Sign in

Diep Tran

@diepthought.bsky.social
2K followers 124 following 464 posts

Editor in Chief of Playbill. Other words NY Times, NBC Asian America, NY Mag, Time Out NY. Views are my own. dtran@playbill.com dieptran.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Watched WIDOW’S BAY in 4 nights. I love that it’s a showcase for how women, especially single women, hold a community together. Ruth is 85, helps people, and delivers bangers like “Life is a house of horrors.” Society wants to make older women expendable but WIDOW’S BAY shows they’re not
170
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I speak to the organizers of Friday's Hands Off protest at the Kennedy Center, who are a mix of artists and former Kennedy Center staffers. Theater kids, getting stuff done! playbill.com/article/2-50...
playbill.com
2,500 Show Up at Kennedy Center Protest to Prevent Demolition
The protest was organized by Hands Off the Arts, made up of former Kennedy Center staff members.
0203
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
The scams are getting weird. I got an email from a BBC journalist asking to speak to me on their podcast. It was very in-depth, and seemed like they knew about me, my career, and theater. Until I saw the email address: worldbookauthorinterviewbbcwor@gmail.com. Wasn't even spelled right
151
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Had an emotionally heavy but productive week. First, talked to Patti LuPone on the phone for this feature, which also contains reflections from Susan Stroman (about The Producers resuming after 9/11), and the folks behind the "I Love New York Theatre" commercial playbill.com/article/broa...
playbill.com
Broadway Artists Remember 9/11 and How Theatre Became 'a Life Force'
Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley, more reflect on the days after 9/11 and the 25th anniversary.
150
Reposted by Diep Tran
Justin Jest @justinjest.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
2162501424
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
May we all, when we pass, be able to say, "I've done the best I could with my life."
031
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Students at a performing arts high school in Louisville, Kentucky were told their production of Ragtime was cancelled. What happened next will melt your cynical heart as these students made the school district hear them playbill.com/article/this...
playbill.com
This Student Production of Ragtime Was Cancelled. Then Broadway Chimed in
Students at the Youth Performing Arts School in Kentucky went viral last week.
051
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Sharing a great Dolly Parton quote, something I wish more people did instead of being defensive when they're wrong: "As soon as you realize that something is a problem, you should fix it. Don't be a dumbass." Fantastic Dolly retrospective by Lindsay Ellis www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJuK...
youtube.com
Yes, Dolly was Actually That Great
YouTube video by Lindsay Ellis
110938
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Me as a feminist after finishing this season of House of the Dragon
042
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Just watched this new movie on Netflix called DON'T SAY GOOD LUCK. A girl is cast as Jenna in her high school production of Waitress and her mom (Melanie Lynskey) has cancer and her grandma is Bebe Neuwirth. 10/10 if you want a good cry and a very good rendition of "She Used to Be Mine"
2101
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Are you theater journalist who identifies as BIPOC or is a woman or is trans/non-binary? Apply here for the Edward Medina Prize for Excellence in Cultural Criticism and you might win $1,500. You'll even get judged by me! 😜 airtable.com/apppwm63kEhp...
airtable.com
Airtable | Everyone's app platform
Airtable is a low-code platform for building collaborative apps. Customize your workflow, collaborate, and achieve ambitious outcomes. Get started for free.
001
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Watching House of the Dragon this season, it is impressive how they created a show while (I wouldn’t call it good) is immensely watchable despite every character being a terrible human. I am only rooting for the dragons
130
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
With Odyssey and Hadestown leading the cinema box office, what a time to have Greek mythology as your special interest. It’s a reminder why these tales get told and retold, they truly hit different every time
0122
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Just spent 2.5 weeks in Japan, and I’m most struck by how intentional things seem to be there. From the excellent food to the traffic cones shaped like frogs that said “sorry,” things seemed designed to be functional and nice to be around. Can’t live in Japan but I can live with more intention
040
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Some eye opening reporting here with testimonies from staff members at Arena Stage. Kudos to @nicolehertvik.bsky.social and @rjritzel.bsky.social for these multifaceted investigations dctheaterarts.org/2026/07/05/a... www.notus.org/metro/arena-...
dctheaterarts.org
At Arena Stage, artists and staff describe a workplace in crisis
As former Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif exits, starkly different perspectives emerge on what brought instability to DC’s premier regional theater.
1103
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
“Whenever I see an all-white cast in a play, I kind of get taken out. ‘This is still a thing that's happening?’ It just feels more honest when there are more people of color.” I talk to Jon Norman Schneider who is leading a wonderful all Asian production of Henry VI playbill.com/article/jon-...
playbill.com
Jon Norman Schneider Is Leading a Cast of 16 Asian-American Actors in Henry VI, Showing That Shakespeare Truly Is Universal
This longtime stage actor had never done Shakespeare before, then NAATCO called him.
160
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce getting married in NYC at MSG during July 4th and the World Cup, disrupting New Yorkers' commutes in the process, using NYC taxpayer dollars for NYPD presence...we gotta tax these billionaires more.
0111
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
“An excitement about a person of color in leadership … only then for those leaders to be handed a financial model that was unsustainable and really tough for them to succeed.” Really great analysis of why Hana Sharif left Arena Stage after just 3 years alheartley.substack.com/p/feature-no...
alheartley.substack.com
Feature, Not a Bug: How Regional Theater Keeps Setting Leaders of Color Up to Fail
Hana Sharif's resignation from Arena Stage raises more questions about the field's problem with keeping leaders of color and regional theater's financial structure.
153
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Considering that a vocal opposition party is essential in the fight against tyranny, it seems New Yorkers want leaders who will stand up to fascism. And the Democrats who are upset should ask themselves which side they are really on
191
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
My favorite genre of Jimmy Awards performers continues to be high schoolers channeling the souls of unhappily married middle aged people. Theater kids really grow up fast
1181
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Warriors vs Paddington, I'm already so stressed out about the 80th Tony Award
041
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
As an overachieving shortie, never thought I would relate to a 6'2'' basketball player. But seeing Jalen Brunson work so hard while being shorter than everyone else, I feel that. Love a (relatively) short king
060
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
On Monday, I spoke to Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Mark Sonnenblick about writing the Tonys opening number in 6 days, and whose demented brain came up with the line "Gitchie gitchie Laurie Metcalf." This really proves there's nothing like a good brainstorm
playbill.com
How 3 Oscar-Winning Songwriters Wrote Pink’s Tony Awards Opening Number in Just 6 Days
Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Mark Sonnenblick reveal who came up with the line "Gitchie gitchie Laurie Metcalf."
032
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
How did I spend my Tony Sunday? I went to dress rehearsal at Radio City at 9 AM, then oversaw Playbills Tony coverage in our office until 2AM. We published 31 articles yesterday (we did a lot of prep beforehand). And yes that means I did watch the Tonys in their entirety twice. Here’s my takeaway
1110
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Not only can Ali Louis Bourzgui rock a mullet, he is brave, to say that Palestinians “deserve to live a fruitful life, a free life, a full life without occupation” on TV. And considering the angry comments we’ve received for even reporting on it, Ali said the right thing playbill.com/article/ali-...
playbill.com
Ali Louis Bourzgui Honors Arab Theatre Makers, Palestine Winning Featured Actor Tony Award for The Lost Boys
This is Bourzgui's first win and first nomination. Read his full speech here.
0172
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Impressed with the very diplomatic awards split between Cats and Ragtime at the Tonys. The former got direction, choreography, costuming while Ragtime got 2 acting awards, sound design, and revival. Really shows how both shows captured voters hearts seemingly equally
0100
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Did I cheer when this was announced? Hell yeah I did! 4 female Tony Award winners in 79 years is shameful, but it goes to show you how important it is to have producers who believe in representation—Liberation's lead producers are Daryl Roth (Indecent) and Rachel Sussman (Suffs).
playbill.com
Liberation Wins Best Play at the 2026 Tony Awards; Bess Wohl Becomes 4th Woman to Win Best Play
This marked Wohl's second Tony nomination and first win.
0100
Reposted by Diep Tran
Leah Greenberg ❌👑 @leahgreenberg.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
There are concentration camps in the United States in the year 2026. There are CONCENTRATION CAMPS in the United States in the year 2026. THERE ARE CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE YEAR 2026.
7124571078
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Gotta take the small wins. playbill.com/article/kenn...
playbill.com
Kennedy Center Has Until June 12 to Remove Trump's Name From Building, Says Internal Memo
A federal judge ruled that Trump adding his name to the institution was unlawful.
050
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Did you know that only 3 women have won the Tony Award for Best Play? And the last one was in 2009? I talked to Bess Wohl, the only woman nominated in the Best Play category this year, on how wild it is to still be having a gender parity conversation playbill.com/article/a-wo...
playbill.com
A Woman Hasn't Won the Best Play Tony Award Since 2009; Bess Wohl Can Change That
Her play Liberation is up for Best Play and shows that "women's stories can be universal."
080
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Having finished rewatching Mad Men, it’s much more enjoyable when you stop hoping for Don to change and begin marveling at how much the female characters do. And they find inner peace because they are forced to face themselves and don’t have the privilege of running away. Metaphor for society really
1100
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Devil Wears Prada 2 filmed down the street from my office, which is pretty funny considering how honestly it tackles the state of media today: metrics, needing to appease advertisers, quantity instead of quality in terms of output. The continued devaluation of the written word in favor of slop
150
Reposted by Diep Tran
Eye of Mysterioso @mysteriphoto.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
“Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.” Dune (1965) Frank Herbert
Kaleidoscopic image of Frank Herbert’s Dune
9555961640
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
The only people upset that Lupita Nyong’o is playing Helen of Troy are the same people taking away voting rights and support locking up immigrants. In other words, it’s not a good faith argument and should be ridiculed. Lupita being the most beautiful woman in the world is a fact
0153
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Stuck at jury duty, waiting to see if they call my name. And I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in this courthouse watching clips from Cats: The Jellicle Ball
060
Reposted by Diep Tran
Mark Harris @markharris.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
A bit of cheerleading for you: Even some gerrymandered seats are not 100% certain to go the way the GOP wants in a wave election. In the last five midterm elections, the incumbent's party lost 9, 13, 30, 40, and 63 seats. Do you know how many turnovers Democrats need to flip the House? Three.
16946297
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
I need Cats: Jellicle Ball to release a cast album so I can run to "Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat: the remix" at the gym.
070
Reposted by Diep Tran
Qasim Rashid, Esq. @qasimrashid.com · 29/04/2026
SCOTUS rules 6-3 against a majority Black district in LA represented by Black Rep Cleo Fields, holding that the district is a “racial gerrymander.” This is systemic white supremacy. Next Dem pres & Congress must expand the Court, impose term limits & prosecute corrupt justices. Complete overhaul.
22534183
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Watching The Lost Boys on Broadway felt like watching an 80s megamusical: people belting their faces off, glam-rock wigs and costumes, a shirtless saxophonist, pure spectacle. Does it all make sense? Not really but it's thoroughly entertaining. Retro in a delightful way
070
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Tony Kushner is in episode 1 of this season of Hacks, while Renee O'Connor of Xena: Warrior Princess is in episode 2. Those writers are really tapping into my special interests
080
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
I wonder if the mark of true adulthood is doing things to take care of your older self. So much of youth is spent living in the moment and wrecking your body and finances. Then one day, your brain shifts and you’re like “I need to open up a ROTH IRA and start eating more fiber.”
241
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
I saw Rheology last year while my dad was in the middle of his leukemia battle (he's fine now). So I was sobbing by the end of it. May we all be like Shayok and Bulbul, and get the gift of knowing our parents as adults, and having them know us
playbill.com
He’s a Playwright, His Mother’s a Physicist—And They’re Performing a Show Together
Shayok Misha Chowdhury and Bulbul Chakraborty created Rheology so they could spend more time together.
030
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
I feel like the current price of berries should be radicalizing more people, especially parents of young kids
060
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Listening to the Chess revival cast album while working out, I want to make Hannah Cruz yelling “Liar!!” my entire personality
120
Reposted by Diep Tran
James Medlock @jdcmedlock.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
I’ve seen enough. God is 1) real 2) nonbinary 3) primarily motivated by a deep hatred of JD Vance
582968475
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Had a very profound conversation with Adrien Brody about The Fear of 13, his grandfather who got fired from Zorba the musical, and how he uses art to make sense of “the things that torment me about the world around me.” Which...same
playbill.com
Adrien Brody's Grandfather Once Got Fired From a Broadway Musical. Now Brody's Making His Broadway Debut
The two-time Oscar winner currently plays a death row inmate in The Fear of 13 on Broadway.
020
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
The older I get, the more fantastical SEX AND THE CITY. Staying out at the bars until 2 AM and wearing heels? Millennial New Yorkers are all about flat shoes, small dinner parties, sparkling water because we can’t process alcohol anymore, a midnight bedtime, quiet
140
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
What a time to be reminded of how small we are, how idiotic our conflicts are, and how we need to be better stewards of our planet BECAUSE THERES NOTHING ELSE!
030
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
A modern Cassandra
072
Diep Tran @diepthought.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Rewatching the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, as I do when I need to feel something. The line “there’s some good in this world Mr Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for,” hits hard right now. Even harder when I remember that Philippa Boyens, not Tolkien, wrote that line.
182