Backstage Babble

Today, I’m honored to announce my episode with Tony winner Melba Moore, who will be returning to New York stages on March 15 and 16 at 54 Below. You can find tickets to that show here: https://54below.org/events/melba-moore-from-broadway-with-love/ Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how a recording session led her to her Broadway debut, why Eartha Kitt was a diva in the truest sense, the process of making her way back to New York, the artists she will pay tribute to in her upcoming concert, the challenge of performing in Purlie, why Les Miserables was the perfect show for her, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this conversation.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with veteran of Broadway, West End, and Australian stages, who is currently starring as Lottie Gee in All Roads Theatre’s production of Mack and Mabel. Tickets to that production are available here: https://allroadstheatreco.org/ Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her many experiences with Mack and Mabel, auditioning for Baz Luhrmann, a special call from Hal Prince, making her Broadway debut with Chicago at the same time the movie came out, singing as Ethel Merman for Kevin Kline, the note she got from Stephen Sondheim, playing both starring roles in The Rink, why she relates to the play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, the art of playing Fanny Brice and not Barbra Streisand, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this fun-filled conversation!

Today, it is my great honor to announce the final installment of my “Week of Wine and Roses” with Broadway legend Kelli O’Hara. Tune in to hear some of the stories and insights of her auspicious career, including: the role she wishes she could do again, the benefits of revising Golden Age musicals, why THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA was psychologically difficult, the joys of working with Brian D’Arcy James, a memorable injury at KISS ME KATE, the experience of being pregnant during THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, how she read the script to SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS before she ever auditioned, the condescension she’s faced in the opera world, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this in-depth, intelligent conversation with one of Broadway’s brightest lights.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce the second installment of my “Week of Wine and Roses” with the show’s librettist, one of the greatest playwrights of our time, Craig Lucas. Tune in to hear some of the stories and insights of his career, including: why THE LIGHT OF THE PIAZZA was ultimately a fable, the double meaning of PRELUDE TO A KISS, the process of adapting that play into a musical, the newest incarnation in theater of the “Philistine urge,” why Amelie was a challenging main character for a musical, how he transitioned from being a performer to being a playwright, why Sondheim/Prince musicals appeal to him, the small fix he made to AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, and so much more.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce the kickoff of Backstage Babble’s “Week of Wine and Roses” with legendary composer and lyricist Adam Guettel. Tune in to hear some of the stories and insights of his great career, including why THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA needed a romantic sound, advice he got from Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents, why the greatest work exists on the edge of competence, why he doesn’t like to look too much at the source material for the musicals he writes, his on-the-ground research for FLOYD COLLINS, his collaboration with William Goldman, the process of casting Victoria Clark as Margaret Johnson, working with Jamie Lawrence on orchestrating DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, and so much more. This episode is a masterclass in musical theater writing from the best there is!

Today, I’m so excited to announce my episode with veteran actor Richard Topol, who is starring in Our Class at BAM through February 4th. Tune in to hear fascinating stories, including: how he almost went on for Al Pacino, what it was like acting with Larry David, how he got Covid at a theater in March 2020, a mask mishap during PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, the power of Larry Kramer’s JUST SAY NO, working on THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL with Tony Randall, the loyalty of Denzel Washington, the Rubik’s Cube of INDECENT, and so much more.

Today, I’m honored to announce the release of my interview with Broadway star Wanda Richert, who played Peggy Sawyer in the original production of 42nd Street. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her love story with Gower Champion, understudying Gwen Verdon, working with Michael Bennett on A Chorus Line, the challenges of playing Carla in Nine, the show that almost got her to return to New York, the experience of being a prodigy, her last Broadway performance, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this exclusive conversation!

For the first Backstage Babble episode of 2024, I’m thrilled to present my conversation with Oscar-nominated actress Lesley Ann Warren. Tune in to hear her tell some of the stories of her legendary career, including how Lee Strasberg helped with her part in DRAT! THE CAT!, how 110 IN THE SHADE taught her the meaning of a showstopper, the trouble with rehearsing GONE WITH THE WIND, how she almost played a different role in CLUE, why Blake Edwards was a great director, the challenges of playing a sociopath on screen, returning to Broadway with DREAM, why CINDERELLA was a dream come true, and so much more.

The final episode of Backstage Babble in 2023 is a doozy! I’m lucky to talk to many legends, but sometimes they don’t have time for a full conversation. That being said, the two Tony-winning actors who I’m presenting “mini” interviews with today had such valuable thoughts and stories that I wanted to share them publicly. First, Tyne Daly, who it was announced after the interview is returning to Broadway in Spring 2024 with Doubt, talks about her legendary career, with stories including how an appearance with Dolly Parton got her the role of Mama Rose, the valuable lesson about auditioning she learned at the Mark Taper Forum, why she turns down all horror movies, and so much more. Then, an inspiring conversation with Ben Vereen where he discusses the genius of Galt MacDermot and Bob Fosse, how Vinnette Carroll discovered him, why theater and spirituality are deeply intertwined, and so much more! You won’t want to miss these two conversations.

Today, I’m so happy to announce the release of my episode with veteran actress Marylouise Burke, who is currently starring in Infinite Life in London after premiering it at the Atlantic Theater Company. Tune in to hear the stories of her legendary career, including her beginnings in a Pennsylvania steel town, how she decided to move to New York, attending a Nets game with Larry David, dealing with George C. Scott’s alcoholism, her close relationship with David Lindsay-Abaire, figuring out her costumes for Kimberly Akimbo, handling the pauses in Infinite Life, taking on a musical role with Into the Woods, and so much more.