The Joe D Show: Daily News Theater Podcast

Something to sing about: Broadway vocal coach Joan Lader receives a special Tony honor next month. She discusses how she went from performing and voiceover work (“I did one for toilet paper”) to teaching for the past 34 years. Lader helped Madonna prepare for "Evita" and worked with Hugh Jackman, who had role in the teacher's special Tony prize.  In this podcast, students Cynthia Erivo, a nominee for “The Color Purple,” and two-time Tony winners Donna Murphy and Patti LuPone tell why love and what they’ve learned from Lader.

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How did the “Hamilton” poster end up being black and gold? Who came up with the tagline “spread the word” for “The Vagina Monologues” advertising campaign?

Drew Hodges, founder of the ad agency SpotCo and author of the new book “On Broadway: From ‘Rent’ to Revolution,” shares stories from the past two decades.

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Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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The Queen of the Nile is having a major moment.

Ask Charles Busch, author and star of the play, "Cleopatra," now in a sold-out run at Theater for the New City though April 17.

"Cleopatra seems to be reinvented every decade or so" in pop culture, says Busch, who's famous for his stylish and hilarious takes on Hollywood icons and heroines.

Cleopatra is celebrated in a lavish number in Cirque du Soleil's Broadway production, "Paramour," launching April 16 at the Lyric.

The Egyptian empress was name-checked on "Empire" in a story thread involving a new Antony and Cleopatra clothing line.

Need more? Just asp!

A new screenwriter has reportedly been hired for the Angelina Jolie film based on Stacy Schiff's vivid bio "Cleopatra: A Life."

And, finally, the Lumineers' new album is called, what else, "Cleopatra." Following the interview with Busch, listen in to hear the  title song.

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Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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Is there a “Doctor” in the house?

David Tennant, of “Doctor Who” fame, stars in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s “Richard II,” now at Brooklyn Academy of Music. The royal drama is part of the RSC four-play “King and Country” cycle that includes “Henry IV, Parts I and II” and “Henry V.”

The series runs through May 1. It arrives fresh from London, where Tennant’s stirring performance and long locks turned heads. “Why should’t Richard have long hair? He believes he is divinely ordained to be king,” Tennant says. “He doesn’t conform. He is neither man nor woman — something else, something greater, divine.” Listen in for more from Tennant about “Richard II” and his “Jessica Jones” supervillain Kilgrave.

Also on the podcast: Show Biz After Hours, a theater talk show taped live at Birdland. Host Frank DiLella and his April 3 guests Andy Karl and Orfeh talk about show biz.

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Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

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Darron Cardosa a.k.a. 'The Bitchy Waiter' sits with Joe Dziemianowicz to talk about his blog and new book 'The Bitchy Waiter' based on his life as a waiter in New York City. 

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Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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Jazz Age star Florence Mills has been called “the Beyonce of that time.” Gertrude Saunders, her peer, was Bessie Smith’s husband’s mistress, which led to a public brawl.

Actress Adrienne Warren plays both stars in “Shuffle Along, Or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed,” which begins previews on Tuesday at the Music Box. The show re-creates that pioneering all-black Jazz Age revue. It also goes backstage to imagine what went on behind the scenes among the creators and cast.

Warren, previously on Broadway in “Bring It On,” talks about creating Saunders and Mills, a process that begins, she says, “with posture.” And listen in to hear Saunders warble the period tune, “I’m Craving for That Kind of Love.”

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Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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Kerry Butler (“Hairspray”) and Rachel York (“City of Angels”) share a dressing room and the stage at the Nederlander Theatre, where the musical comedy “Disaster!” is now in previews and opens March 8.

The costars talk Broadway, disco, (the spoof’s jukebox score features ‘70s hits like “Hot Stuff” and “I Will Survive”), Playbill cruising and whether they land a plane like Karen Black in “Airplane II.”

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Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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“White Rabbit Red Rabbit” is its own Off-Broadway species. For this solo play by Iranian writer Nassim Soleimanpour, there’s no rehearsal, director or set. The performer gets the script as he or she steps on stage. Scary? You bet. Irresistible? Yes.

Ask producers Tom Kirdahy and Devlin Elliott, of Maberry Theatricals, who tell how they discovered the show and were determined to bring it to New York. The show runs on Monday night at the Westside Theatre. Up first, Nathan Lane on March 7. He’ll be followed by Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Wilson and Brian Dennehy are on-board.

Waiting in the wings for a shot are George Takei and Donna Murphy. How often would those two go up for the same part? At a moment of #OscarsSoWhite, along comes this age-, gender-, race-defying production. Hello, #RabbitSoDiverse.

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Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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New York actor and author Colman Domingo has a lot on this plate. His new play “Dot,” about family grappling with Alzheimer’s, is at the Vineyard. He’s filming his juicy role in the zombie-infested “Fear the Walking Dead” in Mexico. And he’s still marveling about “The Birth of a Nation,” a new film about slavery that led to a $17.5 million bidding war at Sundance.

“I was the first person to be cast.” He adds, “It’s all been so cool and such a gift.”  

Listen in to hear about all of the projects.

Follow Joe here: @TheJoeDShow  

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

Edited by: Frank Posillico

Follow Joe on Twitter and get more from the Daily News on Facebook, YouTube and Tumblr