Broadway Podcast Network

Giants in the Sky

Arts EN ↓ 67 episodes

This is an unparalleled look behind the scenes and between the lines of the landmark musical Into the Woods . Ben Rimalower produces and hosts candid conversations with the original stars and creatives of Into the Woods offering their unique perspectives on the development process of its iconic original production. Guests include writer-director director James Lapine, dramaturg Ira Weitzman, and original stars Bernadette Peters, Phylicia Rashad, Chip Zien and Joanna Gleason.

Author

Broadway Podcast Network

Episodes

#17 - John Cameron Mitchell, Jack on the Demo Tracks 19.07.2023 31:18

John Cameron Mitchell gives a rare deep dive into his career in musical theater before Hedwig, including his gig recording Into the Woods demos for an aborted CD-ROM project and auditioning for James Lapine. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#16 - Lauren Mitchell, the Original Lucinda 12.07.2023 1:03:09

Lauren Mitchell lets us in on what it was like producing two different revivals of the show she originally acted in and why returning to the stage in the City Center Encores production didn't whet her appetite to perform more. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#15 - Chuck Wagner, the Original Rapunzel's Prince 05.07.2023 37:49

Chuck Wagner chats about what he turned down to create the role of Rapunzel’s Prince and why he was unavailable for the pre-Broadway workshop. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#14 - Joy Franz, the Original Stepmother 28.06.2023 1:16:59

Broadway veteran Joy Franz explains where the Stepmother's song was supposed to happen and gives the gory details on the development of fan favorite moments like her stabbing her daughter's prosthetic heel. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#13 - Kim Crosby & Robert Westenberg, the Original Cinderella and Cinderella's Prince/The Wolf 21.06.2023 1:08:06

Married couple Kim Crosby and Robert Westenberg tell their real life fairy tale of meeting as actors in Into the Woods, how the show brought them together, and what's it's been like to live as part of its legacy. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#12 - Jeff Blumenkrantz, Rapunzel's Prince in the Pre-Broadway Workshop/Replacement Jack on Broadway 14.06.2023 42:34

Jeff Blumenkrantz delivers the DISH on Into the Woods, working with Betty Buckley in the final workshop to breaking the news that Burke Moses had originally been cast as a prince. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#11 - Joanna Merlin & John Lyons, the Original Casting Directors 07.06.2023 53:03

Joanna Merlin and John Lyons reunite for the first time in years to talk about the challenges of replacing Bernadette Peters and how quickly old fashioned gatekeepers got over their preconceived notions about "non-traditional casting" when television star Phylicia Rashad triumphed on Broadway. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Wood...

#10 - Paul Ford, the Original Pianist 31.05.2023 1:15:43

Paul Ford spills the tea on everything from the songs that that got away to the auditioned stars who didn't make the cut. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#9 - Ann Hould-Ward, the Original Costume Designer 24.05.2023 53:42

Ann Hould-Ward offers a fascinating peak into her process designing the iconic costumes for Into the Woods, from the Witch's transformation to her many attempts to get the Wolf's genitals just right. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#8 - Jack O'Brien, Artistic Director of the Old Globe where Into the Woods was produced before Broadway 24.05.2023 35:24

Jack O'Brien shares his decades long love of Into the Woods, from his initial excitement about producing the out of town tryout to the moment early on he decided not to give any more notes. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#7 - Christine Estabrook, the Baker's Wife in the First Reading at Playwrights Horizons 24.05.2023 14:58

Christine Estabrook breaks the news on her casting in the first reading of Into the Woods at Playwrights Horizons and how strange it was to be a non-singer starring in a new musical. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#6 - Howard McGillin, Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf in the Playwrights Horizons Workshop 17.05.2023 49:23

Howard McGillin gives the scoop on his casting in the Playwrights Horizons workshop of Into the Woods, what it was like to hear Sondheim sing his song, why he didn't do the show on Broadway and how the Master never let him forget it. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...

#5 - Joanna Gleason, the Original Baker's Wife 17.05.2023 52:40

Joanna Gleason opens up about her star-making role, discussing her legendary audition when she didn't have an uptempo ("I said no, I don't, but I can sing this one really, really fast.") and the good luck omen that blew into her car window during the pre-Broadway run in San Diego. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more...

#4 - Ira Weitzman, the Original Dramaturg 17.05.2023 1:47:49

Ira Weitzman gets into the weeds with Into the Woods, from giving Sondheim a pep talk to tricking Lapine into casting Chip Zien, he lays out every step of the process turning a sketchy draft of the book at Playwrights Horizons into a full-fledged Broadway musical. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad ch...

#3 - Danielle Ferland, the Original Little Red Riding Hood 10.05.2023 1:08:50

Danielle Ferland dives into the dilemma of balancing Broadway roles with middle school and how Bernadette Peters does not run around naked backstage. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#2 - Chip Zien, the Original Baker 10.05.2023 1:09:51

Chip Zien charts his journey Into the Woods from James Lapine's dissatisfaction with his performance as a prince in the first reading to the night late in the Broadway run, he walked in on Stephen Sondheim all alone and crying in his darkened dressing room. Join host Ben Rimalower for this candid conversation exploring how Sondheim and Lapine went Into the Woods. Learn more about your ad choices....

#1 - James Lapine, the Bookwriter and Original Director 08.05.2023 40:24

James Lapine lets us into the origins of Into the Woods, from his very first conversations with Sondheim to Patti LuPone's audition for Cinderella, and ultimately the Broadway triumph and why it was important for him to direct the broadcast cameras rather than delegating the filming of the show to the director of the Golden Girls, as had been done for Sunday in the Park with George. Join host Ben...