In this episode of Half Hour, we take a closer look at the 2026 Broadway production of Titaníque at the St. James Theatre, the Céline Dion-fueled parody of Titanic that has sailed uptown after its celebrated Off-Broadway run. We break down how the show’s journey from a downtown cult favorite to a commercial Broadway production affects the storytelling, the humor, and the overall energy in a larger house. We discuss the creative team’s concept, the use of Dion’s catalog, and the legal and artistic hurdles of building a parody around iconic film characters and globally known pop songs. We examine how the production values (set, lighting, sound, and choreography) have been scaled up for the St. James, and whether the show maintains the scrappy, anything-for-a-laugh spirit that defined its Off-Broadway run. The conversation highlights standout turns from Marla Mindelle as Céline Dion, Melissa Barrera, Deborah Cox, Frankie Grande, John Riddle, Constantine Rousouli, and Layton Williams, and considers how this ensemble shapes the show’s tone and audience reception on Broadway. We also speculate on potential Tony Awards attention and where Titaníque fits in the broader landscape of contemporary Broadway comedy and parody musicals.
Follow and connect with all things @HalfHourPodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Share your thoughts on this production in the comments on Spotify, and let us know what you would like us to cover next. If you enjoy these post-show discussions, follow Half Hour and leave a rating and review so more theater lovers can find the podcast.