Birth Place: Cleveland, OH, USA
Everything today is thoroughly Hal....Luftig, that is! Four time Tony Award winning producer Hal Luftig swings by Shetler Studios to look back on his career of hits including THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, LEGALLY BLONDE, and KINKY BOOTS.
Every week director Robert W Schneider and actor Kevin David Thomas pull back the curtain on neglected, forgotten, and under appreciated musicals, as well as bizarre performances, endearing television appearances, and all things show business. This Week: Woody Allen's only movie musical & a great resource for obscure cast recordings!
What does a musical coordinator do, you ask? Well, John Miller, one of Broadway's most respected in the field, swings by to discuss this pivotal role and some of his 100 plus Broadway credits... yes, that's right, 100 plus Broadway credits!
Every week director Robert W Schneider and actor Kevin David Thomas pull back the curtain on neglected, forgotten, and under appreciated musicals, as well as bizarre performances, endearing television appearances, and all things show business. This Week: The schizophrenia of the 1970s, Mrs. Garrett slays Kander & Ebb, Bacall belts her face, why Lee Roy Reams is the best bartender, and Wright & Forrest start anew.
Broadway Producer and three time Tony Award winner Jamie deRoy held her annual Jamie deRoy & friends Tony Award show last night and the Red Carpet was rolled out at Birdland for the star studded event. Jamie's fans and friends had their cell phone cameras at the ready as one by one Jamie introduced her award-winning cast which included, Chuck Cooper (The Life) Penny Fuller (Sunday in the Park with George, Cabaret), Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, In the Heights), Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) with special guest, Patti Cohenour (War Paint, The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Doreen Montalvo (On Your Feet, In the Heights) and Paulo Szot (South Pacific) with Billy Stritch.
Brilliant. Hysterical. Dangerous. Those three words best sum up veteran character actor Lewis Stadlen. A two time Tony nominee, Lewis has seen it all and has worked with the best. His many credits include MINNIE'S BOYS, the 1974 revival of CANDIDE, the 1996 revival of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, THE PRODUCERS, GUYS AND DOLLS, plus four Neil Simon premieres. And, now, Lewis sits down with Rob and Kevin to look back on his journey; unedited and unfiltered.
Rob Berman, music director of the New York City Center Encores! series and recent Broadway musicals Dames at Sea, Bright Star and Tuck Everlasting, makes his L&L debut as artistic director for a captivating season-closer and night of romantic songs, from 'Almost Like Being in Love' to 'I Could Have Danced All Night.' Bringing Lerner and Loewe's worlds to life: the father-daughter team of Chuck Cooper and Lilli Cooper (The Life, and Spring Awakening, respectively); A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder co-stars Bryce Pinkham and Lauren Worsham; and Side Show's Ryan Silverman.
Every week director Robert W Schneider and actor Kevin David Thomas pull back the curtain on neglected, forgotten, and under appreciated musicals, as well as bizarre performances, endearing television appearances, and all things show business. This Week: Who's Who of the Broadway Senior Home, ventriloquists on radio, Ethel and Elaine share a leading man, and the President sings!
Tony Award winner Ted Sperling is one of Broadway's most sought after music directors. His brilliance and versatility have been on display in numerous Broadway musicals including FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE KING AND I, SOUTH PACIFIC; GUYS AND DOLLS, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, THE FULL MONTY, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, MY FAVORITE YEAR, FALSETTOS, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, LES MISERABLES, ROZA, and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE.
The 2017 Tony nominations were announced this morning. If you haven't checked them out yet, what are you waiting for?! CLICK HERE to check out a full list of this year's nominees, and HERE for reactions from the lucky few!
The Tony Awards Administration Committee has been meeting all year to discuss the eligibility of the 2016-17 Broadway productions all leading up to Tuesdays big announcement... the Tony nominations.
Every week director Robert W Schneider and actor Kevin David Thomas pull back the curtain on neglected, forgotten, and under appreciated musicals, as well as bizarre performances, endearing television appearances, and all things show business. This Week: Odd marketing, SNL does theatre, political correctness in musical theatre, Hal Prince tackles racism, and Ethel Merman sings Nirvana.
By now, the idea has morphed into a pop-culture game lampooning (or honoring) one of our most prolific actors, but when John Guare's play, Six Degrees of Separation, debuted on Broadway in 1990, the idea that everyone on the planet was connected through a web of just six other people was a hard to imagine. So, to celebrate the 27-year history of Guare's play, we are going to attempt to connect the stars who originated the main roles on Broadway to the actors that assumed them for the revival, using only Broadway credits; hopefully we can get there in just six 'degrees.'
Sue Frost is one of the most inspirational producers working on Broadway. In addition to her indefatigable generosity, Sue is one of the theatre's loudest advocates for new musicals. In addition to the Tony Award winning Memphis, Sue also produced MAKE ME A SONG, FIRST DATE, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, and one of Behind the Curtain's favorite musicals, this season's COME FROM AWAY. Sue pulls back the curtain on her career, including how a train ride to Washington DC cemented her journey, what was the impetus to produce COME FROM AWAY, and why she refunded 1,506 people in one night! Also, Sue walks us through the process of producing a new musical!
Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for May 1-May 7, featuring João Bosco, Rolando Morales-Matos and his Jazz' Y Mambo Band, Arianna Neikrug, and more. Scroll down for details!
Every week director Robert W Schneider and actor Kevin David Thomas pull back the curtain on neglected, forgotten, and under appreciated musicals, as well as bizarre performances, endearing television appearances, and all things show business. This Week: Rob and Kevin debate leaving shows at intermission and 'second act'-ing a show. Plus, Ann Miller's fourth wall, Bob Fosse's debut, Sammy Davis Jr comes to Broadway, and Freddie Martinez makes a come back.
'I had such a great time with those two sessions, I'm wondering if you'd like to do a third. With MISS SAIGON opening in March, I wouldn't mind doing a detailed description about how that show was written. There's a real story there and it's never been told.'
Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:
Show business tour de force Jamie deRoy brings her star-studded Jamie deRoy & friends cabaret show to New York's famed Birdland on Sunday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the evening will benefit The Actors Fund: Jamie deRoy & friends Cabaret Initiative.
Every week director Robert W Schneider and actor Kevin David Thomas pull back the curtain on neglected, forgotten, and under appreciated musicals, as well as bizarre performances, endearing television appearances, and all things show business. This Week: Celebrating four legends who are no longer with us! Plus, Rob and Kevin recount some of the most bizarre theatre they have ever seen.
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