Art / Punch / All Out (w/ Sean Reilly & Brent McCreary)

Art / Punch / All Out (w/ Sean Reilly & Brent McCreary)

In this special rapid-fire grab bag episode, Critical Darling tackles three productions that have slipped through the cracks so far during the season: Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning comedy Art, the Manhattan Theatre Club drama Punch, and Simon Rich's comedy event All Out: Comedy About Ambition. Rather than the show's usual deep-dive format, Andrew offers quick-hit reviews and reflections on each production on the quest to complete his mission of covering every major Broadway play and musical from the season. Along the way, Andrew is joined by two returning fan-favorite guest hosts. Sean Reilly returns to unpack Punch, the true-story drama about restorative justice, accountability, and forgiveness, while Brent McCreary joins the conversation on All Out, Simon Rich's star-studded evening of comedy featuring music from Lawrence. Together, they discuss everything from celebrity-driven revivals and Broadway economics to the power of redemption stories and New York City's enduring hold on the people who love it. It's a fast-moving collection of hot takes, big feels, and final verdicts on three productions that helped define Broadway's 2025–26 season. ***** CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 1:49 Setting the Stage - Art 3:08 Hot Takes - Art 8:35 Big Feels - Art 14:10 Should You See It? - Art 16:36 Setting the Stage - Punch 17:49 Hot Takes - Punch 24:01 Big Feels - Punch 27:28 Should You See It? - Punch 32:01 Setting the Stage - All Out 33:31 Hot Takes - All Out 47:03 Big Feels - All Out 49:04 Should You See It? - All Out 51:00 Outro ***** ABOUT THE SHOWS More on Art: https://artonbroadway.com/ [https://artonbroadway.com/] More on Punch: https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/shows/2025-26-season/punch/ [https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/shows/2025-26-season/punch/] More on All Out: https://alloutbroadway.com/ [https://alloutbroadway.com/] ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Watch SNL Skit Woodbridge High School Drama Club Sketch: youtube.com/watch?v=323v_FtWqvo&themeRefresh=1 [http://youtube.com/watch?v=323v_FtWqvo&themeRefresh=1] Follow Sean on IG: https://www.instagram.com/stufffromsean/ [https://www.instagram.com/stufffromsean/] Check out Sean's Scholarship Initiative: https://afs.org/global-stem/ [https://afs.org/global-stem/] Follow Brent: https://www.instagram.com/crazyforconcerts/ [https://www.instagram.com/crazyforconcerts/] ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify] YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube] Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple] Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram] Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon] TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok]

Fallen Angels (w/ Eric Emch)

Fallen Angels (w/ Eric Emch) Fallen Angels is one of Noël Coward's sharpest early comedies, a 1925 comedy of manners that follows two married women whose lives spiral into chaos after learning that a former French lover they once shared is returning to London. Set among the British upper class between the wars, the play balances sparkling wit, physical comedy, and surprisingly modern observations about friendship, marriage, and female agency. Now revived on Broadway by Roundabout Theatre Company at the Todd Haimes Theatre, the production embraces both the elegance and absurdity of Coward's writing, transforming the century-old text into a fast-paced theatrical cocktail filled with champagne, chaos, and razor-sharp one-liners. Host Andrew Cole is joined by creative director Eric Emch to unpack the revival's standout performances, design work, and the emotional undercurrents beneath all the comedy. Directed by Scott Ellis, the production stars Kelli O'Hara and Rose Byrne as the gloriously unraveling Julia and Jane, alongside Tracy Chimo, Asif Mandvi, Christopher Fitzgerald, and Mark Consuelos. Together, Andrew and Eric discuss Coward's enduring fascination with glamorous, complicated women, why the production feels surprisingly modern despite being written 100 years ago, and if this revival succeeds via pure theatrical escapism. ***** CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro / Welcome Eric Emch 10:35 Setting the Stage 11:50 Hot Takes 28:31 Big Feels 37:34 Should You See It? 42:24 Outro ***** ABOUT THE SHOW See Fallen Angels on Broadway: https://www.roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/2025-2026-season/fallen-angels [https://www.roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/2025-2026-season/fallen-angels] Watch Kelli O'Hara's "My Life in the Theatre" Video: https://playbill.com/article/my-life-in-the-theatre-kelli-ohara [https://playbill.com/article/my-life-in-the-theatre-kelli-ohara] ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Learn More About Eric: https://ericemch.com/ [https://ericemch.com/] ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify] YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube] Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple] Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram] Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon] TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok]

Joe Turner's Come and Gone (w/ Brett Radek)

Joe Turner's Come and Gone is one of August Wilson's most celebrated plays and part of his 10-play American Century Cycle chronicling Black life across the 20th century. First premiering at Yale Repertory Theatre before transferring to Broadway in 1988, the play is set in a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1911 during the Great Migration and follows a community of Black travelers, workers, and dreamers searching for identity, connection, and belonging in the shadow of slavery's aftermath. Widely regarded as one of Wilson's most spiritually rich works, Joe Turner's Come and Gone blends realism, folklore, music, and memory into a meditation on displacement, healing, and the lifelong search for one's "song." Host Andrew Cole is joined by actor, director, and producer Brett Radek to unpack the current Broadway revival directed by Debbie Allen. The production stars Taraji P. Henson as Bertha Holly, Cedric the Entertainer as Seth Holly, Joshua Boone as Harold Loomis, and Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Bynum Walker. Together, Andrew and Brett discuss the production's emotional power, the muscular beauty of Wilson's writing, the show's exploration of trauma and self-discovery, and why this revival feels both deeply historical and urgently contemporary. ***** CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro / Welcome Brett Radek 12:33 Setting the Stage 14:53 Hot Takes 40:30 Big Feels 48:02 Should You See It? 51:26 Outro ***** ABOUT THE SHOW See Joe Turner on Broadway: https://joeturnerbway.com/ [https://joeturnerbway.com/] ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Follow Brett on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brettradek/ [https://www.instagram.com/brettradek/] Follow Out/Play NYC on IG: https://www.instagram.com/outplaynyc [https://www.instagram.com/outplaynyc] Support Out/Play NYC: https://linktr.ee/outplaynyc [https://linktr.ee/outplaynyc] ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify] YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube] Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple] Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram] Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon] TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok]

Beaches (w/ Chris Crowthers)

Beaches is the new Broadway musical adaptation of Iris Rainer Dart's bestselling 1985 novel, which also inspired the beloved 1988 film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey. Tracing the decades-long friendship between aspiring performer C.C. Bloom and the more reserved Bertie White, the story follows the pair from childhood through love, ambition, heartbreak, and the many seasons of life that shape their bond. After previous stage incarnations in Arlington, Chicago, and Calgary, Beaches arrived on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre with a new creative team and a fresh musical adaptation centered more closely on Dart's original novel. Host Andrew Cole is joined by actor, fitness coach, and entrepreneur Chris Crowthers to unpack the production's Broadway debut and the emotional themes at the heart of the story. Directed by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart, the production stars Jessica Vosk as C.C. Bloom and Kelli Barrett as Bertie White. Together, Andrew and Chris discuss Vosk's star-making performance, the show's visual design, the challenges of adapting such an iconic film for the stage, and this moving meditation on friendship, chosen family, and the rare people who stay beside you through every chapter of life. ***** CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro / Welcome Chris Crowthers 8:09 Setting the Stage 9:39 Hot Takes 28:26 Big Feels 44:45 Should You See It? 51:34 Outro ***** ABOUT THE SHOW Visit the Website: https://beachesthemusical.com/ [https://beachesthemusical.com/] ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Follow Chris on IG: https://www.instagram.com/mrcrowthers/ [https://www.instagram.com/mrcrowthers/] Follow Project Weekend on IG: https://www.instagram.com/projectweekendny/ [https://www.instagram.com/projectweekendny/] Shop at Project Weekend: https://www.projectweekendny.com/ [https://www.projectweekendny.com/] ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify] YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube] Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple] Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram] Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon] TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok]

Beetlejuice (w/ Shina Ann Morris-Fisher)

Beetlejuice is the musical adaptation of Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic film, which follows the recently deceased Maitlands as they attempt to haunt the new family living in their home with the help of the chaotic and unpredictable Beetlejuice. Featuring a score by Eddie Perfect and a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, the show first opened on Broadway in 2019 before building a passionate fanbase through social media, its national tour, and a devoted younger theater audience. Blending supernatural comedy with emotional depth, the musical centers on Lydia Deetz, a grieving teenager searching for connection in a world that feels increasingly disconnected from her. Host Andrew Cole is joined by Broadway veteran Shina Ann Morris-Fisher to unpack the most recent Broadway engagement of Beetlejuice at the newly restored Palace Theatre. Directed by Alex Timbers, the production starred Justin Collette as Beetlejuice and Isabella Esler as Lydia Deetz. Together, Andrew and Shina discuss the show's inventive staging, standout performances, massive production numbers, and why Beetlejuice has become one of Broadway's modern cult favorites. ***** CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro / Welcome Shina Ann Morris-Fisher 15:56 Setting the Stage 17:32 Hot Takes 34:35 Big Feels 41:11 Should You See It? 44:05 Theatre Memes 45:59 Road to Schmigadoon! 48:32 Outro ***** ABOUT THE SHOW Learn More: https://beetlejuicebroadway.com/ [https://beetlejuicebroadway.com/] ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Follow Shina on IG: https://www.instagram.com/shinamorris/ [https://www.instagram.com/shinamorris/] ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify] YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube] Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple] Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram] Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon] TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok [https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok]