Daryl Roth is a one-woman powerhouse who has the Midas touch when it comes to Broadway productions! She Is a creative genius who even has a theater named after her! And now Daryl Roth has another amazing show getting such heartfelt buzz called Left On Tenth, which is all about love, life and second chances. But along with lighting up the Great White Way, she is also a passionate and devoted animal advocate!
EPISODE NOTES: Dishing with Daryl! Join Us for a Fascinating Chat With Broadway Producing Legend, Daryl Roth!
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EPISODE NOTES: Dishing with Daryl! Join Us for a Fascinating Chat With Broadway Producing Legend, Daryl Roth!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rappaport-to-the-rescue-on-pet-life-radio-petliferadio-com--6667849/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Live.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
This is Pet Life Radio. Let's talk pets Wrappaport to
the Rescue with award winning animal advocate, best selling author, journalist,
and pet products creator Jill Rappaport. Hi, Welcome to Rappaport
to the Rescue.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
I'm Jill Rappaport, and you know I don't throw the
word legend around lightly.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
But today we have a true legend.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
On the show.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
In the world of theater, Daryl Roth.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Is a thirteen time Tony Award winning Broadway producer and
a visionary genius in American theater, with a career spanning
over so many decades and credited with some of the
most thought provoking productions in.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
The Big Apple and throughout the world.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Daryl Roth also holds the mind boggling distinction of producing
seven Pulitzer Prize winning and among the more than one
hundred and thirty shows to jeav number one hundred and thirty,
she has produced both on and off Broadway.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
She is here today to talk about her.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Latest production called Left on Tenth, based on the wonderful
memoir by dl Yaffron and directed by the incredible and
beloved Susan Stroman.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
And Let's not forget There's even a theater.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Named after her. The Daryl Roth Theater is the landmark
off Broadway Venue.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
On Union Square.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
She is dedicated to supporting a number of nonprofit organizations,
and Daryl Roth has been inducted into the twenty seventeenth
Theater Hall of Fame and named Ukraine's twenty nineteen.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Fifty Most Powerful Women in New York.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
But you know me, guys, why I just had to
get her on Wrap Report to the Rescue is because
this powerhouse producer is also a major animal advocate who
has devoted so much of her life.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And whatever time she had saving animals and need. In fact, I.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Truly fell in love with Darryl, which she came out
with the most amazing documentary called My Dog An Unconditional
Love Story. So when we come back, I am so
thrilled to have the legend Daryl.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Roth on Wrap Aford to the Rescue.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Stay tuned, take a bite out of your competition, advertise
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(02:43):
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Speaker 1 (03:04):
Let's talk past, Let's done Pete.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Radio, Hetline Radio, Petlight radio dot com. Welcome back to
wrappafort to the rescue.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Now, if you've heard all the accoletes, the attributes, all.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
The incredible things my next guest has done, and I
said he is a true legend, and she is here
with us right now. Daryl Roth, I've been wanting to
get you on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I have admired you for decades. You are truly an
unbelievable pioneer in so many areas, and you've really changed
the landscape of Broadway. Oh my god, Dear, that is
the most beautiful introduction a person can hope for. I
just thank you. I appreciate you so much. Thank you
(03:55):
for all that. Well. You are unbelievable because you've never stop.
I mean, it's one thing to have all of these tonies,
to have these odd surprises, to have a theater named
after you. You are unbelievable force of light and energy.
What keeps you going? Ah, thank you for that? Well,
I think perhaps it was the fact that I didn't
(04:18):
really get into this profession until I was in my
mid forties, and so when you start something a little
bit later, I think there's an urgency and there's a
sense of I know, I want to do this. I'm
going to be as tenacious as it takes. I love it,
I'm passionate, I'm dedicated, and I will never give up.
And I think you have a different sense of that
when you start at the middle of your life. And
(04:40):
perhaps that's it, but I mean part of it is
that that's my nature. You know. My nature is to
find something that I love and just do the best
I can at it. And you know you mentioned that
you started in your forties, and I said in my
intro you've been at it and successful for many decades.
That is true. Thing obviously works for you because you
(05:03):
are like Dorian Gray, sweetheart, you are aging backwards. Oh
that is the kindest thing to say. Don't look too close.
And the lighting is lovely, but It's funny you mentioned
Dorian Gray because that's one of the productions I'll be
involved with in March here in New York, having done
it in London with the wonderful Sarah Snook, who everyone
(05:26):
hopefully knows from succession in her wonderful talent. So Dorian
Gray is actually coming up, which is funny that you
referenced it. Dorry and Ray aka Darryl Roth. What you've
done for theater and people that you have focused on
and they flourished under your tutelage, and just working with
(05:46):
you and your productions and the heart and soul that
goes into these it is truly amazing. And what do
you think is about you? I know you started later
in life, but you treat to me and outsider looking in,
it seems like you every new production like it's your
audition tape. That's interesting. I think I feel that every
new production, every new play, every new group of people
(06:08):
that I can, you know, come to work with, It's
like my next family. In a way. I feel that
part of my success, if I may say, is that
I treat everyone as if they are in my family,
with you know, as much respect and dignity and appreciation
as I can, partially because I'm in awe of their
talents and partially because I think people can flourish much
(06:30):
better in an atmosphere that is, you know, one of
love and appreciation. And it's a hard life anyone that
chooses to be in the theater business. I don't mean
as a producer, though that's pretty challenging these days as well,
but people that are artists, they unzip their souls at
every moment, and to me, that's just such a generous
(06:50):
and gracious thing, and I feel it has to be treasured.
It's been the way that I've wanted to offer my
appreciation because I love the art of theater so deeply
and I just am in awe of the people that
are part of it. It's enriched my life and you know,
being able to choose things to produce that I feel
(07:12):
are of value for one reason or another. Either it's
because it's the story that I feel I would love
to share with people. Whether it's about women, whether it's
about gender identity, my Jewish heritage, family dynamics, whatever it is,
it's something that means something to me. And my hope
is that, you know, given the opportunity to share it
(07:32):
with people. It will mean something to them. So that's
what keeps me going. I guess when you think about
during COVID, Broadway shut down, everything shut down and it
went dark literally. Well interesting to mention that, because while
it did go dark and it was devastating to try
to keep everyone afloat literally, we opened up with the
(07:53):
first production off Broadway of a play called Blindness, and
it was remarkable. The reason we were able to do
it is because it was done without any cast. You
had earphones and you heard the words of Juliette Stephenson
telling you this beautiful story. Luckily, I have a theater
that is a very flexible space, and we were able
(08:15):
to see people far enough away from one another in
pairs and with the earphones they had gotten the story directly.
We had every sanitation opportunity taken care of, and people
came together in a way that was so celebratory. It
was the first time a theater opened after COVID, and
(08:37):
part of the story was so breathtaking because it was
actually about an epidemic and it was about a city
that had to just close and find its way. And
at the end of the production, the way it was staged,
we were able to open the doors of the theater, which,
by the way, everyone was sitting in darkness. That was
part of the beauty of it, or I should say
(08:58):
the experience of it. It was dark and you were
listening to these beautiful, melodic words, and then at the
end the doors to our theater opened up onto Union
Square and bright light came in, bright sunlight came in.
It was extraordinary. It was really something great. It was
very powerful, very powerful, and we were lucky because we
(09:18):
were able to do something like that, which you know,
still observed all the COVID protocols. People wore masks, they
didn't sit next to each other, everything was sanitized. I mean,
we were, you know, floating in pure l. It was wonderful.
You know, when looking at your resume, all of the Tonys,
all of the shows, the awards, it's like asking you
(09:40):
which child is your favorite? But I have to ask you,
of all of the shows, is there one that really
resonates with your heart the most? You're right, it's hard
to choose. It's you know, because you love all the
children in equal measure. But if I could limit it
to just a few and not one that made a
huge difference not only in my life, but in the
(10:01):
lives of the people that got to experience it. I
would say Kinky Boots was a really big one for me,
primarily because it was based on a film that I
saw at the Sundance Institute many years ago, and as
I was sitting there watching it, I hadn't really thought
about theater. I was just there as a Sundance board member,
and the name, you know, interested me. I said, Pinky Boots,
(10:25):
what could that be. I'm going to go see that
film having no knowledge of it. And I sat there
thinking to myself, this is like piercing my heart. This
is a story that has everything I want to tell,
everything that was important to me. It was about being
true to yourself. It was about being honorable and respectful
of other people that were different than you. It was
(10:46):
about being you know, celebratory in life against all odds. Well,
I got out of there at the mountaintop that I
was in, and this is so many years ago that
the cell phone that I borrowed was like probably way
ten pounds, and I screamed into the book Antana and
there was no self service in the middle of Utah.
(11:06):
At the time. Anyway, I managed to reach my son Jordan,
and I said, Jordan, I have just had an unbelievable experience.
I have to get the rights for this little movie
named Kinky Boots. I'm going to be in Utah for
a few more days. I saw that one of the
producers of the film was Disney. Please please call Tom
Schumacher and say, my mom is crazy in Utah. She's
(11:29):
got to get the rights for Kinky Boots. Well, that
wasn't so easy. It did take quite a few years
because it had to be It was a combination in
Miramax Disney Film, and they had to decide who would
end up with the theater rights. Now, fortunately for me,
Disney decided it was not a family musical, which I
think curiously it ended up being quite a wonderful family
(11:52):
musical because of the lessons and the message. But in
the beginning it was Kinky Boots, which you know, with
drag queens, so that was not so easy to peg
as a family musical. It turned out, after all these
many years of presenting it that it brought more families
together and acted as a way a catalyst for people
to talk to their parents, especially if they were coming
(12:14):
out or if they were trying to just express themselves
differently than their families you know, had expected or predicted.
So in fact, it was a gorgeous message. But that
to me made such a difference in the world, and
it also gave Cyndi Lauper her first opportunity to write
a musical. I've always been a fan of hers, especially
because of her you know, women centric music, and to
(12:38):
work with Harvey Feierstein and Jerry Mitchell. It was just
a one fabulous from the beginning to the end. And
because I was involved in you know, such a complete way,
I felt as though everything that I cared about was
writing on this. So happily it turned out to be successful,
and in a very competitive year it did win the
Tony but more than that, it won the hearts of
(13:01):
so many people, and it's still done all over the world.
I think it's been in Korea four times, in Japan,
and I mean it's about the message, and it's a
message that never gets stale, and that is be true
to yourself, be kind to others, do your thing.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Just be.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
That's one of the big songs, Just Be.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
We want to be.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Live your life with dignity, and to me, you know,
I'd have to put that at the top of my list.
While absolutely and besides changing lives, I know you must
believe that they probably saved lives. I would go so
far as to say that, yes, I would. I know
how difficult it is for young people to you know,
come out to their families, and how it's a devastating,
(13:42):
sadly situation for some people who feel they never can.
And I know that we got many letters and people
saying to us how having the experience of going to
the theater with their child, with their son, with their daughter,
and then being able to talk about things more openly
and more freely and more honestly was actually the key
to unlocked. That was watching Kinky Boots. That's remarkable. All
(14:06):
so that's on my list for sure. I'm so proud
of it, and I'm also very proud of some of
the other shows in different ways. For example, I did
the revival of Larry Kramer's Normal Heart and after twenty
five years, you know, I saw it twenty five years
before we produced the revival, And that too, in a
similar way to Kinky Boots, made people realize how much
(14:31):
there is to do in the world that can make
a difference and can help you know. I was very
excited to do the production because it was speaking to
a younger generation on whose shoulders they stood, but they
didn't really know the story, and that brought it to
light in such a glorious way. So many young people
started volunteering for GMHC or God's Love We Deliver A
(14:52):
million doors were open to these people that were inspired
by seeing Larry Kramer's play. I liked to say it
was his righteous rage, and righteous rage to me, is
really valuable in our society, especially today. So I put
that up in the top of the list. And I
would also add, if I might, I know your question
(15:14):
was do you have one child? But I don't, I
would put the play with and I would put the
play Indecent as part of my top tier because WIT
was a play that nobody else wanted to tackle. It
was a play about a woman living with obarian cancer
one woman show Kathleen Chalfont, if you remember, and then
(15:35):
Judith Light brilliantly took over the role and it opened
up so many wonderful conversations among medical professionals, survivors, caregivers.
It was just an open dialogue about the cancer that
nobody wanted to talk about in those days. You know,
we called it the C word. Which is so interesting
because now as we speak, I'm doing a play called
(15:57):
Left on Tenth. It's kind of the book end. Often
thought that Left on Tenth is the child of Year
of Magical Thinking and Wit in some bizarre fashion, but
you know, it's a true story. It's Delia Efron's memoir
adapted to stage, and it too deals with having a
real challenging illness, in this case cancer again leukemia, but
(16:18):
having gone through it and coming out on the bright
side of life. In other words, she's now cancer free.
She's in love for a second time, having had a
wonderful marriage for many years, and after her husband passed away,
she met another wonderful man. And it was just for
me to do a play about second chances in life
(16:41):
and love, especially for a generation that has not often
served up stories that are relevant on stage, was really
important to me. And so it's funny, but it has
that thread, that sort of woven tapestry that goes from
Year of Magical Thinking, Wit and now to Left on
ten and then Indecent, which is Paulavogel's magnificent, beautiful story
(17:06):
about art through the ages and how art is what
must live to keep our culture alive. Was really quite
an extraordinary experience, and so I guess I loved everything
I do. I would have to retire if I didn't.
But those are some top favorites. I guess to answer.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
The question, well, you know what's amazing, Daryl, I look
at you.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
You really are producing life changing entertainment. Well, that's very
interesting of you to say that. I think people do
come to the theater in the hopes of being entertained first,
but I hope they can leave the theater with something
that really could be life changing. You know, maybe the
way you think about something, or maybe the way you
deal with a challenge in your own life, or maybe
(17:49):
the way you just open up to somebody else that you,
you know, had issues with. I think I don't know.
I'm just so passionate about what theater can do. I
remember talking to Edward Albey, who I was honored to
have produced Three twelve Women and the Goater who is Sylvia,
and just having the opportunity to be in his face
was remarkable, and he used to say to me that
(18:12):
you know, you can do something because you want to
please people, or you can do something because you want
to help people. And I thought, yes, I get that.
I want to do both. I want to please people,
I want to entertain them, and I want to help
them see the world in a different way. I want
them to open up, you know, their hearts, their minds,
not in a spinachy way. I don't mean, but be open.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Edward was a remarkable, remarkable play, right, And I remember
when we did The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? Everyone
would say, oh my god, this is a play about
past reality, and I would say, no, no, no, this
is a play about love. This is a play where Edward,
I believe, is saying the love that you choose is
your personal love that is not up for anybody else's opinion.
(18:57):
It's not the love of a goat, it's just the
love of an other, forbidden love. And you know, things
like that really get into the psyche of the culture.
I believe in ways that shakes some people up and
they bother some people, But more than that, I think
they get people thinking, which is great. It's great. Well,
besides everything you've done professionally, what I've began to adore you.
(19:20):
Was when you came out with that documentary My Dog.
It was so unbelievable. People's connections. Yeah, and you know
the old expression who rescued who? And you? And I
know this all too well. I mean I don't have
human children. I have for children, yeah, but I feel
I love them, I care for them, I need them.
(19:41):
I feel the same way my friends and he needs
their children, you know. So you know that connection I
do well, and I have children. I have children, but
I feel exactly the same way about my dogs. And
you've been so passionate and supportive of animal rescue. Tell
me how that's started in your life, Gerald, Well, I
(20:02):
think it started long ago when I was growing up
in New Jersey. My parents both loved animals so much,
and my father would always somehow come home with rescue dogs.
We always had pure bred Collies that was our family dog, Yes,
and they lived forever, and when they passed on to heaven,
we got another Collie. That was just what it was.
But my dad may he rest in peace, had a
(20:24):
car agency and oftentimes people would come in and they
just like bring animals in and he would say, well,
is this your dog? And they'd say, well, no, I
found this dog on the street, but I know that
you love animals, and they would bring my dad these dogs.
And I'm going back. You know, sixty seventy years nobody
I didn't know about rescue animals. I just knew that
(20:45):
we always had these new family members in the house.
And so I think my love of rescue really began
with my father's kindness and understanding. And I always loved dogs,
and growing up we always had dogs, and when I
was married and had children, there was no question that
I would always have dogs. In fact, when I married
(21:06):
my husband, he was not a dog lover. In fact,
I always loved the story on our first date in
New York over well I married fifty five years. I
can barely believe that I'm saying that, But on our
first date I asked if he would walk the dog
with me around the corner when we got home. Was
late at night in New York City, and he said, no,
I have no interest in that.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
I jumped him. Darryl hit Oh, I totally did. That
was the first and last time I saw him until
about a year later when we were reintroduced, and I said,
how do you feel about dogs these days. Anyway, we
managed to find a common ground, and of course he
loves our dogs now. But I have two dogs now
(21:48):
and my daughter has two dogs. My son I finally
talked into getting a cute little dog for his young
eight year old son. So we're totally a dog family.
But what I find so fulfilling is being able to
connect people with the shelters that you know that I
respect and know and make those connections. I think over
(22:09):
the last year I must have placed about fifteen dogs,
and I mean that gives me the best feeling ever.
I have a lovely gentleman that Bernadette Peters, you know
Broadway Barks. Of course, you know I've supported for a
long time and love Vernon. One of my dogs passed
away and I wanted to rescue a dog, and so
I called Bernadette and I said, you know, you know
all these wonderful shelters, who would you recommend I work with?
(22:31):
And she gave me the name of Bill Smith, whose
organization is outside of Philadelphia called One Love for Animals,
Number one, number four, One Love for Animals. And she
said to me, you're gonna love Bill because he loves theater.
He drives up for Philadelphia once a week to see theater.
I said, he's my guy. I go back many years
(22:52):
with Bill, and you're right about saying it's very important
to know the rescues that you support because you have
to know who you're working for. You have to make
sure that they're in it. It's their life, their oxygen,
like it is for us, because you don't always know
everybody across the country. So I always make sure I
go to visit the groups that I support. But in
(23:14):
the Hampton Southampton Animal Shelter, I've been working on a
campaign the whole year, Homes of the Holidays and after
where I took seventeen underdogs, the seniors, the pits, the
special needs that nobody was adopting, and we have one left.
I've gotten everyone a home and it's such a challenging time. Now,
Dear Allmight, I was able to get reach interview with
(23:34):
this show. Left on tenth is the wonderful Bill Berloni.
You have rescue dogs in this show exactly exactly. That
was totally the way we were going. The story close
for a dog named Honey and a dog named Charlie.
And you know, Bill's wonderful and he's the go to
guy for theaters animals. But he has such a big
(23:55):
heart and I've always admired him. I first met him
around the days of Annie when he was when he
found Sandy, you know, I think that was the probably
the beginning for him too. But he just has a
kind heart. He's wonderful. These two rescues. Actually it's a
funny story, I have to say off the record, maybe,
but maybe it's interesting. The first Honey that we had
(24:17):
was a beautiful blonde mixture of whatever, and she was
in the rehearsal hall with us during our whole rehearsal.
And when we got moved into the theater for tech
and everything seemed fine, and with the first preview audiences,
Honey got a little bit nervous. It was the applause
and the sound of you know, people, and the noise
(24:39):
that wasn't in a quiet, empty rehearsal room, and so
she became a little frightened and nervous. And Bill suggested,
really we should We'll find another rescue. So we like
to say we have our understudy who became a star
in Vanessa Rose is her real name, but she plays
Honey and she's more of a veteran. Bill explained to
us that she had been she had been in Wicked,
(25:01):
so she was used to being on stage and having applause.
It didn't brighten her. And then our adorable Charlie is
also a rescue and he is the funniest, most adorable
dog with a little overbite. I mean, you just fall
in love with these as soon as they walk on stage.
The audience goes, oh ah, you know. And of course
(25:21):
we have the most gorgeous and marvelous talented cast. Everyone
does their curtain call, and when the dogs come out
for their curtain call, it's the loudest standing up a nation,
even a bigger ovation than the stars Julianna Marglei's and
Peter Gallagher gets. They're so good with the dogs, that's
the beauty. In fact, all of our rehearsal time was
spent with Bill, you know, making sure that the dogs
(25:44):
were comfortable with Juliana and Peter and they love them.
At the end of every show, they run into their
dressing rooms and they each give them their little liver
treats or whatever beefy treats they get, and they get
a big hug and a lick and a kiss, and
it's been glorious. You know. Look, there's nothing like a
dog or dog's in this case to lighten your heart
(26:05):
in your life, especially because left on tenth you know
it has a heavy, challenging chapter of the story, and
what it is about is the second chance in life
and love and so being able to give a rescue
dog a second life is also another part in I
think the wonder of display, or just for us personally,
those of us that know these dogs are getting a
(26:26):
second chance. They're Broadway stars. Bill takes them literally, some
off the street literally, and our audience should know that
all of these animals that Bill finds, he keeps for
the rest of their lives in his amazing I call
it Noah's Ark. It's just unbelievable. They are rescued and
loved and taken care of forever, and then they go
(26:48):
on to entertain amazing audiences. Yet, and bless you, Darryl
for understanding the need and the importance of putting these
rescues in the show. I would love to collect break
with you on something for animal welfare. I would be
happy to It would make me really happy to do
something with you about this it's dear to my heart.
I know it's your entire being. You've been so wonderful
(27:11):
about everything and bringing awareness to people about rescuing. And
I've had only the best experiences. And everybody that I
have found a rescue dog, either through Bill or other,
you know, people that I've been in touch with, everyone
has thanked me for the experience. Life changing for them especially,
you know, sometimes it's the first dog they ever had.
(27:33):
Sometimes it's a dog that's you know, coming after the
passing of a long term pet. That's hard. But once
they get ready and then they understand rescuing can be
so much more meaningful, not only for the pup but
for themselves. It's just something beautiful to see and experience.
So I'm I'm available to help you in any way
(27:54):
I can. Well, I have to tell you you are
a true inspiration. You appreciate that. I really appreciate your
kind words for me. If it were up to me,
my life would be about my family, theater, and dogs,
and I would feel complete. That's a perfect way. And Darryl,
thank you so much for this wonderful conversation.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Thank you, and thanks to all of you who tuned
in today to wrap, Report to the Rescue. Let's Talk
Pats every week on demand only on petlife radio dot com.
Live.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
This is Pet Life Radio. Let's talk pets Wrappaport to
the Rescue with award winning animal advocate, best selling author, journalist,
and pet products creator Jill Rappaport. Hi, Welcome to Rappaport
to the Rescue.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
I'm Jill Rappaport, and you know I don't throw the
word legend around lightly.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
But today we have a true legend.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
On the show.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
In the world of theater, Daryl Roth.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Is a thirteen time Tony Award winning Broadway producer and
a visionary genius in American theater, with a career spanning
over so many decades and credited with some of the
most thought provoking productions in.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
The Big Apple and throughout the world.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Daryl Roth also holds the mind boggling distinction of producing
seven Pulitzer Prize winning and among the more than one
hundred and thirty shows to jeav number one hundred and thirty,
she has produced both on and off Broadway.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
She is here today to talk about her.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Latest production called Left on Tenth, based on the wonderful
memoir by dl Yaffron and directed by the incredible and
beloved Susan Stroman.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
And Let's not forget There's even a theater.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Named after her. The Daryl Roth Theater is the landmark
off Broadway Venue.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
On Union Square.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
She is dedicated to supporting a number of nonprofit organizations,
and Daryl Roth has been inducted into the twenty seventeenth
Theater Hall of Fame and named Ukraine's twenty nineteen.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Fifty Most Powerful Women in New York.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
But you know me, guys, why I just had to
get her on Wrap Report to the Rescue is because
this powerhouse producer is also a major animal advocate who
has devoted so much of her life.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And whatever time she had saving animals and need. In fact, I.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Truly fell in love with Darryl, which she came out
with the most amazing documentary called My Dog An Unconditional
Love Story. So when we come back, I am so
thrilled to have the legend Daryl.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Roth on Wrap Aford to the Rescue.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Stay tuned, take a bite out of your competition, advertise
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(02:43):
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Speaker 1 (03:04):
Let's talk past, Let's done Pete.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Radio, Hetline Radio, Petlight radio dot com. Welcome back to
wrappafort to the rescue.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Now, if you've heard all the accoletes, the attributes, all.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
The incredible things my next guest has done, and I
said he is a true legend, and she is here
with us right now. Daryl Roth, I've been wanting to
get you on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I have admired you for decades. You are truly an
unbelievable pioneer in so many areas, and you've really changed
the landscape of Broadway. Oh my god, Dear, that is
the most beautiful introduction a person can hope for. I
just thank you. I appreciate you so much. Thank you
(03:55):
for all that. Well. You are unbelievable because you've never stop.
I mean, it's one thing to have all of these tonies,
to have these odd surprises, to have a theater named
after you. You are unbelievable force of light and energy.
What keeps you going? Ah, thank you for that? Well,
I think perhaps it was the fact that I didn't
(04:18):
really get into this profession until I was in my
mid forties, and so when you start something a little
bit later, I think there's an urgency and there's a
sense of I know, I want to do this. I'm
going to be as tenacious as it takes. I love it,
I'm passionate, I'm dedicated, and I will never give up.
And I think you have a different sense of that
when you start at the middle of your life. And
(04:40):
perhaps that's it, but I mean part of it is
that that's my nature. You know. My nature is to
find something that I love and just do the best
I can at it. And you know you mentioned that
you started in your forties, and I said in my
intro you've been at it and successful for many decades.
That is true. Thing obviously works for you because you
(05:03):
are like Dorian Gray, sweetheart, you are aging backwards. Oh
that is the kindest thing to say. Don't look too close.
And the lighting is lovely, but It's funny you mentioned
Dorian Gray because that's one of the productions I'll be
involved with in March here in New York, having done
it in London with the wonderful Sarah Snook, who everyone
(05:26):
hopefully knows from succession in her wonderful talent. So Dorian
Gray is actually coming up, which is funny that you
referenced it. Dorry and Ray aka Darryl Roth. What you've
done for theater and people that you have focused on
and they flourished under your tutelage, and just working with
(05:46):
you and your productions and the heart and soul that
goes into these it is truly amazing. And what do
you think is about you? I know you started later
in life, but you treat to me and outsider looking in,
it seems like you every new production like it's your
audition tape. That's interesting. I think I feel that every
new production, every new play, every new group of people
(06:08):
that I can, you know, come to work with, It's
like my next family. In a way. I feel that
part of my success, if I may say, is that
I treat everyone as if they are in my family,
with you know, as much respect and dignity and appreciation
as I can, partially because I'm in awe of their
talents and partially because I think people can flourish much
(06:30):
better in an atmosphere that is, you know, one of
love and appreciation. And it's a hard life anyone that
chooses to be in the theater business. I don't mean
as a producer, though that's pretty challenging these days as well,
but people that are artists, they unzip their souls at
every moment, and to me, that's just such a generous
(06:50):
and gracious thing, and I feel it has to be treasured.
It's been the way that I've wanted to offer my
appreciation because I love the art of theater so deeply
and I just am in awe of the people that
are part of it. It's enriched my life and you know,
being able to choose things to produce that I feel
(07:12):
are of value for one reason or another. Either it's
because it's the story that I feel I would love
to share with people. Whether it's about women, whether it's
about gender identity, my Jewish heritage, family dynamics, whatever it is,
it's something that means something to me. And my hope
is that, you know, given the opportunity to share it
(07:32):
with people. It will mean something to them. So that's
what keeps me going. I guess when you think about
during COVID, Broadway shut down, everything shut down and it
went dark literally. Well interesting to mention that, because while
it did go dark and it was devastating to try
to keep everyone afloat literally, we opened up with the
(07:53):
first production off Broadway of a play called Blindness, and
it was remarkable. The reason we were able to do
it is because it was done without any cast. You
had earphones and you heard the words of Juliette Stephenson
telling you this beautiful story. Luckily, I have a theater
that is a very flexible space, and we were able
(08:15):
to see people far enough away from one another in
pairs and with the earphones they had gotten the story directly.
We had every sanitation opportunity taken care of, and people
came together in a way that was so celebratory. It
was the first time a theater opened after COVID, and
(08:37):
part of the story was so breathtaking because it was
actually about an epidemic and it was about a city
that had to just close and find its way. And
at the end of the production, the way it was staged,
we were able to open the doors of the theater, which,
by the way, everyone was sitting in darkness. That was
part of the beauty of it, or I should say
(08:58):
the experience of it. It was dark and you were
listening to these beautiful, melodic words, and then at the
end the doors to our theater opened up onto Union
Square and bright light came in, bright sunlight came in.
It was extraordinary. It was really something great. It was
very powerful, very powerful, and we were lucky because we
(09:18):
were able to do something like that, which you know,
still observed all the COVID protocols. People wore masks, they
didn't sit next to each other, everything was sanitized. I mean,
we were, you know, floating in pure l. It was wonderful.
You know, when looking at your resume, all of the Tonys,
all of the shows, the awards, it's like asking you
(09:40):
which child is your favorite? But I have to ask you,
of all of the shows, is there one that really
resonates with your heart the most? You're right, it's hard
to choose. It's you know, because you love all the
children in equal measure. But if I could limit it
to just a few and not one that made a
huge difference not only in my life, but in the
(10:01):
lives of the people that got to experience it. I
would say Kinky Boots was a really big one for me,
primarily because it was based on a film that I
saw at the Sundance Institute many years ago, and as
I was sitting there watching it, I hadn't really thought
about theater. I was just there as a Sundance board member,
and the name, you know, interested me. I said, Pinky Boots,
(10:25):
what could that be. I'm going to go see that
film having no knowledge of it. And I sat there
thinking to myself, this is like piercing my heart. This
is a story that has everything I want to tell,
everything that was important to me. It was about being
true to yourself. It was about being honorable and respectful
of other people that were different than you. It was
(10:46):
about being you know, celebratory in life against all odds. Well,
I got out of there at the mountaintop that I
was in, and this is so many years ago that
the cell phone that I borrowed was like probably way
ten pounds, and I screamed into the book Antana and
there was no self service in the middle of Utah.
(11:06):
At the time. Anyway, I managed to reach my son Jordan,
and I said, Jordan, I have just had an unbelievable experience.
I have to get the rights for this little movie
named Kinky Boots. I'm going to be in Utah for
a few more days. I saw that one of the
producers of the film was Disney. Please please call Tom
Schumacher and say, my mom is crazy in Utah. She's
(11:29):
got to get the rights for Kinky Boots. Well, that
wasn't so easy. It did take quite a few years
because it had to be It was a combination in
Miramax Disney Film, and they had to decide who would
end up with the theater rights. Now, fortunately for me,
Disney decided it was not a family musical, which I
think curiously it ended up being quite a wonderful family
(11:52):
musical because of the lessons and the message. But in
the beginning it was Kinky Boots, which you know, with
drag queens, so that was not so easy to peg
as a family musical. It turned out, after all these
many years of presenting it that it brought more families
together and acted as a way a catalyst for people
to talk to their parents, especially if they were coming
(12:14):
out or if they were trying to just express themselves
differently than their families you know, had expected or predicted.
So in fact, it was a gorgeous message. But that
to me made such a difference in the world, and
it also gave Cyndi Lauper her first opportunity to write
a musical. I've always been a fan of hers, especially
because of her you know, women centric music, and to
(12:38):
work with Harvey Feierstein and Jerry Mitchell. It was just
a one fabulous from the beginning to the end. And
because I was involved in you know, such a complete way,
I felt as though everything that I cared about was
writing on this. So happily it turned out to be successful,
and in a very competitive year it did win the
Tony but more than that, it won the hearts of
(13:01):
so many people, and it's still done all over the world.
I think it's been in Korea four times, in Japan,
and I mean it's about the message, and it's a
message that never gets stale, and that is be true
to yourself, be kind to others, do your thing.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Just be.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
That's one of the big songs, Just Be.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
We want to be.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Live your life with dignity, and to me, you know,
I'd have to put that at the top of my list.
While absolutely and besides changing lives, I know you must
believe that they probably saved lives. I would go so
far as to say that, yes, I would. I know
how difficult it is for young people to you know,
come out to their families, and how it's a devastating,
(13:42):
sadly situation for some people who feel they never can.
And I know that we got many letters and people
saying to us how having the experience of going to
the theater with their child, with their son, with their daughter,
and then being able to talk about things more openly
and more freely and more honestly was actually the key
to unlocked. That was watching Kinky Boots. That's remarkable. All
(14:06):
so that's on my list for sure. I'm so proud
of it, and I'm also very proud of some of
the other shows in different ways. For example, I did
the revival of Larry Kramer's Normal Heart and after twenty
five years, you know, I saw it twenty five years
before we produced the revival, And that too, in a
similar way to Kinky Boots, made people realize how much
(14:31):
there is to do in the world that can make
a difference and can help you know. I was very
excited to do the production because it was speaking to
a younger generation on whose shoulders they stood, but they
didn't really know the story, and that brought it to
light in such a glorious way. So many young people
started volunteering for GMHC or God's Love We Deliver A
(14:52):
million doors were open to these people that were inspired
by seeing Larry Kramer's play. I liked to say it
was his righteous rage, and righteous rage to me, is
really valuable in our society, especially today. So I put
that up in the top of the list. And I
would also add, if I might, I know your question
(15:14):
was do you have one child? But I don't, I
would put the play with and I would put the
play Indecent as part of my top tier because WIT
was a play that nobody else wanted to tackle. It
was a play about a woman living with obarian cancer
one woman show Kathleen Chalfont, if you remember, and then
(15:35):
Judith Light brilliantly took over the role and it opened
up so many wonderful conversations among medical professionals, survivors, caregivers.
It was just an open dialogue about the cancer that
nobody wanted to talk about in those days. You know,
we called it the C word. Which is so interesting
because now as we speak, I'm doing a play called
(15:57):
Left on Tenth. It's kind of the book end. Often
thought that Left on Tenth is the child of Year
of Magical Thinking and Wit in some bizarre fashion, but
you know, it's a true story. It's Delia Efron's memoir
adapted to stage, and it too deals with having a
real challenging illness, in this case cancer again leukemia, but
(16:18):
having gone through it and coming out on the bright
side of life. In other words, she's now cancer free.
She's in love for a second time, having had a
wonderful marriage for many years, and after her husband passed away,
she met another wonderful man. And it was just for
me to do a play about second chances in life
(16:41):
and love, especially for a generation that has not often
served up stories that are relevant on stage, was really
important to me. And so it's funny, but it has
that thread, that sort of woven tapestry that goes from
Year of Magical Thinking, Wit and now to Left on
ten and then Indecent, which is Paulavogel's magnificent, beautiful story
(17:06):
about art through the ages and how art is what
must live to keep our culture alive. Was really quite
an extraordinary experience, and so I guess I loved everything
I do. I would have to retire if I didn't.
But those are some top favorites. I guess to answer.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
The question, well, you know what's amazing, Daryl, I look
at you.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
You really are producing life changing entertainment. Well, that's very
interesting of you to say that. I think people do
come to the theater in the hopes of being entertained first,
but I hope they can leave the theater with something
that really could be life changing. You know, maybe the
way you think about something, or maybe the way you
deal with a challenge in your own life, or maybe
(17:49):
the way you just open up to somebody else that you,
you know, had issues with. I think I don't know.
I'm just so passionate about what theater can do. I
remember talking to Edward Albey, who I was honored to
have produced Three twelve Women and the Goater who is Sylvia,
and just having the opportunity to be in his face
was remarkable, and he used to say to me that
(18:12):
you know, you can do something because you want to
please people, or you can do something because you want
to help people. And I thought, yes, I get that.
I want to do both. I want to please people,
I want to entertain them, and I want to help
them see the world in a different way. I want
them to open up, you know, their hearts, their minds,
not in a spinachy way. I don't mean, but be open.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Edward was a remarkable, remarkable play, right, And I remember
when we did The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? Everyone
would say, oh my god, this is a play about
past reality, and I would say, no, no, no, this
is a play about love. This is a play where Edward,
I believe, is saying the love that you choose is
your personal love that is not up for anybody else's opinion.
(18:57):
It's not the love of a goat, it's just the
love of an other, forbidden love. And you know, things
like that really get into the psyche of the culture.
I believe in ways that shakes some people up and
they bother some people, But more than that, I think
they get people thinking, which is great. It's great. Well,
besides everything you've done professionally, what I've began to adore you.
(19:20):
Was when you came out with that documentary My Dog.
It was so unbelievable. People's connections. Yeah, and you know
the old expression who rescued who? And you? And I
know this all too well. I mean I don't have
human children. I have for children, yeah, but I feel
I love them, I care for them, I need them.
(19:41):
I feel the same way my friends and he needs
their children, you know. So you know that connection I
do well, and I have children. I have children, but
I feel exactly the same way about my dogs. And
you've been so passionate and supportive of animal rescue. Tell
me how that's started in your life, Gerald, Well, I
(20:02):
think it started long ago when I was growing up
in New Jersey. My parents both loved animals so much,
and my father would always somehow come home with rescue dogs.
We always had pure bred Collies that was our family dog, Yes,
and they lived forever, and when they passed on to heaven,
we got another Collie. That was just what it was.
But my dad may he rest in peace, had a
(20:24):
car agency and oftentimes people would come in and they
just like bring animals in and he would say, well,
is this your dog? And they'd say, well, no, I
found this dog on the street, but I know that
you love animals, and they would bring my dad these dogs.
And I'm going back. You know, sixty seventy years nobody
I didn't know about rescue animals. I just knew that
(20:45):
we always had these new family members in the house.
And so I think my love of rescue really began
with my father's kindness and understanding. And I always loved dogs,
and growing up we always had dogs, and when I
was married and had children, there was no question that
I would always have dogs. In fact, when I married
(21:06):
my husband, he was not a dog lover. In fact,
I always loved the story on our first date in
New York over well I married fifty five years. I
can barely believe that I'm saying that, But on our
first date I asked if he would walk the dog
with me around the corner when we got home. Was
late at night in New York City, and he said, no,
I have no interest in that.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
I jumped him. Darryl hit Oh, I totally did. That
was the first and last time I saw him until
about a year later when we were reintroduced, and I said,
how do you feel about dogs these days. Anyway, we
managed to find a common ground, and of course he
loves our dogs now. But I have two dogs now
(21:48):
and my daughter has two dogs. My son I finally
talked into getting a cute little dog for his young
eight year old son. So we're totally a dog family.
But what I find so fulfilling is being able to
connect people with the shelters that you know that I
respect and know and make those connections. I think over
(22:09):
the last year I must have placed about fifteen dogs,
and I mean that gives me the best feeling ever.
I have a lovely gentleman that Bernadette Peters, you know
Broadway Barks. Of course, you know I've supported for a
long time and love Vernon. One of my dogs passed
away and I wanted to rescue a dog, and so
I called Bernadette and I said, you know, you know
all these wonderful shelters, who would you recommend I work with?
(22:31):
And she gave me the name of Bill Smith, whose
organization is outside of Philadelphia called One Love for Animals,
Number one, number four, One Love for Animals. And she
said to me, you're gonna love Bill because he loves theater.
He drives up for Philadelphia once a week to see theater.
I said, he's my guy. I go back many years
(22:52):
with Bill, and you're right about saying it's very important
to know the rescues that you support because you have
to know who you're working for. You have to make
sure that they're in it. It's their life, their oxygen,
like it is for us, because you don't always know
everybody across the country. So I always make sure I
go to visit the groups that I support. But in
(23:14):
the Hampton Southampton Animal Shelter, I've been working on a
campaign the whole year, Homes of the Holidays and after
where I took seventeen underdogs, the seniors, the pits, the
special needs that nobody was adopting, and we have one left.
I've gotten everyone a home and it's such a challenging time. Now,
Dear Allmight, I was able to get reach interview with
(23:34):
this show. Left on tenth is the wonderful Bill Berloni.
You have rescue dogs in this show exactly exactly. That
was totally the way we were going. The story close
for a dog named Honey and a dog named Charlie.
And you know, Bill's wonderful and he's the go to
guy for theaters animals. But he has such a big
(23:55):
heart and I've always admired him. I first met him
around the days of Annie when he was when he
found Sandy, you know, I think that was the probably
the beginning for him too. But he just has a
kind heart. He's wonderful. These two rescues. Actually it's a
funny story, I have to say off the record, maybe,
but maybe it's interesting. The first Honey that we had
(24:17):
was a beautiful blonde mixture of whatever, and she was
in the rehearsal hall with us during our whole rehearsal.
And when we got moved into the theater for tech
and everything seemed fine, and with the first preview audiences,
Honey got a little bit nervous. It was the applause
and the sound of you know, people, and the noise
(24:39):
that wasn't in a quiet, empty rehearsal room, and so
she became a little frightened and nervous. And Bill suggested,
really we should We'll find another rescue. So we like
to say we have our understudy who became a star
in Vanessa Rose is her real name, but she plays
Honey and she's more of a veteran. Bill explained to
us that she had been she had been in Wicked,
(25:01):
so she was used to being on stage and having applause.
It didn't brighten her. And then our adorable Charlie is
also a rescue and he is the funniest, most adorable
dog with a little overbite. I mean, you just fall
in love with these as soon as they walk on stage.
The audience goes, oh ah, you know. And of course
(25:21):
we have the most gorgeous and marvelous talented cast. Everyone
does their curtain call, and when the dogs come out
for their curtain call, it's the loudest standing up a nation,
even a bigger ovation than the stars Julianna Marglei's and
Peter Gallagher gets. They're so good with the dogs, that's
the beauty. In fact, all of our rehearsal time was
spent with Bill, you know, making sure that the dogs
(25:44):
were comfortable with Juliana and Peter and they love them.
At the end of every show, they run into their
dressing rooms and they each give them their little liver
treats or whatever beefy treats they get, and they get
a big hug and a lick and a kiss, and
it's been glorious. You know. Look, there's nothing like a
dog or dog's in this case to lighten your heart
(26:05):
in your life, especially because left on tenth you know
it has a heavy, challenging chapter of the story, and
what it is about is the second chance in life
and love and so being able to give a rescue
dog a second life is also another part in I
think the wonder of display, or just for us personally,
those of us that know these dogs are getting a
(26:26):
second chance. They're Broadway stars. Bill takes them literally, some
off the street literally, and our audience should know that
all of these animals that Bill finds, he keeps for
the rest of their lives in his amazing I call
it Noah's Ark. It's just unbelievable. They are rescued and
loved and taken care of forever, and then they go
(26:48):
on to entertain amazing audiences. Yet, and bless you, Darryl
for understanding the need and the importance of putting these
rescues in the show. I would love to collect break
with you on something for animal welfare. I would be
happy to It would make me really happy to do
something with you about this it's dear to my heart.
I know it's your entire being. You've been so wonderful
(27:11):
about everything and bringing awareness to people about rescuing. And
I've had only the best experiences. And everybody that I
have found a rescue dog, either through Bill or other,
you know, people that I've been in touch with, everyone
has thanked me for the experience. Life changing for them especially,
you know, sometimes it's the first dog they ever had.
(27:33):
Sometimes it's a dog that's you know, coming after the
passing of a long term pet. That's hard. But once
they get ready and then they understand rescuing can be
so much more meaningful, not only for the pup but
for themselves. It's just something beautiful to see and experience.
So I'm I'm available to help you in any way
(27:54):
I can. Well, I have to tell you you are
a true inspiration. You appreciate that. I really appreciate your
kind words for me. If it were up to me,
my life would be about my family, theater, and dogs,
and I would feel complete. That's a perfect way. And Darryl,
thank you so much for this wonderful conversation.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Thank you, and thanks to all of you who tuned
in today to wrap, Report to the Rescue. Let's Talk
Pats every week on demand only on petlife radio dot com.
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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