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Backstage Babble: Daily Summaries Delivered
by cbroadwaypodcast
A new podcast interviewing professionals in the theater industry about themselves, their careers, and the people they’ve worked with along the way.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 1 weeks ago58 min
Rachel Chavkin
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with visionary director Rachel Chavkin. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including determining the visual language of NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, her approach to audience interaction, an especially inspirational class at NYU, formative experiences at Stagedoor Manor, being inspired by The Wooster Group and NeedCompany, an unexpected success at the Edinburgh Fringe, forming her theater collective The Team, collaborating with Reshma Gajjar on THE LUNCHBOX, the experience of filming HADESTOWN in 2025, bringing a show from off-Broadway to Broadway, casting Josh Groban as Pierre, trusting her taste as a director, how playing soccer growing up influenced her style, and so much more. Don’t miss this extensive interview with one of American theater’s most brilliant minds.
- 3 weeks ago1h 15m
Katie Finneran
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with two-time Tony winner Katie Finneran. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including performing in ON BORROWED TIME and TWO SHAKESPEAREAN ACTORS at once, lessons she learned from Uta Hagen, her friendship with Neil Simon, her influences for her Tony-winning performance in PROMISES, PROMISES, starring in ANNIE just after having a baby, dealing with the audience response to MAURITIUS, why she felt like a rockstar during CABARET, appearing in her underwear in NOISES OFF, memorizing her role in THE RECEPTIONIST, her collaboration with Gerald Gutierrez on THE HEIRESS, figuring out the timing of “Getting Married Today” in COMPANY, co-starring with Martin Short in IT’S ONLY A PLAY, the vocal challenge of THE THANKSGIVING PLAY, an onstage kiss in MY FAVORITE YEAR, her passion for directing, and so much more. Don’t miss this in-depth interview with a true Broadway favorite.
- Sep 15, 20261h 0m
Warren Carlyle
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony winning director/choreographer Warren Carlyle. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the notes Stephen Sondheim gave him during FOLLIES, the joy of the Encores! process, creating “Marian the Librarian” in THE MUSIC MAN as a study in opposites, when Sheldon Harnick wrote new lyrics for SHE LOVES ME, working with 150 dancers on the SUMMER SPECTACULAR, how AFTER MIDNIGHT was born out of necessity, the influence of his classical training, what he learned from Susan Stroman during THE PRODUCERS, taking over the direction of A TALE OF TWO CITIES, how he approaches dance calls, making his debut in OLIVER, his upcoming projects, the challenge of making THE BAKER’S WIFE dance, the excitement of contrast onstage, his long collaboration with Hugh Jackman, why his motto is the same as the NYPD, supporting Bette Midler during HELLO, DOLLY!, working with a child ensemble on A CHRISTMAS STORY, the social conscience of HARMONY, and so much more. Don’t miss this wide-ranging conversation with one of Broadway’s best.
- Jul 4, 20261h 27m
Amy Herzog
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including writing about her grandmother in 4000 MILES, why AFTER THE REVOLUTION was a bigger play than she usually writes, how Ibsen inspired her play BELLEVILLE, the complexities of telling her own story MARY JANE, what Carrie Coon and Rachel McAdams brought to the title role, working with Jeremy Strong on AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, creating the protagonist of THE GREAT GOD PAN, a valuable lesson from an organic chemistry professor, some of her favorite “play carcasses,” what had to be cut from A DOLL’S HOUSE, her work with her husband, Sam Gold, deciding how to end her plays, exploring the horror genre, the role of a writer in film and TV, her current work adapting CROSSROADS, and so much more. Don’t miss this masterclass in playwriting with one of America's best.
- Jun 20, 20261h 20m
Stephen Spinella
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with two-time Tony winner Stephen Spinella, who is currently starring in Jerome at Playwrights Horizons. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including a transcendent experience onstage in ANGELS IN AMERICA, how he first met Tony Kushner, finding the gay subtext in OUR TOWN, his seven-year run in HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, co-starring with Estelle Parsons in THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN, why he felt he was wrong for A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE and ELECTRA, what Meryl Streep did for him during THE SEAGULL, a funny comment from Mike Nichols, the long development of IHO, auditioning for Stephen Sondheim, the joys of SPRING AWAKENING, and so much more. Don’t miss this candid conversation with one of Broadway’s best actors.
- Jun 13, 20261h 5m
Elizabeth Stanley
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony nominee Elizabeth Stanley, who will be starring in the newly announced production of Disruption. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including John Rando’s mantra for ON THE TOWN, the unique vibe of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, what Stephen Sondheim changed about “You Could Drive A Person Crazy” in COMPANY, memories of Mark Brokaw and Adam Schlesinger, why CRY-BABY didn’t succeed on Broadway, learning to skate for XANADU, performing THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY across the country, collaborating with Suzan-Lori Parks on THE RED LETTER PLAYS, her journey with JAGGED LITTLE PILL before and after the pandemic, what drew her to ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE, the genius of Savion Glover and Andy Blankenbuehler, and so much more. Don’t miss this wide-ranging conversation with one of Broadway’s best leading ladies.
- Jun 4, 20261h 22m
Jeremy Shamos
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with Tony nominee Jeremy Shamos, who will be starring in the newly announced revival of Awake and Sing. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including the experience of starring in the controversial CORPUS CHRISTI, experimenting with comedy with Steve Martin during METEOR SHOWER, being Tony nominated for CLYBOURNE PARK, participating in several readings of HERE WE ARE, making his debut in CYMBELINE, dancing in the all-male FORUM, working with Meryl Streep on ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, the joys of W.S. Gilbert’s ENGAGED, figuring out the timing of GUTENBERG and NOISES OFF, rehearsing with Al Pacino for GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, the potential prequel to IF I FORGET, what he learned from 100 SAINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW, and so much more. Don’t miss this candid conversation with a veteran actor.
- May 29, 202655 min
Sarah Ruhl
Today, I’m thrilled to announce my interview with legendary playwright Sarah Ruhl. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary career, including her experience breaking the fourth wall in EURYDICE, telling her own story in LETTERS FROM MAX, watching the audience response to IN THE NEXT ROOM, teaching at the Yale School of Drama, addressing addiction in BECKY NURSE OF SALEM, exploring Virginia Woolf’s portrayal of gender in ORLANDO, the advice she got from Paula Vogel, doing research to create the three parts of PASSION PLAY, exploring Chekhov’s writing when adapting THE THREE SISTERS, how a writing exercise led to HOW TO TRANSCEND A HAPPY MARRIAGE, passing the torch to Philip Howze, turning MELANCHOLY PLAY into a musical, telling a metatheatrical story in STAGE KISS, and so much more. Don’t miss this wide-ranging conversation with a brilliant writer.
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About Backstage Babble
A new podcast interviewing professionals in the theater industry about themselves, their careers, and the people they’ve worked with along the way.
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