Michael Rupert on 'Downstage Center' This Weekend

The American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio proudly present an interview with Tony Award winning actor Michael Rupert, on their weekly theatrical interview show, "Downstage Center," on XM's On Broadway (XM Channel 28).

Rupert will appear as the special guest on Friday, February 15 at 6 p.m. The show will repeat on Saturday, February 16 at noon, Sunday, February 17 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, February 20 at midnight.  The program becomes available as streaming audio and podcast from www.americantheatrewing.org beginning Tuesday afternoon, February 19.

Legally Blonde's resident legal shark Michael Rupert talks about why his role as that musical's unsavory Professor Callahan is consistent with other roles he often plays and talks about being the senior member of a youthful company; recalls being cast at age 15 by Gower Champion in The Happy Time and what he learned from Robert Goulet, Charles Durning and Kander & Ebb in that production; describes working with Bob Fosse on two productions -- replacing John Rubenstein in the title role of Pippin (which Rupert says was Fosse's metaphor for the Manson Family) and later playing Oscar in the 1986 revival of Sweet Charity; reflects on the role of Marvin in the various incarnations of William Finn's Falsettos over more than a decade; and chronicles his parallel theatrical career as the composer of 3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down, Mail and the upcoming Streets of America.

Michael Rupert has performed in such Broadway productions as: Legally Blonde, Sweet Charity (Tony and Drama Desk Awards), Falsettos (Tony nomination), The Happy Time (Tony nomination, Theater World Award), Ragtime, City of Angels, Mail, Shakespeare's Cabaret, and Pippin. Off-Broadway: Ancient History, Putting It Together and Elegies. Regional: The Merchant of Venice, Don't Stop the Carnival, Adrift in Macao. Michael is the composer of 3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down (Drama Desk nomination), Mail (L.A. Drama Criticsnomination) and Streets of America.

Each new "Downstage Center" is regularly broadcast at 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays at noon, Sundays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays at 12 a.m. (all times EST). Following the initial run on XM, each program is made available for free, on-demand, internationally as both streaming audio and podcast on ATW's Web site, www.americantheatrewing.org.