Backstage Babble

Latest Episodes:

Janine LaManna Jun 25, 2023

Show notes

Today, I’m so happy to annoounce my episode with Broadway star Janine LaManna. Janine’s solo show Black and Gold plays tomorrow night, June 26 at the Green Room 42, and tickets are available here. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her incredible career, including her appearances in Seussical, Sweet Charity, and Kiss Me, Kate. You won’t want to miss this in-depth conversation.

Carol Burnett Jun 17, 2023

Show notes

Today, I am beyond thrilled to announce the 150th episode of Backstage Babble with the iconic, legendary, Carol Burnett. Fresh off of her 90th birthday celebration, Ms. Burnett joins us to discuss her career, including; the advice she got from John Huston, why she dreamed of working with George Abbott, the celebrities who she Wordles with every day, the current progress of her campaign to rename a Broadway theater for Hal Prince, the unconventional audition process for Hollywood Arms, protesting outside of Once Upon A Mattress, why she can’t tell a joke to save her life, the Broadway roles she wishes she could’ve played, and so much more. Thank you for tuning in for 150 episodes, and I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Robert Lopez Jun 10, 2023

Show notes

Today, I am thrilled to announce my episode with double-EGOT winning songwriter Robert Lopez. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his incredible career, including how he first met Stephen Sondheim, giving William Finn a backrub, staging a show in the Yale swimming pool, why he decided not to write the book for Avenue Q, the rushed process behind Frozen 2, the inspiration for his new show Up Here, how “Let it Go" came from his high school experience, his Disney project that was shelved, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation with one of the funniest and most talented living songwriters.

Jesse Green May 20, 2023

Show notes

Today, I am so thrilled to announce my episode with one of the theater’s most influential minds, the New York Times’s chief theater critic Jesse Green. Tune in today for an in-depth interview as Jesse discusses his varied career. Highlights include: working with Hal Prince on A Doll’s Life, why he decided to stop working on Broadway, his view of the role of a critic, covering the “Tear Beat,” the off-Broadway show this season he has been looking forward to, being begged by John Kander not to become a critic, the play he regrets reviewing, the exciting profile that fell apart, his hopes for the future of Broadway, his rule for standing ovations, his three-laugh-a-page rule for Shy, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation.

Note: This interview was recorded in February 2023.

Lorna Dallas May 14, 2023

Show notes

Today, I’m so thrilled to announce my episode with veteran theater and cabaret performer Lorna Dallas, whose new show Glamorous Nights and Rainy Days is playing on May 17 at the Laurie Beechman Theater. You can find seats here:

Glamorous Nights and Rainy Days

Meanwhile, tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career including the advice Molly Picon’s husband gave her about converting to Judaism, going from fan to friend with Caterina Valente, working with Danny La Rue on the first male-led Hello, Dolly!, auditioning Ambassador with Hal Hackady, the inspiration for her new show, getting a song written by Ann Hampton Callaway, her unique experience during the pandemic, and so much more.

David Auburn Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

Today, I am thrilled to announce my episode with the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Auburn, whose play Summer, 1976 is currently running at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater on Broadway. Tune in to hear some of the stories of David’s career, including the method of putting replacement casts into Proof, the play idea he abandoned about Harry Houdini, the original intention for Summer, 1976, working with John Lithgow, his research process, what it was like editing Tick…Tick…BOOM! for the stage, adapting the play The New York Idea for the modern day, his new adaptation of The Wild Duck (which is about to be read at Classic Stage Company), and more. You won’t want to miss this conversation.

Paulo Szot Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

Today, I am thrilled to announce my episode with the great Paulo Szot, who is currently starring as Lance DuBois in Broadway’s smash hit & Juliet—a joyous show which I highly recommend! Tune in today to hear Paulo tell some of the stories of his fantastic career in the opera and Broadway worlds: growing up in Brazil in a family that encouraged the arts over all else, the musical movie that inspired him, working with Luciano Pavarotti, the challenge of singing in modern operas, the ways that he keeps up his voice during a long run, what he brought to his South Pacific audition, the experience of re-opening Broadway with Chicago, what Erika Jayne brought to the role of Roxie, bringing his classical training to theater and pop scores, and of course the saga of & Juliet! You won’t want to miss this candid conversation with one of Broadway’s best voices!

Sharr White Apr 22, 2023

Show notes

Today, I am so thrilled to announce my episode with Sharr White, playwright of Pictures from Home which is currently playing at Studio 54 starring Nathan Lane and Danny Burstein. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of Sharr’s career, including the plays of his that have been based on New York Times article, basing Annapurna on a former teacher, the process of pitching Halston, why war used to be a theme that fascinated him, the play of his he’s hoping to bring into New York, working with Larry Sultan’s widow Kelly Sultan on Pictures from Home, Robert LuPone’s ability to destroy scripts, his many years writing advertising copy, and the projects he’s currently working on.

Douglas Lyons Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

Today, I am so thrilled to announce my episode with Douglas Lyons, who is currently starring in Parade at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre. Tune in to hear some of the other stories of his great career, including the experience of opening a Broadway play right after the Covid-19 pandemic, writing a musical about Five Points, the play of his that never got off the ground, the genius of Beautiful, why The Book of Mormon should be valued as a work of genius, writing for TV with Fraggle Rock, how an interview with Phylicia Rashad inspired his off-Broadway musical Polkadots, going on the road with Rent, and so much more.

Ben Crawford, Broadway’s Final Phantom Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

On April 16, The Phantom of the Opera will take its final Broadway bow. And today, I am so honored to be joined by Ben Crawford, the last man to wear the iconic mask before the show closes. Tune in today to hear Ben talk about funniest audience reactions, onstage mishaps, the physical challenges of singing through a mask, the unique feedback he got from Hal Prince, and his long audition process for the role. There are also stories about the rest of Ben’s great career, including the genius of Scott Ellis, the musical he’d like to be in next (hint: it involves a Founding Father), a disastrous audition story, the absurd comedy of Irma La Douce, life on the road in Guys and Dolls, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this delightful conversation with one of Broadway’s best.

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