Get Ready for an Unforgettable Season: The Scene Podcast's 2025 Lineup!
Plus, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed!
Welcome to The Scene, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed. In this week’s email,
In this week's issue, we unveil the star-studded 2025 lineup for The Scene Podcast, featuring Tony Award insights, Pulitzer Prize winners, and an exciting array of playwrights reshaping contemporary drama.
We announce an exciting new grant from Broadway Licensing Global and the Educational Theatre Foundation, offering five high schools free licenses and materials to produce Adam Gwon and Sarah Hammond’s acclaimed, Richard Rodgers Award-winning musical, String, in the 2025-26 school year!
New recommendations from Justin Borak, host of The Scene: Podcast and viral theatre TikToker, are in “Shows You Should Know!"
The latest free read from Playscripts: The Bold, The Young, and The Murdered by Don Zolidis.
So, raise the curtain and shine the spotlight as we dive into another thrilling week in the theatre world. Welcome to The Scene.
New Grant Opportunity! Free Licenses for String, Winner of the Richard Rodgers Award!
Broadway Licensing Global and the Educational Theatre Foundation are thrilled to grant five high schools free performance rights and materials to produce the newly expanded edition of Adam Gwon and Sarah Hammond’s beloved new musical, String, in the 2025-26 school year.
String tells the story of three sisters -- goddesses known as the Fates–– who spin, measure, and snip the strings of life for every human on earth. The quirky, heartfelt musical perfectly captures the nature of fate, love, and the imperfections that make us human.
Applications are now being accepted through May 10! Winners will receive a production license through Broadway Licensing Global and complimentary access to ShowReady and StageTracks, courtesy of ROCS.
Learn more about the musical, eligibility, and how to apply at foundation.schooltheatre.org under Production Grants.
‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’: What to Know About the Broadway Show by Sarah Bahr, The New York Times | The new play, set 24 years before the start of the Netflix series, combines lavish spectacle with a cast of familiar characters. Read...
Cole Escola Begins Encore Run in Broadway's Oh, Mary! by Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill | The original cast, including Conrad Ricamora and James Scully, is officially back at the Lyceum Theatre. Read...
Boop! The Musical Officially Opens on Broadway by Andrew Gans, Playbill | Jasmine Amy Rogers stars as Betty Boop in the new musical from Bob Martin, David Foster, and Susan Birkenhead. Read...
Sadie Sink Is Welcoming Younger Audiences to Broadway in John Proctor Is The Villain by Margaret Hall, Playbill | Sink discussed the shifting theatregoer generations while on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Read...
The Revolt of Arthur Miller’s Women by Alisa Solomon, American Theatre | John Proctor is the Villain, now on Broadway, is just one in a spate of recent plays that offer feminist correctives to The Crucible and Death of a Salesman. Read...
William Finn, Tony Winner for ‘Falsettos,’ Is Dead at 73 by Michael Paulson, The New York Times | An acclaimed musical theater writer, he won for both his score and his book and later had a huge hit with “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Read...
Dramatists Play Service Releases Jones Hope Wooten's The Chicken-Fried-Fabulous Spa-Dee-Dah Sisterhood for Licensing by Logan Culwell-Block, Playbill | The release marks 20 years of the group's comedies, which have become mainstays of the community and regional theatre circuit. Read...
Kip Williams on Giving ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ the Multimedia Treatment by Gerard Raymond, Slant Magazine | Williams discusses working with Sarah Snook and adapting Oscar Wilde’s legendary novel. Read...
Big Idea Story
Get Ready for an Unforgettable Season: The Scene Podcast's 2025 Lineup!
by Zach Dulli, The Scene
The Scene Podcast is back, and we couldn't be more thrilled to announce our star-studded lineup for the 2025 season! This year, we're diving deeper into the world of theatre, storytelling, and creativity with an incredible roster of guests who are reshaping the landscape of contemporary drama and performance. Mark your calendars because you won’t want to miss a single episode!
Episode #1: Kate Douglas (April 19) - Kicking off the season, we have the immensely talented Kate Douglas, known for her innovative storytelling in plays like The Apiary. Kate is sure to offer an inspiring start to the season.
Episode #2: The Tony's Episode (May 3) - The biggest night in theatre deserves its own episode! Join us for a Tony Awards special, where we’ll break down this year's nominees and make our predictions for Broadway’s biggest celebration.
Episode #3: Ian McWethy and Carrie McCrossen (May 17) - This dynamic duo, known for their popular high school plays like The Internet is Distract—Oh Look a Kitten! and Bad Auditions by Bad Actors, brings humor and heart to the stage and screen. Expect plenty of laughs and insights into their creative process!
Episode #4: Anna Ziegler (May 31) - Playwright of acclaimed works like Photograph 51 and Actually, Anna Ziegler joins us to discuss her journey as a playwright and her latest works.
Episode #5 & #5.5: John Cariani (June 14 & 18)- A double dose of John Cariani! Best known for his beloved play Almost, Maine, the celebrated playwright and actor will share stories from his career in both episodes, offering listeners a unique behind-the-scenes look at his creative life.
Episode #6: Live from International Thespian Festival (June 23-27) - We’re taking The Scene Podcast on the road to the International Thespian Festival! Expect live interviews, performances, and stories from one of the most vibrant theatre events of the year.
Episode #7: Ngozi Anyanwu (July 26) - Known for her powerful and thought-provoking works like Good Grief and The Homecoming Queen, Ngozi Anyanwu will discuss storytelling, representation, and her unique voice in contemporary theatre.
Episode #8: Keenan Scott II (August 9) - A rising force in modern drama, best known for his Broadway debut play, Thoughts of a Colored Man, Keenan Scott II joins us to discuss his inspirations and path to success.
Episode #9: Abe Koogler (August 16) - Celebrated for his witty and poignant plays like Fulfillment Center and Kill Floor, Abe Koogler brings his signature wit and depth to the conversation.
Episode #10: James Ijames (August 23) - The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Fat Ham and Kill Move Paradise will delve into his creative process and the power of storytelling.
Episode #11: Jonathan Spector (September 6) - Known for his sharp social commentary in plays like the recent Broadway hit Eureka Day, Jonathan Spector discusses his approach to writing and crafting memorable stories.
Episode #12: Madeline Sayet (September 20) - A passionate advocate for Indigenous storytelling, Madeline Sayet joins us to discuss her work in theatre, including Where We Belong, and her commitment to cultural representation.
Episode #13: John Cameron Mitchell (October 4) - The legendary creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, John Cameron Mitchell, will talk about his groundbreaking career and his latest creative endeavors.
Episode #14: Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin (October 18) - An exciting new voice in the theatre world, known for works like Tiger Style! and The Caregiver, Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin will discuss her multifaceted career and upcoming projects.
Episode #15: Tracy Wells (November 1) - Tracy Wells will share her journey as a storyteller, teacher, and theatre maker, offering inspiration to theatre educators everywhere.
With this incredible lineup, The Scene Podcast is set to be your go-to for behind-the-scenes stories, insights from theatre’s brightest minds, and a celebration of storytelling in all its forms. Make sure to subscribe and tune in.
New episodes start next Saturday, April 19th! The Scene Podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, Goodpods, Amazon Music, and YouTube. If you missed any of season 1, catch up today!
Shows You Should Know
McNeal by Ayad Akhtar
About: Ayad Akhtar’s gripping new drama about Artificial Intelligence and a Nobel Prize-winning novelist is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the collision of creativity and technology. The story follows author Jacob McNeal as he confronts the unsettling reality of AI infiltrating nearly every profession, including his own. Akhtar masterfully challenges the audience to ponder the age-old adage, “if you can’t beat them, join them,” and decide whether it holds true in this thought-provoking context. This is the AI play — a deep dive into the ethical and moral dilemmas that arise when technology encroaches on human creativity. Plus, it recently made waves on Broadway, starring none other than Robert Downey Jr. Picture Iron Man grappling with the existential threat of AI — pretty awesome, right? Don’t miss out on this powerful and timely piece!
Rating: R | Casting: 2 Men, 5 Women | Genre: Drama
Click here to learn more about McNeal. And don’t forget to check out The Scene Podcast!
Bryan Cranston, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Paapa Essiedu set for All My Sons in the West End by Alex Wood, WhatsOnStage | The show opens this autumn at Wyndham’s Theatre. Read...
Annaleigh Ashford and Danielle Tarento to co-produce the UK premiere of The White Chip by Tanyel Gumushan, WhatsOnStage | It’ll take place this summer. Read...
Sunset Boulevard's Diego Andres Rodriguez to Star Opposite Rachel Zegler in Jamie Lloyd's Evita in London by Hayley Levitt, Broadway Briefing | Diego Andres Rodriguez will join the previously announced Rachel Zegler in Jamie Lloyd's revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita at the London Palladium this summer. Read...
The Snubs and Surprises of the 2025 Olivier Awards by Matt Wolf, Houman Barekat, and Eleanor Stanford, The New York Times | Times critics discuss the big winners — a new play about Roald Dahl, a “Fiddler on the Roof” revival and a folk-rock “Benjamin Button”— at London’s theater awards. Read...
Jeff Calhoun will direct Deaf West’s Broadway-aimed ‘Elephant Shoes’ musical at Two River Theater by Michael Abourizk, Broadway News | The musical will be performed in both American Sign Language and spoken English. Read...
The Pitt's Patrick Ball to Lead Hamlet at Mark Taper Forum by David Gordon, TheatreMania | Robert O’Hara will direct the production later this spring. Read...
Baltimore Center Stage, Breaking the Binary Launch Trans History Project by American Theatre Editors, American Theatre | A national initiative led by theatremaker Bo Frazier will develop new works about the often overlooked history of gender nonconformity. Read...
The American Five World Premiere, A Christmas Carol & More Set For Ford's 2025-2026 Season by Joshua Wright, Broadway World | Celebrating 250 Years: Ford's Theatre Unveils 2025-2026 Season Lineup. Read...
Free Reads of the Week
Read entire plays for free! Playscripts offers a selection of full-length and one-act plays that you can access for free, which is ideal for use in theatre productions, school performances, or competitions. To explore these titles, click on the cover image below or select the "READ FOR FREE" button at the bottom of this section. This action will direct you to the play's page on the Playscripts website. Once there, click "READ NOW" to begin enjoying the play immediately!
The Bold, The Young, and The Murdered by Don Zolidis
The Story: The long-running soap opera The Bold and the Young is in its last days: its hunky hero has self-esteem issues, its villainous old man is more interested in soup, and its heroines are slightly psychopathic. The executive producer gives the squabbling cast an ultimatum: Complete one episode overnight or the show dies. But when the director ends up murdered, and other cast members start dropping like flies, it seems like his threat might actually come true. Can these misfits discover the murderer before the show is literally killed off?
Genre: Murder Mystery Comedy | Run-Time: 100 - 110 minutes | Casting: 5 W, 4 M, 4 Any (13 actors possible: 5-9 W, 4-8 M) | Set: Minimal
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