– Sean Hayes joined Morning Joe on Jan. 22, 2026 to discuss his one-man off-Broadway show, The Unknown.
– Hayes described the piece as a “tantalizing, seductive” cat-and-mouse chase.
– The actor and SmartLess podcast co-host emphasized the show’s tension, character work and theatrical intimacy.
– The interview highlighted Hayes’s return to the stage in a solo performance.
Sean Hayes previews The Unknown on Morning Joe
Actor and SmartLess podcast co-host Sean Hayes appeared on Morning Joe on January 22, 2026 to talk about his new one-man off-Broadway production, The Unknown. In the interview Hayes described the piece as a “tantalizing, seductive” cat-and-mouse chase, emphasizing its blend of suspense, character-driven storytelling and theatrical intimacy.
One-man off-Broadway: Hayes returns to the stage
Hayes — best known for his Emmy-winning television work and his SmartLess podcast — discussed the particular challenges and rewards of carrying a solo show. He told hosts that the format allows for close audience connection and a focus on the psychological push-and-pull that drives the narrative.
“It’s a very stripped-down way to tell a story,” Hayes said on Morning Joe, explaining that the one-person staging elevates both the tension and the emotional stakes. He framed The Unknown as an intimate theatrical experience, where the audience becomes part of the unfolding cat-and-mouse dynamic.
Tone and structure: ‘tantalizing, seductive’ cat-and-mouse
Hayes repeatedly used the words “tantalizing” and “seductive” to describe the show’s tone, signaling that The Unknown leans into psychological intrigue rather than straightforward action. The cat-and-mouse metaphor underscores the shifting power between characters and the slow burn of suspense that Hayes said audiences can expect.
On Morning Joe, he highlighted how pacing, voice work and subtle physical choices shape the experience in a solo piece. Those elements, Hayes explained, are what make the performance feel like a live negotiation between performer and audience.
What this means for theatergoers
For fans of Hayes’s work — from sitcoms to podcasts — The Unknown offers a different side of his craft: concentrated, theatrical storytelling that relies on presence, nuance and control. Hayes framed the production as an invitation to engage with ambiguity and tension in real time.
As more screen actors explore stage work, Hayes’s Morning Joe interview is a reminder that solo theatre can deliver immediacy and suspense in ways television cannot. The Unknown positions Hayes at the center of a story that, by his own description, seduces audiences into the push-and-pull of a compelling theatrical chase.
Morning Joe’s interview ran as part of the show’s January programming; viewers can watch the segment via the Morning Joe clip published on January 22, 2026.
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