{"podcast":{"title":"Broadway Breakdown","slug":"broadway-breakdown-224933","podcast_index_feed_id":224933,"rss_url":"https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/5180103.rss","website_url":"https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com/podcast","image_url":"https://substackcdn.com/feed/podcast/5180103/51fb47cc9d6a6b1047d753f00e814b08.jpg","author":"Matt Koplik","episode_count":333,"summary":"Matt Koplik is the most opinionated, foul-mouthed, and passionate theatre geek with access to a mic. Every week, Matt and a guest explore Broadway history by diving into the careers of the artists who shaped it.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/broadway-breakdown-224933"},"episode":{"title":"BACKSTAGE PASS: Creating Marcel on the Train w/ Ethan Slater & Marshall Pailet","slug":"backstage-pass-creating-marcel-on-the-train-w-ethan-slater-marshall-pailet","published_at":"2026-03-13T04:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/broadway-breakdown-224933/backstage-pass-creating-marcel-on-the-train-w-ethan-slater-marshall-pailet","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/broadway-breakdown-224933","url":"https://bwaybreakdown.substack.com/p/backstage-pass-creating-marcel-on","audio_url":"https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/190753371/75476c9ce4d7c537078f253e11b6f33d.mp3","summary":"Series Summary Backstage Pass is a new mini-series from Broadway Breakdown that pulls back the curtain on the making of a show in real time. In this episode, Matt sits down with the creators of Marcel on the Train —writer/star Ethan Slater and writer/director Marshall Pailet—to explore how the project came together and how they transformed the remarkable true story of Marcel Marceau into a theatrical event. The Guests Tony nominee Ethan Slater co-wrote the piece and stars as Marcel Marceau, bringing the legendary mime’s early life to the stage. Audiences may know him from his Broadway breakout in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical and recent film work in Wicked . Writer and director Marshall Pailet is an award-winning theatermaker whose work includes the musical Private Jones . In this conversation, Pailet discusses shaping the show’s storytelling and directing Slater in a role that blends biography, theatrical invention, and physical performance. Important Link Marshall Pailet: Site Ethan Slater: Site Time Stamps 02:20 – How Ethan Slater and Marshall Pailet first began developing the project07:15 – The early writing process and shaping the narrative structure15:10 – Marshall’s directing approach and building the visual vocabulary of the show20:45 – Ethan on performing Marcel: balancing acting, movement, and biography25:30 – Collaborating with Classic Stage Company to bring the production Off-Broadway30:40 – Workshop development, revisions, and finding the show’s tone35:20 – Audience reactions and what resonates most about Marcel’s story45:10 – Looking ahead: the future life of the piece and final reflections Listener Questions * How are you enjoying the new series Backstage Pass ? Leave your feedback on the Broadway Breakdown Discord Channel: Here This is a p…","meta_description":"Series Summary Backstage Pass is a new mini-series from Broadway Breakdown that pulls back the curtain on the making of a show in real time. In this episo…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3615,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/broadway-breakdown-224933/episodes/backstage-pass-creating-marcel-on-the-train-w-ethan-slater-marshall-pailet/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/broadway-breakdown-224933/backstage-pass-creating-marcel-on-the-train-w-ethan-slater-marshall-pailet.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}