Jon Bernthal and Jessica Hecht Star in 'Dog Day Afternoon'

In this episode of All of It, host Alison Stewart interviews actors Jon Bernthal and Jessica Hecht about their roles in the new Broadway production of Dog Day Afternoon, based on the iconic 1975 Sidney Lumet film. The play, set in a sweltering 1970s Brooklyn bank, explores the real-life story of a botched robbery driven by love, identity, and desperation. Bernthal portrays Sonny, a Vietnam veteran and gay man fighting for his lover’s recognition, while Hecht plays Colleen, a composed bank teller who forms a complex bond with Sonny amid the chaos. The conversation delves into the emotional core of the story—love as rebellion, masculinity, and the enduring relevance of the 1970s narrative in 2026. Both actors reflect on the transformative power of theater, the immersive rotating set by David Korens, and the audience’s active role in moments like the Attica chant, which blurs the line between performance and collective catharsis. They emphasize the play’s timely themes: systemic inequality, gender and sexual identity, and the urgent need for empathy in a fractured world.