Episode · Freakonomics Radio · 2025-04-18
Books mentioned on 630. On Broadway, Nobody Knows Nothing
A hit like Hamilton can come from nowhere while a sure bet can lose $20 million in a flash. We speak with some of the biggest producers in the game — Sonia Friedman, Jeffrey Seller, Hal Luftig — and learn that there is only one guarantee: the theater owners always win.
Luis Miranda Jr. discussed Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Stephen Dubner discussed Relentless by Luis A. Miranda Jr., Theater Kid by Jeffrey Seller, and Beyond Broadway by Professor Stacy Wolf.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow is a comprehensive historical biography that chronicles the life, political career, and lasting legacy of one of America's founding fathers.
Discussed“is that yes, I just read this amazing and as I'm reading it, this is the Ron Cher now biography of Hamilton.”
Where to get it
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Relentless
Discussed“Luis Miranda recently published a memoir about his work in politics and beyond. It's called Relentless. As nice as I seem, he writes, I was and continue to be relentless.”
Where to get it
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Theater Kid
Discussed“Seller is also about to publish a memoir called Theater Kid. He grew up in a chaotic working-class family in a Detroit suburb.”
Where to get it
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Beyond Broadway
Discussed“She's the author of a book called Beyond Broadway: The Pleasure and Promise of Musical Theater Across America and she teaches theater and American studies at Princeton.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Plugged Theater Kid
“Seller is also about to publish a memoir called Theater Kid.”
Passing Beyond Broadway
“That is Stacy Wolf. She's the author of a book called Beyond Broadway: The Pleasure and Promise of Musical Theater Across America and she teaches theater and American studies at Princeton.”
“That is Stacy Wolf. She's the author of a book called Beyond Broadway: The Pleasure and Promise of Musical Theater Across America and she teaches theater and American studies at Princeton.”