Backstage Babble

Today, I am so thrilled to announce my episode with Tony-winning librettist Robert Horn, currently the author of Broadway’s funniest hit Shucked and the Disney adaptation Hercules, now playing at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Tune in today for a deep dive into the history of Shucked, plus stories about a surprise phone call from Bette Midler, comiing in on the musical 13 out of town, the challenges of adapting Tootsie during the #MeToo movement, taking over the TV series Designing Women, three...

Today, I am so excited to announce my episode with one of Broadway’s most influential figures, 38-time Tony nominated producer Daryl Roth. Currently, Daryl is producing Life of Pi on Broadway, which begins performances on March 9. Tune in today to hear some of the stores of her long career, including the play she produced that ended up being performed in medical schools, why raising money is her least favorite part of producing, how she converted a bank into a theater, why she chose not to...

Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with artistic director of San Diego’s Old Globe Theater, Barry Edelstein. Barry is the director of Roundabout’s hit production of The Wanderers, a funny, dramatic, and extremely timely play that’s a must-see for New York audiences. You can find tickets here: The Wanderers Tune in to hear some of the stories of his prestigious career, including what he learned from Joseph Papp, how he met Steve Martin, putting on a Philip Glass piece at...

Today, I am so honored to announce my episode with 8-time Tony nominee Jane Alexander. Tune in to hear some of the stories of Jane’s legendary career, including the bad audience reactions she received in THE GREAT WHITE HOPE, how Henry Fonda would break the fourth wall, trying to get Elizabeth Taylor to a set on time, how she launched Tommy Lee Jones’ career, the changes made to THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG, the part she felt she wasn’t right for, why she never performed at the Williamstown...

I am so thrilled to announce the release of my interview with composer Gary William Friedman. On January 30, Gary will be presenting a concert version of an update of his show Platinum, entitled Platinum Dreams at 54 Below. You can find tickets for that event (a can’t-miss for theater fans) here: Platinum Dreams And in the mean time, tune in today to hear some of the fantastic stories of his life and career, including the legendary singer who insisted on auditioning for his musical...

Today, I am so happy to announce my interview with Steven Skybell, most recently the star of the enormously popular Fiddler Afn Dakh at New World Stages. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his great career, including what he learned from Jason Robards and Colleen Dewhurst, why Tevye is similar to Shakespearean roles, Bartlett Sher’s unique approach to the character of Lazar Wolf, working with Joseph Papp on Cafe Crown, how his role in the film The Cradle Will Rock got expanded, why Joel...

I can’t think of a better way to ring in 2023 than by presenting my interview with the luminous Melissa Errico. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the controversial ending that her production of My Fair Lady almost had, a funny mishap during Anna Karenina, the advantages of dressing the part for an audition, how being a mother added to her interpretation of Sharon McLonergan, how seeing On Your Toes affected her as a young person, the show she’d like...

Happy Holidays everyone! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than listening to an in-depth interview with Broadway legend and 4-time Tony nominee Faith Prince. Tune in to hear her tell many of the fascinating stories of her career, including the failed Terrence McNally play that she worked on with Nathan Lane, the major Broadway revival she turned down, why a rehearsal with Arthur Laurents caused her to call her therapist, a short-lived feud with Jerome Robbins, how Terrence McNally...

Today, I am so excited to announce my episode with theater veteran Thom Sesma. Thom Sesma is currently appearing in A Man of No Importance at Classic Stage Company. You can find tickets to see him in that wonderful production here: https://www.classicstage.org/current-season/a-man-of-no-importance In the meantime, tune in today to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the show that "dares to have an idea as it’s main character,” how he figured out the secret to...

Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with Tony-nominated director and actor Gabriel Barre. Gabriel Barre is the director of the December 12 performance YOUR OWN THING, which will benefit The Red Bull Theatre and feature an all-star cast including Santino Fontana and Lesli Margherita. You can find tickets to that here: https://www.redbulltheater.com/your-own-thing And meanwhile, tune in today to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the three-page letter he...

Today, I am so honored to announce my episode with Robert Viagas, author of Good Morning, Olive: Haunted Theatres of Broadway and Beyond, available here: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Morning-Olive-Theatres-Broadway/dp/1493064533/ref=asc_df_1493064533/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=564758369972&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4273849164588888770&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9067609&hvtargid=pla-1636952550220&psc=1 You can go back and hear my full interview with...

Today, I am so honored to announce my episode with Tony-winning composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman, writer of the current Broadway smash hit Some Like it Hot. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of his long career, including the joy of working with Peter Allen, the disappointment of bringing Leader of the Pack to Broadway, the musical that started out as an adaptation of Stage Door, the bipolarity of working on Smash, what makes Bette Midler genius, starting out as an underage piano...

Today, I am so honored to announce my episode with Pulitzer Prize Winner Alfred Uhry. Alfred Uhry recently enjoyed great success with a revival of his musical Parade at Encores!, and he joins me today for a conversation about his legendary career, including what it was like being mentored by Frank Loesser, how he met Terrence McNally through John Steinbeck, when John Houseman introduced him to Patti LuPone, how figures from his childhood reacted to characters based on themselves, the art to...

Today, I am so happy to announce my interview with a Broadway legend I’ve been wanting to talk to since I started this podcast—Tony winner Hal Linden. Having recently completed a successful run in Two Jews Talking, Hal joins us today to tell many of the stories of his long career, including: the role that George Abbott let him pick, how he became a non-traditional Sid Sorokin in a non-traditional revival of The Pajama Game, the Alan Jay Lerner musical he turned down, why he’s never played...

Today, I am so excited to announce my interview with four-time Tony winner Tovah Feldshuh, who is currently starring opposite Lea Michele as Rosie Brice in Funny Girl on Broadway. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including what her research process was like for her current role, the classic sitcom that she turned down, the time she was compared to Elizabeth Taylor, why Lea Michele is perfect for “the most extraordinary female role in musical theater history,” the...

Today, I am so happy to announce my interview with star of stage and screen Joyce Bulifant. On Saturday, October 8th, Joyce Bulifant will be performing her solo show, Remembering Helen Hayes with Love, in Rockland County. She will also be doing a conversation with Richard Skipper. You can find tickets to the event here: https://www.nyackartsfestival.com/helen-hayes-memorial And you can tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the upstaging techniques of...

NOTE: This interview was recorded in April 2022, so all mentions of time reflect that period. Today, I am so happy to annnounce my interview with veteran actor Simon Jones, star of The Real Thing, Trouble in Mind, Waiting in the Wings, The Gilded Age, and so many more shows. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of his long career, including: a murderous slip-of-the-tongue by Angela Lansbury, the role that Lauren Bacall refused to play correctly, an ungracious invite from Joan Collins,...

Today, I am so happy to announce the release of my interview with star of stage and screen, Mrs. Anna herself, Constance Towers. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career including: the sage advice that John Wayne gave, the scene that George Abbott wouldn’t direct, why Yul Brynner insisted on brown dressing rooms, dealing with “The King” onstage and off, the song that was the hardest to memorize, the role that she turned down, the film director that would shoot off a...

I am so happy to announce my episode with veteran performer David Jackson. David Jackson will be headlining at 54 Below on August 23rd. Tickets to see his wonderful show are available here: https://54below.com/events/david-jackson/ Meanwhile, you can tune in today to hear some of the stories of David’s career, including: bearing witness to the start of the Easter Bonnet Competition, getting to perform onstage with Cyd Charisse, the two people who were supposed to headline La Cage on...

Today, I am so happy to announce my new episode with Broadway star Will Roland, who is currently appearing in the hilarious The Panic of ’29 at 59E59 Theaters. You can purchase tickets for that show here: The Panic of '29 Tune in today to hear some of the stories of Will’s career, including the changes in the tone of Dear Evan Hansen, the reason why Jeremy Heere is a universally relatable character, why all of social media is a “performance,” why adult audiences were pre-disposed against...