Backstage Babble Shorts: Rocco Landesman and Tony Shalhoub

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.

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.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony nominee Micaela Diamond. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including finding her voice in PARADE, acting opposite Ben Platt, what she learned from her debut in THE CHER SHOW, researching Cher’s life and career, learning from Stephanie J. Block and Teal Wicks, getting notes from Ethan Coen in A PLAY IS A POEM, building the character of Fritz in HERE WE ARE, the monologues that were written for and cut from the piece, understudying Sara Bareilles in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, what attracted her to THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS, the adventure of starring in ROW at Williamstown, how THE SOUND OF MUSIC ignited her love of theater, learning to cook during the pandemic, her new starring role in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, 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 veteran actress Elizabeth Marvel, who is currently starring in THE DINOSAURS at Playwrights Horizons. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her unlikely beginnings, how Michael Langham gave her her Broadway debut in THE SEAGULL, performing the controversial revival of JULIUS CAESAR in the Park, why she wants to form a new National Actors Theater, being an American actor at Stratford, working with Glenda Jackson on KING LEAR, her collaboration with Ivo Van Hove, finding a new take on A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, researching THE LITTLE FOXES, starring in TOP GIRLS as a new mother, the drawings Edward Albee made during SEASCAPE, acting opposite Frances Sternhagen, why PICNIC was an exorcism for her, approaching Shakespeare like music theory, what draws her to new work, 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 Broadway veteran Sean Allan Krill, who is currently starring in CHESS. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including developing JAGGED LITTLE PILL from the ART to Broadway, the show’s two unexpected closings, the key to unlocking his role in CHESS, researching the role of Governor Slaton in PARADE, following Harry Connick, Jr. through a performance of ON A CLEAR DAY, his personal connection to FLOYD COLLINS, his difficult audition for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, performing “The Speed Test” with his midwestern accent, warming up with David Byrne during JOAN OF ARC, hy he loves the Viewpoints Technique, playing a silent role in THE HOT L BALTIMORE, covering Tony Danza in HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth talk with a Broadway favorite.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-winning director Julie Taymor. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including the visual motif of circles in THE LION KING, adapting the plot of the film, exploring artifice in THE TEMPEST on stage and on screen, working with Kathryn Hunter on A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, practicing mask work in auditions, how studying myths in college influenced her later work, her pioneering work on the film FRIDA, why Shakespeare’s dialogue is inherently visual, creating a new form of theater in Korea, finding ideographs for every production she directs, bringing THE HAGGADAH to life at the Public Theater, collaborating with Elliott Goldenthal, combining opera and musical theater in JUAN DARIEN, finding a visual take on M. BUTTERFLY, changing the ending of GROUNDED, her opera debut with OEDIPUS, honing her craft in Paris, Indonesia, and Japan, the modern relevance of SPIDER MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK, her new musical THE GRAND DELUSION, and so much more. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with a true visionary.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony-winning playwright Itamar Moses. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including making changes to THE ALLY, the radio-play aspects of DEAD OUTLAW, his collaboration with David Cromer, why HAMILTON deserved its Best Book Tony award, adapting THE BAND’S VISIT for the stage, moving the show to Broadway, how “Omar Sharif” started as a monologue, getting his first play OUTRAGE produced, the inspiration behind BACH AT LEIPZIG, writing for murderers in CELEBRITY ROW, writing autobiographically with THE FOUR OF US and YELLOWJACKETS, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth talk with one of Broadway’s best writers.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce a very special 2025 wrap-up episode of Backstage Babble. 25 former guests, including legendary actors, writers, and directors, returned to the show to share three top theater memories from the last 25 years, and the result is a collection of never-before-heard anecdotes and thrilling insights. This episode features, in alphabetical order:   Betsy Aidem Beowulf Boritt Charles Busch Rick Elice Peter Filichia Irene Gandy Liza Gennaro Jenny Gersten Sara Gettelfinger Adam Guettel Robert Horn Samuel D. Hunter David Henry Hwang Beth Leavel Kenny Leon Jefferson Mays Ann Morrison Maryann Plunkett Daryl Roth Tara Rubin Paul Rudnick Thom Sesma Jennifer Ashley Tepper David Thompson Jonathan Tolins   Have a Happy New Year!   In-person and livestream tickets to Backstage Babble Live are available here: https://54below.org/events/charles-kirschs-backstage-babble-live-3/