Backstage Babble

Today, I am so excited to announce the first part of my celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Grease with it’s original director Tom Moore. In addition to Grease, Tom Moore’s Broadway credits include ‘Night, Mother, Over Here, and Frankenstein. If you want to hear even more about the creation of Grease, make sure to purchase the recently released book Grease, Tell Me More, Tell Me More: Stories from the Broadway Phenomenon That Started it All, coauthored by Tom Moore, Ken Waissman, and Adrienne Barbeau. You can find it here:

Purchase the Book

But first, tune in today to hear some of the stories of Tom’s amazing life and career, including: why Frankenstein never got its chance, the stars he thought were dead before he worked with them, his initial hesitance to accept Grease, the art to meeting with Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, why he wanted to revive Once in a Lifetime, the show he feels was the best work he ever did, the idea he never used for the film of ‘Night, Mother, the two shows he thinks weren’t right for Broadway, the perfect pairing of stars for Moon Over Buffalo, and so much more.

You won’t want to miss this masterclass in directing peppered with fantastic anecdotes.

Today, I am so thrilled to announce my interview with the executive director of the Shubert Organization Charles Flateman. Charles is also the chairman of the board of NYC and Company, the CEO of Audience Rewards, and the co-founder of Broadway Inbound. Tune in today to hear some of the insights of his great career, including how theaters are assigned to different shows, Bette Midler’s special dressing room demand, what Elaine Stritch was like to work with, the unfortunate case of The Scottsboro Boys, how Broadway ticket prices are set, the “lift-and-shift” process of ticketing The Music Man, how he first became aware of Covid, the reason behind the naming and renovation of the James Earl Jones Theatre, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation with one of Broadway’s producing insiders.

Today, I am so honored to announce my episode with Tony Nominee Jill O’Hara, whose many stage credits include starring in the original productions of Promises, Promises, George M!, and Hair. She shares so many of the stories of her wonderful career, including standing her ground with David Merrick, a funny encounter with Kristin Chenoweth, giving a note to Tom Bosley, the differences between the off-Broadway and Broadway productions of Hair, growing up in a theatrical family, why every copy of The New York Times once had to be taken out of Stockbridge, the song that was cut from Promises, Promises, the new cabaret show she is developing, and so much more.

Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with  Encores! Producing Creative Director and  Tony-winning set designer Clint Ramos. Clint’s current project is Encores!’ newest production, Into the Woods, which runs now through May 15. You can find the remaining tickets here:

Into the Woods

You can tune in today to hear some of the stories of Clint’s amazing career, including the art of designing for a star, creating a program with the American Theater Wing for young costume designers, his extensive research process for Respect, why Slave Play had extra resonance after quarantine, how he helped create the new mission for Encores!, working with Henry Krieger and other original creatives on Encores! shows, putting together a virtual season, the concept for the new Into the Woods, and so much more.

Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with Chris Mouron and Anne Tournié, creators of The Little Prince. Chris is the narrator, adaptor, and co-director, and Anne is the co-director and choreographer. Tune in to hear them speak about the international success of the show, including the process of modernizing the book, the location where audiences had never read the book, what was added for the New York run and why, the place they’d like to perform the show next, how Broadway audiences are different, connecting with Antoine De Saint Exupery’s estate, the parts of the book that were hardest to adapt, and more.

You won't want to miss this fascinating conversation with two ground-breaking artists.

Today, I am so honored to announce my interview with  Jennifer Ashley Tepper, who has been  Creative and Programming Director of 54 Below since 2013. Today, she’s here to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the legendary cabaret room. On May 2nd, you can see a fabulous celebration called Ten Years of Musical Theater History at 54 Below:

Tickets Here

Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including presenting the premiere of A Strange Loop, choosing concerts to present virtually, which Broadway stars she’d love to have perform there, creating the schedule, setting prices for shows, having the Real Housewives film there, the difference between 7 and 9:30 PM programming, how the club has changed over the years, what it’s like marketing a 54 Below show, finding the line between fan and producer, and so much more.

   Today, I am so excited to announce my interview with Linda Cho, recorded in October of 2020. You can see her highly praised costume design in POTUS, currently running on Broadway, which you can find tickets for here:

POTUS

In the meantime, tune in to hear some of the stories of her career, including the influence of Ming Cho Lee, working with Broadway’s first all-female creative team on The Lifespan of a Fact, why Christy Altomare is an ideal star, the method in which she sketches, doing research as a costume designer, how her aesthetic sense affects her personal life, and more! Tune in today for this fascinating conversation with one of Broadway’s most in-demand artists.

Today, I am so happy to announce my new episode with Sam Pinkleton, movement director of the current Macbeth and choreographer of Amelie, Soft Power, and more. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of his career, including why he chose not to be a performer, the unusual Macbeth rehearsal process, adding a dance break to Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, fighting his “musical theater demons” with Soft Power, the influence of Elizabeth Swados, creating a tango for Heisenberg, the changes he wants to see in the musical theater art form, and so much more.

Make sure to tune in today for an inspiring conversation with one of the people leading the charge to change the face of American theater.

Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with  legendary Broadway dancer and  choreographer Baayork Lee, whose credits include A Chorus Line, My One and Only, The King and I, Flower Drum Song, and more. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her life and career, including the song for her and Ronald Dennis that was cut from A Chorus Line, the Broadway directing job she turned down, the process of saving Seesaw, being a dancing amoeba in Henry, Sweet Henry, befriending stage hands at 5 years old, founding the National Asian Artists Project, meeting Tommy Tune on A Joyful Noise, how Michael Bennett met John Raitt, and so much more.

Make sure to tune in for an entertaining and informative conversation with one of Broadway’s greats.

Today, I am so happy to announce Part 2 of my episode with Broadway actress Beth Fowler, star of Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, The Boy From Oz, and more. Tune in today to hear more of the amazing stories of her career, including what it was like working with Whoopi Goldberg, her New York Times review for Inherit the Wind, the mistake with the revival of Bells are Ringing, her collaboration with Bob Gunton, why Take Me Along shouldn't have come to Broadway, plus anecdotes about Hugh Jackman, Jerry Zaks, Faith Prince, and more.