Backstage Babble

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with veteran actress Elizabeth Marvel, who is currently starring in THE DINOSAURS at Playwrights Horizons. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her unlikely beginnings, how Michael Langham gave her her Broadway debut in THE SEAGULL, performing the controversial revival of JULIUS CAESAR in the Park, why she wants to form a new National Actors Theater, being an American actor at Stratford, working with Glenda Jackson on KING LEAR, her collaboration with Ivo Van Hove, finding a new take on A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, researching THE LITTLE FOXES, starring in TOP GIRLS as a new mother, the drawings Edward Albee made during SEASCAPE, acting opposite Frances Sternhagen, why PICNIC was an exorcism for her, approaching Shakespeare like music theory, what draws her to new work, 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 Broadway veteran Sean Allan Krill, who is currently starring in CHESS. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including developing JAGGED LITTLE PILL from the ART to Broadway, the show’s two unexpected closings, the key to unlocking his role in CHESS, researching the role of Governor Slaton in PARADE, following Harry Connick, Jr. through a performance of ON A CLEAR DAY, his personal connection to FLOYD COLLINS, his difficult audition for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, performing “The Speed Test” with his midwestern accent, warming up with David Byrne during JOAN OF ARC, hy he loves the Viewpoints Technique, playing a silent role in THE HOT L BALTIMORE, covering Tony Danza in HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth talk with a Broadway favorite.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-winning director Julie Taymor. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the visual motif of circles in THE LION KING, adapting the plot of the film, exploring artifice in THE TEMPEST on stage and on screen, working with Kathryn Hunter on A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, practicing mask work in auditions, how studying myths in college influenced her later work, her pioneering work on the film FRIDA, why Shakespeare’s dialogue is inherently visual, creating a new form of theater in Korea, finding ideographs for every production she directs, bringing THE HAGGADAH to life at the Public Theater, collaborating with Elliott Goldenthal, combining opera and musical theater in JUAN DARIEN, finding a visual take on M. BUTTERFLY, changing the ending of GROUNDED, her opera debut with OEDIPUS, honing her craft in Paris, Indonesia, and Japan, the modern relevance of SPIDER MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK, her new musical THE GRAND DELUSION, and so much more. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with a true visionary.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-winning playwright Itamar Moses. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including making changes to THE ALLY, the radio-play aspects of DEAD OUTLAW, his collaboration with David Cromer, why HAMILTON deserved its Best Book Tony award, adapting THE BAND’S VISIT for the stage, moving the show to Broadway, how “Omar Sharif” started as a monologue, getting his first play OUTRAGE produced, the inspiration behind BACH AT LEIPZIG, writing for murderers in CELEBRITY ROW, writing autobiographically with THE FOUR OF US and YELLOWJACKETS, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth talk with one of Broadway’s best writers.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce a very special 2025 wrap-up episode of Backstage Babble. 25 former guests, including legendary actors, writers, and directors, returned to the show to share three top theater memories from the last 25 years, and the result is a collection of never-before-heard anecdotes and thrilling insights. This episode features, in alphabetical order:

Betsy Aidem

Beowulf Boritt

Charles Busch

Rick Elice

Peter Filichia

Irene Gandy

Liza Gennaro

Jenny Gersten

Sara Gettelfinger

Adam Guettel

Robert Horn

Samuel D. Hunter

David Henry Hwang

Beth Leavel

Kenny Leon

Jefferson Mays

Ann Morrison

Maryann Plunkett

Daryl Roth

Tara Rubin

Paul Rudnick

Thom Sesma

Jennifer Ashley Tepper

David Thompson

Jonathan Tolins

Have a Happy New Year!

In-person and livestream tickets to Backstage Babble Live are available here: https://54below.org/events/charles-kirschs-backstage-babble-live-3/

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Oscar-nominated stage and screen director Rob Marshall. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including rehearsing with Renee Zellweger for the film of CHICAGO, pitching his adaptation of the script to Miramax, putting his own stamp on DAMN YANKEES, teaching Blake Edwards about directing theater during VICTOR/VICTORIA, how Lenora Nemetz sparked his love of theater, giving notes to Chita Rivera during THE RINK, what he learned from Neil Simon, why he related to the story of NINE, how CATS led to his career as a choreographer, coming in on KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN out of town, his first day on the set of ANNIE, why THE PETRIFIED PRINCE didn’t ultimately succeed, collaborating with Sam Mendes on CABARET, choreographing for Alan Cumming, what inspired him to revive LITTLE ME, creating movement for BLITHE SPIRIT, why FOLLIES wouldn’t work as a movie musical, choreographing “A Romantic Atmosphere” in SHE LOVES ME, the fundamental structure of a movie musical vs. a stage musical, shaping the film of INTOT THE WOODS, working on MRS. SANTA CLAUS as his television debut, his upcoming project GUYS AND DOLLS, and so much more. Don’t miss this delightful conversation with a master of making musicals.

In-person and livestream tickets to Backstage Babble Live are available here: https://54below.org/events/charles-kirschs-backstage-babble-live-3/

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Broadway veteran Annie McGreevey. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her wonderful career, including a memorable note from Bob Fosse during SWEET CHARITY, standing by for Ethel Merman in CALL ME MADAM, the joy of working with John Kenley, singing for Hal Prince at her COMPANY audition, talking to Stephen Sondheim about “Another Hundred People,” making birthday cakes during ANNIE, why THE MAGIC SHOW was a workout, the surprising fate of THE MOONY SHAPIRO SONGBOOK, crying after A CHORUS LINE, recording demos for FOLLIES, headlining at the Fontainebleau, performing with Carol Burnett in FROM THE TOP!, her journey with dyslexia, learning how to wrestle for BELOW THE BELT, performing a solo piece in I STAND BEFORE YOU NAKED, how Joshua Logan kept her job in RIP VAN WINKLE, performing at the first Kennedy Center Honors, making a cameo in JUNO at Encores!, going on in SWEENEY TODD at the last minute, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth talk with one of Broadway’s best.

In-person and livestream tickets to Backstage Babble Live are available here: https://54below.org/events/charles-kirschs-backstage-babble-live-3/

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with four-time Tony winning director Jerry Zaks. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his wonderful career, including creating a three-part comedic bit in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, helping Swoosie Kurtz find her character in THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, his upcoming work on BOEING-BOEING, an audacious early audition, revising ANYTHING GOES for Lincoln Center, choosing the design for LEND ME A TENOR, how he collaborated with Christopher Durang, finding the heart of THE MUSIC MAN, what made him want to revive BIG FISH, the difficulty of working on THE CAPEMAN, how he avoids embarrassing actors, revising THE ADDAMS FAMILY for the national tour, the “Ma Nishtana” question in musical theater, commissioning a new book for SISTER ACT, bringing LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS to Broadway, creating STAIRWAY TO PARADISE for Encores!, collaborating with Neil Simon on LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR, making changes to FACE VALUE, finding out about the shutdown during MRS. DOUBTFIRE rehearsals, and so much more. Don’t miss this candid conversation with one of Broadway’s most brilliant directors.

Tickets to Backstage Babble Live are available here: https://54below.org/events/charles-kirschs-backstage-babble-live-3/

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Broadway director Darko Tresnjak, whose production of ARCHDUKE is currently playing off-Broadway. Tune in to hear some of her wonderful stories, including the first idea he brought to A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE, creating the iconic staging for “I’ve Decided to Marry You,” cutting the show’s original bows sequence, why he connected with ANASTASIA, auditioning Christy Altomare for the title role, writing ASK FOR THE MOON, directing Lesli Margherita in THE FLAMINGO KID, how he came to Hartford Stage, what Marian Seldes revealed about THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, telling a political story in RUSSIAN TROLL FARM, staging his own Olympics as a child, reviving AMOUR and CARNIVAL, meeting Marge Champion at Williamstown, the advice he took from Jack O’Brien about running a theater, casting musical theater actresses in THE WOMEN, his dream production of PAL JOEY, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation with one of Broadway’s best.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with two-time Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell. Tune in to hear some of his wonderful stories, including why JELLY’S LAST JAM was the hardest show he’s ever done, an out-of-body experience during RAGTIME, learning KING HEDLEY II in nine days, how he came to appreciate KISS ME, KATE, getting slapped by Marin Mazzie, auditioning for OH, KAY! and PORGY AND BESS simultaneously, making his Broadway debut with MAIL, going from the Belleville Dinner Theater to Broadway with MAN OF LA MANCHA, coming back to Broadway with WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, the pitfalls of adapting movies for the stage, how he got his first big job on TRAPPER JOHN, MD, starring in LOVE LIFE before and after the pandemic, researching the history of SHUFFLE ALONG, his vision for a revival of THE MUSIC MAN, covering Stephen Sondheim’s work on his albums, workshopping HERE WE ARE, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation with a true Broadway legend.