F. Murray Abraham on the Thrill of Live Theater

Host Christine Nagy sits down with Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham, now starring alongside Kristin Chenoweth in The Queen of Versailles at the St. James Theatre. From his storied career and love for comedy to the challenges of eight shows a week, Abraham shares behind-the-scenes stories, heartfelt reflections, and what makes this bold new musical a timely and thrilling Broadway experience.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
iHeartRadio Broadway presents Inside Broadway, the podcast about Everything Theater.
It's where you hear what happens from the ticket window
to the stage door, with the stars and creative forces
that make it all come alive. Here's your host, light
FMS Christine Nagy.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Well, hey, and welcome to you Inside Broadway. I'm Christine Nagy.
Today we have a real treat joining us as one
of the most iconic actors of our time. Academy Award
winner f Murray Abraham and of course you know him
from his Unforgettable role in Amadeus, has acclaim work on TV,
so many incredible magical stage performances, and now he is

(00:43):
back on Broadway alongside Kristin Chenoweth in The Queen of Versailles.
It's playing at the Saint James Theater. It's a brand
new musical dives into ambition, wealth the Price of Chasing
the American Dream. It's inspired by Lauren Greenfield's award winning
documentary and tells the story of Jackie and David Siegel
as they set out to build the largest private home

(01:04):
in America, a one hundred million dollar palace modeled after Versailles.
Just as the two thousand and eight financial crisis threatens
to bring it all crashing down. We've got music by
Stephen Schwartz, a book by Lindsay Farentino, direction by Michael Arden.
The show is absolutely dazzling. I saw it. It's wonderful.
It's also a cautionary tale. And f Mary Abraham is

(01:26):
at the center of it all and he's with us
here today. Welcome. It's so nice to meet you.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
Hi. Thanks. I'm not quite at the center. I think
it's Christien's the center. You can say that I am
her powerful support.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Yes, you do bring her to where she sits on
her throne. You get her into that position your character.
David Siegel tell us how this show found you? Where
you found the show.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
It's just one of those things, those show business stories.
You never know really how these things come about, because
it's a mystery. You know, they think about you or
they don't. And it happens that Stephen and I a
long time ago, happened to work on children's musicals for
ten bucks. A show. He was playing the piano and

(02:12):
I was singing. It was a thing called Young Abe Lincoln.
That's not why I'm in this show now. It's just
one of those coincidences. But my point is you can't
really how do you fall in love with someone? You know,
it's like it happens or it doesn't happen. And that's
what happened with the show. And I've fallen in love

(02:34):
with with Kristen. She's easy to love.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, she's wonderful. You're fantastic in it. You guys are
playing characters based on real people, and when you watch
this documentary you have to say, it's hard to like
them and some of the choices that they're making in
their lives. How did you feel about David Siegel in particular?

Speaker 3 (02:56):
Well, I met them both a couple of times, and
what they have was her extraordinary charisma, and his attachment
to her was real. You could see it. He you know,
you got to be got to be a tough guy
to be able to make a billion dollars from nothing,
and he's tough. But I think she changed his life

(03:21):
and I think it showed when I saw them. That's
what allowed me enabled me to do the performance because
it was his love for her which made him more
human than just a money making machine. Right.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
And I think again that's what you have to find
because there must be a way that you find his
heart and vulnerability exactly. And did you feel empathy for
him as well?

Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yeah, because well, well I knew him. He was not
feeling very well son. You empathize with people who are
not well. But I he's so representative of something that
is so sick in America and the capitalism. Basically, it's
so selfish. It seems like there are too few people

(04:08):
who have all the money. I mean, we're all talking
about it lately, but it's really very it's endemic now
more than ever before. And I think it's strong. It's
morally wrong. I mean, you know, really, it's the richest
country in the world and we don't have a free
healthcare system. I mean that's ridiculous. Yeah, it's not a
healthcare industry. It's a health don't care industry. As far

(04:29):
as I'm concerned.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
I think that's what I was referring to with the documentary.
That made it difficult for me so like them because
as we're saying so much for so few, and it
felt especially towards the beginning. I know they've had their
tragedy in life as well, but especially in the beginning,
they were just so self involved, and yeah, it seems wasteful.

(04:52):
It just seemed wasteful.

Speaker 3 (04:54):
It seems reflective of the society, don't you think.

Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah, unfortunately, Yeah.

Speaker 3 (05:00):
That's in the old terms. It's an important piece of work.
That's why I'm surprised it's not it's not landing well
with critics. I don't know why they missed that. It's
very important, I think. And also it's fun. Let's make
that point.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
I know, we have to. We have to bring that
in there too, because you've got original music, you have
an amazing cast. I mean, it's got to be incredible.
Working with Kristin Chadwick fabulous.

Speaker 3 (05:23):
But it's a wonderful company altogether. It's hard to believe
that twenty three people get along so well together what
we do.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
And Stephen Schwarz, who wrote the score for Wicked, has
written the score for this as well.

Speaker 3 (05:38):
Correct, that's right, and uh, that's I think that's been
running for twenty two years. Yeah, it's it's it's lovely music,
it really is.

Speaker 2 (05:48):
It's beautiful. So tell me what what it takes for
you to do these shows? Eight eight shows a week?
Correct for you?

Speaker 3 (05:55):
Oh no, that's that's that's our that's our business. That's
what we do.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
So you love it.

Speaker 3 (05:59):
That's kind. Yeah, it's expected, it's okay, it's not a problem.
The Doden the idea that that Kristen can do it,
and she's on stage perhaps ninety percent of the time.
That's astonishing. And she does it. She delivers every time.
I can't say enough about her. I just I really
fell in love with her.

Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah, she is incredible. How is she feeling about her role?
Did she fall in love with her character?

Speaker 3 (06:21):
She's she's a pro. She's terrific. She delivers every every
single time, eight times a week. It's a real pleasure
we have. Really, you can't believe it. I think she's
the best entertainer in America. Absolutely.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
Oh she's wonderful. There is like no doubt about that.
I think we were all standing up and applauding for
all of you, as you said, wonderful cast. There's a
there's this rumor that you always hide your oscar on
a set. Is it? Is it somewhere on that stage
of Queen of Verseilles.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
It's for the it's to surprise the people in the cast.
The audience can't see it. It's it's for us and
it's like they hide it in different places on the set.
It's just a fun thing.

Speaker 2 (07:03):
It's a little like Elf on the shelf and it's moving.
So you've had such an extraordinary career, you know, TV film.
Is there a character if you had to that you
would say, well, that's my favorite or I would love
to do that again.

Speaker 3 (07:19):
Well, there are many I've done that I like a
lot of I don't like, but I love doing Shylock.
He was great, and I like my king Lear. But
my favorite character, I suppose is was Bottom in Midsummer
Night's Dream. But I've done a lot of Terrace McNally's
plays too, and it was a character called Chris in

(07:40):
the Ritz, which was a lot of fun. I like
to make people laugh, and I think I tend toward
that anyway. I've had some good luck and had some
characters I didn't want to play, but you know, you
commit yourself and then it's what I'm saying is it's
been a very varied career and I'm pretty lucky.

Speaker 2 (08:03):
Oh you're wonderful. And going back to Saliary with Amadeus,
of course, did you find that for a while there
are people were just kind of seeing you as the
heavy and hear you saying you love comedy and you
want to bring that to us as well.

Speaker 3 (08:15):
Oh yeah, it was always that's what happens. They cast
to when I did the risk, that was a very
outrageous homosexual, a gay man, and so for a year
that's all I was offered was gay parts. I guess
that's a compliment. You know, they think that you really
are that character, but no, you do what you do.
It's it's great to be offered work, whatever the heck

(08:37):
it is.

Speaker 2 (08:38):
And this show running through January fourth, We absolutely encourage
everybody to see it while they can. How do you
feel audiences are walking away from it?

Speaker 3 (08:46):
What is the response to having a wonderful time? They're
just they seem to be the cheering, they're standing, they
had a good time. It's a it's so rewarding, it's
a it's a delight. I'm sorry closing it's too bad.

Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah, we'd like to see it running longer too, but
again we'll make sure that we can get the tickets
in by January fourth. So this is such a pleasure.
F Murray Abraham. What we like to do is, if
you don't mind, we'll take a breather. We'll take a
little break here and then we'd like to go behind
the scenes and just kind of find out what happens

(09:21):
for you backstage if you have a longer moments, so
stay with us on Inside Broadway. We'll be right back
with F. Murray Abraham, and we're back and welcome to
Behind the Scenes, the place where we turn off the
stage lights and uncover what truly drives Broadway's most remarkable talents.

(09:42):
Today we're joined by legendary Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham,
who brings David Siegel to life in the Queen of Versailles,
currently playing at the Saint James Theater. And we love
giving listeners a glimpse into the personal side of performance.
So to F Abraham, can you tell us do you
have any pre show rituals? Are there any superstitions before

(10:05):
you go on stage? Anything you must do well?

Speaker 3 (10:09):
There are certain things you don't do. You don't whistle,
That's something that I really adamant about. You don't quote
anything from the Scottish play, as we say, But otherwise
I always stretch. I do some stretch, weights, weightlifting, and

(10:30):
I do vocalizing every performance It's a good ritual because
it reminds me of you know, what I can do
my body, my voice. I think everyone, every actor should
do it.

Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yeah. Absolutely. What are some of your biggest inspirations in
the theater world.

Speaker 3 (10:48):
Oh, originally it was Lawrence Olivier was an inspiration. I
loved Gielgood, and then I discovered that American actors have
a different energy, and I'm much more positive energy, unselfish energy.
So I began to love what Brando did. He really

(11:10):
changed my life. Brando was my final my inspiration.

Speaker 2 (11:13):
Oh, that's amazing. Did you ever work with him?

Speaker 3 (11:17):
No, Unfortunately, I never even met him. I have some
of his furniture in my house. There was an auction
of his stuff and I bought some stuff with his
because I really, I really adored him.

Speaker 2 (11:28):
That's incredible. I love that. The best piece of advice
you've received in your career.

Speaker 3 (11:37):
If you don't love it, get out. But the other
thing is, if, yeah, if you don't love it, I
mean really love it, you shouldn't do it because it's it'll,
it's nasty, this business, it's hard, so suck it up
or get out.

Speaker 2 (11:55):
Something about a theater performer that we might not realize.

Speaker 3 (12:01):
The obligation to those people who have paid to watch
you work insists that you give everything you can at
every single performance. Whatever you've gone through, whatever your problems are,
don't forget what your obligation is. It's to those people

(12:21):
and to the and to the material.

Speaker 2 (12:24):
And we see you doing that for sure. And last question,
if we peaked at your playlist right now, Broadway or otherwise,
what songs would we find? What inspires you?

Speaker 3 (12:34):
Oh? I love the stuff from Guys and Dolls, and
there's a there's some stuff really, there's a great song
in Wicked and Geeve Godspell. I'm naming a couple of
pieces by Stephen that he wrote. I mean, he's wonderful working.

(12:57):
I'm an old fashioned guy. I also like some great
stuff from Rogers and Amerston. It goes on and on.
What can I tell you, I'm a sucker, Yeah at all.

Speaker 2 (13:08):
You're definitely a Broadway guy for sure.

Speaker 3 (13:11):
Well.

Speaker 2 (13:11):
F Murray Abraham, this has been a pleasure. Thank you
so much for taking us behind the scenes. Here on
Inside Broadway. You can catch F. Murray Abraham and The
Queen of Versailles, now playing at the Saint James Theater
for tickets, visit Queenaversailles Musical dot com. Please do that
before January fourth, and thank you for listening. Be sure
to follow at iHeartRadio Broadway on your favorite social platforms.

(13:33):
Check out the iHeartRadio Broadway channel to stream your favorite
Broadway hits free on the iHeartRadio app and add it
to your presets. And keep the magic of Broadway with
you wherever you go. Once again, f Murray Abraham, thank
you such a pleasure to meet you. I'm Christine Nagy.
We'll see you next time on Inside Broadway.