Betty Buckley, Broadway & Big Bites

Audio By Carbonatix

This Fun Friday episode is a love letter to New York nightlife, opening with Kevin McCullough and Cristyne Nicholas swapping stories about buzzy Broadway shows and a reservation-worthy night at Huso—Buddha Lo’s Michelin-starred temple of edible art. Because in New York, dinner plans are practically a competitive sport.

The theater talk heats up fast with reactions to Chess on Broadway, complete with powerhouse vocals, visible orchestras, and reminders that not every show called Chess is really about chess. Cristyne previews her upcoming visits to Rocky Horror and Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels, sparking a lively debate about audience participation, Broadway etiquette, and generational theater manners.

The episode’s centerpiece is a warm, fascinating conversation with Broadway royalty Betty Buckley. From her Tony-winning turn as Grizabella in Cats to her annual Joe’s Pub residency, Buckley reflects on a career built on reinvention, storytelling, and staying creatively fearless. She shares moving personal stories, including her Texas roots and the powerful role theater has played in her life and family.

Continuing the community vibe, the show spotlights Inside Broadway, a nonprofit opening theater doors for over 100,000 NYC students annually. Executive Director Katie McCallister explains how Broadway education evolves with pop culture, social media, and movie adaptations—making theater relevant, accessible, and wildly exciting for the next generation.

The episode wraps with rapid-fire NYC weekend tips: Times Square rooftop dining, Yankees chatter, Greenwood Cemetery’s new visitor center, and upcoming episodes packed with summer-in-the-city energy. One thing’s clear—if you want to know what’s happening in New York now, Fun Friday is where the lights stay on.