Backstage Babble
A new podcast interviewing professionals in the theater industry about themselves, their careers, and the people they’ve worked with along the way.
Episodes
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with two-time Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell. Tune in to hear some of his wonderful stories, including why JELLY’S LAST JAM was the hardest show he’s ever done, an out-of-body experience during RAGTIME, learning KING HEDLEY II in nine days, how he came to appreciate KISS ME, KATE, getting slapped by Marin Mazzie, auditioning for OH, KAY! and PORGY AND BESS simultaneously...
Today, I’m thrilled to present a “Broadway Behind the Scenes” special featuring conversations with two of New York theater’s most influential figures: producer and press agent Jeffrey Richards and casting director Tara Rubin. Tune in to hear scintillating stories and insights about both of their careers and their thoughts on the current state of Broadway.
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Broadway director Trip Cullman, whose production of Martyna Majok’s Queens is currently playing at Manhattan Theater Club. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including reinventing I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE, the use of music into CULT OF LOVE and CHOIR BOY, working on UNKNOWN SOLDIER after Michael Friedman passed away, telling Joshua Harm...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Broadway veteran Michael Vita. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how PROMISES, PROMISES changed Broadway, how summer camp led to BYE BYE BIRDIE, moving to England in 1961, a long preview process for GOLDEN RAINBOW, his memorable audition for BALLROOM, touring America with 42ND STREET, having fun backstage with Gwen Verdon and Jerry ...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with three-time Tony nominated librettist David Thompson. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how he made his debut with FLORA, THE RED MENACE, experimenting with AND THE WORLD GOES ROUND, the last-minute nature of the CHICAGO revival, what he learned from Kander and Ebb, why 70, GIRLS, 70 is an anomaly, working with Andrew Lloyd Webber an...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winner and Emmy nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how he booked his Broadway debut in ON THE TOWN during college, why it worked better at the Delacorte than on Broadway, starring in TAKE ME OUT just after the pandemic, the genesis of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, a real-life magical m...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Oscar nominee Chris Sarandon. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how he fell in love with Joanna Gleason during NICK AND NORA, bonding with the cast of THE ROTHSCHILDS, co-starring with Rex Harrison in THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE, his Oscar campaign for DOG DAY AFTERNOON, the cult appeal of THE PRINCESS BRIDE, why he felt limited as a repla...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with two-time Tony nominee Carmen Cusack. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including collaborating with Steve Martin on BRIGHT STAR, taking LSD to prepare for FLYING OVER SUNSET, her upcoming role in BULL DURHAM, why the revival of CARRIE didn’t work, why the story of WICKED resonated with her, her abbreviated process with CALL ME MADAM, finding ...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-winning writer Dick Scanlan. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including his eight years performing in PAGEANT, how THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE turned him into a theater writer, giving Sutton Foster her breakout role in the show, directing Ellen Greene in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, being influenced by Gilbert and Sullivan, the benefit performa...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with theater veteran Kate Jennings Grant. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the secret to her role in PROOF, a full-circle moment with GUYS AND DOLLS, working with the late, great Mark Brokaw and Linda Lavin on THE LYONS, a tip from Vanessa Redgrave, why Christopher Durang wanted her to play the lead in THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO, mee...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winner Will Brill, who will be starring in MEET THE CARTOZIANS off-Broadway this fall. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the unique process of creating STEREOPHONIC, moving the show from Playwrights Horizons to Broadway, being part of the Tonys campaign, why the response to OKLAHOMA surprised him, the cosmic alignment of A CASE...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony nominee Stephen Lang. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including his memorable audition for DEATH OF A SALESMAN, a harrowing experience onstage during THE SPEED OF DARKNESS, improvising during rehearsals for A FEW GOOD MEN, how he became the youngest honorary member of the D’Oyly Carte Theater Company, why Lynn Redgrave was perfect for ...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Oscar nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her unconventional path to WEST SIDE STORY, how THE HUMAN COMEDY fulfilled a childhood dream, what Brian De Palma taught her during SCARFACE, the thrill of singing SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, how AMADEUS inspired her to take acting lessons, why Aldonza ...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winning actor and director John Benjamin Hickey. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how Terrence McNally took a chance on him for LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!, the joys of playing opposite Natasha Richardson in CABARET, singing for Stephen Sondheim, reimagining THE CRUCIBLE in the 9/11 era, how coming out helped him find ideal coll...
Today, I’m so excited to announce the 250th episode of Backstage Babble. The mission of the podcast has always been to document Broadway history, and I’m thrilled to welcome a man who has had a profound influence on Broadway history over several eras in his work as a dancer and a choreographer: Wayne Cilento. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including his reflections on the 50th anniversary...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway poster artist Frank “Fraver” Verlizzo, whose new murder mystery Scenery of the Crime is available anywhere books are sold. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how the movie of THE LION KING inspired his logo design, showing Angela Lansbury the SWEENEY TODD logo, his career renaissance as a mystery writer, his early work on OVER...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway veteran Ann Morrison, who is about to take over the lead role on the tour of KIMBERLY AKIMBO. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how Stephen Sondheim wrote “Now You Know” for her, her favorite revival of MERILY WE ROLL ALONG, modeling Mary Flynn after Mary Rodgers, how Hal Prince cast her in LOVEMUSIK, her international auditi...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Adam Grupper, who is currently starring in Joy at the Laura Pels Theater. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including working with Stephen Sondheim on INTO THE WOODS, turning down KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, a memorable mishap during CITY OF ANGELS, a tip from Robert Westenberg about THE SECRET GARDEN, the joy of reading audiobooks, getting group ...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with playwright and screenwriter Jonathan Tolins. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the joke he couldn’t include in the Tony awards, how Barbra Streisand reacted to BUYER AND CELLAR, working with Broadway favorites on ELSBETH, revising the book for ON THE TOWN, the ill-fated TRUMP FOLLIES, the responsibility of writing for QUEER AS FOLK, T...
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway veteran Sally Murphy, who will recreate her role as Julie Jordan in Carousel my next Backstage Babble Live! concert on Monday, July 7 at 7 PM. In-person and livestream tickets are available here:
https://54below.org/events/charles-kirschs-backstage-babble-live-4/
Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including o...
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