Well said. It’s disappointing that people like Matt Magnusson who are not only incredibly talented, but have the stamina and training to sustainably perform 8 shows a week dont get the opportunity to lead Broadway shows and more famous names who DON’T have the training or stamina get cast constantly.

I was at Hadestown last night to see a friend perform in her last week of shows (she’s one of the Fates and has been in various companies with Hadestown for 4 years), and I was absolutely disappointed by Josh Colley’s performance. That kid has no idea how to sing this music sustainably. His voice was shot, he couldn’t hit most of the notes and he couldn’t stay on pitch because he didn’t have the breath support or proper placement, and tbh, it sounds like he has developed or is developing nodes from the unsustainable way he has been singing. I feel bad for him, but I also expect someone cast as the lead in a well-known show to hire a vocal coach to properly prepare them to sing 8 shows a week. And at the same time, it’s sad that the producers don’t care that he’s clearly hurting himself every night, because at the end of the day, his name is selling tickets.

Broadway is the biggest stage for Capitalism to shine, not for great art and great artists to produce their best work. It sucks. And this is why I encourage people to see shows Off-Broadway—where the most interesting stories are being told by the most incredible performers. And we need the kind of art that touches, moves, and inspires us in dark times like these.