Broadway Breakdown Podcast: Detailed Summary

Episode Overview

Title: Talking with Tony Nominee Heather Hach & Announcing the New Series!
Date: September 14, 2023
Host: Matt Koplik
Guest: Heather Hach (Tony nominee, screenwriter, and author)

This special episode features an engaging conversation between host Matt Koplik and writer Heather Hach. The discussion explores Heather's celebrated work on the Legally Blonde musical and the Freaky Friday film adaptation, delves into the nuances of adapting material for stage and screen, examines themes of feminism and collaboration, and offers advice to writers. The episode also spotlights Heather’s forthcoming novel, The Trouble with Drowning, and concludes with the announcement of the podcast's new series.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Heather Hach’s Background and Path to Writing

• Journalism Roots: Heather began as a journalism major, working for the New York Times Denver bureau, never imagining a path into entertainment given her Iowa/Colorado roots.
• Improv Comedy Influence: Spent four years performing improv comedy in Denver, notably enjoying a game where troupes would create a Broadway musical on the fly.
  • "[Improv] was just so fun...my favorite game to play was 'Broadway Musical.'" (03:30, Heather)

2. Love for Musicals and Early Inspiration

• Early Exposure: Her love for musicals started with movies like Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, and her mother’s Broadway enthusiasm.
• Lifelong Influence: Heather attributes her innate understanding of theater to being surrounded by musicals from a young age.
  • "My mother is like a living Broadway musical...so I know all the songs without knowing that I'd seen them." (04:31, Heather)

3. The Legally Blonde Musical: Discovery, Process, and Key Changes

• Getting the Job: Producers sought a female book writer and connected with Heather after seeing her work on Freaky Friday. While initially dubious, she quickly felt kinship with the producers.
  • "I knew intuitively this is what I'm supposed to do." (06:01, Heather)
• Adaptation Philosophy:
  • Matt & Heather discuss how effective adaptations must balance expectations from the original (e.g., the movie) while injecting new surprises and depth.
  • "Legally Blonde...is this great balance of things we know from the movie and all these surprises as well..." (07:09, Matt)
• Depth of Relationships:
  • A major change in the musical was deepening the Elle/Emmett relationship, giving each character more agency and development than in the film.
  • "There was a real opportunity to really add a lot of depth...I just want to remember that I'm going to be an audience member—what do I want to see?" (09:48–10:21, Heather)
• Empathy & Female Agency:
  • The update made Emmett a positive force rather than a savior, reminding audiences that success often involves support from others ("It's never weak to ask for help or to need help." (13:05, Matt))
• Warner's Character Arc:
  • Instead of being a cartoonish villain, Warner is given a more humane arc, reflecting Elle’s growth and the show's spirit of seeing the good in people.
  • "She does see the good in everybody...that's who she is." (15:25, Heather)
• Favorite Lines & Audience Reaction:
  • Heather’s favorite is the Gloria Steinem/Playboy Bunny line, noting distinctive audience reactions in different cities.
  • "I'm always really, really proud...San Francisco went crazy for that." (18:10–18:52, Heather)
• Challenges in Adaptation:
  • The challenge was capturing the “familiarity with originality” sweet spot and learning the differences between screenwriting and playwriting.
  • "Sometimes my naivete...probably served me well." (16:39, Heather)

4. Reception & Critical Analysis

• Critical Reception:
  • Discusses stigma against movie-to-musical adaptations and how Legally Blonde was treated by critics and the Tony Awards.
  • Ben Brantley (NYT critic) called the book “vulgar” for a JetBlue reference, which Heather and Matt contest.
    • "Ben Brantley at the New York Times said that my book was vulgar." (20:29, Heather)
• Feminism & Misogyny:
  • Conversation pivots to the perception of "feminine" stories and their dismissal by critics and gatekeepers—parallels drawn to the Barbie movie.
  • "She was an incredible post feminist hero, and the way that she was discounted speaks to the inherent misogyny that exists." (21:09–21:26, Heather)
  • Matt: "I like that both Legally Blonde and Barbie are feminist through their intelligence but also...very feminine, unapologetically so." (22:28–23:40)

5. On Storytelling, Redemption, and Identity

• Character Growth:
  • Discussion of the “redemptive arc” and how narratives often begin with problematic choices, followed by growth and learning.
  • "The redemptive arc of our protagonist..." (25:51, Heather)
• Fluidity of Identity:
  • Emphasizes how characters (and people) are allowed to change as they gain more life experience.
  • "[There is] a fluidity to our identity...We can change as we learn more about ourselves." (25:18–25:51, Matt)

6. On Freaky Friday: Adapting a Classic

• How it Happened:
  • Heather won the Disney Fellowship on the strength of previous scripts, leading to being assigned Freaky Friday.
  • "My first assignment was Freaky Friday...because of a dark, Heathers-esque script." (27:48–28:10, Heather)
• Approach to the Material:
  • Wanted the mother to be a working professional (therapist) and for the film to address more than just household chores.
  • "There was an opportunity to talk about women's roles and how they changed so much..." (29:55, Heather)
• Collaboration & Credit Issues:
  • Heather recounts feeling hurt when not properly credited for key creative decisions, showing the complex nature of film collaboration.
  • "The director said he came up with the whole band thing...I have the script." (31:34, Heather)
• Casting Stories:
  • Jamie Lee Curtis was a late-in-the-game casting change that elevated the film.
  • "It was going to be Annette Bening up until the very end...She even told Andrew Gunn the producer, 'I'm so glad it was Jamie.'" (34:18–35:08, Heather)
• Legacy and On-Set Stories:
  • Both Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan were praised for their performances; Lindsay's return after Parent Trap was especially meaningful for the teen audience.

7. Writing Process, Advice, and New Projects

• Writing Advice:
  • Read voraciously, stay inspired, connect with people who encourage storytelling, observe the world, and find humor in the mundane.
  • "It's just such a great way to see the world is to be a writer." (39:10–40:48, Heather)
• New Book: The Trouble With Drowning:
  • Inspired by psychological thrillers and the mental health challenges of COVID, Heather's new novel is a slow-burn story about obsession and mental health.
  • "It's about me trying to hold on to my mental health during COVID." (42:32–43:10, Heather)
• Upcoming Work:
  • Heather is finishing another book, Relationship Goals, a comedic novel about marriage, family, and musical collaboration set in Hawaii. (60:52–62:00, Heather)

8. The State of Musical Theater and Comedy

• On Craft & Quality:
  • Matt and Heather bemoan the lack of structure and integrity in some recent musicals, arguing that fun and quality are not mutually exclusive.
  • "I get angry when people go, 'well, it's just trying to be a good time.' So is Barbie. So is Legally Blonde..." (55:04–55:40, Matt)
• Possibility of a Legally Blonde Revival:
  • Heather shares there are ongoing talks for a revival, encouraged by the success of Barbie, though nothing is official yet. (56:18, Heather)
• Legacy and Impact:
  • Legally Blonde has proven endurance through frequent productions and growing acclaim, especially among young and regional audiences.

9. Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "Like Bach with an H." – Heather Hach explaining how to pronounce her surname (01:40)
• "It's scientifically proven to be the best of the Freaky Fridays." – Matt on Heather’s film adaptation (06:13)
• "You align yourself with people who make you better people." – Heather Hach on Emmett’s role for Elle (10:45)
• "I'm always really, really proud...San Francisco went crazy for that [Gloria Steinem] line." – Heather on her favorite Legally Blonde line (18:16–18:52)
• "She was an incredible post feminist hero, and the way she was discounted...speaks to the kind of just inherent misogyny that exists." – Heather on Elle Woods and critical bias (21:09–21:26)
• "It's never weak to ask for help or to need help." – Matt, championing support and collaboration (13:05)
• "There can be such a rigidity around roles...that’s part of why I don’t like that structured thought process." – Heather on feminism and identity (23:45)
• "Collaboration is what it's supposed to be, which is what bugs me [when credit is misattributed]." – Matt on credit and collaboration in film (32:07)
• "It's just such a great way to see the world is to be a writer." – Heather, on the writer's viewpoint (40:48)

10. Fun and Personal Moments

• Podcast Banter:
  • Playful exchanges between Matt and Heather, e.g. joking about their names, Grove Kelly and Jimmy Stewart impressions (44:36–46:02), and mutual love of Rear Window.
• Actors' Improvisation Impact:
  • Christian Borle’s improvisations in Legally Blonde made their way into the final show.
  • “His line just immediately went in for the show.” (50:16–51:01, Heather)
• Fantasy Dinner Party:
  • Heather names Maya Angelou, Tina Fey, and Dolly Parton as her ideal dinner guests. (64:35–65:09)

Important Timestamps

• 01:27: Heather on the challenges of being seen as “iconic.”
• 03:24–03:49: Heather on improv and early Broadway favorites.
• 06:03–06:13: Heather on connecting with Legally Blonde producers.
• 09:20–11:27: Deep dive into changes from film to stage in Legally Blonde.
• 20:29–21:26: Discussion of critical perception and misogyny.
• 25:51–26:20: The importance of redemptive character arcs and narrative growth.
• 27:48–29:12: Heather's journey to writing Freaky Friday.
• 34:18–35:08: Jamie Lee Curtis’s casting story and impact on Freaky Friday.
• 39:10–40:48: Writing advice and inspiration.
• 56:18: On possible Legally Blonde revival.

Series Announcement

• Next Series:
  • "Problematic?" (with a question mark)
  • Each episode will tackle a show that has faced criticism or backlash for being deemed “problematic,” with Matt and a guest assessing if that label is deserved.

Closing

The episode closes with Heather selecting Ellen Greene’s rendition of "Somewhere That's Green" (Little Shop of Horrors) as the Broadway diva send-off.

For more from Matt Koplik and Broadway Breakdown:

• Subscribe and listen at bwaybreakdown.substack.com

Summary prepared to be engaging and comprehensive, preserving the witty and passionate tone of the podcast.