The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast
Episodes
How To Best Teach Theatre to Kids with Hannah Crawford!
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailOnStage Blog's Hannah Crawford makes her grand debut on the podcast, sharing her thoughts with Rachel and Jax on how to successfu...
Best & Riskiest Musicals for Community Theatre To Do (And Not Do!)
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier break down the best shows for community theatres to produce, whether your company leans more toward strong vocalists...
Fight Choreography Explained: The Craft, The Challenges, and The Rewards!
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Veteran Theatre Fight Choreographer Carlo Rivieccio joins Rachel and Jacklyn to take them behind the scenes of what makes fight choreography great on ...
The Best and Worst Songs Of Broadway Hit Musicals (Part 2!)
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jacklyn continue to share their picks for the best and worst songs from today's most popular Broadway musicals. Watch Part 1 here: ht...
Designing Our DREAM Broadway Revue (From Scratch!)
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jacklyn brainstorm and finalize how they would put together their dream Broadway Revue, from song selection to cast and theme, and much mor...
Grading Community Theatre Show Selections for 2026!
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the season 3 debut episode, Rachel and Jax examine the show selections community theatres nationwide for 2026 and grade each theatre's announc...
OnStage Blog Recaps The Biggest Broadway Stories of 2025!
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jacklyn look back at the big news stories out of Broadway in 2025 and share their individual highlights at the theater for the year. Visit ...
Merrily We Roll Along Pro Shot: Full Review & Reactions From OnStage Blog
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jax dive into the Merrily We Roll Along pro shot, breaking down what worked for them, what didn’t, and how this filmed version compares t...
The 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Broadway Recap with Marc Bonanni!
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel, Jax, and special guest Marc Bonanni break down all of the Broadway spotlights in the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Find Marc Bonn...
Is "Wicked: For Good" A Good Movie? Reactions, Reviews, And Nitpicks, with OnStage Blog's Greg Ehrhardt!
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
 Rachel and Jax sit down with OnStage Blog’s Greg Ehrhardt to break down the highs and lows of Wicked: For Good—and to debate the big question: i...
Picking the Best Broadway Shows from Every Year of Our Lives (Since 1981)
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jacklyn make their picks for the best Broadway (and off-Broadway) shows that debuted during every year that they have been alive (since 198...
Ethan Hawke Stuns as Lyricist Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon! (Rodgers and Hammerstein talk)
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jax react after watching Ethan Hawke's incredible performance as Broadway Lyricist Lorenz Hart on the opening night of Rodgers and Ham...
Pitching Our Best Broadway Investment Ideas!
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel, Jax, and special guest Marc Bonanni each develop 5 ideas for new or revived Broadway Shows that they think would be worth the producer's ...
Ranking Musicals Based on True Stories – Is Hamilton #1?
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jax reveal their rankings of the best Broadway musicals based on true stories. Where does Hamilton fit in? Listen to find out!onstageblog.c...
Don't Do That High School Show, Do This Instead!
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jax weigh in on High School shows that schools should stop performing and give their recommendations for what should be performed instead. ...
"The Most Popular Shakespeare Play?" and Other Insights At The Annual Utah Shakespeare Festival!
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On the latest episode of The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast, Rachel and Jacklyn recap the festival, including the Shakespeare shows they saw (Macbeth, A...
OnStage Blog Previews The New Broadway Shows Coming Fall 2025!
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jacklyn preview and rate their excitement for the new slate of Broadway shows and revivals coming in Fall 2025! Shows discussed include Mam...
Ranking The 11 Most Produced High School Musicals in 2024/2025: Which Should High Schools Perform?
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Grading Community Theatre Show Selections for the 2025-2026 Season!
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jax examine the show selections of 33 community theatres nationwide for the 2025-2026 season and grade each theatre's announced season...
OnStage Blog Reviews "Good Night, and Good Luck" Live Stream!
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jax review the live stream of "Good Night, and Good Luck" on CNN and HBO Max, including George Clooney's excellent performan...
OnStage Blog Recaps The 2025 Tony Awards w/ Marc Bonanni and Tim Leininger!
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Breaking Down All Aspects of the Patti LuPone Controversy With Actress Sajda Waite!
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, h...
Breaking Down The Best 50 Movie Musicals Of The Last 25 Years!
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Rachel and Jax's Broadway Show Bucket Lists!!
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Reacting To The 2025 Tony Nominations with Marc Bonanni!
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Wagner and special guest Marc Bonanni of Broadway by Ghostlight (@bwayghostlight Instagram, X, Threads) react to the 2025 Tony nominations, inc...
Ranking The Five Biggest Pet Peeves Theatre Actors Have With Directors: OnStage Blog
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 1 of the Community Theatre Pet Peeves Podcast, Jacklyn Collier, OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast co-host, ranks her five biggest pet peeves agains...
11 Broadway Shows In Five Days! A Broadway Blitz Recap With Megan Gutierrez
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel interviews theaterloversexperience.com's founder, Megan Gutierrez, about how she pulled off watching 11 Broadway shows in 5 days, includin...
Jane Austen From Page to Stage: Adapting Emma and Pride & Prejudice for Today's Audiences
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a special Jane Austen-themed episode, Rachel Wagner interviews the playwrights of two Jane Austen plays she saw and discusses the challenges and th...
The 2025 Broadway Spring Preview Episode!
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner and OnStage Blog's Chris Peterson preview the new Broadway productions coming to Broadway this Spring, including BOO...
How To Create Chemistry With a Lead On Stage, The Best Musical Song To Annoy Someone, And More Theatre Advice!
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
OnStage Blog Founder Chris Peterson and Actor/Acting Coach Jacklyn Collier give advice to readers and reddit users asking for advice on all things the...
Rachel and Jax Break Down The Olivier Award Nominations!
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier analyze the 2025 Olivier Award Nominations, which recognize the best of London Theatre. They also run through the la...
How Theatres Can Survive in 2025, Audition Etiquette, Season Selection, and More!
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On a Community Theatre edition of the OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast, Rachel and Jax sit down with OnStage Blog editor Chris Peterson to discusshow thea...
Breaking Down The 2025 Oscar-Nominated Movie Musicals! (Emilia Perez, A Complete Unknown, Wicked)
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Unkn...
OnStage Blog's Reaction To Trump Gutting The Kennedy Center Board And Appointing Himself Chairman
08 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a special edition of the OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast, Editor-In-Chief Chris Peterson and Editorial Staff member Greg Ehrhardt react to the news th...
Broadway Actress Zurin Villanueva on The Business of Broadway!
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
OnStage Blog's Greg Ehrhardt joins Rachel Wagner to talk about his experience seeing "Harry Potter and The Cursed Child" on Broadway an...
Previewing Redwood, Boop, Smash, and More! The 2025 Winter Broadway Preview Episode!
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To kick off 2025,, Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier preview the 2025 Winter Broadway Season, including Redwood, Smash on Broadway, Boop, and much mor...
Talking Elf: The Musical With Associate Director Dave Solomon!
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
 In a special podcast exclusive, OnStage Blog's Rachel Wagner and Greg Ehrhardt sit down with Dave Solomon, the associate director of Elf: The M...
We Saw DRAG: THE MUSICAL. Our Reaction (New York City Holiday Trip Recap)
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Wagner recaps her trip to Broadway and reviews the shows she saw, including Drag: The Musical, Elf: The Musical, The Rockettes, Death Becomes H...
Recapping The 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade with Marc Bonanni!
30 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Broadway By Ghostlight's Marc Bonanni joins Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier to break down all of the songs, dances, and everything Broadway-rel...
Wicked (Part 1) Is A Movie Musical Masterpiece!
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier explain why the cinematic adaptation of Wicked is a movie musical masterpiece and what made it work so well. Yes, it...
EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL is the Ultimate Horror Musical
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jacklyn talk with critic Mark Woodring of the Utah Film Critics Association about all things Evil Dead and how well the adaptation works on...
A Sondheim Masterpiece? A Deep Dive into Sweeney Todd
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jacklyn of The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast take a deep dive into Stephen Sondheim's hit, "Sweeny Todd."Â onstageblog.comfac...
A Deep Dive Into The Cynthia Erivo/Wicked Poster Controversy!
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Wagner and special guest Chris Peterson, the founder of OnStage Blog, discuss the controversy surrounding Cynthia Erivo calling out a fan-made ...
The Best And Worst Songs From Broadway Hit Musicals
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jacklyn give the audience their selections for the best and worst songs from the most popular Broadway musicals today. onstageblog.comface...
Mamma Mia? Jersey Boys? Are Jukebox Musicals Terrible or Triumphs? with Guest David Hanson
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier debate the merits of producing jukebox musicals with director David Hanson, who recently directed a production of Ma...
Meet The Hosts of The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast!
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Podcast Hosts Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier peel back the curtain and interview each other about the origins of their love of theatre, some of the...
From The Stage to Our Hearts: Our Favorite Broadway Leading Ladies Revealed!
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel and Jacklyn reveal their favorite leading ladies of Broadway and suggest revivals they'd want them to star in next. Check out more Broadw...
A Conversation With Julie Benko, Plus Reviewing The Jane Eyre Livestream!
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Wagner talks with Broadway actor and singer Julie Benko about her career and her performance in the recent live stream of the Theatre Raleigh c...
The Joys and Challenges of Performing Shakespeare with Josh Egbert
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier are joined by theatre actor and singer Josh Egbert to discuss Rachel's visit to the Utah Shakespeare Festival a...
Debating Which Is Better, Annie or Matilda, with Winter Donnelly!
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's episode, Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier are joined by Frozen on Broadway actress Winter Donnelly for the podcast's first &...
Which Disney Broadway Show is Best? All 14 Disney Theatricals Ranked
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jacklyn and Rachel are back to rank the Disney theatrical productions with everything from The Lion King to Frozen. Check out all Disney Theatre conte...
Is Into The Woods Overrated?
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast" returns with co-hosts Rachel and Jacklyn diving into the hit musical 'Into the Woods' with Kens...
What Makes the Perfect Season of Community Theatre?
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the latest episode of 'The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast', theatre critic Rachel Wagner and Jacklyn Collier discuss what plays and musical...
The 2024 Broadway Fall Preview Episode!
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner and brand new co-host Jacklyn Collier preview the new shows hitting Broadway in Fall 2024 for The OnStage Blog Theatre Po...
When Diverse Casting Matters, And When It Doesn't
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
OnStage Blog's Chris Peterson and Greg Ehrhardt discuss why diversity in casting is important for certain plays and musicals (Hamilton), when it ...
Recapping The 77th Tony Awards with Marc Bonanni!
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner and Broadway By Ghostlight's Marc Bonanni break down the Tony Awards, including what they liked (The Outsiders, Wate...
How to Start a Broadway Business, Best Shows Of The Season, and More With Broadway Up Close's Tim Dolan!
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Wagner talks with BroadwayUpclose.com's Tim Dolan about how he started his tour guide business on Broadway, some of the more interesting n...
OnStage Blog Answers Their Critics And More!
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
OnStage Blog's Chris Peterson and Greg Ehrhardt celebrate the 10-year anniversary of onstageblog.com by recapping some of their biggest stories p...
Broadway Composer Paul Gordon on Movie Musicals, Daddy Long Legs, and More!
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner interviews Tony-nominated composer Paul Gordon on several topics, including how he switched careers from a pop songwriter...
A Very Special Tony Awards Nominations Episode!
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Theatre critic Rachel Wagner and 'Broadway by Ghostlight''s Marc Bonanni break down the nominations for the 2024 Tony Awards. Check ou...
When To Walk Out of A Show, Ranking Our Favorite Movie to Stage Adaptations, and More!
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this latest episode of "The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast", Theatre critic Rachel Wagner is joined by OnStage Blog's Chris Peterson a...
Would You Rather: Theatre Edition!
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Film and Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner discusses with OnStage Blog's Chris Peterson and Greg Ehrhardt the impact TikTok's potential ban would...
The Most Underrated Broadway Shows
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner (Rachel Reviews Theatre) and OnStage Blog founder Chris Peterson give their picks for the most underrated Broadway shows ...
The OnStage Blog Movie Musical Award Show!
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special edition of the OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast, film and theatre critic Rachel Wagner, OnStage Blog Founder Chris Peterson, and OnScreen ...
Are Trigger Warnings Appropriate For Theatre? Plus The Top 5 Favorite Broadway Shows Of All Time!
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast, Film and Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner talks about trigger warnings in theatre (4:37) along with her top 5 favorit...
Tick, Tick...Boom! Breakdown And Review On The Stage and Screen!
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Film and Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner of Rachel's Reviews along with Chris Peterson and Greg Ehrhardt of OnStage Blog break down everything they ...
The Perfect Musical Date, Is Les Misérables Worth Seeing In Theatres (Again), and More!
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the 3rd episode of "The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast," Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner and OnStage Blog's Chris Peterson and Greg Ehrha...
The Most Overperformed Musicals In Community Theatre, And What Should be Performed Instead
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner and OnStage Blog Founder Chris Peterson discuss the news of "Shucked" being adapted into a feature film (10:12)...
Rating Our Excitement For The New Broadway Shows Opening In 2024
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Theatre Critic Rachel Wagner of Rachel's Reviews and OnStageblog.com founder Chris Peterson rate their excitement for every Broadway show opening...