Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman premiered on Broadway in 1949 and remains one of the defining works of American theater. The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama follows aging salesman Willy Loman as he grapples with fading ambitions, financial pressure, and the increasingly elusive promise of the American Dream. Directed by Joe Mantello, the current Broadway revival stars Nathan Lane alongside Laurie Metcalf, Christopher Abbott, and Ben Ahlers, with scenic design by Chloe Lamford, lighting by Jack Knowles, and original music by Caroline Shaw.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by longtime friend and guest host Anna Pittman to unpack this stark new production. Together they discuss Mantello's stripped-down staging, the standout performances from the cast, and why Death of a Salesman continues to feel so relevant decades after its debut, particularly in its exploration of ambition, identity, success, and the pressure to matter in modern American life.

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CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro / Welcome Anna Pittman

11:19 Setting the Stage

12:48 Hot Takes

30:24 Big Feels

49:00 Should You See It?

52:19 Outro

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GET TICKETS

Death of a Salesman Website: https://salesmanbroadway.com/#ticket-info

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Liberation is a new play by Bess Wohl that examines the promises and contradictions of second-wave feminism through a dual-timeline narrative spanning the 1970s and the present day. Originally developed and produced by Roundabout Theatre Company, the play premiered Off-Broadway in early 2025 before transferring to Broadway in a production directed by Whitney White. Set largely in a community gymnasium in Ohio, the play follows a group of women participating in a consciousness-raising circle while a present-day narrator attempts to piece together the legacy—and limitations—of that movement.

Host Andrew Cole is joined by guest host Amanda "Wheels" Wheeler for a wide-ranging conversation on the play's performances, staging, and thematic resonance. Together, they unpack the show's use of direct address, its shifting portrayal of memory and identity, and the ways it interrogates feminism across generations. The discussion also explores standout character dynamics, the play's handling of race and intersectionality, and how Liberation ultimately functions as both a reflection on progress and a call to action for audiences today.

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CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro / Setting the Stage
1:48 - Welcome Amanda Wheeler
10:14 - Hot Takes
25:56 - Big Feels
40:30 - Should You See It?
45:12 - Outro

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW

Liberation Website: https://liberationbway.com/

*****

GUEST HOST LOVE

Visit Wheels' Website: https://www.amandawheeler.com/

Connect on IG: https://www.instagram.com/wheelssnacks

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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

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SEE DOG DAY AFTERNOON

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

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