ATW - This Is Broadway

Book Writer/Lyricist Michael Stewart of Tony Award-winning Best Musicals "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Hello, Dolly!", and the new musical comedy "I Love My Wife", talks about his new novel "Belle", and how connecting with an individual reader compares with collaborating on a big Broadway musical.

Actor Tiger Haynes discusses his ongoing run as the original Tinman in the hit musical "The Wiz" and its move from the Majestic to the Broadway Theatre; his experience as a musician and "saloon performer"; whether he ad-libs or steals the show; how "The Wiz" audience reacts; and if the director and choreographer have revisited the show in its third year.

Television, film, and stage actor Reid Shelton talks about playing Daddy Oliver Warbucks in the hit Broadway musical "Annie", how director Martin Charnin shaped the production from a 1976 pre-Broadway tryout at Goodspeed Opera House to Broadway, and how director Moss Hart similarly took charge in developing "My Fair Lady" for Broadway.

Lyricist/writer Adolph Green, one half of the musical-comedy team Comden and Green, talks about their current revue "A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green" at the Morosco Theatre which includes songs from "Bells Are Ringing", "On The Town", "Applause", and more; working with Cy Coleman on an upcoming musical based on the play "Twentieth Century", about glamour and romance on the Twentieth Century Limited train from Chicago to New York, and the possibility of Madeline Kahn starring with Hal Prince directing.

Tony Award winning musical director for "Oliver!", vocal arranger/musical director Donald Pippin talks about "A Chorus Line"'s development by director Michael Bennett and composer Marvin Hamlisch; creating songs from the taped workshop sessions with Broadway dancers; and conducting the sold-out show since its downtown opening at the Public.

English actress Millicent Martin, one of the stars of "Side by Side by Sondheim", discusses the revue's transfer from London to Broadway with the original British cast, obtaining permission from Actors' Equity, and hope that both British and American actors can work more freely on either side of the pond in the future.

Actress Gretchen Wyler, who replaced Gwen Verdon in "Damn Yankees" and Chita Rivera in "Bye Bye Birdie", talks about welcoming Robert Preston into the title role of the Broadway comedy "Sly Fox"; how the cast was eager for the changes and freshness a new leading man brought to the play. Wyler also compares this play to physically demanding singing-and-dancing roles.

Veteran Broadway press agent Harvey Sabinson talks about his book "Darling, You Were Wonderful", his insider account of working with over 500 Broadway performers such as Carol Channing in "Hello, Dolly!"; Broadway and Hollywood stars who got their start on stage include Robert Redford, Julie Andrews, and Barbra Streisand; and film actors who have returned to Broadway include George C. Scott, Al Pacino, and Liv Ullmann.

Stage and film actor Lenny Baker talks about starring in "I Love My Wife" his first Broadway musical; working with onstage musicians and no conductor; being compared to and influenced by veteran actors such as Ray Bolger; his background in Shakespeare; and his singing skills.

Actor Laurence Luckinbill who completed a run of "Poor Murderer" talks about the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play "The Shadow Box". Despite the difficult subject matter of terminal illness, "The Shadow Box" success is due to excellent word-of-mouth from audiences in Los Angeles and New Haven and now Broadway.