The Helen Hayes Theater (with Mary Beth Barone, Oscar Montoya and Micheal Cruz Kanye)
In this episode of the WikiHole with D'Arcy Carden podcast, discussions span topics ranging from theater and celebrity culture to the art of delving into Wikipedia rabbit holes. D'Arcy shares glimpses into Broadway's world, comparing the intimate Helen Hayes Theatre where she performed to the grand Gershwin Theatre.
The episode also explores pop culture phenomena like the long-running musical "Cats," the influence of celebrities like Taylor Swift, and bizarre historical tales. Throughout, D'Arcy and her guests demonstrate how unexpected connections can be made through Wikipedia trivia, revealing misconceptions and knowledge gaps along the way.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Aug 19, 2024 episode of the WikiHole with D'Arcy Carden
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1-Page Summary
Broadway and Theater
The Helen Hayes Theatre
At just 597 seats, the Helen Hayes Theatre is Broadway's smallest venue - a fact that surprised D'Arcy Carden, who worked there and noticed its intimate feel. She observed the iconic "Phantom of the Opera" theater across the street, providing a glimpse into Broadway's bustling world.
"Cats": A Broadway Phenomenon
In a trivia game, Carden listed characters from "Cats," Andrew Lloyd Webber's celebrated musical based on T.S. Eliot's works - the second longest-running Broadway show. She noted its transformative, magical quality despite the strange decision in the 2019 film to remove CGI cat buttholes.
The Gershwin Theatre
Carden revealed the Gershwin Theatre is Broadway's largest at 1,933 seats - a surprising fact given common underestimations of theater sizes. The Gershwin's vast capacity invokes comparisons to a football stadium.
Pop culture and celebrities
Taylor Swift's pop culture influence
Taylor Swift's impact spans music, film ("Cats"), and personal connections to theater figures like Tom Hiddleston and Jake Gyllenhaal, both her ex-boyfriends with Broadway ties.
Celebrity tabloid sensations
D'Arcy recounted the strange 18th century tale of Mary Toft convincing many, including King George I, that she could "give birth" to rabbits - an early tabloid celebrity hoax.
Wikipedia deep dives and trivia
The show "WikiHole" encourages contestants to link diverse topics through a Wikipedia trivia journey, highlighting misconceptions and knowledge gaps around Broadway, pop culture, and more. From Taylor Swift's love life to Kenneth Lonergan's plays, it exemplifies the unpredictable "rabbit holes" participants enter.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While the Helen Hayes Theatre is noted for its intimate feel, some might argue that this smaller size could limit the scale and types of productions that can be staged there.
- The transformative and magical quality of "Cats" is subjective and some theatergoers and critics have found the musical lacking in narrative and character development.
- The decision to remove CGI cat buttholes in the 2019 film "Cats" could be defended as a choice to make the characters more palatable to a wider audience, though it was controversial among fans.
- Comparing the Gershwin Theatre's capacity to a football stadium might be seen as an exaggeration, as even the smallest professional football stadiums hold many more people.
- Taylor Swift's influence in film, particularly "Cats," could be critiqued given that her role was not a leading one and the film itself received mixed to negative reviews.
- The story of Mary Toft may be used to illustrate early tabloid sensationalism, but it could also be discussed in a more nuanced context of medical history and the understanding of reproductive science at the time.
- The concept of "WikiHole" might be criticized for potentially spreading misinformation or reinforcing misconceptions if not properly fact-checked or if it encourages superficial rather than in-depth understanding of topics.
- The idea that "WikiHole" exemplifies unpredictable "rabbit holes" could be seen as a negative aspect of the internet age, where information overload can lead to distraction and a lack of focus on important issues.
Actionables
- Explore the impact of venue size on performance by attending shows at both small and large theaters to feel the difference in atmosphere and audience engagement.
- By experiencing performances in theaters of varying sizes, you can personally assess how the intimacy of a venue like the Helen Hayes Theatre contrasts with the grandeur of the Gershwin Theatre. For example, you might notice that in smaller venues, you feel more connected to the performers and the story, while in larger venues, the spectacle and scale of the production become more prominent.
- Create a themed trivia night with friends using the "WikiHole" concept to connect seemingly unrelated topics.
- Organize a game night where each participant brings a set of trivia questions that start with one topic and must link to another through a series of logical connections. This could be a fun way to learn new facts and see how your friends make connections between different pieces of knowledge, similar to the journey "WikiHole" takes its listeners on.
- Experiment with storytelling by writing a short play or story that weaves together diverse elements from pop culture, history, and literature.
- Challenge yourself to create a narrative that includes elements from the podcast, such as a character inspired by Taylor Swift, a plot twist involving an 18th-century hoax like Mary Toft's, and a setting that evokes the magical quality of "Cats." This exercise can help you understand the creative process behind linking disparate ideas and may enhance your appreciation for the art of storytelling.
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Broadway and Theater
The theatrical world of Broadway is full of fascinating trivia, from the size of its smallest theater to the reactions to modern film adaptations of classic shows. D'Arcy Carden highlights some intriguing Broadway facts that may surprise even the most dedicated theater fans.
The Helen Hayes Theatre
Intimate Broadway Experience
D'Arcy Carden mentions her experience working at the Helen Hayes Theater, Broadway's smallest theater with a capacity of 597 seats. This fact took many by surprise, including Carden herself who initially found the intimate venue to feel much smaller than its nearly 600-seat capacity.
While working there, Carden observed the large set pieces being moved from the iconic "Phantom of the Opera" theater directly across the street, capturing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Broadway's bustling activity.
"Cats": A Broadway Phenomenon
The contestants discussed the renowned musical Cats—notably the second-longest-running show on Broadway with its large ensemble of unique characters. D'Arcy Carden leads a game to name as many characters from Cats as possible, listing characters ranging from Mr. Mistoffelees to Grizabella.
Carden comments on the poetic structure of the musical, which is based on T.S. Eliot's works—correcting contestant Oscar Montoya's mistake of attributing it to E.E. Cummings. Michael Cruz Kayne admits never having seen the show but recognizes its massive popularity, while Carden notes the magical and transformative nature of the Broadway experience.
The 2019 Film Adaptation
Speaking on the 2019 film adaptation, Carden reveals a bizarre production decision: the removal of CGI-rendered buttholes from the cat characters. Confirming the truth behind this strange piece of trivia, she conveys the efforts made by the visual effects team after the director's last-minute decision. Further touching on ...
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Broadway and Theater
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Explore the history of your local theaters by taking a self-guided walking tour to appreciate their unique characteristics and stories, similar to how the Helen Hayes Theater's small size was highlighted.
- Start by researching the theaters in your area, noting their architectural styles, historical significance, and any unique features they might have. Then, create a route that allows you to visit each one, taking time to observe the details that make each theater special. You might discover interesting facts, like which is the oldest or has hosted the most famous performances.
- Create a character naming challenge with friends using a book or series you all enjoy, inspired by the game of naming Cats characters from T.S. Eliot's works.
- Choose a favorite book or series and challenge each other to come up with names for characters that could exist in that universe based on themes, objects, or locations from the source material. This can be a fun party game or a creative exercise to engage with the content on a deeper level.
- Start a conversation about the impact of visual effects on storytelling ...
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Pop culture and celebrities
Pop culture and its celebrities often enthrall the public with their influence on the industry and occasionally bizarre or quirky stories.
Taylor Swift has had significant influence on pop culture and the music industry.
Taylor Swift, an emblem of pop culture influence, extends her reach even into film with her recent involvement in the "Cats" movie.
Taylor Swift wrote a new song for the Cats movie that was performed by another actor, not Swift herself.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Taylor Swift collaborated on a new song for the "Cats" movie adaptation. Interestingly, the song isn't performed by Swift herself but by another character who isn't a part of the original stage play. Swift, nonetheless, does perform in the movie with a British accent for her character.
Several of Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriends, including Tom Hiddleston and Jake Gyllenhaal, have connections to Broadway.
Michael Cruz Kayne remarks on Swift's personal life intersecting with Broadway, acknowledging that she dated Joe Jonas, who could have graced a Broadway stage. Further illustrating Swift's close ties to the theater world, Tom Hiddleston, her ex-boyfriend, is known for his significant role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as his connection to Broadway. Adding to this list, Jake Gyllenhaal, another ex-boyfriend, made his appearance in the West End premiere of the play "This Is Our Youth."
Celebrities often get involved in unusual or quirky stories, like the case of Mary Toft who claimed to give birth to rabbits.
Oscar Montoya recounted the peculiar, yet ...
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Pop culture and celebrities
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Taylor Swift was involved in the movie adaptation of "Cats" where she not only contributed a new song but also acted in the film. In the movie, Swift portrayed a character named Bombalurina and adopted a British accent for her role. This marked a departure from her usual American accent and added a unique touch to her performance in the movie. Swift's portrayal in "Cats" showcased her versatility as an artist, expanding her presence beyond just music into the realm of film.
- Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriends, Tom Hiddleston and Jake Gyllenhaal, have connections to Broadway through their involvement in stage productions. Tom Hiddleston is known for his work in theater, including performances in West End productions. Jake Gyllenhaal has also appeared in a play on Broadway, showcasing his ties to the theater world.
- Mary Toft's rabbit-birthing hoax in the early 1700s involved her claiming to give birth to rabbits, which capt ...
Counterarguments
- Taylor Swift's influence on pop culture and the music industry, while significant, is not unparalleled, and there are other artists who have had comparable or even greater impacts on the industry and cultural trends.
- The collaboration between Taylor Swift and Andrew Lloyd Webber for the "Cats" movie, although notable, may not be seen as a career highlight for either artist given the mixed critical reception of the film.
- Taylor Swift's performance in the "Cats" movie with a British accent might be critiqued by some as less authentic or convincing compared to native British actors.
- The connections between Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriends and Broadway might be coincidental and not necessarily indicative of her influence or relationship with the theater world.
- The story of Mary Toft, while historically ...
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Wikipedia deep dives and trivia
WikiHole pits contestants against each other in a game of trivia sourced from the vast expanse of Wikipedia, testing their knowledge on Broadway, pop culture, and more.
Contestants competed to demonstrate their knowledge of Broadway and pop culture facts by answering questions based on Wikipedia research.
Contestants on WikiHole score points by navigating through a trivia journey that takes them deep into Wikipedia articles and connections. The contestants showed a range of Broadway know-how and pop culture awareness, yielding a hilarious mix of accurate knowledge and funny misconceptions.
The show's format encourages contestants to continuously "fall down the Wikipedia rabbit hole" by making connections between seemingly unrelated topics.
In one instance, D'Arcy Carden segued from a variety of topics to discussing the movie "Cats," illustrating the unpredictability of the Wikipedia journey. Contestant Michael copped to his lack of knowledge regarding Taylor Swift's love life, information that could link pop culture to Broadway trivia. Meanwhile, Mary Beth speculated about future Broadway aspirations of Harry Styles, a figure related to Swift, predicting and mixing what she knew with guesses.
Further perplexity arose when a guess ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Wikipedia deep dives and trivia
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- WikiHole is a trivia game where contestants delve into Wikipedia to answer questions that connect various topics. Contestants earn points by exploring Wikipedia articles and making connections between different subjects. The game encourages players to navigate through a web of information, linking seemingly unrelated topics in a fun and unpredictable way. The goal is to showcase a mix of knowledge and creativity as contestants explore the depths of Wikipedia for answers.
- D'Arcy Carden is an actress known for her roles in TV shows like "The Good Place." She is recognized for her comedic talent and versatility in portraying various characters. Carden's involvement in the context provided suggests she participated in the trivia game or was referenced during the show.
- Kenneth Lonergan is a renowned playwright and screenwriter known for works like "Manchester by the Sea." "Lobby Hero" is one of his notable plays, exploring themes of morality and human connection within the setting of a Manhattan apartment building lobby. The play delves into complex interpersonal relationships and ethical dilemmas, showcasing Lonergan's talent for nuanced character development and storytelling. Lonergan's works often receive crit ...
Counterarguments
- While WikiHole may encourage exploration, it could also promote superficial understanding rather than in-depth learning.
- The game's reliance on Wikipedia might inadvertently spread misinformation if contestants reference inaccurately updated articles.
- The format might favor those with a broad rather than deep knowledge base, potentially disadvantaging experts in specific fields.
- The show's emphasis on making connections between topics could lead to reinforcing stereotypes or clichés within pop culture and Broadway trivia.
- The unpredictability and humor derived from misconceptions might trivialize the importance of accurate knowledge.
- The game's structure may not be the most effective way to measure one's knowledge or intelligence, as it seems to reward quick thinking over accuracy.
- The focus on pop culture and Broadway might limit the appeal to a wider audience with diverse interests.
- The show might con ...
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