Backstage Babble

Latest Episodes:

Will Roland Aug 14, 2022

Show notes

Today, I am so happy to announce my new episode with Broadway star Will Roland, who is currently appearing in the hilarious The Panic of ’29 at 59E59 Theaters. You can purchase tickets for that show here:

The Panic of '29

Tune in today to hear some of the stories of Will’s career, including the changes in the tone of Dear Evan Hansen, the reason why Jeremy Heere is a universally relatable character, why all of social media is a “performance,” why adult audiences were pre-disposed against Be More Chill, the non-Cinderella story of The Black Suits, making a difference in the world through theater with The Bus, the type of comic role that he would like to play next, and more.

You won’t want to miss this honest but humorous conversation about how social media and theatrical success intersect in the modern day, featuring someone who has been part of two fascinating examples.

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Sandy Duncan Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

Today, I am so honored to announce my episode with legendary Broadway performer Sandy Duncan, the star of Peter Pan, The Boy Friend, Chicago, and so many more shows on stage and on screen. Tune in today for an in-depth interview featuring many of the stories of her legendary career, including the eerie dream she had before the Tony Awards, why she dubs Finding Neverland “Never Never Never Never Land,” the challenges of taking on the role of Peter Pan, the unusual audition song she used early on, her accident during the run of Chicago, a difficult demand from Agnes DeMille, the condition on which she agreed to take over Valerie, what it’s like partnering with Gene Kelly, and the type of role that would make her come back to Broadway.

You won’t want to miss this conversation with one of the most talented triple threats in the industry.

Trivia Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O-Xnecg2ro

Jonathan Hadary Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with veteran actor Jonathan Hadary, who starred on Broadway in Gypsy, Guys and Dolls, Torch Song Trilogy, and so many more shows. Jonathan can currently be seen in the wonderful play Epiphany at Lincoln Center, running through July 24. Tickets for that can be found here:

Epiphany

Tune in today to hear him tell some of the stories of his legendary career, including the varying reactions he got to the original Assassins, why his first trip to New York made him think he could be on Broadway, the long audition process for Torch Song Trilogy, a way that Gypsy could be re-imagined, why Epiphany took on more significance during the pandemic, and so many more.

Teri Ralston Jul 17, 2022

Show notes

Today, I am so thrilled to announce my episode with Company’s original Jenny, Teri Ralston, whose many other credits include A Little Night Music, The Baker’s Wife, and more. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the original problem with the pot scene in Company, why Michael Bennett was an unusual choreographer, the three shows she saw and knew she had to be in, the meaning of the Greek chorus in A Little Night Music, the perfect way to sing the ending of “Send in the Clowns,” how Peggy Lee decorated her apartment, the saga of The Baker’s Wife that ended in a physical fight, the director that made her cry, and so much more.

Barbara Barrie Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with my second guest this week to have starred in the original cast of Company: its original Sarah, Barbara Barrie, whose other credits include The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Torch Song Trilogy, and Signficant Other. Tune in to hear some of the fascinating stories of her long career, including the battle she had with Hal Prince and Equity over Original Cast Album: Company, the part she turned down but later got to replace as, the Neil Simon show in which she felt her part was undeveloped, the challenges of balancing motherhood and acting, the difference between Art Carney and Hector Elizondo as co-stars, how she landed her Broadway debut, the differences between starring on stage and screen, the “total disaster” that was The Selling of the President, how she almost got held in a mental asylum while researching a part, acting with Tony Randall on The Odd Couple: Together Again, working with Barbara Baxley on A Little Night Music, what would make her come back to Broadway now, and so much more.

You won’t want to miss this fascinating look into the Golden Age of Broadway with one of its most skilled actresses.

Donna McKechnie Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with Broadway legend Donna McKechnie, star of A Chorus Line, On the Town, State Fair, Promises, Promises, and Company. Tune in today to hear her share some of the insights of her legendary career, including the difference between Bob Fosse and Michael Bennett, the replacement of the choreographer in How To Succeed, touring with Ethel Merman, the story of her iconic “Tick Tock” dance, the many versions of Cassie that were proposed along the way, the monologue she had that was cut from A Chorus Line, tricks for surviving New York in the 70s, choreographing Sondheim: A Musical Tribute, dancing on TV in Hullabaloo, and so much more.

You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation with a star whose dancing epitomizes the Golden Age of Broadway.

Lesli Margherita Jul 10, 2022

Show notes

Today, I am so honored to announce my episode with a Broadway star who I’ve been a fan of as long as I’ve loved theater, the one and only Queen Lesli—Lesli Margherita. Lesli is currently appearing at BroadwayCon through July 10, Broadway’s fan convention featuring unmissable panels and performances. You can find tickets to it here: https://www.broadwaycon.com/

Tune in today to hear her tell some of the stories of her legendary career, including why Matthew Warchus is a great director, the challenges of developing a cabaret called All Hail the Queen, being a positive influence on social media, why Dames At Sea couldn’t attain the success it deserved, the upcoming revival of Dames At Sea, moving to NYC in 2013, auditioning for Kenny Ortega, her go-to audition songs, the Patti LuPone role she would love to play, and so much more.

Ken Waissman Jul 02, 2022

Show notes

Today, I am so happy to announce Part 2 of my celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Grease, featuring its producer, Ken Waissman. In addition to Grease, Ken Waissman’s other producing credits include Agnes of God, Torch Song Trilogy, and more. But before you listen, make sure to purchase Ken’s new book Grease: Tell Me More, Tell Me More: Stories from the Broadway Phenomenon, which can be found here:

Purchase Tell Me More, Tell Me More

But first, tune in today to here fascinating stories including: the theater on Broadway that Ken named, the strategies he used to launch Grease at the beginning, the process of persuading Harvey Fierstein to bring Torch Song to Broadway, firing Lee Remick, the ways in which The Andrews Sisters tortured each other, ridiculous demands from David Merrick, why Over Here couldn’t go on the road, why he decided to leave the business, and so much more!

You won’t want to miss this episode with a true man of the theater.

Tom Moore Jun 26, 2022

Show notes

Today, I am so excited to announce the first part of my celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Grease with it’s original director Tom Moore. In addition to Grease, Tom Moore’s Broadway credits include ‘Night, Mother, Over Here, and Frankenstein. If you want to hear even more about the creation of Grease, make sure to purchase the recently released book Grease, Tell Me More, Tell Me More: Stories from the Broadway Phenomenon That Started it All, coauthored by Tom Moore, Ken Waissman, and Adrienne Barbeau. You can find it here:

Purchase the Book

But first, tune in today to hear some of the stories of Tom’s amazing life and career, including: why Frankenstein never got its chance, the stars he thought were dead before he worked with them, his initial hesitance to accept Grease, the art to meeting with Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, why he wanted to revive Once in a Lifetime, the show he feels was the best work he ever did, the idea he never used for the film of ‘Night, Mother, the two shows he thinks weren’t right for Broadway, the perfect pairing of stars for Moon Over Buffalo, and so much more.

You won’t want to miss this masterclass in directing peppered with fantastic anecdotes.

Charles Flateman Jun 19, 2022

Show notes

Today, I am so thrilled to announce my interview with the executive director of the Shubert Organization Charles Flateman. Charles is also the chairman of the board of NYC and Company, the CEO of Audience Rewards, and the co-founder of Broadway Inbound. Tune in today to hear some of the insights of his great career, including how theaters are assigned to different shows, Bette Midler’s special dressing room demand, what Elaine Stritch was like to work with, the unfortunate case of The Scottsboro Boys, how Broadway ticket prices are set, the “lift-and-shift” process of ticketing The Music Man, how he first became aware of Covid, the reason behind the naming and renovation of the James Earl Jones Theatre, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation with one of Broadway’s producing insiders.

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