Closing Night

To take you further behind the scenes of this Broadway production, I’m sharing my conversation with Leah Horowitz, who was a swing in The Woman in White and an understudy for leading actress Maria Friedman.

In the previous episode, we explored this lesser known Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, and Leah was a big help in putting that episode together. Now, you’ll get our full interview, full of anecdotes and tidbits I couldn't fit into the mail episode. You'll learn about how she was cast in the show and even more about what was going backstage during rehearsals and performances. And as someone who’s performed in 5 different Broadway shows at the Marquis Theatre, Leah also provides extra insight into what it was like what working in this venue.

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Closing Night is a production of WINMI Media with Patrick Oliver Jones as host and executive producer. Dan Delgado is the editor and co-producer, not only for this podcast but also for his own movie podcast called The Industry. Blake Stadnik composed the theme music, and Maria Clara Ribeiro is co-producer.

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When Bad Cinderella closed in June of this year, it signified the first time in 43 years that Broadway was without an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, and it became the second shortest run ever for one of his musicals on Broadway. Bad Cinderella also represented the second collaboration between Lloyd Webber and lyricist David Zippel. Their first show together was The Woman in White, which began in London in 2004 (starring Michael Crawford) and then opened at the Marquis Theatre the following year (starring Maria Friedman).

By the time Woman in White came to New York, it had been 10 years since Sunset Boulevard and it would be another 10 till School of Rock. During this interim, between 1997 and 2015, Lloyd Webber didn’t have an original musical or revival last more than 9 months on Broadway (including the Evita revival I previously did an episode on), so I guess you could say he was in a bit of a dry spell. Nonetheless, The Woman in White could’ve and probably should’ve done better, and in this episode we’ll explore some of the reasons it didn’t—and how a white rat ended up stealing the show.

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Closing Night is a production of WINMI Media with Patrick Oliver Jones as host and executive producer. Dan Delgado is the editor and co-producer, not only for this podcast but also for his own movie podcast called The Industry. Maria Clara Ribeiro is co-producer, and a big thank you goes to Leah Horowitz for sharing her experiences with this short-lived show and its talented cast.

Click here to find the transcript for this episode and a full list of links and resources used.

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In the previous episode you learned bumpy road to Broadway for Nick & Nora, one of Broadway's biggest flops. And in this bonus interview episode, you'll hear from Mark Hoebee, the swing and dance captain for the show who actually worked with the creatives as actors were fired and the show kept changing up until opening night. He gives behind the scenes insights into the rehearsal process and some of the challenges this show faced just getting onstage.

You can also get an extra conversation with the show's lyricist on Why I’ll Never Make It. As one of Nick & Nora's creators, Richard Maltby, Jr gives even more backstory to how this musical failed and couldn't overcome all its obstacles. You can find that episode here.

Follow Closing Night on Instagram and listen on your favorite podcast app.

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Closing Night is a production of WINMI Media with Patrick Oliver Jones as host and executive producer. Dan Delgado is the editor and co-producer, not only for this podcast but also for his own movie podcast called The Industry. Blake Stadnik composed the theme music, and Maria Clara Ribeiro is co-producer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1991, Broadway witnessed one of its most spectacular falls from grace with Nick & Nora, a musical adaptation of the beloved The Thin Man novel and film series. With a dream team that included Arthur Laurents, the creative force behind classics like West Side Story and Gypsy, Charles Strouse, the prolific composer of Bye Bye Birdie and Annie, and Richard Maltby Jr., known for Ain't Misbehavin', this show had all the makings of a hit. The star-studded cast featured Barry Bostwick and Joanna Gleason, among others. However, despite the promise on paper, Nick & Nora faced an unprecedented series of delays, setbacks, and ultimately, a one-week run.

This episode sheds light on why the show faced so many challenges, from those who were there every step of the way. We explore the explosive clashes, financial woes, and behind-the-scenes drama that led to Nick & Nora's abrupt closure, serving as a cautionary tale that even Broadway's brightest stars can find themselves lost in the shadows.

Follow on Instagram and listen to Closing Night on your favorite podcast app.

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Closing Night is a production of WINMI Media with Patrick Oliver Jones as host and executive producer. Dan Delgado is the editor and co-producer, not only for this podcast but also for his own movie podcast called The Industry. Maria Clara Ribeiro is co-producer, and a big thank you goes to Richard Maltby, Jr and Mark Hoebee for their candor and openness in sharing their stories from this tumultuous musical. 

Click here to find the transcript for this episode and a full list of links and resources used.

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Welcome back to Closing Night, a theater history podcast celebrating Broadway shows that closed too soon. In the previous episode we went back to the dark days of 9/11 as Broadway went dark and had to find its own way back as a nation grieved and was forever changed.

Back in 2021, which marked the 20th anniversary of those devastating 9/11 attacks, a live recording of the Broadway production of Come From Away was released. It featured many past and present members of the cast. But one of the original cast members, Rodney Hicks, was absent from the filming. And in this bonus episode I’m sharing a conversation I had with Rodney on my other podcast Why I’ll Never Make It. We discuss his long journey with the show, and how it came to a rather sudden end. Yet through it all, though, Rodney remained sure that even in the darkest of times, there is still some light to be found.

Rodney Hicks was featured in two episodes on Why I’ll Never Make It and they can be found on your favorite podcast app or on Youtube.

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Follow Closing Night on Instagram and listen to it on your favorite podcast app!

Closing Night is a production of WINMI Media with Patrick Oliver Jones as host and executive producer. Dan Delgado is the editor and producer, not only for this podcast but also for his own movie podcast called The Industry, and Maria Clara Ribeiro is co-producer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Marquis Theatre was having great success in 2001 with the revival of Annie Get Your Gun. It had opened in 1999 with Bernadette Peters and Tom Wopat and became just the second show in Marquis history to surpass 1000 performances. It closed with Crystal Bernard in the title role with Tom Wopat coming back as Frank Butler to close the show on September 1, 2001.

But ten days after Annie Get Your Gun closed, all of Broadway closed, New York City shut down, and an entire nation was brought to its knees in anguish, heartache, and disbelief. Everything stopped.

So far this season, Closing Night has been focused on individual shows at the Marquis Theatre and how and why they closed. But in this special episode, we’ll look at the whole Broadway community—the shows and actors and industry leaders—how they were affected by 9/11 and what it took to bring theater back to New York City.

Follow on Instagram and listen to Closing Night on your favorite podcast app.

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Closing Night is a production of WINMI Media with Patrick Oliver Jones as host and executive producer. Dan Delgado is the editor and co-producer, not only for this podcast but also for his own movie podcast called The Industry. Maria Clara Ribeiro is co-producer, and a big thank you goes to Playbill, the Guides Association of NYC, and the American September Project whose resources made this episode possible. 

Click here for the transcript and full list of links and resources used in this episode.

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Throughout this season and in between the main episodes, you get to hear some of my interviews with artists, creatives, and industry experts. And in this bonus interview episode, two of the guests from the Evita episode share more stories and insights.

The first one is actress Christina DeCicco, who played Eva Peron twice a week in the 2012 Broadway revival of Evita. She talks about her audition process, what rehearsals were like, and how she went about portrayed this iconic leading lady. I even open up a bit about my own time on the national tour and some of the parallels we both had in our respective productions.

Next, is Sammi Cannold, a director and long-time fan of the musical itself. She was actually in Argentina when we had this conversation, and she’ll be sharing what she’s learned about this larger-than-life woman, who even decades later is still very much a part of the fabric of Argentina life and culture. This research has informed each of the three productions she's directed of Evita. The latest one was at American Reperatory Theater in Summer of 2023, which the Boston Globe called "Exceptional! A new generation’s take on Evita."

Follow on Instagram and listen to Closing Night on your favorite podcast app!

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Closing Night is a production of WINMI Media with Patrick Oliver Jones as host and executive producer. Dan Delgado is the editor and co-producer, not only for this podcast but also for his own movie podcast called The Industry. Blake Stadnik composed the theme music, and Maria Clara Ribeiro is co-producer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In April of 2012, the very first revival of Evita came to Broadway, having done the same in London six years earlier. And in both productions, the title role featured a relatively unknown actress to Western audiences: Elena Roger. She followed a select few chosen to take on one of the most difficult female roles in musical theater. First, there was Julie Covington, then Elaine Paige, Patti LuPone, and Madonna. Among this group of women, Madonna was the only one to have already been a celebrity when she took on the role. As for the other ladies, it was Evita that introduced them to the world and turned them into stars. Such is the power of this musical, with book and lyrics by Tim Rice and the iconic score by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Whether it’s the 2006 West End revival or its subsequent transfer to Broadway in 2012, neither version even lasted a year, a far cry from their respective original productions. So how did this revival differ from those previous productions? And why couldn’t it recapture the fame and longevity of the original? In this episode, we’ll explore the history of this high-flying adored musical and the factors that led to its Broadway revival. We’ll also highlight some challenges this production faced and the impact Evita continues to have on audiences today.

Follow on Instagram and listen to Closing Night on your favorite podcast app!

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Closing Night is a production of WINMI Media with Patrick Oliver Jones as host and executive producer. Dan Delgado is the editor and co-producer, not only for this podcast but also for his own movie podcast called The Industry. Blake Stadnik composed the theme music, and Maria Clara Ribeiro is co-producer. Much appreciation goes to Hal Luftig, Christina DeCicco, and Sammi Cannold for their insights as well as the voice talents of our very own Dan Delgado.

Click here for the transcript and full list of links and resources used in this episode.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the previous episode you learned about the 30-year journey of 9 to 5, from a movie to a a big hit song to a TV show and eventually a Broadway musical. And in this bonus interview episode, you'll hear from Lisa Howard, one of the ensemble members in 9 to 5 who played Franklin Hart’s wife and was a part of the show from its early days in Los Angeles until its closing night on Broadway. She gives behind the scenes insights into the rehearsal process and some of the challenges this show faced just getting onstage and actually making it through a performance without stopping.

But wait, there’s more! You’ll also get an extra conversation about another musical Lisa did at the Marquis Theatre: Escape to Margaritaville. Now, this musical went through 4 out-of-town tryouts in 2017 before finally coming to Broadway the following year. But Margaritaville and its Jimmy Buffett score met with mixed reviews and only lasted 3.5 months at the Marquis.

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Closing Night is a production of WINMI Media with Patrick Oliver Jones as host and executive producer. Dan Delgado is the editor and co-producer, not only for this podcast but also for his own movie podcast called The Industry. Blake Stadnik composed the theme music, and Maria Clara Ribeiro is co-producer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When 9 to 5 premiered on Broadway in 2009, the musical had all the makings of a surefire hit: it was based on a beloved classic comedic film and had one of the catchiest pop hits of the 80s by none other than Dolly Parton. 

Needless to say, 9 to 5 the Musical was eagerly anticipated by fans of the movie and theatergoers alike. The film's message of female empowerment and standing up against workplace discrimination has continued to resonate with audiences. Add to that a star-studded cast and an award-winning creative team that included the Grammy-winning Queen of country music herself, this show had everything going for it.

Yet despite the initial buzz and excitement, 9 to 5 struggled to maintain its momentum on Broadway and clocked out of the Marquis Theatre after less than five months. Was this a case of bad reviews, bad decisions, or simply bad luck? As we’ll discover, there were many factors that contributed to such a short run on Broadway. But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this story is how it illuminates the inner workings of the movie-to-musical pipeline and the delicate balance between making art and making money.

Follow and listen to Closing Night on your favorite podcast app!

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Closing Night is a production of WINMI Media with Patrick Oliver Jones as host and executive producer. Dan Delgado is the editor and co-producer, not only for this podcast but also for his own movie podcast called The Industry. Blake Stadnik composed the theme music, and Maria Clara Ribeiro is co-producer. Much appreciation goes to Lisa Howard for her insights as well as the voice talents of Christy Williamson and our very own Dan Delgado. Some of the 9 to 5 instrumental music was provided by Musical em Bom Português, check out their wonderful backing tracks for various musicals.

Click here for the transcript and full list of resources used in this episode (and there were a lot of them, believe me).

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