Thomas David News

COMPANY. SWEENEY TODD. MERRIL WE ROLL ALONG. 42ND STREET. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. Those original cast recordings and so many others were produced by the 12 time Grammy Award winning producer who revolutionized how a cast album gets produced, Thomas Z. Shepard. A protege of the great Goddard Lieberson, Thomas walked into Columbia's studios in 1960 and helped bring so many of our favorite original cast recordings to life.

The wonderful Ilana Levine of the uplifting podcast Little Known Facts, drops by Shetler Studios to discuss her show, the inspiration behind the podcast, and what it was like learning from Robert Altman, Alan Alda, Cynthia Nixon, John Slattery, Neil Simon, Kristin Chenoweth, and countless others.

Looking back at Cole Porter's Happy New Year. The joys of resolutions. Discussing Applause and the length of those songs. Fangirling on social media. Saraving Under The Influence. The backstage saga of Kwamina. Richard Adler and Sally Anne Howes have some 'creative differences.' Party lines are not so fun. Finding a Law and Order with a laugh track. Charlotte Rae wants to love Little Miss Pioneer. Lainie Kazan gets dumped for Katherine Helmond while Jean Stapleton stands by. George S. Irving sings a solo and 142 Tickets on the Aisle.

While 2017 was filled with so many theatrical highs (Ben Platt, THE BAND'S VISIT, SPONGEBOB, Bette Midler, etc), it was also a time to say good bye to some of the industry's most beloved artists whose work made the theatre, and our world, a better place. Rob and Kevin sit down with Broadway Royalty, Lee Roy Reams, and reflect on the passing of such legends as Barbara Cook, Mary Tyler Moore, Gemze de Lappe, Thomas Meehan, Liz Smith, Robert Guillame, and so many others.

100 Guests. 200 Favorite Things. What started as a dream has evolved into one of the industry's longest-running celebrations of the history of American Musical Theatre. To celebrate their 100th episode, Rob and Kevin get the tables turned on them and are asked to look back on Behind the Curtain: Broadway's Living Legends by the one and only Robbie Rozelle.

Christmas songs vs Hanukah songs. The Heat Miser makes an appearance. The joys of Stop Motion. Rob loses the button. Kevin does an impression. Hazel wants to sing. Groucho offers some creative consulting. Shelley Winters tries to sing. Lewis Stadlen meets Groucho. Clive Barnes hits a new low. Shelley Winters hits a note. RCA walks away. Tattoo sings a solo.

In one of the most versatile careers on record, Richard Jay-Alexander has pretty much done it all. Starting first as a PA on Broadway, then moving his way up to stage manager, it was his collaboration with uber-producer Cameron Mackintosh where Richard really thrived, becoming the Associate Director and Executive Producer of a new show called LES MISERABLES.

53 Broadway credits and counting. Yes, that record belongs to the incredible Jerry Adler, who is Actor's Equity's third-oldest working member. Jerry swings by Shetler Studios to discuss what it was like stage managing the original productions of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, MY FAIR LADY, THE APPLE TREE, COCO, and countless others.

Today we are not in praise of women, but, in praise of the original Count Carl-Magnus, Laurence Guittard. One of Broadway's greatest voices swings by Shetler Studios to discuss some of the shows Laurence has appeared, including BAKER STREET, MAN OF LAMANCHA, ANYA, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, LOVE MATCH, OKLAHOMA, and countless others.

It's not going to be a lazy afternoon when the great Golden Age musical comedy star, Kaye Ballard, sits down with Rob in her Palm Springs home to look back on her incredible career that includes the original productions of THE GOLDEN APPLE, CARNIVAL, MOLLY, PLUS TOP BANANA with Phil Silvers, THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW with Eve Arden, CINDERELLA with Julie Andrews, and countless appearances on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JOHNNY CARSON, THE LOVE BOAT, FANTASY ISLAND, and THE MUPPET SHOW.

Come down from your balcony, Golda, because Tovah Feldshuh is sitting down with Rob and Kevin to look back on her incredible career in theatre, film, and television. Tovah dissects not only her process, but, her collaborations with countless directors, writers, and fellow actors.

Rob and Kevin sing from Sunset Boulevard, the insanity of recitative, Rob and Kevin try to speak with the young kids, Kevin advocates for Lil Abner, the brilliance of Jones & Schmidt, how J&S really led the musical theatre revolution, the saga of Grover's Corners, Ethel Merman plays teacher, David Merrick sings, and the brilliance of musicals within musicals.

No one is going to rain on your parade today because the wonderful survivor of over sixty years of show business, Mimi Hines, joins Rob and Kevin for one of their most intimate and revealing interviews to date with the star of FUNNY GIRL and countless television specials, late night talk shows, and nightclub acts.

Rob announces his cast for Woman of the Year at Feinstein's/54 Below, Joyce DeWitt is a goddess, Rob gets starstruck over Janet Wood, Angela Bower is Miss Mannerly, who's nice vs who isn't, Judith Light takes out the ladies who lunch, the genius of John Kenrick, the definitive musical theatre website, greasing the lightning again, Sandy's cousin needs a girlfriend, and the class of Rydell High needs social security.

Well, we've got her, so we are going to flaunt her. The wonderful, Tony Award-winning Cady Huffman swings by Shetler Studios to look back on her career, including such shows as LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, BIG DEAL, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, STEEL PIER, THE PRODUCERS, THE NANCE, and many others!

This Week: Rob and Kevin discuss color blind casting in musical theatre and what can musical theatre programs across the country to do to help lead the cause, our guests send us swag, celebrating the great Kafritz & Mamie Eisenhower, Alka Seltzer's greatest commercial, spilling the tea on Weekend at Bernies, Nathan Lane can't get work, Donna Murphy goes to acting school, and the follies of the AEA.

Everyone step to the rear and let Tony Roberts take the day. One of America's most beloved character actors drops by Shetler Studios to look back on his career with Rob and Kevin. While Tony's film career includes such movies as ANNIE HALL, PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM, and SERPICO, we will discuss his amazing theatre career, which includes HOW NOW, DOW JONES, SUGAR, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, DON'T DRINK THE WATER, XANADU, and VICTOR/VICTORIA.

This Week: Happy Halloween! To celebrate the spookiness of the season, Rob and Kevin reveal their costumes, Mrs. Garrett pulls a Patty Duke, Tim Curry can't find his tambourine, Charles Strouse gets spooky, Big Daddy Whiz goes to the pumpkins, Rob meets Christine Pedi, Liza Minnelli has a pokerface, Rob plays Daddy Warbucks, and Christine Pedi wants to save the Cafe Edison!

Even if your feet's too big come to the heavyside layer and join Rob and Kevin as they sit down with the incredible star of THE WIZ, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN, CATS, and the iconic THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, the warm and wonderful Ken Page.

This Week: Life post-Merrily We Roll Along, Kevin gets to watch THE WORLD GO ROUND, Rob brings back 24 BROADWAY BOUND musicals, Rob breaks the rules that Kevin follows, Van Johnson sees red, Letterman loves La Cage, the joys of My Mama's Attic, Kevin is a dancer and a dancer dances, celebrating CENTER STAGE, and Donna Murphy hits the barre.