Podcast
Backstage Babble
Hosted by cbroadwaypodcast · EN
A new podcast interviewing professionals in the theater industry about themselves, their careers, and the people they’ve worked with along the way.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Jeremy Shamos
3d ago01:22:11Tap to summarizeToday, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony nominee Jeremy Shamos, who will be starring in the newly announced revival of Awake and Sing. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the experience of starring in the controversial CORPUS CHRISTI, experimenting with comedy with Steve Martin during METEOR SHOWER, being Tony nominated for CLYBOURNE PARK, participating in several readings of HERE WE ARE, making his debut in CYMBELINE, dancing in the all-male FORUM, working with Meryl Streep on ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, the joys of W.S. Gilbert’s ENGAGED, figuring out the timing of GUTENBERG and NOISES OFF, rehearsing with Al Pacino for GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, the potential prequel to IF I FORGET, what he learned from 100 SAINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW, and so much more. Don’t miss this candid conversation with a veteran actor.
Transcribe →Sarah Ruhl
1w ago00:55:47Tap to summarizeToday, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with legendary playwright Sarah Ruhl. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her experience breaking the fourth wall in EURYDICE, telling her own story in LETTERS FROM MAX, watching the audience response to IN THE NEXT ROOM, teaching at the Yale School of Drama, addressing addiction in BECKY NURSE OF SALEM, exploring Virginia Woolf’s portrayal of gender in ORLANDO, the advice she got from Paula Vogel, doing research to create the three parts of PASSION PLAY, exploring Chekhov’s writing when adapting THE THREE SISTERS, how a writing exercise led to HOW TO TRANSCEND A HAPPY MARRIAGE, passing the torch to Philip Howze, turning MELANCHOLY PLAY into a musical, telling a metatheatrical story in STAGE KISS, and so much more. Don’t miss this wide-ranging conversation with a brilliant writer.
Transcribe →Michael Hayden
2w ago01:01:05Tap to summarizeToday, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony nominee Michael Hayden. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the real questions asked by CAROUSEL, finding his singing voice for the role, why he decided to leave CABARET, getting advice from Edward Albee during THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE, playing two roles in ALL MY SONS, what Stephen Sondheim told him during MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, working at Trader Joe’s during the pandemic, why he had trouble memorizing his lines for THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, the lessons he learned at Juilliard, acting opposite Maximilian Schell in JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG, joining HENRY IV during rehearsals, the intensity of performing in FESTEN, playing Roy Cohn in the first production of ANGELS IN AMERICA, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation with a veteran actor.
Transcribe →Deirdre O'Connell
3w ago01:30:23Tap to summarizeToday, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winner Deirdre O’Connell, who is currently starring in Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare in the Park. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the intensive process of learning DANA H, her harrowing Broadway debut in THE FRONT PAGE, what she learned from Geraldine Page on AGNES OF GOD, doing research for MAGIC/BIRD, finding the timing of CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, how Marianne Faithfull influenced GLASS. KILL. WHAT IF IF ONLY. IMP., unfortunate entrance applause in CORSICANA, winning a Tony award, starring in THE SEAGULL at Lake Lucille, working with Suzan-Lori Parks on IN THE BLOOD, the joy of collaborating with Maria Irene Fornes, and so much more. Don’t miss this candid conversation with one of Broadway’s best.
Transcribe →Patricia Conolly
4w ago01:36:34Tap to summarizeToday, 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.
Transcribe →Danny Mefford
Apr 2701:06:38Tap to summarizeToday, 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.
Transcribe →Linda Emond
Apr 2000:41:17Tap to summarizeToday, 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.
Transcribe →Sam Gold
Apr 1201:35:40Tap to summarizeToday, 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.
Transcribe →Daphne Rubin-Vega
Mar 3000:47:52Tap to summarizeToday, 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.
Transcribe →Laurence O'Keefe
Mar 1601:49:23Tap to summarizeToday, 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.
Transcribe →