After a full Broadway season of transfers, star vehicles, ambitious new musicals, baffling misfires, and surprise favorites, Matt finally attempts the impossible: ranking (almost) every show from the 2025/2026 season. From major Tony contenders to chaotic curiosities, he revisits what worked, what didn’t, and which productions lingered long after curtain call. Along the way, the episode becomes less a definitive “best to worst” list and more a snapshot of a season defined by big swings, divided reactions, and wildly different ideas of what Broadway should be right now.
Important Links
* Broadway Breakdown Live: Green Room 42 Tix!
* Broadway Breakdown: Discord
* Broadway Breakdown: Substack
* Broadway Breakdown: Youtube
Time Stamps
* 0:00 – Intro + ranking criteria explanation
* 4:27 – #50
* 6:05 – #49
* 9:05 – #48
* 12:57 – #47
* 16:27 – #46
* 18:40 – #45
* 21:51 – #44
* 24:58 – #43
* 27:36 – #42
* 29:37 – #41
* 32:50 – #40
* 36:57 – #39
* 39:33 – #38
* 43:12 – #37
* 44:55 – #36
* 47:06 – #35
* 48:27 – #34
* 50:49 – #33
* 54:36 – #32
* 57:21 – #31
* 58:58 – #30
* 1:00:52 – #29
* 1:03:13 – #28
* 1:05:52 – #27
* 1:09:50 – #26
* 1:11:45 – #25
* 1:13:10 – #24
* 1:16:02 – #23
* 1:22:17 – #22
* 1:27:07 – #21
* 1:29:52 – #20
* 1:32:07 – #19
* 1:35:35 – #18
* 1:41:15 – #17
* 1:42:55 – #16
* 1:48:23 – #15
* 1:50:11 – #14
* 1:52:38 – #13
* 1:56:45 – #12
* 1:59:17 – #11
* 2:02:14 – #10
* 2:04:43 – #9
* 2:07:52 – #8
* 2:10:32 – #7
* 2:14:17 – #6
* 2:16:44 – #5
* 2:19:17 – #4
* 2:22:25 – #3
* 2:25:51 – #2
* 2:27:35 – #1 + final reflections on the season
Listener discussion questions
* “What was your personal favorite show of the 2025/2026 Broadway season—and did critical consensus line up with your own ranking?”
* “Which production do you think will age the best over time, regardless of awards success?”
* “Are there shows this season you admired more than you actually enjoyed—and how do you separate those two reactions?”
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bwaybreakdown.substack.com
