Backstage Babble

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Tony nominee Craig Bierko. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including what he learned from Meredith Willson’s notes in the script of THE MUSIC MAN, dancing with Rebecca Luker, the “stop-start” feeling of THOU SHALT NOT, how James Lapine approached directing MODERN ORTHODOX, the Jewishness that is needed in GUYS AND DOLLS,...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with producer Jenny Gersten, who was recently named the new VP and Artistic Director of Musical Theater at City Center. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how Anne Kauffman and Lear DeBessonet brought her on board at City Center, the true mission of the Encores! series, what she looks for in a potential revival, the cha...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway favorite Michael Park, who is currently starring in REDWOOD on Broadway through May 18. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how he almost quit the business before REDWOOD, the joys of performing with Idina Menzel, memorable stage door experiences at DEAR EVAN HANSEN, his extended audition process for HELLO,...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with 4-time Tony nominee Raul Esparza. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how he got into character for TICK, TICK…BOOM!, finding his take on the Emcee in CABARET, how Stephen Sondheim rewrote “Being Alive” for him, his experience of being outed while starring in COMPANY, the joys of starring in OLIVER, how his wife con...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with 4-time Tony nominee Judy Kuhn, who is currently appearing in BECOMING EVE at the Abrons Arts Center. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary carer, finding the physicality of her character in FUN HOME, singing on the Tonys with RAGS and LES MISERABLES in the same year, how that performance led to her role in CHESS, working with Trevor Nu...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Tony winner Jonathan Groff, who is currently starring as Bobby Darin in JUST IN TIME. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary carer, including why he never felt ownership over the role of King George in HAMILTON, what he learned from his experiences with fans during SPRING AWAKENING, why MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG is a love story, why he turn...

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Tony nominee Daniel Davis. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary carer, including his fateful audition for COCO, bringing Katharine Hepburn to dinner with his parents, the disagreement he had with Ian McKellen about AMADEUS, what he admired about Gavin Creel in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, competing with Roddy McDowall for the role of Niles in THE NANNY, t...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Tony winning actress Miriam Silverman, who is currently starring in DEEP BLUE SOUND at the Public Theater. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her long journey with THE SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN’S WINDOW, how her birth appeared on national television, choosing between JUNK and MARY JANE, meeting her husband on AWAKE A...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Tony nominated actress Isabel Keating, who will be performing in my upcoming concert of the Katharine Hepburn musical COCO at 54 Below. You can find in-person and livestream tickets to that event at this link: https://54below.org/events/54-sings-coco-by-alan-jay-lerner-and-andre-previn/ Tune in to hear some of the stories of Isabel’s legendary career...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Tony winning librettist and performer Bob Martin, who is the author of two of this season’s newest hits—SMASH and BOOP—both of which started previews on Broadway this week. Tune in to hear about the writing processes of those two musicals, and some of the other stories of his legendary career, including why he was sore every night after performing TH...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Samuel D. Hunter, whose play GRANGEVILLE is currently playing at the Signature Theater with Paul Sparks and Brian J. Smith. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how his experiences teaching expository writing led to THE WHALE, working with Darren Aronofsky on adapting the play into a film, the pushback he received...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Lane Bradbury, who played the role of Dainty June in the original Broadway cast of GYPSY. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including why Ethel Merman wasn’t a good co-star, joining the Actor’s Studio, method acting with Elia Kazan for J.B., why Bette Davis was suspicious of her during THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA, watching Pa...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Scott Wittman, who is the lyricist of Broadway’s newest sensation SMASH. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his amazing career, including why CATCH ME IF YOU CAN appealed to him as a follow-up to HAIRSPRAY, putting together MATTERS OF THE HEART with Patti LuPone, why CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY was at its best in workshops, his experiences...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway legend Norbert Leo Butz, whose solo show Girls, Girls, Girls will be playing at 54 Below from March 9-13. The ticket link is here: https://54below.org/events/norbert-leo-butz-girls-girls-girls/ Tune in to hear some of the stories of his amazing career, including his advice for actors playing Fiyero in WICKED, why audiences misunderstand Jami...

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by novelist and librettist Dan Elish, author of the wonderful new book King of Broadway. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his wonderful career, including how a letter to Stephen Sondheim led to his most recent book, turning THE WORLDWIDE DESSERT CONTEST into a musical, how he started working with Jason Robert Brown, changes that were made to 13, the differenc...

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Broadway star Luba Mason, who will be appearing in Backstage Babble: Beyond the Walls of Joe Allen Restaurant on Wednesday, February 19th at 7 PM at 54 Below. You can find in-person and livestream tickets here: https://54below.org/events/backstage-babble-joe-allen/ And tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including finding her take on the...

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Emmy nominee Jill Eikenberry, who will be appearing with me in Backstage Babble: Beyond the Walls of Joe Allen Restaurant on Wednesday, February 19th at 7 PM at 54 Below. You can find in-person and livestream tickets here: https://54below.org/events/backstage-babble-joe-allen/ And tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how Tenness...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winner Kelly Bishop, whose memoir The Third Gilmore Girl is now out from Gallery Books. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how A CHORUS LINE changed the trajectory of musical theater, how she ended up taking over for Stockard Channing in SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, how dying her hair led to her Broadway debut...

“Good news!” Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Winnie Holzman, the author of the libretto and screenplay for the musical WICKED. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including what she learned from Betty Comden and Arthur Laurents while studying at NYU, how she came to star in the first production of Christopher Durang’s BETTE AND BOO, ideas that came from the...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-nominated actor Reg Rogers, who is currently starring as Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theater. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including his favorite joke that was cut from TOOTSIE, understudying Brian Bedford in THE MOLIERE COMEDIES, being cast against type in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, his re...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with two-time Tony nominee Jessica Hecht, who is currently starring on Broadway in Jonathan Spector’s EUREKA DAY. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how FIDDLER ON THE ROOF led to The Campfire Project, finding her character’s voice in SUMMER, 1976, learning from Arthur Miller during AFTER THE FALL, how she related to...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with theater veteran Michael Berresse. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including his brief moment being directed by Jerome Robbins during FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, the process of bringing TITLE OF SHOW to Broadway, creating his version of “Bianca” in KISS ME, KATE, understudying the lead role in DAMN YANKEES, bringing Bob Mackie...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with one of stage and screen’s funniest comedians, Lea DeLaria. You can buy tickets to her “Brunch is Gay” series at 54 Below at this link: https://54below.org/events/lea-delaria-brunch-is-gay-2/   Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how she made everyone break during POTUS, winning over Adolph Green at her ON THE TOWN...

Today, I am thrilled to announce my episode with star of stage and screen Annie Golden. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including being discovered by Milos Forman at CBGB’s, how Marc Shaiman played her HAIR audition, why LEADER OF THE PACK didn’t work on Broadway, how her role in ASSASSINS was inspired by Kate Bush, learning from Colleen Dewhurst during AH, WILDERNESS!...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-winning director Michael Mayer, whose musical SWEPT AWAY is playing on Broadway through December 15th. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the process of bringing SWEPT AWAY to Broadway, how Howard Ashman inspired his revival of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, working with new faces on SPRING AWAKENING and AMERICAN I...