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Broadway BreakdownMatt 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. Author: Matt Koplik
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!! bwaybreakdown.substack.com Language: en Genres: Arts, Performing Arts, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Deep Dive: CABARET (Part 1) w/ Tom Pecinka
Wednesday, 4 February, 2026
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 againKey people mentionedJohn 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 QuestionsDo 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
