Backstage Babble

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with two-time Tony winner Katie Finneran. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including performing in ON BORROWED TIME and TWO SHAKESPEAREAN ACTORS at once, lessons she learned from Uta Hagen, her friendship with Neil Simon, her influences for her Tony-winning performance in PROMISES, PROMISES, starring in ANNIE just after having a baby, dealing with the audience response to MAURITIUS, why she felt like a rockstar during CABARET, appearing in her underwear in NOISES OFF, memorizing her role in THE RECEPTIONIST, her collaboration with Gerald Gutierrez on THE HEIRESS, figuring out the timing of “Getting Married Today” in COMPANY, co-starring with Martin Short in IT’S ONLY A PLAY, the vocal challenge of THE THANKSGIVING PLAY, an onstage kiss in MY FAVORITE YEAR, her passion for directing, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth interview with a true Broadway favorite.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winning director/choreographer Warren Carlyle. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the notes Stephen Sondheim gave him during FOLLIES, the joy of the Encores! process, creating “Marian the Librarian” in THE MUSIC MAN as a study in opposites, when Sheldon Harnick wrote new lyrics for SHE LOVES ME, working with 150 dancers on the SUMMER SPECTACULAR, how AFTER MIDNIGHT was born out of necessity, the influence of his classical training, what he learned from Susan Stroman during THE PRODUCERS, taking over the direction of A TALE OF TWO CITIES, how he approaches dance calls, making his debut in OLIVER, his upcoming projects, the challenge of making THE BAKER’S WIFE dance, the excitement of contrast onstage, his long collaboration with Hugh Jackman, why his motto is the same as the NYPD, supporting Bette Midler during HELLO, DOLLY!, working with a child ensemble on A CHRISTMAS STORY, the social conscience of HARMONY, and so much more. Don’t miss this wide-ranging conversation with one of Broadway’s best.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including writing about her grandmother in 4000 MILES, why AFTER THE REVOLUTION was a bigger play than she usually writes, how Ibsen inspired her play BELLEVILLE, the complexities of telling her own story MARY JANE, what Carrie Coon and Rachel McAdams brought to the title role, working with Jeremy Strong on AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, creating the protagonist of THE GREAT GOD PAN, a valuable lesson from an organic chemistry professor, some of her favorite “play carcasses,” what had to be cut from A DOLL’S HOUSE, her work with her husband, Sam Gold, deciding how to end her plays, exploring the horror genre, the role of a writer in film and TV, her current work adapting CROSSROADS, and so much more. Don’t miss this masterclass in playwriting with one of America's best.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with two-time Tony winner Stephen Spinella, who is currently starring in Jerome at Playwrights Horizons. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including a transcendent experience onstage in ANGELS IN AMERICA, how he first met Tony Kushner, finding the gay subtext in OUR TOWN, his seven-year run in HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, co-starring with Estelle Parsons in THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN, why he felt he was wrong for A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE and ELECTRA, what Meryl Streep did for him during THE SEAGULL, a funny comment from Mike Nichols, the long development of IHO, auditioning for Stephen Sondheim, the joys of SPRING AWAKENING, and so much more. Don’t miss this candid conversation with one of Broadway’s best actors.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony nominee Elizabeth Stanley, who will be starring in the newly announced production of Disruption. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including John Rando’s mantra for ON THE TOWN, the unique vibe of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, what Stephen Sondheim changed about “You Could Drive A Person Crazy” in COMPANY, memories of Mark Brokaw and Adam Schlesinger, why CRY-BABY didn’t succeed on Broadway, learning to skate for XANADU, performing THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY across the country, collaborating with Suzan-Lori Parks on THE RED LETTER PLAYS, her journey with JAGGED LITTLE PILL before and after the pandemic, what drew her to ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE, the genius of Savion Glover and Andy Blankenbuehler, and so much more. Don’t miss this wide-ranging conversation with one of Broadway’s best leading ladies.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony nominee Jeremy Shamos, who will be starring in the newly announced revival of Awake and Sing. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the experience of starring in the controversial CORPUS CHRISTI, experimenting with comedy with Steve Martin during METEOR SHOWER, being Tony nominated for CLYBOURNE PARK, participating in several readings of HERE WE ARE, making his debut in CYMBELINE, dancing in the all-male FORUM, working with Meryl Streep on ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, the joys of W.S. Gilbert’s ENGAGED, figuring out the timing of GUTENBERG and NOISES OFF, rehearsing with Al Pacino for GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, the potential prequel to IF I FORGET, what he learned from 100 SAINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW, and so much more. Don’t miss this candid conversation with a veteran actor.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with legendary playwright Sarah Ruhl. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her experience breaking the fourth wall in EURYDICE, telling her own story in LETTERS FROM MAX, watching the audience response to IN THE NEXT ROOM, teaching at the Yale School of Drama, addressing addiction in BECKY NURSE OF SALEM, exploring Virginia Woolf’s portrayal of gender in ORLANDO, the advice she got from Paula Vogel, doing research to create the three parts of PASSION PLAY, exploring Chekhov’s writing when adapting THE THREE SISTERS, how a writing exercise led to HOW TO TRANSCEND A HAPPY MARRIAGE, passing the torch to Philip Howze, turning MELANCHOLY PLAY into a musical, telling a metatheatrical story in STAGE KISS, and so much more. Don’t miss this wide-ranging conversation with a brilliant writer.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony nominee Michael Hayden. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the real questions asked by CAROUSEL, finding his singing voice for the role, why he decided to leave CABARET, getting advice from Edward Albee during THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE, playing two roles in ALL MY SONS, what Stephen Sondheim told him during MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, working at Trader Joe’s during the pandemic, why he had trouble memorizing his lines for THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, the lessons he learned at Juilliard, acting opposite Maximilian Schell in JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG, joining HENRY IV during rehearsals, the intensity of performing in FESTEN, playing Roy Cohn in the first production of ANGELS IN AMERICA, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation with a veteran actor.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winner Deirdre O’Connell, who is currently starring in Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare in the Park. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the intensive process of learning DANA H, her harrowing Broadway debut in THE FRONT PAGE, what she learned from Geraldine Page on AGNES OF GOD, doing research for MAGIC/BIRD, finding the timing of CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, how Marianne Faithfull influenced GLASS. KILL. WHAT IF IF ONLY. IMP., unfortunate entrance applause in CORSICANA, winning a Tony award, starring in THE SEAGULL at Lake Lucille, working with Suzan-Lori Parks on IN THE BLOOD, the joy of collaborating with Maria Irene Fornes, and so much more. Don’t miss this candid conversation with one of Broadway’s best.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with veteran actress Patricia Conolly, who has appeared in over 30 Broadway shows. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including acting with Laurence Olivier in THE BROKEN HEART, a note Tom Stoppard gave her during THE COAST OF UTOPIA, playing for Lauren Bacall in WAITING IN THE WINGS, understanding her part in THE HEIRESS, a mystical experience taking over for Geraldine Page in BLITHE SPIRIT, working with the APA company on YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, a kind gesture from Aaron Sorkin during TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, what Tony Randall asked her during JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG, using an accent for THE FRONT PAGE, having dinner with Tennessee Williams, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation with a true theater legend.