Dirty Moderate Ep 91 with special guest Ben Brantley

Dirty Moderate with Adam Epstein

Ben Brantley was the chief theater critic of The New York Times for more than 20 years. He wrote more than 2,500 reviews over 27 years beginning in 1993.

During Adam’s first act as a Broadway Producer, Ben and Adam “passed each other in the theater aisle” so to speak. Ben reviewed some of Adam’s biggest hits and being consummate professionals, they would not engage while reviews were underway. But in between shows, and now that Ben has taken his last bow as a theater critic having retired to the bucolic Hudson River Valley, Adam and Ben have a proper sit down to discuss all things Broadway and beyond. One you cannot miss!

Before joining The Times, Ben was a staff writer for the New Yorker and Vanity Fair. He reviewed fashion for Women’s Wear Daily, where he was the Paris bureau chief and European editor; and reviewed movies for Elle magazine. He grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C., and graduated from Swarthmore College. He is the editor of two books of New York Times theater reviews and a recipient of the George Jean Nathan Award for theater criticism.

Enjoy this departure from the chaos of America’s political storm as you sink into a charming conversation about art, life, and well, even some politics actually-between 2 stars who have seen, experienced and contributed so much to art and to our culture.

Ladies and gentlemen, Ben Brantley! *applause as curtain rises

Stay Dirty, Stay Moderate, and Stay Safe.

Thanks for helping us save democracy one episode at a time!

• Join the Dirty Moderate Nation on Substack!
• Tell us what you think on Twitter!
• Check out our YouTube channel!
• Are you registered to VOTE?