The Joe D Show: Daily News Theater Podcast

Guests for this week’s "The Joe D Show" podcast are Jonathan Groff and Aaron Lazar, stars of “A New Brain” at New York City Center June 24-27. Groff (“Spring Awakening,” “Looking”) knows the 1998 autobiographical musical by William Finn like the back of his hand. He learned to play piano for it — and you can hear him tickle the keys. Lazar (“The Last Ship”) is discovering the show — and carries the rapturous song, “I’d Rather Be Sailing.” He sings a tiny snippet. Listen to the The Joe D Show to hear more of this lively, if a little bit F-bomb-laced conversation about “A New Brain,” “Hamilton,” “Looking,” “The Prince of Egypt” joint showers (you need to hear it) and more.

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

The Joe D Show theme by Jerome Korman

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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Are you ready to be “hypnoticized”? Alex Brightman is ready to do that in “School of Rock — the Musical,” in which he stars as Dewey Finn, a substitute teacher who turns uptight private-school kids into rockers. The show hits Broadway in November. California-rasied Brightman, 28, is no stranger to Broadway. His credits include “Big Fish” and “Matilda.” But he calls “School of Rock” bigger than big. The musical features songs from the 2003 Jack Black hit comedy and new ones by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Glenn Slater. Julian Fellowes handles the book, including a good one about Botox. Listen to the The Joe D Show podcast to hear Alex talk about this his breakout role and perform with his castmates new songs “You’re in the Band” and “Stick to the Man,” plus “Teacher’s Pet” from the film.

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

The Joe D Show theme by Jerome Korman

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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Odd-couple co-hosts Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming are up for anything when they host the Tonys on Sunday. So whose ideas have been wackier? “It was Alan at the start,” says Dave Boone, who’s writing the script for the CBS telecast. “But now they’re neck-and-neck.” But they won’t be joined at the hip like the conjoined twins of “Side Show,” which had a brief run this season — though the idea came up before getting axwed. “It wouldn’t quite be hip to hip,” says Boone, like hip to upper thigh.” Listen in for more about Broadway’s big night.

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

The Joe D Show theme by Jerome Korman

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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On Episode 12 of “The Joe D Show” Betty Buckley talks about her new new show, “Dark Blue-Eyed Blues,” running through Sunday at Joe’s Pub. A Texas gal at heart, she also chats about cutting horses and her upcoming role as Big Edie Beale in “Grey Gardens” in Sag Harbor in August. Listen in, too, to hear her sing “This Nearly Was Mine” from “South Pacific,” which is part of the Joe’s Pub show and on CD “Ghostlight.”

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

The Joe D Show theme by Jerome Korman

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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What actress was drawn by Al Hirschfeld more than any other? Hint: She was immortalized 45 times.

Find out on Episode 11 of “The Joe D Show” from David Leopold, curator of the retrospective “The Hirschfeld Century: The Art of Al Hirschfeld.”

The exhibit, which runs May 22 to Oct. 12 at the New York Historical Society (170 Central Park West), celebrates the one-of-a-kind artist with many pieces never seen in New York.

A new book, “The Hirschfeld Century: Portrait of an Artist and His Age,” is out in July.

Hirschfeld died in 2003 at age 99 and left a legacy of eloquent and witty line drawings of stars of Broadway, film, TV and beyond.

He didn’t have favorite drawings, says Leopold, archivist at the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, “but he loved the larger-than-life characters. The ones who didn’t close a door, they slammed it.”

Also on tap: Hirschfeld’s barber chair, nuggets about “the Ninas” and how the iconic artist captured in pen and ink “what actors were doing,” says Leopold, “even if they weren’t conscious of what they were doing.”

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

The Joe D Show theme by Jerome Korman

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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Joe sits with Broadway Publicist Rick Miramontez to chat about the Tony Awards and what shows are doing to get noticed.

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

The Joe D Show theme by Jerome Korman

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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Joe sits down the the people behind the upcoming play revival 'The Flick' Join writer Annie Baker, director Sam Gold and cast member Matthew Maher to chat about the upcoming play.

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

The Joe D Show theme by Jerome Korman

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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Joe sits this week with Tony Nominees just as they heard about their nomination. Jeanine Tesori, Lisa Kron, Sting, Alex Sharp, Michael Cerveris, Robert Fairchild, Kelli O'Hara, Alessandro Nivola, Micah Stock, Annaleigh Ashford, Christian Borle, Judy Kuhn, and Sydney Lucas. Also here music from the nominees for best musical An American in Paris, Fun Home, Something Rotten! and The Visit

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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Megan Hilty joins Joe to talk about her career as a theater actress, new shows and her role in the TV show Smash.

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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Legendary composer John Kander talks about his lifes work his favorite songs and his collaberations with lyricist Fred Ebb and his new Broadway show The Vist.

Produced by: Joe Dziemianowicz

Edited by: Frank Posillico

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