Critical Darling

Andrew Cole
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated Weekly

"Critical Darling" is a podcast that celebrates all the hot takes and big feels lighting up Broadway. Hosted by Andrew Cole, each episode dives into a Broadway play or musical with honest reactions, strong opinions, and thoughtful critique. New guest hosts join every week to talk about performances, creative choices, big ideas, and what actually lingers after the curtain call. If you love smart, fun, real talk about Broadway, tune in to learn what worked, what didn't, and which shows are worth your hard-earned scrilla!

  1. 2d ago

    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/ More on Punch: https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/shows/2025-26-season/punch/  More on All Out: https://alloutbroadway.com/  ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Watch SNL Skit Woodbridge High School Drama Club Sketch: youtube.com/watch?v=323v_FtWqvo&themeRefresh=1  Follow Sean on IG: https://www.instagram.com/stufffromsean/ Check out Sean's Scholarship Initiative: https://afs.org/global-stem/ Follow Brent: https://www.instagram.com/crazyforconcerts/  ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify  YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube  Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple  Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram  Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon  TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok

    56 min

  2. Jun 2

    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  Watch Kelli O'Hara's "My Life in the Theatre" Video: https://playbill.com/article/my-life-in-the-theatre-kelli-ohara  ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Learn More About Eric: https://ericemch.com/  ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify  YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube  Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple  Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram  Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon  TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok

    45 min

  3. May 26

    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/  ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Follow Brett on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brettradek/  Follow Out/Play NYC on IG: https://www.instagram.com/outplaynyc  Support Out/Play NYC: https://linktr.ee/outplaynyc  ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify  YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube  Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple  Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram  Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon  TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok

    53 min

  4. May 22

    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/  ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Follow Chris on IG: https://www.instagram.com/mrcrowthers/  Follow Project Weekend on IG: https://www.instagram.com/projectweekendny/  Shop at Project Weekend: https://www.projectweekendny.com/  ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify  YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube  Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple  Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram  Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon  TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok

    53 min

  5. May 20

    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/  ***** GUEST HOST LOVE Follow Shina on IG: https://www.instagram.com/shinamorris/  ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify  YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube  Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple  Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram  Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon  TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok

    50 min

  6. May 15

    Death of a Salesman (w/ Anna Pittman)

    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. ***** 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 ***** GET TICKETS Death of a Salesman Website: https://salesmanbroadway.com/#ticket-info  ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify  YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube  Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple  Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram  Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon  TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok

    53 min

  7. Apr 23

    Liberation (w/ Amanda Wheeler)

    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. ***** 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 ***** 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  ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify  YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube  Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple  Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram  Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon  TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok

    48 min

  8. Apr 18

    Dog Day Afternoon (w/ Joselyn Mujica)

    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. ***** 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 ***** SEE DOG DAY AFTERNOON Get Tickets: https://dogdayafternoon.com/tickets/  ***** SUPPORT CRITICAL DARLING Spotify - Follow, Listen & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-spotify  YouTube - Subscribe & Watch https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-youtube  Apple Podcasts - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-apple  Instagram - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-instagram  Amazon Music - Follow & Listen https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-amazon  TikTok - Follow & Connect https://tinyurl.com/critical-darling-tiktok

    1 hr
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5
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About

"Critical Darling" is a podcast that celebrates all the hot takes and big feels lighting up Broadway. Hosted by Andrew Cole, each episode dives into a Broadway play or musical with honest reactions, strong opinions, and thoughtful critique. New guest hosts join every week to talk about performances, creative choices, big ideas, and what actually lingers after the curtain call. If you love smart, fun, real talk about Broadway, tune in to learn what worked, what didn't, and which shows are worth your hard-earned scrilla!

Information

  • Creator
    Andrew Cole
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Critical Darling

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