BROADWAY NATION

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Special ENCORE Episode: George Gershwin, Vincent Youmans & The Silver Age Of Broadway, part 1 Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

This special Encore episode of Broadway Nation celebrates the birthdays this week of two of Broadways greatest composers -- George Gershwin & Vincent Youmans.

Both were born 124 years ago in 1898 and they came into the world just one day apart – Gershwin on September 26, and Youmans on September 27. And even though they were both born in NYC, they came from different worlds.

Gershwin’s parents were Russian-Jewish immigrants, and George grew up on the Lower East Side where his father worked in a shoe factory and George dropped put of school at 15 to go to work.

Youmans, however, was born into the lap of luxury – his father was a wealthy hat manufacturer, and Vincent grew up in Larchmont, NY, attended the exclusive Trinity School, and eventually Yale University.

But despite their differences, over the next 30 years their lives would often be intertwined. Both fell in love with music and show business, both began their careers as Tin Pan Alley song pluggers, and both served as rehearsal pianists on Broadway musicals that were composed by Victor Herbert.

Gershwin made his Broadway debut as a composer in 1918 and had his first hit song the following year with “Swanee”, which had lyrics by Irving Caesar. Their song became an absolute sensation when Al Jolson incorporated it into his hit show Sinbad.

Youmans had to wait until 1921 to make his Broadway debut with the musical Two Little Girls In Blue. Interestingly, the lyrics for that show were written by George’s older brother, Ira Gershwin.

Both Gershwin and Youmans achieved international fame and fortune on Broadway during the 1920s, creating hit shows and hit songs that still define the era. George archived his greatest successes when he finally teamed up with his brother, Ira. And Youmans biggest hits were created in collaboration with George’s early partner, Irving Caesar.

All of this took place during the first decade of what I call the “Silver Age of Broadway” – which is the focus of this episode.

Strangely, both composers would die young, way before their time -- Gershwin of a brain tumor in 1937, and Youmans of Tuberculosis a decade later.

This episode is dedicated to them and to all the amazing men and women who epitomized the Jazz Age on Broadway.

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Episode 81: RAZZLE DAZZLE: A Brief History of Lighting Design On Broadway, part 2. Sep 22, 2022

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Episode 80: COLOR AND LIGHT: A Brief History of Broadway Lighting Design Sep 15, 2022

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My guest on this episode is Tony Award winning lighting designer Ken Billington who created the lighting for an incredible 105 Broadway plays and musicals, including 21 productions that were directed by Harold Prince. Ken’s career spans from his very first Broadway show in 1967 when he was the assistant to legendary lighting designer Tharon Musser, to his most recent Broadway show, the hit musical, Waitress.

Along the way he designed the original productions of Sweeney Todd, On The 20th Century, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Scottsboro Boys, The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life In the Universe starring Lily Tomlin, three revivals of Fiddler On The Roof, two revivals of Sunday In The Park with George, and the still running 1996 revival of Chicago for which he received the Tony Award. I have had the great pleasure of knowing and working with Ken for more than 40 years, and it is always fascinating, and always a delight to speak with him.

Theatrical lighting design is a very young art form. Its history begins primarily in the early 20th Century -- just as the Broadway musical was being invented. Lighting design’s earliest innovators include the American actress Maude Adams – most famous today for her performance as Peter Pan – and producer, director, playwright, and theater owner David Belasco.

One of the recurring themes of this podcast, and one of my obsessions, is how the art and craft of the Broadway Musical has been handed down directly – first hand – from artists to artists, from craftsperson to craftsperson. Ken Billington’s long career and especially his early experiences as the assistant to the pioneering designers Peggy Clark, Pat Collins, Tom Skelton, William Rittman, and Tharon Musser make him the ideal guest for this episode.

And of course, after Ken stopped being an assistant, he eventually became one of Broadway’s most acclaimed and most prolific lighting designers. And we’ll hear the story of how that came about on the next episode of Broadway Nation!

You can learn more about Jean Rosenthal, Tharon Musser and other great women lighting designers on Episode 8 of Broadway Nation, which is titled, “Agnes DeMille & The Women That Invented Broadway”. It’s a fascinating episode and I encourage you to check it out.

Broadway Nation is written and produced by me, David Armstrong. Special thanks to Pauls Macs for his help with editing this episode, to KVSH 101.9 The Voice of Vashon, and to the entire team at the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Episode 79: Further Scandals Of George White Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

This episode is the second half of my conversation with Gary Flannery regarding the life and career of Broadway dancer, director, choreographer, writer and producer, George White. Between 1919 and 1939 George White produced 19 Broadway shows including 13 editions of his own lavish and legendary revue – The George White Scandals.

In part one Gary shared the story of George White’s unlikely rise from the slums of NY’s Lower East Side to his first triumphs on Broadway. Gary also began making his very persuasive case that George White is the most underrated and neglected genius in the history of the Broadway, who should be considered of equal, or even greater, significance than Ziegfeld, Cohan, the Shubert Bros, and any of the other greatest showman in Broadway history.

As we ended part one George had just opened The George White Scandals of 1922, directed & staged by George White, costumes by Erte, and starring George White, W.C. Fields, and Paul Whiteman and his orchestra, all performing the music & lyrics of George Gershwin & Buddy De Sylva.

In this episode we learn how George White put together the legendary songwriting team of De Sylva, Brown & Henderson, discovered Eleanor Powell and Ann Miller, and advanced the careers of Harry Richman, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, Burt Lahr, the Howard Brothers and more!

If you enjoy this podcast, I feel certain that you will also enjoy joining our Broadway Nation Facebook group -- where you will find daily postings of images, videos, articles and links that relate to, and enhance, each and every episode of this podcast. Just google “Broadway Nation Facebook group” and join the more than 2000 other fans of Broadway Nation. It’s always fun, fascinating and informative.

See you there!

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Episode 78: George White And His Scandals! Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

This is the first part of my conversation with Gary Flannery who somehow, while pursuing his own spectacular career as dancer, also found time to become the leading expert on the tumultuous life and career of George White – the fabled Broadway producer, director, choreographer, writer, songwriter and dancer. White rose to fame in Vaudeville and as a featured performer in The Ziegfeld Follies and then, between 1919 and 1939, went on to produce 19 Broadway musicals including 13 editions of his own spectacular and legendary revue – The George White Scandals.

It is Gary’s firm conviction that George White is the most underrated and neglected genius in the history of the Broadway musical. And, furthermore, he believes that if George White’s full legacy and impact were more fully acknowledged and recognized it would equal or surpass that of Ziegfeld, George M. Cohan, the Shubert Bros, and virtually every other great showman in Broadway history. Gary has certainly convinced me – and I suspect that after you’ve heard him tell George White’s amazing story -- you will be persuaded as well.

Gary Flannery’s day job was as one of Bob Fosse’s favorite dancers and he appeared in the Broadway productions of both DANCIN’ and PIPPIN – and you have probably seen him as one of the leading dancers in Fosse’s film, All That Jazz. He also toured the world dancing with Shirley MacLaine, was a featured dancer on many television variety shows, and today he directs, choreographs, writes, teaches and conducts master classes in all manner of Broadway dance and musical theater history. His research on George White is only one part of his Great American Revue project which includes lectures, books, documentaries and revivals in various stages of production.

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Episode 77: 20 Years of HAIRSPRAY, Part 3. Aug 25, 2022

Show notes

Continuing our celebration of the 20th Anniversary of HAIRSPRAY – The Musical, my guest this week is the show’s original choreographer JERRY MITCHELL who shares with us a first-hand, behind-the-scenes look into the creation of that Tony Award winning musical -- especially in regard to the how the show’s unique staging, choreography, design, as well as many of its most memorable moments were first dreamed up and executed!

You will also get an inside view of Jerry’s close collaborations with Hairspray’s director, Jack O’Brian, lead producer Margo Lion, set designer David Rockwell, and Tony Award winning songwriters Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman. You will also have the opportunity to hear excerpts from the show original "demo recording" featuring vocals by Annie Golden and Jenifer Lewis!

20 years ago I had the great privilege of being part of the birth of Hairspray – The Musical because at that time I served as the Producing Artistic Director of Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater where the show received its World Premiere.

This is my 3rd episode celebrating HAIRSPRAY’s 20th. Last week I had the great pleasure of having Marc & Scott as my guests, and a few weeks ago, on Episode 71, my guest was one of the show’s original producer’s, Adam Epstein, who is now the host of his own podcast called Dirty Moderate.

Please feel free to listen to these episodes on any order as each of my guests brings their own specific memories and perspectives to the celebration.

Jerry Mitchell is a two time Tony Award winner whose work on Broadway includes the choreography for You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Rocky Horror Show, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, La Cage Ax Folles, and Catch Me If You Can - and the direction and choreography for Legally Blonde, Kinky Boots, On Your Feet, and Pretty Woman.

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Episode 76: 20 Years of HAIRSPRAY, part 2 Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

My guests on Broadway Nation today are the Tony Award winning songwriting team of Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman who join me to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Hairspray – The Musical.

That’s right! It was 20 years ago, during the summer of 2002, that Hairspray first received its World Premiere in June at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre (where at that time I had the great pleasure and privilege of serving as that theater’s Producing Artistic Director). Then, just three months later, the show became an instant hit when it debuted on Broadway on August 15th at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it would go on to run for 2,642 performances!

In this episode Marc & Scott take us inside the creation of Hairspray, how it began, how it developed over four workshops, and how they collaborated with a team of outstanding theatermakers including bookwriters Mark O’Donnell & Tom Meehan, director Jack O’Brian, choreographer Jerry Mitchell, lead producer Margo Lion, and John Waters who wrote and directed the quirky film on which the musical is based.

Our conversation is filled with great behind the scenes stories that include: Harvey Fierstein’s contributions to the script, how they “tortured” Marissa Jaret Winokur, the many songs they wrote for “Velma Von Tussle” (Linda Hart), the legendary night the Seattle Men’s Chorus attended the show, and how Mathew Morrison is a lot like Shirley MacLaine!

In short, it was an absolute delight to reminisce with Scott & Marc about that eventful summer 20 years ago that changed all of our lives!

The episode ends with the inside scoop about their upcoming show, Some Like It Hot, which will open on Broadway in December.

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Episode 75: FINALE: Sunday In The Park, Into The Woods, Crazy For You & GEMIGNANI Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

This is the fourth and final section of my conversation with author Margaret Hall, about her recent biography of Paul Gemignani that is titled Gemignani – Life And Lessons From Broadway And Beyond.

If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you may want to catch up on those before listening to this one.

Paul Gemignani served as the Music Director for more than 40 Broadway musicals including those that are the focus of this episode -- Sunday In The Park With George, Into The Woods, Crazy For You, as well as the revivals of She Loves Me and Kiss Me Kate.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy signed by both Paul Gemignani and Margaret Hall you can order it exclusively through the website of Buxton Books, an independent bookstore in Charleston, South Carolina.

Many of Gemignani's collaborators are discussed in this episode including Stephen Sondheim, James lapine, Scott Ellis, Lonnie Price, Michael Cerveris, and Patti Lupone.

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Episode 74: Sweeney, Merrily, Dreamgirls & Gemignani Aug 04, 2022

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This is the third part of my conversation with author Margaret Hall, whose captivating new book is titled Gemignani – Life And Lessons From Broadway And Beyond.

If you missed the first two parts you may want to catch up on those episodes before listening to this one.

As the title suggests Margaret’s book is a biography of Paul Gemignani who served as the Music Director for more than 40 Broadway musicals including the 3 shows that are the focus of this episode.

The first two are Sweeny Todd and Merrily We Roll Along and Gemignani’s contribution to these musicals and his close working relationship with Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince has been widely acknowledged but never to the level of detail and insight that Margaret brings to them. However, Gemignani’s enormous contribution to the development of Dreamgirls and his close collaboration with that show’s director and creator, Michael Bennett, has been a closely guarded secret for decades and was revealed for the first time in Margaret’s book. You will hear the reasons for all of this mystery and subterfuge later in the episode.

We also focus briefly on Paul's work on the Broadway musical EVITA and his interactions with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Patti Lupone.

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Episode 73: Sondheim, Prince & Gemignani Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

This is the second part of my recent conversation with author Margaret Hall, the remarkable young theater historian whose new book is titled Gemignani – Life And Lessons From Broadway And Beyond.

If you missed part one, you may want to catch up on that episode before listening to this one.

Margaret spent much of the pandemic interviewing Paul Gemignani who is without a doubt one of the most significant figures in the history of modern Broadway musical. Beginning as a replacement with the original production of Follies in 1971 Gemignani served as the Music Director for more than 40 Broadway musicals including Sweeney Todd, Evita, Sunday In The Park With George, On The 20th Century, and Into The Woods to name only a few.

Margaret’s book takes us behind the scenes of those acclaimed productions and illuminates the crucial role that music directors play in the creation, development, and success of a musical.

Paul Gemignani’s incredible talent and theatrical know how made him the first-choice music director, and indispensable collaborator of both Stephen Sondheim and Harold Prince. As you will hear, after Sondheim and Prince ended their creative partnership and went their separate ways, Paul Gemignani was often pulled back and forth and caught in the middle between these two great artists and their various projects.

As we ended the previous episode the legendary Music Director Hal Hasting’s had unexpectedly died and Paul Gemignani has suddenly been drafted to replace him as the Music Director of A Little Night Music the new Prince and Sondheim musical that has just opened.

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