Backstage Babble

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Tony winning actress Miriam Silverman, who is currently starring in DEEP BLUE SOUND at the Public Theater. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her long journey with THE SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN’S WINDOW, how her birth appeared on national television, choosing between JUNK and MARY JANE, meeting her husband on AWAKE AND SING, balancing being a mother and being an actress, her long collaboration with Anne Kauffmann, developing CULT OF LOVE, her work as a teacher, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this open conversation with one of Broadway’s best performers.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Tony nominated actress Isabel Keating, who will be performing in my upcoming concert of the Katharine Hepburn musical COCO at 54 Below. You can find in-person and livestream tickets to that event at this link:

https://54below.org/events/54-sings-coco-by-alan-jay-lerner-and-andre-previn/

Tune in to hear some of the stories of Isabel’s legendary career, including what her research process was like playing Judy Garland in THE BOY FROM OZ, going on at the last minute in IT’S ONLY A PLAY, how she ended up taking over for Tyne Daly in last season’s revival of DOUBT, a full-circle moment with John Patrick Shanley, why Madame Morrible in WICKED is misunderstood, how her time in Europe influenced her theater career, making her Carnegie Hall debut with FOLLIES, the experience of processing her personal grief while starring in SPIDERMAN on Broadway, the many changes that were made to that musical, her experiences with the real-life QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this open conversation with one of Broadway’s best leading ladies.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Tony winning librettist and performer Bob Martin, who is the author of two of this season’s newest hits—SMASH and BOOP—both of which started previews on Broadway this week. Tune in to hear about the writing processes of those two musicals, and some of the other stories of his legendary career, including why he was sore every night after performing THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the character he almost played in THE PROM, writing for the film adaptation of that musical, why he loves writing for Beth Leavel, the challenges of working on MINSKY’S, changing ELF between its three Broadway runs, what he learned from Charles Strouse and Thomas Meehan, revisiting unsuccessful musicals in HEY, LOOK ME OVER, how supply chain issues have affected Broadway, developing THE STING with Harry Connick, Jr., working with Kevin Kline on AMERICAN CLASSIC, his idea for a sequel to THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, revising KISS ME, KATE in London, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this honest and fun conversation with one of Broadway’s funniest and most prolific writers.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Samuel D. Hunter, whose play GRANGEVILLE is currently playing at the Signature Theater with Paul Sparks and Brian J. Smith. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how his experiences teaching expository writing led to THE WHALE, working with Darren Aronofsky on adapting the play into a film, the pushback he received for writing about conversion therapy in A GREAT WILDERNESS, dealing with pathology onstage, how GREATER CLEMENTS was his take on a Trump play, premiering LEWISTON/CLARKSTON as separate plays, writing for TV with BASKETS, his religious upbringing, the mentors who influenced his work, reviving A BRIGHT NEW BOISE in 2023, the economic realities of writing for the theater, how he decided to rewrite THE FEW, developing THE HEALING for a cast of disabled actors, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this interview with one of American theater’s best writers.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Lane Bradbury, who played the role of Dainty June in the original Broadway cast of GYPSY. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including why Ethel Merman wasn’t a good co-star, joining the Actor’s Studio, method acting with Elia Kazan for J.B., why Bette Davis was suspicious of her during THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA, watching Patrick O’Neill and Bette Davis in rehearsal, the moment in GYPSY that caused a rift between her and Jerome Robbins, Lee Strasberg’s favorite acting exercises, why she didn’t audition for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, working with June Havoc herself on MARATHON ’33, how an audition for GREENWILLOW led her to move to California, putting together her cabaret act, why Audra McDonald is Broadway’s best Mama Rose, why she doesn’t own the OBC of GYPSY, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this episode with a true theater veteran.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Scott Wittman, who is the lyricist of Broadway’s newest sensation SMASH. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his amazing career, including why CATCH ME IF YOU CAN appealed to him as a follow-up to HAIRSPRAY, putting together MATTERS OF THE HEART with Patti LuPone, why CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY was at its best in workshops, his experiences with Dame Edna and Elaine Stritch, watching Disney animators at work during MARY POPPINS RETURNS, being influenced by John Waters, how Matthew Lopez convinced him to adapt SOME LIKE IT HOT, the upcoming project he’s working on with Bridget Everett, why John Slattery and Talia Balsam were perfect for THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this chat with one of Broadway’s best writers.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway legend Norbert Leo Butz, whose solo show Girls, Girls, Girls will be playing at 54 Below from March 9-13. The ticket link is here: https://54below.org/events/norbert-leo-butz-girls-girls-girls/ Tune in to hear some of the stories of his amazing career, including his advice for actors playing Fiyero in WICKED, why audiences misunderstand Jamie in THE LAST FIVE YEARS, jumping into SPEED-THE-PLOW with only a few days’ notice, why ENRON didn’t work for American audiences, how he infused his father into CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, how Jack O’Brien grounded the humor in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, acting in CORNELIA STREET just after the pandemic, how BIG FISH helped him with losses in his own life, the challenge of playing the Emcee in CABARET, how he first met Jason Robert Brown, the gift of HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, his audition process for THOU SHALT NOT, how Ska music influenced “Dancing Through Life,” the lessons he learned from his Broadway debut in RENT, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this in-depth conversation with one of Broadway’s best actors.

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by novelist and librettist Dan Elish, author of the wonderful new book King of Broadway. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his wonderful career, including how a letter to Stephen Sondheim led to his most recent book, turning THE WORLDWIDE DESSERT CONTEST into a musical, how he started working with Jason Robert Brown, changes that were made to 13, the difference between writing novels and writing musicals, writing for the screen with WONDER PETS, how HARRY POTTER changed the market for children’s books, his experience at the BMI workshop, writing THE EVOLUTION OF MANN with Douglas J. Cohen, the musical he’s working on with Scott Frankel, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this episode with a literary mastermind!

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Broadway star Luba Mason, who will be appearing in Backstage Babble: Beyond the Walls of Joe Allen Restaurant on Wednesday, February 19th at 7 PM at 54 Below. You can find in-person and livestream tickets here: https://54below.org/events/backstage-babble-joe-allen/ And tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including finding her take on the role of Hedy LaRue in HOW TO SUCCEED, the beauty of THE CAPEMAN, the experience of reviving the show at the Delacorte Theater, her circuitous path to starring in JEKYLL AND HYDE, the challenges of working on SID CAESAR AND COMPANY, co-starring with Brooke Shields in CHICAGO, performing in the West Coast tryout of SUNSET BOULEVARD, why PRETTY FILTHY didn’t transfer to Broadway, how she got involved with the American Dance Machine at NYU, dancing for Agnes De Mille, why she loves working with Michael John LaChiusa, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this interview with a true Broadway veteran.

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Emmy nominee Jill Eikenberry, who will be appearing with me in Backstage Babble: Beyond the Walls of Joe Allen Restaurant on Wednesday, February 19th at 7 PM at 54 Below. You can find in-person and livestream tickets here: https://54below.org/events/backstage-babble-joe-allen/ And tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how Tennessee Williams helped her with her performance in THE ECCENTRICITIES OF A NIGHTINGALE, being bullied during her Broadway debut in MOONCHILDREN, how Dustin Hoffman directed ALL OVER TOWN, what she learned from Robert Burstein and Paul Sills at Yale, sharing a trailer with Liza Minelli during ARTHUR, the compliment she got from Lillian Hellman during WATCH ON THE RHINE, how she opened up her performance in ONWARD VICTORIA, embracing the power of Ann Kelsey on L.A. LAW, narrating TWYLA THARP DANCE while pregnant, acting in plays written by her husband, Michael Tucker, the intimacy of working with Wendy Wasserstein on UNCOMMON WOMAN, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this interview with one of stage and screen’s greatest stars.