Backstage Babble

Lesley Ann Warren

For the first Backstage Babble episode of 2024, I’m thrilled to present my conversation with Oscar-nominated actress Lesley Ann Warren. Tune in to hear her tell some of the stories of her legendary career, including how Lee Strasberg helped with her part in DRAT! THE CAT!, how 110 IN THE SHADE taught her the meaning of a showstopper, the trouble with rehearsing GONE WITH THE WIND, how she almost played a different role in CLUE, why Blake Edwards was a great director, the challenges of playing a sociopath on screen, returning to Broadway with DREAM, why CINDERELLA was a dream come true, and so much more.

Backstage Babble Minis: Tyne Daly and Ben Vereen

The final episode of Backstage Babble in 2023 is a doozy! I’m lucky to talk to many legends, but sometimes they don’t have time for a full conversation. That being said, the two Tony-winning actors who I’m presenting “mini” interviews with today had such valuable thoughts and stories that I wanted to share them publicly. First, Tyne Daly, who it was announced after the interview is returning to Broadway in Spring 2024 with Doubt, talks about her legendary career, with stories including how an appearance with Dolly Parton got her the role of Mama Rose, the valuable lesson about auditioning she learned at the Mark Taper Forum, why she turns down all horror movies, and so much more. Then, an inspiring conversation with Ben Vereen where he discusses the genius of Galt MacDermot and Bob Fosse, how Vinnette Carroll discovered him, why theater and spirituality are deeply intertwined, and so much more! You won’t want to miss these two conversations.

Marylouise Burke

Today, I’m so happy to announce the release of my episode with veteran actress Marylouise Burke, who is currently starring in Infinite Life in London after premiering it at the Atlantic Theater Company. Tune in to hear the stories of her legendary career, including her beginnings in a Pennsylvania steel town, how she decided to move to New York, attending a Nets game with Larry David, dealing with George C. Scott’s alcoholism, her close relationship with David Lindsay-Abaire, figuring out her costumes for Kimberly Akimbo, handling the pauses in Infinite Life, taking on a musical role with Into the Woods, and so much more. 

Sally Mayes

Today, I’m honored to announce my interview with Broadway and cabaret star Sally Mayes, whose show Now and Then is playing at the Green Room 42 on Saturday, December 2nd at 9:30. The ticket link is here: https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/show/details/AWB4i9Lu1RZsQiFDkPVw/1701570600000

Meanwhile, tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the experience of touring as Mae West, auditioning for Jule Styne, standing by for Delta Burke, the show she wished had had greater success, the role she almost lost to Andrea Martin, why she doesn’t like auditioning, tackling the role of Mama Rose, and so much more. 

Mark Jacoby

I’m honored to announce my interview with Tony nominee Mark Jacoby, who is currently starring as Neil Diamond-Now in A Beautiful Noise. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the advice Bob Fosse gave him, the joys of singing with Rebecca Luker, his and John Doyle’s unique interpretation of Judge Turpin, his long experience with The Visit, how playing the phantom atrophied his voice, working with Neil Diamond, and so much more.

 

Cherry Jones

Today, I’m so excited to announce my interview with legendary actress Cherry Jones. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her distinguished career, including how Andrei Serban taught her how to act, why Colleen Dewhurst was her biggest inspiration, witnessing the difficult relationship between Glenda Jackson and Zoe Caldwell on Macbeth, her theories about the plot of Doubt, the process of flying as the title character in Angels in America, the celebration she planned for the closing night of her first Broadway show, why Major Barbara was an easier role to do, the two plays from last season that she liked the most, why she relies heavily on directors, and so much more.

Casey Nicholaw

Today, I’m so excited to announce my interview with 2023 Tony winner Casey Nicholaw, whose show Some Like it Hot runs through December 30th. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the stroke of good luck that led to his Broadway debut, returning to performing recently for one week, why Encores reminds him of summer stock, collaborating with Mike Nichols, the changes made to Aladdin out of town, why tap is his favorite style of dance, the process of restaging Dreamgirls, the difference between older and younger performers in the rehearsal room, staging the dream ballet in Tuck Everlasting, the joyous process of bringing The Drowsy Chaperone to Broadway, and more.

Schele Williams

Today, I’m so excited to announce my episode with Broadway director Schele Williams, who is helming the upcoming Broadway productions of The Wiz and The Notebook. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her long career, including what her new vision is for The Wiz, the International power of Rent, the process of revising Aida, the joys of telling the story of Ethel Waters, switching career paths, collaborating with Ben Vereen, her thoughts on leading a rehearsal room, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this interview with one of the most important people in the theater today.

Carolee Carmello

Today, I’m so excited to announce my episode with 3-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how she first got involved in Parade, her insights into the all-female 1776, being directed by Hal Prince, why Scandalous was the most vocally challenging role she’s had (hint: it wasn’t the singing), the joys of starring on TV in Remember WENN, the role she’d like to approach again, what City of Angels taught her about herself, performing Falsettos in Florida, and so much more.

Peter Friedman

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Peter Friedman, who is currently starring in the sold-out hit play Job off-Broadway. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including a visit with E. L. Doctorow, working with older vaudevillians on The Tenth Man, coming into Twelve Angry Men late in the process, experiencing a career renaissance with Annie Baker and Sam Gold, why Susan Stroman is a great director, bonding with cast members of Ragtime, and so much more.

Mary Beth Peil

Today, I’m so happy to announce my episode with Tony nominee Mary Beth Peil. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the challenges of her opera background, falling in love with Yul Brynner, the type of feedback Stephen Sondheim always gave her, the show that came to Broadway too quickly, why she had been practicing for many years for Anastasia, being directed by Edward Albee, working with Roger Rees on The Visit, how she ended up in a starring role on Dawson’s Creek, taking on the role of King Duncan in Macbeth, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this insightful conversation with a legend of the stage.

Lar Lubovitch

Today, I’m so excited to announce my episode with legendary Broadway and ballet choreographer Lar Lubovitch. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how he got involved in the musical theater world, founding his own dance company, Stephen Sondheim’s resistance to too much movement in Into the Woods, why Stanley Donen’s vision for The Red Shoes was unsuccessful, how standards of behavior have changed in the dance world, the story behind his dance piece Men’s Stories, choreographing the Dance of the Seven Veils, creating a darker Oklahoma with Christopher Renshaw, developing The Hunchback of Notre Dame in Germany, and so much more.

Terrence Mann

Today, I’m so excited to announce my interview with three-time Tony nominee Terrence Mann. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including a private notes session with Jerome Robbins, where he drew inspiration from for the Rum Tum Tugger, the audience response at The Rocky Horror Picture Show, making his Broadway debut two weeks after moving to New York, the challenges of filming A Chorus Line, the subtext Stephen Sondheim gave him about Assassins, the biblical connotations of Les Miserables, taking inspiration from a Pepperidge Farm commercial, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this in-depth interview with a true Broadway star.

Douglas J. Cohen

I’m so happy to announce the release of my episode with theater writer Douglas J. Cohen, whose book How to Survive a Killer Musical just came out, and can be purchased at this link:

Buy Here

A studio recording of his musical The Big Time, starring Jackie Hoffman and Santino Fontana, is also out now. Tune in today to hear him tell the stories of his life and career, including his friendship with Frank Gilroy, adapting No Way to Treat a Lady for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the directors he’d like to collaborate with, receiving advice from Charles Strouse and Jule Styne, adapting the story of Rudolph Valentino into a musical, how No Way to Treat a Lady almost reached Broadway, his experiences teaching and mentoring, and more. You won’t want to miss this fascinating book and conversation.

Kenny Leon

Today, I’m thriilled to announce my episode with one of Broadway’s best directors, Kenny Leon, who’s producttion of Purlie Victorious began previews this week. Tune in today to hear him discuss his process and career, including his collaboration with Adrienne Kennedy in Ohio State Murders, his upcoming projects Our Town and The Help, the project he feels should’ve transferred to Broadway, what he learned about visual storytelling during Children of a Lesser God, why he felt it was important to join the producing team of Some Like it Hot, his process when he first receives a play, his conversations with August Wilson, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this masterclass in directing.

Josie de Guzman

Today, I’m so happy to announce my interview with Tony nominee Josie De Guzman, whose solo show Back Where I Started will be playing at The Green Room 42 on September 8th and 10th. Tickets are available here:

 

Buy Now!

 

Tune in today to hear the stories of her legendary career, including getting shot out of a cannon into Guys and Dolls, the show that Elizabeth Swados wrote for her, her experiences at The Alley Theater, rehearsing with Leonard Bernstein, working with Arthur Laurents on Nick & Nora, returning to singing after many years, and much more.

Paul Rudnick

Today, I’m so honored to announce the release of my interview with the brilliant author and playwright Paul Rudnick, writer of the newly released novel Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style. Tune in today to hear some of the stories of his career, including what it was like experiencing a seance with Celeste Holm, working with Bette Midler on Sister Act, the advice he got from William Finn, turning Coastal Elites from a play into a TV special, taking risks with Rude Entertainment, his thoughts on the royal family, collaborating with Christopher Ashley on Jeffrey, and so much more! You won’t want to miss this hilarious conversation.

Stephen Schwartz

Today, I’m so excited to announce the release of my episode with Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz. Tune in to hear fascinating stories from his life and career, including how he came to make his Broadway debut with Butterflies are Free, drawing inspiration from politics in writing Wicked, the songwriter he wishes had been included in Working, the genesis of his new show The Queen of Versailles, facing resentment for the amount of success he had early on, the challenge of writing for Doug Henning, the rhyming dictionary he and Stephen Sondheim both use, the show that taught him the craft of writing lyrics, the challenge of collaborating with Bob Fosse, what he learned from Leonard Bernstein, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this in-depth interview, which was recorded in April 2022.

Leland Palmer

Today, I’m so excited to announce the release of an exclusive, in-depth career interview with two-time Tony nominee Leland Palmer. Tune in today to hear the fascinating stories of Leland’s career, including why Bob Fosse dubbed her his “Yellow Towel Lady,” participating in the recent Pippin concert at 54 Below, the gift she got from Lauren Bacall, two hilarious onstage mishaps, her unique audition for Bajour, the actress she emulated in All That Jazz, the challenge of playing Minnie Fay, the difficulty of working with Donald Driver, how she feels about fictional portrayals of Bob Fosse, why A Chorus Line led her to take a break from theater, her decision to live away from New York, the importance of living in the present, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this fascinating talk with a theatrical legend.

David Henry Hwang

Today, I’m so excited to announce my episode with distinguished playwright and libretttist David Henry Hwang. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including being discovered by Joseph Papp, training with Sam Shepard, reading M. Butterfly with John Dexter, collaborating with Philip Glass, revising the book for Aida, why Face Value couldn’t achieve success on Broadway, the advice he got on what makes a Broadway play, and so much more. You won’t want to miss this in-depth conversation with one of the greatest minds in theater.