The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast

The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast

OnStage Blog (www.onstageblog.com) talks about all things theatre, including Broadway, community theatre trends, movie musicals, audition tips, and much more. Hosted by Rachel Wagner of Rachel's Reviews.

Episodes

September 15, 2025 36 mins

Rachel and Jax reveal their rankings of the best Broadway musicals based on true stories. Where does Hamilton fit in? Listen to find out!

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Rachel and Jax weigh in on High School shows that schools should stop performing and give their recommendations for what should be performed instead. For more on this topic, check out Rachel and Jax's thoughts on the 11 most performed school musicals and what under-performed musicals should be given a chance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyA79z3G41o. 


Read more at onstageblog.com!

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On the latest episode of The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast, Rachel and Jacklyn recap the festival, including the Shakespeare shows they saw (Macbeth, As You Like It, Antony, and Cleopatra). They also discuss Shakespeare's most popular plays, why he remains relevant in 2025, and more. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube for all the latest episodes!

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Rachel and Jacklyn preview and rate their excitement for the new slate of Broadway shows and revivals coming in Fall 2025! Shows discussed include Mamma Mia, Waiting For Godot, Chess, Ragtime, and more. Subscribe to The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast today for all our episodes and visit onstageblog.com for all of our editorials on Broadway-related!

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Rachel and Jax go back to school, evaluating the musicals currently most performed in High schools for the 2024-2025 season and rank them from 11 to 1 of what high schools should perform based on cast, quality of music, fun for the kids, and more with high school music director and vocal coach Tanner Tate! Follow @OnStageblog on social media or visit onstageblog.com for more content on high school theatre!

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Rachel and Jax examine the show selections of 33 community theatres nationwide for the 2025-2026 season and grade each theatre's announced season based on show quality, diversity, entertainment factor, and more! Listen to the episode here or watch on YouTube, where Rachel shares her PowerPoint on all 33 seasons discussed!

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Rachel and Jax review the live stream of "Good Night, and Good Luck" on CNN and HBO Max, including George Clooney's excellent performance, Ilana Glazer's puzzling non-comedic performance, and more. Read more Broadway and theatre content on onstageblog.com!

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Rachel and Jax recap the 2025 Tony Awards, pick the best, worst, and funniest moments, and much more with Broadway By Ghostlight's Marc Bonanni and One Man's Opinion's Tim Leininger! Read more of OnStage Blog's coverage of the Tony Awards at onstageblog.com!

Broadway by Ghostlight:  ⁨@broadwaybyghostlight⁩
One Man's Opinion:  ⁨@onemansopinion8135⁩  

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Rachel and Jax share their thoughts on the Patti LuPone controversy with actress Sajda Waite! They weigh in on Patti's career, her open letter, her apology, and much more.

Read more of OnStage Blog's Coverage of Patti LuPone here:
https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2025/5/27/reconciling-art-amp-the-artist
https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2025/5/26/patti-we-get-it-youre-a-diva-but-this-aint-it

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Rachel and Jax have OnStage Blog Founder Chris Peterson on to discuss his ranking of the top 50 movie musicals to date, as of May 2025. Rachel and Jax share where they agree and hammer out their disagreements!

Read Chris's rankings of #50-#25 here:https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2025/5/4/the-top-50-movie-musicals-of-the-past-25-years-50-26

#25-#11 here: https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2025/5/4/t...

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Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier update where their Broadway Bucket List stands in May 2025, and count down the remaining shows they still have left to see. 

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Rachel Wagner and special guest Marc Bonanni of Broadway by Ghostlight (@bwayghostlight Instagram, X, Threads) react to the 2025 Tony nominations, including their analysis of the snubs, surprises, and where the nominations got it right. Also, Marc explains why Maybe Happy Ending is one of the best shows he has ever seen!

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In Part 1 of the Community Theatre Pet Peeves Podcast, Jacklyn Collier, OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast co-host, ranks her five biggest pet peeves against directors, with community theatre director veteran Chris Peterson responding on behalf of directors everywhere. Check out all of OnStage Blog's community theatre content on onstageblog.com

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Rachel interviews theaterloversexperience.com's founder, Megan Gutierrez, about how she pulled off watching 11 Broadway shows in 5 days, including hit shows Othello and Glengarry Glen Ross, and discusses her reviews of each. The 11 shows Megan watched and discussed on this podcast are as follows:

Real Women Have Curves

John Proctor Is The Villain

The Picture Of Dorian Gray

DRAG: The Musical

Good Night And Good Luck

Gypsy

Maybe Happy ...

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In a special Jane Austen-themed episode, Rachel Wagner interviews the playwrights of two Jane Austen plays she saw and discusses the challenges and thrills of producing Jane Austen's works for the stage.

1st Guest: Melissa Leilani Larson, Pride & Prejudice https://www.melissaleilanilarson.com/pride-and-prejudice

2nd Guest: Laura Bedore Lerwill, Emma (26:24)


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Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner and OnStage Blog's Chris Peterson preview the new Broadway productions coming to Broadway this Spring, including BOOP The Musical, Dead Outlaw, The Last 5 Years, Pirates! The Penzance Musical, and more! 

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OnStage Blog Founder Chris Peterson and Actor/Acting Coach Jacklyn Collier give advice to readers and reddit users asking for advice on all things theatre-related. Greg Ehrhardt guest hosts. 

Questions answered include:

What to do if you can't make callbacks (https://www.reddit.com/r/Theatre/comments/1j4ukv2/question/)

What to do if you don't have any chemistry with your acting partner (https://www.reddit.com/r/Theatre/comme...

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Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier analyze the 2025 Olivier Award Nominations, which recognize the best of London Theatre. They also run through the latest shows they have attended or watched in the last few weeks, including the most recent national tour of Les Miserables, The Book of Mormon, Beautiful, Prince of Egypt, English, Gypsy, and more. 

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On a Community Theatre edition of the OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast, Rachel and Jax sit down with OnStage Blog editor Chris Peterson to discusshow theatres can evolve in the wake of Trump's second term, how theatres should select shows for their seasons, important etiquette tips all performers should practice, and much more!

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Rachel and Jax discuss and debate the merits of the three movie musicals nominated for Best Picture for the 2025 Oscars: Emilia Perez, A Complete Unknown, and Wicked. For a complete breakdown of Wicked Part One, listen here.


Check out all OnStage Blog's Wicked and movie musical content on onstageblog.com!

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