway.
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here! https://discord.gg/RDs2Bz47
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Ever hear about...?"
Matt goes through the last couple of decades of winners to debunk and clarify some ol' Tony Awards myths...as well as discover some trends! Take a listen and win your Tony pool!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here: https://discord.gg/RDs2Bz47
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BIG NEWS! MATT GOT A NEW MIC! But he isn't quite sure if he's figured it out yet. So be patient this episode.
Oh! And Matt went to London again with his mom and sister! Matt's mom joins for the first half to discuss their London adventures as well as the 5 shows they took in while staying in Fitzrovia for the week:
-The Comedy About Spies, Oliver!, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, My Neighbour Totoro, and Dear England. It's a fun time!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here! https://discord.gg/UTGVBprYtr
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
And episode so long...we have to split it in two!
Matt saw Every. Single. Broadway. Show. This. Season. And my God is he gonna do the Lord's work and rank it all for you. Because why the F**K NOT?! Enjoy Part 1!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here! https://discord.gg/UTGVBprYtr
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
And just like that...we finished!
Matt wraps up his *unofficial* ranking of every Broadway show for the 2024-2025 Broadway Season. Was it worth it???
Join the fun at the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here! https://discord.gg/UTGVBprYtr
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
And a few other shows, actually...
Matt saw a whole bunch of stuff. Not just what's in the title. He also saw WONDERFUL TOWN at Encores, the final performance of ZORBA at J2 Spotlight and had a second viewing of DEATH BECOMES HER. It's a lot! Maybe he said some coherent things? Let's see!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here!: https://discord.gg/UTGVBprYtr
TIME STAMPS (give or take, based on commercials):
Wonderful Town/Zorba: 6:00
Real Women Have Curves: 34:00
Death Becomes Her 2.0/Old Friends/Dead Outlaw: 1:04:00
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Where's the pudding at?!"
The 2025 Tony nominations have arrived! And boy are there THOUGHTS. Joining Matt is Breakdown friends Rachael and Will Anderson aka The Theater Lovers!! Listen to their thoughts on the whole slew of nominations, Taylor Swift lore, and a new series of movies Matt plans to make. Enjoy!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/UTGVBprYtr
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
'Cause why the f**k not?! Let's be bold and brave with the Tony nominations before the big announcement day!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/bbcbvZau
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"This is IT!"
Matt saw SOOOO much Broadway this week, he couldn't fit it all into one episode. So, he's chosen to cover LCT's revival of FLOYD COLLINS, Roundabout's revisal of PIRATES and 54 Below's...sorry, Broadway's JUST IN TIME. Listen! Discuss!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here!!! https://discord.gg/bbcbvZau
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"And what do YOU think of pudding?"
Matt scans the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel to get a sense of what listeners feel are likely to get nominated at the 2025 Tony Awards. And the responses are something!!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here: https://discord.gg/FqnJwJrr
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...were they worth it?
Matt went and saw GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, STRANGER THINGS, GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK and OTHELLO and talks briefly about all of them, but more importantly what their very existence means for Broadway. Plus! Two Off-Broadway musicals that might've restored his faith. *Might* have.
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel here!: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"To quote Taylor Swift..."
Matt sees the latest work by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins, PURPOSE, as well as the Broadway premiere of JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN. Was JOHN *actually* Matt's nightmare? Which actor in PURPOSE gave Matt life? Find out!!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Fade in on a girl..."
Matt has returned from SMASH and is here to talk about what he thought did and didn't work about the new Comedy about a Musical! Enjoy!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here! https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"I can do better than that..."
Matt goes to see the new comic musical BOOP and has a *lot* of suggestions, plus the first Broadway production of THE LAST 5 YEARS and...well, has thoughts on that as well. Take a listen! (L5Y review starts around 40:00 )
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel (and the Tony fun) Here: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"OK, now we know..."
It's been two months since Matt made some bold predictions for the 2025 Tony nominations. So it's time to make some new ones!!
Matt is joined by Richie Grasso and Jeff Maline (Half Hour) to discuss the latest of the season and where everyone sees nominations heading this year.
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"I would give my soul for that..."
Matt took a trip back to Encores to see the little-known LOVE LIFE and saw one of the final previews for THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY! What did Matt think of the weird Lerner/Weill show often cited as the "first concept musical"? And did Matt agree or disagree with Jesse Green abut DORIAN GRAY's screens? Let's find out!
Join the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel Here!: https://discord.gg/QssGH9KE
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Koplik is the most opinionated, foul-mouthed, and passionate theatre geek with access to a mic. Every week, Matt and a guest explore Broadway history by diving into the careers of the artists who shaped it. Whether discussing Sondheim and Sweeney or Herman and Dolly, Matt is sure to give you fun facts, deep analysis, and lots of four letter words. Tune in!!
