Backstage Babble

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 got her into doing straight plays, why Bells Are Ringing couldn’t run as long as it should’ve, why she worked personally with Christopher Renshaw on The King and I, what she learned while touring with Billy Elliot, and more. You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation.

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 virtual theater, how he won the respect of Arthur Laurents, why he loves working with John Doyle, how Sondheim treated his works, the family that Twyla Tharp creates, the show he has a unique concept for, the offensiveness of Chu Chem, the direct line between him and Alfred Drake, and more.

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 received from Hal Prince, why RAGS couldn’t succeed on Broadway, the art of performing as a mime, the inside story of THE WILD PARTY, the old-fashioned politeness of Eartha Kitt, why young writers are more reticent to cut material, the power of ALMOST, MAINE, the process of writing his new musical HERE YOU COME AGAIN, and so much more.

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 Robert from June 2021, but today, he joins me for a late Halloween celebration to talk about theater’s many ghosts! You won’t want to miss this fun-filled and spooky conversation.

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 bar player, some of the small but important changes that Harvey Fierstein made to Hairspray, the inspiration behind Some Like it Hot, an unusual request from Rob Marshall, writing additional lyrics for The Music Man, the advice he would give to young writers, and more.

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 writing a screenplay, why he admires A Strange Loop and Hamilton, the process of casting Driving Miss Daisy, why Alex Timbers is a brilliant director, the play that was about his parents, why Parade is relevant today, the dance piece that required a lot of research, and so much more.

A Note: This interview was recorded in April 2022, so all viewpoints reflect that time.

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 Tevye, the promise Lucille Ball made to him, a lesson from Judy Holliday about upstaging, why The Rothschilds is a problematic show, the dialogue he wrote for The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N, why Louis Jourdan was not right for On a Clear Day, plus stories about Michael Kidd, Sheldon Harnick, Sam Mendes, Ossie Davis, and more.

You won't want to miss this inside view into a bygone era of Broadway.

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 advice she got from Sam Levene, the irony of Rodgers & Hart, the great actress who officiated her wedding, the song that Comden and Green wrote for her, the George Bernard Shaw play she’d like to star in, and what the process was like of penning her successful memoir Lilyville. Plus, she shares her Tallulah Bankhead impression!

You won’t want to miss this fascinating and fun conversation with one of Broadway’s brightest lights.

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 Gypsy Rose Lee, how she got let go from The Brady Bunch, the hit movie that no one on the set was sure was funny, the directing style of Herman Shumlin, balancing dyslexia with a career in the arts, the magic of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the dance she taught Fred Astaire, how she got her part in The Happiest Millionaire, the process of writing her memoir, why Lillian Gish was like a “fairy godmother” to her, and so much more.

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, his family connection to Daniel Craig, the rivalry between Rex Harrison and Claudette Colbert, how he knocked his teeth out during My Fair Lady, an alcoholic backstage ritual during Farinelli and the King, the young actor that Lawrence Olivier wanted to punch, the oddness of rehearsing with Nicol Williamson, a cryptic answer from Tom Stoppard, running the theater company TACT, the many reunions involved in The Gilded Age, his strange experience with Covid, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this episode with a delightfully funny gentleman of the theater.