Singular Sensation: The Podcast

When a scaled down, revival production of Chicago launched a 4-day run at City Center Encores before transferring to Broadway in 1996, no one anticipated that the show would still be running on Broadway after 28 years and over 11,000 performances. It’s the second longest running Broadway show ever after Phantom of the Opera. 

Producers Fran and Barry Weissler share insider stories with Michael Riedel about how many people in the Broadway community questioned the wisdom behind the launch. Michael also speaks with Joel Grey about playing Amos against normal type casting, and he talks with marketing superstar Drew Hodges about his steamy, minimalist ad campaign for the show. Plus Ann Reinking weighs in on the risky photo shoot.

This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.

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Iconic triple-threat, choreographer, and film star, Ann Reinking, speaks with Michael Riedel about choreographing and starring in the 1996 smash hit Chicago revival. That year, Ann Reinking won the Tony Award for Best Choreography, and the show has since gone on to become the longest running revival on Broadway. Ann shares her stories about her relationship with Bob Fosse during the original 1975 production and how she eventually replaced Gwen Verdon in the show. Years later, Ann was approached to choreograph Chicago for Encores and ended up starring as Roxie herself! 

This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.

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Legendary composer John Kander (Chicago, Cabaret, Steel Pier, Zorba) shares rarified insider stories with Michael Riedel about the making of Chicago. Kander reminisces about creating epic musical hits with songwriting partner Fred Ebb and collaborating with Director/Choregrapher Bob Fosse. Kander also reveals the secret advice he received from dear friend Liza Minnelli. 

Chicago opened on Broadway in 1975, and in the shadow of the Tony-winning musical smash A Chorus Line, Chicago was overlooked for years. When Chicago returned to New York’s City Center and transferred to Broadway in 1996, no one would have dreamed that the show would still be running in 2025, making it the longest running musical revival in Broadway history!

This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.

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

They were warned “don’t work on the show behind Director Jerry Zak's back!" But Guys and Dolls stars Nathan Lane and Faith Prince DID just that and the risk paid off! The two actors secretly worked on "Sue Me" together without the director’s approval. Their performances were so spectacular that they ended up on the front page of the New York Times. In this episode, Nathan Lane speaks in depth about playing Nathan Detroit and shares some of the challenges the show faced along the way. 

This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.

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Tony Award-winning Director Jerry Zaks gives us a rarified peek behind the curtain revealing how Guys and Dolls went from a struggling show in previews to a triumphant success by opening night. Zaks shares stories with host Michael Riedel, including the fact that the original actress hired to play Sarah Brown had to be replaced just as the show was getting underway.

This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.

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

Guys and Dolls, a classic 1950’s musical, was brought to exciting new life in 1992 just when Times Square was in decline. This beloved musical fable, written by Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling, and Abe Burrows, dazzled audiences and became a smash hit revival. In this episode, Producer Michael David reveals how he acquired the rights to the show and gathered the powerhouse creative team that made this show sparkle. Press Agent Adrian Bryan-Brown then shares how the show struggled in previews, but persevered to win over the hearts of the audience.

This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.

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

Original star of Rent, Adam Pascal, joins host Michael Riedel live at Sardi's for this special bonus episode. Adam reflects on how he went from playing guitar in his basement to being on the cover of magazines across the globe after Rent catapulted him and his castmates into stardom, changing their lives and the lives of audience members the show has touched since opening at New York Theatre Workshop nearly thirty years ago.

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Rent is one of those super rare musicals that permeated pop culture all over the world. The show was on Broadway from 1996 to 2008 and is still produced throughout the world today. In this episode, members of the original cast and creative team, as well as creator Jonathan Larson’s sister Julie Larson, discuss how the musical forged an incredible connection with young people in a way that no musical had in decades, bringing a whole new generation of creators to American musical theatre, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bobby Lopez, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and more.

This episode features excerpts from Michael Riedel’s interviews for his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.

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Many warned that the musical Rent did not belong on Broadway! Nonetheless, the show blasted past those naysayers to become one of the biggest hits of all time. Join Rent star Daphne Rubin-Vega, Tony Award-winning Director Michael Greif, Press Agent Don Summa, New York Theatre Workshop Artistic Director Jim Nicola, along with Producer Jeffrey Seller as they share their very insider memories of Rent’s road to Broadway. Plus Creative Director Drew Hodges shares the fascinating story behind Rent’s marketing campaign, and creator Jonathan Larson’s father and sister - Al and Julie Larson - share the significance of Rent opening at the Nederlander Theatre.

This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.

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In 1996, Rent creator Jonathan Larson tragically passed away just hours before the show’s very first preview at New York Theatre Workshop. Rent star Daphne Rubin-Vega, along with Tony Award-winning Director Michael Greif, join Rent Producers Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, Press Agents Don Summa and Richard Kornberg and Jonathan’s father and sister - Al and Julie Larson - to share their vivid and very emotional memories about Jonathan’s final days. From that day forward, musical theatre would be transformed forever. 

This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway.

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