Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist: Lea Michele on ‘Chess,’ Motherhood and a Broadway Homecoming

Episode Date: March 22, 2026
Podcast: Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist

Episode Overview

In this episode, Willie Geist sits down with Lea Michele at New York’s Imperial Theatre—where her Broadway journey began at age eight—to discuss her triumphant return to the stage in the musical "Chess." The conversation flows from her career origins and Glee stardom through her personal journey into motherhood, her recent landmark roles, and a sense of coming home both artistically and emotionally. The episode contains heartfelt reflections, industry insights, memorable backstage stories, and deep dives into what it means to find joy and fulfillment in both her work and family life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Returning to the Stage That Started It All

• Lea Michele’s Broadway Beginnings (04:13)
  • Recalls her debut at age 8 in Les Misérables, never having sung professionally before.
  • The Imperial Theatre holds deep meaning; she expresses being "fully back in that space of joy and creativity" (05:55).
  • Quote:

    "I remember saying to my parents after my first performance, I want to do this for the rest of my life. Don’t ever tell me to stop. Don’t ever let me stop." — Lea Michele (05:05)

Fulfillment in Art and Motherhood

• The Joy of Balancing Motherhood and Stage Work (06:50)
  • Lea discusses how being a mother and wife grounds her, enhancing her professional fulfillment.
  • Quote:

    "The fact that that part of my life feels so full and grounded and full of joy, to then be able to go and do what I love … it’s an amazing combination." — Lea Michele (07:21)

The Pull of ‘Chess’ and Embracing Vulnerability

• Why ‘Chess’? Stepping Into New Territory (09:11)
  • Director Michael Mayer invited her; a key song from Idina Menzel ("Nobody’s Side") was the hook.
  • First time playing a truly adult character; appreciated the role’s maturity and emotional complexity.
  • "We don’t have a set, we’re not doing multiple costume changes. So it's very raw and it’s very vulnerable. I felt that was a challenge." — Lea Michele (11:36)

Stage Presence & Audience Connection

• Eye Contact with the Audience (07:50)
  • Lea makes a point to connect directly with audience members every night.
  • “Even when I was in Les Mis at eight years old, my mother used to call me Eagle Eye because I could find them anywhere in the theatre.” — Lea Michele (08:06)

Overcoming Stage Fright and Finding Excitement Again

• The Daily Rhythm of Live Theatre (13:09)
  • Acknowledges the hard days but talks about the excitement she feels coming to the theatre.
  • Still experiences anxiety and stage fright, but now sees it as part of herself.
  • Quote:

    "As challenging as the show is, I don’t wake up and feel like I’m looking at a mountain … If it is a mountain, then I’m, like, ready to go. I am not afraid." — Lea Michele (13:43)

Origins: ‘Les Mis,’ Stage Name, and Upbringing

• Broadway Debut Story (18:19)
  • Auditioned for Les Mis entirely by chance, singing both Christine and Meg parts from “Phantom of the Opera.”
  • Adopted the stage name “Lea Michele” out of insecurity about her last name, Sarfati.
  • “[My parents] made me feel like I could do anything. It wasn't like 'I’m the best singer in this room.' It was 'I can do this.'" — Lea Michele (20:59)

Navigating Glee and Fame

• Transition to TV and Cultural Phenomenon (25:05)
  • Had no prior TV experience; got Glee after a car accident on the way to her audition (26:41).
  • On Glee’s fame: "There was a real obsession with who we were outside of the show, and we were so young. I didn’t even know that until now. I’m going to be 40 and I think about that 22-year-old girl…" (29:16)
  • Parents ensured she remained grounded through her meteoric rise (31:00).

Playing Fanny Brice in ‘Funny Girl’

• A Lifelong Dream Fulfilled (34:44, 35:37)
  • Inspired by Barbra Streisand, especially after being told as a teen to get a nose job—her mother’s retort: “Barbra Streisand never got a nose job, and you’re not getting a nose job.”
  • Describes playing Fanny Brice as a "360" experience, needing it to be joyful on and off stage (40:22).
  • Barbra Streisand sent her a personal letter:

    "It feels good to have your dreams come true, doesn’t it? Love, Barbra." (42:20)

Backstage at the Imperial; Full-Circle Moments

• Touring Old Haunts (44:18, 48:09)
  • Visits her childhood dressing room, finding her old name scribbled under a desk.
  • Reflects with nostalgia on her life as a child actor—recollections of offstage traditions, meeting icons like John Stamos, and discovering the same Chess Playbill in an old photo and in the current theatre wall.

Daily Life and Motherhood as a Star

• Balancing Work and Family (54:13)
  • Shares details of her routine: school drop-offs, mommy-and-me classes, and fitting vocal warmups and show prep into her packed day.
  • Notes the structure of Broadway life is helpful for families, compared to unpredictable TV schedules (56:01).
  • “I like to say that I have to do a Broadway show in order to get any quiet mommy time.” — Lea Michele (51:46)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the Realities of Broadway Life:

  “I could do it again. You finish a show at ten, and if I said you had to do it again, could you do it again?” — Lea’s comment to Jonathan Groff (13:14)

• On Taking Risks:

  "Funny Girl, where you just kind of dive in and do it … despite the anxiety." — Willie Geist to Lea Michele (53:13)

• On Living Her Dreams Full-Circle:

  "And I looked at this picture every day before I go out there. And I’m like, I think she [her younger self] would be so happy and … grateful that I listened to her when she said, 'Don’t ever let me stop doing this.'" — Lea Michele (52:43)

• On the Enduring Meaning of the Imperial Theatre:

  "This is where the love was born." — Lea Michele (50:49)

Notable Sections & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic | |:-------------:|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:13 | Lea on early Broadway debut and what the theater means to her | | 06:50 | Fulfillment as an artist, mother, and wife | | 09:11 | How she was drawn to Chess and the challenge of the role | | 13:09 | Dealing with stage fright and embracing joy | | 18:19 | Les Mis audition story and choosing the stage name | | 25:05 | Transition from Broadway to Glee, new challenges | | 26:41 | Wild car accident before her Glee audition | | 29:03 | Handling sudden fame and social media | | 34:44 | The journey to playing Fanny Brice in Funny Girl | | 42:19 | Receiving a letter from Barbra Streisand | | 44:18 | Backstage tour: nostalgia and finding her mark | | 50:49 | The dressing room, childhood memories, full-circle moment | | 54:13 | Balancing children and show schedules |

Tone & Atmosphere

Lea Michele’s warmth, humility, and candor shine throughout the conversation. The episode blends lighthearted laughs (gleeful exchanges about theater superpowers and childhood mishaps) with emotional depth, especially around motherhood and realizing lifelong ambitions. Willie Geist’s tone is inviting and gently probing, drawing out personal stories and reflections that feel spontaneous and honest.

Takeaway

For listeners, this episode is a layered look at an artist who has, against obstacles and doubts, built a career brimming with achievement, learned to embrace change, and come home both literally and figuratively. Whether sharing tales from Broadway’s past, wrestling with the cost of fame, or expressing pride in the balancing act of motherhood and performance, Lea Michele offers inspiration to anyone yearning to reconnect with the things that bring them joy.

You can see Lea Michele in "Chess" at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway through June 2026.