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The cast and creative team behind Real Women Have Curves: The Musical gathered for an exclusive press day, and we were there to soak in the joy, passion, and powerful stories that define this new Broadway production. From bold choreography to songs that stick in your head long after the final note, this episode captures the spirit of a show that centers Latin culture, immigrant narratives, and shared humanity in a way that's as timely as it is timeless. Whether you're drawn to the musical's universal themes or its deeply personal storytelling, every voice in this episode brings something heartfelt to the table. We hear first from producers Barry Weissler and Jack Noseworthy about why this story matters now more than ever, followed by composer/lyricist Benjamin Velez, who shares how he and Joy Huerta crafted the musical world of 1980s East L.A. Alan Madagoitia then gives us insight into her powerful role as Itzel, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. Writer Nell Benjamin reflects on adapting a true story with timeless themes, and Sergio Trujillo dives into directing and choreographing something deeply personal. We also hear from cast members Carla Jimenez and Jennifer Sanchez, who infuse their characters with humor, heart, and lived-in truth. Finally, Florencia Cuenca shares her emotional journey as Estela, and how this role has transformed her both personally and professionally. Visit https://www.realwomenhavecurvesbroadway.com/ for tickets and more info!
When a scaled down, revival production of Chicago launched a 4-day run at City Center Encores before transferring to Broadway in 1996, no one anticipated that the show would still be running on Broadway after 28 years and over 11,000 performances. It's the second longest running Broadway show ever after Phantom of the Opera. Producers Fran and Barry Weissler share insider stories with Michael Riedel about how many people in the Broadway community questioned the wisdom behind the launch. Michael also speaks with Joel Grey about playing Amos against normal type casting, and he talks with marketing superstar Drew Hodges about his steamy, minimalist ad campaign for the show. Plus Ann Reinking weighs in on the risky photo shoot. This episode features never-before-heard excerpts from the interviews Michael Riedel recorded while writing his 2020 best-selling book Singular Sensation: The Triumph of Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tommy Tune. The boy genius of Broadway. He dazzled audiences onstage in his Tony Award winning performance in Seesaw. Then he kept reinventing himself as a director with The Club, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Cloud Nine, Nine, Grand Hotel, The Will Rogers Follies. Nothing could stop him except…..well, we're gonna let producer Barry Weissler tell you in this week's episode which explores the bone fracturing Busker Alley…I mean Stage Door Charley…I mean Buskers….I mean… Busker Alley? BROADWAY BOUND PLAYERS Sabrina Brush as Liz Smith James Cella as Ken Madelbaum Michael McDonald as Robert Feldberg Robbie Rozelle as Michael Riedel Andy Tighe as AJ Crothers If you like what we are doing DONATE HERE Fair use is a legal doctrine that promotes freedom of expression by permitting the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in certain circumstances. Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 provides the statutory framework for determining whether something is a fair use and identifies certain types of uses—such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research—as examples of activities that qualify as fair use.
Our esteemed guest is Jack Noseworthy, long-time veteran on Broadway, TV, and film, to talk about his career and his process as an actor. He also is a Individual Giving Officer for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Since 1988 they have led the fight against AIDS, becoming the nation's leading industry-based nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. They have raised over $300 million dollars to fight AIDS, as well as COVID-19 and other illnesses.Noseworthy also formed Truworthy Productions with his husband, Tony-award winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo, and they are producing a stage production of the 2002 hit film "Real Women Have Curves". The show opened December 2023 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge Massachusetts, and they aim to open on Broadway within the near future.For more about Broadway Cares and how to donate, go to https://broadwaycares.orgFor more about Jack's production company and their shows, go to http://www.truworthy.comInstagram @jack_noseworthyFor more info on Athletes and the Arts, go to https://athletesandthearts.comBio: Jack Noseworthy is the co-founder of Truworthy Productions along with Tony and Olivier Award-winning Director/Choreographer Sergio Trujillo. In their Truworthy venture, Jack is passionate about bringing authentic, diverse, and socially conscious works of theater, film, and television to life. He is an acclaimed producer and dynamic, experienced fundraiser on the Major Gifts team at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, where he successfully collaborates with colleagues, helping to grow and steward relationships for their annual giving society, the Angels, and Visionary Circle, responsible for raising $4M of the foundation's annual budget. In addition, Jack manages the Broadway Cares NextGen Network—creating giving opportunities for young professionals with a passion for giving back to the community. In partnership with seven-time Tony winning legendary producers Fran & Barry Weissler, Jack is the lead producer on Lisa Loomer's new musical Real Women Have Curves, with music and lyrics by seven-time Grammy award winning artist Joy Huerta (Jesse & Joy) and her partner Fred Ebb/ Jonathan Larson recipient Benjamin Velez. Real Women Have Curves – The Musical will premiere at The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in December 2023. For A.R.T., Jack also produced Arrabal (Elliot Norton Award for Best Production and Gala Production at the Ibero- American Theater Festival in Bogotá, Colombia). Jack produced Playbill's ¡Viva Broadway! Hear Our Voices concert for The Broadway League, Voices for Change at Ars Nova, as well as NextGen Spotlight and Home for the Holidays for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, raising over $350k for artists struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic. His producing career has been bolstered by 33 years as a stage and screen actor. Jack made his Broadway debut in Jerome Robbins' Broadway, which was followed by Cats, A Chorus Line, Sweet Smell of Success, and the original Toronto company of the international hit, Come From Away. Some of his favorite screen credits include his debut in Encino Man, as well as ALIVE, Event Horizon, The Brady Bunch Movie, Undercover Brother, Cecil B. Demented, Killing Kennedy, and several Jonathan Mostow films including Surrogates, Breakdown, and U-571. His television credits include Elvis, Mrs. Cage, Shades of Blue, CSI, Judging Amy, Crossing Jordan, Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, and Dead at 21. Jack received his Master's Degree in Performing Arts Administration from New York University and is a proud graduate of The Boston Conservatory at Berklee as well as the Commercial Theatre Institute.
GREASE (1994) COMPOSER: Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey LYRICIST: Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey BOOK: Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey DIRECTOR: Jeff Calhoun CHOREOGRAPHER: Jeff Calhoun PRINCIPLE CAST: Ricky Paull Goldin (Danny), Rosie O'Donnell (Rizzo), Susan Wood (Sandy) OPENING DATE: May 11, 1994 CLOSING DATE: Jan 25, 1998 PERFORMANCES: 1505 SYNOPSIS: At Rydell High greaser Danny falls in love with good-girl Sandy. Throughout their high school days, they, and their friends, try to figure out life and love. Casting Director Stuart Howard details the way producers Fran and Barry Weissler changed the Broadway landscape by employing “Stunt Casting”-- the hiring of celebrities who will draw audiences to a show after the box office inevitably slows-- in the 1994 Broadway revival of Grease. Differences between “Star Casting”-- in which a celebrity with significant stage experience or training replaces a previous performer in a run-- and “Stunt Casting”-- in which no regard is paid to a performer's experience but their notoriety is instead exploited-- are outlined. Though the stars brought to the show elicited a range of responses from the theatre community, audiences, and critics, ultimately, the choices aided by rigorous and inventive advertising campaigns, kept the show running with fresh audiences buying tickets. Some of the celebrities that rotated through the production included Linda Blair, Joe Piscipo, Jon Secada, and Brooke Shields. Following their success with Grease, the Weisslers have continued their infamous casting practices with their revival of Chicago and other productions have taken note and followed suit. Stuart Howard taught at The Juilliard School for ten years and gave Master Classes and lectured at S.U.N.Y. Purchase, the Stella Adler Academy of Acting, Carnegie Mellon University, Purdue University, NYU's CAP21, and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Stuart, Janet Hayes Walker and John Newton founded The York Theatre Company in New York City. Stuart has had his own casting company, Stuart Howard Associates, since 1980. They have cast scores of productions for Broadway, off Broadway, National Tours and London's West End. Recently, they cast the Broadway revival and National tour of West Side Story, Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning August: Osage County, and the original production of La Cage Aux Folles. He is currently involved in the casting of the world premiere of The Heir Apparent by David Ives, Twyla Tharp's Come Fly Away, The Maids by Jean Genet and two new musicals based on the life of Josephine Baker. SOURCES Great Rock Musicals by Stanley Richards, published by Stein & Day Publishing (1979) Grease, Revival Cast Recording. Masterworks Records (1994) Grease starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, directed by Randal Kleiser. Paramount Pictures (1978) Grease: You're The One That I Want starring Max Crumm and Laura Osnes, directed by Nick Murray. NBC Television (2006) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's Chessy, babe. Lisa Ann Walter is here. Might Know Her From Abbott Elementary, The Parent Trap, Shall We Dance?, War of the Worlds, Life's Work, Bruce Almighty, and Dance Your Ass Off. We got to talk to the great LAW about her brand new series Abbot Elementary being the toast of the 2022 television season and how the specificity of her Northeast Sicilian background really helped her and Grandma Vincenza cinch the role. We also got into how Chessy from The Parent Trap is for the queers, how Shall We Dance? inspired her dance competition series, and why she hired her own kid for War of the Worlds. You're gonna love it! Follow us on social media @damianbellino || @rodemanne Discussed this week Nicole Scherzinger: is she a Roxie or a Velma Hopefully previous guest Deidre Goodwin (Ep #5) who was in Chicago for a while, can tell us what celebs had the choreo adjusted for her Amray-Fay Wright has played Velma forever and also in Japan (in Japanese) Fran and Barry Weissler produce Chicago and they should give us comps at this point Abbott Elementary was created by Quinta Brunson Sheryl Lee Ralph is a duo with Lisa in Abbott, and her real life husband is a politician (PA state senator, Vincent Hughes) Sheryl Lee Ralph is the VP of the LA Local actor's union Lisa had a standup act in the 80s and 90s that got her a sitcom, Life's Work Shall We Dance was a great showcase for Lisa's talents (Gere was a great partner) Blackpool champions were their teachers and partners Started a reality show, Dance Your Ass Off (hosted by Marissa Jaret Winokur) Lizzo has a new show, Watch Out for the Big Girls Brian Keith was gruff and sexy to Anne Nancy Meyers' 1998 remake of The Parent Trap was so so good. Lisa is iconically named “Chessy” Lindsay's parents: Dina and Michael Lohan Nip/Tuck character goes to plastic surgeon to have g-spot engorged, then was too much Lisa was on the celebrity comedian ep of Weakest Link Lisa played “Cheryl” aka “bartender” in Spielberg's War of the Worlds. Here she is going from the audition to the red carpet for Maxim Elaine Hendrix and Lisa Ann Walter recreated the Parent Trap scene on IG Damian loves Matthew Lawrence so much
Greg is a gifted performer, teacher and devoted friend. He is also a man with a past chocked full of adventures, challenges, addictions and triumphs. This story bravely gives a no holds barred look at the good the bad and the ugly side of "being human" and relays to our listeners how Greg has reinvented himself and found the self love to make life truly worth living.
Actor Steve Zahn Shares His Love of History and Kentucky Steven James Zahn is an American actor and comedian. He was born November 13, 1967 in Marshall, Minnesota, USA. He stars as Davis McAlary in the first, second, third and fourth seasons. He has also appeared in the films Out of Sight (1998), You've Got Mail (1998), Road Kill (2001), Sahara (2005), A Perfect Getaway (2009) and Dallas Buyers Club (2013). Zahn's early roles were split between movies, touring companies of Broadway shows, and TV shows. In 1992-1993, he toured as Hugo with the Barry Weissler production of Bye Bye Birdie with Tommy Tune, Ann Reinking, and Marc Kudisch. He played Phoebe Buffay's husband Duncan in a 1995 episode of Friends. Zahn appeared in several films in the mid-1990s, including Tom Hanks' That Thing You Do! These films garnered him enough respect that he was offered the starring role in the critically acclaimed indie film Happy, Texas (1999). Some of Zahn's most popular movies have been his later ones, including National Security (2003), Daddy Day Care (2003), and Sahara (2005). In Sahara Zahn starred alongside Matthew McConaughey. Zahn received his strongest critical acclaim for his performance in Riding in Cars with Boys, in which he co-starred with Drew Barrymore as her dim-witted, drug addicted husband. Roger Ebert, Richard Roeper and the BBC stated that the performance was deserving of an Oscar nomination. He also voiced Runt of the Litter in Chicken Little . He also gave dramatic performances in Rescue Dawn and the television mini-series Comanche Moon. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/uncommonhistoryofthesouth/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/uncommonhistoryofthesouth/support
The words "Just Do It" should be emblazoned across the office walls of Tony Award winning producer Barry Weissler. On a beautiful Spring day, Barry invited Rob and Kevin into his offices to discuss his career and how he produced the revivals of Chicago, Annie Get Your Gun, and Grease and gave power to new shows like The Scottsboro Boys, Falsettos, and Waitress. Barry pulls back the curtain on his career, including how a Tijuana bullfight put his life into focus, what was Shakespeare in the Shopping Mall, and why no one wanted Chicago! Also, Barry shines the spotlight on Anthony Quinn, James Earl Jones, and Kander & Ebb! Become a sponsor of Behind The Curtain and get early access to interviews, private playlists, and advance knowledge of future guests so you can ask the legends your own questions. Go to patreon.com and search Behind The Curtain: http://bit.ly/2i7nWC4
Barry Weissler is a Tony Award-winning American theatrical producer. He met his wife, Fran, in 1964 during an engagement of a touring theatrical production in New Jersey. The two then started a touring theatrical group, The National Theatre Company, which presented classic plays to High School, College and adult audiences with professional casts. After years of touring Shakespearean plays on the east coast, they brought Othello and Medea to Broadway in 1982. The two plays earned them their first two Tony Award nominations. As of 2014 the pair have earned 28 Tony or Drama Desk nominations. They have won 7 Tony Awards and 4 Drama Desk Awards. The couple also received the Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production for their production of Chicago in the London West End. In 2010, they were given a lifetime achievement award by the New York Musical Theatre Festival. I’ve been waiting since 1993 and that first day of rehearsal of My Fair Lady to pick his brain. Took me 23 years, but I finally got my chance! Listen to Barry tell me all about . . . His journey from Actor to Director to Bullfighter (!) to Producer. How they turned the Encores! production of Chicago into the second longest-running Broadway show of all time. What he thinks about movie studios entering the Broadway game. His process of picking shows to produce and how that has changed. Why he doesn’t think Broadway is better off now than it was 20 years ago. I got a chance to learn a heck of a lot from Barry as a PA on My Fair Lady, as one of his Company Managers on Chicago . . . and now, you’re gonna get a chance to learn from one of the best too. Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway www.theproducersperspective.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
About our Interview with Lorin Latarro: Choreographer Lorin Latarro was 2 weeks into the rehearsal process for the highly anticipated new musical by Sara Bareilles: WAITRESS when she sat down with us in the studio. Lorin tells a great story involving Barry Weissler, and Diane Paulus and how she actually got the job to be the choreographer for the new musical. While she says she’s “lucky” to have had so many successful working collaborations, it is clear to us that talent and her great personality are the key to her “luck.” We also touch on her transition from a dancer who has 14 Broadway credits, to a choreographer. Lorin recounts her Broadway debut as a dancer in which she left her Radio City show, started rehearsal on a Monday, and by Friday night was on. A self described “work horse,” Lorin is also the Artistic Associate at Bucks County Playhouse, and teaches at her alma mater, Juilliard where she is continuing to help dancers find their voice on many levels. She is also a strong advocate for the school to develop a musical theatre program. Listen in; we are sure you will love Lorin just as much as we did. Links to learn more Lorinlatarro.com Waitress The Musical Lorin Latarro
The production team of "Gypsy" and "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" - publicist Shirley Herz, casting director Stuart Howard, playwright/director Arthur Laurents, general manager/associate producer Alecia Parker, and producers Barry Weissler and Fran Weissler - talk about many aspects of production from casting to advertising to corporate investors, booking pre-Broadway tour stops, and their other productions of "Fiddler on the Roof", "La Cage aux Folles", and "My One and Only".
The production team of Gypsy and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof -- publicist Shirley Herz, casting director Stuart Howard, playwright/director Arthur Laurents (Tony winner for Hallelujah, Baby! and La Cage aux Folles), general manager/associate producer Alecia Parker, and six-time Tony Award-winning producers Barry Weissler and Fran Weissler -- talk about many aspects of production from casting to advertising to corporate investors, booking pre-Broadway tour stops, and their other productions of Fiddler on the Roof, La Cage aux Folles, and My One and Only.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of their Broadway production of "Chicago", producers Fran and Barry Weissler reflect on 10 years with "Chicago" not just in the U.S., but internationally; recall their start producing tours of classic plays for Catholic schools in New Jersey; take exception to the application of the word 'revival' to their productions; and talk about the challenge of producing in the glare of tabloid attention. Original air date - November 10, 2006.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of their Broadway production of "Chicago", producers Fran and Barry Weissler reflect on 10 years with "Chicago" not just in the U.S., but internationally; recall their start producing tours of classic plays for Catholic schools in New Jersey; take exception to the application of the word 'revival' to their productions; and talk about the challenge of producing in the glare of tabloid attention. Original air date - November 10, 2006.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of their Broadway production of "Chicago", producers Fran and Barry Weissler reflect on 10 years with "Chicago" not just in the U.S., but internationally; recall their start producing tours of classic plays for Catholic schools in New Jersey; take exception to the application of the word 'revival' to their productions; and talk about the challenge of producing in the glare of tabloid attention. Original air date - November 10, 2006.
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