Theater Talk Presents Bob Hofler on Party Animals & More, Kicks Off 4/8

Theater Talk, the series devoted to the world of the stage, is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post, and series executive producer Susan Haskins.

The popular series is now being distributed nationally to PBS member stations by Executive Program Services (EPS). The series is co-produced by Theater Talk Productions, a not-for-profit corporation, and CUNY TV (City University of New York Television).

Episode #324
Bob Hofler on Party Animals: A Hollywood Tale of Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll Starring the Fabulous Allan Carr

Author Robert Hofler of Variety discusses his new biography about the the amazing life and career of Allan Carr, producer of La Cage Aux Folles on Broadway, the movies Grease and Can't Stop the Music, plus the most outrageous and scandalously unsuccessful awards ceremony in Oscar history. Hofler describes how Carr, an oddball kid from Highland Park, Il., rose to the height of success in show business and ultimately was reduced to being a recluse shunned by Hollywood until his untimely death. (Uplink available April 8.)

Episode #325
A Johnny Mercer Celebration: "One for My Baby and One More for the Road"

Theater historians Barry Day and Robert Kimball discuss The Complete Lyrics of Johnny Mercer, their comprehensive collection of the acclaimed lyricist's over 1200 works. Also on the show, popular cabaret singers Anna Bergman and Steve Ross perform of some of Mercer's best-known works, including "Too Marvelous for Words," "Moon River," and "Hooray for Hollywood." (Uplink available April 15.)

Episode #326
Legendary Producer TEd Mann, plus Patrick Healy of the NY Times

A conversation with producer Theodore Mann, who virtually began the Off-Broadway movement in the 1950's with his productions of Tennessee William's Summer and Smoke, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh, and other classic productions. Mann, author of the recently published memoir Journeys in the Night: Creating a New American Theater with Circle in the Square, was also instrumental in reintroducing O'Neill to an new generation of theater-goers, which helped to reestablish his legacy as one of America's all-time greatest playwrights.

Also on the show, reporter Patrick Healy of The New York Times, who swaps tales of covering the theater beat with our own Michael Riedel of the New York Post. In addition, Healy, who also has covered politics and the war in Afghanistan, addresses the question: Who is the better liar -- Hillary Clinton or the average Broadway publicist? (Uplink available April 22.)

Episode #327
Robert Osborne, Film Historian and Anchor of Turner Classic Movies

The charming and erudite film expert, Robert Osborne, comes by to discuss his favorite movies about the theater, as well as his choices for the most successful, and unsuccessful, stage to screen and screen to stage transfers in Hollywood history. (Uplink available April 29.)