Backstage Babble

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...

This is a bittersweet day on Backstage Babble. I am proud to present my interview, recorded in January 2025, with legendary Broadway dancer and choreographer Edie Cowan. Ms. Cowan passed away on May 22, 2025 at the age of 88. It is a very sad loss for theater lovers everywhere, and I hope this interview will give you a sense of her humor, talent, and unique spark. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her wonderful c...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller, whose new memoir Theater Kid is available anywhere books are sold. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including celebrating HAMILTON’s tenth anniversary, making RENT accessible to younger audiences, launching a Tony campaign for AVENUE Q, presenting DERREN BROWN: SECRET on Broadway, how the revivals of SWEENEY T...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway director Sarna Lapine, whose show CALL ME IZZY is currently playing on Broadway. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including working as an assistant director to Bartlett Sher, helping to cast the revival of AWAKE AND SING, how the Obama presidency aligned with the story of SOUTH PACIFIC, how her path to theater mirrored her uncle James...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with two-time Tony winner Judith Ivey. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including singing A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC for Stephen Sondheim, how Carol Woods gave her dinner eight times a week during FOLLIES, how her performance in STEAMING led to three feature film roles, finding the comedy in THE HEIRESS, meeting Neil Simon at the Tony Awards, performing ...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Tony nominee Craig Bierko. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including what he learned from Meredith Willson’s notes in the script of THE MUSIC MAN, dancing with Rebecca Luker, the “stop-start” feeling of THOU SHALT NOT, how James Lapine approached directing MODERN ORTHODOX, the Jewishness that is needed in GUYS AND DOLLS, why he didn’t connect...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with producer Jenny Gersten, who was recently named the new VP and Artistic Director of Musical Theater at City Center. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how Anne Kauffman and Lear DeBessonet brought her on board at City Center, the true mission of the Encores! series, what she looks for in a potential revival, the challenges of massively ...

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway favorite Michael Park, who is currently starring in REDWOOD on Broadway through May 18. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how he almost quit the business before REDWOOD, the joys of performing with Idina Menzel, memorable stage door experiences at DEAR EVAN HANSEN, his extended audition process for HELLO, AGAIN, what he learn...