Backstage Babble

Latest Episodes:

Jerry Mitchell May 08, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell. Tune in for a conversation about his three current projects, Boop!, The Devil Wears Prada, and Becoming Nancy, as well as some fantastic stories and insights from his legendary career, including how Broadway Bares led to his Broadway debut, what it was like being fought over by Lauren Bacall and Ann Miller, why Michael Bennett’s musical Scandal never came to fruition, the inspiration for the conga line in On Your Feet!, how he cast Jasmine Amy Rogers in Boop! and Laura Bell Bundy in Legally Blonde, the direct line from Jack O’Brien to him to Sergio Trujillo, his earliest musical Aesop’s Fallibles, using treadmills onstage in Kinky Boots, why he doesn’t like doing revivals, creating dances for non-dancers in The Full Monty, the ins and outs of the 2-year rehearsal process for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this in-depth interview with one of the most influential figures in theater today.

Frank Rich Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Ticket Link for Backstage Babble Celebrates Joe Allen Restaurant: https://54below.org/events/backstage-babble-celebrates-joe-allen-restaurant/

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with legendary theater critic Frank Rich, who served as the chief theater critic of the New York Times from 1980-1993. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of his great career, including championing August Wilson, making up with Robert Brustein, watching Jerome Robbins stage the second act of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, the changes made to the second act of THE ODD COUPLE out of town, his thoughts on the decreasing power of theater criticism in affecting the success of a show, working with Boris Aronson on a book about his work, why he tried not to think about the influence he had on shows, what he learned from Walter Kerr and Kenneth Tynan, what musicals he chooses to see today, working with theater actors on SUCCESSION, the giveaway that a critic didn’t personally like a show, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this conversation with a greatly influential figure in so many fields.

Elena Shaddow Apr 21, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway star Elena Shaddow. Elena will be appearing in my next concert at 54 Below, Backstage Babble Celebrates Joe Allen Restaurant, singing from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, along with a fantastic lineup including Tony nominees Anita Gillette, Michael Korie, Amanda Green, and Willy Falk, plus Jim Walton, Robert Creighton, Heather MacRae, and more. The link to in-person and livestream tickets is here:

https://54below.org/events/backstage-babble-celebrates-joe-allen-restaurant/

Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including why she smoked a cigarette in NINE, the difficulty of performing in DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES every night, the insight she got from Chita Rivera, working with Joanne Akalaitis on THE BACCHAE, getting close to the title role in MARY POPPINS, Trevor Nunn’s specific way of working, working with Audra McDonald on TV, how she decided to stop understudying, telling Harvey Fierstein she was pregnant, the joys of starring in FANNY, going on at the last minute in NINE, the freeing nature of finding her own technique, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this episode.

Celia Keenan-Bolger Apr 12, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m thrilled to announce the release of my episode with Tony winning actress Celia Keenan- Bolger, who is currently starring in Mother Play at the Helen Hayes Theater. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including what it was like working with Sondheim on her first major job, her long journey with THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, how she got William FInn to write a song for her, how she made the transition between performing in musicals and plays, balancing being a mother with being an actress, what she learned from working with Bartlett Sher and his wife, the role she always wanted to play, the ins and outs of being nominated for a Tony, having Paula Vogel write a play for her, how THE GLASS MENAGERIE overcame her initial skepticism, the joy of performing in PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this conversation with one of theater’s brightest lights.

Sara Gettelfinger Apr 06, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Sara Gettelfinger, who is currently returning to Broadway after a 10-year hiatus to star as Barbara in Water for Elephants. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how her persistence got her into CCM, why Michele Pawk was an early hero of hers, rehearsing with Gwen Verdon, a special audition for Jack O’Brien, working with Jerry Zaks on The Addams Family, the shows she’d like to see done at Encores!, the importance of Rick Elice’s work in her return to acting, the thrills and challenges of working with George C. Wolfe, how she created the character of Little Edie Beale, the process of being let go from Grey Gardens, and so much more. She also shares the moving and inspiring details of her hard-won journey back to Broadway. You won’t want to miss this intimate conversation with one of Broadway’s best.

Rick Elice Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my episode with Tony-nominated librettist Rick Elice, whose musical Water for Elephants is currently playing at Broadway’s Imperial Theater. Tune in to find out about all the facets of his varied career, which he describes as being a “pinball in a pinball machine,” including how a forbidden experience with Follies got him hooked on theater, late-night calls from Elaine May, how Annie led to being hired by Serino-Coyne, crashing a lunch with Stanley Donen, when Cher quoted “Hello, Dolly!” to him, what intrigued him about the Smash musical, the trick he used for marketing The Lion King, the advice he got from Neil Simon and Mike Nichols, why Tom Stoppard is responsible for his career as a playwright, and more. He also shares a beautiful tribute to the late, great Chita Rivera, who worked with Rick’s husband Roger Rees on their mutual last project, The Visit. You won’t want to miss this episode!

Doug Hughes Mar 15, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m honored to announce my interview with Tony winning director Doug Hughes. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the simple mantra that dictates what kind of work he wants to direct, a very important review he received early in his career, creating tension in DOUBT, what he loves about directing Shaw plays, the anxiety of the rehearsal process for OLEANNA, why he prefers intimate rehearsal spaces, transferring FROZEN to Broadway, the unique talent of Cherry Jones, what appealed to him about directing Ayad Akhtar’s JUNK, why ELLING couldn’t succeed on Broadway, the opportunities Lynne Meadow gave him, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this conversation with one of Broadway’s best directors.

Maryann Plunkett Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m so excited to announce my episode with Maryann Plunkett, who is currently starring as Older Allie in Broadway’s The Notebook. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the significance of the first line she said on a Broadway stage, performing on the night of the 2016 election, her numerous costars in Sunday in the Park with George, the power of Me and My Girl, how she met her husband Jay O. Sanders and the play she’d love to do with him, the joy of performing in rep at National Actors’ Theater, how acting cured her shyness, early stages of Zoom theater, an upcoming play with Marie Mullen, the new take on Macbeth she workshopped, what singing means to her character in The Notebook, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this insightful conversation with a veteran actress.

Melba Moore Feb 18, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m honored to announce my episode with Tony winner Melba Moore, who will be returning to New York stages on March 15 and 16 at 54 Below. You can find tickets to that show here: https://54below.org/events/melba-moore-from-broadway-with-love/ Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how a recording session led her to her Broadway debut, why Eartha Kitt was a diva in the truest sense, the process of making her way back to New York, the artists she will pay tribute to in her upcoming concert, the challenge of performing in Purlie, why Les Miserables was the perfect show for her, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this conversation.

Caroline O'Connor Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with veteran of Broadway, West End, and Australian stages, who is currently starring as Lottie Gee in All Roads Theatre’s production of Mack and Mabel. Tickets to that production are available here: https://allroadstheatreco.org/ Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her many experiences with Mack and Mabel, auditioning for Baz Luhrmann, a special call from Hal Prince, making her Broadway debut with Chicago at the same time the movie came out, singing as Ethel Merman for Kevin Kline, the note she got from Stephen Sondheim, playing both starring roles in The Rink, why she relates to the play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, the art of playing Fanny Brice and not Barbra Streisand, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this fun-filled conversation!

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