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PODCAST

Backstage Babble

cbroadwaypodcast

A new podcast interviewing professionals in the theater industry about themselves, their careers, and the people they’ve worked with along the way.

arts performing arts

All Episodes

74:55

Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Backstage Babble ·

2025/10/17

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winner and Emmy nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how he booked his Broadway debut in ON THE TOWN during college, why it worked better at the Delacorte than on Broadway, starring in TAKE ME OUT just after the pandemic, the genesis of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, a real-life magical moment during THE TEMPEST, why FULLY COMMITTED appealed to him as a play to revive,

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71:20

Chris Sarandon

Backstage Babble ·

2025/09/28

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Oscar nominee Chris Sarandon. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how he fell in love with Joanna Gleason during NICK AND NORA, bonding with the cast of THE ROTHSCHILDS, co-starring with Rex Harrison in THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE, his Oscar campaign for DOG DAY AFTERNOON, the cult appeal of THE PRINCESS BRIDE, why he felt limited as a replacement in TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, learning from Colleen Dewhurst and George C

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62:04

Carmen Cusack

Backstage Babble ·

2025/09/16

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with two-time Tony nominee Carmen Cusack. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including collaborating with Steve Martin on BRIGHT STAR, taking LSD to prepare for FLYING OVER SUNSET, her upcoming role in BULL DURHAM, why the revival of CARRIE didn’t work, why the story of WICKED resonated with her, her abbreviated process with CALL ME MADAM, finding her take on the lead role in SOUTH PACIFIC, performing THE SECRET GARDEN for Prince

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97:47

Dick Scanlan

Backstage Babble ·

2025/09/09

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-winning writer Dick Scanlan. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including his eight years performing in PAGEANT, how THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE turned him into a theater writer, giving Sutton Foster her breakout role in the show, directing Ellen Greene in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, being influenced by Gilbert and Sullivan, the benefit performance that spawned EVERYDAY RAPTURE, editing Poz Magazine, watching THE SOUND OF

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01:14:00

Kate Jennings Grant

Backstage Babble ·

2025/08/30

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with theater veteran Kate Jennings Grant. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the secret to her role in PROOF, a full-circle moment with GUYS AND DOLLS, working with the late, great Mark Brokaw and Linda Lavin on THE LYONS, a tip from Vanessa Redgrave, why Christopher Durang wanted her to play the lead in THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO, meeting her husband Doug Hughes during BEARD OF AVON, starring in tours of APPLAUSE

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01:22:47

Will Brill

Backstage Babble ·

2025/08/18

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winner Will Brill, who will be starring in MEET THE CARTOZIANS off-Broadway this fall. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the unique process of creating STEREOPHONIC, moving the show from Playwrights Horizons to Broadway, being part of the Tonys campaign, why the response to OKLAHOMA surprised him, the cosmic alignment of A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, dealing with different audience interactions during OUR

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01:07:01

Stephen Lang

Backstage Babble ·

2025/08/13

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony nominee Stephen Lang. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including his memorable audition for DEATH OF A SALESMAN, a harrowing experience onstage during THE SPEED OF DARKNESS, improvising during rehearsals for A FEW GOOD MEN, how he became the youngest honorary member of the D’Oyly Carte Theater Company, why Lynn Redgrave was perfect for SAINT JOAN, working with Arthur Miller on his final play FINISHING THE PICTURE, the

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01:08:41

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Backstage Babble ·

2025/08/09

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Oscar nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her unconventional path to WEST SIDE STORY, how THE HUMAN COMEDY fulfilled a childhood dream, what Brian De Palma taught her during SCARFACE, the thrill of singing SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, how AMADEUS inspired her to take acting lessons, why Aldonza in MAN OF LA MANCHA is a thankless role, dancing for Jerome Robbins, how THE

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01:16:06

John Benjamin Hickey

Backstage Babble ·

2025/07/31

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winning actor and director John Benjamin Hickey. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how Terrence McNally took a chance on him for LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!, the joys of playing opposite Natasha Richardson in CABARET, singing for Stephen Sondheim, reimagining THE CRUCIBLE in the 9/11 era, how coming out helped him find ideal collaborators, how Julie White and Theresa Rebeck made him become a director, why he

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01:39:17

Wayne Cilento

Backstage Babble ·

2025/07/27

Today, I’m so excited to announce the 250th episode of Backstage Babble. The mission of the podcast has always been to document Broadway history, and I’m thrilled to welcome a man who has had a profound influence on Broadway history over several eras in his work as a dancer and a choreographer: Wayne Cilento. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including his reflections on the 50th anniversary of A CHORUS LINE, how Michael Bennett kept the show on track, discussing BIG DEAL

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57:09

Frank "Fraver" Verlizzo

Backstage Babble ·

2025/07/13

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway poster artist Frank “Fraver” Verlizzo, whose new murder mystery Scenery of the Crime is available anywhere books are sold. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how the movie of THE LION KING inspired his logo design, showing Angela Lansbury the SWEENEY TODD logo, his career renaissance as a mystery writer, his early work on OVER HERE and GYPSY, designing two logos for WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?, Stephen

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59:58

Ann Morrison

Backstage Babble ·

2025/07/09

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway veteran Ann Morrison, who is about to take over the lead role on the tour of KIMBERLY AKIMBO. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including how Stephen Sondheim wrote “Now You Know” for her, her favorite revival of MERILY WE ROLL ALONG, modeling Mary Flynn after Mary Rodgers, how Hal Prince cast her in LOVEMUSIK, her international audition process for PEG, telling Mabel Normand’s story in KEYSTONE, running a theater

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01:12:59

Adam Grupper

Backstage Babble ·

2025/07/04

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Adam Grupper, who is currently starring in Joy at the Laura Pels Theater. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including working with Stephen Sondheim on INTO THE WOODS, turning down KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, a memorable mishap during CITY OF ANGELS, a tip from Robert Westenberg about THE SECRET GARDEN, the joy of reading audiobooks, getting group notes during GUYS AND DOLLS, how NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY launched his career, the

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01:03:49

Jonathan Tolins

Backstage Babble ·

2025/07/02

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with playwright and screenwriter Jonathan Tolins. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the joke he couldn’t include in the Tony awards, how Barbra Streisand reacted to BUYER AND CELLAR, working with Broadway favorites on ELSBETH, revising the book for ON THE TOWN, the ill-fated TRUMP FOLLIES, the responsibility of writing for QUEER AS FOLK, THE TWILIGHT OF THE GOLDS’s journey to Broadway, why he changed the ending for the

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01:13:35

Sally Murphy

Backstage Babble ·

2025/06/26

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway veteran Sally Murphy, who will recreate her role as Julie Jordan in Carousel my next Backstage Babble Live! concert on Monday, July 7 at 7 PM. In-person and livestream tickets are available here:https://54below.org/events/charles-kirschs-backstage-babble-live-4/ Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including observing the audience reaction at AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, a fateful audition for ASSASSINS, how Nicholas Hytner

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59:38

Edie Cowan

Backstage Babble ·

2025/06/20

This is a bittersweet day on Backstage Babble. I am proud to present my interview, recorded in January 2025, with legendary Broadway dancer and choreographer Edie Cowan. Ms. Cowan passed away on May 22, 2025 at the age of 88. It is a very sad loss for theater lovers everywhere, and I hope this interview will give you a sense of her humor, talent, and unique spark. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her wonderful career, including how the original production of OKLAHOMA inspired her love of

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01:04:49

Jeffrey Seller

Backstage Babble ·

2025/06/17

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller, whose new memoir Theater Kid is available anywhere books are sold. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including celebrating HAMILTON’s tenth anniversary, making RENT accessible to younger audiences, launching a Tony campaign for AVENUE Q, presenting DERREN BROWN: SECRET on Broadway, how the revivals of SWEENEY TODD and WEST SIDE STORY came about, his 50,000-ticket litmus test, directing FLY

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01:05:35

Sarna Lapine

Backstage Babble ·

2025/06/10

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Broadway director Sarna Lapine, whose show CALL ME IZZY is currently playing on Broadway. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including working as an assistant director to Bartlett Sher, helping to cast the revival of AWAKE AND SING, how the Obama presidency aligned with the story of SOUTH PACIFIC, how her path to theater mirrored her uncle James Lapine, how the tour of WAR HORSE helped her find her own path as a director, why

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01:31:42

Judith Ivey

Backstage Babble ·

2025/05/31

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with two-time Tony winner Judith Ivey. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including singing A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC for Stephen Sondheim, how Carol Woods gave her dinner eight times a week during FOLLIES, how her performance in STEAMING led to three feature film roles, finding the comedy in THE HEIRESS, meeting Neil Simon at the Tony Awards, performing BLITHE SPIRIT after Geraldine Page passed away, a memorable night out with Mike

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01:09:21

Craig Bierko

Backstage Babble ·

2025/05/23

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my episode with Tony nominee Craig Bierko. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including what he learned from Meredith Willson’s notes in the script of THE MUSIC MAN, dancing with Rebecca Luker, the “stop-start” feeling of THOU SHALT NOT, how James Lapine approached directing MODERN ORTHODOX, the Jewishness that is needed in GUYS AND DOLLS, why he didn’t connect to the character of Miss Trunchbull in MATILDA, what it was like performing GIRL

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258 results

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