Mathew Mac Lean’s love for Broadway oozes off the stage in this hour long tribute to the shows that shaped us. He infuses the show with so much wit, humor, and care. Clearly believing in creating a space where everyone is welcome, Mathew sings barefoot as he encourages people to sing, dance, or interact with the show in whatever way is most comfortable for them. He also seeks to uplift other artists as he brings in a new guest for each performance and tries to shout-out any other artists that come to the show. It is a very interactive show as you receive sing-along lyrics and are asked for adlib words at the beginning of the show, which I was not prepared for as it does not mention audience participation in the description (I did enjoy it though).

I used a tangle and started off using Loop quiet earplugs, but took them out to sing more comfortably. It is a very loud show (the floors vibrate with all the noise) and the lights are both too bright and not bright enough. Let me explain: I found the lights too bright but during the sing-along songs multiple people had to use their phone flashlights to see the paper so they could sing-along. Unrelated to the show itself, the chairs in the basement of Holy Trinity are very uncomfortable and it is impossible to put your feet up in an attempt to avoid the vibrations from the sound. I did get a headache because of the sound and lights, but it was worth it as I had a great time singing my little heart out. Mathew’s Big Broadway Bash truly feels like a community, rather than just a show, so if you like musical theatre I can’t recommend it enough (just maybe don’t take the earplugs out like I did). It would be a 5 star, but headache!