Backstage Babble

Latest Episodes:

Joann M. Hunter Part 1 Dec 29, 2021

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Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with one of Broadway’s most in-demand director/choreographers, Joann M. Hunter. On this episode, she discusses her career as a Broadway dancer, including the prank she played on Jonathan Pryce, why she loves working with Susan Stroman, rehearsing for 6 months with Jerome Robbins, putting Bebe Neuwirth into Chicago, what it’s like performing on the Tonys, the two Broadway shows she got without auditioning, going on at the last minute in Kiss Me, Kate, having her pig kidnapped by Sergio Trujillo, her mishap-filled audition for Thoroughly Modern Millie, and much more!

Randy Skinner Dec 25, 2021

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I am so thrilled to announce my episode with one of Broadway’s best director/choreographers, Tony Nominee Randy Skinner. His work can currently be seen in the Irving Berlin Cheek to Cheek at the York Theater off-Broadway:

Buy Tickets Here!

And before you see the show, tune in today to hear him discuss getting advice from Ginger Rogers, the popular Broadway marketing idea that he had first, what was great about the Kenley Players, why he loved rehearsing with Nell Carter, star-spotting Eloise Kropp, the process of working at Encores, the lesson he learned from Angela Lansbury’s Mame, why movies are his first love, and so much more.

Austin Pendleton Part 2 Dec 16, 2021

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Today, I am so thrilled to announce the 2nd part of my episode with the great Austin Pendleton. Tune in today to hear him to tell more of the stories of his long and legendary career, including: being directed by Samuel Beckett’s assistant, why Barbra Streisand is a great scene partner, the number 1 mistake among actors at auditions, what he thinks it will be like to return to The Minutes, why he’s banned from doing any Neil Simon plays, how he had to be kept a secret from Tommy Tune, and so much more. You can't help but be inspired by Austin Pendleton: a true man of the theater who has collected countless insights and stories from his wide-ranging career.

Austin Pendleton Part 1 Nov 27, 2021

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I am so excited to announce my episode today with a true man of the theater, the great Austin Pendleton. With countless legendary stage and screen credits including Fiddler on the Roof, The Little Foxes, My Cousin Vinny, and others, Austin has achieved fame as an actor, singer, playwright, director, teacher, and more. He’s very much still part of the theater community, and you can go see him now in The Dark Outside at the Theater for the New City:

The Dark Outside

Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including why Barbara Harris didn’t want to be a star, a frank conversation with Jerome Robbins, what it was like being friends with Lillian Hellman, how Fiddler on the Roof almost closed in Detroit, his long partnership with Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford, the role he asked Mike Nichols to play, directing his mother in The Glass Menagerie, conversations with Otto Preminger, and so many more.

John Rubinstein Nov 25, 2021

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Today, I am so happy to announce my episode with the amazing John Rubinstein. John is currently starring off-Broadway in the wonderful new production Morning’s At Seven alongside Tony Roberts, Alley Mills, and more. You can buy tickets here:

Morning's At Seven

Tune in today to hear him tell some of the stories of his legendary career, including playing “Soliloquy" for John Raitt, watching rehearsals of Funny Girl, advice from Laurence Olivier, early Shakespeare roles, a late night visit from Bob Fosse, how he almost got Cabaret—twice, what it was like to return to Pippin in 2013, and his advice for everyone else who plays the role.

His wisdom and charm are part of what has made him one of theater’s top stars from the 1970s to today.

David Staller Nov 20, 2021

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Today, I am so excited to announce my episode with artistic director of the Gingold Group David Staller. The Gingold Group is the only one in the world to have presented all 65 of George Bernard Shaw’s plays, and today is your last day to see their mounting of MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION staring Karen Ziemba and Robert Cuccioli. Upcoming is a reading of Jay O. Sanders and MaryAnn Plunkett in VILLAGE WOOING. Tickets can be purchased here:

Village Wooing

Mrs. Warren's Profession

Tune in to hear David tell some of the stories of his legendary career, including: an early shaw reading with Olivier, Fairbanks, Loos, and more, how he became friends with Pearl Bailey, turning down Hal Prince, the majesty of Rebecca Luker, why George Bernard Shaw was a pistol at 94, why he longs for the day when Shaw is no longer relevant, growing up around Hermoine Gingold, the art of editing Shaw, interviewing Rex Harrison, casting over Zoom, his advice to young performers and so much more.

Howard McGillin Nov 14, 2021

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I am so honored today to announce my episode with one of Broadway’s best leading men, Howard McGillin. In addition to being the longest running Phantom, his starring roles include Anything Goes, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, She Loves Me, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, and more. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of his career including auditioning for Stephen Sondheim, why the phantom’s mask is more comfortable than you might think, singing through Mack and Mabel with Jerry Herman, doing a dress rehearsal with a broken rib, why The Secret Garden resonated personally with him, the many changes of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, a fateful email from Charles Busch, learning to play piano, a backstage conversation with James Lapine, and so much more.

Sherman Yellen Nov 01, 2021

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Today, I am so thrilled to announce my episode with Emmy Award Winner Sherman Yellen. On TV, his projects include Beauty and the Beast, An Early Frost, and The Adams Chronicles, and on stage he has written the book for Rex, The Rothschilds, and more. Tune in today to hear the many stories of his long career, including sitting under a piano with Marilyn Monroe, why he thought he caught tuberculosis from Harold Pinter, hiring Nicol Williamson, revising The Rothschilds, how he thinks theater has changed, his hit sketch for Oh, Calcutta!, analyzing Richard Rodgers, why he related to Sinclair Lewis, the antisemitism of Maureen O’Hara, why he thinks his newest plays are the best yet, and reflects on the world of opportunity in which he grew up. Mr. Yellen’s new book, Absent Friends, will be available soon.

2020 Tonys Extravaganza!! Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

Today on Backstage Babble, I am so thrilled to present my celebration of the 2020 Tony Awards. The four-hour ceremony can still be viewed on Paramount+ and the CBS App. The evening begins with a few photos and video interviews from the red carpet. I was also invited to be part of the virtual press room for this year’s ceremony, and you can see the questions I got to ask to the night’s winners including Lois Smith, Alex Timbers, and Anthony Veneziale. You can also see longer interview clips that include my questions with director Kenny Leon and playwright Matthew Lopez, because what they said was so powerful it had to be shared. Following this, my extended 40-minute interview with legendary Broadway press agent and producer Irene Gandy, who shares many stories of her career, including learning from Douglas Turner Ward, walking into the New York Times office wearing hot pants, why attitudes about press have changed, the magic of August: Osage County, and the way in which she saw racism in the publicity industry.

This program is best viewed in a video format, which is available here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p91K_oSS9U/

You can watch Ms. Gandy’s Tonys speech here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffx2MRRCzPY&t=81s/

Meg Bussert Oct 02, 2021

Show notes

Today, I am so honored to announce my episode with the amazing Meg Bussert. Meg transitioned from being one of the most active ingenues on Broadway in the 1980s to one of the most sought-after character actresses today. Hear her tell some of the stories of her amazing career on our interview, including a suggestion she got from Meredith Willson, the direction from Michael Kidd that left her speechless, how she made Debbie Reynolds nervous, why John Raitt wasn’t right for Petruchio, figuring out an accent for South Pacific, her go-to audition song, the magic of Tessie O’Shea and Gemze De Lappe, how she set off a fire alarm at the Westchester Broadway Theater, a telegram from Mary Martin, plus Edward Gorey, Barbara Cook, Alan Jay Lerner, and more!! You can also see her in a celebration of Jonathan Tunick happening October 2 at the Sharon Playhouse. Tickets are available here: https://www.sharonplayhouse.org/2021spotlight

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