Backstage Babble

It is a true honor to announce Backstage Babble’s first episode of 2022-and what better way to start the New Year than with the legendary Bob Mackie, a man who has created iconic outfits for all of the greatest names in entertainment: everyone from RuPaul to Judy Garland. Tune in today as he talks about his storied career: hear about what it was like to be an openly gay man in ‘70s Hollywood, what he liked and disliked about the ‘50s movie musicals, why fashion doesn’t really exist today, the secret to a great awards show dress, what he learned from Edith Head, why The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public didn’t work, Cher at the Oscars, the brilliance of Carol Burnett, how Ann-Margret is different from her on-screen persona, getting Lucille Ball into a harness, and so much more. Bob Mackie’s outfits have become synonymous with theatricality and grace, and you’ll find the man himself shares those very same characteristics. You won’t want to miss this conversation.

You can find more of Bob Mackie’s designs and anecdotes in the recently published The Art of Bob Mackie, available here:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Art-of-Bob-Mackie/Frank-Vlastnik/9781982152116

There’s no better way to send off 2021 than by listening to Part 2 of my episode with amazing choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter. Tune in today for a revealing and fascinating conversation about her choreography career, which includes such shows as School of Rock, Disaster, On a Clear Day, and more. Stories and insights abound: what she looks for in auditions, why it’s hard to cast child actors, preparing the Tonys number for Spring Awakening, how she cast Prince Charming in Cinderella, why she never writes anything down, why Disaster didn’t find as much success as it could have, having a meeting with Jerry Lewis, what it’s like collaborating with Barry Manilow, and so much more.

Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with one of Broadway’s most in-demand director/choreographers, Joann M. Hunter. On this episode, she discusses her career as a Broadway dancer, including the prank she played on Jonathan Pryce, why she loves working with Susan Stroman, rehearsing for 6 months with Jerome Robbins, putting Bebe Neuwirth into Chicago, what it’s like performing on the Tonys, the two Broadway shows she got without auditioning, going on at the last minute in Kiss Me, Kate, having her pig kidnapped by Sergio Trujillo, her mishap-filled audition for Thoroughly Modern Millie, and much more!

I am so thrilled to announce my episode with one of Broadway’s best director/choreographers, Tony Nominee Randy Skinner. His work can currently be seen in the Irving Berlin Cheek to Cheek at the York Theater off-Broadway:

Buy Tickets Here!

And before you see the show, tune in today to hear him discuss getting advice from Ginger Rogers, the popular Broadway marketing idea that he had first, what was great about the Kenley Players, why he loved rehearsing with Nell Carter, star-spotting Eloise Kropp, the process of working at Encores, the lesson he learned from Angela Lansbury’s Mame, why movies are his first love, and so much more.

Today, I am so thrilled to announce the 2nd part of my episode with the great Austin Pendleton. Tune in today to hear him to tell more of the stories of his long and legendary career, including: being directed by Samuel Beckett’s assistant, why Barbra Streisand is a great scene partner, the number 1 mistake among actors at auditions, what he thinks it will be like to return to The Minutes, why he’s banned from doing any Neil Simon plays, how he had to be kept a secret from Tommy Tune, and so much more. You can't help but be inspired by Austin Pendleton: a true man of the theater who has collected countless insights and stories from his wide-ranging career.

I am so excited to announce my episode today with a true man of the theater, the great Austin Pendleton. With countless legendary stage and screen credits including Fiddler on the Roof, The Little Foxes, My Cousin Vinny, and others, Austin has achieved fame as an actor, singer, playwright, director, teacher, and more. He’s very much still part of the theater community, and you can go see him now in The Dark Outside at the Theater for the New City:

The Dark Outside

Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including why Barbara Harris didn’t want to be a star, a frank conversation with Jerome Robbins, what it was like being friends with Lillian Hellman, how Fiddler on the Roof almost closed in Detroit, his long partnership with Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford, the role he asked Mike Nichols to play, directing his mother in The Glass Menagerie, conversations with Otto Preminger, and so many more.

Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with the amazing John Rubinstein. John is currently starring off-Broadway in the wonderful new production Morning’s At Seven alongside Tony Roberts, Alley Mills, and more. You can buy tickets here:

Morning's At Seven

Tune in today to hear him tell some of the stories of his legendary career, including playing “Soliloquy" for John Raitt, watching rehearsals of Funny Girl, advice from Laurence Olivier, early Shakespeare roles, a late night visit from Bob Fosse, how he almost got Cabaret—twice, what it was like to return to Pippin in 2013, and his advice for everyone else who plays the role.

His wisdom and charm are part of what has made him one of theater’s top stars from the 1970s to today.

Today, I am so excited to announce my episode with artistic director of the Gingold Group David Staller. The Gingold Group is the only one in the world to have presented all 65 of George Bernard Shaw’s plays, and today is your last day to see their mounting of MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION staring Karen Ziemba and Robert Cuccioli. Upcoming is a reading of Jay O. Sanders and MaryAnn Plunkett in VILLAGE WOOING. Tickets can be purchased here:

Village Wooing

Mrs. Warren's Profession

Tune in to hear David tell some of the stories of his legendary career, including: an early shaw reading with Olivier, Fairbanks, Loos, and more, how he became friends with Pearl Bailey, turning down Hal Prince, the majesty of Rebecca Luker, why George Bernard Shaw was a pistol at 94, why he longs for the day when Shaw is no longer relevant, growing up around Hermoine Gingold, the art of editing Shaw, interviewing Rex Harrison, casting over Zoom, his advice to young performers and so much more.

I am so honored today to announce my episode with one of Broadway’s best leading men, Howard McGillin. In addition to being the longest running Phantom, his starring roles include Anything Goes, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, She Loves Me, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, and more. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of his career including auditioning for Stephen Sondheim, why the phantom’s mask is more comfortable than you might think, singing through Mack and Mabel with Jerry Herman, doing a dress rehearsal with a broken rib, why The Secret Garden resonated personally with him, the many changes of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, a fateful email from Charles Busch, learning to play piano, a backstage conversation with James Lapine, and so much more.

Today, I am so thrilled to announce my episode with Emmy Award Winner Sherman Yellen. On TV, his projects include Beauty and the Beast, An Early Frost, and The Adams Chronicles, and on stage he has written the book for Rex, The Rothschilds, and more. Tune in today to hear the many stories of his long career, including sitting under a piano with Marilyn Monroe, why he thought he caught tuberculosis from Harold Pinter, hiring Nicol Williamson, revising The Rothschilds, how he thinks theater has changed, his hit sketch for Oh, Calcutta!, analyzing Richard Rodgers, why he related to Sinclair Lewis, the antisemitism of Maureen O’Hara, why he thinks his newest plays are the best yet, and reflects on the world of opportunity in which he grew up. Mr. Yellen’s new book, Absent Friends, will be available soon.