In The Envelope: An Awards Podcast

Alex Brigthman is no stranger to diving headfirst into Broadway shows based on beloved titles—after all, he’s a two-time Tony nominee for leading roles in “School of Rock” and “Beetlejuice.” But his latest project is in a bigger boat altogether. “The Shark Is Broken,” a new play that opened August 10th, captures the behind-the-scenes turmoil of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster, “Jaws.” Co-written by Ian Shaw—who also stars as his father, Robert—the show sees Brightman donning the sweater of 70s-era Richard Dreyfuss alongside Colin Donnell as Roy Scheider. “You can't turn your head in any city without seeing some [“Jaws”] shirt, hat, license plate. So I know that's a big deal, and the added pressure for me is that I'm playing the one person who's still alive who has a chance to see it,” Brigthman tells us. “ ‘Pressure’ is the right word, but it's not a pressure that terrifies me. It's interesting, and I'm always excited about doing new things. This version of a new thing is like tight-rope walking with somebod