Can Mamdani Save Broadway?

<p dir="ltr">Sam recently experienced one of the best stage musicals he&rsquo;s seen in years.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr"><em><a href="https://catsthejellicleball.com/">Cats: The Jellicle Ball</a></em> reimagines the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber story with a ballroom twist. The show is filled with voguing, runway and Black, queer joy. It also won multiple Tony awards this year, which packed the theater night after night.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The whole show seemed like it was on the path to success, until it closed suddenly on August 8th.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Theater critic Naveen Kumar wrote about the fate of the production for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/08/opinion/cats-jellicle-ball-closing-webber-de-shields.html"><em>The New York Times</em></a>. He joined Sam to break down the major money problems facing Broadway. He also shares some ideas to fix them&hellip;Which may involve a certain charismatic mayor.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Sign up for <a href="https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/the-sam-sanders-show">Sam&rsquo;s Newsletter</a> to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><em>The Sam Sanders Show</em> is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.</p>

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