Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with veteran actress Patricia Conolly, who has appeared in over 30 Broadway shows. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including acting with Laurence Olivier in THE BROKEN HEART, a note Tom Stoppard gave her during THE COAST OF UTOPIA, playing for Lauren Bacall in WAITING IN THE WINGS, understanding her part in THE HEIRESS, a mystical experience taking over for Geraldine Page in BLITHE SPIRIT, working with the APA company on YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, a kind gesture from Aaron Sorkin during TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, what Tony Randall asked her during JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG, using an accent for THE FRONT PAGE, having dinner with Tennessee Williams, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation with a true theater legend.
So excited to be working with Broadway legend D’Jamin Bartlett and Mark Bornfield on Nightclub! Get your in-person and livestream tickets for The Green Room 42 on May 20!
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Broadway director and choreographer Danny Mefford, whose productions of SPELLING BEE and BIGFOOT are currently playing off-Broadway. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including identifying the central arc in SPELLING BEE, his journey with staging THE SOUND OF MUSIC, the secret to the success of DEAR EVAN HANSEN, being confused for Ben Platt, staging “Ring of Keys” in FUN HOME, making his Broadway debut with BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, working with child actors, the problem with the story of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, staging rollerskating in KIMBERLY AKIMBO, making his directorial debut with SHREK, developing MISS YOU LIKE HELL out of town, collaborating with Michael Friedman on LOVE’S LABOR’S LOST, acting at Williamstown Theater Festival, and so much more. Don’t miss this candid conversation with one of Broadway’s best.
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with three-time Tony nominee Linda Emond, who is currently starring in BECKY SHAW. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her winding road to her Broadway debut in 1776, working with Mike Nichols and Philip Seymour Hoffman on DEATH OF A SALESMAN, why she initially said no to CABARET, having a role written for her in IHO, performing Tony Kushner’s monologue HOMEBODY, workshopping THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING, co-starring with Brent Spiner in LIFE X 3, developing the musical OVER AND OVER, reviving A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY, what draws her to a project, and so much more. Don’t miss this candid conversation with one of Broadway’s best.
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with visionary director Sam Gold. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how Alan Rickman got him his Broadway directing debut with SEMINAR, acting as a college student in THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, adapting a graphic novel to the stage with FUN HOME, his approach to revivals, staging Shakespeare after the pandemic, his visual concept for THE BLACK EYED, working with a differently abled actor on CORSICANA, exploring sleeplessness in MACBETH, the central scene in AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, the difficulty of collaborating with ˝Glenda Jackson on KING LEAR, modulating the humor in ANGRY ALAN, casting ROMEO + JULIET, bringing THE GLASS MENAGERIE from the Netherlands to Broadway, why staging Annie Baker’s plays is like choreography, modulating silences in CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, and so much more. Don’t miss this thoughtful conversation with a true genius.
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with two-time Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega, who is currently starring in THE ADDING MACHINE at The New Group. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the relevance of Elmer Rice’s play, gaining early stardom with RENT, identifying with Magenta in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, working with Philip Seymour Hoffman on JACK GOES BOATING, starring on screen in SMASH, being directed by Emily Mann in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, finding her take on Fantine in LES MISERABLES, and so much more. Don’t miss this entertaining conversation with one of Broadway’s best.
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-nominated composer, lyricist, and librettist Laurence O’Keefe, author of the musical HEATHERS, which is currently playing at New World Stages. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including developing BAT BOY at the Actors’ Gang, revising the show for productions at Harvard and Encores!, deconstructing the title song of LEGALLY BLONDE, what he learned from the Hasty Pudding Show, what Lorne Michaels says about high school musicals, why he initially said no to HEATHERS, doing musical research for the show, making the film effective for modern audiences, what he learned from Annie Tippe, crafting a uniquely American story with HUZZAH!, why musical theater is inherently preachy, writing harmony for “Seventeen,” looking for moments to musicalize, performing cut songs at Birdland, casting the role of Elle Woods, working with Hal Prince on THE MICE, premiering THE LIFE OF THE PARTY at LaGuardia, why he cut “Blue,” his favorite compositional principles, working with David Shiner and Cirque Du Soleil, his new project involving Fado music, and so much more. Don’t miss this masterclass in musical theater writing with one of the best in the business.
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-nominated writer and director Tina Landau. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including conceiving the SPONGEBOB musical, how she decided to bring in multiple pop artists to write the score, meeting Adam Guettel at Yale, developing REDWOOD with Idina Menzel, how the concept for that musical evolved, how that show reflected a personal tragedy, the two plays she wrote as a child, what she writes on casting sheets, researching FLOYD COLLINS, what she takes from Athol Fugard and Hal Prince, what attracted her to BELLS ARE RINGING, building music into MOTHER PLAY, how she found the Viewpoints method, how Anne Bogart changed her view of theater, how she joined Steppenwolf, having actors generate movement, creating OLD HATS with Bill Irwin and David Shiner, the emotional experience of directing THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, what she would like to work on next, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation with one of Broadway’s best.
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with star of stage and screen Jonathan Cake, who is currently starring in DEATH OF A SALESMAN. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including his collaboration with Fiona Shaw on MEDEA, touring as a young actor with the National Youth Theater, how he first encountered DEATH OF A SALESMAN, bringing Tennessee Williams’ BABY DOLL to the stage, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, how AND JUST LIKE THAT changed the way he dresses, working with an American company on CYMBELINE, why he turned down RICHARD III, a memorable incident while performing DOUBT, what he thinks about onstage intimacy, changing his look for THE PHILANTHROPIST, what he’s learned from his podcast STAGE DOOR JONNY, working with Ethan Coen on ALMOST AN EVENING, performing in the Globe Theatre, starring in FUENTE OVEJUNA after the pandemic, balancing being a father with being an actor, the challenges of starring in CORIOLANUS in the Park, and so much more. Don’t miss this thoughtful conversation with a master craftsman.
I am so sad to hear of the passing of Broadway legend Sondra Lee. Sondra was a wonderful friend and mentor, and could give inspiring advice like no one else. So many things could be said to celebrate her extraordinary life in the theater, but I thought I would share some lessons I learned from her:
1. (First and foremost) the importance of creating a community of artists within your generation. She would tell me about her friendships with Marlon Brando, James Baldwin, Jack Kerouac, and other luminaries and emphasize that forming a group of like-minded artists, inside and outside of theater, could be the secret to making seismic change. She continued to foster this community throughout her life, and I felt lucky to be a part of it.
2. To always have an answer to the question “what do you want to do next?”
3. To use chopsticks: the pair she sent me in the mail is an all-time treasure.
4. To think outside the box: the last time we talked, she was explaining an idea she had for a way to bring international cabaret stars to the United States—even into her 90s, she was always thinking about ways to elevate performers and the art of theater. She loved Stereophonic, she loved Ocean Vuong, she was passionate about anything and anyone she saw as moving the art form forward.
Once, at a gathering, she pulled me aside to say “the other older people here are stuck in their ways, and they don’t understand how things can develop. It’s up to you now to be creative, and to carry it forward.” I think of her advice often, and will try my best to honor it.
Thank you, Sondra Lee, for your generosity, your kindness, and your extraordinary impact.
Today, I’m thrilled to announce two Backstage Babble shorts: conversations with legendary artists that, for whatever reason, didn’t last as long as full episodes. For this special episode, it is an honor to welcome producer and theater owner Rocco Landesman, and Tony winner Tony Shalhoub, who is currently starring in Antigone (This Play I Read in High School) at the Public Theater. Don’t miss these fascinating talks with two of Broadway’s most brilliant minds.
So excited to be working with a cast of extraordinarily talented young singers on “Broadway’s Future Sings Its Past” at @54below ! Don’t miss your chance to see these rising stars!
