About this episode
It has become fiendishly expensive to produce, and has more competition than ever. And yet the believers still believe. Why? And does the world really want a new musical about ... Abraham Lincoln?! (Part one of a three-part series .) SOURCES: Christopher Ashley , artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse. Quentin Darrington , actor. Joe DiPietro , playwright and lyricist. Crystal Monee Hall , composer, singer, actor. Rocco Landesman , Broadway producer, former owner of Jujamcyn Theaters, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Alan Shorr , Broadway producer. Daniel Watts , writer, choreographer, actor. Richard Winkler , Broadway producer. RESOURCES: 3 Summers of Lincoln (2025) “ Live Performance Theaters in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029) ,” by Grace Wood (IBISWorld, 2024). Leadership: In Turbulent Times , by Doris Kearns Goodwin (2018). Big River (1984) EXTRAS: “ How to Make the Coolest Show on Broadway ,” by Freakonomics Radio (2024). “ You Can Make a Killing, but Not a Living ,” by Freakonomics Radio (2024). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.